AMS Cougar News
Sunday, March 26, 2023
Principal's Message
Dear AMS Cougar Families,
It was great to be back in the building this week after being on the AMS Capstone Trip for four days the previous week, although I missed the students in my chaperone group and our adventures. Previously, I had been to Washington, DC several times as a tourist, including as a ninth-grade student in junior high, and gone on many tours of the monuments, but I learned several new things on this year's trip. I learned that eight women died as a result of the Vietnam Conflict and that one of them, Annie Ruth Graham, was from North Carolina. She was from the town of Efland, outside of Durham; on our way back, I was able to point out the exit sign and quiz our students as to who had been from there that we had learned about on the trip. Our guide also helped us find Lieutenant Colonel Graham's name on the wall, as seen above. Interested to learn more, I found her biography online in a nursing history published by Appalachian State University. She completed her initial nursing training at Watts Hospital in Durham. This information was exciting for me as the hospital is now the home of the Durham campus of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, where I graduated from high school. She was decorated eight times during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam conflict while serving in the Army Nurse Corps (ANC). As we wrap up Women's History Month this week, please consider reading more about Lieutenant Colonel Graham or researching the other seven women on the Vietnam Wall.
This upcoming week we will have our monthly fire drill and a bomb threat drill. We have a bomb threat drill once a year. The protocols for a bomb threat drill have little impact on the students as they carry on with class as usual; teachers have specific steps for this drill. As schools do this only once a year, it was worth mentioning in the newsletter. I will also send an email/text via Blackboard after we have completed the drill.
This upcoming Friday is an early release day. Elementary schools will dismiss at noon, and secondary schools, including Asheville Middle, will dismiss at 1 PM. This time is needed for teachers to enter in their final grades for the third quarter.
Before I close, I have a few reminders to share with families:
- On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday we will host Afternoon Academy until 5:00. Please complete this form if your student will be staying.
- Tuesday, we will have our United Way Community Night at 5:00 PM. Please come as a family and enjoy a delicious catered meal. This event is a great way to meet other AMS families.
- Spring is in the air, which always requires us to work together to remind students of some basics. As you shop for spring outfits, please check the dress code first. For safety reasons, it is critical that students wear shoes and not bedroom slippers to school.
- Please check your student's meal account balance online. We are currently sitting at a $6000 meal debt.
The first week of April is the Asheville City Schools' Spring Break. There will be no school for students, and the office will be closed. I hope everyone has a restful and safe Spring Break.
I will send out another newsletter when we return from Spring Break. Here's to another great week at Asheville Middle School and an extraordinary Spring Break.
Jo Landreth
Principal
Asheville Middle School
Delta House L.E.A.A.P. for Success After School Program & Summer Enrichment
Free Cougar Softball Camp During Spring Break for Rising 6-8 Grade Students
AMS Cougar Wear Orders
AMS PTO is taking online orders for spirit wear and Go Local cards.
Online orders will be processed in 2 weeks or less and will be delivered to a student’s Advisory classroom.
The PTO sells Cougar wear at cost. If you would like to support the AMS PTO, please consider the purchase of a Go Local Card and add it to your order.
A Go Local Card provides access to discounts and special offers at over 520 local businesses in Asheville.
All proceeds from the sale of Go Local Cards offered by AMS PTO will go directly to the PTO budget (for educator appreciation, classroom grants, field trips, and special school projects).
https://ashevillemiddlepto.square.site/
Questions? Email ashevillemiddlepto@gmail.com
ACS Middle School Athletic Eligibility Guidelines -Spring 2023
To determine Middle School athletic eligibility for spring sports 2023, certain academic, attendance, and behavioral criteria must be met.
Academic:
The 2nd Quarter report card will be used to determine initial eligibility in the spring sport.
The student must have passed (60% or greater) all 4 core courses (math, English, science, social studies) as evidenced by the 2nd Quarter report card.
If the student failed one or more core courses as evidenced by the 2nd Quarter report card, they will be on probation. They must attend Afternoon Academy at least two times per week. As long as they are attending Afternoon Academy, they may still play. For the 3rd Quarter Midterm on February 24, grades will be reviewed on this date to determine if probation continues. If students are passing all 4 core classes, they will be removed from probationary status. Coaches will monitor progress from week to week. If the student is not passing all 4 core classes, probation continues and students must attend two Afternoon Academies a week.
For the 3rd Quarter Midterm on February 24, grades will be reviewed on this date to determine if students are passing all 4 core courses. If not, the student will be placed on probation. They must attend Afternoon Academy at least two times per week. As long as they are attending Afternoon Academy, they may still play. At the 3rd Quarter Report Card on April 12, grades will be reviewed on this date to determine if probation continues. If students are passing all 4 core classes, they will be removed from probationary status. Coaches will monitor progress from week to week. If the student is not passing all 4 core classes, probation continues and students must attend two Afternoon Academies a week.
For the 3rd Quarter Report Card on April 12, grades will be reviewed on this date to determine if students are passing all 4 core courses. If not the student will be placed on probation for the rest of the season. They must attend Afternoon Academy at least two times per week. As long as they are attending Afternoon Academy, they may still play.
Attendance:
A student must be present more than ½ the school day (over 3.5 hours) in order to practice or participate in a game for that day.
Students must have been in attendance at least 85% of the previous semester.
Behavior:
If a student receives either an ISS or OSS on or for any given day, the student is not allowed to practice or participate in a game for that day(s). They may not dress out or sit with the team.
Coaches are expected to:
Share updated rosters with both AMS and MNSA principals and the Athletic Director upon formation of the team so that eligibility can be determined.
Monitor student athlete academic, attendance, and behavioral progress weekly.
We need volunteers!!!
Field trip chaperones in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades
End of Grade Test proctoring
Please complete the volunteer training process (see below) so that you are ready when we need you! Then let your student's teachers know that you are ready and willing!
Student Grief Support Groups
Grief counseling provided by Four Seasons is time-limited for the purpose of addressing grief that is related to the loss of a person by death. Professionally trained counseling staff utilize well-established, proven techniques. Students and their grief counselor will devise a plan to address their specific needs.
If you think this is a great fit for your student, please complete this form.
If you are interested in learning more, please let the AMS Counseling staff know!
ACS Volunteer Training Schedule
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.
Thursday, April 13, at 12:00 PM (@Boardroom at 85 Mountain St.)
Link to the Background Check form: https://bib.com/secure-volunteer/ASHEVILLE-CITY-SCHOOLS/home
Applying for Educational Leave
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.
COVID Reporting Form
Fall 2023 School Exclusion Criteria
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
Two Weeks at a Glance
Monday, March 27: Makeup Vision Screening in 7th & 8th grades
Monday, March 27: Afternoon Academy (3:30-5:00)
Monday, March 27: Girls' Soccer v. Erwin @ home (4:30 PM)
Monday, March 27: Track Meet @ Enka (4:30 PM)
Monday, March 27: Baseball & Softball @ Erwin (5 PM)
Monday, March 27: ACS School Board Special Called Work Session @ 85 Mountain St (5 PM)
Tuesday, March 28: Community Night featuring HW Diner (5 PM)
Wednesday, March 29: Afternoon Academy (3:30-5:00)
Thursday, March 30: Afternoon Academy (3:30-5:00)
Thursday, March 30: Golf @ Hendersonville Country Club (4 PM)
Thursday, March 30: Baseball & Softball v. N. Buncombe @ home (4:30 PM)
Thursday, March 30: Girls' Soccer @ N. Buncombe (5 PM)
Friday, March 31: Early Release Day; Students dismissed at 1 PM
Friday, March 31: End of Quarter 3; Grades Due
Saturday, April 1- Sunday, April 9: Spring Break (No School for Students)
Beyond two weeks, but worth looking ahead at:
Monday, April 17: Report Cards go home
Wednesday, April 19: Two Hour Late Start
Wednesday, May 3: Two Hour Late Start
May 26-June 9: End of Grade and End of Course Testing window
Friday, May 26: NC Science End of Grade (EOG) Test (8th grade only)
Monday, May 29: Memorial Day Holiday (No School for Staff or Students)
Tuesday, May 30: NC Reading End of Grade (EOG) Test (6-8)
Wednesday, May 31: NC Math End of Grade (EOG)/ NC Math I End of Course (EOC) Test
Asheville Middle School
Email: Jo.Landreth@acsgmail.net
Website: https://nc02214494.schoolwires.net/Domain/232
Location: 211 South French Broad Avenue, Asheville, NC, USA
Phone: (828) 350-6200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avlms/
Twitter: @avlms