Amherst Regional Middle

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It was wonderful to see so many of you at Open House. We hope that you will always feel welcome at the middle school and hope you will visit again soon. It is clear to us that you are invested in working with us to help your child do well. Last year at this time we shared some tips we thought would be useful to parents/guardians in helping students develop positive study/work habits. We received many emails letting us know that the tips were relevant and extremely helpful. We are sharing them with you (again, for our 8^th grade families) in this letter. Many of you have asked about ways you can help your child with homework. We’ve gathered some tips we’d like to share with you.

Probably the most important goal to keep in mind is to help your child to develop a set of time management and organization skills which will allow him/her to be independent and successful in school and other aspects of their lives. One thing is for sure - children will develop homework habits. Help them to develop good, effective habits rather than poor ones.

Set the expectation: Let your child know that you expect him/her to be doing homework every night. They need to be in the habit of doing homework.

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Location, location, location. With your child, decide on where he/she will do homework. For some kids it’s the kitchen table, others it’s the living room floor, while others prefer to do it in their room. Does your child prefer to work with other family members around? Some children study well with music playing in the background, while others are distracted by any outside noise. Talk with your child to determine what works best and remember- there isn’t one right way.
Timing is everything. Plan when your child will do homework. Some kids prefer to do their assignments all in one sitting, others need frequent breaks. Does he/she prefer to do homework right after school, or does he/she need to eat dinner or a snack first? Does he/she have sports practice everyday? Need to baby sit a younger sibling? Other responsibilities or obligations? Make a plan that takes these events into consideration. For very capable kids as well as those who struggle, the worst enemy is procrastination, putting off doing the task. Your job is to walk the fine line between nagging and supporting/encouraging.

Organization is key. Get a sense from your child (and from the teachers) about the organization system of binders and assignments. Some teachers color code handouts so that homework is always the same color. Some teams number the handouts to help kids organize.

Some subjects always give a particular assignment on the same day each week (i.e. Tuesday may be “Problem of the Week” day). Help your child plan out nightly assignments and long term assignments. Use weekends to catch up or get ahead on long term projects. Use different colors or highlighters to help your child map out a game plan for what needs to be done and check off when something’s accomplished.
Be the Guide on the Side. Be available for support, questions, encouragement but do not do the homewoork Be available for support, questions, encouragement but do not do the homework for your child. Encourage him/her to do as much as possible independently. Resist the urge to correct mistakes; if you do, the teacher won’t be able to see where he/she needs help. If you just can’t help yourself and feel you need to call attention to mistakes, put a dot in the margin so that your child knows to check that line for errors. Encourage your child to use post-its or to write notes on the handout if he/she has a question. If your child is struggling ask him to write a note to the teacher on the homework or to let the teacher know the next day. We learn about how/what we need to teach based on how well students do their homework (and many other indicators).
The Black Hole of the Backpack or On the Kitchen Table. Help your child to develop the habit of putting his/her homework in a folder/binder/safe place in their backpack so that it gets back to school. Many students do homework but do not hand it in. Please remind your child to hand in their homework, their best work, even if they were unable to complete the entire assignment.
Keep in touch. Keep in touch with the teachers through notes, phone calls or email. If you have any questions/concerns about your child’s homework, let us know. If your child frequently says he/she has no homework, or that it was all done in school, please check in with the teachers. If your child is frequently struggling with assignments, please let us know.

We hope these provide some help to you as you work to support your child in doing well in school. Please let us know if you have any other ideas you’d like to share with parents.

SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

In order to attend public school, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires students to have complete documentation of all immunizations on file in their school health record. All students who don’t have updated and compliant immunization records on file will be excluded from attending school as of the November 13, 2007 exclusion date. If your child is in the process of completing a “catch up” series of immunizations, please be certain to send these documents to the school nurse. Students interested in participating in any school sponsored sport, must also have an updated physical exam on file within 12months before the start of the sports season.

Please contact the ARMS health office @ 362-1974 with questions or information.

SCHOOL COUNCIL

Thank you to all who volunteered to be “in the running” as representatives to our School Council. The Family School Partnership tallied the votes. We welcome the following parent/guardians as new members of the ARMS School Council:

We will keep you informed of the Council’s work through our monthly newsletter.

PARENT/GUARDIAN CONFERENCES/MID-TERM PROGRESS REPORTS

During the next few weeks, our seventh grade teams will invite their parent/guardians to the 7^th grade conference. One representative of the team will meet with each parent/guardian to share information about the student, to learn more about the student from you and to set goals for this school year. Our teachers look forward to meeting with you. Typically we do not have parent/guardian conferences for our 8^th graders. If you have any question/concerns about your child’s performance, please contact the teacher directly (email, note or phone) or contact Ms. Denise Boyd, your child’s counselor, at 362-1841.

By now you should have received a Mid-term Progress Report in the mail. This is an important mid point communication to let you know how your child is doing and any particular area which needs further attention or improvement. Please call our office 362-1800 if you have not received your report.

ABC/ CHANGE FOR CHANGE

The Change for Change contest at the middle school to benefit Amherst ABC generated $1,255.99 this year! Employees at Florence Savings Bank kindly volunteered to count all of the loose change without charge! We thank them for being such a supportive local bank! Also, many thanks to all who were able to complete all or part of the ABC Fall Foliage Walk. Students may begin to collect pledges and give them to Ms. Welborn (C-1) at the middle school.

BACKPACK SALE

This year, 8th grade Spanish students will have the opportunity to go on an overnight trip to New York City! In New York, students will have a chance to practice their Spanish, learn to dance salsa, go to museums, and maybe even have a Latin percussion workshop. In order to make this trip more affordable, and to possibly set up a scholarship fund, 8th grade Spanish students will be selling string backpacks that are maroon and say "Amherst Hurricanes" on them for $10 each. They will be sold in the lobby after school on Tuesday, October 16th and Tuesday October 23rd. Also, order forms will be available in the main office after Monday, October 15th. Please help us go to New York! Thank you from Ms. Lopez, Ms. Vicente, and 8th grade Spanish students.

THE OPTIONS AND REALITIES OF ATTENDING A VOCATIONAL/TECHNICAL SCHOOL

This is the time of year when 8th grade students start to think about applying for admission to Vocational/Technical School. These students and their families have made a decision to pursue vocational/technical education rather than the options available at Amherst Regional High School.

In recent years the number of students choosing the vocational/technical option has increased substantially in Hampshire and Franklin counties. As a result of this increase, the number of slots available to Amherst residents has been reduced at the same time when the number of our students considering this option has increased. It is, therefore, accurate to say that admission to Vocational/Technical School has become much more competitive.

When considering students for admission the schools consider strongly the following indicators: attendance, grades, disciplinary history, and classroom performance.

Students and families giving serious thought to pursuing vocation/technical education should keep all of these indicators in mind in order to submit the strongest possible application. If your child is interested in pursuing this, please contact Denise Boyd, 8th grade Guidance Counselor.

MCAS RESULTS AND NEXT STEPS

We have just received our official MCAS scores from the state and we are happy to report that we made tremendous progress across the board. We had many more students in the advanced and proficient categories than in previous years. In addition, our aggregate and all subgroups made progress well beyond the target set for us by the state. We are also happy to report that based on this assessment we have made strides in closing the achievement gap of our minority and low income populations.

Last year, we were classified as a school in “Corrective Action” based on our subgroup scores for the 2003 – 2006 MCAS tests. Because of our gains on the 2007 MCAS tests, we have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). We will continue to build on our action plan from last year and will be able clear our “Corrective Action” standing if we make AYP again (you have to make AYP for two years in a row to clear your standing).

Our action plan this year will have the following components: 1) Whole school data analysis to identify curricular needs. 2) Student Success Plans that target interventions for individual students who are scoring in the Warning and Needs Improvement categories. 3) Study Island to give students individualized practice with math skills and concepts. 4) Explicit practice of Open Response and Multiple Choice questions in all classes. 5) Advisory for small group practice of using comprehension strategies. 6) Academic Support classes reinforcing MCAS skills and concepts. 7) Coordinating the days of the tests so students can bring their best work (timing, snacks, etc.).

As we continue to devote time and efforts to respond to our MCAS results, we are mindful that MCAS is only one measurement of our students’ educational experience. We will continue to offer a rich, diverse curriculum that addresses the needs of the whole child and to create an environment that challenges and stimulates every child.

ARMS FAMILY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP

Calendar of Events

Don’t just drop your kids off to the UNICEF Social on Nov. 2^ndand go home to the dinner dishes – join other parents and guardians at the First Annual ARMS FSP Fall Fling! Listen to music, dance, or just schmooze over coffee and dessert with new and old friends while your kids are having their own good time in the same building. Middle School gym, 7 – 8:45 PM; we welcome donation$ to help the ARMS FSP help our school. Hope to see you there!

THE BIG RED BOOK

The Big Red Book is a directory of social services and resources in the Hampshire County Area. It’s chock filled with great information. Each of our counselors has a copy as well as a copy available in our main office. We’re glad to sign it on out on loan or welcome you to use it at the school.

NEWS FROM THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Classes have been outside enjoying this beautiful weather. Students have been working on improving their fitness levels and either participating in soccer, football, or tennis. We hope to be outside for the month of October. The weather will be changing and we encourage our students to wear layers.

We will be moving indoors around November and will be offering sports and games. Students will need sneakers, tee shirts, and shorts for the gym.

Thank you, Ms. Carey, Mr. Shepherd , Ms. Neal

READING COMPREHENSION ASSESSMENTS

Each year we administer the Degrees of Reading Power^®(DRP) tests to students at ARMS. Students take the test at the beginning of 7^th grade, or in the fall of 8^th grade if they are new to the middle school, as a pretest indicator of reading comprehension. They take it again at the end of 8^th grade to document their growth in reading and as a measure of our success as teachers of reading. Testing accommodations are made according to 504 plans and IEP's if applicable. Every student has as much time as they need to finish the test.

We expect our curriculum to be challenging, and we are committed to teaching reading strategies to make assigned readings accessible to every student. We use the information from DRP testing to inform instructional practices, including selecting appropriate books and other readings for the curriculum and planning support strategies for struggling readers.

The seventh grade DRP testing will be completed by October 16^th.

UNICEF SOCIAL

for Amherst Regional Middle School Students

Friday, November 2, 7:00-9:00 PM

Pay at the door…FEE: $4.00, $3.50 in costume

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS

The objective of the UNICEF SOCIAL is to provide a safe environment for ARMS students to socialize and participate in activities such as games, dancing to a professional DJ and more. The financial benefit will go to UNICEF, ART CLUB, and ARMS Performing Arts programs. If the ticket price presents a hardship, students may go to the guidance office to receive a ticket; these requests will be confidential. The faculty sponsor is Tara Farley.

Parent/Guardian Support Needed! We know it is important to respect the Middle School Student’s need for independence, and we know that students will resist the idea of their parents/guardians attending the social. We have devised a system to utilize parent chaperones, which respects the student’s independence. We assign parent chaperones to the hallways, as monitors at doors and collecting money, while we utilize faculty and staff inside the cafeteria. Please respectfully tell your youngster that we cannot hold the social without Parent/Guardian support, and that you do not want the social to be cancelled due to lack of chaperones. Please call the school office: 362-1800 or email farleyt@arps.org. to volunteer to be a chaperone.

HEALTH and SAFETY GUIDELINES for the SOCIAL:

Parents/Guardians - please review with your youngster.

Health and safety is a priority at all ARMS events. For that reason, we are uncompromising about these guidelines. Students who do not comply will have their parent/guardian phoned to take them home.

All coats, backpacks and hand bags will be left behind the counter at the door and supervised for security by adults throughout the evening.
The use or possession of drugs, alcohol, tobacco or other controlled substances is not tolerated at any ARMS event.
The social is from 7:00-9:00; for safety reasons students will not be permitted to leave the building until 9:00 PM. After students arrive, they must stay until 9:00.
The social is for Amherst Regional Middle School students ONLY. We are sorry we cannot allow guests to attend. Even guests from other Amherst schools cannot be accommodated.
Unsafe behavior or physical aggression is not acceptable. Dancing is great as long as it is appropriate.
The social ends at 9:00. All Parents/Guardians should please BE IN THE PARKING LOT PROMPTLY AT 9:00! We advise against allowing students to “go into town” to hang out! Please support our health and safety efforts by picking up your student on time! Do not wait for them to call you! Please be waiting in the parking lot at 9:00.