Dear Parents,
What an exciting week! We want to welcome to our ASM community our newest member--Mascot Roci! Our MS students are excited to meet Roci at future events.
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Luis Seijo will speak to our grade 8 students on Thursday, November 13 about the dangers of smoking and vaping. Dr. Seijo is a physician at the University of Navarra hospital and is an ASM alumnus, parent, and Board member. Dr. Seijo's visit and talk coincides with the grade 8 health unit on healthy living.
We are continuing our partnership with Intersect Madrid this year to help us empower our students to build intercultural competencies and be caring and responsible citizens in our diverse international community. To that end, students in each grade level along with their advisors will attend two presentations by Intersect during the school year. Following the presentations, students will participate in debrief sessions facilitated by their advisors as well as in other activities on subsequent days. Grade 6 students will participate in the first presentation on November 12.
Finally, parents often ask for advice about cell phones and their children. Please check out this helpful advice from Common Sense Media: Cell Phones and Devices: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers.
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
Note: This section will be updated next week.
GRADE 6 ADVISORY
GRADE 7 ADVISORY
GRADE 8 ADVISORY
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Parents, please mark your calendars for these key MS events.
Nov 19: ASM colloquium "The Spark" all day; Early release day. Students dismissed at 1:45 PM.
Nov 21-23: MUN students travel to AS Valencia for Model United Nations Conference
Nov 26: Cause for Concern reports published on PowerSchool at 4:00 PM
Nov 27-28: No School. Thanksgiving! Gobble gobble!
Dec 4: MS Parent Coffee, 9:00-10:00 MS Steps. Topic TBA.
Cause for Concern Reports
On November 26 we will send out progress reports (also know as "Cause for Concern" reports). Teachers send these reports (via PowerSchool) to the parents of students who are performing at a "C" level or below in the class. More information regarding these reports will be sent to parents later this month. To view our MS reporting calendar, please check out this document: MS Reporting Calendar 25-26 PV
TUTORING
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 Hofschire, 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.
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.
GRADE 8 AFTER-SCHOOL OFF-CAMPUS PRIVILEGE
Grade 8 students who have submitted the Grade 8 After-school Off-Campus Privilege Form may go off campus beginning on October 8 at 4:00 P.M. 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 P.M., 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.
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.