December is Universal Human Rights Month
Good evening AMS Community,
I hope you’ve had a great week. Things continue to go wonderfully here at AMS, our students are doing incredible things every single day!
On Wednesday night, our choral students delivered a truly impressive performance at the AHS Little Theater. Congratulations to all of the performers and to their dedicated teacher, Ms. Kate Huizinga, for guiding them to such a memorable concert.
Our Girls Basketball and Boys Soccer teams are now well into their competitive seasons, and registration is officially open for Boys Basketball and Girls Soccer. Our Science Olympiad Team is also having an exceptional season with strong results at their recent competitions. In addition, we continue to welcome back a wide range of clubs, both returning favorites and new offerings, so students have many ways to connect during lunch and after school.
This week we launched our After-School Math & Homework Support Programs, offered to all students on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. These sessions provide a structured environment for academic support and are already off to a strong start.
I would like to take a moment to address two topics that directly affect our students’ safety and well-being, e-scooters and cell phones & Social Media.
Earlier this week, I learned of an important legal clarification regarding e-scooters. Students under 16 who do not have a learner’s permit or driver’s license are not legally allowed to operate an e-scooter on public roads or paths. In light of this, e-scooters will no longer be permitted at Albany Middle School. We began notifying students who ride e-scooters on Wednesday, and we will continue reinforcing this policy.
Additionally, a reminder that all students riding bikes, scooters, or skateboards on campus must wear a helmet. This is a non-negotiable safety expectation, and we truly appreciate your help ensuring students follow it.
As we enter the holiday season, many students begin asking for their first cell phone, or for permission to download their first social media app. I encourage every family to think carefully about the responsibility that comes with these decisions.
For many students ages 11 to 14, managing a smartphone or social media account is challenging. We frequently see students struggle with overuse, distraction, and reliance on phones as their primary form of communication.
There is a growing “Wait Until 8th” movement that encourages families to hold off on giving their child a smartphone until 8th grade. If this is feasible for your family, I strongly recommend considering it. The same idea applies to social media: if possible, try to wait until 8th grade or age 14 before allowing students to join any platform.
Every family’s situation is different, and there is no one right answer, but thoughtful timing can have a meaningful impact on a student’s social-emotional health.
Have a nice weekend, and as always...Go Cobras!
Mr. Mapes
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AMS School Calendar for 12/08 – 12/12
Monday, December 8 — School Ends at 3:30 pm
Tuesday, December 9 — School Ends at 3:30 pm
Wednesday, December 10 — School Ends at 2:20 pm
Thursday, December 11 — School Ends at 3:05 pm
Friday, December 12 — School Ends at 2:20 pm
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Date(s) and Time(s) |
Events & Happenings |
December 8 |
AMS Cobra Bands Winter Concert - (7pm - AHS LT) |
December 9 |
AUSD School Board Meeting @ 6 pm
AMS 7/8th Grade Bands Winter Concert - (7pm - AHS LT)
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December 10 |
AMS/AHS Orchestras Winter Concert - (7pm - AHS LT) |
December 16 |
AMS School Site Council Meeting @ 4 pm |
December 22 - January 2 |
Winter Break |
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To: All MS parents
Subject: AMC 8 Registration 2026
Hello Middle School Families,
The American Mathematics Competition 8 (AMC 8) is an optional timed 40 minute individual exam designed to introduce middle school students to creative mathematical problem-solving. This is a chance for students to apply their math skills to unique, "outside-the-box" problems.
Our school will hold the test after school on Wednesday January 28th 2026 from 2:35 pm to 3:35 pm in room A-12.
Parents, if your student is interested, please respond to this form by Friday December 12, 2025, to ensure your student is registered. The test is designed for 8th graders, however all students are welcome to participate. Here is a link to more information about the AMC for more information on the exam. You can find practice tests from previous years here.
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We are looking for new volunteers to join WriterCoach Connection. (writercoachconnection.org) We work with AMS 8th graders every year to provide support as they work on their I-search, a major research project. The dates for coaching this year are Jan. 15 - March 13, 2026.
The coaching time commitment is a two-hour block per week, either Thursday or Friday during school hours, for eight weeks. (Some four-week-only options are available.) You indicate your availability, and we put you on a team that fits your schedule. Coaches meet with three students, one-on-one each.
Parents of 6th & 7th graders: this is a great opportunity to learn about this important 8th grade project (the I-search) before your child gets to it.
Parents of 8th graders: If you prefer, we will work with you to place you in a class that your child is not in, and with students you don’t already know.
WriterCoach Connection is a wonderful opportunity for “word people” to share their love of writing with students — you don’t need to be a teacher or writer or editor to coach, you just need to care about the writing process. You’ll be joining a group of experienced coaches and a site coordinator, who can all mentor you as you learn the ropes.
Thank you for considering this, and passing word on to others who might be interested. The program is open to all adults, not just AMS parents & guardians.
Questions specific to our AMS program? Write to me at jane@writercoachconnection.org, and include your phone number if you’d like to talk.
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Sign Up to Contribute to Staff Appreciation Meal on Dec. 10! We need your help to show the AMS staff our appreciation with a cozy breakfast spread on Wednesday, Dec. 10th. Because this event is a breakfast, we're requesting that all items be dropped off the day before, Tuesday, Dec. 9th, in disposable containers between 8:00am - 3:30pm in the AMS office. Please make sure any food donated is nut-free. Sign up HERE to contribute items. Or, contribute financially and let us do the shopping -- make your donation via Paypal HERE by Monday, December 8th at 12pm and write "Staff Appreciation" in the notes.
 AMS Auction Is Open!
Support the Albany Middle School PTA and get some of your holiday shopping done by bidding in the 2025 Online AMS Spirit Auction, one of the biggest PTA fundraisers of the year. The auction is live now until December 12, 10pm. The online catalog is filled with fun items such as tickets to Warriors and Cal games, tickets to performances at the SF Symphony and Cal Performances, restaurant offerings such as Eureka, Benchmark and Agrodolce, self-care treatments including dental, acupuncture, fitness workouts and climbing gyms, tickets to area favorites such as the SF Zoo, the Oakland Zoo and the USS Hornet, and so much more! Get your bid on today!
It's Not Too Late to Join the PTA! Joining takes just a few minutes, costs $37, and supports AMS. JOIN NOW
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Winter Sports Registration for Boys Basketball and Girls Soccer deadline is coming up! You can register at FamilyID with the link below. Registration will close on Friday December 19th at noon.
https://students.arbitersports.com/organizations/albany-middle-school
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For the current sports (Girls Basketball and Boys Soccer), the target is $13,000. Currently, we have raised about 1/3 towards their goal. If you have not made your donation, there is still time. |
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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The Jewish Parent Engagement (JPE) committee warmly invites you to join us for our Hanukkah Celebration on Friday, December 12, 5:00–7:30pm in the AMS Atrium. The evening will include a potluck, music, games, Shabbat and Hanukkah candle lighting, and plenty of opportunities to gather in joy. All are welcome.. please RSVP here.
First Ever AUSD Winter Wonderland Potluck!
Everyone is welcome to a community-wide celebration of winter holidays on Sunday, December 14, 4:30–6:30pm in Ocean View’s MPR. Ocean View’s PTA is working alongside all of AUSD's parent engagement groups to deliver a festive end-of-the-year celebration with activities for kids! Through this event we hope to highlight the diversity in our community and learn more about how various groups in our community celebrate holidays during winter break. Sign up for the potluck here!
Making College Affordable: FAFSA & Early Financial Planning Join the Asian Pacific Islander Parent Engagement Group (API-PEG) on Thursday, December 11 at 7pm via Zoom for valuable insights and an interactive discussion (a Q&A section will be included) with the expert, Mike Nie. Mike specializes in family-centered tax and real-estate strategies, with deep expertise in college cost planning. You may join API-PEG Google Group by filling out this form. 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.
The African American Family Outreach Project, provides support to African American families and caregivers of individuals living with mental illness. The program aims to create a supportive environment for African American families to share their experiences and connect with others who understand their challenges.
The upcoming online workshop, “Normal Teen Angst vs. Signs of Mental Illness,” will be hosted by psychiatrist Dr. Karriem Salaam on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, at 6:00 PM via Zoom
Interested participants can register at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/AAFOP-Dec11.
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