California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress

Testing Dates

April 25th - May 6

Contact info.
Main Office
513-6450
Attendance
513-6451
Michael Wood
Principal
Jennifer Whitney
Vice Principal
Albert Strong
Vice Principal

Quick Links
Our Website

Dear Parent/Guardian:
Each spring, middle school students in California
participate in the statewide testing program, which is the
California Assessment of Student Performance and
Progress (CAASPP) System. The tests in the CAASPP
System provide information to teachers,
parents/guardians, and students about student progress
and readiness for college and career. Our students take
the Smarter Balanced online tests for English Language
Arts (ELA) and Math. However, students who have a
significant cognitive disability (as designated in their
individualized education program) are eligible to take the
California Alternate Assessments (CAAs). In grade eight,
students are also tested in science.
This year, your child will take one the following
assessments for ELA and mathematics:

Smarter Balanced tests for ELA and mathematics or

CAAs for ELA and mathematics

See AMS website

Math help schedule

If your child is in grade eight, they will also take one of the
following assessments for science:

District Website
Report Water Waste

California Standards Test (CST) for Science or

California Modified Assessment (CMA) for Science

925.513.6321

Non Profit Flyers

The Smarter Balanced tests are based on the California

Content Standards for ELA and Math. The California
Department of Education (CDE) has developed several
resources to help students and parents understand the
grade expectations of the Smarter Balanced tests:

2016 Poker Fun Flyer

Youth Safety and Defense
Classes

Parent Guides to the Smarter Balanced

Testshttp://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/index.asp?tabsecti
on=3#ssr.
Practice and Training Tests
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/practicetest.asp

BUSD Food Service website.

Link it to:
http://www.brentwood.k12.ca.us/
foods

Attendance
Information
See our website under
information tab for the
following information:

Attendance Education Code

Every School Day Counts

Attendance Poster
English/Spanish

Practice Test Answers

http://www.caaspp.org/ta-resources/practicetraining.html.
If you have any questions regarding your child's
participation, please contact the front office at (925)
513-6450 and ask to speak to Assistant Principal, Albert
Strong.
We anticipate great results from our students this year
and appreciate your efforts to encourage your students
to do their best and really showcase their learning on
these tests.
Sincerely,
Michael Wood, Principal

Save The Date!

Important Dates!

OPEN HOUSE IS MAY 12, 2016

April 19 - May 5

*Student Art Show at the

Brentwood Community
Center

5:30-6:00 Presentation for incoming 6th

graders in the AMS Gym
6:00-7:00 Classroom presentations

April 18 -22
*Recycling week for Earth
Day

Cell Phones at School

Wear Green on April 22nd.

April 19
*AMS Music Booster
Fundraiser Meeting in the
Band Room 7-7:30pm

We are experiencing an increase of our students with their cell phones

out during the school day. Please remind your student that phones
should remain off and put away during school hours. Please remember
cell phones are taken away and parents may be called to retrieve the
phone and your student may be subject to further disciplinary action.
For emergencies, the office phone is always available.

*7/8 Grade Volleyball at

AMS
*Boys and Girls Soccer at
AMS

April 21
*7/8 Girls Volleyball at
O'Hara Park 6th grade at
AMS

Attention 6th Grade Parents!

TDAP Vaccine Required before entering 7th
Grade!

*Boys and Girls Soccer at

O'Hara Park

Under a new California law, vaccines required for school are no longer
excused due to personal reasons. For the 2016-17 school year, 7th
grade students are NOT allowed to begin school until proof of TDAP
vaccination is provided to the office. NO EXCEPTIONS!

*AMS Track at Freedom

High School start time is
3:30

6th Grade Elective Informational Video

April 22
*Honor Roll/Society Ice
Cream Celebration during
Lunch A and B
*Lip Jam 3:00-4:15 AMS

Is your child currently a 6th grader? Do you have questions about how
electives will work for them next year when they are in 7th grade? If
so, please go to the AMS Website and watch a brief informational
video about our elective program for current 6th graders. The video
can be found by going to the AMS website, clicking on the "parents and
resources" tab, then selecting "electives" from the drop down menu

Theater
*Earth Day wear green

then click 6 grade elective mp4. If you have any questions, please
contact Mrs. Thornhill or Mrs.
Kellogg. tthornhill@brentwood.k12.ca.us orlkellogg@brentwood.k12.ca.u
s

April 26
*7/8 Girls Volleyball at
AMS
6th grade Delta Vista

Attention 8th Graders!

*Boys and Girls Soccer at

AMS

April 27
*AMS Track at Heritage
High School start time 3:30

April 28
*7/8 Girls Volleyball at
BMS
6th grade at AMS
*Boys and Girls Soccer at
BMS

Aprill 29
*Productions Showcase at
7:00pm in the AMS Theater

Leave a legacy at AMS! Purchase a Book Plate for a New AMS Library
Book where your name will be forever remembered! It's a perfect way
to thank your teachers for their gifts to you, too! It's tax deductible
for parents! Click here to see the flyer for details.

Student release during school day

If anyone besides the parent picks a student up during school, the
office needs prior authorization. Even if an aunt, uncle or friend is on
the emergency list, we cannot release a student to them. The
emergency form is for us to call if there is an emergency at school. It
is not setup to be used for pickup during the school day. So if you are
sending someone to pick up your child, call the office and let them know
who is picking up and that it is approved by you.

Attendance

May 3
*7/8 Girls Volleyball at
AMS
*Boys and Girls Soccer at
AMS

May 4

Absences and tardies can greatly influence a student's education.

Please make sure your students are arriving on time, school starts at
7:55 am. Students with chronic 1st period tardies may be assigned
Friday School Detention. Also, please remember that parents and
guardians must report all absences even if student is absent for partial
day. To report the absence, parents may call 513-6451 or send a
note to the office. Help us reach our School Year Goal of 98%
attendance!

*7/8 Girls Volleyball at EHS

6th grade AMS
*Boys and Girls Soccer at
EHS

Adams Middle School Parents Club Fundraiser: Harlem

Wizards vs. Brentwood All-Stars featuring: Teachers
& staff from Krey, Adams, Heritage, other Brentwood

May 5

Schools and our Community

*7/8 Girls Volleyball at AMS

* Boys and Girls Soccer at
Knightsen

May 6
*DVMS Track Finals at
Freedom High School 3:30

May 10 -12
*Scholastic Book Fair
in the AMS Library

May 12
*Open House
*7/8 Girls Volleyball at
AMS
6th grade at O'Hara Park
*Boys and Girls Soccer at
AMS

May 30
*Memorial Holiday

Parents, students and the community are invited to the Adams Middle
School Parents Club fundraiser on Saturday, April 23, at Heritage High
School Gym.
The Harlem Wizards, an entertainment basketball team, boast an event
full of basketball talent combined with hilarious comedy. A courageous
group of BUSD and LUHSD staff members will take on the Harlem
Wizards for a fun-filled evening of basketball.
This basketball game is a family event. It's for everyone, even if
you're not a sports fan! We're asking parents to bring their children
to the game for laughs and fun to support this worthy cause. This is a
very important fundraising event for our fundraising program.

Tickets: Students: $10 advance (see order form fun ways to pump up
your participation)
Adults: $12 advance
Children under 3 are free
Time: Doors open: 6:00 p.m.
Game time: 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 23rd

Tickets may be purchased in advance using the order form distributed

during Adams Advisory classes. You can also obtain tickets on-line
at www.harlemwizards.com. For additional information, please contact
Shannon Miller SHANS123@aol.com925.323.9040.

No School

Graduation Leis!

Helmets!!
In accordance with
California
Vehicle Code 21212 (A) All
students under the age of 18

Don't miss out on an AMS Tradition! Buy your 8th grader a flower lei
or School Color Kukui Nut Lei to wear at the promotion ceremony! 25%
of all proceeds go back to our school! Go to Kahunaflowers.com to
order. The last day to order is Sunday, May 29th. If you have
questions, please email Mrs. Thornhill
tthornhill@brentwood.k12.ca.us

riding scooters, long boards,

bicycles, roller blades to
school

Attention 7th grade Parents

must wear a certified

helmet
AMS is sponsoring an End of Year for all eligible 7th graders at

with chin strap. Please help

keep
our students safe by
insisting

Brentwood Water Park on May 31.

More information will follow in Advisory the week of May 2. Tickets will
go on sale before and after school at the student office window
starting the week of May 9 - May 20.

your child wear a helmet and

obey traffic laws as they
come

Remember all 7th graders must meet the following criteria in order to
be eligible:

to and from school. Violators

* No more than 10 tardies during 4th quarter.

may be cited.

* No suspensions between March 29 and the activity.

Also,students are not

allowed to

* No more than 2 F's on the 3rd quarter report card

ride skateboards/scooters/
bikes

* The administration reserves the right to withhold

on campus. Any student

caught
riding on campus may have
their

and/or 4th quarter progress report.

student participation in promotion activities based on overall behavior.

*Ineligible students may participate in a planning conference to develop
a contract for success.

equipment taken away and

released to parents.
Students may
store their
skateboard/scooter

8th Grade Promotion Activities and Requirements

in their 1st period class.

Bikes

If you have a child in 8th grade, your student received an 8th grade
promotion activity packet.

should be locked in the bike

rack.

A list of activities and items associated with promotion.

These activities are optional and participation is dependent
upon meeting behavioral and academic requirements. Please

AMS Sports on
Twitter!
Want to know what is going
on with AMS Sports after
school? Check the scores,
see pictures of the action
during the games. Just
follow us on
twitter@adamsathletics.

go to AMS website, student life tab, promotion information

to view 8th grade promotion activity flyer information.

Students are required to meet the following

expectations in order to participate in the 8th
grade promotion dance, the Great American
Field Trip and the promotion ceremony.
* No more than 10 tardies during the 3rd and 4th quarters
* No suspensions during the 3rd and 4th quarters

AMS Dress Code

* No more than 2 F's on the 3rd quarter report card

and/or 4th quarter progress report.

* The administration reserves the right to withhold

Please remember to send
your child to school ready
for the learning environment
and dressed appropriately.
Slippers, pajamas, blankets,
loose fitting shirts exposing
mid-section, back-side or
undergarments, are not
appropriate school clothing.
The AMS administration
reserves the right to
determine the
appropriateness of the
student attire.

student participation in promotion activities based on overall

Students wearing
inappropriate clothing will be
required to change. Please
refer to the student
handbook or AMS website
for picture samples of
examples of dress code
violations.

May 31st - 8th grade trip to Great America

Safety First
Please help make student
drop-off and pick-up safe!
We realize traffic is a
concern, please help us by
not leaving your car
unattended, never park in a
red zone, and never allow
your student to walk thru
moving traffic. Please be
courteous. We understand
traffic jams occur, your
patience is very much
appreciated. Please drive
safely and be aware of
where students are walking
at all times.

CYBER-BULLYING

behavior and or poor academic performance. We are actively

looking to support positive involvement, responsible behavior,
and academic success!
*Ineligible students may be invited to participate in a
personal planning conference to develop a contract for success

Dates of 8th grade Activities:

May 21st - AMS 8th grade dance

OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD 2

MARCH 2, 2016 THROUGH MAY 1, 2016

The second open enrollment period allows for Intradistrict Transfer

Applications from March 2 through May 1, 2016. The second period
allows consideration of Intradistrict Transfers for families who have
had a change in circumstances, or may have forgotten to apply.

Applicants who submit an Intradistrict Transfer request no later than

4:00 p.m. on May 1, 2016 will be notified on June 1, 2016. Forms
are available at all school sites, and at the District Office.
Intradistrict Transfer Forms MUST be returned to any school office,
or the District Office, no later than 4:00 p.m. on May 1, 2016 to
be considered by the June 1st notification date.

PLEASE NOTE:

For 2016-2017, all schools will be open for intradistrict transfer

requests. All requests will be evaluated for approval based on
capacity.

E.C. 234.1 No student or

group of students shall,
through physical, written,
verbal, or other means,
harass, sexually harass,
threaten, intimidate,
cyberbully, cause bodily
injury to, or commit hate
violence against any other
student or school personnel.
Cyberbullying includes the
transmission of harassing
communications, direct
threats, or other
harmful texts, sounds, or
images on the Internet,
social media, or
other technologies using a
telephone, computer, or any
wireless communication
device. Cyberbullying also
includes breaking
into another person's
electronic account and
assuming that
person's identity in order to
damage that person's
reputation..

Reminder Text

Sign up to receive text or

email reminders about school
events and deadlines! Even if
you signed up last year, you
need to sign up again to be a
part of the 2015-2016
group. To sign up go to this
link on your phone or
computer: remind.com/join
Enter this class code to join:
@amsupdate

In accordance with board policy, intradistrict transfer requests on

behalf of students who have been previously displaced from a
closed school site will be considered on a priority basis.

Student Lunch Drop-Off Reminder!

It is critical that we minimize the disruptions to the learning
environment when class is in session. Therefore, no longer deliver
lunches to classrooms, as it poses a regular disruption to the learning
environment. Parents may still drop lunches off at the Student Center
and students may come to retrieve that delivery on their way to the
lunch area, but we will not interrupt classes to make those deliveries.
Please make sure your child knows ahead of time to check the Student
Center on a day you have arranged to bring them a lunch delivery.

Snack Hut Thursdays:

The snack hut is open this every Thursday! We have new items!
Everything is $2.00 except lollipops, which are .50 cents. Come by
after school to room 3 and check it out!

BRENTWOOD UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON RELEASE OF
CONFIDENTIAL STUDENT DATA
Please read this message carefully, as you may want to take action
regarding your student's education records.
A recent lawsuit against the California Department of Education (CDE)
is impacting all school districts across the state, including ours. The
case has received significant attention from the media, so we want to
provide you with more information on how it might affect families in
our district.
In April 2012, two organizations, the Morgan Hill Concerned Parents

Traffic Relief
In an effort to increase
student safety and relieve
some of the traffic before
and after school which
occurs at the stop sign by
the Heritage High School
upper parking lot, we are
proposing a new walking
route for our students who
use the walking path
between the Deer Ridge
development and American
Avenue. Please remind your
student to use the crosswalk
at the very end of American
Avenue to cross over to the
campus. Using this crosswalk
will not impede traffic flow
and, therefore, will both
increase student safety and
provide some much needed
traffic relief at the top of
the hill before and after
school.

Association and the Concerned Parent Association, filed a lawsuit

against the CDE alleging widespread, systemic non-compliance by local
education agencies with special education laws. The suit also alleges the
CDE fails to monitor, investigate and correct such non-compliance in
accordance with the law. The CDE denies these allegations and is
actively defending the litigation.
Our district was not involved in the lawsuit and is not the subject of
any of the suit's allegations. Nonetheless, as a part of this lawsuit,
CDE has been ordered by the court to release all data it has collected
on general and special education students statewide since Jan. 1, 2008.
NOTE: The CDE will produce documents in the context of the litigation
and subject to a protective order (according to CDE, documents won't
become part of the Court's public records and they will likely be
returned or destroyed at the end of litigation).

For more information regarding the release of this data, visit this CDE
website. You may also contact the California Department of Education
at 916-319-0800.
Parents/Guardians may complete and mail in an Opt-Out Form to
prevent the release of student
data:http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/ws/documents/form2016jan26.pdf.T
his must be done by April 1, 2016.
F3 has published a NewsFlash with more information on this
lawsuit: http://www.f3law.com/newsflash.php?nf=491
Superintendent Torlakson's messages regarding this matter:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr16/yr16rel15.asp

Parent Connect
Did you know that you can
check your child's
attendance and grades
online? It's a great way to
monitor progress and keep
your child on the right track.
If you don't know the pin or
password, call the office.
"At the end of the day, the
most overwhelming key to a
child's success is the
positive involvement of
parents." Jane D. Hull

Marquee for Birthday

Announcements
AMS has an electronic
marquee located by the bus
loop. You now have the
opportunity to purchase a
birthday message to be
displayed on the school's
marquee on the day of your
child's birthday! For more
details, please see the full
document under Parents and
Resources tab on our AMS
webpage.

Weekly Tardy Sweeps

We know that being on-time
is an important life skill in
today's world and we want
to impress that upon our
students. In addition to the
recognition we give students
for positive attendance and
timeliness, we will be holding
weekly tardy sweeps this
semester. We will be
alerting students each week
via morning announcements
about the tardy sweep.
Students caught up in a
tardy sweep will be assigned
a detention. We believe that
the positive recognition and
the weekly accountability
will help our students
embrace the importance of
getting to class on-time.

Working Lunch
Program
We all want our students to
experience academic success

each and every reporting

period. In an effort to add
an additional layer of
academic support for
students who struggle to
regularly complete classwork
and homework, our Student
Study Team will be assigning
a "working lunch" for select
students. we started holding
a daily working lunch for
assigned students, where
they can eat their lunch and
finish class assignments at
the same time. When the
students demonstrate they
no longer need this
additional layer of support,
they will be exited from the
program.