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Dear Parents,
It has been quite a week! The big snowstorm will be remembered by everyone as a highlight of the 25-26 school year. For some students who had never seen snow before, it was a real treat. For us northern types (this was my daily bread growing up in Michigan, USA), it was a blast from the past!
The new semester is underway. Teachers are beginning new units, and we are excited about the promise of new learning in this second semester. We are also gearing up for the publication of the mid-term report cards on Wednesday, February 4. Parents are reminded the mid-term reports are not final grades. The final grades for each class will be published on the year-end report card in June.
Here is a reminder that we are getting ready for MADMUN 2026. This year we are expecting a very large delegation of students from many schools in and outside of Spain. Many of the visiting students will be staying with host families during their visit on March 6-8. Again, we wish to remind our ASM participating students about the expectation to house at least one of the visiting students over this weekend. Ms. Dodds is our housing coordinator and is available to answer any and all questions about hosting the visiting delegates.
Also, we are also preparing for the overnight class trips in grades 7 and 8. Mr. Greally and Ms. Hernandez will send out detailed information about these important trips soon. We expect that all of our students will participate on the overnight trips. Parents who have concerns or questions about their child's participation on the trips are asked to contact their child's advisor soon.
As always, please check out This Week in Advisory and the weekly announcements below.
Kind regards,
Mike Nugent
Middle School Director
American School of Madrid
THIS WEEK IN ADVISORY
GRADE 6 ADVISORY
This week in advisory, students focused on personal wellness and digital habits. They revisited the six dimensions of wellness, reflected on how technology impacts focus, mood, and energy, and set small, actionable goals to support healthier digital balance. Advisory time also included organization and catch-up support to help students feel prepared and grounded moving forward.
GRADE 7 ADVISORY
This week in Advisory, our Grade 7 students continued to focus on building and maintaining positive friendships by examining the power of words. We worked on the important distinction between 'venting'—sharing frustrations to feel better—and 'gossip,' which often leads to unnecessary conflict and hurt. Through interactive activities and journaling, students practiced how to 'pause and filter' their communication by asking if what they are about to say is true, kind, and helpful. Our goal is to empower students to take responsibility for the energy they bring to our community, ensuring that everyone feels respected and safe.
GRADE 8 ADVISORY
This week, we continued our work on social dynamics by welcoming facilitators from the external agency, Intersect. Building on our previous discussions about "The Box," Intersect helped students shift their focus toward taking action. The sessions provided practical tools on how to speak up and advocate for themselves and others in authentic ways.
We also recognize that Advisory is about building community and enjoying the moment. On Wednesday, we took a break from the classroom to spend time together making memories in the snow. We believe that honoring these joyful life milestones is just as important as our classroom lessons, helping students bond and simply enjoy being together.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Parents, please mark your calendars for these key MS events.
Jan 26 – Jan 30: Spring ASA sign-up week
Feb 4: Mid-term Reports Cards issued on PowerSchool
Feb. 6: Valentine's Day dance, 7-9 PM in the MS Commons
Feb 9 – May 29: Spring ASA season
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.
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