ALMS Weekly Update
INSPIRE-EDUCATE-EMPOWER
Albert Leonard Middle School
March 24, 2023 Newsletter
Happy Friday!
Hello ALMS Families,
Also, a big shout out to Ms. Bryant for her annual Mock Trial. 8th-grade students worked as prosecutors and defenders, getting a feel for real-life trial experience. Excellent work, everyone!
Finally, please see the Southern Westchester BOCES field trip pictures. Ms. Susanne Handel, Ms. Robin Lieberman, Ms. Victoria Greene, and Ms. Jane Gersh took our students to learn about what the Southern Westchester BOCES campus offers through their technical education programs!
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Camille Edwards-Thomas
Principal
Important Upcoming Dates
ALMS Movie Night - TONIGHT!!! March 24th
Half Day (for Students) Professional Development Day - March 27th
Spring Recess (NO SCHOOL) - April 3rd - April 7th
Easter - April 9th
Last Day of Passover - April 13th
End of Marking Period 3 - April 14th
8th Grade Italian Class Trip - April 14th
Orthodox Easter - April 16th
PTA Meeting - April 20th- 7pm
Last Day of Ramadan - April 21st
Earth Day - April 22nd
Eid al Fitr - April 22nd
Monday, 3/27/23 - Abbreviated Half Day Bell Schedule
See the presentation given on 3/16 for our rising 9th grade students
Teacher Spotlights:
Ms. Kaplan's class meets with Kathy Eldon!
Ms. Kaplan's 7th period ELA class met with Kathy Eldon to learn more about Kathy's son, Dan Eldon. Dan was an artist who created beautiful layered collages. He was also an activist who lived most of his life in Kenya while trying to bring money to refugee camps throughout Africa. Dan was the youngest photojournalist to work for Reuters, a company that worked to sell photos to magazines and newspapers.
Kathy Eldon herself is a journalist and an author. She also worked in England and Kenya. Kathy started the Dan Eldon Project, which you can learn more about here!
Ms. Kaplan's students spoke with Kathy about her life, her son, and their shared work and experiences. Our students told Kathy about their experience with layered collages, and how their processes and work helped them understand imagery and mood in poetry.
Ms. Bryant's Class holds a Mock Trial!
This past week, Ms. Bryant’s eighth grade social studies classes participated in a mock trial. The trial examined the positive and negative aspects of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt's “New Deal” plan to end the Great Depression. During the mock trial, students took on the roles of either prosecution or defense attorney, judge, bailiff or witness. At the end of the trial, Ms. Bryant, who played the role of the jury, decided which side of the case won. The mock trial was a very beneficial experience as it helped the students better understand the subject and opposing points of view. Not only was this informative, but it was also entertaining. Playing a role and acting like someone in a courtroom was a very positive experience!
Thank you to Elnaz Sadeghi, 8th grade student, for this informative explanation
Trip to BOCES
Some of our 7th grade Family Consumer Science students had the opportunity to visit the Center for Career Services located at Southern Westchester BOCES in Valhalla, for Middle School Week. Students learned about the campus' technical education programs including, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Sound Production, Automotive Technology, Emergency Medical Services, Fashion Design, Architectural Design, and Animal Science. All students shadowed current high school juniors and seniors and had hands-on experiences in their identified field of interest.
Summer Stars Exploration Program
Registration is now Open for the Summer Stars Exploration Program!
This FREE program will run weekdays, 8:30am to 3:30pm, July 5 through August 3 for kindergarten through eighth graders.
The program is focused on non-traditional academic, social-emotional, and enrichment experiences for our learners.
Don’t miss your chance to participate! Summer Stars Exploration is free! You can find registration information on our school district webpage https://www.nred.org/article/1047760
Please note, registered families will be selected by lottery and notified of placement by email.
______________________________________________________________________________________
¡La inscripción ya está abierta para el programa de exploración Summer Stars!
Este programa GRATUITO se llevará a cabo los días de semana, de 8:30 a. m. a 3:30 p. m., del 5 de julio al 3 de agosto, para estudiantes de jardín de infantes a octavo grado.
El programa se centra en experiencias académicas, socioemocionales y de enriquecimiento no tradicionales para nuestros alumnos.
¡No pierdas la oportunidad de participar! ¡La exploración de las estrellas de verano es gratis! Puede encontrar información de registro en la página web de nuestro distrito escolar https://www.nred.org/article/1047760
Tenga en cuenta que las familias registradas serán seleccionadas por sorteo y notificadas de la ubicación por correo electrónico.
Upcoming PTA Events!
ALMS PTA presents Pajama Movie Night for the whole school (6th, 7th and 8th grade) on Friday, March 24, 2023 from 6pm to 8:30pm at ALMS. Tickets are $5 and will only be sold at all lunch periods starting Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Pizza and snacks will be available for purchase. Don't forget to wear your comfy pajamas!
ALMS PTA presents the 8th Grade Formal Dance for the Class of 2023 that will be held Tuesday, May 30, 2023 from 6pm to 9pm at VIP Country Club located at 600 Davenport Avenue, New Rochelle, NY. Tickets are $60 and will be sold online and in school during 8th grade lunch periods on Fridays. Payment methods accepted are cash, check (checks made payable to "ALMS PTA") and online (https://app.memberhub.gives/8thgradeformal/Campaign/Details).
Poetry Out Loud
Dear Sixth Grade Students,
The 25th anniversary of Poetry Out Loud will be held on Monday, May 15, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at New Rochelle High School.
Only ten sixth grade ALMS students will be chosen to read their poems at Poetry Out Loud in May. Please submit your best work. The student poets selected to represent ALMS will receive their own printed keepsake book of the poems and a t-shirt.
If you are interested, please review the following guidelines and submit the attached Google form below no later than Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
Guidelines:
Each poem must be the original work of the student.
Poems can be written for publication in English or in the student’s chosen language. Students are welcome to include an English translation to be printed in the keepsake book, if they wish.
No use of real names in poems except for public figures.
Each poem should have one author only.
Each poem may have a maximum of 21 lines (there is no minimum).
Poems must be edited and reviewed by a teacher.
Poems must be typed (see Google form below).
No graphics/illustrations should be included.
Please email Ms. Breslin at mbreslin@nredlearn.org if you have any questions.
A message from Legacy Studios, our Yearbook Photo company...
We have received an unprecedented amount of requests through our Customer Care Department from parents looking for their access codes to view their student's portraits. Often, by this time of year, parents have misplaced their online access codes. Linked below is a graphic that can direct your parents where to look.
Chromebook Responsibilities
To ALMS Parents and Students,
As a Middle School student, you are required to come to school with your district-provided chromebook charged. The district-provided chromebook is also your responsibility; if it's in your backpack, locker, on a bus, or at home, you must keep it protected from being damaged or lost/stolen.
Please refer to the AUP and Device Loaner Form, which you have signed with your parent/guardian, and review the terms and conditions listed on the form both inside and outside of school. If you have not already signed the AUP and/or Loaner Form, please click on the link above.
To all parents/guardians, please speak with your child regarding Chromebook care and responsibilities. Some of the computers are damaged due to students spilling liquids, tossing them to the ground during recess, getting knocked around in a backpack, or dropping them. Damaged Chromebooks are subject to fees. You may want to consider purchasing a case as was indicated on the school supply list.
You can refer to our Acceptable Use Policy and Device Loaner Form (linked above) for the CSDNR policy.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!
New Rochelle Special Education PTA (SEPTA)
Please see the links below for information about SEPTA
-New Rochelle SEPTA (English Version)
-New Rochelle SEPTA (Spanish Version)
NRSEPTA MEETING DATES
Zoom Link will be sent to all members. Dates are subject to change, All meetings start at 7:30pm
Thursday, April 20, 2023
WE ARE ONE DINNER, Thursday, May 4, 2023 6pm
Thursday June 15, 2023