October 21, 2022

AMS Principal's Weekly Update 10-21-22

School News

Dear AMS Students and Families, 
This week, we offered two field trip opportunities to our students.  On Thursday, students who take Introduction to Spanish and Spanish 2 had the educational opportunity to go and explore Spanish language and culture at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The DIA Gallery Teachers uses inquiry-based theories and student-centered teaching strategies to facilitate learning about Spanish culture. Gallery Teachers engages students with a variety of higher thinking activities, which supports our Spanish curriculum. Overall, students enjoyed their experience and were able to make real life connections to the curriculum taught within our Spanish classrooms.

Additionally on Thursday, a group of 7th grade students visited the Hindu Temple of Canton as part of their voluntary participation in the Religious Diversity Journeys Program.  The RDJ Program offers 7th grade students the opportunity to learn first-hand about world religions, their cultures, and places of worship.  Thursday's journey allowed students to listen to speakers, tour the worship room, practice yoga, and try on traditional Hindu saris. They finished the day with an Indian lunch.  Throughout the school year, students will experience learning about Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, and the Muslim faith.  The focus of these journeys is not so much focused on the religious aspect, but rather the culture and customs associated with those faiths.  The goal is to teach understanding which leads to deep respectful relationships among individuals and congregations of different faiths as well as those who do not have a religious affiliation.

Upcoming Dates

Monday - October 24
First Robotics 4:00 in Room 114
Gaming Club 3:20-4:20 Room 113
Homework Club 3:20-4:20 Room 115
Girls Tennis @ Derby at 4:30 pm

Tuesday - October 25
Cross Country League Meet @ Cranbrook at 4:30 pm
Girls Basketball Home v. Farmington East at 4:30 pm
AMS/Norup Fall Orchestra Concert in the BHS West Gym at 7:00 pm

Wednesday - October 26
ALL CLUBS CANCELED
Football @ Hazel Park at 4:30 pm
Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences 5:30-8:00 pm
AMS Scholastic Book Fair Family Night 5:30-8:00 pm

Thursday - October 27
1/2 Day Student Dismissal at 11:30 am
ALL CLUBS CANCELED
Girls Basketball @ Hazel Park at 4:30 pm
Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences 12:30-3:00 pm
Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences 5:30-8:00 pm
AMS Scholastic Book Fair Family Night 5:30-8:00 pm

Friday - October 28
Drama Club 3:20-4:20 in the Media Center 

School News

Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences

Virtual parent- teacher conferences will take place next week on Wednesday, October 26, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. and  Thursday, October 27, from 12:30-3:00 p.m. and 5:30-8:00 p.m. Each conference is intended to be no more than 5 minutes to allow for each teacher to provide a quick update on student progress.  It is important to note that some teachers will not be available for all time slots due to either being part-time at AMS or having a conflict with another school related event. To sign up for a virtual conference with each of your child's teachers, please click on AMS Parent-Teacher Conferences Sign-Up.  By entering your email address during the scheduling process, MyConferenceTime will send you a reminder email prior to the conference with the necessary Zoom links.  Please note that the deadline to sign-up for conferences is October 26 at 5:00 p.m. to allow adequate time for teachers to run progress reports to share during each conference.  After that time, you will no longer be able to schedule a conference.  

AMS Spirit Week October 25-31

AMS will be holding spirit week from Tuesday October 25-Monday October 31.  During that time, students and staff are encouraged to wear gear for the theme of the day.  The themes for each day are as follows:

Tuesday, October 25: Sports Team Tuesday
Wednesday, October 26: College Wear Wednesday 
Thursday, October 27: Cozy Clothes (Pajamas) Thursday
Friday, October 28: Viking Spirit Wear Friday 
Monday(Halloween), October 31: Costumes for Halloween

New 6th Grade Elective Rotation Electives Begin October 31

6th graders who have the elective rotation (Art, Computers, Family Consumer Science, and Gym) as part of their schedule will begin their 2nd term elective on Monday, October 31.  If you are unsure which elective is scheduled for term 2, please login to either the MISTAR parent or student portals or check Schoology as we get closer to October 31.  Grades for term 1 classes will not be posted to report cards until January, however final grades for 1st term elective rotation classes can be checked on Schoology.  

8th Grade Washington DC Trip Update

There are eight spots remaining for the 8th grade Gettysburg/Washington DC trip. Please register soon if you are considering attending the trip. The roster is now open for both students and adult chaperones. To register, please click on Washington DC Trip 2023.  If you have any questions, please contact the DC trip coordinator,  Abby Combs

AMS Scholastic Book Fair 

The AMS Scholastic Book Fair has begun and will continue through October 28.  Students have been scheduled with their ELA class to listen to a book talk from Mrs. Aytes followed by an opportunity to shop the book fair.  There will also be an opportunity for families to shop the book fair on October 26 and 27 from 5:30-8:00 p.m.  Families are encouraged to use E-Wallet to create a pre-paid account which allows for cashless transactions.  For more information about the book fair, please visit the AMS Book Fair Website.  Volunteers are also still needed to help run the AMS Book Fair.  All parents/family members volunteering during school-sponsored functions must complete the district Volunteer Release Form prior to any activities.  If you are interested in volunteering, please choose a time slot using the AMS Book Fair Signup Genius. For questions about the book fair, please email Mrs. Aytes or call her at (248) 837-8212.

Drama Day Opportunity #2

We hope those students who were able to attend the first Saturday Drama Day had a great experience.  If you missed it, or if you would like to participate for a second time, the BHS Drama Department will be hosting a second Saturday Drama Day for Berkley middle school students on Saturday, November 5 from 10:30 am-3:00 pm on the BHS Auditorium stage!. This fun workshop is free of charge and will dive into the theatrical arts to help middle school students make their way on to the stage!  Please register in advance to attend so that there is an adequate number of materials made for the day.  Students should plan on being at BHS from 10:30 - 3:00 p.m. and should come with a bag lunch. 

Free After School Yoga Class  

AMS will be offering a free 10 session Yoga/Mindfulness class after school starting on Friday, November 4 taught by instructors from the Born Yoga Studio in Birmingham.  Yoga will will take place on the following 10 Fridays starting at 3:30 in room 114:  November 4, 11, and 18, December 2, 9, and 16, January 13, 20, and 27, and February 3.  Participation is limited to 20 students and will be granted on a first come, first served sign-up basis.  Participation is free thanks to the support from the Berkley Education Foundation, however participants will need to purchase a yoga mat (which can be purchased at Five Below for $5.00).  If your child is interested in participating, please complete the Yoga Sign-Up Form to have your child added to the participation list. 

Saturdays For Success Program

The Berkley African American Parent Network (BAAPN), in partnership with the Berkley School District, sponsors the Saturdays for Success (S4S) program. The purpose of S4S is to help all Berkley students have a successful academic experience by providing educational opportunities in literacy and math, and developing study skills that will ensure long term success.  The cost of the program is $20 per child (fee covers all 6 sessions). If your family is eligible for free and/or reduced lunch benefits, the cost is $10 per child.  The program will take place at Berkley High School from 9:30-11:00 a.m. on October 8, 15, 22, 29 and November 5 and 12.  To register your child for the S4S program, please click on the S4S Online Registration Form.  

Ski Club Informational Meeting

There will be a Ski club informational meeting on November 1 at 7:00 pm in the AMS Cafeteria for any 6-8th Graders interested in skiing or snowboarding on Friday evenings at Mt. Holly from the beginning of January through the end of February.  Ski club forms will be available at the meeting and on the BSD website later that week.  Ski tuning and waxing will be available again this year.  Please bring skis and boards to the meeting along with $25.  All tuning and waxing needs to be paid for at the meeting.  For any questions about Ski Club, please contact former AMS Assistant Principal, Jim Cowdrey, at 248-928-4925 or by email at jimcowdrey@yahoo.com

Lacrosse Opportunity

Woodward Bears Lacrosse is offering a free lacrosse clinic on Thursday, October 27 from 5:00-6:00 at the Huntington Woods Men's Club Field on 11 Mile. No prior experience is necessary and equipment will be provided. Multiple coaches will be on hand and ready to teach boys and girls in grades 1-8.  For any questions about the clinic, please reach out to Paul Banicki.

Athletics Information

Below is the latest middle school sports information:

Girls Swimming - There was an informational meeting held on October 18 for 6-8th grade girls from AMS and Norup interested in joining the middle school girls swim team.  All Swimmers will need to try out this year to be placed on the appropriate team.  Tryouts are November 2 at BHS.  8th grade is from 4:00-4:30 pm,  7th Grade is from 4:45-5:15 pm, and 6th Grade is from 5:30-6:00 pm.  Team rosters will be posted by Thursday, November 3.   For any questions about the middle school swim team, please contact Coach Erin Roddis.  

Girls Volleyball -  An informational meeting was held on October 20 for any 7th and 8th grade girls interested in trying out for volleyball.  If you have any questions about the upcoming season, please reach out to Coach Steve Hanna for 7th Grade or Coach Theresa Cabalum for 8th Grade.

Football - For questions about Football, please contact Coach Steve Hanna or Coach Ron Fritz.   Below is the schedule for the season.  All games start at 4:30.  

9/28/22 @ Northville
10/6/22 Home v. Clarenceville
10/12/22 Home v. East/West Hills
10/19/22 @ Ferndale
10/26/22 @ Hazel Park
11/2/22 Home v. Royal Oak

Cross Country - Practice runs from 3:45-4:45 as follows: Mondays and Wednesdays at AMS, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at Norup International.  For more information about Cross Country, please contact Coach Beth Hanna or Coach Athena Troher.  Below is the schedule for the season.  All meets start at 4:30.

9/20/22 @ Detroit Country day
9/22/22 @ Farmington East
9/29/22 Home v. Farmington Steam
10/3/22 Home v. Farmington Power
10/11/22 Home v. Farmington Warner
10/18/22 @ Birmingham Derby
10/25/22 League Meet @ Cranbrook (top 7 boys and top 7 girls compete)

Basketball (Girls) - For questions about 7th grade basketball, please contact Coach Chelsea Worlds or Coach Andre Price.  For questions about 8th grade basketball, please contact Coach Scott Rowlett. Below is the schedule for the season.  All games start at 4:30 p.m. for 7th grade and 5:30 p.m. for 8th Grade.

9/20/22 Home v. Farmington Steam
9/28/22 Home v. Norup 
9/29/22 @ Farmington Power
10/3/22 @ Ferndale
10/6/22 @ Norup
10/11/22 Home v. Farmington Warner
10/13/22 Home v. Oak Park
10/18/22 @ Farmington Steam
10/20/22 @ Clarenceville
10/25/22 Home v. Farmington East
10/27/22 @ Hazel Park

Tennis (Girls) - For more information about tennis, please contact Coach Robert Hall.  Below is the schedule for the season.  All meets start at 4:30.

9/19/22 @ East Hills
9/21/22 Home v. Detroit Country Day
10/3/22 Home v. West Hills
10/10/22 Home v. Bloomfield Hills
10/12/22 @ Berkshire
10/17/22 Home v. Cranbrook
10/19/22 Home v. Covington
10/24/22 @ Derby

Golf - Middle School Golf will be offered as an athletic club this fall.  If you have any questions about Golf, please contact Coach Brett Greer.

For athletic related questions, please contact AMS Assistant Principal, Carman Smith.

Student Clubs and Organizations

Below are club and extra-curricular opportunities being offered to our students throughout the year.  Check back each week for additional club information and updates.     

National Junior Honor Society - Students are eligible to be inducted into NJHS in the spring of 7th Grade by earning a cumulative GPA of 3.7 through 6 terms (Terms 1-4 from 6th Grade and terms 1 and 2 of 7th Grade) and earning citizenship marks no less than a 2.  Students who meet these requirements will receive a notification in the spring of their eligibility to be inducted. For those 8th grade students currently in NJHS, meetings will be starting next week.  All meetings will take place during 8th grade lunch starting at 12:45 in the Media Center.  The dates for meetings through December are:
Thursday, November 10 
Tuesday, December 13. 

For questions about NJHS, please contact NJHS sponsor, Mrs. McDermott  

Student Council - Student Council is open to any 6-8th grade students interested in helping to organize and promote school events throughout the year.  The first meeting of the year took place on October 19.  If you have any questions about Student Council, please contact Student Council sponsor, Mrs. Alderman

First Robotics Team - First Robotics Team meetings will continue on a flexible schedule between Mondays and Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. in room 114  If you have any questions about the First Robotics Team, please contact AMS parents and team sponsors, Martin Wekerle and Rob Calvano.  

Drama Club - Drama Club is open to any students interested in learning more about acting and drama productions.  Meetings will take place every Friday from 3:20-4:20 in the Media Center.  For any questions about Drama Club, please reach out to Mrs. Aytes.  

Art Club - Art Club will have a focus on drawing. All skill levels are welcome. Students should bring a sketchbook and their own drawing materials. Special papers and advanced drawing mediums will be available for those that want to explore.  Art Club will take place on Thursdays from 3:20-4:20 through the end of the semester.  At this time, all 25 spots have been filled.  We will have an additional signup for second semester in January.  For questions about Art Club, please contact Ms. Reid.

Rainbow Room - The Rainbow Room is an inclusive after school club offering for LGBTQ+ students and LGTBQ+ allies.   The Rainbow Club will take place every Wednesday from 3:20-4:20 in room 217.  For questions about Rainbow Room, please contact Ms. Reid.

Gaming Club - The Gaming Club will take place every Monday from 3:20-4:20 in room 113.  Students will have the option to play video games, board games, card games, or any other game related activities.  If you have any questions about the Gaming Club, please contact Mr. Morris.  

Dungeons and Dragons Club - The Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) Club will take place every Wednesday from 3:20-4:20 in room 113.  Students with previous experience and those wishing to learn are welcome to attend. If you have any questions about the D&D Club, please contact Mr. Morris.  

Anime Club - The Anime Club will take place on Mondays from 3:20-4:20 in room 100.  Anime is a style of animation originating in Japan that is characterized by stark colorful graphics depicting vibrant characters in action-filled plots often with fantastic or futuristic themes.  If you have any questions about the Anime Club, please contact Mr. Stoia.

Homework Club - Students have the opportunity to work independently or receive extra help with homework.  Students who choose to attend homework club must be working on school work or school related work. Homework Club will take place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:20-4:20 in room 115.   

Ski Club - Ski Club takes place every Friday from 3:30-10:00 at Mt. Holly from early January through the end of February.  Students in grades 6-12 can snowboard or ski.  Mr. Cowdrey, former AMS Assistant Principal, will continue as the sponsor for Ski Club.  More specific information will be shared in November.  

General Information

Breakfast and Lunch Information

For the 2022-23 school year, a middle school lunch will cost $3.25 full pay and $.40 reduced price.  Please click AMS October Lunch Menu to view the lunch menu for October.  Additionally, AMS offers a breakfast program this year with mostly cold breakfast items being served.  The cafeteria will be open from 7:30-8:05 a.m. (entry cut off at 7:55) and students must enter through the cafeteria door off the parking lot.  The breakfast cost will be $1.50 full pay and $.30 reduced price.

AMS 2022-23 Event Calendar 

To view the AMS event calendar for 2022-23, please click on AMS Event Calendar 2022-23   Please keep in mind that due to various circumstances, events times and dates are subject to change and events maybe added or removed. 

Pre-Order Your 2022-23 AMS Yearbook 

Families can pre-order yearbooks for the 2022-23 school year for $35.00.  To order a yearbook please visit the Jostens AMS Yearbook Order Page.  On the first page, fill out the required fields but leave the homeroom field blank as students do not have a homeroom at AMS.  Yearbooks will arrive around the first week of June and will be distributed to students before the end of the year.  

Join the AMS PTSA!

Please consider joining the AMS PTSA.  The PTSA helps support programs, classroom needs, and opportunities for our students throughout the year.  While your assistance with PTSA sponsored events is always appreciated, your membership does not obligate you to volunteer for events.  Joining the PTSA has never been easier.  Join online by visiting the AMS PTSA membership page.   The next PTSA meeting will take place on November 9 at 7:00 p.m. in the AMS Media Center.

Berkley African American Parent Network

The Berkley African American Parent Network (BAAPN) is a parent run organization that works in partnership with the Berkley School District and Oakland County Schools. The BAAPN network is a way for parents with African American children in Berkley Schools to connect with each other. BAAPN is committed to supporting student engagement, high academic achievement, and increased parental involvement.  For more information, please visit the BAAPN WebsiteThe next BAAPN meeting will take place January 19, at 7:00 p.m. at AMS.    Berkley High

BHS National Honor Society Free Peer Tutoring

Did you know that students from the BHS National Honor Society offer free peer tutoring?  If you child is in need of tutoring, please email me and I will email you the list of tutors.  It is as simple as looking through the list, identifying a tutor that meets your child's needs, and contacting them to arrange tutoring.  

Parent Volunteer Information

All parents, guardians, or family members interested in volunteering for school-sponsored functions or field trips must complete the Parent Volunteer Form prior to any activities.  If you have interest in volunteering during the school year, it is recommended to complete the volunteer form early to avoid delays in processing the form.  Please return completed forms to the AMS office.    

Amazon Smile

Did you know that for every purchase you make on Amazon, a small percentage can go to benefit the AMS PTSA?  All you have to do is a quick setup on the Amazon phone app and any future purchases will automatically generate a small donation to the AMS PTSA.  To setup AmazonSmile on your existing Amazon phone app, please follow the directions below:

1) In the upper left hand corner select where you see the 3 horizontal lines
2) Scroll down and select settings
3) Select AmazonSmile
4) Add Anderson Middle School PTSA to your list of charities and make sure that the "generating donations" is turned on. 
5) Your app should now be defaulted to AmazonSmile and any purchases you make will automatically generate a donation to the AMS PTSA.

To set up on a computer, simply go to smile.amazon.com, go into the same settings above, and setup the AMS PTSA as your charitable donation.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Follow AMS on social media!  To find us on Facebook and Instagram, click in the search and type andersonmiddleschoolvikings to access our page.  To follow us on Twitter, search @AMSViking.  All social media pages have the AMS Viking as the profile picture.   

AMS Spiritwear

Anytime is a great time to purchase AMS spirit wear.  Ordering is simple through our online store with many options to choose from. To shop for AMS spirit wear, please visit the AMS Online Spirit Wear Store.  

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,
Michael Ross
AMS Principal