ANDOVER ELEMENTARY MIDDLE SCHOOL
December 11, 2013
Dear AEMS Family,
Fa la la la la la la la la…Tomorrow night is our second holiday concert. This concert features the older students in band and chorus. It will be a delightful evening. Younger students who are considering playing an instrument or singing in the chorus in the future might want to attend. The show begins at 6:30. Students should go to the band room upon arrival. Enjoy the performances!
Students in grades K-4 must have “all 5” for outdoor recess. The 5 items include – jacket, snowpants, boots, hat, and mittens/gloves. We do try and get outside every day unless it is bitter cold. Older students should also dress for the weather but we feel they are old enough to be responsible for their winter gear choices. 5th – 8th grade students have a 30 minute outside recess. Bus drivers have reported picking up very cold students in the morning who are not dressed adequately for the weather.
Wreaths were decorated quickly and expertly on Saturday. If you have not picked up your wreath, please do so before the week ends. Thanks for the help! It is a fun tradition.
The Little Cesear’s order was delivered to AEMS yesterday. This is always a profitable fundraiser for the 8th grade trip. Thank you to the Perreault family for coordinating this every year.
December 13th is the most special shopping day of the year at AEMS. The Holiday Shoppe opens Friday morning and classes will take turns shopping, wrapping, and hiding the special gifts they’ve selected for family members. All students, K-8, have the opportunity to shop. (more information is attached)
For the last few weeks the AEMS Eagles basketball teams have been sharpening their skills, running drills, and making accurate shots. The season officially got underway on Monday when Winnisquam came to town. Our Eagles were victorious in the home opener. Friday, December 13th, the Eagles have another home game when Sunapee visits. Go Eagles!
We are working on the school calendar for 2014-15. A draft can be found on our website. Our vacations in February and April always match the Merrimack Valley School District dates. Call, stop in, or email me at jslayton@nullaemseagles.org with any thoughts or suggestions you have. The calendar will probably be finalized during the month of January so feedback now is critical.
Report cards went home with students last Friday. It might be a perfect time to remind you that after school academic support is available for 5th – 8th grade students every day except for Thursday. Students are always welcome to stay after school and get extra help or complete homework.
Parent-Teacher conferences can be held at any time during the school year. Please contact the school office if you would like a conference set up.
The honor roll will be posted next week. Students in grades 5-8. Eligibility guidelines are as follows:
High Honors – All “A”s, “1”s and “2”s in effort and citizenship.
Honors – All “A”s and “B”s, “1”s and “2”s in effort and citizenship.
This year we are also recognizing Triple A students; Academics, Arts, and Athletics. A Triple A student is a 6th, 7th or 8th grade student who has honor roll status, participates in a school sport, and participates in band, chorus, or the play. Balancing arts, academics, and athletics is not an easy feat and those students who are able to manage it all deserve special recognition. This is a skill that will be valuable long after middle school.
The Town Ski Program begins January 10th and will run for 5 Fridays. Those students who choose not to go to Ragged Mountain will have the opportunity to ice skate at Proctor Academy on Friday afternoons and then be dismissed at the regular time. Skating paperwork went home with the letter last week. Students must have permission slips and helmets in order to participate. We have lots and lots of skates for students to borrow. Next week we will finish fitting skates for those students who want them. Students are welcome to keep the skates with them so that they can use them over vacation and on weekends too. We have a pretty impressive assortment of skates. Thanks for the donations.
IMPORTANT – Keep in mind when Ski Fridays begin in January, the afternoon bus schedule will be affected. Usually, it is the case that students arrive home much earlier because there are fewer stops.
December 20th at 2:45 is the official start to vacation. The first school day in 2014 is January 6th. Excitement is in the air as we get closer to vacation and Christmas.
We are interested in hearing from parents of K-4 in regard to the new standards-based report card. Please return the attached form before vacation with any questions or comments. Thank You!
Never hesitate to call, email, or stop in and see me if you have questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Jane Slayton