MS Parent Weekly Updates

Dear Parents,

What a great start to school! Your children have been wonderful, and we are looking forward to a great school year. 

We recognize that parents are inundated with school information, especially at this time of year. I will try to keep my "Director Highlights" focused only on essential information. You will find, however, that the MS Announcements section below to loaded with information. 

Please save the date Thursday, September 11. This is our annual MS Open House (aka "Meet the Teacher") night. The program will begin promptly in the Middle School at 6:00 PM sharp and end at 8:25 PM. Parents, we ask that you are punctual so that we can begin on time. This event is just for parents--students do not attend.

Speaking of punctuality, your students have done a great job arriving to school and class on time. Punctuality is very important to us in the Middle School!

Finally, I want to highlight a topic that parents often talk about--technology. I have created this document to provide you with an overview of your child's digital learning world: Parent Guide to Navigating Your Child's Digital Learning. We will talk more about this topic at future parent coffees. 

Kind regards,

Mike Nugent

Middle School Director

American School of Madrid

THIS WEEK IN ADVISORY (WE will update this section beginning on September 12.

GRADE 6 ADVISORY

GRADE 7 ADVISORY

GRADE 8  ADVISORY

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mark Your Calendars!

Parents, please mark your calendars for these key MS events.

• September 2: First day of school 

• September 11: MS Open House, 6:00-8:30 P.M. Parents only. Students do not attend.

• September 23-26: Grade 6 Overnight Trip to Layos, Gredos

• September 22: MS Grade 6 Parent Information Coffee, 9:00-10:00 A.M., MS Steps

• September 23: MS Grade 7 Parent Information Coffee, 9:00-10:00 A.M., MS Steps

• September 24: MS Grade 7 Parent Information Coffee, 9:00-10:00 A.M., MS Steps

REMINDER ANNOUNCEMENTS

PARENTS ON CAMPUS

ASM facilities are used for our instructional programs throughout the day. Parents are welcome on campus from 8:45-5:00 PM with an appointment or for scheduled events only.  Here are some additional reminders: 

• Parents wishing to meet with an ASM staff member on campus must send an email to the staff member to set up the appointment time and place.

• Parents are welcome to drop off important items for their kids at the appropriate divisional office when needed, sending an email to the office with the estimated time of arrival so that the Security Gate is informed.

• Parents should not be on the Play Landscape or engage with students during Lower School playtime unless part of a school presentation or learning event.

Cafeteria Reminder

Our students are reminded that they are not allowed to use their student numbers to buy cafeteria snacks for their friends. We kindly ask parents to remind their children about this rule.

After-school Procedures Reminder

Parents and students should be familiar with our MS After-school Procedures. Please ask the Middle School Director if you have any questions about these procedures.

Tutoring Reminder

Throughout the school year, we learn that some students receive tutoring outside of school. Parents are reminded to contact the Middle School support teachers before seeking tutoring or professional support for their children. Eric Hofshire, our Middle School learning support teacher, will advise parents about the need for outside support. The Middle School has an extensive academic and social/emotional support system in place at school. Most students' academic and social/emotional needs can be met by the resources that we have at school. Our learning support team will recommend tutoring only in exceptional cases. 

From the Admissions Office

If your family is being transferred during this academic year, please contact Admissions - admissions@asmadrid.es 

Birthday Snacks in the MS

Students are welcome to bring in a snack to share with their advisory to celebrate their birthdays.  We ask that students not bring in snacks to share with their friends, as this can lead to students feeling left out or food frenzies during break and lunch times.  

Parent/Guardian Absence

If the parents/guardians of students at the American School of Madrid must leave their children in the care of another individual due to their absence from the home, we request that they send an email to the school director informing them of the following: 

● Dates of their absence from the home 

● The name and contact information of the individual who is caring for the student during the absence 

● The contact information for the parents during the absence 

The email should be sent at least three days prior to the departure of the parents. In the event of an emergency that requires immediate departure, please call the respective Director to inform him/her of the absence and the information listed above. In addition, parents should follow up this phone contact with an email giving this information in writing, too.

Class Syllabi

The Class Syllabi (a description of each class) are located on the Middle School Learning Program site. Parents are encouraged to learn more about their child's classes by visiting this site. 

Extended Learning Labs and Flex Space

The Middle School provides two key opportunities for students to seek out extra help with their academic progress. Students can receive individual and small group assistance after school, beginning at 4:00 P.M.. The Teacher Office Hours document indicates when teachers are available for drop-in assistance. Also, the Middle School offers extended learning labs from 4:00-5:00 P.M. in three key areas: Math, Writing, and Spanish. The MS Extended Learning Labs begin on October 1. 

Field Trip Eligibility Policy

Day and overnight student trips are wonderful learning opportunities for students, and we want all students to participate in these trips.  However, students may not be allowed to attend for the following reasons:

• Chronic/repetitive misbehavior/pattern of behavior 

• Safety concern 

• Behaviors affecting the social, emotional or physical well-being of oneself and others

Those students who may not meet the above criteria will have their cases reviewed by the MS leadership team.  The Middle School Director will make the final decision based on the team’s recommendation and communicate it with the student, family, and staff promptly. At all times during such trips, students represent our school community, their family, and themselves, and are to conduct themselves appropriately. 

Grade 8 After-school Campus Privilege

Grade 8 students who have submitted the Grade 8 After-school Off-Campus Privilege Form may go off campus beginning on October 1 at 4:00 and return to campus at 5:00 to take the activities bus or attend a late sports practice. Students in grades 6 and 7 do not have this privilege. Once grade 6 and 7 students leave campus at 4:00 PM., they may not return to campus. Parents should be aware that some students go off campus at 4:00 P.M. to hang out with friends at the mall or in the local neighborhood. Friday is often a popular day for students to gather off campus after school. We kindly ask that parents be aware of their children’s after-school plans. 

Early Release Days

Note that early release days take place on Wednesday once a month and are published on the school calendar. Students are dismissed from school at 1:45. All students should depart campus by 2:00 P.M..

MS Student and Parent Handbook

The Middle School Student and Parent Handbook is a very important resource. We ask that parents and students read the handbook to become aware of our school practices, policies, and rules. Please pay special attention to the section on Student Behavior Expectations. 

Attendance Matters

To report all attendance matters (absences/early dismissals/late arrivals; extended vacations) in the Middle School, please use the following email address: msattendance@asmadrid.es. We ask that daily absences be reported to us by 9:30 AM. Parents are reminded to carefully consider the school calendar as they plan vacations. Parents are kindly asked to schedule family vacations and long weekends around the published school holidays. Students who are absent from school due to extended family holidays often miss out on important classroom instruction and learning that cannot be duplicated on Google Classroom. 

PUNCTUALITY IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Punctuality is very important in the Middle School. We kindly ask that parents drop their students off at no later than 8:45 A.M. This allows the students plenty of time to walk from their car to the MS building, pick up their materials from their lockers, and move on to their first class. 

MS INSTAGRAM

Parents can check out the latest photos from a variety of Middle School learning activities and events on the MS Instagram at americanschoolofmadrid_ms 

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM INFORMATION

Parents can find useful information regarding the whole Middle School program on the Middle School Learning Program site. 

TRANSPORTATION CHANGES

This is a reminder that Middle School students may not request to ride a different bus other than the one in which they are assigned. 

WHATSAPP GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS

The WhatsApp Guidelines for Parents is an excellent guide for parents who participate in grade-level chats. We kindly ask that parents review these guidelines.

MEDICAL EXCUSE FOR NOT PARTICIPATING IN P.E. CLASS

Our general policy is that if a student is well enough to attend school, he/she is well enough to participate in physical education class. Students must participate in P.E. class to be eligible to participate in an after-school sports practice or activity. 

• Excuses from P.E. for health reasons are accepted by the Physical Education teacher under the following conditions:

• Students must present a written note from a parent or doctor describing the illness or physical condition before the beginning of the class, or the parents may send an email communication at the beginning of the school day to the PE teacher. 

• Any illness developed during the school day that might restrict participation in P.E. class requires a written note from the school nurse.

• A physician’s note must be presented to the P.E. teacher, with a copy for the nurse, for any extended period longer than 3 days.

• Long-term medical excuses from P.E. class require an official written physician’s statement. When scheduling permits, the student will be provided with an alternative class or supervised activity. Upon return to the normally scheduled P.E. class, the student must present a written statement from his/her doctor giving consent for the student to return to the class.