Dear AMS Cougar Families,

This week students returned from the Thanksgiving break and settled in to a lot of engaging learning. As I walked through the building, I found myself wanting to join the learning rather than continue with my adult responsibilities. I appreciate the AMS faculty for leading such a smooth transition back to learning.

Please remember that this Wednesday is a late start day. School begins at 10:30 AM.

I am super excited to share about an upcoming event that will be happening on Tuesday, December 13. In conjunction with our United Way Community Night featuring Homework Diner, we also have a parent information event led by our Digital Lead Teacher, Stuart Annand. The session is entitled, "Parenting in the Digital Era: Tools to Keep Kids Safe and Healthy Online." Please consider joining our Digital Lead Teacher for a discussion on the various tools available to help parents establish safe and healthy digital habits for their children. Learn how Asheville Middle School laptops are monitored, best practices for teenage technology use at home, and apps that can assist parents as they promote and monitor safe and healthy cell phone usage by their kids. I encourage you to bring your family for the free meal in the cafeteria at 5:00 and then move over to the media center for this event at 5:30. We will also be hosting basketball games that evening, so even if you can not attend the Homework Diner, but are attending one or both games, I encourage you to step away from the games for a few minutes to check out this information. All families in the district are welcome to these events, so please share with other folks you know.

I remember when my three kiddos were little, always trying to map out the week to ensure that I had a plan for how they would make it to all of their activities. It was a hard scramble at times. As a district, our ACS Transportation Department has a similar scramble based on the availability of drivers, weather and road conditions, and bus maintenance needs. When a driver is out, the Transportation Department works tirelessly to come up with an alternative plan to get students if at all possible, sometimes with little notice. Sometimes this means buses are fuller than normal or on a different time schedule and, unfortunately, sometimes it means that there is no service to a particular area. Please know that as a district we are all pitching in to get kids home; I even drove a few routes this year when it looked like we were going to have to cancel bus service to an area. Here are some updates: currently, secondary students who ride bus 629 in the AM are riding Bus 633 in the PM. There is a possibility that Bus 632 will no longer be operating in the afternoon beginning Monday, December 5. The Transportation Department is working to restructure the route so that service can be provided, but we may not hear details until Monday. I just didn't want this to be a surprise to Bus 632 families.

The French Broad Players, Asheville Middle School's new drama team is looking for interested students. In order to participate, students will need to attend the tryouts/auditions. Tryouts for sixth-grade students will take place this Wednesday, December 7 after school in the media center. Tryouts for seventh and eighth-grade students will take place the following Tuesday, December 13 in the media center. Pickup for both tryouts will be out front between 5:15-5:30. If you have questions, please reach out to sponsors, Geoff Warren (geoff.warren@acsgmail.net) or Glenn Grizzard (walter.grizzard@acsgmail.net).

Please complete this Google form, if you are interested in joining your student for the AMS Holiday Meal on Tuesday, December 13. I am trying to gauge interest so that the cafeteria will be prepared and so that we can figure out seating for this event. There are more details about this event (e.g., times, cost, etc.) at the top of the form. Please be patient as we figure out the best way to make this happen!

We continue to see a lot of viruses shuffling around our students and staff. Please take note of the guidelines for exclusion at the bottom of the newsletter. They explain when you need to keep your student home for illness.

Finally, progress reports went home this past week. If you have not seen them, do a book bag dive. Eighth-grade students should also have NC Check-In Science scores.

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

Sincerely,

Jo Landreth

Principal

Asheville Middle School

• Students are not allowed to bring outside beverages to school in the morning. Examples: iced coffees, hot chocolate, Gatorade. They will need to finish these before they come in to the building. These items are also not permitted on school buses. Students entering school with them will be asked to throw them away.
• The dress code prohibits wearing pajamas to school.
• Cell phones should be in lockers from 8:30-3:30.

Please remind your student(s) of these expectations.

Season’s Greetings to AMS Families,

Let’s share the Holiday Joy! This is the time of year when we can come together to support our families and students! As we are aware, the holidays have been a challenge to a growing percentage of our students experiencing poverty.

I am reaching out to you in an effort to help support in providing students' holiday assistance for Christmas. Thanks to your support last year, The Holiday Joy Project provided 70 students with meaningful gifts. Once again, this year, we are appealing to your sense of community to ensure our families have a wonderful holiday season with gifts.

The “Holiday Joy” Project: You can help make a difference by:

• sponsor a student’s wish list

• make a financial donation (online or by check)

Please fill out this Holiday Joy Project Interest Form if you are interested in contributing. Each interested sponsor will receive a Student Wishlist in early November. All sponsored student wishlists and donations should be turned in at AMS by Tuesday, December 6th. Gift distribution will be Friday, December 16th.

You may contact me at fredericka.pasley@acsgmail.net or via phone at 828-747-8049.

We truly appreciate your continued support of our students and community!

Financial contributions are as follows:

Checks should be made out to: Asheville Middle School

(Memo: “AMS Holiday Joy Project”)

Mail to: Fredericka Pasley 211 South French Broad Ave. Asheville, NC 28801

Online: Here is the direct link to ACSF donation Paypal page. Once there, donors can select the "Use this donation for" dropdown and choose (“AHS/AMS Hands Up! Program”).

Thank you so very much for your kind generosity!

Fredericka Pasley, BSW

School Social Worker AMS

Dear AMS PTO Members,

Join us for the AMS PTO Monthly Meeting

This Tuesday, December 6th, 5pm

AMS Room 219

Agenda

Educator Appreciation Week, final logistics, December 12th-16th

Malaprops Sponsored ACS PTO Benefit Night, December 14th

Spirit wear sales

Educator Grants update

8th Grade End of year dance committee

Spring Carnival Planning Committee

Other Fundraiser plans

Tryouts:

12/7 3:30-5:15 media center sixth-grade students only

12/13 3:30-5:15 media center seventh & eighth grade students

Students must attend tryouts.

Pickup is from 5:15-5:30 in front of the school.

If you have questions, please reach out to sponsors, Geoff Warren (geoff.warren@acsgmail.net) or Glenn Grizzard (walter.grizzard@acsgmail.net).

Asheville Middle School is returning to the Speech and Debate scene after a break during the pandemic. Sixth grade teacher Guinevere Hartman, in collaboration with student leaders from the Asheville High School/SILSA Speech and Debate Team, will be coaching. All students are welcome and encouraged to participate. The club will meet on Thursdays from 3:30-4:55 in Ms. Hartman's classroom. Pickup will be in front of the school at 5:00. If transportation is a barrier to participation, reach out to Mrs. Landreth, and she will work on a plan. Practice started on Thursday, December 1, but the team is still open to additional members.

The AMS Capstone Trip Fundraising Committee is looking for items from local businesses that they can use in a silent auction to support our eighth-grade students on the Washington, DC Trip. If you are able to provide any items of value that could be used to raffle off/auction at an event in January, please contact Joe Hooten, at joe.hooten@acsgmail.net

We love volunteers! Please get prepared now so that when the opportunity arises you can jump in to support our students. In order to work with a student or go on a field trip at AMS, you need to be a Level II Volunteer. That requires a one-time volunteer training AND an annual background check. Please go ahead and register for a training today. Spots are limited!

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.

Tuesday, December 6, at 5:30 PM (Boardroom at 85 Mountain Street)

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

Friday, January 13, at 12:00 PM (Virtual)

Monday, January 23, at 12:00 PM (Virtual)

Monday, January 30, at 12:00 PM (Virtual)

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

Please complete this form if your student tests positive for COVID-19. Once this is completed, our COVID Coordinator, Josh Rigsby, will reach out to you about next steps.

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, December 5: Basketball v. Enka @ home (4:30 PM Girls followed by Boys)

Monday, December 5: Wrestling @ Enka (4:30 PM)

Monday, December 5: Asheville City Schools Board Work Session @ 85 Mountain St. (5:00 PM)

Tuesday, December 6: School Improvement Team in Room 219 (3:45 PM)

Tuesday, December 6: PTO meeting in Room 219 (5 PM)

Tuesday, December 6: Winter Band Concert @ AHS/SILSA Concert (7 PM)

Wednesday, December 7: Late Start; school starts at 10:30 for secondary students

Wednesday, December 7: French Broad Players Drama Team 6th grade tryouts in MC (3:30 PM)

Wednesday, December 7: Basketball @ Owen (4:30 PM Girls followed by Boys)

Wednesday, December 7: Wrestling v. Owen @ home (4:30 PM)

Thursday, December 8: MATHCOUNTS practice (7:45 AM)

Thursday, December 8: Speech and Debate (3:30 PM)

Saturday, December 10: Asheville Bands Sock it to Me Santa 5K @ AMS (8:00 AM)

Tuesday, December 13: AMS Winter Holiday Lunch ($8 for adults)

Tuesday, December 13: French Broad Players Drama Team 7th & 8th tryouts in MC (3:30 PM)

Tuesday, December 13: Basketball v. AC Reynolds @ home (4:30 PM Girls followed by Boys)

Tuesday, December 13: United Way Cougar Community Night Featuring HW Diner (5:00 PM)

Tuesday, December 13: Parenting in the Digital Era: Tools to Keep Kids Safe and Healthy Online in the media center (5:30 PM)

Wednesday, December 14: Basketball @ North Buncombe (4:30 PM Girls followed by Boys)

Wednesday, December 14: Wrestling v. North Buncombe @ home (4:30 PM)

Thursday, December 15: MATHCOUNTS practice (7:45 AM)

Thursday, December 15: Speech and Debate (3:30 PM)

Thursday, December 15: ACS Board of Education Regular Mtg @ 85 Mountain St. (5:00 PM)

Thursday, December 15: Winter Strings and Chorus Concert (7 PM)

Monday, December 19-Sunday, January 1- Winter Break; No School for Students. (OFFICE CLOSED 12/20-1/1)

Beyond two weeks, but worth looking ahead at:

Monday, January 2: Back to schools for students and staff

Tuesday, January 10: AMS tours for prospective families 5:30-7:00 PM

Thursday, January 12: Kindergarten Magnet School Night @ AMS 5-7:30 PM

Monday, January 16: MLK Holiday (No school for students or staff)