ALMS Weekly Newsletter

Dear ALMS Families,

Happy Spring! I know this week did not feel like Spring, but now that we are officially in the longer days, we look forward to warmer breezes and sunnier times! Here we are, the day before our last whole week of the year's break, and I would like to highlight some fantastic work done by our faculty and staff!

Last Saturday, we had a fantastic turnout for our Girls' Leadership Conference! It was a day filled with fun, great conversation, and information for all our young women and their respective families. Our panel discussion topped off the events and included some enthusiastic ALSM alumnae.

We also have an exciting Teacher Spotlight. Mr. Argila's classes worked on a toothpick challenge, where he had his students build toothpick structures to withstand earthquake forces. We've included some fantastic images and videos of the project below.

Also, a special shoutout to Mr. Foti and Ms. Masters for putting on a lovely performance with their Jazz Band and Chamber Orchestra. Their students have worked so hard all year to make this performance memorable! See below for their work!

We would also like to invite all families to our upcoming Family Bingo Night at ALMS! We can't wait to see you there, helping raise money for our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade trips and events! See below for details!

Finally, please see the many upcoming events for New Rochelle Residents below. We are excited to share all the important events in our community. See below for details.

Warm regards,

Dr. Edwards-Thomas

Principal, ALMS

• March 1st-31st - Women's History Month
• March 22nd - Mr. Maida's Class Trip to the Opera
• March 25th-29th - Spring Recess - NO SCHOOL
• March 29th - Good Friday
• March 31st - Easter Sunday
• April 1st - Easter Monday
• April 6th - Debate Club Event at Uniondale
• April 15th - Siwanoy 7 Cluster Trip to Maritime Aquarium
• April 15th - ALMS Open House for incoming 5th grade parents
• April 22nd-24th - Passover Break - NO SCHOOL
• April 25th - PTA Meeting (Budget Meeting)
• April 30th - NYS ELA Assessment Day 1
• May 1st - NYS ELA Assessment Day 2
• May 2nd - NYS ELA Assessment Makeup Day
  

Thank you to all who set up, participated, and observed in the 2nd Girls Leadership Conference! Please see below for the blurb from our district newsletter as well as some pictures from the event!

In recognition of Women’s History Month, Albert Leonard Middle School held its second Girls Leadership Conference on Saturday.

“The Girls Leadership Conference was exciting for our girls of ALMS to connect with women professionals and see the potential and career options available to them if they work hard and believe in themselves,” said English teacher Briana DeGeorge.

The day was filled with youth and parent/guardian workshops designed to transform girls into tomorrow’s leaders.

“The girls were able to see that women are here to empower each other,” said Gabriella D'Ippolito, an English teacher. They were inspired by community members and beyond. I think they have a newfound respect for each other and the women in their lives.”

“The Girls Leadership Conference was fantastic. It was lovely to see my students outside of the classroom participating in activities that sparked their interests,” said Social Studies teacher Mary Bongo. “My students listened to women describing how they broke down traditional gender stereotypes and accomplished their goals.”

Approximately 115 girls and their families took part in the presentations and activities of the day.

Seventh grader Bella Concha said, “I liked being able to be a part of something great and empowering to women and young girls. The day of the event was very exciting and it felt nice to help lead the group of girls to their activities and see them have fun.”

"I am so happy we could provide this experience for our girls. Through collaboration with our community partners and a generous grant from the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence, we created a fun and educational experience for them and all of us," Dr. Edwards-Thomas said. "It was great to watch the girls interact with our panelists, some of whom are ALMS alumnae. It was a full circle moment for them also."

We want our families to know that our young women planned and executed this leadership event. They learned valuable lessons that will serve them well in the future.

Our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade advisors, in conjunction with the PTA are holding a Family Bingo night at ALMS on Thursday, April 11th! Please see below for details and look out for the flyer which will go home with your child today! All families are welcome to come for a night of fun, food, games, and prizes! We hope to see you there!

Students needed to create a tower out of toothpicks and clay. The tower was designed to be strong enough to stand strong through all six levels of an earthquake while holding various masses.

This week at ALMS students participated in National Drug & Alcohol Facts week. This initiative is run by NIDA with the purpose to help share facts about drugs, alcohol, and addiction in communities. NDAFW is an annual health observance that provides an opportunity to bring together scientists, students, educators, healthcare providers, and community partners to help advance science and address youth drug and alcohol use in communities nationwide. For more information on starting conversations with your children visit https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/parents-educators/conversation-starters. As part of our activities this week, students had announcements each day shattering a common myth related to drugs or alcohol. During lunch periods students were able to participate in a matching game that had them pair facts related to drugs and alcohol.

March is also Problem Gambling month, students were also able to learn facts related to the hidden hazards of gambling and gaming, during their lunch periods.Take a look at the Tip Jar for more information on adolescent gambling and gaming.

Lastly, please join us for our district wide parent presentation on April 4th. Laura Stack is an incredible speaker who will be joining us in New Rochelle for the first time ever. Her parent presentation will focus on giving education about the risks associated with today's marijuana products while also discussing how marijuana use impacted her son's life. All parents are welcome to join us for what is to be an incredible night filled with so much information!

Dear Parents/Guardians:

We hope all is well with you and your family. It felt like yesterday when our eighth-grade students came to us as eager sixth graders. As the start of their final marking periods of middle school approaches, we are looking ahead to the next phase of their lives.

Over the last few weeks and moving forward, we have been ramping up our efforts to prepare them for their transition to high school. This includes meeting with their counselors for course selection and a virtual orientation for families and parents that provides greater insight into life at New Rochelle High School.

The 8th-grade year culminates with a series of activities designed to celebrate the achievements of our students. These include the 8th-grade Formal Dance at the VIP Country Club, a day trip to Holiday Hill, Awards Night, and the Transition Ceremony. The dates and costs for each event are in this message. Please look for further details on each event as the dates approach.

Throughout your child’s time here, they have been held to our school's highest academic rigor and expectations. We want to remind you that basic requirements must be met to participate in any/all end-of-year eighth-grade activities. Participation in these events is contingent upon students meeting behavioral and academic standards. Please note the following:

Academic Exclusions:

● Students with failures in two or more major academic subjects will be excluded from participation in 8th Grade Activities

Behavioral Exclusions:

● Students who continually engage in violations of the code of conduct

● Students who demonstrate ongoing rude and disrespectful behavior towards adults and others

● Students who continue to be late and or attempt to cut class

If you are concerned that your child may not meet the academic and/or behavioral qualifications/expectations, please contact your school counselor. Mr. Smith, the 8th-grade Administrator, can field any inquiries about your child's eligibility for participation in upcoming events.

We look forward to the coming months and exciting times ahead. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Edwards-Thomas, Principal

Mr. Smith, Assistant Principal

Ms. Carew and Ms. D’Ippolito, 8th Grade Co-Advisors

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

Click to enlarge the images below!

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

Click to enlarge any images below!