Oriole's Nest
February 3, 2023
Avon Middle School South
Email: msattendance@avon-schools.org
Website: https://www.avon-schools.org/mssouth
Location: 7199 East US Highway 36, Avon, IN, USA
Phone: 317-544-5700
Twitter: @avonsouth
ACSC 2022 - 2023 School Calendar
ACSC 2023 - 2024 School Year Calendar is now available.
Click the 2nd link below to view.
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
February 20, 2023 - President's Day - NO SCHOOL!
March 20 - March 31, 2023 - Spring Break - NO SCHOOL!
Smiles Club
National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Below are a few pictures from the ceremony, please enjoy!
AMS South 2022 - 2023 NJHS Group Photo
Goodluck Okanlawon being inducted
Larissa Mutoni being inducted
7th grade
8th grade
AMS South 2022 - 2023 NJHS Group Photo
Power School Account - Returning Student Registration
Administrators at Avon Schools have been working hard to simplify our annual student registration process. We need your help.
This week you should have received a ParentSquare message asking you to verify your access to your Power School account, a link was provided in the message .
This is a one-time activity that will dramatically streamline registration, especially for families with multiple students in Avon Schools. It should only take a few minutes to complete.
Thank you for your help.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Stewart in our Guidance Office.
UPCOMING ATHLETIC EVENTS
Mr. Will Mahan - AMS South Athletic Director
Girls Basketball
2/7 AWAY vs. Lynhurst 7/8 Grade Center 5:00PM
2/9 HOME vs. Brownsburg West 5:00PM
Good luck!
Boys Basketball - Pendleton Heights Shootout
Please enjoy these photos at the event from Mr. Silva.
A Team vs. Connersville
A Team vs. Connersville
A Team vs. Connersville
A Team vs. Connersville
A Team vs. Connersville
A Team vs. Connersville
A Team vs. Connersville
A Team vs. Connersville
A Team vs. Connersville
A Team vs. Connersville
A Team vs. Connersville
B Team vs. Connersville
B Team vs. Connersville
B Team vs. Connersville
B Team vs. Connersville
B Team vs. Connersville
B Team vs. Connersville
B Team vs. Connersville
B Team vs. Connersville
B Team vs. Connersville
B Team vs. Connersville
A Team vs. Pendleton
A Team vs. Pendleton
A Team vs. Pendleton
A Team vs. Pendleton
A Team vs. Pendleton
A Team vs. Pendleton
A Team vs. Pendleton
A Team vs. Pendleton
A Team vs. Pendleton
A Team vs. Pendleton
A Team vs. Pendleton
B Team vs. Pendleton
B Team vs. Pendleton
B Team vs. Pendleton
B Team vs. Pendleton
B Team vs. Pendleton
B Team vs. Pendleton
B Team vs. Pendleton
B Team vs. Pendleton
B Team vs. Pendleton
B Team vs. Pendleton
Thank you, Mr. Silva
Mr. Silva put together a few collages of his favorite photos from this season. Enjoy!
Sports Physicals
A physical must be dated after April 1, 2022, uploaded to your PRIVIT account and cleared by the Athletic Trainer before an athlete is eligible to participate in any tryout or workout.
A copy of the ISHAA Physical Form can be picked up in the offices at school, or there is a link below that you can download/print out.
Athletic Fees
The following fees will need paid prior to participating in each sport:
- $50.00 for Avon School Corporation (This fee is paid per sport)
- $25.00 for Avon Middle School South (This fee is paid once per year)
STUDENT INFORMATION
Student Laptops
Please remind your student(s) to charge their computers each night.
Order a 2022 - 2023 AMS South Yearbook now!
South Families! Don’t miss out on getting your yearbook.
The deadline for ordering is February 28!!
If you have any questions reach out to Mrs. Boroff at mvboroff@avon-schools.org
Below is more information for ordering this years yearbook, there is a flyer and a link to Josten's webpage.
2023 Washington D.C. Trip - Parent Information Meeting
AMS South teachers sponsor an 8th grade Washington DC trip during Fall Break each year. If you think your child may be interested in participating in this fun learning experience, please attend the Washington D.C. parent meeting on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 6:30PM, in the school auditorium at Avon Middle School South.
Parents who are interested in sending the student on the trip should attend this meeting. All questions will be answered by our teacher sponsors and Appian Tours.
Please enter Door 13.
2023 Fall Washington, D.C. Trip Information
We are excited to announce details for the 2023 Washington, DC trip, which will take place this Fall for the current 7th grade class of both Avon Middle School North and Avon Middle School South students. At the time of the trip, the students will be 8th graders for the 2023-2024 school year. This year, we have partnered up with Appian Tours, a local company that specializes in educational tours, especially for Washington, DC.
Below you will find a flyer with more detailed information about this exciting trip.
Celebrating Birthday's This Week!
Happy Birthday
to our students celebrating a birthday this week:
Jonathan Bent
Andrea Corona
Zelmalyna Gregory
Journi Williams
Audrey Hershey
Emilie Schaefer
Natalie Schaefer
Jacob Freije
Abel Tadesse
Grace Nierzwicki
Jackson Fowler
Isavella Bailey
Jaxson Cleveland
Rihanna Clingman
Sienna Gonzalez
NJHS Study Tables
National Junior Honor Society will offer after school study help sessions on Wednesday’s after school from 4:10 - 5:00PM. Students will then go to the front commons area and wait for the late bus or parent pick-up. During this time, there will be a supervisor with the students while they wait for the late bus to arrive. Students that will be a car rider home on these days can be picked up at door 1 at 5:00PM.
If your student will be staying for the study session and they need bus transportation home they must sign up for the late bus in the Guidance Office at lunch that day. For those students taking the late bus home, the bus will leave AMS South at 5:10pm.
TEAM NEWS
Each week your child's team will give an update about the current week or week ahead. Please find your child's team below for that information. In addition, you will find news from our Encore teachers, Media Center, and PE/Wellness teachers.
Cardinals News
Mrs. Dugan, Mrs. Williams, Mr. Schubert & Mr. Uhl
In Social Studies, we will begin discussing early kingdoms in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Science classes will begin exploring Earth's Layers and geologic time. In Math, we will continue to solve algebraic equations as well as solve and graph algebraic inequalities. Pre-Algebra classes will begin Unit 7 which will cover analyzing data through graphs, writing, and solving equations, and we will revisit determining the slope of a line. In Language Arts, student will continue to learn about Phineas Gage and the brain through nonfiction readings. Be sure to ask them about their brain hats at the end of the week!
Grizzlies News
Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Boroff, Mrs. Schroer & Ms. Weinstein
In Language Arts, we will continue reading and analyzing the story of Phineas Gage. This unit gives us a chance to improve our nonfiction reading comprehension while learning about a fascinating case in the history of American brain science research! Math students will be coming to solve equations and beginning learning how to write equations from word problems. Pre-Algebra students will be scatter plots and revisiting how y=mx+b relates to scatter plots. In Social Studies, students started their Sub-Saharan Africa unit last week. They will be diving into ancient African Kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Great Zimbabwe and more! This week, Science classes learned about the rock cycle through notes and a few activities involving Starbursts and rocks. Next week, we will have a quiz on Tuesday over minerals, rocks, and the rock cycle. We will continue learning about the Earth’s layers and geologic time.
Jaguars News
Mrs. Clark, Ms. Hatton, Mrs. Ringham & Ms. Schaber
Ms. Costello, Ms. Gawrys, Mr. Thoennes & Mr. Walker
Language Arts
Mrs. Ringham - Language Arts students will read to understand the slow historical development of microbiology and the ways in which Phineas’ case was impacted by that history.
Mr. Thoennes - In Language Arts, we will be making our brain hats and continuing to read Phineas Gage.
Math & Pre-Algebra
Mrs. Clark - In Math 7, students will be reviewing for and then testing over Unit 6. In Pre-Algebra, we will be starting unit 7: Scatter plots and graphs.
Ms. Costello - In Math, we will be continuing to solve equations.
Science
Ms. Schaber - Science students will be reviewing for their quiz on rocks and minerals that is on Tuesday. We will then be starting our unit on geological time and earth structure.
Ms. Gawrys - In Science, we will be wrapping up Rocks & Minerals with a quiz on Tuesday and then getting into geological time.
Social Studies
Ms. Hatton - Social Studies students will wrap up talking about the geography of Sub-Saharan Africa, then move into talking about the early history of the region. They will be learning about the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai and the gold & salt trade that majorly impacted West Africa's early history.
Mr. Walker - In Social Studies, we will be starting their unit on Africa.
Foresters News
Mrs. DeBow, Mrs. Mellen, Ms. Tobin & Mrs. Zimmerman
Ms. Costello, Ms. Gawrys, Mr. Thoennes & Mr. Walker
Language Arts
Mrs. Zimmerman - Wrap up unit 8E (Holocaust: Memory and Meaning) and take the unit test.
Mr. Thoennes - In Language Arts, we will be wrapping up unit 8E and taking our assessment in the middle of the week. Then, we will begin Unit 8C: The Space Race.
Pre-Algebra & Algebra
Mrs. DeBow - Algebra students will test over factoring on Friday, February 10. Pre-algebra students will learn to use the Pythagorean Theorem.
Ms. Costello - In Math, we will begin learning about Pythagorean Theorem.
Science
Ms. Tobin - We will be starting our chemistry unit by looking at the different subatomic particles and their properties.
Ms. Gawrys - In Science, we will be jumping into chemistry!
Social Studies
Mrs. Mellen - We will be looking at the Era of Good Feelings and the conditions during industrialization and immigration.
Mr. Walker - In Social Studies, we will be finishing up the Jeffersonian Era and moving into the Era of Good Feelings.
Greyhounds News
Mrs. Warthan, Ms. Kegley, Mr. Casey & Mr. Osen
In Science, students will begin our introduction to atoms. Biology classes will take a test on Tuesday, February 7th. In Algebra, students will be working with multiple representations of quadratic functions. Pre-Algebra classes will be working with the Pythagorean Theorem. In Social Studies, students will be learning about the Era of Good Feelings. Language Arts students will be starting a new unit about the Space Race.
Greyhound Team News:
Please make sure your students are charging their computers each evening. We are having the same students need to charge daily.
Panthers News
Mrs. Hood, Mr. Rodgers, Mrs. Taylor & Mr. Williams
In Pre-Algebra, students will be identifying different types of triangles and working with real world applications of the Pythagorean Theorem. Algebra students will be solving quadratic equations by graphing. We will review factoring, solving equations using the zero-product property and graphing, and take our test on Friday, February 10th. Language Arts classes writing a found poem about the Holocaust and watching the film Race based on the life of Jesse Owens. They will take the Unit 8E test either Wednesday or Thursday. In Science, we will begin our chemistry unit by introducing common vocabulary terms and practice building models of an atom. Biology classes will finalize our cell cycle units and test over mitosis, meiosis, and cell differentiation on Tuesday, 2-7. Then begin DNA structure lesson. Social Studies, would you believe there was a time in our history when there was only one political party, and a president ran for office unopposed? Students will be learning about this unique time in history called the Era of Good Feelings.
Encore News & World Languages
Señora Barker (Spanish), Mrs. Hauptmann (Japanese), Mr. Parr (Computer Science), Mrs. Leonard (Art), Mrs. Gleissner (FACS), Mr. Hamsley (Engineering and Technology), Mr. Wolf (Robotics) and Mrs. Snyder (Flight & Space and Medical Detectives)
Spanish
Next week students will be continuing to use their new food and drink vocabulary to talk about what they eat/drink and learning how to conjugate er/ir verbs.
Japanese
This week, in Japanese, students will be describing houses, and kanji for the days of the week.
Art
Next week, 7th grade students will work on their still life drawing using charcoal and white chalk pastel on toned paper.
Next week, 8th grade students will be finishing up their lidded coil building clay sculpture. Near the end of next week we will begin a linear perspective drawing. Check parent square to sign up on an itemized list of needed ingredients for our root beer float pitch in on March 3. As long as we have our primary ingredients, we will eat/drink our root beer floats out of our handmade mugs on the last day of art class.
Computer Science
7th grade students are going to be using more conditional statements, making their sprites move, and start working on their side-scroller project.
8th grade students will continue working on their Safe project, and wrapping up for presentations.
7th & 8th grade FACS
7th and 8th grade FACS students will begin the Nutrition and Cooking unit where they will study and practice food and kitchen safety. Students will read and prepare recipes in class.
7th grade Engineering and Design & 8th grade Gateway to Technology
7th grade students will be starting design of their pinewood derby cars.
8th grade students will be starting construction on their solar lamps.
Flight & Space - 7th grade
Students will begin their space unit! This will include learning what it takes to survive in space and if a mission to Mars is possible.
Medical Detectives - 8th grade
Students will continue learning about the nervous system to help prepare them for the sheep's brain dissection.
Robotics
Students will work to build and code a testbed to learn how to use various sensors and motors.
PE/Wellness News
Mrs. Fair, Mrs. Lucas & Mr. Jackson
Students have been actively playing speedball games, badminton games and learning different components of fitness such as cardiovascular and muscular endurance this week. They will have their second assessment on Friday February 10th during PE. The students have access to their review sheet for their current activity in Schoology to study for their test on Friday! Please continue to remind your child to bring their grey shirt and black shorts on Monday mornings for the week of PE. They are doing a good job!
Enjoy these pictures of our students' holding a plank during warmups and playing badminton.
Music Department News
Mr. Abbey (Band), Ms. Szymkow (Band), Mr. Zimmerman (Choir) & Mr. Miller (Orchestra)
Band
Band students are reminded that assignments are posted every Wednesday and are due every Monday evening. These assignments do need to be on video with audible playing and are integral to our growth. Students are also reminded that band picture day is February 17th, and that concert attire must be worn for the picture. Black Performing Arts polo, black pants (no rips, no leggings, no sweats, no shorts), black socks, black shoes.
Choir
In choir, we are getting ready for the 8th Grade Choir Day on February 17th. 8th grade students will leave Avon MS South at 1:55PM and head to the high school. Parents may pick up their children at Door #42 at 5:00PM.
Orchestra
Playing tests are due February 15th by the start of class. Students should be checking that their camera and microphones are working properly so that they can submit on time. Contest preview concert is Tuesday, February 28th at 6:30 in the AMS South Auditorium. More info to come soon. ISSMA Contest is March 10th or 11th. We will get our times about two weeks before.
As always, keep checking that students are bringing instruments home and practicing. Thank you!
Media Moments with Ms. Sever
Media Center
Ms. Sever
February is Black History Month. In the library and on Sora, we have a variety of books written by Black authors and featuring Black characters and cultures. In honor of this celebration, I wanted to highlight New Kid, a middle grade graphic novel, by Jerry Craft.
Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade.
As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself? – Blurb courtesy of HarperCollinsPublishers
To learn more about Jordan and his life as the New Kid in school, check out New Kid by Jerry Craft from the AMS South Library or Sora!
OFFICE PROCEDURES
AMS South's Attendance Policy & Early Dismissal Proceedures
ABSENCE PROCEDURE
If a student is absent from school, the PARENT must call the school by 10:00 A.M. to report the absence. If no call is received, the automated school system will make an effort to contact the parent, but if NO PARENT CALL has been received by 3:00 P.M. the day following the absence, the student will be charged with an unexcused absence. You may also send an email to us to notify us of your child's absence at msattendance@avon-schools.org.
EARLY DISMISSALS
** Please be advised that we cannot take early dismissal information over the telephone. **
If your child needs to leave school early during the school day please send a note in with your child to bring to the office first thing in the morning or email us at
msattendance@avon-schools.org with all the necessary information: students name, date and time picking up, and the name of the person picking your child up if someone other than a parent or guardian will be picking up. This email will go directly to the front office secretaries and they will be able to get your child an early dismissal pass so that they can be in the front office when you are ready to pick them up. If you are unable to email us we will need you to come into the office with your valid ID, once we verify it is a parent/guardian picking up we will be able to call the student down for dismissal.
If someone other than a parent or guardian will be picking up your child we MUST have this information in writing from a parent/guardian. Please include his or her name on the note or email. Once we verify their photo ID then the student can sign out and leave.
If leaving early for a doctor/dentist/orthodontist appointment, please provide verification note from the appointment to the main office to ensure that the absence is excused.
Using this email will ensure your child will get a pass out of class to be in the office. Please do not use Parent Square to send a message to your child's teachers as we cannot guarantee that this message will get to the front office to get your child a pass. Our teachers are very busy throughout the day and may not be able to check Parent Square often, or if the teacher is out that day we would not get that message in the front office in time to get your child an early dismissal pass.
We want to make sure that your information is getting to the right person in a timely manner, and hopefully prevent any miscommunication or missed messages.
Pre-Arranged Absences
It is our belief that students can best achieve academic success by being in school every day. We also understand that a student may occasionally have an opportunity to experience extraordinary opportunities that may result in a missed day of school. The principal or designee may grant a pre-arranged absence, if the absence provides an extraordinary opportunity for the student and/or family. The request must be submitted at least five school days in advance of the requested absence. The student will be required to complete all missed work upon his/her return to school.
No more than three days of pre-arranged absences will be approved each year. Pre-arranged absences may not be granted during the following circumstances:
- I-Learn
- During semester exams
- When the requested absence would push the student’s attendance record into excessive absence status or if the student has surpassed the allowable number of absences.
AMS South Visitors Policy
For Visitors to our Building
Avon Schools require all visitors to check-in at the front office using our visitor management system, Safe Visitor. This system requires visitors to scan their driver's license or state identification card for a check of their record. A temporary badge is provided to all visitors to wear while in our buildings. As our visitors leave school, they scan and return that badge to front office staff.
Entering the Building
Anyone entering our building beyond the front office will need to have a valid photo ID with them so that they can be checked in through our Safe Visitor Solutions system. You will be given a badge to wear while in the building so that you are identified as a visitor. When leaving you will return to the front office so that we can check you out of Safe Visitor Solutions and take your badge.
Visiting Students during Lunch
At this time, we are allowing parents/guardians to have lunch with their child during their specified lunch time in our commons area outside of the cafeteria. Parents must follow our policy for entering our building listed above; present a valid photo ID and be checked into our Safe Visitor system. Please take note that this process may take a few minutes to get you checked into our system so please allow for a few extra minutes for that process.
**If someone other than a parent/guardian would like to have lunch with your student, we MUST have that information in writing in advance from a parent/guardian. You can either send a note in with your student to bring to the office when they arrive at school in the morning, or you can email our attendance line with the information at msattendance@avon-schools.org
BUILDING ACCESS
Please be prepared to identify yourself, provide a valid photo ID, and provide a reason for your visit when you arrive. Thank you for your patience in adapting to the updated and more secure system.
Guidance Office Information
21st CENTURY SCHOLARS
7th and 8th grade parents: Your children may be eligible for a college scholarship!
View the form below for more information.
STUDENT LAPTOP RENTAL INSURANCE
Worth Ave. Group Laptop Insurance
Avon Community Schools has chosen Worth Ave. Group as the vendor of choice to insure school-issued laptops rented by students. Insurance with Worth Ave. Group will protect the device against: Accidental Damage, Theft, Fire, Flood, Natural Disasters, Power Surge and Vandalism. This insurance policy will provide full replacement cost coverage and will protect the item worldwide (on and off school grounds). The policy is also transferable to a replacement unit. Insurance plans may be purchased online.
- Coverage Term: July 18, 2022 - July 18, 2023
- It is up to you to renew yearly.
- Deadline to Purchase Coverage: September 5, 2022
- Yearly Insurance Rates:
- 6th-12 Grade: Lenovo 11e Laptop $45.00
- Costs are prorated for enrollment after September 5.
STUDENT HANDBOOK
COMMUNITY NEWS
Homework Hotline
Need help with Math and Science homework?
Call the Homework Hotline
1-877-ASK-ROSE
Click below to visit their website
Avon High School Athletic Events
The Avon High School Athletic Administrators asked us to pass along the following information regarding middle school students attending football games. Please read carefully as students must purchase tickets online prior to showing up at the stadium.
Students must have a digital ticket or All Sport Pass for entry. Tickets are $7 this year for Varsity events. To expedite entry, the ticket should be purchased ahead of time via the link with a credit card. Ticket info for purchasing online single event tickets and/or All Sport Passes (which will be sent to the purchaser’s phone) can be found at https://websites.eventlink.com/s/avon-high-school/Tickets. Tickets can be purchased on the link provided for Home and Away events throughout the school year.
K-8 STUDENTS ATTENDING FOOTBALL EVENTS AT AVON HIGH SCHOOL - It is highly encouraged that all elementary and middle school students be accompanied by a paid adult. Unsupervised students will be required to sit in the middle school section on the SW corner of the Football Stadium and will not be allowed to wonder around. Backpacks, shoestring bags, and sports equipment (footballs, frisbees, etc.) are not permitted at AHS athletic events.
Mary Lee Maier Community Pantry Information
The Mary Lee Maier Community Pantry is available to Avon school families and employees.
Every Thursday from 5:00 - 6:00PM (when school is in session)
at Avon Intermediate School East
Please do not arrive before 4:30PM due to AIS bus/school traffic
Enrollment is simple. Please complete your 2022 - 2023 enrollment before you shop. Below you will find more information for enrollment, please click the link below.