January Yearbook News & Information

Read the yearbook newsletter here!

In the current issue: 

  - Get your event photos into the yearbook!

  - Yearbook sales continue through March

  - Students can Join the Yearbook Staff

Happy New Year!

WELCOME 2017! 

School resumes on Tuesday, January 3, 2017! 

Don't forget to read your AR book! AR due January 5!

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays
and have a fun, safe
winter vacation. 

School resumes on Tuesday January 3, 2017! 

Second issue of The Herd

The AMS newspaper club printed the second issue of The Herd. Check it out online:

AMSTheHerd.info 

The newspaper club meets after school on Tuesdays.

The next meeting is December 20. Join us! Take the activity bus home!

Spirit Week December 19-22

AMS Student Council has announced that next week, December 19-22, is “Spirit Week.” See the list of events below: 

AMS Children's Hospital Auction

The 29th annual Children's Hospital Auction is coming up quickly! Avonworth School District is proud to raise money each year for the Free Care Fund, which provides funding to children in need for medical care they may not be able to otherwise afford. This is only possible with the support of the community, so please consider donating to our auction. Suggested donations include:

Food: Donuts, drinks, cheese ball barrels, pizza, Subway sandwiches, baked goods

Toys: Games, small electronics, giant stuffed animals

Gifts: Baskets, athletic gear or memorabilia, tickets to movies etc, gift cards (if grouped with other related items of interest).

If you would like to make a donation (or have any questions), please feel free to contact Emily Hickman (ehickman@avonworth.k12.pa.us). Thank you in advance for your support - we are sure this will be an awesome year to raise money for the children at Children's Hospital!

Food Drive Ends Tomorrow

The annual Red Cross Food Drive is happening until Friday, December 16.  Proceeds benefit the North Boroughs Food Bank. 

Carson Scholars Fund

Each year the Carson Scholars Fund offers a chance to win a $1000 scholarship investment towards attendance at a four-year college or university. Unfortunately, Avonworth Middle School can only offer one name to be recognized each year.  The application requirements and deadlines are linked below.

Read more about the deadlines and application process on the school website. 

Important Updates for the week of December 19

~ Next Week ~

Monday

   Math Layered Curriculum due

Tuesday

   Science Test

Wednesday

   Civics Test

   Essay due

Thursday

   Children’s Hospital Auction

   English Passive/Active Study Island

Friday

   Winter Break Starts

Winter Break
Friday, 12/23/16 through
Monday, 1/2/17

Tuesday, 1/3/17 school's in session

AHS Video PSA Contest --- Help them win!

From the office:


Two groups of Avonworth High School students have entered into a video PSA contest with the FBI.  Both video links can be found on the webpage below (right at the top of the list):

https://fbipghcaaa.org/hope/youth/fbihopepsa2016/ 

We are asking for YOUR help with increasing the total VOTE COUNT!  The students of these videos have been asking their HS peers to go online and vote, but many of the students choose not to do it even thought it takes just a second.  One of the Avonworth videos is currently in 2nd place in popular vote - but unfortunately that is still 200 votes behind the first place video.  So we wanted to ask for your help at the MS level to increase the vote count for these Avonworth videos (given your success with making that possible).

Here is what each MS student needs to do:

• Login to their student google account
• Bring up each video link and LIKE the video in YouTube by clicking on the thumbs up below the video

Each person is only allowed to vote ONCE since each google account gets only ONE vote… that is why we need as many people (with a  google account) to vote as possible to close this gap of 200 votes between the Avonworth video and the other one in the contest.  VOTING ENDS NEXT WEEK!

AMS 8 In the News...

Students participating in the Panther Specialty Pharmacy project are mentioned in the Consortium for Public Education newsletter. See the information here.

Science Class YouTube Video Reply Project

Click on the link below to view the videos made for the DC Motor YouTube Video

Student DC motor model working in the science lab. Students built the models and explained how they worked. Their videos were uploaded to YouTube. 

Yearbooks make Great Holiday Gifts!

Click here to read more! 

With the holidays now here, buy a yearbook  (December 1^st through December 21^st) and receive a certificate as a holiday gift purchase. Printed gift certificates with a personalized message will be sent to a home or business address via USPS. 

Available for orders made December 1 through December 21!

Students in Grade 8 to take PSSA / Keystone Tests

Students in Grade 8 will take PSSA tests in April & May and Keystone Algebra Exams in May. The 8th Grade Team will post more information to the AMS 8 Blog in early 2017.

Below are the testing windows published by the PA Dept of Education. During these time periods, students will be completing each of the required 8th grade PSSA subject tests.  

ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL ON TEST DAYS

Avoid scheduling doctor appointments, vacations or other out-of-school activities during testing times. Participation in PSSA/Keystone exams is a state requirement.

Making up tests pulls students from their regular classes. As a result, they will miss valuable class time. It will be students' responsibility to make up any classwork you miss.

Of course, if students are genuinely ill, please stay at home and take the necessary time off to get well. Students will perform better on a test if they are healthy.

Children's Hospital Free Care Fund Auction

Please read the following letter sent home about the Children's Hospital Free Care Fund Auction.

Auction Letter

Tweets from #lab110

Students in science have been working on their model DC motors in #lab110. See the progress that was made this week!

Eureka! How about a student model motor working better than the original! @Avonworthschool @mhall_AMS pic.twitter.com/PNlKWtjaAE

— AMS Science 8 (@science8haskins) December 5, 2016

Almost got it! Another team getting their motor to work in #lab110! @Avonworthschool pic.twitter.com/vZqoAA3vNW

— AMS Science 8 (@science8haskins) December 6, 2016

It's spinning! #lab110 building motors to explain how electric current is used. pic.twitter.com/iQRvyT9rcn

— AMS Science 8 (@science8haskins) December 6, 2016

Great motor! This team in #lab110 had to rework their coil and brushes... awesome result! @Avonworthschool @mhall_AMS pic.twitter.com/yfHE0w8rWy

— AMS Science 8 (@science8haskins) December 6, 2016

Another motor functioning in #lab110! This is great practice of perseverance! Next, explain how it works! pic.twitter.com/GpW5OQbuKc

— AMS Science 8 (@science8haskins) December 6, 2016

Keep them spinning! Simple DC motors in #lab110! Perseverance and research pay off! pic.twitter.com/0r2RjjQz9M

— AMS Science 8 (@science8haskins) December 6, 2016

Trial and error! Learning to make the DC motor work in #lab110 pic.twitter.com/SFjGSyEyZb

— AMS Science 8 (@science8haskins) December 6, 2016

Learning about magnetic fields, current, and motors - hands on! #lab110 pic.twitter.com/Y8dWSdyvcO — AMS Science 8 (@science8haskins) December 6, 2016

DC motor in #lab110 in slow motion pic.twitter.com/9ikbbAuDtx — AMS Science 8 (@science8haskins) December 7, 2016

Another great motor in #lab110 today! pic.twitter.com/uH0SPhcPKd — AMS Science 8 (@science8haskins) December 7, 2016

Join the Newspaper Club

The next newspaper club meeting will be December 13 from 3-4 PM. Take the new activity bus home! Join The Herd! See Mr. Haskins or Mrs. Abate to learn more. 

Visit us online: 

www.amstheherd.info

The November/December edition to be printed next week! 

Math Tutoring After School

NOTICE:

Starting next week, December 8, math tutoring will be moved to Thursdays after school from 3-4PM. 

Layered Curriculum in Math Class

We started our Layered Curriculum in Graphing Linear Equations today (12/1/16) in math. Students will work with their assigned groups through the layers. See the linked document for all assignments through Dec 19.

Math Layered Curriculum 

December Yearbook Newsletter & Holiday Yearbook Gift Certificates

Read the yearbook newsletter here! 

In the current issue: 

  - Holiday Gift Certificate Sales continue through 12/21

  - Students can Join Yearbook!

  - Special Features available through Online Sales

New Learning Unit in Science Class

Students in science have started a new learning unit called energy resources. We will be continuing our exploration of electricity through several activities.

First, students will be constructing a simple DC motor to better understand how electrons make motors spin. They will be creating YouTube replies to the DC model posted to the Science 8 YouTube Channel. 

Second, students will be examining energy resources in our community. We will be considering renewable and nonrenewable resources as well as the untapped potential in our river. The final activity of this unit has the students designing a turbine to be retrofitted to our existing locks and dams.

Here are some online resources for students and parents:

   - Graded Assignment List

   - Notes
   - Unit Study Guide

Clubs, Staying After School,and Activity Bus

From the office: 

The Avonworth School District is very pleased to report that an Activity Bus will be provided for middle school and high school students that need to stay after school for clubs and activities. This bus will run every Monday-Thursday and leave the school at 4:00 p.m. Students can board the bus outside the middle school entrance.

Keep in mind, the bus does not provide door to door service. It will stop at strategic locations throughout the district. The bus stop locations are listed below. The first day of operation will be Monday, December 5th.

• Ben Avon Playground
• Church Ave & Dickson Ave
• Avalon Loop
• Laundromat
• Emsworth Boro Building
• Roosevelt Road(house stops)
• Roosevelt Road/North Ridge
• Gary/Cheryl
• Nicholson Road(house stops)
• Deer Valley
• Diamond Run
• Ridge Rd/Linda Vista

Check out the clubs and activities sponsored by AMS faculty! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

From our family to yours,
Happy Thanksgiving! 

No School for students  Wednesday, November 23 (previously held conferences) through Monday, November 28 (ACT 80 Day).

School is in session Tuesday, November 29.  

Photo Retakes 11/30/16

Photo retakes will be on November 30. Order forms are available in the offices.

2016 Advisory Games!

On Monday, 11/21/16, students in the 8th grade participated in the 3rd annual AMS 8 Advisory Games! Students used cooperation and teamwork skills to solve problems and earn points!

AMS 8 Maker Students take on PANTHERx Project

On Wednesday, November 16, students from the 8^th grade met with Jonathan Ogurchak of Panther Specialty Pharmacy to learn more about a project involving Avonworth and Blackhawk Middle Schools.

Students learned about the role of a specialty pharmacy and the requirement of a close relationship among patients, doctors and the pharmacists. The students were introduced to a specific drug, Strensiq, which requires strict monitoring due to temperature constraints and costs. Strensiq is used to combat a specific genetic, enzymatic deficiency in bone production. The students learned about the special “smart” refrigerators needed to store the expensive supply of medication.

The project has students looking at how technology could improve the relationship and communication between the patients and their caregivers. Students were asked if they could think of ways that the “smart” refrigerator could be modified to better aid PANTHERx in their mission to serve patients with chronic diseases. The product to be created by the students will explain the features that could be used in the next iteration of the "smart refrigerator."

 

Jonathan Ogurchak describes the condition perinatal/infantile and juvenile-onset hypophosphatasia to Avonworth students. This is the disorder that Strensiq, an enzyme replacement, is prescribed to patients to form and maintain bone. The cost of the medication is extreme, which requires the pharmacy to closely track and monitor dosages.

Students interact with the features currently used on the "smart" refrigerator 2.0. The students got a chance to review all of the features of this new technology. 

The "smart" refrigerator uses technology such as RFID tagging and wireless communication to connect the refrigerator in patient's homes to the pharmacy. 

Students consider options that could be added to the "smart" refrigerator 3.0 to improve the communication between patients, doctors, and PANTHERx. 

Save the date! Middle School Engineering Day at Univ. of Pitt SWE

This event is not sponsored by Avonworth School District.

Veterans Day Field Trip

On Tuesday, November 8, thirty-three 8th grade students spent the day with local veterans at the Heinz History Center.  The WWII, Korean, and Vietnam War veterans shared their personal stories, brought in artifacts, and answered students' questions.  The heroic actions of these men and women were an inspiration to students and teachers.  Thank you to all veterans for your service to our nation.

Veterans Day 11/11/16

Let us remember all the sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed forces so that we could have a safer life. 

Veterans Day
11/11/16

AMS 8 Specials Rotation Next Week

Students will be changing rotations on Tuesday, November 15. The next course can be found on the student schedule as "2" for periods B and H. 

Rube Goldberg Machines

Students in science 8 created Rube Goldberg Machines to apply what they had learned about energy, work, and simple machines. Check out the YouTube videos below to see period D’s machine run.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCPjywOY5Ys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNE-e4Ldc5M

Education Trip Form and Procedure

Reminder from the Office: 

If a student is going to be out of school more than 3 days (e.g. vacation), parents are required to complete and submit the linked form. 

Also, see this and other attendance procedures from the Parent Academy Edline page. 

AMS Enviromental Club

Do you want to improve our school community environment? Want to learn more about the living things and their place in the ecosystem? Join us! 

The first environmental club meeting a will be on Monday, November 14 after school until 5 PM. At the meeting, the environmental club will discuss the projects and activities including  field trips.  

To receive more information... text @amsenviron to phone number 81010 or see Mr. Haskins

Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday!

Remember to turn your clocks back on Sunday, 11/6/16! Daylight Saving Time Ends!

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program - Deadline is soon!

Click here to read more about the program
and application process.

Deadline is November 8, 2016.

Election 2016 Project

Thanks to the over 150 guests that attended our 8th Grade Election Event on Tuesday night.  Those in attendance were able to view student-created videos, board games, artwork, websites, children's books, presentations, and even a live debate! 

If you were in attendance and did not get an opportunity to take the Exit Poll, please feel free to leave us your feedback here:

https://goo.gl/forms/FnCyhDAmLvjLaqO73