Heads-Up! Student-led Conferences in May

In order to close our 8th grade advisory program and to have time to reflect on middle school academically, each 8th grade student will be preparing to lead a parent-student-teacher conference.  Our 8th grade advisory program has been reflecting on student work, progress, and goal setting while meeting bi-monthly throughout the school year.  Each parent and student will have a student led conference in May after school.

Reminder: Student BYOT Device Policy

Students are reminded to follow the BYOT policy during school. Students should not have on their headphones/earbuds while walking in the hallways. Devices may only be used when a teacher allows the use of the device.

AR Midterm Progress Check

AR Midterm Progress Check is Wednesday, February 3. 

Parents can check their students' AR goals and reading progress by clicking on the Home Connect button below. 

Use your child's AR login information. 

Spring Sports Sign-Ups

Spring sports sign-ups are now available in the office for:  boys baseball, girls softball, and boys & girls swimming.  A sports physical is required to play.  Physical forms are available in the office or on Edline.

AMS 8 Receives a STEM Mini-Grant!

AMS 8th grade students and teachers are grateful for the financial support from Bentley Systems, Inc through a $250 grant supporting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) initiatives in schools. The funds will be used to purchase supplies for the Building Bridges to STEM Careers activities during the month of May. This will be the fourth year mini-grants will be used to reduce the cost of building the bridges.

Students designing their bridge for the STEM project in the 8th grade during the 2013-2014 school year. 

Unit on Matter starts with Plankton Race

	A new unit has started in science class with The Great Plankton Race as our opening activity. Competition brackets, pictures and information can be found on the science class website.  Last year's elimination bracket during The Great Plankton Race. The new unit is on the  properties of matter and begins our study of chemistry. This unit is also exploring the "gamification" of the science classroom. Students will have opportunities for enrichment or review as needed. Students can earn digital badges for completing certain activities. Read more on the science website.  Students are always encouraged to check the classroom timeline when they are absent to review missed science class content.   Game Downloads: Game Board Score Keeper  Instructions Enrichment Badges & Descriptions

Grade 8 Students to take PSSA Tests

Students in Grade 8 will take PSSA tests in April and Keystone Algebra Exams May. The 8th Grade Team will post more information to the AMS 8 Blog in early 2016.

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.

Algebra Students to take the Keystone Exam in May

Mark your calendars!  The 8th graders who are enrolled in Integrated Math I (Algebra), will take the Keystone Exams the week of May 16.  For more information on the keystone exams, please go to www.pde.state.pa.us or see the page on the AMS Grade 8 Blog.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School

Monday, 1/18/16
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Act 80 Day 
No School for Students

Conserving Electricity for Science Class

Students have been learning about electricity and electric circuitry in science class. Students observed and identified where wasted electricity could be eliminated through simple behavior changes at home. As demonstrated in class, even a small change could have an impact on the electricity used as well as the cost in monthly utilities. Students will be implementing and monitoring their simple changes in an Action Plan over the next few days.

 

Student Action Plans include educating the people at home to help in the effort. 

In science class, a light bulb demonstration was set up to compare different types of replacement bulbs. The electric meters show the estimated costs of lighting the different types of bulbs for four school days. The newer light bulbs produce similar amounts of light but with less heat, thus they are more energy efficient.  

League of Innovative Schools & Digital Promise Video includes AMS students & teachers!

On a day in late October, the League of Innovative Schools visited Pittsburgh for their annual conference. As part of the itinerary, school officials from across the United States visited Avonworth Middle School. Some highlights of the activities that day were made into a video. Check it out here: https://t.co/OrWQWXlGfe

Reminder! Pancake Breakfast Friday!

Parent Network will be sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast this Friday, 1/15/16, that includes great toppings and a drink for $3.

Read about the pancake breakfast on Edline. 

8th Graders Declare Their Independence

To supplement their study of the American Revolution in civics class, eighth graders tackled the complex text The Declaration of Independence in reading class.  Students focused on identifying the texts' main ideas and translating it into modern day English.

Because scholars believe that Thomas Jefferson meant for the Declaration to be dramatically performed , students revealed their understanding of the document by completing their own dramatic reading in our makeshift Independence Hall.

Eighth graders were assigned a short passage from the Declaration to practice reading with proper phrasing, pronunciation, emphasis, pause and tone.     As “experts” of the text, students completed an impressive dramatic reading of this important document!  Many students even memorized their passages for extra credit.

  

Reminder! Second Nine-Weeks Grading Period Ends Soon!

Reminder! 
Second nine-weeks grading period to end
January 12, 2016

Learn more about the grading periods
from the AMS Parent Academy 

Report Cards to be published to Edline January 19. 

Students Studying Electrical Energy in Science

This past Monday, students started to learn about electricity in science class. Students will work through several learning activities, projects, and assignments to help them learn about electrical energy usage.

Starting Thursday, 1/7/16,  students will be coming home asking for help from their parents and guardians as they start a project called Action Plan. As adults paying the bills, we know the impact of wasted electricity on the budget. This project aims to help students understand electric utilities and how one simple change in behavior could lower the power bill!

One of the most important parts of the project is to read and collect data from the electric meter. Students are to check their meters nightly to collect data as a baseline for usage as well as monitor changes after implementing a plan to conserve electricity. There are two helpful pages on the website to assist families with reading the electric meter:

• analog electric meters (dials)
• digital electric meters (lcd display)

Students have been taught in class how to read the electric meters as well as conduct the calculations to determine the amount of energy used and the cost associated with using the electricity.

The outline of tasks for the project can be found on the science website.

Some other important resources from the electricity unit:

Graded Assessments

Electricity Learning Unit Calendar 

Notes from Class

Timeline (updated daily with important class information) 

Pancake Breakfast Next Week

Parent Network will be sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast 1/15/16 that includes great toppings and a drink for $3.

Read about the pancake breakfast on Edline. 

Happy New Year!

WELCOME 2016! 

School resumes on Monday, January 4, 2016! 

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

Reminder! AR Due January 5!

Reminder!

AR Points are due Tuesday, January 5.

Don't wait until Holiday Break to read your books!

Parents, you can check your child's reading progress!  Click on the link below and login with your child's login information.  

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays
and have a fun, safe
winter vacation 

School resumes on Monday, January 4, 2016! 

AMS Children's Hospital Auction and Winter Vacation