Oriole's Nest
July 29, 2022
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
Important Upcoming Dates
August 4th - Meet the Teacher Night for Parents
6:30PM - 8:00PM
August 12, 2022 - Picture Day
August 19, 2022 - Book Rental Statement sent home via ParentSquare
Back to School Night for Parents
This time is set aside for parents to connect with their child's teachers, please do not plan on bringing your student.
Parents will start out in their child's 1st period class and follow their schedule to meet all their teachers. You will spend 10 minutes with each teacher being dismissed to the next class by the bell, just like your child does.
August 4, 2022 from 6:30 - 8:00PM
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.
Upcoming Athletic Events
Fall Sports Start Next Week!
Here is a preview of what sports will be happing next week:
7th grade Football - 8/11 AWAY vs. Paul Hadley 5:30PM
8th grade Football - 8/11 HOME vs. Paul Hadley 5:00PM
STUDENT INFORMATION
Celebrating Birthday's This Week!
Happy Birthday
to our students celebrating a birthday this week:
Brooklyn Bowles
Olivia Haines
Maia Ven
Carlos Limon Luna
Vincent Maldonado
Riley Moore
Angeles Orta-Candia
Isiah Small
Alisha Beg
Joandri Hutchinson
Ryan Ballou
Ethan Chicatto
Goodluck Akinsanmi
Miguel Valentin
Anaya Revell
PICTURE DAY INFORMATION
August 12th - Picture Day
Please click the link below for more information regarding picture day on
August 12, 2022
NJHS Study Tables
Starting September 07, 2022, 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
Welcome to 7th grade! We’ve made it through the first couple days and have been getting to know each other as well as our classroom and school expectations for the year. Next week in Science, we will do a few fun STEM stations along with familiarizing ourselves with Minecraft Education Edition. We will be using this fun, virtual world to learn and create throughout the year! In Language Arts, we will be kicking off our first unit in Language Arts by reviewing the elements of a short story. Social Studies classes will begin our first unit by focusing on general geography and our place in the world. In Math, we will be looking at generalizing number patterns, investigating proportional relationships, and start talking about probability.
Grizzlies News
Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Boroff, Mrs. Schroer & Ms. Weinstein
Welcome to the Grizzly team! This week in Social Studies, we will be beginning to learn about the world around us. Basic map and geography skills like identifying the continents, oceans, directional, and beginning to learn about the five themes of geography. In Science, we have had a great start to our year. I am really excited to be joining Team Grizzlies! What a great bunch of students. Next week will be learning what it means to work collaboratively with each other as scientists through several STEM activities. I am looking forward to seeing how our students work together to solve problems. In Math, for the week of August 1, we will be working on finding mathematical patterns and starting to investigate single event probabilities. Next week in Pre-Algebra, we will be working on finding mathematical patterns, collecting and organizing data, and starting to investigate single event probabilities. Next week in Language Arts, we are diving into our first unit with our preliminary discussions and background lessons about Narrative Writing to prepare us for our first novel, Red Scarf Girl. Students will become more familiar with Schoology and Amplify through this process.
Jaguars News
Mrs. Cassida, Ms. Hatton, Mrs. Ringham & Ms. Schaber
Ms. Costello, Ms. Gawrys, Mr. Thoennes & Mr. Walker
Language Arts
Mrs. Ringham - Students will begin our narrative unit in which we will read the memoir “Red Scarf Girl”.
Mr. Thoennes - In Language Arts, we will be learning different narrative techniques and write about the most disgusting food we’ve eaten.
Math
Mrs. Cassida - We will be looking at generalizing number patterns, investigating proportional relationships, and start talking about probability.
Ms. Costello - In Math, we will begin working on our Probability Unit!
Science
Ms. Schaber - Students will be doing 4 different lab activities to start our investigation into the world of science.
Ms. Gawrys - We will be doing a handful on STEM activities to get us started!
Social Studies
Ms. Hatton - Students will be continuing to learn about the ins-and-outs of being a student of Social Studies by doing a textbook scavenger hunt and doing Social Studies About Me slides. Mid-week, we will begin our Basic Geography Skills Unit with learning new vocabulary terms, and diving into the 5 Themes of Geography!
Mr. Walker - We will be learning about the essential geographical skills and the 5 themes of Geography.
Foresters News
Mrs. DeBow, Mr. Gullion, Ms. Tobin & Mrs. Zimmerman
Ms. Costello, Ms. Gawrys, Mr. Thoennes & Mr. Walker
Language Arts
Mrs. Zimmerman - Students will continue to spend time learning more about each other. They will then begin looking at images as we talk about focus and how we can take a big picture and focus in on a moment.
Mr. Thoennes - We will be learning what narrative techniques to use in our writing when focusing on a moment.
Pre-Algebra & Algebra
Mrs. DeBow - Pre-algebra students will begin a unit on probability and learn to organize all possible outcomes of multiple events. Algebra students will review expressions and equations and take their first quiz on Friday.
Ms. Costello - In Pre-Algebra 8, we will be participating in an Algebra Walk, and then beginning our Probability Unit!
Science
Ms. Tobin - We will be analyzing the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset.
Ms. Gawrys - We will be diving into the scientific method!
Social Studies
Mr. Gullion - We will be studying European exploration of the New World.
Mr. Walker - We will be learning about the First Americans and how they interacted geographically.
Greyhounds News
Mrs. Warthan, Ms. Kegley, Mr. Casey & Mr. Osen
Science and Biology classes will be investigating the scientific method next week. In Algebra, students will be working on solving equations review. Test of Friday! Pre-Algebra classes will be reviewing simple probability. In Social Studies, students will be learning about the first American and the exploration of the world. Language Arts classes will be learning about narrative writing and how to make writing more interesting by focusing on a moment and providing details.
Team News: We have enjoyed meeting our new crew of students and are off to a great start. We look forward meeting families at Back to School Night on Thursday!
Panthers News
Mrs. Hood, Mr. Rodgers, Mrs. Taylor & Mr. Williams
In Social Studies, will begin Unit 1. We will be learning about the role trade played in the discovery of the New World and its impact on the First Americans. All students will need a folder and a notebook for my class. Science and Biology classes will be working on lab safety, a stomp rocket activity and will have a supply check on Friday. Items needed are supply check are: 2 pocket folder or binder, notebook for science, Colored utensils (marker or colored pencils), highlighters of 2 different colors, glue sticks, pick one (scissors or wired ear buds), pick one (note cards or Ziplock bags), writing utensil- pencils and a red pen for grading. Language Arts classes will begin Amplify Unit 8A: Perspectives and Narrative. They will be working on the writing skill of using precise details. For class, they need a pencil, paper, folder, and a charged laptop. This week, in Pre-Algebra, we will be reviewing fundamentals with a review/preview and will be starting our probability unit. We will start with simple probability and sample space and move into the fundamental counting principle. We will also begin our IXL work. Each week students will be given an IXL assignment to complete. The first few weeks this will consist of moving 5 skills to a score of 90 and answering 10 questions from the arena. This assignment will be given Monday and will be due at 12:00 am Saturday. Each day students will also receive 5-7 questions they will begin (and hopefully complete) during class time. Algebra students will start Unit 1 Solving Equations. We will solve multi-step equations and equations with variables on both sides and determine when an equation would have no solution or infinite solutions. We will also be writing equations from real world problems and solving them. Our test for this chapter will be during the week of 8/8. Supplies needed for both Pre-Algebra and Algebra: pencil and pen, notebook- spiral or composition, dry erase marker, and a scientific calculator.
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. Stutzman (ELL), Mr. Wolf (Robotics) and Mrs. Snyder (Flight & Space and Medical Detectives)
Spanish
Students will be learning the alphabet and have a quiz towards the end of the week. After, students will be learning basic greetings/introductions in Spanish .
Japanese
In Japanese, we will be working on greetings, and sounding out Japanese words written in roomaji.
English Language Learners
Next week in English Language Arts, we will be starting to work with Amplify. 7th Grade will be introduced to Amplify, and 8th grade will be getting back into using Amplify. 7th and 8th grade will be doing the Do Nows next week as well.
Computer Science
7th grade classes will be learning the the ins and outs of the Code.org platform, and the. They will be introduced to block coding.
8th grade classes will be learning about computers and how they interacted with their environment, and then they will learning about the different parts of the Microbit.
Art
7th grade: We will begin our painting unit with a student favorite, large scale mandala using radial symmetry.
8th grade: We will begin our clay unit with pinch pot animals using additive and subtractive sculpting methods.
7th & 8th grade FACS
7th grade students will begin the Interpersonal Relationships Unit. Students will examine values, goals and personality. They will also learn and practice communication skills.
8th grade students will begin the Financial Literacy Unit. Students will learn about taxes, paychecks, money, banks, writing checks and reconciling bank accounts.
7th grade Engineering and Design & 8th grade Gateway to Technology
Students will be completing safety training to prepare for the lab activities.
Flight & Space
Please make sure you have a notebook. We will begin with designing paper airplane models and getting to know our group members. Then we will begin learning about Newton's Laws of Motion.
Medical Detectives
Please make sure you have a notebook. We will spend the week learning about vitals and taking the vitals from each of our classmates. This will include: blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate, and pulse.
Robotics
Students will be introduced to concepts used throughout the course by learning about the design process, various forms of robotics, and gear ratios.
PE/Wellness News
Mrs. Fair, Mrs. Lucas & Mr. Jackson
We are excited for a great quarter in PE! This week students will begin changing their clothes in the locker room and participating in their three week units of soccer, flag football, and fitness. Throughout the quarter, students will get to work with all 3 PE teachers and participate in all 3 activities. As a reminder, this class is now for high school credit! It is important that your child is changing clothes, wearing tennis shoes, and is ready to participate.
Uniforms can be purchased for $11.75 for a gray shirt and black shorts. Students also have the option to buy their own plain gray shirts and plain black shorts on their own but keep in mind, students will be required to write their names on the shirts and shorts. The deadline for ordering these items is next Thursday. Please see the attached order form below. These were also handed out to students and will be available at back to school night on Thursday, August 4th. We are looking forward to a great quarter!!
Music Department News
Mr. Abbey (Band), Ms. Szymkow (Band), Mr. Zimmerman (Choir) & Mr. Miller (Orchestra)
Band
Band students need their instruments and all materials (reeds, valve oil, neck straps, etc.) on Monday next week. They also need to have their last page of their band handbook signed by Monday during their class time by them and their parents.
Choir
Next week, students will receive a choir handbook outlining rules and grading practices, as well as a calendar of events for all choir concerts throughout the year. Please look at the handbook and sign the signature page, along with your child, by Monday, August 15th. It’s going to be a great year!
Orchestra
All Orchestra classes were great this week. Please put all performance dates on your calendars - they are mandatory for students. If your student still needs to rent an instrument, please call Paige's Music as soon as possible to secure an instrument for your student if you have not done so. We don't have any school instruments to loan out. 7th Grade Orchestra students will begin playing next week. Please make sure that instruments are coming home nightly for daily practice. When every student practices, we make tremendous growth as an orchestra.
Please CLICK HERE to enroll your student in the Avon Orchestra Private Lesson Program by no later than Friday, August 5.
Private Lesson Update:
A message will be sent out about signing up for private lessons. Please talk with your students about this opportunity for them to study one-on-one with an outstanding musician and performer.
Media Moments with Ms. Sever
Media Center
Ms. Sever
Welcome to the AMS South library! I am Ms. Sever, the new teacher librarian for the building. I am excited to start welcoming 8th grade ELA classes to the library for an orientation and their first checkout of the school year this upcoming week. All students (7th & 8th) will be participating in SSR (Sustained Silent Reading), so it will be my job to make sure that every student has access to a book (or two or three!) that they are interested in reading during this time. I am also excited to start collaborating with different subjects on research projects and media/digital/information literacy. Students wishing to visit the library outside of classroom visits may do so with a pass from class or during a passing period. I am looking forward to getting to know AMS South and to helping our students find the perfect book for each of them!
OFFICE PROCEDURES
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
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.
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
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 2020-2021 enrollment before you shop. Below you will find more information for enrollment, please click the link below.