Dear AMS Cougar Families,

This week we are wrapping up the regular season for our fall sports teams. Soccer, volleyball, and tennis each have two games/matches left, while football has one final game away at Valley Springs on Wednesday. All of our teams have done well, and these last few events will determine our teams' regular season records and where we will be in the conference tournaments. Of particular note, our football Cougars and the Valley Springs team are both undefeated, so this game will decide the regular season conference championship. Please consider making the trek out to Valley Springs on Wednesday to support our team! The game starts at 5:00. For sports that have conference tournaments, the location, place, and time will be determined by which team wins the regular season; those games will be held the following week.

At the same time as we are wrapping up fall sports, we are also starting to gear up for our winter sports of basketball and wrestling. I have included workout information later in the newsletter.

On Monday, October 24 our eighth-grade scholars will be taking the NC Check-In for Science. This assessment will help us to understand what standards students have mastered thus far this year and in which areas we still need to work. Students will report to school as normal. After Advisory they will go to their first block class where they will take the test. Please ensure that your student is present and on time.

Thank you to all of the families that came out to support the eighth-grade social this past Friday. It was a terrific event with students dancing, playing cornhole, organizing pickup sports, and just hanging out on a Friday afternoon. This would not have been possible without the generous support of time and donations by families. This is the first of many fundraisers designed to support scholarships for students wishing to attend the AMS Capstone trip to Washington, D.C. in March. See below to learn more about another fundraiser where we are looking for silent auction items.

Not this week, but the week starting October 31, we will celebrate Spirit Week here at AMS. We will announce the themes later this week so that students can start to prepare. I want to go ahead and remind families that on Halloween, October 31, students should not come to school in Halloween costumes or bring any candy into the building on that day or the following days. We appreciate your support with this.

Finally, please consider completing the volunteer process (volunteer training course and background check) so that you will be ready to sign up as a field trip chaperone, for test proctoring, or to support other activities. More information is available later in the newsletter.

Here is to another great week at Asheville Middle School!

Sincerely,

Jo Landreth

Principal

Asheville Middle School

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

PTO Meeting, Tuesday, November 1st (location at AMS TBD) at 5:00 pm

Please join us to hear about and make plans for the upcoming Educator Appreciation Week (and annual educator appreciation plan), the 8th Grade End of Year Dance, and the possible Spring Carnival.

We’ll also report back on the AMS Open House, Spirit Wear Sales, Mum Flower Fundraiser and the 8th Grade Fall Social.

PTO is seeking a Spirit Wear Coordinator!

Are you interested to support AMS fashion and school spirit! We are searching for a spirit wear coordinator who can organize the merchandise, track inventory, expand our collection of merch, and work with our volunteer coordinator to task parent volunteers to sell at AMS events (sports, band concerts, open houses, etc). This can be done at times convenient to you. Please contact Jocelyn Hall (jocelynpenner@hotmail.com) directly. Thank you.

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

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.

Wednesday, November 2, at 12:00 PM (Virtual)

Wednesday, November 9, at 12:00 PM (Virtual)

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

Additional Sessions will be added for 2023

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.

Educational Leave Form

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, October 24: NC Check-in Science for 8th-grade students; please make sure students arrive on time

Monday, October 24: Tennis @ home vs. N. Buncombe (4:30 PM)

Monday, October 24: Soccer and volleyball at N. Buncombe (4:30 PM)

Wednesday, October 26: Soccer at Erwin (4:00 PM)

Wednesday, October 26: Volleyball at Erwin (4:30 PM)

Wednesday, October 26: Football at Valley Springs (5:00 PM)

Thursday, October 27: Dine out at Five Guys (Merrimon) Volleyball Fundraiser (5:00-9:00 PM)

Saturday, October 29: Asheville Bands Mattress Sale Fundraiser @ AMS gym (11 AM- 6 PM)

Week of October 31-November 4: Spirit Week (themes released later this week)

Week of October 31-November 4: Conference Tournaments (details TBD)

Monday, October 31: Early Release Day; Secondary schools get out at 1:00 PM

Tuesday, November 1: Cougar Community Night featuring Homework Diner (5:00 PM)

Tuesday, November 1: AMS Book Fair Parent Night evening shopping event (5:00-6:30)

Tuesday, November 1: AMS PTO Leadership Meeting (5:00 PM) -All Welcome!

Thursday, November 3: Fall Picture Makeups

PAST TWO WEEKS, BUT IMPORTANT TO PLAN FOR NOW:

Tuesday, November 8: Optional Teacher Workday; no school for students

Friday, November 11: Veterans Day holiday; no school for students

Wednesday, November 16: Two Hour Delay late start

Wednesday, November 23: Annual Leave Day; no school for students

Thursday, November 24: Holiday; no school for students

Friday, November 25: Holiday; no school for students

Saturday, December 10: Asheville Bands 5K @ AMS