Dear Parents,
I look forward to seeing you at the Gala on Friday, May 8 as we gather under the stars to celebrate our community and invest in the future of our students. It’s an evening to connect, give back, and be part of something special. Be part of the celebration and secure your tickets before they’re gone here.
Thank you, parents, for your participation in the recent learning conferences. We had excellent attendance at the student-led advisory conferences. Nearly 95% of our students in grades 6-7 participated in a conference with their parents. Parents, in the spirit of improvement, please share any feedback about your conference the conferences with me.
Class registration for the 26-27 school year is underway. Grades 6 and 7 students and parents are asked to review the Middle School Program of Studies and Class Description Handbook and the Class Registration Form. You can find these documents here: MS Class Registration Information. Students are asking their teachers to "sign off" on class placement in Math, Music, Spanish, French, and Support classes between April 20-27. Students will also ask their parents to sign the Class Registration Form and return it to their advisor by Tuesday, April 28.
On Thursday, April 30, teachers will issue “Cause for Concern” reports on PowerSchool. These report provides feedback where there are concerns regarding a student's progress in a class. Students who receive a report are currently working below expectations in the class. Therefore, not all students receive a “cause for concern” report. Parents are asked to review the reports with their children.
As always, please check out This Week in Advisory and the weekly announcements below.
Kind regards,
Mike Nugent
THIS WEEK IN ADVISORY
GRADE 6 ADVISORY (Updates provided next week)
GRADE 7 ADVISORY (Updates provided next week)
GRADE 8 ADVISORY
This week, our Grade 8 students stepped into leadership roles as they welcomed future Grade 6 students and guided them through their upcoming elective choices. It was a proud moment for the class as they transitioned from being mentees—learning from the older students last week—to becoming mentors for our newest middle schoolers.
This "full circle" experience has been a beautiful display of our Caring Community in action. By paying it forward and sharing their own wisdom with the younger grades, our 8th graders are finishing their middle school journey with leadership and confidence, ensuring the next generation feels just as supported as they do.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Parents, please mark your calendars for these key MS events.
April 30: Cause for Concern Reports issued on PowerSchool, 4:00
Lost and Found
We have many lost PE items hanging outside the MS/US PE change rooms. Some items have student names on them. If you have lost an item, please check here asap! Any items not collected by the Winter Week break will be donated to charity. Thank you!
Absence Reminder
As a reminder, parents, please let us know at least two days in advance if you plan on taking your child out of school early for vacation. You can email our attendance clerk at msattendance@asmadrid.es. I also want to repeat the importance of planning vacations around our published school calendar. Every day of school counts, and it is often difficult for students to catch up with their learning when they are absent from school.
MS Health Units Overview
Our PE/Health teachers have updated the Middle School Health Units Overview 25-26 document. The overview provides a look at the key health topics covered in the MS curriculum.
MS Advisory Program Overview
We have updated our Middle School Advisory Program Overview 25-26. This document provides an overview of our MS advisory program, including topics that are pertinent at each grade level.
THE PULSE! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
The Middle School communicates important information to students through the MS Lancer Pulse. Students are asked each week to read the announcements in "The Pulse" during advisory time.
AFTER-SCHOOL SUPPORT: BUILDING STUDENT SELF-ADVOCACY
Helping students learn the art of self-advocacy and taking responsibility for their own learning is essential for their growth and success. We encourage students to take charge by seeking extra help when needed. Our after-school extended learning labs and teacher office hours provide excellent opportunities for students to demonstrate this responsibility and get the support they need. Please read this document for more information about after-school support.
ATTENDANCE AT AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Our students have been reminded that they must attend their after-school activity. We have noticed that some students have chosen to skip their ASA. The ASA sponsors take attendance, and parents will be contacted if their child does not attend the ASA regularly.
AFTER-SCHOOL PROCEDURES
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. Please also note that students must leave campus after their ASA, sport, or private music lesson is completed. Students are not allowed to remain on campus unsupervised. We ask that parents make arrangements to pick up their children as soon as the activity ends.
FROM THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE
If your family is being transferred during this academic year, please contact Admissions - admissions@asmadrid.es
BIRTHDAY SNACKS IN 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. Parents are kindly reminded not to bring surprise treats to their children during the school day, including at lunch time.
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.