Middle School News
Friday, February 28, 2025
Dear Middle School Parents,
I hope you have had the opportunity to enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather this week. Here at school, we have been so thankful for a five-day school week, outdoor recess, and what is looking like a return to our routine. Let's hope Mother Nature plays nice for the rest of the school year!
Trimester 2 Report Cards
Your student’s Trimester 2 Report Card is now available in Infinite Campus. Below are the instructions for accessing student report cards:
Log into your Infinite Campus parent account
Under your student’s name, click on REPORTS
Select the REPORT CARD report appropriate for your student’s grade to view
Print for your records
March/St. Patrick’s Day Decor
Thank you to our wonderful spirit crew who has spread holiday cheer again. We were blown away by the Valentine’s decor throughout the middle school hallway. Students were surprised to find their name as part of a giant heart made up of 253 smaller hearts, one for every middle school student. It was heartwarming to see students search for their names, help friends and classmates search for their names, and see the excitement on their faces when they found their names. It was another reminder that they are still kids.
The spirit crew would like to decorate for St. Patrick’s Day, but need your help! If you would like to donate decorations, a wishlist has been created.
Dress Code Reminders
We know the kids are growing like weeds, but in keeping our uniforms aligned with our policy, we kindly ask that any skort shorter than mid-thigh/fingertips or pants that are turning into capris get an upgrade for the remainder of the year.
Additionally, undergarments should not be visible at any time for male or female students.
We have a limited number of extra uniform items and sizes on hand for students to borrow when students have accidents at school or when students are in violation of the policy. You will most likely receive a phone call from your student, and you will need to bring them a new uniform item. Please take time over the weekend to have your student try on uniform items and purchase new items or trade with other AA families if you find your student has outgrown their uniforms.
Spring Middle School Party
Our next middle school party will take place during lunch on Thursday, March 6. Students will eat lunch (hot lunch or lunch from home) and then enjoy ice cream with a variety of topping options. This is made possible by our wonderful middle school room parents. Thank you!
CMAS Testing Dates
CMAS Testing will take place April 8, 9, 10 for ELA and April 15, 16, 17 for Math all students in grades 3-8. Students in 5th and 8th grade will also be taking the Science CMAS test on April 15, 16, 17. Students will receive classroom instruction before and after the testing sessions. This is the same format we followed last year. We ask that you do not schedule appointments for the above dates.
CMAS, like iReady, is a data point we use to measure student achievement and growth. iReady allows us to see how each individual student is progressing in Reading and Math. The purpose of CMAS is to indicate the degree to which students have mastered the Colorado Academic Standards in math, English Language Arts, Science (5th & 8th Grade), and Social Studies (4th & 7th Grade at selected schools). CMAS scores are factored into our state report card and allow us to see how we are doing compared to other schools across the district and state.
We strive to make CMAS testing a low-stress experience and remind students that they are going to do amazing! We also view this as practice for college entrance exams like the ACT and SAT, and maybe someday the GRE, LSAT, or MCAT.
Spring Middle School Dance
Our Spring Dance will be on the evening of Friday, April 11. Students will be voting on the theme and details will be announced in the coming weeks. Please put Friday, April 11 on your calendar!
Math Advancement Requirements
Per our Student Retention and Acceleration Policy, for 6-8 math courses, a student may be required to repeat their math course if the grade average for all trimesters is not 72% or above for grade-level courses.
Students in an accelerated math class must maintain an 82% or better course average for the year to advance to the next math level.
If you have any questions, please reach out to myself or your student’s math teacher.
Coffee with Admin
Each month, Mrs. Whittaker, Mrs. Hunt, and I host Coffee with Admin. This is a great opportunity for parents to join us for a cup of coffee, ask questions, and provide feedback and suggestions. We love face-to-face interaction and have gotten so much out of the sessions from earlier this school year.
Our March and April sessions will be on March 27 and April 24 at 8:15 am. Drop the kids off, park, enjoy a few minutes of silence, and come inside to chat. We’ll even provide the coffee because we understand that mornings are rough sometimes.
Stock the Fridge
Let's fill those shelves! We're stocking up the teachers lounge, so if you'd like to contribute or lend a hand, we'd love your support. Choose from a variety of treats or healthy snacks, and sign up to let us know what you will be bringing. Bring your goodies to morning carpool on Wednesday, March 5th. We'll make sure they find their way into the hands (and tummies) of AA staff.
8th Grade Parents
Be on the lookout for an email next week outlining important information regarding 8th grade specific events.
As always, we thank you for trusting us with your child each and every day. It’s not a responsibility we take lightly.
In partnership,
-April
April Winder
Middle School Principal, Motsenbocker
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American Academy
Motsenbocker Campus
P: 720-292-5692
[email protected]
