AMS Weekly Update
September 26, 2022
The Musselwhite Memo
Also, please note the important SOS and Lifelines programming happening at AMS this week (Wednesday). If you have questions, please reach out to your grade level counselor. Let's show our Bearcat spirit! On Friday, students and staff are encouraged to participate in PINK OUT! Then, on Monday, October 3, students and staff are encouraged to wear house colors!
Lastly, we will soon recognize our first group of Community Champions - please click below to nominate a student for making a difference in our community.
As always, if you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Remember, be the difference and have a great Bearcat Day!
Community Champions
This Week @ AMS
Tuesday
AMS Football vs. Crowley
8th Graders will play @ AMS - 7th Graders will be @ Crowley
Wednesday
AMS Tennis vs. Weatherford Hall (@Weatherford)
Cross Country @ Brock
Thursday
Ladycat Volleyball @ Crowley - Richard Allie
Friday
PINK OUT
A Note from Child Nutrition
PARENTS: DO YOU KNOW WHAT MAKES A SCHOOL MEAL?
Lunch – 3 to 5 items (same price)//Breakfast – 3 to 4 items (same price)
School Meal items = USDA MY PLATE: protein/whole grains/fruit/veggies/milk
Students must take at least 1 fruit/veg w/school meal.
PLEASE HELP US ENCOURAGE YOUR KIDS TO TAKE & EAT A FULL TRAY - It’s the best option, nutritionally and economically!
Congratulations AMS Honor Winds and Symphonic Winds
At the end of last school year, the AMS Honor Winds and AMS Symphonic Winds each submitted recordings into prestigious competitions, and the results were announced this week:
2021-2022 AMS Honor Winds
Last year's Honor Winds, directed by Joey Qualls, entered the Mark of Excellence project through the Foundation for Music Education and were named a National Wind Band Honors National Winner!! The top 25% of bands in the country are named National Winners, while the next 25% are named Commended Winners. This places them amount the very best middle school varsity ensembles in the nation! Congratulations to Mr. Qualls and the 2021-2022 AMS Honor Winds!!
2021-2022 AMS Symphonic Winds
Last year's Symphonic Winds, directed by Simon Bosch, entered the Citation of Excellence project through the Foundation for Music Education and were named a Citation of Excellence Winner!! The top 25% of non-varsity bands in Texas are named Citation Winners, while the next 25% are named Commended Winners. This places them among the very best middle school non-varsity ensembles in Texas! Congratulations to Mr. Bosch and the 2021-2022 AMS Symphonic Winds!!
AMS Fall Spirit Tees
We are taking orders now! Please send your order form to the Front Office with payment. For teacher, please put your student's Flex teacher!
End of Cycle Testing
Students will have End of Cycle Testing in several of their core classes the week of October 3-7. These assessments must be taken on a district device. It is imperative that if your student has a district device that those devices are charged and at school daily. If your student does not use a district owned device, one will be provided. If you would like for your student to have a district device - it is not too late - please enter a Incident IQ help request (available on Launchpad).
Testing Schedule
- October 3 - 8th Grade Reading Language Arts
- October 4 - 7th Grade Reading Language Arts
- October 5 - 7th Grade Math
- October 6 - Algebra I and 6th Grade Reading Language Arts
- October 7 - 6th Grade Math and 8th Grade Math
Hispanic Heritage Month
This month we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The observance of Hispanic Heritage Month began in 1988, under President Ronald Reagan. However, its roots date back to 1968, when President Lyndon B. Johnson announced the first Hispanic Heritage Week. Each year, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 - October 15. Mrs. Morao's Spanish classes created this mural for our school to commemorate Hispanic Heritage month and the contributions of influential Hispanic Americans in the US.
Attention 6th Graders
Junior FFA membership is open to Aledo ISD students in grades 3-6 or at least 8 years of age. Dues for Jr. Members will be $40.00. Joining the Jr. FFA allows the member to participate in local meetings, limited judging contests, speaking contest, ag science fair and showing at major stock shows under the supervision of the Aledo Independent School District Agriculture Teachers. Dues are due on October 3rd, 2022. Please fill out one form for each student you have joining Junior FFA. For each student joining the Junior FFA, dues are $40.00 per student. Once we get the student ID for you student(s) we will send you the link to pay the Junior FFA dues online via the In-Touch system. Junior FFA Membership Sign Up: https://forms.gle/YqENZNcGafL6jUcB7
Positivity Project
Dear Families,
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Perspective. Perspective means you appreciate when people see things in different ways. You have the ability to understand the world from multiple points of view.
Perspective is also referred to as wisdom and is distinct from intelligence. People with this strength are sought out for advice because they see the big picture and can make sense of the world’s complexity. This strength of perspective gives individuals the ability to see to the heart of difficult matters and achieve clarity. Most importantly, they are honest and behave in an ethically consistent manner.
Perspective helps an individual make sense of the world. It provides clarity on what matters and what does not. Being able to see things from multiple angles helps individuals remain calm and learn from mistakes; they are typically highly self-aware. Reflecting on their own feelings, thoughts, and motives helps them understand and empathize with other people. These individuals are strong listeners and ask great questions. Individuals with the strength of perspective help their group get through difficult or uncertain circumstances because they’re poised and can identify opportunities for success.
To practice and encourage the character strength of perspective with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.
Have a wonderful week!
Late Arrivals
Lunch Deliveries
In the event that you need to deliver lunch to your student, please follow the steps below:
- Please be sure that the lunch is clearly labeled with your student's first and last name.
- Upon entering AMS, please place your student's lunch in the bin assigned to your student's grade level lunch.
- The bins will be delivered at the start of each lunch period. Students will be responsible for getting their lunches from the bin.
Again, we request that you limit lunch deliveries when possible. Also, in order to limit distractions, we will not call students out of class to receive lunches.
Thank you for your help with this!
Telemedicine
Get your child signed up for the Telemedicine program today! This program is offered to any student enrolled in a Parker County school and all school staff members. There is no out of pocket cost for any student and a $30 flat fee for school staff members. Students with private health insurance, or who are covered by Medicaid will provide PCHD with this information during enrollment. The Telemedicine program is a partnership between the Parker County Hospital District and Parker County schools. Through the use of Telemedicine and the Medpod Medical Cart, the healthcare needs of staff and students can be met in a convenient setting. Students can be evaluated by one of our three providers in the school nurse’s office, or by appointment at our Remote School Based Healthcare Clinic located at 1501 Texas Drive in Weatherford. Testing available at each site:
- Rapid Covid
- Rapid Strep
- Rapid Influenza
- PCR Strep
- PCR Covid/Flu/RSV
Visit our website at: www.pchdtx.org and click on your school’s logo to begin the short, simple sign-up process. Please call (817) 458- 3335 with any questions.
Signs of Suicide - 7th and 8th Grade
The adolescent years are marked by a roller-coaster ride of emotions—challenging for students and their parents. It can be hard to tell the difference between normal adolescent turmoil and what might be a mental health concern. Depression is becoming more common among young people and appears to be affecting students at an earlier age. Depression is treatable, but untreated depression is a leading risk factor for suicide.
To proactively address these issues, our school is offering suicide prevention education using SOS Signs of Suicide. SOS encourages students to seek help if they are concerned about themselves or a friend. SOS is an evidence-based program that has demonstrated an improvement in students’ knowledge and adaptive attitudes about suicide risk and depression, as well as a reduction in actual suicide attempts.
There will be a parent preview opportunity on September 22. Please contact Laura Lowe (llowe@aledoisd.org) or Elisha Drake (edrake@aledoisd.org) to schedule a preview.
The student program will be conducted on Wednesday, September 28. Please click the links below for the parent information guide and a copy of the parent permission form. Hard copies of the permission slip were sent home today, September 6. Students must have a signed permission form to participate. You may send the permission slip to school with your student - it will be submitted to his or her Flex teacher or you can email it to your student's counselor:
Laura Lowe - 7th Grade - llowe@aledoisd.org
Elisha Drake - 8th Grade - edrake@aledoisd.org
Again your student will not be admitted to the program without his or her permission slip!
Lifelines - 6th Grade
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death, even among children this young. The Lifelines Suicide Prevention Program focuses predominantly around recognizing signs of suicide in friends and becoming a proactive peer to assist someone in need. This program has been used in thousands of schools since it was first published in 2009. It has proved successful at increasing help-seeking behaviors by students concerned about the potential of a suicide attempt, either by themselves or by a friend.
There will be a parent preview opportunity on September 22. Please contact Maggie Fitzpatrick (mfitzpatrick@aledoisd.org) to schedule a preview.
On September 28, 2022, all sixth-grade students will participate in the Lifelines Prevention lessons during their 1st period class. The presentation will be shown electronically on the promethean board in the classroom with a teacher in the classroom to facilitate. If you have any questions or concerns about the program, please contact the AMS 6th Grade Counselor, Maggie Fitzpatrick, mfitzpatrick@aledoisd.org
Attention 8th Grade Health Students/Families
If your student is currently enrolled in 8th Grade Health, you received an email regarding "REAL Essentials". This email is included below for your convenience.
Dear Parent,
Aledo ISD is utilizing the “REAL Essentials” curriculum during the 2022-2023 school year. REAL Essentials is an abstinence-based curriculum that complies with regulations regarding sex education in schools. This program is from the Center for Relationship Education and instructs teens to wait for sex until marriage citing the latest statistics from the Center for Disease Control, National Institute for Health and other government sources. It is taught in an 8-day course covering Personality Styles, Stages of Relationships, STD and Teen Pregnancy information, and Overcoming Temptations and Obstacles.
As always, parental involvement is vital for teens having a successful future. If you have questions about the curriculum please contact us. Below is an opt-in permission form. If you do wish for your child to participate in this program you must sign and return the form below.
The “REAL Essentials” program is scheduled for the following dates: October 5, October 6, October 7, October 10, October 11, October 12, October 19, and October 20. If you wish for your child to opt-in to this program, then you must return this form to me by Monday, October 3.
If you are interested in previewing any of the “REAL Essentials” curriculum, please contact Jason Patterson (jpatterson@aledoisd.org), Travis Hull (thull@aledoisd.org), or Mandy Musselwhite (mmusselwhite@aledoisd.org).
To opt your student in - you can print the original email with the permission form included, or email your student's teacher (or me). Again, on students who opt in will be allowed to participate. Also, if you contacted me regarding previewing the materials - we are finalizing those details and I will be in contact with you!
Fall Sports Pictures and Make-Ups
Fall Sports pictures will be on October 7! This includes Cross Country, Football, Volleyball, Dance, and Cheer.
We will also photograph students who were absent on picture day!
Bearcats of Character
We are proud to announce our Bearcat of Character for Curiosity - Dean Timmerman
Dean Timmerman is a natural born leader, but also exhibits exceptional curiosity. Last week, students were offered the opportunity to visit the website www.freerice.com . We discussed how this website donates grains of rice for each question answered correctly and the impact that can have on impoverished families on a global scale. Immediately, Dean began brainstorming and questioning how he could make this a widespread social activity for Aledo ISD– from parties to Free Rice Fridays. The ability to use his curiosity to think beyond himself should be recognized and modeled.
AIM - 7th Grade Students
Your student will be given the opportunity to hear a powerful, live presentation by Aim For Success, Inc., encouraging sexual abstinence until marriage. The student presentation will be on October 6, 2022. Students will be separated into groups by gender. The groups for this presentation are listed below.
Groups
- Session 1 - Girls A - L (9:30 - 10:25)
- Session 2 - Girls M - Z (10:30 - 11:20)
- Session 3 - Boys A - L (11:30 - 12:!5)
- Session 4 - Boys M - Z (12:20 - 1:14)
To attend this program, students must have a signed permission slip. You may view the permission slip by clicking here . Students will receive a hard copy of the permission slip on Monday, September 19. If you have questions about this presentation please contact Laura Lowe, 7th Grade Counselor, at llowe@aledoisd.org
There will also a parent preview on Monday October 3, 2022 via WebEx beginning at 6:00 P.M.
Link: https://aledoisd.webex.com/meet/edrake
Passcode: No password
Adopt a Teacher with Aledo Education Foundation
Adopt a Teacher: Help us reach our goal of adopting every classroom in Aledo ISD. Tax donation of $150 will help take the burden off our teachers! https://www.aledoef.org/achieving-excellence-fund
October Important Dates
Mark your calendars!
- Monday, October 3 - AIM Parent Preview (7th Grade)
- Monday, October 3 - Homecoming Parade begins at 6:00 (AHS)
- Tuesday, October 4 - Choir Fall Concert
- Thursday, October 6 - AIM Student Presentation (7th Grade)
- Thursday, October 6 - Band Fall Concert
- Friday, October 7 - Homecoming Game (AHS) - must have a parent to enter!
- Wednesday, October 12 - End of Grading Cycle 1
- Thursday, October 13 - Professional Learning Day - Student Holiday
- Friday, October 14 and Monday, October 17 - Aledo ISD Closed (Student and Staff Holiday)
- Tuesday, October 18 - Student Holiday/Staff Work Day
- Wednesday, October 19 - Grading Cycle 2 Begins
AMS Athletic Websites
AMS Bell Schedule
Aledo Middle School
Email: mmusselwhite@aledoisd.org
Website: https://www.aledoisd.org/AMS
Location: 416 FM 1187, Aledo, TX, USA
Phone: (817)441-5198
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AledoMSBearcats
Twitter: @aledo_ms