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AMS Weekly Bulletin for January 12 - 16

Posted Date: 01/09/26 (04:13 PM)
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Happy New Year Everyone!
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Good afternoon,

I hope everyone enjoyed the long break. We are now just one week away from the end of the 2nd Quarter/Fall Semester! To celebrate, we will be hosting our first all-school dance of the year on Friday, January 16, from 7:00–9:00 PM in the AMS Gym. Tickets are $5.00 and will be sold at lunch each day next week. 

This afternoon marked the final Boys Soccer match of the season. Both our Boys Soccer and Girls Basketball teams had great seasons, and we are very proud of their efforts and sportsmanship. Boys Basketball and Girls Soccer are now underway, and it is almost time to sign up for Girls and Boys Wrestling. Our amazingly talented Science Olympiad team continues to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities during their weekend competitions, winning many awards along the way.

The after-school Homework and Math Support Program continues to go very well. We strongly encourage students to attend on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and to bring a friend! Snacks are provided.

Please review the upcoming events listed below, and we hope you can attend the AMS PTA Association Meeting next week. Also, please note that next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, dismissal will be at 2:20 PM each day.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Mr. Mapes



AMS School Calendar for 12/15 – 12/19

Monday, January 12 — School Ends at 3:30 pm
Tuesday, January 13 — School Ends at 3:30 pm
Wednesday, January 14 — School Ends at 2:20 pm
Thursday, January 15 — School Ends at 2:20 pm
Friday, January 16— School Ends at 2:20 pm
* We are on our Early Release Schedule for all three days 

Date(s)

Events & Happenings

January 15

AMS School Site Council Meeting - room 113 @ 4:00 pm - Meeting Agenda

January 15 

AMS PTA Association Meeting - AMS Library @ 7:00 pm

January 15 & 16 

Cobra Theatre Company Winter Showcase - PAC @ 6:00 pm

January 15 & 16 

End of Quarter/ Semester Early Release Schedule - 

Wednesday Schedule - 2:20 pm

January 16

End of 2nd Quarter & 1st Semester

January 16 

School Dance (all grades) - AMS Gym (7:00 pm to 9:00 pm)

January 19

Martin Luther King Jr Day - No School

January 27 

AUSD School Board Meeting - Albany City Hall @ 6:00 pm

January 28 

Popcorn w/ the Principal - AMS Library @ 5:45 pm

January 29 

Doughnuts w/ the Principal - Location TBD @ 9:00 am



Join us for a free screening of the award-winning documentary, "Left Behind," at the AHS Little Theatre on Thurs 1/29 at 5:30pm, followed by an expert Q&A panel. Kareem Weaver, co-founder and Executive Director of FULCRUM will be a panelist, among others!


Doors at 5pm, film starts at 5:30pm. Tickets are free, but you must register here.

The film tells the inspiring story of a group of determined moms who band together to found the first public school for students with dyslexia in New York City—the largest school district in America. 


Film runtime: 1 hour 14 min


A request for interpretation or disability-related modification or accommodation may be made by a person with a disability who requires modification or accommodation by contacting the North Region SELPA Director, at pvickroy@ausdk12.org or 510 525-9805

Math Advocates: Please join us for a screening of the film “Counted Out” in the OV MPR on Weds 1/14 at 5:30pm. We are coordinating with PTAs to host and spread the work about this impactful film that explores math as an equity issue as it relates to the future of our democracy.


Please RSVP "yes" to the Google Calendar invite if you are planning to attend, so we can ensure we have adequate space!

E-scooters are not allowed on the AMS Campus. Albany Middle School cannot allow students to ride e-scooters, as doing so is not permitted under California law.

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 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.

PTA CORNER


Resolve to Join the PTA for the New Year! Make and achieve your first new year's resolution early by finally signing up to join the PTA. Joining takes just a few minutes, costs $37, and supports AMS. Members can vote on our budget & administrative decisions and get insider emails on our activities. JOIN NOW


Thank you! Our AMS PTA is incredibly grateful for everything YOU do in our community to support our kids and our school staff. Thanks for your volunteering, your donations, and your participation. You rock!

Thursday, January 15, 7:00-8:00 pm 

Albany Middle School PTA 

Online Meeting of the Association

Location: Zoom

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6579477761

Meeting ID: 657 947 7761


AMS ATHLETICS


Boys Basketball Game Schedule


1/15  @ Willard

7A 4pm  8A 5pm

1/16  @ Willard 

6B 4pm  6A 5pm

1/20  @ Piedmont

7A 4pm  8A 5pm

1/21  @ Head Royce

6B 4pm  6A 5pm

 1/22      HEAD ROYCE 

7A 4pm  8A 5p

1/27      LONGFELLOW 

6B 4pm. 6A 5pm

1/27  @ Longfellow 

 7A 4pm. 8A 5pm

1/29       HEAD ROYCE

7A 4pm  8A 5pm

2/3  @ King  

3:30  7B 4:30  6B 5:30pm

 2/4       PIEDMONT 

7A 4pm  8A 5pm

2/6        KING 

6A 4pm  7A 5pm  8A 6pm

2/10       WILLARD

6A 4pm  7A 5pm  8A 6pm

2/11  @ Longfellow 

6B 3pm  6A 4pm

2/12       LONGFELLOW

7A 4pm  8A  5pm

2/25  @ King      

7A 3:30  6A 4:30  8A  5:30

2/26       KING        

6B 4pm  8B 5pm  7B  6pm

                                                                                                                

Girls Soccer Game Schedule


Coming Soon


AUSD NEWS



API-PEG Hosts Summer Academic Program Overview

The Asian Pacific Islander Parent Engagement Group (API-PEG) is hosting a Zoom

overview of academic summer programs for students in 7th–10th grades on Wednesday, January 14, at 7:00pm. AHS parent Amalia Cunningham will share her research. We’ll talk about the different types of programs and factors to consider when evaluating if a program is right for your student. There will also be time for Q & A. Register at the link above. Questions? Email AlbanyAPIparents@gmail.com.





Free Screening of Counted Out

Counted Out, will be shown on Wednesday, January 14, 5:30–7:30pm in the Ocean View MPR. It is a documentary about how our life experience today is underwritten by an invisible layer of math that few of us understand, or even notice. Our numeric literacy—whether we can speak the language of math—is a critical determinant of social and economic power. Through a mosaic of personal stories, expert interviews, and scenes of math transformation in action, Counted Out explores what is at risk in math education. If you are planning on attending, please RSVP here. Childcare will be available, please register here. 





Albany Disability Squad's Family Support Group

Please join us for the next meeting of the Albany Disability Squad's Family Support Group* Wednesday, January 21, 7–8 pm and the third Wednesday of upcoming months. So much of our time, energy and heart goes toward supporting our kid(s)! It can be rewarding but also exhausting, overwhelming, and lonely. This drop-in group provides peer support to each other in our frustrations and triumphs. Join the Zoom Meeting at this link or dial by your location: (408) 638-0968, Meeting ID: 886 0018 4968, Passcode: 798604. *This is a peer-to-peer support group for caregivers and not professional group counseling.






Raising Healthy Gamers: What Parents Need to Know
Led by Reichi Lee of Healthfully, this research-based workshop will help parents better understand kids’ gaming behavior and learn practical strategies to support healthy, balanced gaming habits at home. Wednesday, January 22, 6:15–7:45pm, Ocean View Elementary – Multipurpose Room. Pizza and childcare will be provided (childcare is limited, so please RSVP). RSVP here so we know how much pizza to order and can plan for childcare. Hosted by the Cornell, Marin & Ocean View PTA Boards.





Teen Service Showcase

The Albany Library will be hosting a Teen Service Showcase on Sunday, January 11, from 2–5pm. Come to hear live music from the School of Rock House Band and Albany High School’s Vocal Soul acapella group. See how teens can get involved in our local community, and enjoy hot cocoa and a treat!





Girls Who Code is accepting applications for our free, virtual 2026 Pathways summer program!

Pathways is a summer program for high school girls and non-binary students, (including rising 9th graders). Students will explore technology, build purpose-driven tech-for-good projects, and connect with a supportive global community—no coding experience required. Across seven weeks this summer, students learn at their own pace through engaging video tutorials, hands-on projects, and Tech Spotlights. They connect with peers on Girls Who Code’s Discord community, and earn certificates for every course they complete.






Little League—Final Week of Registration! 

Register now for Berkeley-Albany Little League spring season! Baseball is more fun with friends, so check in with your community to see who else might want to play!  Any registration we receive after January 14 will hit the waitlist, so if you want to secure a spot this season, now is the time! Interested in coaching this season? Email playeragent@albanylittleleague.org. We will be holding a Coaches Training on January 14. Please direct registration questions to registrar@albanylittleleague.org.







Volunteer At The Gill Tract Farm

On January 19, MLK Day of Service, join us at the Gill Tract Farm. Come join us on the land to prepare the Farm for spring planting. No experience is necessary, tools will be provided. Free lunch! (vegan soup and bread)  If you are under 18, please bring a waiver form signed by your adult caretaker. RSVP here. Please plan to attend the entire time, from 11am–2pm. Gill Tract Farm, 1050 San Pablo Ave.





Albany Berkeley Girls Softball Association

Registration for our Spring Recreational Leagues is now open for all age groups and skill levels. The spring season runs from the first Saturday in March to the first Saturday in June. We hope you join us!

Take advantage of early bird pricing in December. Registration closes February 1st. Register at https://www.abgsl.org/registration