WGO - MS Archive: Feb 13

WGO

Issue #23: February 13, 2025

ES Matters

HS Highlights

Home

Calendars

From the Principal

Ms. Molly Nielsen

Dear MS Families,

It’s an exciting week in the MS as we kick off explore. Explore is growing and evolving and this year we are running several academic extension and intervention groups that our english language arts and student support teams will be facilitating. Additionally, we have a cohort of students participating in our MS student-led service clubs during our explore block.

What:

Explore is a 30-minute block in the afternoon where students engage in service learning clubs or academic intervention/extension experiences.

Why:

Service learning nurtures essential competencies like collaboration, self-regulation, and critical thinking. We want our students to be global advocates and have the tools to impact their communities positively. The intervention groups support students in thinking about where they are on their learning journey and taking the proper next steps.

How:

Students will engage in the service learning cycle through mixed-age level groups. Students filled out a survey letting us know what issues/problems/needs they feel connected to. Teachers selected our intervention/extension groups based on several pieces of data, including MAP scores, in-class assessments, and screeners.

Throughout the next 8 weeks I will continue to share updates from our explore groups and their learning journey.

6th grade field trip:

The 6th-grade scientists visited Al Bashir Hospital to see the impact that Himmetna Health group has had on the structure and function of the renovated oncology department. They were able to tour the intentionally designed facility and see the upgrades in medical staff, patient privacy, medical equipment, renewable energy usage, and the impact it had on the functioning of the hospital. This extends learning done in class about the human body, structure & function, and how the body heals.

Warmly,

Molly

Upcoming event reminders

Course Registration Process 25-26:

We are getting ready for the next school year! Please save the date for Monday, February 24 at 5:30 pm for a presentation about the course registration process for the 25-26 school year. . This meeting will take place on-campus in the ACS theater The MS office will send you a formal invitation and reminders for this event.

Week 3 Family Connection Series

Room 127 Feb 18 9:15 am

Live Stream Link - Feb 18

MS Parent Teacher Conferences

We invite you to participate in the Spring 2025 Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, February 27th. There are no classes for students on this date.

Please understand that the PowerSchool sign-up process applies only to Elementary homeroom, Learning Support, and Counselor conferences.

In Middle School, we encourage your child to join you at conferences as this is a great opportunity to assist them in taking responsibility for their own learning. Please remember there are no classes, sports, or after-school activities on this day.
Ms. Heba - Art Teacher will be available from 9am-1pm with break times: 10:30 - 10:45
The following crossover teachers will be in the Gym with HS:
- Ms. Shez. See HS Information section for break times.
For any questions, please contact Ms. Aseel
Teachers will be rotating for breaks as follows:

Counseling Corner - Ms. Martinez

We hosted our Parent Connection this week about Communication Blocks and Active Communication. Next week, the topic is Goals of Behavior. All the other details are below.

Please join us in-person or online for the MS Family Connection Series

Who: Ms. Martinez and Ms. Nielsen will host the series. This is open to all MS parents and caregivers

What: A three-week mini introduction or refresher to Active Parenting

When: February 4, 11, and 18th from 9:15 - 10:15 am

Where: Room 127 & Live streamed

Why: Each year we host our 6-week Active Parenting course to support MS families in building communication and cooperation with their tweens. This year we hosted the course in the fall and our spring parent connection series will be based on three aspects of Active Parenting–Communication Barriers, Goals of Tween Behavior, and Structures for Communication and Problem Solving. We will be hosting the session in person and online. We will share a live stream link in the WGO as we get closer to the Feb 4th date.

How: For these sessions, you will either join in person or online. There is no sign-up required and you can attend any or all of the sessions.

Livestream Links:

From the LC - Ms. Spilles

Come check out our book display

showcasing black excellence

in the MSHS LC all February!

From the Scorpion Council

Dear Students & Families,

I hope this email finds you well!

Please save the date—February 20 at 5pm-7pm will be our second Middle School Social, organized and led by the MS Student Council.

Below are a few key pieces of information for those students who are planning to attend (and a special note, at the end, for you):

A few notes regarding MS Socials:

First: Students must have bought a ticket ahead of time to enter the Social. Tickets are available for sale in the MS Office and LC Cafe during lunch starting on Feb 9th through the end of the day Wednesday, Feb 19th (3:05 p.m.) We will not sell tickets at the door.

Second: On the day of the social - Unless actively involved in an After-School Activity, Sport, or Scorpion Council, students are expected to leave school at 3:00 and return to the Social at approximately 5:00.

Third: The Social is a fun time for students to interact. We expect them to continue to demonstrate the respectful behavior that we see at school. Unless specially noted, all school rules remain in force.

Fourth: The Social is only two hours long. As such, we ask students to stay for the entire time. Parents may begin picking up their Middle Schoolers at 6:45 p.m. Please make sure to pick them up by no later than 7:05 or 7:10--it makes for a long night for chaperones otherwise!

Finally: we recognize that Thursday night traffic is NOT ideal. So we will again open up the parents’ space and set it aside for MS Parents - near the gym. We will have coffee, tea, and cookies available for you. Come read, chat, work--whatever you want to do in order to avoid additional driving in Thursday afternoon traffic!

If you have additional questions, feel free to contact Ms. Sisco or Ms. Aseel, the Scorpion Council Advisors.

Warm regards,
The Scorpion Council Team

From the Tech Office

MS Articles of the month:

Parents' Ultimate Guide to Social Media

Help Kids Navigate Viral Social Media Stunts

Athletics & Activities by Mr. Jacob (Chip) Nielsen

Session 3 ASA’s and Athletics

Opens on PowerSchool Thursday, Feb. 13 @ 4pm and will close Feb. 23rd at 9am.
- Please make sure to register on time as we will not be able to to accommodate late additions

SAISA Invitational Tennis

The Tennis team returned from Chennai, India with some hardware!

- Girls - 1st overall
- Boys - 3rd overall
- ACS - 2nd overall

Get your popcorn ready SAISA Live Streaming this week

Boys’ Basketball (Mumbai, India)

Feb. 13 - 16

Here is the tournament schedule.
Stream link

Track and Field (Muscat, Oman)

Feb. 13 - 16

Girls Football (Kathmandu, Nepal)

Feb. 12 - 16

SAISA Boys Basketball

SAISA Track and Field

SAISA Girls Football

Quick reminders:

- Athletics and Activities website - This is our central hub for athletics and activities information. This gives a glance of all the games and practices.
- NEW Calendar: https://sites.google.com/acsamman.edu.jo/activities/calendars

Busing

If your HS child receives ACS busing transportation, they are also eligible for the HS Activities late bus which departs @ 4:45 pm. Please see the Athletics and Activities page for more information.

Medical