AMP Happenings for the Week of September 7th

9/6/2020

Howdy AMP families and students,

The following are important events and happenings for the week of September 7th.

Upcoming September Events

Monday, September 7th - Labor Day Holiday (no school)
Tuesday, September 8th - FFA Chapter Meeting at 4:00pm for AMP Students (virtual - information is posted in the student's AMP course Google Classroom)
Tuesday, September 8th - FFA Booster Club Meeting for parents at 6:30pm (virtual - information for parents/guardians to join the meeting is posted at: https://agrisciencemagnetprogram.weebly.com/booster-club.html)
Wednesday, September 9th - First 3-Weeks Progress Reports available in Skyward Family Access
Thursday, September 10th - Big Give SA Online Fundraising Campaign
Tuesday, September 15th - James Madison High School Parent Night (virtual - information will be available at: https://www.neisd.net/madison)

Make a Donation through the Big Give SA
The annual Big Give SA online fundraising campaign is taking place on Thursday, September 10th. The AMP is a part of this year's campaign efforts in which you can make a charitable donation of $25, $50, $100, or any amount towards our goal of $5,000. Click HERE to donate now!

Funds raised from the Big Give SA campaign will be used to pay student expenses for participating in Leadership Development Events, Career Development Events, Supervised Agriculture Experiences, Agriscience Fairs, Internships, Guide Dogs for the Blind, BBQ Cook-offs, and many more student activities during the 2020-2021 school year.

Please consider helping us spread the word about this online giving opportunity by sharing the following link on your personal social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.):
https://www.thebiggivesa.org/p2p/158581/neisd-agriscience

AMP Students Named Top in the Nation
This past week, the National FFA Organization announced the national finalists in the Agriscience Fair competition and the FFA Proficiency Award division. Seven James Madison FFA members were named top in the nation in their respective areas and will compete for a national championship. The students are:

Cory Hofmockel (2020 AMP graduate) - FFA Proficiency Award finalist
Samara Huezo (12th grade) - Agriscience Fair finalist
Jean Lamboy Medina (12th grade) - Agriscience Fair finalist
Chase Lund (12th grade) - Agriscience Fair finalist
Gabriel Perez (9th grade) - Agriscience Fair finalist
Ember Reyes (12th grade) - Agriscience Fair finalist
Shepherd Smith (12th grade) - Agriscience Fair finalist

Final results will be announced at 93rd National Convention and Expo in October. Congratulations and best of luck!

James Madison FFA Chapter Meeting - September 8th
All AMP students are invited to attend the first chapter meeting of the James Madison FFA this Tuesday, September 8th at 4:00pm. The FFA Chapter officers have a great meeting planned are excited to have all AMP students join them for this virtual meeting.

There will also be a "Meet and Greet" time with the AMP faculty and information shared about how students can participate on the Leadership Development Events this Fall semester.

Information about the Zoom Chapter Meeting can be found in the Google Classrooms of the AMP courses that students are enrolled in or by contacting their AMP teacher.

JM FFA Booster Club General Meeting - September 8th
The September 2020 of the James Madison FFA Booster Club will be held virtually on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at 6:30pm via Zoom. All parents and guardians of a student currently enrolled in the AMP are highly encouraged to attend the meeting.

The major item of business that will be conducted at this month's meeting is the adoption of the 2020-2021 James Madison FFA Booster Club budget and presentation of this year's program of activities.

AMP families should check their email for more details and information on how to access the Zoom meeting or click HERE.

Phase 1 of Return to School Plan Begins on September 8th
The Phase 1 return of students to campus will begin on Tuesday, September 8th. The parents/guardians of students that have been granted a seat during Phase 1 have been notified and should be the ONLY students to report to school during Phase 1.

The following information should be helpful in preparing students to return for Phase 1:

It is preferred that students be transported to school by parents/guardians and be dropped off between 9:30am to 9:50am. Students that walk or bike to school should also arrive between 9:30am to 9:50am. Host teachers for students made contact by phone this past Thursday and Friday with parents/guardians to inform them where to drop off students on the campus. If you are unsure of where students should be dropped off, please drop them off at the cafeteria.
If a student will be using NEISD bus transportation, parents/guardians can look up their school bus route information by clicking HERE. School buses will be delivering students to campus between 8:50am to 9:10am and the students will report directly to the cafeteria. If students are utilizing the AMP Magnet Shuttle from their home high school campus, the magnet shuttle schedule is attached to this post.
If a student is needing breakfast, it will be served beginning at 9:20am in the cafeteria.
Students will need to bring their own face mask and wear it all times while on the campus. Students may remove their face mask when seated in the cafeteria and eating breakfast and/or lunch.
Students will need to maintain a minimum of 6 feet of social distance while on the campus and follow the directional traffic patterns that are posted inside the buildings.
It is recommended that students bring a re-fillable water bottle for staying hydrated throughout the day. Water fountains will only be used to fill water bottles.
Only clear backpacks are allowed by NEISD policy. Mobile computing devices can be secured in a non-clear case and kept in the student's clear backpack.
Students should bring their personal mobile computing device (laptop, chromebook, iPad) or the mobile computing device loaned to them by the school. If a student does not have a mobile computing device, there will be one available for the student to use while at school.
Students should bring their charging cable for their mobile computing device.
Students should bring headphones/earphones to use while doing their virtual instruction from the host teacher's classroom.
The synchronous school day will end at 3:25pm and students will be released to the same areas in which parents/guardians dropped them off in the morning. If a student is riding a school bus, they will return to the cafeteria until school buses arrive on campus to depart at 4:35pm.

First 3-Week Progress Report Available September 9th
Parents/guardians and students will have access to the first 3-week progress report on SKYWARD Family Access on September 9th. Please email the student's teachers if you have any questions.

Please remember that students are receiving actual numerical grades and that teachers are following NEISD Grading policies for virtual and in-person learning. Currently, there are a few students NOT turning work in or they are turning work in late. Missing and late work are subject to grading penalties.

If a student is trying to submit work online and is having difficulties, staff will work with them to troubleshoot the issue and get them back on track. Students should email their teacher as soon as possible if they are having technical difficulties, as no communication might appear as if they are not taking responsibility for their work.

FFA T-Shirt Sponsorship
The James Madison FFA is looking for t-shirt sponsors for our annual "chapter shirt". Our chapter shirts help to unite our members and build community, camaraderie, and pride amongst our members no matter the level of their involvement. Sponsoring this year's chapter shirt will get your business or family logo on the back of nearly 600 shirts worn by James Madison FFA members.

For more information about this opportunity, please download the sponsorship information form attached to this post.

Guidance and Counseling News
Madison HS Counseling Newsletter
Parents/guardians and students should take a moment to browse through the Madison HS Counseling Newsletter to learn about important guidance counseling and student/family support services that our counseling department is providing.

Especially important information can be found for current 12th graders regarding how to order high school transcripts for college applications, FAFSA information, Scholarships, SAT/ACT exam updates, Advanced Placement exams, and more!

The current edition of the Madison HS Counseling Newsletter is now available at: https://www.smore.com/jys1m-madison-counseling-department

Verification of Enrollment (VOE) Letters
For students needing a VOE letter as part of the process to obtain a Texas Motor Vehicle Driving License, they should contact Mrs. Avalos, Counseling Clerk, by email at [email protected] to request the letter.

Requesting an Appointment with Mrs. Guerrero
Students can request an appointment with Mrs. Guerrero, AMP Counselor, by way of email at [email protected] or download the flier attached to this post and scan the QR code to make the request. Appointments will be available virtually or, for those students on campus, in-person.

Stay Connected with Us!
Find us online at www.JamesMadisonFFA.com or follow us on
Youtube (Agriscience Magnet Program),
Facebook (www.facebook.com/MadisonFFA),
and on Instagram (www.instagram.com/jamesmadisonffa)
Stay connected with the AMP for the 2020-2021 school year!