NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY SPONSORS FOOD DRIVE

STUDENT OF THE MONTH

MINI-TOWN

BEST BUDDIES

Kyrene Akimel A-al Middle School
2720 E. Liberty Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85048
Tel:  480.783.1600
Fax: 480.759.7688
Website:
www.kyrene.org/schools/
akimel/ams.htm

An Arizona Department of Education Excelling School
2003-2009

AROUND AKIMEL A-al

October 3, 2009
NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY SPONSORS FOOD DRIVE
Akimel A-al Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society sponsored a food drive this month. Students were encouraged to bring in canned and dried food which will be donated to the Kyrene Family Resource Center, which helps Kyrene families.

The NJHS sponsors a food drive annually as part the group’s goal to render service to the school and community.

For further information about the AMS NJHS, contact Mr. Schindele (dschin@kyrene.org).

September 25, 2009
STUDENT OF THE MONTH ( back to top )
Akimel A-al Middle School has a number of programs to recognize student achievement. One of which is Student of the Month.

The program was started eleven years ago to recognize students for academic excellence, conduct, responsibility and citizenship. This year, the program was updated to reflect the school’s adoption of the character program, “Character Counts.”

Each month, teams nominate up to two students based upon the criteria of consistent academic excellence and excellence in character. Parents are invited to a small ceremony in the school library where students are presented with a nomination form, signed by their teachers, a certificate, and a pin.

The first Student of the Month ceremony for the 2009/2010 school year was held on September 23, 2009.

September 17, 2009
MINI-TOWN (back to top )
The Mini-Town program was implemented at Akimel A-al Middle School ten-plus years ago. The overall goal of the Akimel A-al Mini-Town is to offer students the opportunity to learn about discrimination, diversity, and self-awareness and their efforts on our society. The objectives of the Akimel A-al Mini-Town are to teach effective leadership skills for a pluralist society, to nurture a sense of individual self-worth, and to promote cultural awareness, understanding and the celebration of diversity.

Each year, Akimel A-al Middle School students and staff participate in activities throughout the school year and a camp-like weekend held at the school. During the ‘camp’, Mini-Town members participate in various activities which support the goal and objectives of the program.

AMS students interested in more information about Mini-Town can contact Mrs. White at 480.783.1637, mandiwhite@kyrene.org.

September 4, 2009
BEST BUDDIES (back to top )
Akimel A-al Middle School formerly adopted Character Counts as a school-wide program during the 2008/2009 school year. Character Counts reinforces the Six Pillars of Character; Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. Focusing on the Pillar of Caring, Extended Resource teacher, Tina Hilliard and FACS teacher Kerry Arredondo are sponsoring a chapter of Best Buddies on our campus. Founded by Anthony Shriver and associated with Special Olympics, Best Buddies is a friendship club that pairs typical students with students with intellectual disabilities and sponsors one-on-one friendships. This is the first year for the club at AMS.

When they held their first informational meeting on September 1st, the teachers had no way of knowing how many students would attend. There was no need for worry. The room was packed with caring Akimel A-al students who want to make a difference in the lives of others. States AMS principal, Ernie Brodersen, “We are of course, proud of our student’s academic success but we are equally proud of their character. It is a reflection of how they have been raised and educated.”

AMS students interested in more information about the Best Buddies Club can contact Mrs. Arredondo (karredondo@kyrene.org) or Mrs. Hilliard (thilliard@kyrene.org).