Upcoming Events From AVMS
111 Park Avenue, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
(949) 831-2622
Absence/Sick Line (949) 716-8145
Principal: Jennifer Smalley
School Website: http://avms-capousd-ca.schoolloop.com/
PTSA Website http://www.avmsptsa.org/
Follow the AVMS PTSA on Facebook! Facebook page for AVMS PTSA!
CONGRATULATIONS TO MRS. JENNIFER JACOBSON – NAMED CUSD MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR Last Friday, our very own Mrs. Jacobson was surprised with a visit from Superintendent Vital, the Board of Trustees, her family, CUEA President Sally White, and district and school officials as she was names CUSD Middle School Teacher of the Year. The district only has three District Teachers of the Year, one for each level, so it is quite an honor for Mrs. Jacobson and AVMS. Here is a recent article published in The Orange County Register about last week’s surprise http://www.ocregister.com/articles/teacher-653741-students-year.html
SPRING PICTURES are next week on March 16th. Pictures will be taken through PE classes. Students will receive order forms from their PE teachers.
AVMS PAPER DONATION DRIVE is next week. PAL students will be collecting reams of paper at drop-off in the morning. Thank you for supporting AVMS! Students may earn Falcon Service Hours for donating paper. Each ream = 15 minutes of service. Students may earn a maximum of 4 reams.
CONGRATULATIONS 8th GRADE BASKETBALL for beating the teachers at the student and staff basketball game yesterday. The teachers kept up the fight with an 8th grade win of 20 to 18!
8th Grade Winning Team AVMS Staff Team and Referees
CJ Ezratty Mrs. Huffaker (referee)
Aiden Gilbert Mr. Herbold
Max Horowitz Mr. Wade
Joseph Karlous Mrs. Wiley
Kyle Lynds Mr. Gallud (referee)
Kyle Robertson Mr. Pak
Ethan Smith Mr. Harney
Jack Steiert Mr. McGinnis
Mrs. Guillen
Mr. Michelle
AVMS PTSA PARENT AND STUDENT EDUCATION PRESENTATION On Tuesday, April 21, the PTSA will be presenting another Parent/Student Education evening. The presentation will be “Reality Check: The Middle School Parents Guide to College Readiness” from 6:00 – 7:30 PM in the MPR led by Lisa McLaughlin, M.,Ed. Parents and students are invited. Students that are participating in the Service Award Program can receive 2 hours credit for their attendance and should bring their service logs with them to the presentation. Contact Kathy Westling at kkwesting@capousd.org for additional information.
CAPO ARTS FESTIVAL – CELEBRATE, CREATE, APPRECIATEStudent works in art, drama, dance and music from schools across Capistrano Unified School District will be showcased at the second annual Capo Arts Festival. Sponsored by Capistrano Council of PTSAs the event is Saturday, April 25 at Aliso Niguel High School, 28000 Wolverine Way, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656.
There will be hands-on arts projects, including original sidewalk chalk drawings. This is a free event – food and drinks will be available for purchase. For more information and entry forms go to http://www.cucptsa.com/index.asp?mid=108 or contact Capo Arts Festival Coordinator Courtney Fielder atcapoarts@cucptsa.org
CUSD TOWN HALL MEETINGS REGARDING SCHOOL OF CHOICE Capistrano Unified School District will be conducting three Town Hall Meetings regarding School of Choice. The topics that will be discussed will be: Revised Board Policy 5119 – School of Choice, School of Choice Priorities, Administrative Placements. There will also be an opportunity for questions and answers. The Meetings will be held in the Capistrano Unified School District’s Board room at the follow times:
Friday, March 13th from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.(Information on Language immersion will be available as well)
Monday, March 23rd from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS The nomination period for Capistrano Unified School District’s 2015 Classified Employee of the Year Program will be accepted through Friday, March 27, 2015. Nominations will be accepted in six categories: Child Nutrition; Maintenance and Operations; Transportation; Para-Educator and Instructional Assistance; Office and Technical; and Support Services and Security. Nominees must be a classified employee of Capistrano Unified School District, including all schools (preschool through grade twelve) and central office departments, with at least five years of service in the category for which they are nominated. Completed nomination forms must be received by the CUSD Communications Office by Friday, March 27, 2015. Nomination forms are available online at www.capousd.org (see attached) and at each CUSD school site. Transportation dispatchers, secretaries, mechanics, campus supervisors, groundskeepers, delivery drivers, and accounting technicians are just a few of the job titles eligible to be nominated for the award.
RECYCLING THURSDAYS Collection is from 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM on Thursdays. Bring your PLASTIC BOTTLES, ALUMINUM CANS to the grey Recycling Bin located at the far end of the parking lot. Just pull up in front of the bin and we will unload your car.
Rules: NO Glass; plastic water bottles and aluminum cans only; must have the CA cash code on them; tape a sign on your bag with your Name and 1st period Teacher; drop off at the Recycling Bin; have your bag weighed and recorded by AVMS students.
Rewards: Each semester top contributors will receive rewards as well as weekly rewards for all contributors (front of the line pass, free wheel spin and more). In addition, students may earn 15 minutes of Falcon Service Award credits for each large, full bag of recycling (limit 4 bags per year for service award credit).
This week’s top recyclers were:
Cooper Bein 18.5 lbs.
Charlotte Einhorn 14.11 lbs.
Sheenan Caballes 8.13 lbs.
Quentin Biebel 7.0 lbs.
Ashlyn Luketich 6.5 lbs.
PREVIOUS NEWS
ANHS STUDENT AND PARENT INFO NIGHT FOR PARENTS OF 8th GRADERS AND INCOMING 9th GRADERS Monday March 23rd there will be an information night at ANHS that will answer most of your questions.
5:00 – 6:00 Open House where teachers will be grouped by department to showcase curriculum and answer questions.
6:15 – 7:15 Academic presentation by Guidance Department in the large gym. Bring your child’s registration form with you.
7:15 – 8:30 Athletic and extra-curricular programs fair in the small gym. Coaches and extra-curricular representatives including music, drama, choir and clubs will be available to answer questions and provide information.
SMARTER BALANCED PRACTICE TESTS We are pleased to announce the online availability of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Practice and Training Tests. SBAC is the system of academic tests that replaced the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program tests in English/Language Arts and math. SBAC tests, based on the state standards (Common Core) will be administered at the end of April and early May.
SBAC tests will be taken on computers, and the Practice and Training Tests provide examples of these new tests. SBAC practice tests are available to the public at http://caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html. Practice tests and answer keys are available for grades 3 through 8 and grade 11 in both English/Language Arts and math. The tests are accessed by clicking on the Student Interface Practice and Training Tests tab. The answer keys are found by clicking on the Test Administrator Resources tab.
Your child is receiving instruction and practice on the types of questions that will be part of the SBAC test, as well as on the format of the tests as part of classroom instruction. There are four major types of questions that your child may see: multiple choice, multiple response, short answer, and performance assessments. I encourage you to explore the practice tests with your child and discuss them.
When California began the STAR Program in the 90’s, we saw an initial drop in test scores, as staff and students experienced the format of a new test. Therefore, it is critical that your child have opportunities to try out these new assessment questions to prepare for the spring SBAC. All students will have time to practice at school but the more opportunities they have will help with their comfort level when they take the actual assessment.
If you have questions, do not hesitate to ask your child’s teacher(s).
PENNIES FOR PASTA Please help us raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by donating to our cause from March 2 to March 13. 1st period classes are raising money and competing for a chance to win an Olive Garden Lunch for 1st place, and a Pizza Party for 2nd Place and Ice Cream party for 3rd place.
Students and families can donate in any of these three ways:
–Bring in money of any denomination to their first period class.
–Bring in checks made out to “The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society”
–Donate money on line at www.schoolandyouth.org/calso
All money raised is put toward research for a cure and care of those that suffer from Leukemia and Lymphoma – cancer of the blood and Lymph nodes, which help with the immune system.
AVMS INCOMING SIXTH GRADE PARENT NIGHT Please join the staff at AVMS to hear about life as a middle school student. This one hour presentation will take place on Thursday, April 16thfrom 6:00-7:00 in the AVMS MPR. This night is designed for parents only. Please note that parents are welcome to walk around the school before and after the presentation as AVMS does not do parent tours for students from their feeder schools.
CUSD SCHOOL OF CHOICE WINDOW School of Choice Application Period: March 5 – March 27
Beginning Thursday, March 5, 2015, students in Capistrano Unified School District can apply for School of Choice. The School of Choice window will close March 27, 2015. After March 27, School of Choice applications will no longer be accepted. The School of Choice process provides parents with the ability to apply to a school outside of their child’s attendance area on a space-available basis. The list of schools open to School of Choice will be provided this month. Detailed information describing each school and its academic offerings is available online at www.capousd.org Applications will be available online atwww.capousd.org Notifications will be sent to families beginning May 4, 2015.
ATTENTION 6th GRADE PARENTS: Tdap Vaccine Requirement For Students Entering 7th Grade AVMS is asking our current 6th grade families to bring a copy of their Tdap immunization records to the office prior to the end of the school year. For the 2015-2016 school year, all students entering 7th through 12th grades will need proof of an adolescent whooping cough booster shot (commonly called the “Tdap” vaccine) before starting school.
YMCA IS LOCATED RIGHT ON CAMPUS FOR BEFORE AND AFTERSCHOOL CARE!
Summer at the Y: For our summer program, we will be opening up all three of our local YMCA Teen Club locations. We are starting to plan on a great summer program full of field trips and on site curriculum and outside games. Our field trips include Knott’s Berry Farm, Laser Quest, Nickel! Nickel!, walking to local town centers, and more! We are currently making an interest list. For more information, contact Caprice Kavanaugh,ckavanaugh@ymcaoc.org, or Leanne Collins,lcollins@ymcaoc.org, at (949) 233-0209!
Flexible Schedules: We have multiple enrollment options to best suit your needs. These include before school or after school only. We even have a Thursday morning only option for the late start days! The YMCA is open for full days on most school breaks from 7am-6pm! We are planning some great activities and field trips for our full days and Spring Break. Weekly and Drop-in enrollment is available.
Financial assistance: Financial assistance is provided to parents/guardians who qualify. Aliso Viejo residents are also eligible to receive additional discounts on our fees through a partnership with the city of Aliso Viejo.
The YMCA Teen Club provides a structured program with choices for our independent teens. To schedule a tour, contact Caprice Kavanaugh at (949) 233-0209 orckavanaugh@ymcaoc.org.
WEEKLY CFC (Communities for Cause) TOTAL – As of today, AVMS has earned $1285.03 from the app which means we earned $8.14 over the last week! Thank you and keep using it to support AVMS. www.communitiesforcause.com
DINE-OUT NIGHT, ANY NIGHT WITH COMMUNITIES FOR CAUSE APP Have fun, Dine out and raise money for AVMS at over 500 participating restaurants in OC. All you have to do is:
Step 1: Go to your App Store – iTunes (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) and install the FREE Communities for Cause App
Step 2: Open the App once it has downloaded and Click Register
Step 3: Select our school under “Select Cause” and enter your email address, create a password, re-enter your password, and click register.
Once you have selected the merchant you would like to visit, when your bill comes, enter the bill subtotal (less sales tax and gratuity), and click Register my purchase. Place your receipt under your phone and “Take a picture of your receipt”, or if prompted to “Scan Code” ask your server or cashier for the QR Verification code, and the merchant will scan a bar code under your phone, and the donation from your purchase automatically goes to our school. It’s so easy! For more information visitwww.communitiesforcause.com
FALCON SHOUT-OUTS Does someone you know have a birthday coming up? A big game? Did they accomplish a goal? You can order a customizable message for our digital marquee to commemorate the event! Marquee messages:
· May have 4 lines with 22 characters (letters, punctuation, and spaces included) each.
· May be customized with the following options: text color, text outline, text effect, and background
· Must be submitted and paid for one week prior to the message being displayed. Cash or checks should be delivered to the front office attached to your order form. Please print out your order form before hitting the “SUBMIT” button. Visit this link to order your shout out: http://avms-capousd-ca.schoolloop.com/shoutouts
BOX TOPS – Keep clipping those box tops and turn in to your social science teacher. Every ten = a front of the line pass.
INK AND TONER CARTRIDGE RECYCLING AVMS is recycling used ink cartridges and toner cartridges. There is a box in the front office where you may place used cartridges.
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
March 2-13 Pennies for Pasta Campaign
March 5 – 27 CUSD School of Choice Window
March 16 Spring Pictures
March 16-20 AVMS Paper Donation Drive
April 6 – 10 Spring Break – No School
April 16 Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night 6:00-7:00 AVMS MPR
March 18 Basketball Championships vs. DJAMS
March 19 AVMS PTSA Meeting 6:00 in the library
March 23 ANHS 8th Grade Parent and Student Night
April 6-10 Spring Break – No School
April 16 Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night 6:00 – 7:00 AVMS MPR
April 21 Reality Check: The Middle School Parents Guide to College Readiness 6:00 – 7:30 PM in MPR
May 12 & 13 8th Grade STAR Science Tests
May 13 & 14 AVMS Drama Presents Seussical the Musical 6:00-8:00 MPR
May 20 AVMS Open House 4:00 – 7:00 (Classrooms Open for Visitation 5:30-7:00)
May 25 Memorial Day Holiday – No School
June 19 Last Day of School – Minimum Day 12:52 Dismissal
August 25 First Day of School for 2015-16 School Year
| Jennifer Smalley | Principal, Aliso Viejo Middle School | Capistrano Unified School District |
| 111 Park Avenue, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 | ( (949) 831-2622 |:jsmalley@capousd.org
