November 16, 2016

  Parish     Sports    Calendar 
Attendance 
Please email
or
call  ( 424) 327-9650 when your child
is going to be absent.

 Up-Coming Dates
This Week (and Next ) at AMS 
School Mass -   Friday, November 18  - Food Drive
No Hot Lunch on Friday, November 18 
End of First Trimester -  Friday, November 18
Thanksgiving Break -  November 21 - 25 
                               School resumes  Monday, November 28
Lower School Conference appointments come home -  Wednesday, November 30
Advent Begins -  Sunday, November 27

Report Cards - Friday, December 2
(Please Note: Report Cards will be accessible through School Speak on 
Fri, December 2 at 5:00PM. Hard copies of the report cards will NOT 
be sent home.)    
Calendar These Dates
Advent Begins - Sunday, November 27

Lower School Conferences - Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday,December 7-9.
Lower School dismissal at 12:35 on Conference days.

School Mass-Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Thursday, December 8 at 8 am

Christmas Concerts (7:00PM in the Gym)
             -  Tuesday, December 20 - Grades 5 - 8
             - Wednesday, December 21 - Grades 1 - 4

Christmas Break - Friday, December 23 - Sunday, January 8
                           School resumes Monday, January 9
Star Testing - Parent Report
Today, November 16, we are sending home the Diagnostic Test Report which will give more detailed information on how your student(s) is progressing and the skills that they know or areas that need additional support. If a teacher identifies an immediate concern they will contact you.

STAR TEST REPORTS ARE IN YOUR WEDNESDAY ENVELOPE.  IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A WEDNESDAY ENVELOPE IN THE FRONT OFFICE THE REPORT WILL NOT GET SENT HOME.  PLEASE RETURN YOUR WEDNESDAY ENVELOPE.  YOUR TEST REPORT MAY BE PICKED UP IN THE FRONT OFFICE. 
Lower School Parent-Teacher Conferences

Conference appointments will come home in the Wedneday envelope on 
November 30, 2016.

If you have not completed a form for each of your Lower School Students, please do so today.

The Lower School Conferences will take place on
Wednesday.  December 7 from  4 -9PM
Thursday, December 8 from  3-6:30PM
Friday, December 9 from  1:15-3:15. 

The Lower School will have early dismissal at  12:35 on the conference days.

Each student's parents have a 15-minute conference with the homeroom teacher(s). Those families who have more than one student in the Lower School will have adjacent conference times. Using the link attached a form must be completed for each student.
 
 Any questions about scheduling please contact  Dawn Cooper
Extended Faith Families - Festival of Saints
balloons_happy_bday.jpg
Please be sure to stop by and see our Extended Faith Families' Festival of Saints winners outside of Upper School Spanish and 5C.  Each Extended Faith Family made a poster to honor their Family's patron saint during the month of November.  Congratulations to our winners!

Have You Donated to the 2016 AMS Annual Giving Campaign??
Every family should have received a letter in the mail recently outlining the key funding initiatives for this year's Annual Giving Campaign and requesting a contribution of $920 per student (the difference between last year's annual tuition and what it actually cost to educate a student at AMS). Once again, our goal this year is 100% participation from AMS families and gifts of any amount are encouraged.  Members of the AMS Advancement Committee have been assigned roles as liaisons at the grade level to further assist families in making the decision to contribute.   Please contact them if you have any questions regarding the Campaign as detailed in the letter.

Candice Witek - Pony
Christine Mancini - Kindergarten
Jake Capps - 1st Grade
Pat McCloskey - 2nd Grade
Molly Ursini - 3rd Grade
Chris Simms - 4th Grade
Audra Steller - 5th Grade
Scott Rackett - 6th Grade
Mark Jacobs - 7th Grade
Camryn Friel - 8th Grade

Thank you in advance for your continued dedication and generosity to our children's school.

The quickest and easiest way to make a donation is online by using a credit card and   clicking here. 

More detailed information on this year's Annual Giving Campaign can be found  here or on the AMS website. 
AMPA Christmas Wreath Sale - EXTENDED - ORDER NOW!!!!
It is never too early to get in the Christmas spirit!!   AMSWreath
What better way than supporting the Christmas Cheer Wreath Fundraiser!!  Our fresh 24" wreaths are just $20 and are donated - so 100% of the sale goes directly to our school. To order your wreaths return  the flyer   to the school office by Friday, 
November 18.
Pick- up your wreaths on December 6   and deck the halls! 
Bring Food Drive Items to Friday Mass
AMS School Mass this Friday at 8am will be a chance for our school to pray together and thank God for our many blessings.
In support of this weekend's food drive, please bring one food item to contribute to our sister parish, St Lawrence of Brindisi. Suggested items: Pasta, beans, rice, macaroni and cheese, cereal, or any non-perishable items. Many families are relying on our parish for their Thanksgiving meal next week.
Thank you for your generosity!
Advent Candles and Wreaths for Sale!

Advent Begins Sunday, Nov 27th!
Candles ($5.00) and Advent Wreaths ($10.00) are for sale in the SRE office!
 
 
Artisan Workshop Opportunity 
Calling all 5th-8th grade AMS artists! Come be a part of our extracurricular after school art program facilitated by Jr. High Art teacher, Mrs. Vickie Sekits. This is a great opportunity for AMS students to explore art further and in each student's unique creative direction. 
The 2nd Trimester session will start on  December 1st  from  3:15-5:00pm. If you are interested just come meet us in the School Hall after school. 
There is a $50 fee collected per student at the start of each trimester.  
Come join us!
Our Yearbook Needs Your Photos! 
Did you have some pictures of the Halloween Parade? Teacher Costumes? Use this link to upload them for the Yearbook! And keep them coming all year long! 
Thank you.
Sharon Suarez 
AMS Family Directory Updating! 
Please check/update your School Speak information (addresses, phone numbers and emails!) We would like to update the Family Directory that is posted on School Speak before the Thanksgiving Break.
Thank You!
Lost and Found  
Please make sure your children are checking the lost and found for their missing items.  Also, please be advised that lunch boxes/bags and all water bottles left behind will be disposed of at the end of the week to avoid any critters they may attract.  So make sure you are keeping track of your stuff!
Kindergarten Screening date change 
Kindergarten Screening for the 2017-2018 class will take place on Saturday, 
February 4 and Saturday, February 11, 2017.
 Sports

No Hot Lunch this Friday Nov. 18th.

Flag Football
Varsity: Sat. Nov.19th (1:30) vs Corpus @ Damien HS, Sun. Nov. 20th (1:30 or 3) @ Damien HS
FIYA league will be announced after this weekend if we advance to the Coliseum on Sun. Nov. 27th 

Boys Basketball
Varsity Tryouts: Mon Nov. 28th 3:30-4:45 and Wed. Nov. 30th 3:30-4:45. 

CYO Bowling Championship 
(6th-8th graders): Sun. Dec. 4th. Sign ups are due by Friday Nov. 18th 


Go Mustangs,
Lou Ann Selsky
Parish & Community
American Martyrs Children's Choir Needs You! 

Did you know American Martyrs has a Children's Choir?



This afterschool program is for children in the community to learn choral music and share their skills with various events throughout the year in AM Church and in the broader community.

Mrs. Ellen Steinmetz is our choir director, and she is eager to have you join!
American Martyrs Children's Choir Grades 4-8 invited.

Thursdays  3:15-4:15pm in the Music Room by St Kateri Room.
For further information, contact   Mrs. Steinmetz or call  310-372-3412
ALTAR SERVER TRAINING
SI GN-UP for NEW ALTAR SERVERS
 
MANDATORY PARENT MEETING 
Wednesday  -  December 6, 2016
7:00 pm in the CHURCH
 
PARENTS:     Is your child - 5th grade or older?
Are they interested in serving in the Youth Altar Server ministry at American Martyrs Church?
 
Attend the parent meeting for future Youth Altar Servers (YAS).
Get information regarding:  Training requirements & Training dates
Sign-up to be a Youth Altar Server at this meeting
Training sessions will be scheduled during Winter and Spring of 2017. 
Any questions please contact Jeff & Joanne Harang 
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