October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
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Good evening AMS Community,
I hope all is well. This week, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible teachers and staff of Albany Middle School. I feel truly fortunate and proud to be a member of this community. Every day, I see a tremendously talented and dedicated group of educators working tirelessly to guide, support, and inspire our students during such an important stage of their lives.
The commitment, professionalism, and care our staff bring to their work make AMS a special place for students to learn and grow. I want to thank each and every staff member for their continued dedication to our school community.
I also want to acknowledge a few AMS teachers who were recently elected to the Albany Educational Foundation’s Hall of Fame; congratulations to Ms. Sara Backowski, Ms. Kim Gray, Ms. Toni Martinez-Borgfeldt, and Ms. Penelope Lackey! With these new inductees, AMS now has 10 AEF Hall of Famers! What an amazing accomplishment! Go Cobras! To view photos and short write-ups of all our inductees, please click on the link.
I also want to congratulate Mr. Rich Lew for being last week's San Francisco 49er's Teacher of the Game. Way to go Mr. Lew! To see Mr. Lew's photo and a short write-up, click on the link.
And lastly, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the following teachers for coaching a fall sport at AMS! Loree Bruckmann-Harmon and Penelope Lackey served as our Cross Country coaches, Rich Lew coached our Varsity Flag Football team, and Megan Coleman led our 8th Grade Volleyball team. I also want to recognize Brandt Barstad for his work coaching the Cross Country team at Albany High School.
Your mentorship, time, and dedication to our student-athletes are truly appreciated — thank you for helping our Cobras grow, compete, and shine!
Have a great weekend, and as always...Go Cobras!
Mr. Mapes
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AMS School Calendar for 10/27 – 10/31
Monday, October 27 — School ends at 3:30 pm
Tuesday, October 28 — School ends at 3:30 pm
Wednesday, October 29 — School ends at 2:20 pm
Thursday, October 30— School ends at 3:05 pm
Friday, October 31— School ends at 2:20 pm
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October 31 - (Period 6) |
6th Grade Halloween Party |
November 2 |
AMS Arts and Crafts Fair - 11 am to 2 pm |
Nov 2 |
Daylight Savings Ends - roll back an hour |
November 5 (7pm - AHS LT) |
AMS/AHS Fall Jazz Concert |
November 6 & November 7 |
Safe School Ambassador Training - Library closed all day. |
November 10 & November 11 |
Veterans Day Observed - No School |
November 13 |
Doughnuts (9:00 am) & Popcorn (5:30 pm) w/ the Principal in the AMS Library |
November 17 - (Rain date is 11/18/25 if needed) |
Turkey Trot |
November 24 - November 28 |
Thanksgiving Break - No School |
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Why join the PTA?
1. It takes five minutes.
2. It costs just $37.
3. It supports AMS.
4. WE are 117 members below last year's total! We can do this AMS! JOIN NOW
Coming up just around the corner are two of the PTA's biggest fundraisers for the year!
Sunday, November 2, from 11 am to 3 pm, the AMS Craft Fair! This is a beloved annual tradition that encourages art and entrepreneurship among the students, and helps to support the PTA! AMS students are provided free tables to showcase wares, alongside adult crafters from the community. Additionally, we have student musical performances, our pop-up Cobra Cafe with food donated by AMS parents and local restaurants, and more. Email Aria at albanycraftfair@gmail.com if you’re interested in volunteering and definitely mark your family calendar now to come to the fair!
December 1-12, the AMS Auction! Our incredible online AMS auction is coming up and we need everyone to donate high-value items for us to auction off and help raise funds for the school and our kids! We still need some volunteer help soliciting donations and managing logistics. Reach out to Tarry for more information.
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Check out our new website! We have upgraded our website (https://ams.ausdk12.org/) while maintaining the same web address to make information easier for you to find and for better functionality on mobile devices. The switch will happen sometime this weekend.
Have a nice weekend, and as always, GO COBRAS!
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To view the current updated 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. We hope your child will join one or more of our school clubs.
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🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃
Attention 6th Grade Families!
We are beginning to plan the annual 6th Grade Halloween Party! Lots of parent/guardian help will be needed to make the day a success. One way that you can help is by volunteering on the day of to help support events and activities. If you think you will want to help out that day on campus, you will need to have AUSD Volunteer 1 Clearance. Here is a link to the AUSD Volunteer Information. Please get started and submit documentation by 10/17/25 so your paperwork can be processed in time for the party. Classroom teachers will be reaching out in the coming weeks with specific ways for you to volunteer or support the 6th Grade Halloween Party.
🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️🎃👻🕷️
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Student Photos are Ready!
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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.
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Here are a few important links:
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Attendance Policy at AMS
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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.
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Attendance Reminder
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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.
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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.
Please help us exceed the fundraising goal by:
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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.
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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!
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AEF Book Fair at Pegasus Books Starts Saturday!
Support Albany schools while you shop at Pegasus Books! Albany Education Foundation (AEF) is having a book fair fundraiser at Pegasus Books on Solano Ave. starting Saturday. From October 25 through November 1, Pegasus will donate 30% of all sales when you mention "AEF" at checkout. Do you have friends and family who live out of town who would like to support our schools? Direct them to pegasusbookstore.com/albany-education during the AEF Book Fair and be sure to type "AEF" at checkout. All purchases at Pegasus qualify — books, gifts, gift cards, etc. If you would like to purchase a book for a classroom or library, Pegasus has lists — both in store and online — of requested books for each AUSD school. The AEF Pegasus Book Fair helps fund future AEF grants for teachers while supporting a valued local bookstore. Thank you!
Diwali, The Festival of Lights
The Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Parent Engagement Group is hosting a Diwali potluck get-together. All are welcome! Saturday, November 1, 1–3:30pm in the Ocean View Multipurpose Room.
Albany Community Craft Fair
The AMS PTA’s Craft Fair returns on Sunday, November 2, 11am–3pm. Come for crafts, music, and food. All are welcome!
SWANA Ice Cream Social
Grab a cone at the Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Parent Engagement Group’s ice cream social. All are welcome! Friday, October 24, starts at 5:30pm in the Cornell Multipurpose Room.
Registration is open for winter Futsal. Register at abscsoccer.com.
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