TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
As we mark Teacher Appreciation Week I would like to publicly thank all of our AMS teachers and staff for their incredible work each day for our middle level learners. Our teachers are among the hardest working and passionate in education today.
The flexibility and ingenuity that has been on display over these past several weeks has been incredible as they work hard to maintain positive connections with students and ensure that essential skills and content are addressed through instruction.
Finally, this is a very unique Teacher Appreciation Day and I would be remiss if I did not express my deep appreciation for our newest teaching assistants: our parents. Thank you for all that you are doing to support the work of our teachers and your child’s education.
Thank you.
Rob Messia
NATIONAL NURSES DAY WEDNESDAY
The week of celebration continues! Wednesday is National Nurses Day! School nurses are the unsung heroes of our school community, particularly this school year! A huge thank you goes out to our school nurses: Kate Juliano and Rebecca Everett for all that they do each day to keep us all healthy and safe!
FROM APO – HELP SHOW APPRECIATION
Hello Families! This is teacher appreciation week and usually APO hosts a breakfast on Friday for our amazing teachers and staff at AMS. We’re doing something different this year and we would like to put together a video montage of pictures and video clips of your students saying thank you to their teachers or all the teachers in general and wish them a Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! Send them to ams.parentorg@yahoo.com and be on the look out for the final project!
Thanks!
APO
GRADE 8 ELECTIVES:
Next week grade 7 students will receive an email from Mr. Messia asking them to indicate their preference for Grade 8 elective options for 2020-21.
Each grade 8 elective class is being featured on this week’s YouTube morning announcements so that students have a good understanding of the content and focus of each class.
While students may not get their first choice elective, we work hard to place as many students as possible in their selected course.
Here is a brief course description of each class:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jhWTieciKfUBWn3eo5JoY63xAtbPjLMW8j_GZAZTHos/edit?usp=sharing
FROM THE LIBRARY:
Coding Club:
Coding Club will meet on Wed. May 6th for any AMS students. They just need to email: ekstromr@apcsd.org and they will be sent the link to the Meet. Students will be working on solving a series of puzzles that are coding related. Please email Mrs. Ekstrom if you have questions
Sora Ebooks and Audiobooks:
All Averill Park students have access to thousands of free and amazing ebooks and audiobooks through Sora. https://soraapp.com/welcome Students log in through their Google account. They select Questar III Boces and then APCSD and then can begin searching for books. There are two collections of books that are always available: click on Sora Sweet Reads or go to Collections and click on Always Available. Please email Mrs. Ekstrom if you have questions: ekstromr@apcsd.org. These e-books are available through the generous support of the Questar III School Library System. Check out this video about books that are always available on Sora!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZL5Sroje8lvFsHPqChrKPIHMc_IBfAUi/view?usp=sharing
TEACHER ACCESS HOURS
AMS teachers hold Access Hours, generally by Google Meet, each day. Students are encouraged to check in with their teachers should they have questions about learning activities or need additional support.
Please encourage your child to reach out to their teachers, as needed, based on the schedule provided below, which is updated weekly.
Click Here to View Access Hours: https://bit.ly/3bTkt2S
NEED TECH SUPPORT FOR YOUR CHROMEBOOK?
The Averill Park CSD Technology Office is here to help with Chromebook and instructional software challenges students may face in the days ahead. Please click on this link for FAQ:
https://sites.google.com/apcsd.org/onlinelearning/tech-support?authuser=0
If you need to submit a request for technical support, that can be done by using the following link:
https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/contact-us/39-track-it
GOOGLE TEAM CALENDARS
Parents and guardians are reminded that our Team Google Homework Calendars are the central hub of learning activity information for your child.
Each team’s calendar is available, as always, linked off of the AMS website. Simple click on the gray drop down menu at the top of the page that says “Homework Calendar.” Click here to visit the AMS website: https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/ams
As a reminder, students and parents can subscribe to the Google Homework Calendar. To do so, simply click on the “+Google Calendar” button at the bottom of the team calendar.
FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR AVERILL PARK STUDENTS
Free grab and go breakfast and lunch is available for students free of charge during the school closure
PICK UP HAS NOW MOVED TO THE AVERILL PARK HIGH SCHOOL
9 a.m.-12 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Drive-thru pick-up stations. Remain in your car and meals will be brought to you.
Monday: Lunch for Mon, Breakfast and Lunch for Tues, Breakfast for Wed
Wednesday: Lunch for Wed, Breakfast and Lunch for Thurs, Breakfast for Fri
Friday: Lunch for Fri, Breakfast for Mon
Dietary restrictions, please contact Colleen Wise at wisec@apcsd.org
AMS MAIN OFFICE PHYSICALLY CLOSED, VOICEMAIL BEING CHECKED
The AMS Main Office is physically closed, however we are checking the main office voicemail. If you need assistance please leave a message with a good contact phone number and someone will return your call.
Please note that when school staff call parents during the closure, the number will appear as “Private Caller” or “Restricted.” Thank you.
SCHOOL COUNSELORS HERE TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD
During this time of school closure, the AMS Counseling Center remains open, virtually, for students and families. If you need support or assistance for your child at any time during this closure, please reach out to you child’s counselor listed below:
Grade 6:
Team 1 – Tim Herbs – herbst@apcsd.org
Team 2 – Mary Anne Valentine – valentinem@apcsd.org
Grade 7: Teams 3 & 4 – Tim Herbs – herbst@apcsd.org
Grade 8: Teams 5 & 6 – Mary Anne Valentine – valentinem@apcsd.org
Social Social Worker: Linda Bille – billel@apcsd.org
School Psychologist: Amber Williams – wiliamsa@apcsd.org
Student Assistance Counselor: Samantha Keenan – keenans@apcsd.org