Mustang News
Mar. 15, 2024
Avondale Middle School
A Message from Dr. Gomez
Top o' the Mornin' to Ya!
Review:
I had the pleasure of attending the Optimist Oratorical Contest this week at the Auburn Hills Community Center. Congratulations to the eight finalists. Everyone did an outstanding job. Thank you to Mrs. Mary Nofs and all the ELA teachers who had students participate in this incredible event. The winners for the day were:
1st Place: Jersey May
2nd Place: Valeria Roque
3rd Place: Olivia McIntosh
We also hosted elementary Parent Information Sessions at AMS. Thank you to all the staff, students and families who came out for the evening. Our 8th grade student ambassadors did an amazing job giving tours and welcoming new families to AMS.
We also experienced a brief power outage on Friday. I want to commend staff and students for remaining calm and keeping everything under control. As I went from classroom to classroom, I found students quietly learning and teachers adapting lesson plans to do work without power. Thankfully, the power came back on and we were able to finish out the day.
Preview:
Next week we finish up Quarter 3. All assignments must be subitted to teachers by 3:00pm on Tuesday. Please check the Parent Portal and encourage your student to lock in this weekend to complete any missing work.
Also, to celebrate March is Reading month, AMS will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair! Students may be coming home with book wishlists. You can pay for books in cash or using the online payment methods below in the book fair portion of the newsletter.
Our half-day dismissal also marks the begining of a well-deserved Spring Break for staff and students! We need to finish this week strong and rest up to begin the last quarter of the school year.
Finally, our school of choice window closes this Friday. We have openings for 6th grade. If you know any amazing 6th graders who may be interested in attending AMS, please encourage them to apply before the window closes. Thanks!
The Best Thing:
There were so many great things this week! I am going to cheat a little bit by saying that the Best Thing this week was seeing the growth of many of our 8th grade students. From the Optimist Speeches to tour guides to winning volleyball games to influencing postitive behavior to organizing the Sneaker Ball, our 8th grade class is showing lessons learned at AMS. There are so many students who are contributing positively to the culture in our buidling. We are excited to see them leave the nest and soar!
Important Updates
Mark Your Calendar
March 18-22 - Book Fair
March 22nd - Half Day
March 23 - April 1 Spring Break
April 2nd - Return to School!
April 11th - 8th Grade Sneaker Ball
Reporting Absences
Reminder
AMS School Procedures
Team Communications
District Curriculum Newsletter
School of Choice Window is Open!
8th Grade Sneaker Ball
8th Grade Students are cordially invited to attend the Sneaker Ball on Thursday, April 11th. This event will mark the beginning of their transition to high school.
We are asking for support from parents to help provide pizza and snacks. Thanks for helping make this a fun night for the students! Sign up here to contribute: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4AAFA929AAFD0-48522622-ams8th
- Tickets will be on sale this week during lunches for $15.
- Students may dress up but must wear school appropriate attire. If they are unsure, please check with Dr. Gomez or Mrs. Schneider before purchasing attire.
- All students are encouraged to attend and dress clothes are not required.
- This event is for AMS 8th Grade Students Only. No guests may attend.
- We do not encourage students to ask "dates" to this event. Students should continue to enjoy all of their classmates in a friendly setting.
- Parents who wish to chaperone need to be on the approved chaperone list. Please reach out to Jacke Zaremba jackie.zaremba@avondaleschools.org to get paperwork to be an approved chaperone.
Congratulations, Avondale Choir Students!
Six Avondale School District Choirs Qualified for STATES, including one choir from Avondale Middle School!
At the MSVMA District 16 Festival, 5 choirs from Avondale High School and 1 choir from Avondale Middle School performed with EXCELLENCE! All 6 choirs received 1st Division ratings and earned spots at the State Festival!
7th & 8th Grade Choir – 1st Division Received a 117 out of 120 and a perfect score in sight reading. All 3 performance judges gave our middle school choir 29 out of 30. They missed a perfect score by 3 points!
CONGRATULATIONS to all our performers and many thanks to Avondale Vocal Music Director, Mr. Kevin Cornwell for his dedication to the growth of our students!
7th/8th Grade Optimist Speech Winners!
AMS Art featured in Virtual Art Show
The talent of our high school and middle school Art students is on display in the Oakland Schools Student Art Show at this LINK. Congratulations to all of the students featured!
Winter Sports
Winter 2 Sports began Jan. 29, including volleyball and wrestling! For Winter sports calendars, Game Day Club, and Spectator Information, please visit the Mustang Athletic News below.
AMS Spiritwear!
Tennis Club Starting After Spring Break
8th Grade Transition to High School
Parent Information Meeting via ZOOM - March 21
AHS is hosting an 8th Grade Information Meeting via Zoom for ALL parents of incoming 8th Graders, New Students, and their Parents or Guardians. High School admin will be sharing info about programs, academic requirements, extracurriculars, supports, and more.
Here is the Zoom link to join: https://avondaleschools-hs-org.zoom.us/j/2664090899?pwd=VzJCTGdocUtZMkgvUFMxUDlBZ3NOQT09#success
AMS is hosting a Book Fair!
We're excited to host a Scholastic Book Fair at AMS from March 18-22. This year, they will have more books, more choices, and more fun than ever before. And, you can join the fun too at our family night!
To preview books, sign up for notifications, and set up an "eWallet" so your student can shop without cash, visit our Book Fair Website: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/avondalemiddleschool
We can't do it without you! Please consider volunteering to help at the Book Fair. The story starts with you!
D.C. Trip Meeting and Registration for Current 7th Graders!
Parent Meeting Info
We will be leading a group of interested eighth grade students to our nation’s capital, Washington, DC, departing at 12am on Wednesday, Nov. 6 and returning home early Saturday morning, Nov. 9, 2024.
Registration is open and information is available at this link (or by scanning the QR code above): Registration and Info
View the slideshow from the parent meeting on 1/29 here: Slideshow
If you have questions after viewing the slideshow and the links above, email Sarah Gilbert at sarah.gilbert@avondaleschools.org
Any parents who are interested in chaperoning on the trip, please reach out to Dr. Gomez at kathryn.gomez@avondaleschools.org
ReNEWed Program to Combat Stress and Anxiety
Hello Mustangs,
ReNEWed is coming to AMS this March!!! ReNEWed is a middle school program designed to provide students with tools for dealing with stress, anxiety, and other difficult feelings. Speakers from the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities will host sessions in Room 208 from 3:00-4:00 PM. Snacks and beverages will be provided. All middle school students are welcome to attend! Please contact Ms. Mulka by February 29th to register for these sessions at amanda.mulka@avondaleschools.org. See session details below.
Monday, March 4th, 2024
Session 1: Emotions and Mindful Coping
Monday, March 11th, 2024
Session 2: Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships
Monday, March 18th, 2024
Session 3: Social Media Mindfulness
Please contact Ms. Mulka to register for ReNEWed at amanda.mulka@avondaleschools.org
Avondale Hosting Gifted Children Conference
Avondale is hosting this year's MAGC (Michigan Association for Gifted Children conference at Avondale High School on April 20th. Open to all Avondale families and staff. To register click this link: http://migiftedchild.org/conference
Little Caesars Fundraiser for Avondale Band Boosters!
It’s pizza time! Starting today through April 2nd, Avondale Band Boosters is selling Little Caesars Pizza Kits and In-Store Meal Deals to raise money for your Avondale Band. To reach our goal, we need everyone’s help. It’s easy to join the fun!
To get started, follow this link or scan the QR code below with your phone to create an account and set up your very own Seller page. You’ll get your unique link to send to your friends & family so they can buy delicious Pizza Kits and In-Store Meal Deals and support our fundraiser. (Please do not forward or post the link or QR code in this email. It is NOT for buying Kits.) Pizza Kits will be delivered directly to your buyers via FedEx, so send your link to family & friends across the country, too. Hot News! Little Caesars Fundraising now offers In-Store Meal Deals. Buyers can purchase promo codes that can be redeemed for hot pizza at their local Little Caesars. Post your unique link on your social media pages to reach even more people. Every item we sell earns $6 profit and makes an impact. Don’t forget to buy your own!
Birthdays this Week!
3/17- Lakelyn
3/18- Alex, Noah, Jordyn, Keniyah, Patrick
3/19- Rosa, Evan, Jayden, Demere, Deryck
3/20- Julian
3/21- Madison, Kornell
3/22- Kingston, Hadassah
Health Resources for Students and Families
Honor Community Health is Available for our Students and Families
- We are located in Avondale High School on the back side of the building at 2800 Waukegan Street, Auburn Hills, MI 48309. Please call 248-537-6235 to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome!
- The Teen Health Center accepts Oakland County residents ages 5-21 years old, regardless of insurance, and ability to pay. Payment is determined by a sliding scale (dependent on student income).
Free COVID Tests Available
Parent Workshop Series
Conversations with kids about sexual health are not easy, but they’re important. Parents, please join Barb Flis, Parent Action for Healthy Kids, for three, one-hour sessions in the workshop series, Parents, Sex Ed and Schools - Let's Talk About It!:
- Talk Early & Talk Often – Being an Askable Parent (March 14 – 7:00-8:00pm)
- Sex Education in Schools – What Parents Need to Know! (March 21 – 7:00-8:00pm)
- Parents as Members of the District Sex Education Advisory Board (March 28 – 7:00-8:00pm)
REGISTRATION: https://www.parentactionforhealthykids.org/events/parents-schools-sex-education-lets-talk-about-it/
AMS is hiring paraprofessionals!
Come join the team at AMS! See job postings on the Avondale Schools Website or email Mrs. Schneider @ arryn.schneider@avondaleschools.org if you have questions!
Click the image for more details.
Important Lunch Information!
All Avondale School District families should still complete the CEP Education Benefits application https://avondale.familyportal.cloud which helps ensure ongoing state funding and can qualify your child’s school or community for other special programs.
Blessings in a Backpack
“Blessings in a Backpack” is a program designed to provide students on the free and reduced lunch program with enough food for three meals a day during the weekends.
Sign your child(ren) up to receive Blessings in a Backpack online at: https://forms.gle/LxVwGscBmHBsQZ7SA
More Information:
**If you would like to contribute food or snacks to help with Blessings in a Backpack, there is an Amazon Wish List set up to purchase from. Thank you so much for your help and please feel free to share this list with others who may wish to donate!
OSTC Summer Camp!
Is your child interested in careers in automotive technology, construction, health science, culinary, machining or collision repair?
Give them the opportunity to explore at Oakland Schools Technical Campus summer camp! Find out more info here. A flyer is also posted in students’ Grad Class Google Classroom and on the school website under Career Development.
Early Learning Center Summer Camp Now Enrolling
Enrollment for Summer Camp and the 2024-2025 school year is open! Click on one of the following links to start the enrollment process for your student:
- If you want to enroll your student in the ELC Summer Camp, please fill out this form.
- If you want to enroll your student in a 3 Year Old classroom, please fill out this form.
- If you want to enroll your student in a 4 Year Old classroom, please fill out this form.
All current ELC students are only eligible to attend the ELC Summer Camp, not the Busy Bee Summer Camp. Busy Bee Summer Camp is for students who have completed a year of TK/Kindergarten.
Summer Drama Camp
Open to students who will complete grades K-8 in June, 2024.
Singing, Costuming, Acting, Dancing, Painting, Storytelling, Construction, and Lighting - lots to learn and lots of FUN!
Learn more and register HERE.
Magic Soccer Registration
Gleaner's Mobile Food Pantry
Gleaners Mobile Food Pantry delivery pickup is at The River Church, 255 S. Squirrel Road, Auburn Hills. If you are in need and would like food, please come anytime between 1:30-2:30 p.m. See the full food distribution schedule below.
Free Workshops - Community Substance Use Disorder
Board of Education Meetings
2023-2024 Avondale District Calendar
Please note - there has been a small update to the Avondale District Calendar as of 9/5/2023. The testing, day off, and half day that were originally scheduled for April 18 have been moved to April 11. Changes have been made on the calendar below. Please disregard any previous versions of the calendar.
Staying Connected
Please see the the Avondale Middle School website and the Avondale School District website as resources for valuable information.
For the latest Avondale updates and photos, make sure you follow AMS on Facebook! Please like us to stay connected with AMS and the community.
TEXT the word "YES" to 67587
If you are not receiving text messages from Avondale Middle School or Avondale School District and would like to, text the word "YES" to 67587.