Dear AMS Cougar Families,

October is my favorite month. From the crisp chill at the football games to the changing leaf colors there is a constant reminder that we are transitioning from summer to winter. At school, October is also the month when we are moving toward the end of the first quarter of the school year. You should have received your student's progress reports this past week. if you have not, check with your student and do a backpack dive. If that does not do the trick, just reach out to your student's team teachers.

Here are a few important October school dates for your planning:

October 11 5:30-7:00 PTO/Open House/ 8th grade DC trip info meeting

October 13 Required Teacher Workday- No school for students

October 14 Parent Teacher Conference Day- No school for students

October 19 Two hour delay- late start for students

October 21 Eighth grade Fall Social event

October 31 End of Quarter One; Early Release Day

There are a couple of items that we can use your support with:

• Please remind students that they are not to come into the schools with outside food and beverages. Of course, they can pack a lunch, but we are seeing students come in from both the buses and the cars with coffees, soft drinks, Kool-Aid and other drinks, along with food items that they are currently eating. This is a concern for several reasons. First, food and drink are not allowed on the buses. Second, eating and drinking in the halls, besides not being permitted, also leads to spills and dropped food that make unnecessary messes that must be cleaned up and attract pests. If you are dropping your student off and they are eating and drinking, please pull into the parking lot for a minute to allow them to finish before rejoining the drop off line. We appreciate your support with this.
• I have noticed an increase in students not wearing their shoes at school. This just really isn't safe. Please encourage students to keep their shoes on at school.
• Please ask your student to write their name on their things- jackets, backpacks, water bottles, etc. Our Lost and Found is growing, and this simple step can ensure that your student gets their lost things back quickly. It also prevents confusion when more than one student owns identical or similar items.

Finally, if you are interested in volunteering in the school building or on a field trip, please go ahead and take the volunteer training session and complete the background check! The volunteer training session only has to be completed once, but the background check must be completed each year.

Thank you for sharing your students with us! I look forward to another great week!

Sincerely,

Jo Landreth

Principal

Asheville Middle School

8th Grade Fall Social, Family Volunteers Needed!

The 8th grade students are planning their own Fall Social event scheduled for October 21st. PTO is supporting the event by enlisting parents/families to sell tickets and take on roles at the event.

Please forward this email to other families so that we can spread the word. Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084EA8A72EA7FE3-ams8th

Spirit Wear Sales

We’re still looking for a few more volunteers to sell spirit wear at upcoming sporting events.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084EA8A72EA7FE3-amsfall

PTO Regular Meeting, this Tuesday (4th) at 5 pm

Come join us in the AMS Media Center to guide our annual plan, activities and budget. We’ll discuss the upcoming 8th grade fall social, spirit wear, homework diners (community nights), educator appreciation weeks and other ideas for you input! Every family is already a member of our PTO cougar family!

Virtual option: https://meet.google.com/jgw-ruyq-ews

Ways to Connect to PTO

Get on our email list (make sure your email program identifies AshevilleMiddlepto@gmail.com as “safe” and not “junk”!)

Use this link to sign up for PTO updates and news: https://forms.gle/LnjJkNTc7FbKqW6n7

Sign up for PTO Remind: @cougars828

Visit our website: https://sites.google.com/site/ashevillemiddlepto/home

ACS Volunteer Training Schedule for 2022-2023

All level II volunteer training will be held virtually for the 2022-2023 school year. There are 20 slots available for each session. The sessions last 30 minutes. Please register at the Sign-up Genius link below

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4BA5A92BABFB6-acsvolunteer1

You will need to attend the entire session in order to receive credit for the training. Once the training session starts, you will not be allowed into the Zoom session. Attendance will be taken at the end of each session.

Wednesday, October 5, at 12:00 PM (Virtual)

Wednesday, October 12, at 12:00 PM (Virtual)

Wednesday, November 2, at 12:00 PM (Virtual)

Wednesday, November 9, at 12:00 PM (Virtual)

Wednesday, December 14, at 12:00 PM (Virtual)

Additional Sessions will be added for 2023

Link to the Background Check form: https://bib.com/secure-volunteer/ASHEVILLE-CITY-SCHOOLS/home

Just a reminder from the AMS Family and Student Handbook:

Requests for educational leave should be completed and submitted to the principal at least two weeks in advance of the planned travel. No more than five days will be approved, and families must submit this form and students must submit the assigned work to have the absence coded as educational leave.

Educational Leave Form

Asheville Middle School supports our students' passions. Here are two ways to engage your student. We participate in Academic competitions as well as Sports competitions. Coming up in the next few weeks are The Quill and Twelve where we'll compete against other middle schools across North Carolina..

The Quill is a writing competition in four categories: Argumentation, Problem/Solution, Narrative, and Informative/Explanatory.

We are looking for students who want to participate for their enjoyment. Our teams are open to all of our students, although in some cases there are participation limits and we have to determine who will go on to represent Asheville Middle School in the competitions. It does not cost anything to participate at the school level. If you win at Regionals, then you can compete statewide at the state site.

Email me, andrew.weatherly@acsgmail.net, and I'll be back in touch soon. Here's the official website https://ncscholastic.org/competitions

Best--Andy Weatherly

AIG Specialist

School Health Program

A Division of the MAHEC Family Health Center

When to Keep Your Student Home from School

There are times when your student should not attend school. Keeping your student home at these times will prevent the spread of illness to other students at school. If you have questions, please contact your School Nurse, Lina Lam at 828-708-5328.

ILLNESS WHAT TO DO?

Difficulty breathing or other signs of serious illness - Keep student home. See Healthcare Provider.

**See COVID-19

Chickenpox

Keep student home until they have no new sores for 24 hours AND all sores are dried and crusted.

**During an outbreak of chickenpox, students who are NOT vaccinated for chickenpox (Varicella) and have been in close contact with someone sick with the infection will not be allowed at school for 21 days after they were last exposed to chickenpox, even if not sick.

COVID-19 (positive antigen or PCR/molecular test)

Keep student home until:

• It has been at least 5 days after the first day of symptoms (or specimen collection date if asymptomatic); AND

• It has been at least 24 hours since the student had a fever (without using fever reducing medicine); AND

• Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving

**Student should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after the first day of symptoms to minimize the risk of infecting others, unless an exemption to mask use applies. The student may remove their mask sooner following 2 sequential negative tests 48 hours apart.

COVID-19 symptoms, including: • Fever or chills • Cough • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing • Fatigue • Muscle or body aches • Headache • New loss of taste or smell • Sore throat • Congestion or runny nose • Nausea or vomiting • Diarrhea

Keep student home until:

• Student has received a negative PCR/molecular test for COVID 19 OR an alternate diagnosis from a healthcare provider AND: o It has been at least 24 hours since the student had a fever (without using fever reducing medicine); AND
• They have felt well for at least 24 hours

OR

• It has been at least 5 days after the first day of symptoms AND It has been at least 24 hours since the student had a fever (without using fever reducing medicine); AND Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving

**Unless student has received a negative PCR/molecular test or alternate diagnosis, they should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after the first day of symptoms to minimize the risk of infecting others, unless an exemption to mask use applies. The student may remove their mask sooner following 2 sequential negative tests 48 hours apart.

Diarrhea that cannot be controlled and/or has blood/mucus in it or with a fever

Keep student home. See Healthcare Provider.

**See COVID-19

Fever with oral temperature 100.4 F or higher and not feeling well enough to participate in class. Keep student home until fever-free for 24 hours without using fever- reducing medicine such as Motrin or Tylenol

**See COVID-19

Head lice

If lice are first found at school, student may stay until end of the day but may not return until treatment has been started and all live lice are gone.

Illness that prevents the student from taking part in class activities easily - Student may return to school when able to take part in activities.

Impetigo

Keep student home until 24 hours after antibiotics have been started.

MRSA

Keep student home if sore is draining and cannot be covered with a clean, dry bandage. Keep student home if they cannot keep from picking at sore.

Pink eye with white or yellow discharge or eye pain - Keep student home until seen by a healthcare provider and 24 hours after 1st dose of medicine, if prescribed.

Rash with fever or behavior change - Keep student home until seen by a healthcare provider and treated if needed.

Ringworm

If ringworm is first found at school, student may stay until end of the day if it can be covered. Student may not return until treatment has been started. Area must remain covered until completely healed.

Scabies

Student must stay home until after treatment is complete.

Strep throat

Keep student home until 24 hours after antibiotics have been started.

Vomiting 2 or more times within 24 hours- Keep student home until able to tolerate regular diet.

**See COVID-19

Monday, October 3- Soccer and Volleyball at Home vs. Erwin (4:30 PM)

Monday, October 3- Tennis at Erwin (4:30 PM)

Tuesday, October 4- School Improvement Team meeting in the media center (3:45 PM)

Tuesday, October 4- PTO meeting in the media center (5:00 PM)

Wednesday, October 5- Soccer and Volleyball at Home vs. Valley Springs (4:30 PM)

Wednesday, October 5- Tennis at Valley Springs (4:30 PM)

Wednesday, October 5- Football at A.C. Reynolds (5:00 PM)

Thursday, October 6- Cross Country Meet at Home (4:30 PM)

Friday, October 7- 8th Grade Band Night at AHS/SILSA Football Game

Monday, October 10: Soccer and Volleyball at Home vs. Cane Creek (4:30 PM)

Tuesday, October 11: Tennis at Cane Creek (4:30 PM)

Tuesday, October 11- PTO Open House/ Field Trip Info for 8th grade families (5:30-7:00 PM)

Wednesday, October 12: Soccer and Volleyball at Home vs. Enka (4:30 PM)

Wednesday, October 12: Tennis at Enka (4:30 PM)

Wednesday, October 12: Football at North Buncombe (5:00 PM)

Thursday, October 13- Required Work Day; no school for students

Friday, October 14- Parent/Teacher Conference Day; no school for students

PAST TWO WEEKS, BUT IMPORTANT TO PLAN FOR NOW:

Wednesday, October 19: Two Hour Delay Late Start

Friday, October 21: 8th Grade Fall Social (3:45-5:45 PM)

Thursday, October 27: Dine out at Five Guys (Merrimon) Volleyball Fundraiser (5:00-9:00 PM)

Saturday, October 29: Asheville Bands Mattress Sale Fundraiser @ AMS gym (11 AM- 6 PM)

Thursday, November 3: Fall Picture Makeups

Tuesday, November 8: Optional Teacher Workday; no school for students

Friday, November 11: Veterans Day holiday; no school for students

Wednesday, November 16: Two Hour Delay late start

Wednesday, November 23: Annual Leave Day; no school for students

Thursday, November 24: Holiday; no school for students

Friday, November 25: Holiday; no school for students

Saturday, December 10: Asheville Bands 5K @ AMS