Avenel Middle School

Today's baseball and softball games are postponed. They will be made up on Monday, 9/26/22.

Please click on the link attached to support Avenel Middle School PTO. https://5il.co/140vv

Back To School Night September 19th https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TRs30knqZ1fqUtgcltgrrjI-Shq4b7qE/view?usp=sharing

Please see the Wildcat Daily interview with our new Principal, Mr. Tom Leusen. https://youtu.be/auk3T18lrCg

Please see attached grade 6 Orientation Presentation https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1gxp5FE8QhdnDqlBd2ZcbCuRBdmqDZOmWBPzxp_41K_8/edit?usp=sharing

Dear AMS Families, It is a privilege to serve as the new Principal of Avenel Middle School! As we begin to prepare for the new school year, I look forward to meeting all of our students, families, and community members. I would like to invite all parents to meet the new administrative team, Mr. Leusen (Principal) and Ms. Smith (Vice Principal) on August 30, 2022 at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria of Avenel Middle School. Please enter through Door #20. Detailed information on the 2022-23 school year will be sent out later this summer.

Dear 6th Grade Parents & Students, We have scheduled a 6th Grade Orientation Meeting on Tuesday, August 30, 2022. There will be two sessions: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m and 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Students and parents are invited to attend whichever session is more convenient for you. The program will be held in our cafeteria and you can enter through Door #20. Administration and Guidance will share valuable information with students and parents, as well as having a chance to tour the building. It is the hope that this visit will be the first of many for our parents/guardians, as we look to establish a positive rapport with our AMS families! We look forward to seeing all of you on August 30th!

AMS Families, Have a healthy, safe, and enjoyable summer. Remember to read during your time off from school. It has been a privilege to serve the students and families of this community. Thank you and stay #avenelstrong. Joseph A. Short Principal, Avenel Middle School

AMS 8th Grade Families, We are looking forward to our upcoming 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony. It will be held on Tuesday, June 21st, starting at 2:00 PM. The event will be held outdoors on the turf football field at Colonia High School (180 East St, Colonia, NJ 07067). -Students and families should arrive by 1:45 PM. -Families will sit in the home bleachers. -Students will report to the track on the visitor side to prepare for the ceremony. -If there is inclement weather or excessive heat, this event will be held in the Avenel Middle School Gym at the same date & time. -Two tickets will be issued per student on 6/17/22. These will only be used if we have to move the ceremony to the AMS Gym. -Students should dress nicely to ensure a dignified atmosphere for the ceremony. Young men should wear pants, collared shirt and shoes. Young ladies should wear an appropriate dress or skirt/pants with an appropriate shirt and shoes. Strapless dresses should not be worn. High heels should not be worn on the turf field. Any student in violation of the dress code will not be permitted to participate. -Students must attend the mandatory practices during the school day on Friday, June 17th and Tuesday, June 21st, students will be dismissed at 12:45 PM. We are extremely proud of this 8th Grade Promotion Class! Be safe and stay #avenelstrong. Joseph A. Short Principal, Avenel Middle School

AMS Families, On Thursday, June 16th (Rain Date-6/17), we will host our outdoor Field Day Carnival for students during the school day. The day will include inflatables, treats, and a DJ. Each grade level will be outside for a portion of the day. If for any reason you do not want your child to participate, please contact our Main Office at (732) 596-4210. A special thank you to our PTO for helping to coordinate this event. REMINDER 6/6/22 - School Closed 6/7/22 - Staff Professional Development Day (No School for Students) Have a great weekend. Joseph A. Short Principal, Avenel Middle School

Please click the link below to access Avenel Middle Schools DEI Celebrations & CBL Project : https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jjiIGP2eFm0CeUO7akik8xSLnp3gluEqo-MHAkjrQsU/edit#slide=id.g13135108f4a_0_127

June Spirit Friday's

Volleyball Game Schedule

AMS Families, On behalf of our entire staff, we would like to wish all of our families a safe, healthy, and enjoyable Spring Recess. School resumes on Monday, April 25, 2022. Thank you for your continued support. Joseph A. Short Principal, Avenel Middle School

AMS 8th Grade Families, On Tuesday, April 26th all 8th grade students will be returning their school-issued iPad (in the school-issued case) and charger. Students are not permitted to use iPads for this year’s state testing. Once they have turned in their iPad (in the school-issued case) and charger, they will be issued a Chromebook and charger. All 8th grade students will use this Chromebook for state testing and use it as their school-issued device until the end of the school year. Please make sure all 8th grade students bring their iPad (in the school-issued case) and charger to school on 4/26/22 and be prepared to turn it in. Be safe and stay #avenelstrong. Joseph A. Short Principal, Avenel Middle School

AMS 6th and 7th Grade Families, We have made an adjustment to our upcoming student assembly program. All 6th and 7th grade classes will now be attending the Camfel Productions State of Me Assembly Program on Monday, May 2nd. The program covers the important topics of bully prevention, embracing the differences in others, positive decision making, and achieving goals. Be safe and #avenelstrong. Joseph A. Short Principal, Avenel Middle School

AMS 8th Grade Families, Our school has implemented a comprehensive bullying prevention program. We are committed to taking serious, proactive steps to curb an issue that is found in schools everywhere. Our efforts this year have focused on raising awareness about bullying and cyberbullying with students and parents. We have recruited Mr. John Halligan, an international speaker and author to conduct a presentation on Monday, April 25th for 8th grade students. He will relay his own tragic experience as a Dad whose 13-year-old son took his own life in 2003, after bullying by peers since the 5th grade, both in school and online. Mr. Halligan further shares that Ryan wrestled with underlying mental health issues and depression and that these factors contributed to Ryan’s vulnerability and ultimate suicide. His story is riveting and compelling and reminds students that there is a face, a person, a heart, on the other end of the screen. His presentation will begin with a short video collection of home movie clips and still pictures of Ryan. John will then tell the story of Ryan’s life and the factors that led up to his son’s suicide. The students will gain a perspective from inside the family of a child who is a victim of bullying and cyberbullying. In the wrap-up session, they will receive life-changing lessons about forgiveness, suicide prevention, the role of bystanders and a challenge to apologize to someone. We encourage you to visit a website named for his son: www.RyansStory.org for more information. Because of the sensitive nature of the topic, we wanted to inform you about it in advance. We encourage you to ask your child about the presentation and discuss it together. If for any reason, you would prefer that your child not attend this presentation, please email your child’s guidance counselor by the end of the school day on Thursday, April 14th. Should you have further questions, please feel free to contact our Main Office. Be safe and #avenelstrong. Joseph A. Short Principal, Avenel Middle School

Below is the link to the brochure for the Summer Enrichment program. This is a partnership between the WTSD and the Woodbridge Recreation Department. https://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/article/707282

Avenel Middle School Parents & Guardians, The New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) is the statewide assessment for the 2021-2022 school year. This computer-based assessment covers the areas of Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy. There is a Science section for 8th grade students ONLY. Students will be testing during morning sessions based on the schedule below: NJSLA Testing ELA for Grades 6, 7, and 8 – (5/9, 5/10) Math for Grades 6, 7, and 8 – (5/11, 5/12) Science for Grade 8 ONLY – (5/17, 5/18) Make-Up Testing – (5/13, 5/19, 5/20) Students are permitted and encouraged to use their own wired headphones/earbuds for testing (WIRELESS NOT PERMITTED). Students should bring their wired headphones/earbuds to each testing session. If students do not bring wired headphones/earbuds they will be provided. No student is to be in possession of a cell phone, smartwatch, or any electronic device during a testing session. All 6th and 7th grade students will be testing on their school-issued Chromebook. Please make sure it is fully charged and the charger is brought to school on testing days. All 8th graders will be issued a Chromebook for testing. School-issued iPads will not be used for testing. Our goal for this year is to maximize results for both our Math and ELA scores, as well as, achieve our highest possible student participation rate. For schools that fail to achieve 95 percent participation, any student below the 95 percent threshold will therefore be counted as “not proficient” in the calculation of proficiency rates even though they did not take the exam. For this reason, it is imperative that on testing days students come to school rested, be on time, take the test, and give their very best effort. Thank you for your continued support. Joseph A. Short Principal, Avenel Middle School

A Message from the Wildcat Daily News Team: Hey hey! Here is today's Wildcat Daily! https://youtu.be/zY5J-Ksrzk4