November 11, 2022

AMS Principal's Weekly Update 11-11-22

School News

Dear AMS Students and Families, 
Today is Veteran's Day, a national holiday that celebrates all United States Veterans who have served during war time and peace time.  Often times, our students are aware of holidays, but lack an understanding of the true meaning behind the holiday.  To help our students better understand the meaning of Veteran's Day, we invited several Veterans to speak to our students about their experiences serving in the military.  During the presentations, Veterans discussed basic training, deployment, job descriptions, wars they fought in, and their overall experience while serving in the military. Students also had an opportunity to ask questions at the end of each presentation.  

On behalf of all of us at AMS, I would like to thank the following Veterans who shared their experiences with our students today:

  • David Sokol, United States Army
  • Howard Sherman, United States Navy
  • RJ Danescu, United States Army
  • Marc Robinson, United States Army
  • Elizabeth Crampton, United States Navy
  • Lorrena Black, United States Army
  • Clarence Black, United States Army
  • Jim Smith, United States Air Force
  • Rob Hunyor, United States Air Force

On this Veteran's Day, we also thank those who have served, and are currently serving, in the military.  Lastly, I would like to thank Mrs. Saltsman and Mrs. Robinson for all of their work in planning today's Veteran presentations.  

Upcoming Dates

Monday - November 14
First Robotics 4:00 in Room 114
Gaming Club 3:20-4:20 in Room 113
Anime Club 3:20-4:20 in Room 100
Homework Club 3:20-4:20 in Room 115
Girls Swim Blue Team @ Covington at 4:30
Board of Education Meeting @ Tyndall at 7:00 pm

Tuesday - November 15
Girls Swim Maroon Team @ Berkshire Silver at 4:30

Wednesday - November 16
Rainbow Room 3:20-4:20 Room 217
Dungeons and Dragons Club 3:20-4:20 Room 113
Homework Club 3:20-4:20 Room 115
Student Council Meeting 3:20-4:20 in Room 200
Girls Swim Blue Team Home v. West Hills at 4:30

Thursday - November 17
Art Club 3:20-4:20 Room 110
First Robotics 4:00 in Room 114

Friday - November 18
Drama Club 3:20-4:20 in the Media Center 
Yoga 3:30-4:15 Room 114
Girls Swim Maroon Team @ Berkshire Black at 4:30

School News

Counseling Support

This week our new second counselor, Melissa Ng, joined our staff.  Now that we have two counselors, we have assigned students alphabetically to each counselor. 

Those students whose last names are A-L will be assigned to Mrs. Stone.
Those students whose last names are M-Z will be assigned to Ms. Ng

We recognize that some students may have already been supported by Mrs. Stone and will prefer to continue seeing her.  If that is the case, those students may continue seeing Mrs. Stone.  Among other responsibilities, Counselors are here to support the academic and social emotional well-being of our students.  If at anytime you feel that your child is in need of assistance, please feel free to reach out to their assigned counselor,  Ms. Ng or Mrs. Stone.    

PTSA Fall Fundraiser

Thank you to those who have already donated to the AMS PTSA Fall Fundraiser.  To date, we have raised over $5300, but we still have a long way to go to reach our goal of $15,000.  The Anderson PTSA Fall Fundraiser is a simple donation type of fundraiser; no products to sell or laps to run, just straight donations!

Top Prize: Pair of Apple Air Pod Pro Earbuds
2nd Prize: $100 Cash
$10 in donations or more receive an AMS Viking Decal
$50 in donations or more are entered in a raffle for gift cards. 

The PTSA supports school activities, 8th grade end of year activities, teacher stipends, Media Center purchases, and more.  They would also like to add some assemblies on Social Media/Online Safety and help the school purchase Social Emotional inspirational items. The fundraiser runs November 1-14 (extended from November 11).  With just 4 more days left to reach the goal of $15,000, we need your support!

To make a donation please visit the donation page
Anderson Vikings Fall Fundraiser

If using a phone, click the orange NAVIGATE button and click students to choose the student for whom you wish to associate your donation.  If using a computer, click students on the left hand side of the page and choose the student for whom you wish to associate your donation.

HBCU Night at BHS

Berkley High School will be hosting a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) fair and alumni panel on November 16 from 6:00-7:30 pm in the BHS Media Center.  This event is sponsored by the Berkley African American Parent Network.  For more information, please contact BHS School Counselor, Christina Belsky.

Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run

On November 19 there will be a fundraising event, the Jingle Bell Run, organized by the Arthritis Foundation held at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac.  Berkley School District students and staff are invited to join this fun run and 5K. We have a number of students in the district who suffer from Juvenile Arthritis along with a number of educators who live with arthritis. Proceeds from this event helps to fund arthritis research, education, and support.  For more information please visit JBR.org/Detroit or click on the Jingle Bell Run Informational Flyer

8th Grade Washington DC Trip Update

There are still a few 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

Athletics Information 

Below is the latest middle school sports information:

Girls Swimming - For any questions about the middle school swim team, please contact Coach Erin Roddis.  Below is the schedule for the season (note there is a Blue and Maroon team) with meets starting at 4:30. 

11/14/22 Blue Team @ Covington  
11/15/22 Maroon Team @ Berkshire Silver
11/16/22 Blue Team Home v. West Hills
11/18/22 Maroon Team @ Berkshire Black
11/21/22 Maroon Team Home v. Covington
11/22/22 Blue Team Home v. Bloomfield Hills
11/28/22 Blue Team @ Berkshire Silver
11/28/22 Maroon Team @ West Hills
12/8/22 Maroon Team @ Derby Red
12/8/22 Blue Team Home v. Cranbrook
12/12/22 Blue Team Home v. Derby White
12/15/22 Maroon Team Home v. Cranbrook
12/19/22 Maroon Team Home v. East Hills
12/21/22 Blue Team Home v. East Hills
12/22/22 Maroon Team Home v. Bloomfield Hills
1/10/23 Blue Team Home v. Berkshire Black

Basketball (Boys) - Tryouts took place this week and students will be notified next week to let them know if they have made the team.  For questions about 7th grade basketball, please contact 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.

11/21/22 Home v. Norup
11/30/22 Home v. Farmington Power
12/1/22 @ Hazel Park
12/5/22 Home v. Ferndale
12/7/22 Home v. Farmington East
12/12/22 Home v. Farmington Warner
12/14/22 @ Norup
12/19/22 @ Bloomfield Hills MS
1/9/23 @ Royal Oak
1/11/23 Home v. Berkshire
1/18/23 Home v. Farmington STEAM
1/19/23 Home v. Oak Park

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 next meeting will take on Tuesday, December 13 at 12:45 in the media center. 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 next Student Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 16 after school in room 200.  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 will take place every Friday from 3:30-10:00 at Mt. Holly from early January through the end of February.  For information, please click for Ski Club information and click on the Ski Club Registration Form.  All forms and payments (checks made out to the Berkley School District) can be turned into the AMS office.  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

Yoga - AMS is offering a free 10 session Yoga/Mindfulness class after school taught by instructors from the Born Yoga Studio in Birmingham.  Yoga 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 20 and 27, and February 3 and 10.  Participation is free thanks to the support from the Berkley Education Foundation, however participants will need to purchase a yoga mat.  If your child is interested in participating, please complete the Yoga Sign-Up Form to have your child added to the participation list. 

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 November Lunch Menu to view the lunch menu for November.  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. 

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