March 11, 2023
Dear parents of our Ask The Mask elective students,
Now that Trimester 2 has concluded, I want to make sure you've had a chance to read the fruits of your child's labors: our one and only middle school advice column, ASK THE MASK!
Each week, the eight students in our elective sifted through the newest letters in our digital mailbag, which ultimately numbered upwards of 150 submissions, mostly from ACDS students but also from locations around the country. Working individually and in small groups, they crafted responses to these letters that prioritized empathy and optimism, channeled their own experiences, and infused their unique senses of humor. Teams of students also worked on promotional materials and an ongoing feature for which they asked the ACDS community to offer advice to teachers who had shared their classroom dilemmas on video. We ended up publishing twelve separate issues, and recently wrapped up work on a top secret (sssshhh!) April Fools issue coming your way on, well, you know when.
It has been an absolute joy to work alongside these kids this trimester and observe the care they have for their fellow young people, as well as their silliness. Please bookmark the website as an artifact of your child's middle school experience, and feel free to pass it along to others if you haven't already done so.
Sincerely,
Mike Fishback