AMS Cougar News

Dear AMS Cougar Families,

Memorial Day Weekend is not only a day that we honor those who have died in our nation's wars, but it is also a sign that our school year is rapidly coming to a close. At this point in the year, everyone is tired, and this three-day weekend will give us all a much-needed breather before we finish out the last two weeks of school. Here are a few updates and reminders to help get us through:

Please realize that students are continuing to engage in academic activities even in the afternoon of testing. I encourage you to leave students in school for the whole day.
Students and staff will have free breakfast next Wednesday (math EOG), Thursday (science EOG), and the following Monday (Math I EOC) even if they are not in a grade level that is testing.
Speaking of breakfast, the current outstanding meal balance is at $6500. Please check to see if your student's account needs to be paid. We will also accept donations to go toward this debt.
There will continue to be attendance incentives for students who show up and take their tests on the day they are planned. On Friday we had Cookies for Cougars (who test) and we only had 17 absences, which was terrific. Next Wednesday will be Takis for Testers and Thursday will be Sweets for Science. There will also be raffle drawings on June 6 for every student who has completed all tests. On Friday we did a single drawing, and a student won a $25 gift card donated by The Hop. When you go there, please thank them for contributing to our incentive program.
Asheville Middle School students will be participating in the Center for Disease Control's National Youth Tobacco Survey on Smoking and Tobacco Use on Friday, June 2. I have included links to more information below. Please let us know if you do not want your student to complete the survey.
Eighth-grade families, please make note that the 8th-grade Promotion Ceremony will be on June 9 at 9:30 in the gym. We will open the doors for parents at 9:00. Please try to carpool as parking will be tight. Please arrive early as you will need to sign in at a table outside of the gymnasium. After a brief visit with family, students will transition to their picnic.

The photo I included today was of Arlington Cemetary, which we visited during the AMS Capstone Trip to Washington, DC that our eighth-grade students took a few months ago. Seventh-grade families should mark their calendars for next year's trip that has already been approved: March 25-28, 2024. I hope to have some preliminary information to send out before school is out so that you can begin to plan.

Here is to another great week at Asheville Middle School!

Jo Landreth

Principal

Asheville Middle School

Delta House L.E.A.A.P. for Success After School Program & Summer Enrichment

If you have students that need academic support on a consistent regular schedule after school, Delta House's L.E.A.A.P. for Success 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is here to help. Our program aims to offer FREE year-round after-school program services for students who need help with reading and math, homework assistance, S.E.L., and enrichment activities. We want to ensure students' growth is made on the End-of-Grade Test and promoted to the next grade level.

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.

Student Grief Support Groups

We are fortunate to partner with Four Seasons Hospice grief services. The program, "Compass," offers free grief support for students and their families. At Asheville Middle School there is an opportunity for students to participate in small grief support groups or individual counseling related specifically to grief. These services are provided at no cost.

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!

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.

Educational Leave Form

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

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

Dress Code

Clothing depicting offensive, violent, graphic images, or references to illegal activities are prohibited.

Outfits must not show stomach.
Tops must have fabric on the sides (under the arms) and front side (midriff) unless a student is wearing a tank top underneath.
Pajamas, slippers, blankets, onesies, and nighttime attire are prohibited unless for a special event (i.e. pajama day).
Specialized courses may require specialized attire, such as sports uniforms or safety gear.
Shorts and skirts must entirely cover the student’s bottom
Clothing must be opaque (not see-through) AND must cover undergarments and the torso. Waistbands and bra straps may be visible.
Students’ faces, including eyes must be visible; no full face coverings or sunglasses are allowed. Students with a medical or religious need to wear a face covering or sunglasses must turn in documentation to the principal’s office in order to be excluded from this policy. Students may wear medical masks for illness prevention without a doctor’s order.