AMS Camelback Newsletter

Weekly Message | August 21, 2022

Principal Message

What a great week it’s been to be a Firebird here at Camelback!

Can you believe it? We're already halfway through the first quarter of the school year! Progress Reports will be coming home this week and it's a great time to check in with your child's teacher(s) if you haven't already. I'm sure by now you've seen the message about getting access to the Parent Portal App, it goes live this week, so be sure to dive into that message as well. You'll be able to get immediate feedback from our teachers on your child's grades as they're grading. As you think about ways to support your children in school we always encourage reading together at home. It doesn't matter how young or old they are, getting kids into text goes a long way in building their vocabulary and supports in comprehension as well. Also, look for those opportunities to work in math into your daily routine. Gas stations, grocery shopping, elapsed time, practice counting and skip counting with our little ones. I like to tell my own children they can't play that next level of Multiverse before they tell me how many more points left until they upgrade; some simple subtraction. We're going to be starting our tutoring sessions soon, so please look for more information to come out very soon with the dates and times. Our afterschool sessions will be from 4:00 to 5:00pm. More details to come soon!

This week should be a fun one around campus, we'll be celebrating Mr. St.Germain's Birthday this week, it's my gift to the students, with our first Free Dress Day on Wednesday along with Kona Ice sales afterschool. We're not sure how this will impact our end of our day dismissal, so I'm asking for your patience ahead of time as I'm sure it'll be hot and a frozen treat will be in high demand.

We want to continue to remind families during Morning Drop-off, please do not drop your children before 7:30am, there is no supervision and our gates do not open until 7:30am. At dismissal, if you are using the Driveline, we will be entering our last set of numbers at 3:45pm, if you arrive after 3:45pm, you'll need to go around and pick your child up from Extended Care and you will be charged the daily rate of $15. Please make the necessary arrangements to pick up your children prior to 3:45pm or sign them up for Extended Care in the front office.

If you're not already connected with your child's teacher(s) please reach out and get connected with Class Dojo or email. We need to be working together and the best way to do so is to be connected.

We have so many great things happening every day here at Camelback, the most current information is always on our website, Facebook, Instagram, Class Dojo or in these autodialer messages. #WeAreCamelback

FOR MORE INFO

IMPORTANT CHANGES

Breakfast & Lunch

WE ARE SO CLOSE!

We have collected forms from all but 52 students! We'll be sending home forms this week to just those families, so please be on the lookout!

As a reminder, Breakfast and Lunch are no longer free for all K-12 students in the state of Arizona. The federal funding to support with COVID relief has ended going into this school year. Academy of Math and Science Camelback is offering healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.70; lunch costs $3.33. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals. Reduced-price is $0.30 for breakfast and $0.40 for lunch. Breakfasts are available in the cafeteria from 7:30am - 8:00am. If your student is participating in after-school activities, snacks are provided at no cost.

Learn More about Breakfast & Lunch and Apply Online

Week of August 21st Calendar of Events

Monday

Parent Portal Goes Live!
DIBELS Beginning of the Year Testing - Grades K-3
Ballet Club @ 3:15pm
Girls A Team Volleyball Game at Sun Valley Academy South Mountain @ 4:30pm

Tuesday

DIBELS Beginning of the Year Testing - Grades K-3
Hip Hop Club @ 3:15pm
Girls B Team Volleyball Game at Paradise Honors Middle School @ 4:15pm

Wednesday

Free Dress Day!
Please remember to keep things school appropriate.
DIBELS Beginning of the Year Testing - Grades K-3
Kona Ice Sales @ 12:30pm
Early Release Dismissal @ 1:15pm
Ballet Club @ 1pm

Thursday

Progress Reports Sent Home
DIBELS Beginning of the Year Testing - Grades K-3
Hip Hop Club @ 3:15pm
Girls A Team Volleyball Game at AMS Avondale @ 4:30pm

Friday

Weekly Firebird Code Draw @ 8:30am
DIBELS Beginning of the Year Testing - Grades K-3
Girls B Team Volleyball Game at Heritage Elementary @ 5:30pm

Friendly Reminders & Updates

Lost & Found

Throughout the school year the Lost & Found can be found in front of our B Building during the week. Please take a minute or two to check it out and see if you find anything that might belong to your child. Please put your child’s name on their items if you’re afraid they might lose it.

Face Coverings & Social Distancing

As a reminder, all face masks are optional at this time for all scholars, staff and visitors while on campus. If the AMS Network makes any changes in our practice and/or expectations we will be sure to communicate it out to families as soon as possible.

Emergency Reminder

Safety continues to be a top priority for our school and the Academy of Mathematics & Science Network. We practice emergency responses throughout the year which include lockdown, evacuation, and shelter in place. With the new school year upon us, this may be an opportunity to have a conversation with your child about these types of drills and how you respond, as well as the parent reunification process in the event of an emergency. Camelback will be practicing many of our drills and will continue to do so throughout the school year. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or the front office.

Front Office Reminders

We are asking that no students are signed out of school after 2:30pm. This will assist with end of day procedures and allow for our pick-up procedures in the parking lots to run smoothly and keep everyone safe.
Our front office is a walk-in office. We appreciate your respecting the privacy of others who are coming in to do business by limiting your time in that area, and keeping your phones and other electronic devices on vibrate.

Camelback Visitors

When coming onto our campus, please always enter through the main doors in the front of the school and sign in at the desk. Please refrain from entering through any other doors or gates or any other areas that may be open at the beginning or end of the school day.

Donations Needed for the Health Office

Our Health Office is in need of donations, we are specifically looking for new or gently used uniform clothes for students for all kinds of reasons. Specifically, we’re in need of new underwear and socks and new or gently used bottoms for students in grades PreK through 3rd grade. Accidents happen all the time and we want to be sure we’re prepared to get students changed and ready to return to class to be learners.

Club and Sports Updates

Be sure to check back for the updated information coming soon, but be sure to check out some of the information about the following clubs and teams in our Back to School Welcome Packet!

Competitive Cheer
Flag Football - Grades 6-8
Volleyball - Grades 6-8
Competitive Robotics
Art Club
Broadcasting Club
Cheerleading Club
Choir

Creative Writers Club
Foreign Language Club - Spanish
Gardening Club
Homework/Tutoring Club
National Junior Honors Society
Student Council
Yearbook - Grades 6-8
SOAR Squad - Grades 6-8

AMS Camelback - Morning Announcements

We had some GUEST CELEBRITIES this week from Third Grade! They were so excited to join Mr. St.Germain on the Morning Announcements!

Did you know we show a digital version of the Morning Announcements every day at Camelback? Right now, Mr. St.Germain is the one recording and sharing the morning announcements, but we'll be getting our Broadcasting Club up and running soon! If your child is looking to join the club be on the lookout for information coming soon!

Follow Mr.St.Germain's YouTube Channel is the meantime to stay up-to-date with what's being shared directly with our scholars every day!

School Calendar Save the Dates

2022-23 Calendar:

AUGUST

8/30 - Girls B Team Volleyball Game vs. American Leadership Academy West Foothills @ 4:30pm – 17760 W. Olive Ave, Waddell

SEPTEMBER

9/1 - Girls A Team Volleyball Game vs. Imagine Avondale @ 4:30pm – Home Game

9/1 - Girls B Team Volleyball Game vs. The Odyssey Institute @ 4:30pm – Home Game

9/5 - No School - Labor Day

9/6 - Girls A Team Volleyball Game vs. Victory Collegiate Academy @ 4:30pm – Home Game

9/6 - Girls B Team Volleyball Game vs. American Leadership Academy West Foothills @ 5:30pm – Home Game

9/6 - Monthly Firebird Guardian Parent Meeting @ 6pm - Gym

9/9 - Grandparents Day Celebration @ 1pm

More details to come!

9/9 & 9/10 – Volleyball Tournament – More Details to come!

Girls A Team
Girls B Team

9/15 - Girls A Team Volleyball Game vs. Camelback Academy @ 4:30pm – Home Game

9/15 – Girls B Team Volleyball Game vs. Paradise Honors Middle School @ 5:30pm – Home Game

Week of 9/19 - PBIS Spirit Week

Monday 9/19 - Be Respectful - Wear Yellow
Tuesday 9/20 - Be Responsible - Wear Green
Wednesday 9/21 - Be Safe - Wear Red
Thursday 9/22 - Be a Learner - Wear Tye Dye
Friday 9/23 - School Spirit Day - Wear Maroon & Gold

9/20 - Girls B Team Volleyball Game vs. The Odyssey Institute @ 6:15pm – 1495 S. Verrado Way, Buckeye

9/22 - Girls A Team Volleyball Game vs. Pioneer Technology & Arts @ 4:30pm – 1903 E. Roeser Rd, Phoenix

9/26 - Girls A Team Volleyball Game vs. AMS Avondale @ 4:30pm – Home Game

9/26 - Girls B Team Volleyball Game vs. Heritage Elementary @ 4:30pm – Home Game

9/28 - Kona Ice Sales @ 12:30pm - Front of School

9/28 - 1st Quarter Ends

9/28 - Girls A Team Volleyball Game vs. Victory Collegiate Academy @ 4:30pm – 3535 N. 63^rd Ave, Phoenix

OCTOBER

Week of 10/3 - Parent-Teacher Conferences

10/4 - Early Release Dismissal @ 1:15pm

10/5 - Early Release Dismissal @ 1:15pm

10/6 - Early Release Dismissal @ 1:15pm

10/7 - Early Release Dismissal @ 1:15pm

10/11 - Monthly Firebird Guardian Parent Meeting @ 6pm - Gym

10/12 - Kona Ice Sales @ 12:30pm - Front of School

Week of 10/17 - No School - Fall Break

10/28 - Monster Mash(K-8 Family Dance & Costume Contest) @ 5:30 - 7:30pm - Gym

11/23 - Kona Ice Sales @ 12:30pm - Front of School

12/14 - Kona Ice Sales @ 12:30pm - Front of School

1/18 - Kona Ice Sales @ 12:30pm - Front of School

2/15 - Kona Ice Sales @ 12:30pm - Front of School

3/15 - Kona Ice Sales @ 12:30pm - Front of School

4/26 - Kona Ice Sales @ 12:30pm - Front of School

5/24 - Kona Ice Sales @ 12:30pm - Front of School

6/6 - Kona Ice Sales @ 12:30pm - Front of School

Connect with the AMS Camelback Office Team

623-547-5587

Connect with Principal St.Germain