The Black Bear Corner
February 24 - 28
#AIMHIGH
Hello Black Bears! Have a fantastic week!
Testing in Progress
ACCESS Testing...
Testing will begin Monday, February 10. The bells will be turned off. Please adhere to our standard bell schedule. We ask that you monitor the hallways and encourage the students to transition quietly.
February 10 - 21 - EL
Please encourage all students to do their best!
March Madness - Million Word Challenge Kick-off
Million Word Challenge Kick-off
Dr. Douglas and Mr. Jerraud Powers will begin our "March Madness Kick-off" Thursday, February 27 @ 3pm in the gym. The challenge will consist of a competition between Decatur and Austin Middle Schools. The school that meet the following parameters will earn a day for students to enjoy inflatables as a precursor to testing:
- The window for the enhanced challenge is March 2 - April 6.
- The # of words will be divided by the # of students enrolled.
- Students must earned a minimum of 80% accuracy in order for their words to be counted.
- Only those students that meet 80% accuracy will allowed to attend the celebration.
Black History Activities .....
We will have our Black History Program Friday, February 28.
6th grade - 2nd Period
7th grade - 3rd Period
ELA Test Prep Plan
Wednesday, February 26---Text Dependent Writing
Tuesday, March 3----Reading/Language
Thursday, March 5----Text Dependent Writing
Tuesday, March 10----Reading/Language
Thursday, March 12----Text Dependent Writing
Monday, March 16----Reading/Language
Wednesday, March 18----Text Dependent Writing
Friday, March 20------Reading/Language
Monday, March 23----Reading/Language
Wednesday, March 25-----Text Dependent Writing
Friday, March 27----Reading/Language
Monday, April 6-----Reading/Language
Tuesday, April 7-----Text Dependent Writing
Wednesday, April 8-----Reading/Language
Thursday, April 9-----Text Dependent Writing
Math Test Prep Plan
February 5th- March 12
Daily Warm-up ACAP Question & Complete Course of Study
· Reference page will be utilized
· ACAP Online Tools
· Strategic Teaching Techniques incorporated ie. Turn and Talk, Making Predictions. Quick Writes, Think Pair Share, etc..
Monday, March 16 & Tuesday March 17
Pretest
· Pretest will be developed from Item test banks provided from DRC
Wednesday March 18
Small groups
· Skill specific groups will be made based on data from Pretest
· Students will work with partners and with teacher
Science Test Prep Plan
Practice using ACAP online Tool Training
Dates: March 27
ACAP Sample Items with Test Taking Strategies - At the beginning of class on Thursdays, we will use South Carolina Sample Questions (SCPASS), A+ College Ready Checkpoint Questions, and ACAP Online Training Sample Questions to review content and teach strategies for answering ACAP style questions.
Dates: Feb 20, Feb 27, March 5, March 12, March 19, March 26
Incorporate Science Test Questions as Bell-Ringers Weekly
ACAP Final Review - Review unmastered topics based on areas of need and previous assessments.
Dates: April 6
Upcoming Events...
District Walkthroughs in progress --- Every FRIDAY
DCS Walkthrough #4 opens
February 23 - National Jr Honor Society Inductions @ 3pm
February 25 - ACAP Training Meeting (Clarke & Praytor)
February 27 - "March Madness" Million Word Challenge Kick-off @ 3pm (March 2- April 6)
February 28 - Black History Program
February 28 - Honor Roll Celebration
March 2 - Tech Training (Only teachers w/ Viewsonic)
March 2 - Faculty Meeting @ 3:45pm
March 2 - 20-Minute Observations begin
March 3 - Leadership Team Meeting
March 3 - EL Training @ AJHS @ 3:45pm
March 4 - Dolphin Island Field Trip
March 6 - Student Council Elementary Book Delivery
Sports...
Softball...
February 22-24 - AMS @ Hartselle Tournament
March 2 - AMS vs Muscle Shoals @ 4:30pm
March 5 - AMS vs Athens @ 4:30pm
Soccer...
February 25 - AMS vs. Monrovia Middle 4:30pm (H)
March 2 - AMS @ Athens Middle @ 4:30pm (A)
March 3 - AMS @ Sparkman @ 5pm (A) - Girls
March 3 - AMS @ Hartselle @ 6pm (A) - Boys
Baseball...
February 24 - AMS vs Meridianville Middle @ 4:30pm (H)
February 25 - AMS vs East Limestone Middle @ 4:30pm (H)
February 27 - AMS vs Decatur @ 4:30pm (H)
February 28 - AMS @ Meridianville Middle @ 4:30pm (A)
March 2 - AMS @ East Limestone Middle @ 4:30pm (A)
March 5 - AMS vs Ardome @ 4:30pm (H)
February & March Birthdays...
March 1 - Regina Raney
March 2 - Wanda Merkt
March 5 - Melanie Stewart
March 10 - Debra Camden
March 10 - Florence Carter
March 20 - Peggy McKleroy
March 22 - Zach Linley
March 24 - Mike Dunlap
March 26 - Tracy Glenn
Austin Middle School
Email: ams@dcs.edu
Location: 2715 Danville Road Southwest, Decatur, AL, USA
Phone: (256) 552-4622