Calendar of Events
OCTOBER
8-14 Oct: Scholastic Book Fair
16 Oct: Picture Retake Day
24 Oct: Monster Dash—
Pasta Party
25 Oct: ASF 2014 Monster Dash
Run for Education
27 Oct: Boys basketball begins
NOVEMBER
3 Nov: Change your clock!
6 Nov: AMS Parent Speaker Series
7-8:30pm AMS library
7 Nov: ASF PERK UP for Students!
Rogue Valley Roasting Co.
11 Nov: Veteran’s Day (no school)
13 Nov. AMS Orchestra Concert
The AMS Drama Club proudly presents their production of
“The Phantom Tollbooth”
By Susan Nanus
Directed by Dianna Warner
Based on the book by Norton Juster
Here are Milo's adventures in the Land of Wisdom where he's forced to think about
many new things. Milo learns of the argument between King Azaz and his brother, the
Mathemagician whose disagreement over words and numbers has led to the banishment of Princesses Sweet Rhyme and Pure Reason. Milo is dispatched to rescue the
Princesses from the Land of Ignorance. The knowledge and skills Milo picks up on his
journey help him to save the Princesses. When he must return home, Milo's sorry to
leave his friends-- but enriched by his experience, he realizes his attitude towards
learning will never be the same.
November 20 & 21, 2014
7:30PM in the AMS Commons
Admission is $7.00 per person at the door
For more information, contact Dianna Warner at [email protected]
20, 21 Nov: AMS Fall Play performances
26 Nov: Half day of school
27-28 Nov: THANKSGIVING Break
DECEMBER
5 Dec: ASF PERK UP for Students!
Noble Coffeehouse
17 Dec: AMS Band Concert
20 Dec. — 4Jan. WINTER Break
AMS Fine Arts program benefits from the
Oregon Community Foundation Grant
Last spring Ashland Middle School was one of 18 schools selected by the Oregon Community Foundation to
participate in a new statewide arts initiative, the Studio-to-School Grant. This five-year grant aims to increase
quality arts education opportunities for Oregon’s school children, and to design and deliver sustainable arts
education through the support of collaborative projects between schools and community organizations.
We’re happy to report that AMS students are already benefitting from the funding! AMS programs supported by
this grant include art, band, orchestra, WAMS (Watching Ashland Middle School) video production classes, and
an embedded culinary arts program within the health curriculum. The Ashland Middle School Art Department
was selected to participate in this statewide pilot program because of its commitment to a strong arts curriculum
and its desire to strengthen its already existing program through collaboration between community artists, classroom teachers, and arts specialists.
Some of the grant highlights in place this year are:
 Twenty-five new Mac minis and six digital video cameras have propelled the WAMS program into the
21st century.
 Lunch Time Art Studio, facilitated by Michael Walsh, is open daily during 1st lunch.
 Band, orchestra and art students will notice more guest teachers and specialists in their classrooms as the
year progresses.
Be sure to stay tuned for information about this year’s AMS Art Event. This fundraising gala will help ensure the
long-term sustainability of this project.
*Ashland’s Studio-to-School program is being managed by Denise Baxter, executive director of the Ashland Art center, a
non-profit gallery that hosts arts education classes.
AMS Clubs: Currently available as follows
Homework Club:
7:40—8:35 AM and 3:15—4:00 PM, in room 17
The Homework Club is available to any student as long as they are working on assignments. This is not a place to ‘just
hang out’ after school. Stuck on an assignment? Come check us out and let us assist you. Thanks also to those of you
that have contacted James for donating nutritious snacks. If you have more questions contact: James Johnson at
541-482-1611 x 3167; [email protected]
WAMS Club: 7th/8th graders during lunch every BLUE Day !
This club is an extension of the Video Production class offered at AMS. Students that love technology, making
videos, editing, etc… will love this club! For more information contact: Katherine Holden at 541-482-1611 x 3160;
[email protected]
AMS 6th Grade Leadership: 8:30 — 9:15 AM on Fridays with Abdi in the Student Lounge and on GOLD day
lunches in Mrs. Haden’s room. This club’s goal is to help students learn skills that make them better leaders among their
peers. Come join the fun and make friends. Contact Mrs. Haden, at 541-482-1611 x 3218; [email protected]
or Youth Advocate, Abdi Guled, at 541-482-1611 x 3174; [email protected]
Chess Club: Join your friends for a game of chess during your lunch in the upper library.
Drama Club: Fall Play Production:
“The Phantom Tollbooth” by Susan Nanus
Auditions have already happened and rehearsals have begun! The season will end with the performances on Nov. 20 & 21.
Want more more info about the AMS Drama Club and any future productions, like the Spring Musical? Contact the director:
Dianna Warner at 541-821-1305; [email protected]
Art Club: Daily during 1st lunch
Do you love to create? Mr. Walsh would love to invite you to join the AMS “Lunch time ART studio. Bring your
lunch, your music, and friends to the art room during lunch. Join the fun in making art and sharing your
creativity. For more information contact: Mr. Walsh at 541-482-1611 x3217; [email protected]
AMS Brainiacs Club: 8:15—9:00 AM on Fridays in room 17 (appropriately, the Academic Support Center)
If you enjoy academic competitions, or would like to find out what they are like, there’s a club at AMS just for you. The AMS
Brainiacs meet once a week to have mental fun, going brain to brain amongst ourselves using the various academic competition
formats (Brain Bowl, Science Bowl, Quiz Bowl, etc). Students are welcome to come just for the fun of the challenge or to get
their minds in shape for an upcoming academic competition. Students are not required to participate or be on any of the organized academic competition teams. Bring your favorite calculator. For more information contact: James Johnson, 541-4821611 x 3167; [email protected]
Writer’s Café: Thursdays, 3:15-4:30 in room 22
Middle schoolers join professional writer Jennifer Margulis, Ph.D. (New York Times, Smithsonian, O: The Oprah Magazine),
for a creative writing workshop and café. Each week they bake a different kind of whole grain organic bread, while they
unwind from class and think about their stories. There is a short lesson and then they write, write, write while the bread is
cooking. Next they eat the freshly baked bread with butter melting on the top as they share their work. This is a fun,
imaginative, totally open-minded creative writing workshop for kids who love to write and love to eat. This year they plan to
produce an anthology of their work and also do a public reading.
Tai Chi for 6th graders: on Mondays during 2nd lunch Join the AHS Chinese teacher for some lessons in
Tai Chi. The first lesson was a huge success, with many students joining in and giving it a try. You can find them on Mondays
outside the Commons.
Mathcounts: During 1st lunch
Do you like a challenge? Are you really good at math? Then, check out Mathcounts,
a national math competition which will start Monday, Oct. 6th, in Mr. Sandrock’s room, 106, during lunch. You get to work with
other top math students as a team to solve a series of problems, often against another team. There will be food (it’s lunch
time, after all), and the regional competition features great prizes! Please check in with Mr. Sandrock if you’re interested,
but can’t make it on Monday.
AMS Speaker Series
AHS Presents
AMS BRAIN BOWL SEASON
High School and College 101
Date: Thursday, Nov. 6th
Time: 7-8:30 PM
Place: AMS Library
Ashland High School Principal, Michelle Zundel
and AHS counselors will share an overview of
opportunities available at Ashland High School
and how to support your students in the process
of self-discovery that is high school. In addition
they will share a preview of the college admissions
process.
While middle school students still have a lot of
time before graduation, well-informed
families have the tools to support their students
to reach their potential. There will be additional
parent meetings later in the school year regarding
the transition of 8th graders to AMS.
AMS Interscholastic Sports
The AMS Boys & Girls Basketball seasons are just
around the corner ...are cleared to play? If you have
already participated in AMS football, cross country or
volleyball this year then you are already cleared to play.
If not, then now is the time to take care of business. In
order to participate, all athletes must have a sports physical from a physician or a nurse practitioner every 2 years.
A health update form must be completed during the years
they don’t need the physical. Additionally, all parents
and athletes must sign the annual Sports Participation
Contract (all forms are available in the main office).
Boys Basketball: 7th & 8th Graders
Starts: Oct. 27th,
Daily practices from 3:15—4:45pm
Girls Basketball: 7th & 8th Graders
Starts: January 5th,
Daily practice from 3:15—4:45pm
$10 Sports Physicals are available to
AMS students at the Ashland High Health Center.
They are open every school day from 7:45—3:30.
Call 541-482-7677 to make an appointment.
The Middle School Brain Bowl is part of SOU’s Youth Programs and
is a quiz-style academic competition. Students in grades 6-8 form
a team that competes in in weekly games with teams from Southern
Oregon schools, similar to athletic competitions. Questions are
designed to be more challenging as each week passes.
The broad range of topics listed below encourage teamwork, as few
individual students are strong in all topics. Quickness and
willingness to take a risk are also important factors.
Topics: Mathematics
Geography
Fine Arts
Science
Language Arts
Literature
Social Studies
General knowledge
Tuesday practices begin November 18th during lunch and are open
to all students. While the number of players on the competition team
is limited, any student is still welcome to participate in the practices.
The weekly competition season will run from Jan. 12—March 6th,
followed by semi-finals and April finals. For more information,
please contact the AMS coach: James Johnson in room 17, at
541-482-1611 x 3167, or [email protected]
AMS is alive with music!
Do you know that the latest brain research shows
that playing an instrument is one of the best things
you can do to get your brain activated? And playing an instrument with others is just plain FUN!
We hope by now you are hearing your student
musicians practicing at home and improving. We are looking forward to
sharing their progress with you during the upcoming concert season.
Kids love an audience!
So we would like to invite you to attend our school and community
performances as shown below:
Nov. 15 & 16:
YSSO (Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon) Fall 2013 Concert Series
(www.ysso.org) Attend a concert and support the AMS string players and band
members that participate.
November 13:
AMS & AHS Orchestra Concert, 7:00 PM @AMS Commons
December 17:
AMS Winter Band Concert , 7:00 PM @AMS Large Gym
News from the AMS Library Media Center
LIBRARY DATABASE ACCESS:
Please go to:www.ashland.k12.or.us
Ashland Middle School Library
The library catalog is Destiny.
OSLIS (Oregon School Library Information System)
http://www.oslis.org/
OSLIS is the most important research and information database
in our library. It is also accessible at home through the library
website.
User Name: Ashland
Password:
oslis
OSLIS has a wealth of primary sources in current magazines,
newspapers, e-book reference sources and much more. New
Databases this year are: US History in Context, Health and Wellness Resource Center and GREENR (Global Reference on the
Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources.)
World Book Online:
User name: soesd
Password: Worldbook
The State of Jefferson
Middle School
Scavenger Hunt
is coming!
November 12-14, & 18th.
Mark Your Calendar….
The AMS Scholastic Book Fair is here!
The Scholastic Book Fair offers a small, personal environment
for your family to shop. It’s like a bookstore, but better! Every
book at the Book Fair has been reviewed and approved by
reading specialists. The Fair also carries special, more affordable versions of books. For example, a hardcover of one book
might be $16.95 at a retail store, but at the Book Fair the
same book in paper back might be $3.95. Online shopping
available at:
http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/ashlandmiddleschool.
...online purchases will be delivered to AMS within 7 business
This unique opportunity gives students a chance to days.
develop research and critical-thinking skills while
working together. Students spend three days using
When: October 8th-14th
library and community resources to find answers to
Where: The AMS Library of course
obscure questions and then document their
findings. The 3-day search culminates in a fourth
Hours: Before school, after school, during both
day of adjudication (where team members defend
lunches and during conferences.
their team’s findings and prosecute other teams’
Come shop at the Fair and support this VITAL fundraiser.
findings) on the SOU campus with all participating
A percentage of all sales benefit the AMS Library
middle school teams from our region.
Applications for the AMS team will go out in mid
October—those interested in applying should talk
to their homeroom teachers or Karl Pryor in the
library.
We are also looking for some parent volunteers to assist with
the book fair. Please contact Debbie Larsen to find out how
you can be of help. You may reach her at 541.482.1611x3199
PBIS in action at AMS!
(Positive Behavior Intervention Systems)
We want to take this opportunity to
thank our school crossing guard,
Chris Miller, for his enthusiasm in
helping our students and drivers be
safe in the school zone.
Chris has found his way to make his
job as Crossing Guard a POSITIVE
experience for all. He wears school
spirit shirts to show his AMS support, he has dressed like a Pirate on
“Talk like a Pirate Day, “ and many
other fun ways to get everyone’s
attention as he maintains safety at
a congested area.
Be sure to wave at him
and be safe!
T
he Ashland Chamber of Commerce welcomes
the community to join us at the Children’s
Halloween Celebration 2014. See below for the
schedule:
3:30pm
Dear AMS families,
Come out and have a blast as Dr. Jani Rollins raises
money for The Sparrow Club! She will be dancing the
Samba, November 8th, at 2 pm or 7pm at North
Medford High School.
The Sparrow Club supports children in need (typically a
 Parade begins at the Public Library with Samba Like it serious illness) by engaging a local school to “adopt” the Sparrow child.
Hot leading the way, and ends at the Plaza
There are two new Sparrow Clubs that just started in Ashland this year
3:45-4:30
 Trick or Treating in downtown from the Library to the
Plaza
 Entertainment from the AMS Jazz Band, AHS Band,
Samba Like it Hot and others. These groups will be
placed at various locations downtown from the Library
to the Plaza
and Alex Shepard is the Sparrow at Ashland Middle School. The money
raised from this program goes to help families with medical expenses
to care for their child.
Whether or not you will be able to attend, please consider making a
tax deductible donation utilizing this link below:
https://sna.etapestry.com/fundraiser/SparrowClubsUSA/dwtrvs2014/
team.do?participationRef=918.0.557687007
Please keep updated with the Chamber web page To read more about The Sparrow Club:http://www.sparrowclubs.org/
www.ashlandchamber.com, Facebook, and local
media for details and new information as
Halloween approaches.
Save your BOX TOPS for
We hope to see you at this
year’s event!
AMS.
Note:
ASF’s Monster Dash Costume
Run is on Saturday, Oct. 25, not
on parade day.
Last year we earned
$482.00 and we can do
better!!!
Mt. Ashland After School
Ski & Snowboard
Program
www.ashlandski.org
Registration Information
When: Mondays
Nov. 3, 10, 17 & Dec. 1
6:30—8:30 PM
Where: AMS Cafeteria
Discounts given for early registrations, look for the
details on the website.
Think
Snow!!
We want YOU to participate
in Ashland Girls Basketball
Club (AGBC) Hoops!
The AGBC is a non-profit,
competitive youth girls basketball
program. The Club, founded by
Ashland coaching legend Steve
Humann, has 5th-8th grade
basketball teams that are selected to represent the
Club in AAU league play, various winter leagues in
the Rogue Valley , and statewide basketball
tournaments.
Come check us out and play with us
Tuesday & Thursday nights from
5:00pm—6:45pm
Ashland Middle School Large Gym
The AGBC is open to all levels and we strongly
encourage girls interested in playing basketball to
join us for an evening of fun. Come meet the
coaches and players and learn about the program.
We are looking forward to meeting you.
Questions: Call a Coach
Joe Serres, 541-499-6654 or Mitch Barats, 541-613-1615
AMS Student Health Services Hours & Medications
This year the nurse’s office is open for non-scheduled
appointments from 10:30am-1:30pm daily.
If your child requires medication outside of these hours,
trained non-medical staff is available to administer the medication; however they must adhere to the following guidelines:
a) The medication must be necessary for your student to
remain in school.
b) All medications must be checked in through the nurse or
school office.
c) A signed & dated parent consent must be on file, which
includes: the student’s name, the name of the
medication, the dosage and frequency of administration.
d) Parents must supply the medications that non-medical
staff is administering. This includes over the counter &
prescription medications, in the original container,
labeled with the student’s name & administration
directions/requirements.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding medication
administration please call: Belinda Brown RN at ext. 3105
City of Ashland
Low-Income Assistance Program
Each year, the City of Ashland sets aside money
for the Ashland Low-Income Energy Assistance
Program to assist low-income Ashland residents
with electrical bills during the cold winter months.
Applications are accepted beginning in October
for assistance in the winter months. Priority for
the available funds will be given first to seniors,
then to disabled persons and then to others.
For more information call 541-488-5342
The various programs offered in this newsletter are
distributed to Ashland School District students
as a courtesy to parents per board policy.
Ashland School District does not endorse or
sponsor community activities including any
described in this flyer. If you have questions
regarding this policy, please contact your
student’s principal.
NON-PROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Ashland Middle School
100 Walker Avenue
Ashland, OR 97520
We’re on the Web!
www.ashland.k12.or.us
Permit No. 8