AMS Weekly Bulletin for Sept. 29 - Oct. 3

Posted Date: 9/26/25 (4:22 PM)

AMS Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month (09/15 thru 10/15)

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! We join communities across the nation in honoring and celebrating the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.

This month is a wonderful opportunity for our students and staff to learn, share, and appreciate the diverse traditions that enrich our school and community. We encourage everyone to take part in activities, discussions, and learning experiences that highlight the importance of Hispanic heritage.

Thank you for helping us make AMS a place where every culture is valued and celebrated.

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Good afternoon AMS,

I hope this message finds you and your family well. At Albany Middle School, we encourage all students to get involved in athletics, academic teams, visual and performing arts, and clubs. Participation in these opportunities helps foster growth, teamwork, self-confidence, and a stronger sense of community.

Registration is now open for students interested in trying out for Girls Basketball and Boys Soccer. Please click the link to register your child through FamilyID. The registration deadline is Friday, October 17th at noon.

We also hope your child will join one or more of our school clubs. To view the current list of approved clubs, please click the link. Each club is reviewed and approved by our Associated Student Body Leadership every Thursday morning, and more clubs will be added next week.

Please take some time to talk with your child about which of our 13 sports teams they may want to try out for this year and which clubs they are interested in joining.

Have a great weekend, and as always, Go Cobras!

Mr. Mapes

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AMS School Calendar for 09/29 – 10/03

Monday, September 29 — School ends at 3:30 pm

Tuesday, September 30 — School ends at 3:30 pm

Wednesday, October 1 — School ends at 2:20 pm

Thursday, October 2 — School ends at 3:05 pm

Friday, October 3 — School ends at 2:20 pm

IMPORTANT DATES - Click on link to view the 2025-26 year

Date(s) and Time(s)	Events & Happenings
September 29	AMS Fall Fundraiser @ Cougar Field
October 4	Familias Latinas de Albany Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration @ AMS
October 13	Indigenous People’s Day - No School
October 14	AUSD School Board Meeting
October 16 & October 17	End of Quarter Early Release Schedule (Wednesday Schedule)
October 17	End of 1st Quarter
October 17 - (7:00 pm - 9:00 pm)	School Dance (7th/8th grades)
October 23	Make-up Picture Day
October 31 - (Period 6)	6th Grade Halloween Party

PTA CORNER

Hi Cobra Families!

We need your help! This year we are only at 242 PTA members – that’s down almost 40% from last year when we had 384. This shortfall means we may have to cut some student events or services as we haven’t reached our annual PTA budget level.

Joining is easy! You just register and pay your $37 membership dues. If that's all you can do, don't worry; you're not committing to volunteer. Your $30 allows us the PTA to host fun events for the students, support our amazing teachers and staff, and build up our AMS community.

Don’t forget to add your student members! We only have 21 student members currently; if everyone added a student member, we’d be over our goal in no time!

Don’t forget to encourage your friends to join – commit to texting one AMS family with the link today!

Donation Requests for the Auction - The Auction team is seeking donations of gifts/services. Do you belong to a wine club and could donate a bottle or two (minimum value $20)? Could you provide a service or skill that could be offered as a donation or signup party -- interior design consult, jewelry-making class, hiking expedition? Would you be able to donate season tickets, a lovely vacation home for the weekend, or cater a special meal? We welcome all ideas and gifts. Please reach out to Tarry Chung. For wine donations, please reach out to Kayleigh Cassella at kaleigh.casella@gmail.com.

AMS NEWS

Student Photos are Ready!
- School pictures are ready! To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's student ID number. All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card. More about the Smilesafe program here.
Chromebook for Home Use
- If your child DOES NOT have a laptop, PC, or other device to do their homework, we will lend your child a Chromebook to take home for the year and leave at home until June. Students that are given a Chromebook for home use are responsible for the Chromebook and charger. We have copies of the Chromebook For Home Use Request Form in the main office or you can click on the link to view, print, complete, and return the request form beginning on Monday. Chromebooks will be given out after school. Quantities are very limited, so this is for students who need a Chromebook. If a student was issued a Chromebook and charger last year and did not return it at the end of the school year, another Chromebook will not be issued. Please email Mr. Christian Alcala at calcala@ausdk12.org if for questions.
Here are a few important links:
Attendance Policy at AMS
- Independent Study
  - Family trips should be arranged during summer and other school breaks as extended absences affect a student’s academic progress and grades. Alternative assignments while on trips do not fully take the place of daily attendance and participation in class. If an extended absence (5-15 school days) is unavoidable, parents/guardians must request an Independent Study form from the main office a minimum of 5 school days prior to the student’s departure; we would prefer 10 school days. Independent study can only be arranged for absences of five days (with a maximum of 15 for the school year) or more and cannot be granted during the last two weeks of the year. Independent Study can only be granted once per semester.
- Attendance Reminder
  - If you would like to contact the attendance office for any reason, please email amsattendance@ausdk12.org or call 510-558-3613. Email is preferred. Notes from parents delivered by students do not suffice to excuse attendance.
- Students Leaving Campus
  - Students, please come to the front office if you are entering or leaving campus during school hours. This means that if you are tardy to first period, you must sign in at the office. If you leave early with a parent, you must sign out at the office. There are no exceptions; always sign in or out at the front office if you are leaving or entering campus during school hours.

AMS ATHLETICS

AMS Fall Sports Competition Schedule for Girls Volleyball, Co-Ed Cross Country, & Flag Football

Date

Day

Time

Sport

Team

Location

Opponent/Event

Sep 30	Tue	5:15 PM	GVBall	7A	HOME	Willard
Sep 30	Tue	6:15 PM	GVBall	8A	HOME	Willard
Sep 30	Tue	4:15 PM	GVBall	6A	HOME	Willard
Oct 1	Wed	3:30 PM	FFBall	7/8	Away	Longfellow
Oct 1	Wed	4:30 PM	XC	ALL	Away	Stanley
Oct 2	Thu	4:45 PM	GVBall	8B	Away	Longfellow
Oct 2	Thu	3:45 PM	GVBall	7B	Away	Longfellow
Oct 2	Thu	5:15 PM	GVBall	8A	HOME	Longfellow
Oct 2	Thu	4:00 PM	GVBall	7A	HOME	Longfellow
Oct 3	Fri	4:00 PM	GVBall	6A	HOME	Longfellow
Oct 3	Fri	5:00 PM	GVBall	6B	HOME	Longfellow

Athletic Participation Sports Donations - AUSD Athletics relies on family contributions and other fundraising for school athletics. These contributions are necessary to pay for game officials, uniforms, and equipment and other team expenses. AMS fall sports needs to raise $30,000 to pay for our share of these costs. As of the beginning of today, we had only raised $16,000.

Please help us exceed the fundraising goal by:

Making your $160+ contribution to Albany Athletic Boosters - be sure to write "AMS [team name]" in the “add special instructions for seller” field. Don't delay - make your tax deductible contribution today.
You can also drop off a check in the AMS office. Make sure to write "AMS [team name]" in the memo line.

If you are not able to make a $160 contribution, please contribute whatever you can.
As a reminder, these resources help pay for necessary team expenses. If your team surpasses its fundraising goal, the team can use remaining funding to support a team party or other celebration at the end of the season!"

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR HELPING AMS Sports SUCCEED BY EXCEEDING OUR FUNDRAISING GOALS!

AUSD NEWS

Superintendent’s Community Update

Asian Pacific Islander Parent Engagement Group Fall Mixer

Join us for the annual Fall Mixer hosted by AUSD Asian Pacific Islander Parent Engagement Group (API-PEG). All are welcome! October 25, 10:00am–3:00pm at Cornell Elementary School basketball courts. Join API-PEG Group email by filling out this form. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you have any questions, please email AlbanyAPIparents@gmail.com.

Celebración Latina Latino Heritage Month is here! Celebración Latina will be Saturday, October 4, 11am–2pm at Albany Middle School. All are invited to come and celebrate! Now more than ever, it is important for our community to come together to represent our rich culture through dance, song, etc. During the first hour of the event, we ask students and their families to perform a dance, sing a song, play instruments, read a poem, or share facts about their cultural traditions or country of origin. Sign up to perform here.

Free Community Halloween Costume Swap + 2nd-Hand Market

Swap your gently used costumes for “new-to-you” ones and explore a European-style 2nd-hand market with kids’ activities, free clothing repairs, and music. Sunday, Oct 5, 11am–4pm, 1251 Solano Ave

(Abrams Claghorn Gallery in the lot). Costume drop-off at Coyote Kids (1272 Solano Ave) through Oct 3. Free for all ages!

City of Albany’s Path To Belonging Project

The Portrait of Albany, is a participatory art project sponsored by the City of Albany. The City is creating a mural of family photos as an art installation at the Community Center and wants to include images from many Albany households. Learn more at pathtobelonging.net. Deadline is September 30, 2025.

Fall Into Haiku Is Back!

The City of Albany is once again hosting the Fall into Haiku Program! The Albany community is invited to submit up to three original haiku reflecting on the people, places, and moments that make Albany special. This year’s theme, "Gratitude in 17 Syllables: Appreciating Our Community", invites participants to reflect on what makes Albany a special place to live, work, or go to school. Entries must be submitted by October 15. The contest is open to Albany students and residents. Approximately 60 haiku will be selected and displayed throughout the City from November 2025 through January 2026. Learn more or submit your Haiku at www.albanyca.org/FallIntoHaiku

6th Grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

Class Websites

Library

Counseling

AMS Weekly Bulletin for Sept. 29 - Oct. 3