Abilene Middle School

AMS Families - please stop by the AMS Commons on Wednesday, October 22 during conferences to learn about community resources available in Abilene (and enter prize drawings!)

Please enjoy our October "AMS Connect" Newsletter - we are celebrating learning this month!

Longhorn Families, in order to give all teachers ample time to finalize Quarter 1 grades:

6th and 7th Grade students have until 11 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15 to submit any missing assignments from Quarter 1 that are still being accepted by their teachers.

8th Grade students have until 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15 to submit any missing assignments from Quarter 1 that are still being accepted by their teachers.

Congratulations to this week's AMS Students of the Week! This is a particularly sweet and kind group of students who also happen to be excellent students. These kiddos show respect to their teachers, their peers, and themselves on a daily basis and make us proud to call them Longhorns! Keep up the great effort, group :)
6th grade - B. Hoover, J. Wilson
7th grade - G. Friedrich, B. Schmersey
8th grade - B. Brooks, E. Wondrasek

Longhorn families! Here are some reminders of upcoming events and important dates over the next couple weeks.

🏐 Saturday, October 11: Volleyball
The 7th and 8th grade volleyball teams will play their last games of the season at their respective NCKL tournaments this Saturday. 7th grade girls will play at Clay Center, and 8th grade girls play at Concordia. Games start at 9 a.m. for both tournaments.

🏈 Tuesday, October 14: Football
The 7th and 8th Grade Football teams will wrap up their season with games at Marysville. The 7th Grade game starts at 4:30 with the 8th grade game following at approximately 6:15.

🏃 Thursday, October 16: Volleyball
The AMS Cross Country teams will run their last races of the season at the NCKL meet in Wamego. Races start at 4.

🧡 Friday, October 17: End of Quarter 1
Friday, October 17 marks the last day of the first quarter! Students will have a 1:00 dismissal. Make sure you’re talking with your students about getting any missing assignments in as grades for Quarter 1 will be finalized on this day.

🎵 Tuesday, October 21: Fall Fantastical
Vocal students from AHS and AMS will be putting on their Fall Fantastical show. Performances begin at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and children 5 and under are free.

AMS Families - remember to complete our Parent/Teacher Conference Survey to help us schedule a meeting time that fits into your schedule. Use this link to find the survey: https://forms.office.com/r/07bx2RrGai
Thanks!

Congratulations to this week's AMS Students of the Week! This group includes students who exemplify all of our Five Star Values - respect in and out of the classroom, perseverance in their roles as students and as active members of sports, clubs, and activities, accountability for their own actions and as good role models for their peers, integrity for doing the right thing when no one is watching, and cooperation in all areas (and 2 of them are sisters, so that's saying a lot!). Excellent work, Longhorns!
6th grade - H. Gilliland, R. Griffith
7th grade - P. Adney, B. Black
8th grade - C. Vinduska, J. Perez Pecina, K. Gilliland

Our table is full once again. If you see something that belongs to your student, please encourage him or her to pick it up. Thanks!

We appreciate our AMS custodial team every day, but today, we get to spoil them a little! Happy Custodial Appreciation Day to Diane, Shaun, and Jewell 🧡💙

Congratulations to our October Staff Member of the Month - Mr. Peterson!

Staff Member of the Month is voted on by students, and students are given the option of sharing why they believe their chosen staff member deserves recognition. Along with being kind and funny, these are some of the things students had to say about Mr. Peterson:

"Last year he was so helpful and willing to do anything to try and help me and everyone else out. He also made class very fun for everyone."
"Because whenever I need help with something he is patient with me."
"He is always ready to help a student out with their homework!"

We are so grateful to have Mr. Peterson as part of our Longhorn team!

AMS Families - please use the link below to fill out this year's Parent/Teacher Planning Survey. This helps us know how best to schedule your child's conference time. Thank you!

https://forms.office.com/r/07bx2RrGai

Congratulations to this week's AMS Students of the Week! It was lovely to read the reason why teachers nominated this week's students - some were nominated for their excellent attitudes about school and learning; others were nominated because they simply embody the values we hold dear at AMS - respect, responsibility, and leadership; and others still were nominated because they are just amazing human beings. Whatever the reason, we are proud of you, Longhorns!
6th grade - M. Boeken, B. Gilbert
7th grade - J. Rose, B. Burnett
8th grade - C. Geering, I. Price

AMS Families - we sent home half of the fundraiser orders today, and we will finish sending the rest home next Tuesday and Wednesday. Just didn't want you to be worried if your kiddo didn't bring it home today :)

Longhorn families! Here are some reminders of upcoming events and important dates over the next couple weeks.

🧡 Monday, September 29: No School
Teachers will be participating in Professional Development on this day. Students will not have school.

🏐 Monday, September 29: Volleyball
7th Grade Volleyball plays a quad at Manhattan. Games start at 3:30.

🏐 Tuesday, September 30: Volleyball
7th and 8th Grade Volleyball play quads at Rock Creek. Games start at 4:30.

🏈 Thursday, October 2: Football, Volleyball, Cross Country
7th/8th Grade Football play at home against Chapman. 7th grade game starts at 4:30 with the 8th grade game following.
7th/8th Grade Volleyball play at home against Chapman. Matches start at 4:30.
AMS Cross Country runs at Beloit. Races start at 3:45.

🏃 Tuesday, October 7: Cross Country
AMS Cross Country runs at Ellsworth. Races start at 3:30.

Congratulations to this week's AMS Students of the Week! Teachers nominated this group for two different reasons - major respect in the classroom and throughout our building AND excellent accountability in the classroom. We have some rockstar students in this group who will go far in life because of the skills they show every day. Way to go, Longhorns!
6th grade - V. McNutt, D. Ward
7th grade - B. Crane, R. Taylor
8th grade - B. Lady, B. Pekarek

Mr. Engle's STEM classes wrapped up a unit over aerodynamics this week. Students got the opportunity to design and launch their own rockets!

Longhorn families! Here are some reminders of upcoming events and important dates over the next couple weeks.

🏐 Saturday, September 20: Volleyball
7th Grade Volleyball plays a tournament in Junction City. Matches start at 8:30 a.m.
8th Grade Volleyball plays a tournament in Solomon. Matches start at 8:30 a.m.

🏐Monday, September 22: Volleyball
7th Grade Volleyball plays a quad at Rock Creek. Games start at 4:30.
8th Grade Volleyball plays a quad at home. Games start at 4:30.

🏃Tuesday, September 23: Cross Country
7th/8th Grade Cross Country competes at Southeast of Saline. Races start at 4 p.m.

🏈 Thursday, September 25: Football and Volleyball
7th/8th Grade Football plays at Rock Creek. 7th grade game starts at 4:30 with the 8th grade game following.
7th/8th Grade Volleyball plays at Rock Creek. Matches start at 4:30.

🧡 Monday, September 29: No School
Teachers will be participating in Professional Development on this day. Students will not have school.

Mr. Taylor is another new face at the middle school, and our last new certified staff member to share! He is joining us from the high school where he will continue to teach classes as well this year.

While Mrs. Whiteley has been seen in our building previously, this is her first official year here! She'll be at both the high school and the middle school teaching vocal music.