ALMS Weekly Update

Dear ALMS Parents and Families,

Happy Friday! Thank you for a fulfilling week here at ALMS. We saw our faculty, staff, students, and parents participate in a multitude of events this week. We held a 6th grade movie night where they showed "The Pacifier", also, a lovely 6th grade Huguenot breakfast, and finally, a busy week for the Media Club. They put out a plethora of content with a new Teacher Feature, a brand new podcast called "...that one podcast", and a new "Blue Leopard" article with a fun take on how to ace middle school. Please see below for all the new and exciting things being done here at ALMS!

Ms. Stella's Team Hope 143 project has us seeing her kids participate in many aspects of a non-profit organization. Students are building advertising through media, pamphlets, menus, and more, getting the word out about their endeavors! See their informative video below!

This week, the Siwanoy 6 cluster Bullying prevention presentation was facilitated by Ms. Johnson and Ms. Martinez. In the coming weeks, all 6th-grade students will experience the presentation facilitated by our School Counselors, School Social Workers, and School Counselors.

We would also like to thank Ms. Johnson for putting together a fantastic World Unity Day this past Wednesday, prompting the whole school to wear orange to show unity and stand up to bullying! Ms. Washington, Ms. Neely, Ms. Martinez, and Ms. Guiney also played a large role in helping the day go smoothly! Thank you!

Warmest regards,

Camille Edwards-Thomas

Principal, ALMS

• 10/1-10/31- Italian American Heritage Month

• 10/20 - Huguenot 6 Breakfast 🧇
• 10/23-10/31 - Red Ribbon Week 🧧
• 10/26 - Community Blood Drive 🩸
• 10/30 - Wear Pink to take down Breast Cancer 🎀
• 10/31 - Halloween 🎃

The third Wednesday of October is Unity Day, October is also National Bullying Awareness Month. Staff and students were invited to wear orange for Unity Day to bring awareness as a school community. During lunch students had the opportunity to share a message about what unity, community, and making others feel accepted means to them. Students who participated were given bracelets with words of affirmation and stickers. The messages will form a chain of unity and hang in the lunchroom on display. Please take a look at some of the amazing messages our students wrote.

Mrs, Johnson and Ms. Martinez also began classroom SEL lessons with the 6th grade to discuss bullying, the importance of being an upstander and spreading kindness. The lesson began in Mr. Kaplan's class, and the social work team will continue for the rest of the month of October! ALMS continues to share the message of unity, inclusion and acceptance. Students who are interested in being part of this year's No Place For Hate committee should contact Mrs. Johnson via email at cjohnson@nredlearn for more information or stop by office 126 (Rockwell Hallway.)

Our community will always stand against hatred of all forms. In the coming weeks, all of our students will take the No Place For Hate Pledge:

Dear Parent/Caregiver,

Did you know that 13 is the average age when kids try alcohol and drugs for the first time? Armed with the correct information and concrete strategies, we can support our kids in making good choices.

Each year, National Red Ribbon Week is celebrated from October 23 - 31, with the theme for this year is “Be Kind to your Mind, Live Drug-Free”. Schools across the country use this time to engage kids in dialogues about the importance of making positive life choices and avoiding the temptation to use drugs and alcohol.

Research shows that children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don’t, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations. For this Red Ribbon Week, be part of the conversation by taking the opportunity to talk to your child and help drive awareness of living a drug-free life.

This week, students at ALMS will participate in a SPIRIT week to celebrate Red Ribbon Week. Students will have the opportunity to participate in various activities, educating them about stress management and the risks of substance use. 8th graders will attend an assembly from NRHS students, educating them on refusal skills and handling peer pressure. Look at this week’s SPIRIT week and help us live out our theme by Being Kind to Our Minds and speaking with your kids about Living Drug-Free.

For more information, please contact Nicolette Loaiza, our Student Assistance Counselor, nloaiza@nredlearn.org

The school district renewed the tutor.com license for middle and high school students! See the attached fliers for more information!

Please see the fliers and QR codes below for information about SEPTA!

To ALMS Parents and Students,

As a Middle School student, you are required to come to school with your district-provided chromebook charged. The district-provided chromebook is also your responsibility; if it's in your backpack, locker, on a bus, or at home, you must keep it protected from being damaged or lost/stolen.

Please refer to the AUP and Device Loaner Form, which you have signed with your parent/guardian, and review the terms and conditions listed on the form both inside and outside of school. If you have not already signed the AUP and/or Loaner Form, please click on the link above.

To all parents/guardians, please speak with your child regarding Chromebook care and responsibilities. Some of the computers are damaged due to students spilling liquids, tossing them to the ground during recess, getting knocked around in a backpack, or dropping them. Damaged Chromebooks are subject to fees. You may want to consider purchasing a case as was indicated on the school supply list.

You can refer to our Acceptable Use Policy and Device Loaner Form (linked above) for the CSDNR policy.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!