APCSD BUDGET REMINDER
This year’s school budget vote is unlike any in our school district’s history. Please ensure that your voice is heard by voting by mail with the ballot sent to your home mailing address.
Please click here to view the APCSD Budget Newsletter: https://www.www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/https://www.averillpark.k12.ny.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/AP_Budget_2020FINAL.pdf
Finally, please remember that all ballots must be returned and in possession of the District no later than Tuesday, June 9th at 5pm.
AMS READ ALL DAY – JUNE 5
Please join us in celebrating Richtol’s Read All Day on Friday, June 5th! This is an annual fun day at AMS, started by long-time Literacy teacher Nancy Richtol, where we recognize the power of reading to open our minds to the broader world.
Our morning announcements will feature a presentation just for AMS students from the author of Posted, John David Anderson, the book we have all been reading at AMS this year as part of our One School, One Book program.
Additionally, we are asking that students and staff share photos of their favorite reading spots and use the hashtag #AMSRRAD.
AMS END OF YEAR SEND OFF PARADE
Please join us for our “AMS End of Year Send Off Parade” on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 – 6:00pm-7:00pm (Rain Date: Thursday, June 18 – 6:00pm-7:00pm). At this event we will invite families to drive through the school parking lot as our grades 6-8 staff members greet and wish students well on the conclusion of a memorable school year.
Additionally, we will be honoring our Grade 8 students in particular with this event.
All AMS families from grades 6-8 are welcome to drive through beginning at 6pm.
To join in the fun, families can wear blue and gold, decorate your car or make a sign for the event.
We encourage grade 8 students to wear their Class of 2024 t-shirts for this event.
For the parade families will need to enter the campus from the Route 351 entrance.
Please see the attached map for more information:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pM2aE_xx4E2B0m0cBSzvdIUoayIXO7Pe/view?usp=sharing
It will be great to see all of you again soon!
2020 YEARBOOK UPDATE
Many parents have been wondering how their child will get the yearbook that was ordered for them. We are waiting to hear from Lifetouch as to when the books will be delivered to AMS. Although Lifetouch printing facilities have remained open during the Covid-19 crisis, they have had to operate at a 50% workforce. Due to this, our delivery may be delayed. We are hoping that the yearbooks will arrive in the next two weeks. When they do arrive, an email will be sent out to all parents giving information on when and how they can be picked up at AMS.
Thank you for your patience. We will get the yearbooks to the kids as soon as we can.
Carol Winkley & Joanne Goodermote
STUDENT MATERIAL RETURN
During the last week of school, AMS will have a student textbook and school-owned materials return process that will take place at the front entrance of the school. More information about that process will be shared next week.
MEDICATION PICK UP
For those students who had medicine administered at school this year, if a parent was unable to pick up the child’s medication on Monday, please contact the nurse to make alternative arrangements. Any medications not picked up by June 19 will be disposed of.
AMS Health office: (518)674-7103
Nurse email: julianok@apcsd.org
A MESSAGE FROM MS DOYLE REGARDING ART PROJECTS AT AMS
Dear Parents of students in 8th grade Studio Art and 8th regular grade art,
There will be an art pick up the first week of June at AMS for 8TH GRADE STUDIO ART AND 8TH GRADE REGULAR ART STUDENTS ONLY. The following projects that your son or daughter may have made and left behind back on March 16th.
*Ceramic sculptures from students from 2nd trimester 2020
*Studio Art projects from 2019-2020
*2020 Sand Lake Center for the Arts Student Show art work
*Art portfolios made back in 6th grade with lots of art work in them
Don’t leave all this gorgeous work behind! Stay safe and enjoy your summer! Thank you for the privilege of teaching your son or daughter.
Jen Doyle
FROM THE LIBRARY:
Special Video Contest for Kids Ages 13-18:
Do you have a passion for reading or libraries? Do you want to share your video or performative skills with teens across the country? The Teen Video Challenge is for you! This contest involves making “a public service announcement-type video that shows their unique interpretation of the 2020 Collaborative Summer Library Program slogan “Imagine Your Story”.
Five winners will be chosen and will receive: a $200 cash prize and $50 worth of summer reading materials for your local public library!
Videos will be accepted June 1 through August 7, 2020
More information can be found here (and the above info is from):
https://www.cslpreads.org/programs/teen-program/2020-teen-video-challenge/
Contest flyer: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/summer/20-tvc.pdf
Previous winners: https://www.cslpreads.org/2019-teen-video-challenge-tvc/
Special Drawing Contest from J.K. Rowling:
J.K. Rowling announced that she will be releasing a few chapters every weekday from May 26th through July 10 of her unpublished manuscript, The Ickabog. This story stands alone and is not related to Harry Potter.
Rowling is setting up a worldwide competition for kids to provide the illustrations. Rowling posted on her website: “In November 2020, The Ickabog will be published in English in print, eBook and audiobook formats, shortly followed by other languages. The best drawings in each territory will be included in the finished books. As publishers in each territory will need to decide which pictures work best for their own editions, I won’t be personally judging the entries. However, if parents and guardians post their children’s drawing on Twitter using the hashtag #TheIckabog, I’ll be able to share and comment! To find out more about the Illustration Competition, go to The Ickabog website when it launches.”
After it is published, Rowling is giving any proceeds from the royalties to groups who have been hardest hit by Covid-19.
Information from: http://ow.ly/AGe130qJHEi
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.
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 – williamsa@apcsd.org
Student Assistance Counselor: Samantha Keenan – keenans@apcsd.org