Dear AMS Cougar Families,

This past week I had the privilege to travel with our 8th grade students on their AMS Capstone trip to Washington, DC. I was the Bus Leader for Bus #3. In my 26+ years in education, I have been on a lot of field trips, and I have never had a bus look as clean as ours did at the end of our trip. The rooms I was assigned to check before we checked out also looked terrific. At the changing of the guards at Arlington National Cemetary our four buses' worth of students, along with students from many other schools stood absolutely silent during the ceremony. I share all this to say how very proud I was of our students. I also want to publicly thank 8th grade counselor Karen Evans and 8th grade assistant principal Blair Johnston for putting in many tireless hours to plan this field trip.

There are a couple of reminders I need to share with familie:

• First, students are not to bring or have delivered outside food or drink to school. Please support this by not delivering or having delivered food to your student(s).
• Second, it is not appropriate for students to bring food or drink to school to sell them. While I appreciate their entrepreneurial spirit, students should not be selling merchandise of any sort at school.
• Finally, please make sure that if your student has any need for prescription or over the counter medication that you have had a physician complete a Medication Log for each medication. If it is an item such as an asthma inhaler or epinen that needs to be carried by a student, then a self-carry form must be completed by a physician. Once these items are completed, please deliver the medications and the forms to the office at school.

Please remember that Monday, March 20 is a Required Workday. There is no school for students.

Tuesday is our weekly United Way Community Night featuring Homework Diner. Please bring your student(s) and enjoy a terrific meal. This is open to any student who is enrolled in the Asheville City Schools and their families.

Here is the link to sign up a student for support with assignments at Afternoon Academy on Wednesday and/or Thursday. Students should report to the cafeteria at dismissal. Tutoring will end right before 5:00 and students will be escorted to the front loop for pickup or go to the bus at 5:00 PM. (Locations available for bus transportation are listed on the form. If you need bus transportation to another location, please contact me in advance so I can make sure that we are able to transport to that location.)

Here's to another great week at Asheville Middle School!

Jo Landreth

Principal

Asheville Middle School

AMS PTO is taking online orders for spirit wear and Go Local cards.

Online orders will be processed in 2 weeks or less and will be delivered to a student’s Advisory classroom.

The PTO sells Cougar wear at cost. If you would like to support the AMS PTO, please consider the purchase of a Go Local Card and add it to your order.

A Go Local Card provides access to discounts and special offers at over 520 local businesses in Asheville.

All proceeds from the sale of Go Local Cards offered by AMS PTO will go directly to the PTO budget (for educator appreciation, classroom grants, field trips, and special school projects).

https://ashevillemiddlepto.square.site/

Questions? Email ashevillemiddlepto@gmail.com

To determine Middle School athletic eligibility for spring sports 2023, certain academic, attendance, and behavioral criteria must be met.

Academic:

• The 2nd Quarter report card will be used to determine initial eligibility in the spring sport.

• The student must have passed (60% or greater) all 4 core courses (math, English, science, social studies) as evidenced by the 2nd Quarter report card.

• If the student failed one or more core courses as evidenced by the 2nd Quarter report card, they will be on probation. They must attend Afternoon Academy at least two times per week. As long as they are attending Afternoon Academy, they may still play. For the 3rd Quarter Midterm on February 24, grades will be reviewed on this date to determine if probation continues. If students are passing all 4 core classes, they will be removed from probationary status. Coaches will monitor progress from week to week. If the student is not passing all 4 core classes, probation continues and students must attend two Afternoon Academies a week.

• For the 3rd Quarter Midterm on February 24, grades will be reviewed on this date to determine if students are passing all 4 core courses. If not, the student will be placed on probation. They must attend Afternoon Academy at least two times per week. As long as they are attending Afternoon Academy, they may still play. At the 3rd Quarter Report Card on April 12, grades will be reviewed on this date to determine if probation continues. If students are passing all 4 core classes, they will be removed from probationary status. Coaches will monitor progress from week to week. If the student is not passing all 4 core classes, probation continues and students must attend two Afternoon Academies a week.

• For the 3rd Quarter Report Card on April 12, grades will be reviewed on this date to determine if students are passing all 4 core courses. If not the student will be placed on probation for the rest of the season. They must attend Afternoon Academy at least two times per week. As long as they are attending Afternoon Academy, they may still play.

Attendance:

• A student must be present more than ½ the school day (over 3.5 hours) in order to practice or participate in a game for that day.

• Students must have been in attendance at least 85% of the previous semester.

Behavior:

• If a student receives either an ISS or OSS on or for any given day, the student is not allowed to practice or participate in a game for that day(s). They may not dress out or sit with the team.

Coaches are expected to:

• Share updated rosters with both AMS and MNSA principals and the Athletic Director upon formation of the team so that eligibility can be determined.

• Monitor student athlete academic, attendance, and behavioral progress weekly.

Field trip chaperones in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades

End of Grade Test proctoring

Please complete the volunteer training process (see below) so that you are ready when we need you! Then let your student's teachers know that you are ready and willing!

Grief counseling provided by Four Seasons is time-limited for the purpose of addressing grief that is related to the loss of a person by death. Professionally trained counseling staff utilize well-established, proven techniques. Students and their grief counselor will devise a plan to address their specific needs.

If you think this is a great fit for your student, please complete this form.

If you are interested in learning more, please let the AMS Counseling staff know!

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.

Thursday, April 13, at 12:00 PM (@Boardroom at 85 Mountain St.)

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.

In order for an absence to be considered educational, the student must meet educational goals and standards as outlined in the Standard Course of Study. All standards are available here on the NC Department of Public Instruction website. These standards must be listed out on the form.

Educational Leave Form

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, March 20: Required Workday. No School for Students.

Tuesday, March 21: Golf @ Broadmoor (4:00 PM)

Tuesday, March 21: Community Night featuring HW Diner (5 PM)

Wednesday, March 22: Afternoon Academy (3:30-5:00)

Wednesday, March 22: Girls' Soccer v. Valley Springs @ Home (4:30 PM)

Wednesday, March 22: Track & Field @ Owen High (4:30 PM)

Wednesday, March 22: Baseball & Softball @ Valley Springs (4:30 PM)

Thursday, March 22: Afternoon Academy (3:30-5:00)

Thursday, March 23: Girls' Soccer v. Owen @ home (4:30 PM)

Thursday, March 23: Baseball & Softball @ Owen (4:30 PM)

Saturday, March 25: ACS Career Fair (Join our team!) @ AMS (9:00-1:00)

Monday, March 27: Afternoon Academy (3:30-5:00)

Monday, March 27: Girls' Soccer v. Erwin @ home (4:30 PM)

Monday, March 27: Baseball & Softball @ Erwin (5 PM)

Tuesday, March 28: Community Night featuring HW Diner (5 PM)

Wednesday, March 29: Afternoon Academy (3:30-5:00)

Thursday, March 30: Afternoon Academy (3:30-5:00)

Thursday, March 30: Golf @ Hendersonville Country Club (4 PM)

Thursday, March 30: Baseball & Softball v. N. Buncombe @ home (4:30 PM)

Thursday, March 30: Girls' Soccer @ N. Buncombe (5 PM)

Friday, March 31: Early Release Day; Students dismissed at 1 PM

Friday, March 31: End of Quarter 3; Grades Due

Beyond two weeks, but worth looking ahead at:

Saturday, April 1- Sunday, April 9: Spring Break (No School for Students)

Monday, April 17: Report Cards go home

Wednesday, April 19: Two Hour Late Start

Wednesday, May 3: Two Hour Late Start

May 26-June 9: End of Grade and End of Course Testing window

Friday, May 26: NC Science End of Grade (EOG) Test (8th grade only)

Monday, May 29: Memorial Day Holiday (No School for Staff or Students)

Tuesday, May 30: NC Reading End of Grade (EOG) Test (6-8)

Wednesday, May 31: NC Math End of Grade (EOG)/ NC Math I End of Course (EOC) Test