WARRIOR’S WORLD

Dear Parents and Guardians-

Happy New Year to each of you! I hope this year will be full of wonderful

things for you and your families. It is hard to believe we are already half

-way through this school year, and we are all looking forward to a

strong finish this year. My grandmother used to say the older she got,

the faster time seemed to go, and I can see that she was right.

Please join us to celebrate your child’s success on January 12th begin-

ning at 9 in the gym. We will be presenting students with the second

quarter awards, including Honor Roll, Principal’s Honor Roll, Climber’s

Club and top Accelerated Reader awards. Also on January 12th , follow-

ing our PTA Meeting (which begins at 6), the Fourth Grade Team will be

presenting our annual information session for any fourth grade parents

interested in learning more about the LEAP test, which will be coming

up in the Spring. Each teacher will share a piece of what to expect from

the test, from the kinds of questions, how it is scored, passing levels

and more. Handouts will be available and refreshments will be served,

and we hope to see you there.

Please mark your calendars for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday,

which is celebrated on January 16th. There will be no school on this

day. Coming up on January 26th, we will have our annual Science/

Technology Night, and you will also be able to browse through the pro-

jects that the students did for the ASMS Academic Fair. More details

will be coming on this event.

Coming in April there will be a very important election being held on the

21st. You will be hearing and reading more about a very important

Proposition on the ballot called Proposition 3. This is a very essential

Proposition to the St. Tammany Parish School System, and we are urg-

ing you all to get out and vote on this day. More information on this will

be coming to you soon.

Thank you all for your support of our school. We could not do what we

do without your support and helping hands. We wish the best to each of

you in the New Year.

Donna Forrest and Rhonda Meyers

72709 Maple Street, Abita Springs, LA 70420 Office: (985) 892-2070 Cafeteria: (985) 892-3569

Principal’s Post Important Dates

January 11th

1st Half Year

No Discipline Party

4th & 1/2 of 5th

January 12th

Awards 9am

PTA Meeting/Leap Night 6pm

January 13th

AR Reward

PJs to school

January 16th

MLK Day

No School

January 18th

Music Field Trip

5th Grade

January 25th

1st Half Year

No Discipline Party

1/2 5th and 6th

January 26th

Science/Tech Night

Science/Soc St Fair

January 31st

Free Dress

Perfect Attendance

January 2012

Donna Forrest, Principal Rhonda Meyers, Assistant Principal

Abita Springs Middle School PTA Newsletter

From the President

Happy 2012, y’all! I hope everyone enjoyed their break and is ready to come back and tackle the rest of the year. We have a lot to do from now until then, so it’s time to focus and do our best.

A BIG thank you goes out to Maple Street Bakery and Chick-fil-A on Hwy. 190 for do-nating delicious treats for our 2nd 9-weeks Teacher Breakfast on Friday, December 16! Thank you to my fellow board members Jeff Ruth, Rachel Lambert, and Dick Hastings for taking care of business while I was on vacation. We really do have the best parents and teachers here at ASMS!

A little birdie told me that all went well with the 5th grade Hearing and Vision screening in December. Thank you to Becky Miller, our wonderful school nurse, and Mrs. Julie Ingrassia for always helping our students!

I will be attending the St. Tammany District PTA meeting on Monday, January 9 where the district winners of the Reflections Contest will be announced. I surely hope some of our students will be among those recognized. Thank you to Nichole Dupre and Celeste Wise and, of course, Rachel Lambert for tackling all the paperwork and entry prepara-tion that is involved with all the Cultural Arts contests! You are truly appreciated!

Please join us on Thursday, January 12 at 6pm in the gym for our 3rd General PTA meeting. Remember to sign in, as students who have a parent attend will get free dress on Friday! Memberships can still be purchased and will help us meet our membership goal set by the District PTA. Let’s help make sure that every student at our school has a voice in PTA!

One last thing…Please stay tuned for a Winter Box Tops contest that will be coming out this month. We will also be collecting the Community Coffee Labels. Thank you for all that you do to help make ASMS such a wonderful place!

Sincerely,

Emily Achee, ASMS PTA President

Eagle Scout Project

Eagle Scout candidate, Jared Wise, age 16, planned and supervised the implementa-

tion of his Eagle Scout project, which was an outdoor classroom at Abita Springs Mid-

dle School. The project included washing and repainting 7 picnic tables, building a

podium, installing a concrete sidewalk, and planting 4 oak trees. Jared is a member

of Troop 610 here in Abita Springs and is a junior at Fontainebleau High School.

Financially Speaking During November and December, final transactions from the PTA's fall fundraiser were completed, including the cost of magazine subscriptions sold and our share of the Games-2-U event for our school's top sales people. The PTA's net profit from the sale of Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough and magazine subscriptions was $10,837, making it a very successful event for our school. When the PTA's budget for the year was prepared in August, we had hoped to clear $7,500 on this fundraiser, so we are very pleased that final results exceeded our expectations. Thanks again to all the students, parents, and teachers who contributed their time and effort to this activity on behalf of the PTA. Since our last report, the PTA has funded $568 of the $3,000 total budgeted for teachers of the three grade levels to spend on classroom materials over and above those provided by the school's budget. Of the budgeted amount, $1,652 remains available for spending or reimbursement upon request from the teachers. In addition, such funds are available from the PTA for use by the gifted, music, P.E., and special education pro-grams. Teachers are encouraged to contact any of the PTA officers for specific amounts available, with the objective of using money raised by the PTA this school year for the benefit of this year's students. Reports summarizing the PTA's financial results for the school year to date will be

available, as usual, at the PTA's general meeting on Thursday, January 12, along with

copies of the PTA's check register for November and December. Please pick up a copy

when you sign in at that meeting.

Before After

Abita Springs Middle School Students of the Month

November : Top Row (L-R) Skylar Barthel, Savannah Benedict, Billy Broussard, Archie Davis, Cheylee Hoover, Karissa Kelsey, Sydney Larousse. Middle Row: Uriah Lechler,

Hayley Melerine, Abigail Meyer, Kimberly Navarre, Jake Nunmaker, Jordan Roach, Cam-eron Robinson. Bottom Row: Kadin Robertson, Abed Samarah, Jazmine Smith, Timothy

Snow, Gabrielle Spindler, Draven Upchruch, and Betha Young.

December : Top Row (L-R) Anthony Brocato, Emily Brown, Ali Chaisson, Abigail Cooper, John Encardes, Lauren Gebbia, Isaac Gray. Middle Row: Alexis Gutierrez, Bobby Houil-lon, Tydrionne Laurent, Maci Liberto, Kaitlin Moore, Savy Naw, Jack Nelson. Bottom Row: Eddie Pfeifer, Romeo Robinson, Brady Romaire, Patrick Short, Sydney Studdard,

Tia Thibodeaux, Quinnay Walker.

Cultural Arts Corner

The PTA Cultural Arts Committee is proud to announce the winners of the Safety Poster Contest and Re-

flections Program. We had over 200 entries this year! Judge’s Choice Awards will be on display around the

school- be on the lookout for these outstanding entries.

Our District Level ASMS entries were strong, and we look forward to seeing how our Wise Warriors will do

in the District Level of judging. This puts them in competition with all the other participating St. Tammany

Parish Schools. Good Luck! I really do expect to have some winners who will be invited to the Spring Dis-

trict Awards Banquet. We will let you know as soon as we get results about who moves on to the next level.

19 participating teachers will get thank you gifts. Top Level: Hernandez, Morlier, Barr, Blades, Demick,

Rivet. Middle Level: Weigand, Molina, Bond, Shubert, Spitznagel First Level: Nicosia, Magnuson, Roseberry,

Stewart, Young-Bridges, Buras, Winters, Adcox. Safety Poster Winning Photos will be in the February issue

of Warrior’s World.

Thank you again to all participants and the encouraging parents and teachers who helped make these pro-

grams worthwhile! A huge thanks to Emily Achee, Dee Williams, Celeste Wise, and Nichole Dupre for your

help in preparing the entries.

Intermediate Division (4th and 5th grade) Safety Poster ASMS Winners (these entries will move on to

District Level Competition)

Trevor Achee Jasmine Brown Andrew Bryant Lauren Gebbia Tayler Hoffman

Bailey Mulkey Dariela Reves Earl Warden

Intermediate Division (4th and 5th grade) Safety Poster Judge’s Choice Entries (these entries were

recognized as outstanding and will be on display at Abita Springs Middle School)

Taylor Brewer Sophie Conrad Emile Durio Melena Estrade Madison Hare

Trey Kuyler Madison L Drew Lambert Maci Liberto Justin Marcantel

Alexandra Mendoza Chloe Norman Gabriella Patterson Hannah Raymer Corie Richardson

Brady Romaire Emma Sedgebeer Jorduan Young

Middle/Junior Division (6th grade) Safety Poster ASMS Winners (these entries will move on to Dis-

trict Level Competition)

Nathan Berard Marley Bogran Tieler Garsaud Mia Liberto Kristina Martinez

Kyrsten Pellegrin Jordan Roach Bryce Westcott

Middle/Junior Division (6th grade) Safety Poster Judge’s Choice Entries (these entries were recog-

nized as outstanding and will be on display at Abita Springs Middle School)

Brittany Bennett Chad Cornell Lee Lambert Erica Patterson Samantha Pfeifer

Camron Robinson Patrick Short Casey Stoute Lauren Wicker

ABITA SPRINGS MUSEUM SHOWCASES MIDDLE SCHOOL ART

Stop by the Abita Springs Trailhead Museum and check out the Abita Springs Middle School Student Art-

work on display. In October Mrs. Blades and Mrs. Magnuson led students in creating a display about the

future of Abita for the St. Tammany Parish Fair Booth, and some of the work is up for viewing on Friday,

Saturday, and Sunday from 10-5 in the yellow building next to ASMS. We are busy planning the ASMS Arts

Night- mark your calendar for Monday, March 26. Please contact Rachel Lambert at bigmamalam-

bert@bellsouth.net or 373-7922 for more information about our PTA Cultural Arts Committee

ASMS 2011 REFLECTIONS CONTEST WINNERS

Musical Composition

Intermediate Division:

Hailey Diaz, Amanda Phillips and

Alexandra Dupre.

Not pictured: Ashlynn Gaeta

Visual Arts Middle Division:

Front Row: Lee Lambert, Tieler Garsaud,

and Alyssa Diaz. Back: Samantha

Pfeifer, Cole Willie, Abed Samarah, and

Austin Folse.

Film/Video Intermediate Division:

Shannon Amos (L) and David LeBlanc (R).

Literature Intermediate Division:

Front Row: Hayley Melerine, Emily Brown,

Alyssa K. Hall. Back: Qidi Xu, Callie Dufrene,

Shane Gros, Lucy Fonseca, Amanda Phillips.

Visual Arts Intermediate Division:

Front Row (L-R): Miranda Gendusa, Blaine Williams,

and Corie Richardson.

Back: Andrew Bryant, Gage Jorgensen, Jonathan La-

guaite, and Dawson Krauss.

Not pictured: Ian Ocmond

Photography Intermediate Division:

Front Row: Sophia Nuzzolillo, Brady Romaire,

Timothy Snow, and Alexa Theriot.

Back: Alexandra Dupre, Emile Durio, Emily

Ernest, and Melena Estrade.

JUDGE'S CHOICE WINNERS- these entries will be proudly displayed at ASMS!

Visual Art Judge's Choice Intermediate:

Front Row: Kenny John Cox, Uriah Lechler,

Alexandra Mendoza, Aubrey Taconi, and Sean

Sorensen. Back: Lauren Gebbia, Terryione

Whitehead, Gabriella Patterson, Savannah

Benedict, Kenginae Gordon, Madelyn Quave,

and Annalisa Toussant.

Photography Middle Division:

Front Row: Patrick Short, Brittney Smith, and Lauren Wicker. Back: Cade Guillory, Jacob Hatcher, Mia Lib-erto, and Alexandra Randazzo

4th & 5th Grade Judges Choice Photography

Front (L-R): Laci Treadway, Drew Lambert, Kaitlyn Calhoun. Back: Jackson Page, Taylor Brewer, Lauren Hosch, Haley Wattigny. Not Pictured: Billy Broussard and Liam Ward.

Judge's Choice Intermediate: Photography

Drew Lambert (L)

Literature Alyssa Hall (M) and Lucy Fonseca

What parents can do to motivate their children to read

Parents can have a very strong influence on their son's or daughter's motiva-tion to read, says Rosemary Miller, coordinator of the Literacy Initiative at the University of Minnesota. Miller cites parental modeling as a critical ingre-dient in motivating kids to continue reading on their own through middle and high school. Young people should see parents reading, and reading ma-terials should be in clear view around the house. Miller also recommends that parents set time every day or week when the family reads together. "You can make it a family book club where each member gets a chance to recom-mend a book to read," she said. All book choices should be honored unless a choice would be inappropriate for younger children.

Other things parents can do to motivate their kids to read include playing audiotapes of books in the car and carrying reading material when traveling and/or waiting to see the doctor or dentist. Encouraging preteens and teens to read nonfiction also can bolster their reading comprehension, as people learn how to extract information and make inferences from nonfiction, said Miller.

Parents can help their children with academic reading, too. For example, if you notice your son is struggling with his science reading assignment, you might say, "How's the homework going?" and then with him read the title of the chapter, scan the chapter by reading the subheads plus any highlighted material, and read the questions at the end of the chapter. Then together you can pose questions about what you want to know, or what you hope the chapter will provide, said Miller.

Expert from article on National PTA website at http://www.pta.org/2525.htm

By Joan Kuersten

PTA Corporate Sponsors

The PTA would like to thank the following Corporate Sponsors for their support of Abita

Springs Middle School. Please consider patronizing them when you are looking for

goods or services. Corporate Memberships are $25 and include 5 memberships and

your business information in our monthly newsletter.

Fisher

Cabinets & Flooring

70454 Highway 59

Abita Springs, LA 70420

871-0035

Bryan Ingrassia Sr.

Licensed Master Plumber

Residential, Commercial

Repairs & Renovations

985-635-1278 bjaeb@bellsouth.net

Dependable Siding Inc.

Mark Hosch

Owner

985-966-0628 New Construction, Repairs & Additions

Vinyl Siding, Windows, Patio Covers,

Gutters & Hardie Siding

*Insured * Free Estimates

Northshore Tire

Repair & Sales

1990 Highway 190 West

Slidell, LA 70460

(985) 645-8747

Achee’s Signs and

Graphic Arts

71377 St. Mary Street

Abita Springs, LA 70420

985-892-7226

Mac’s Electric, LLC

28330 Pine Cone Rd.

Abita Springs, LA 70420

A Pro

Vic Gustafson, CHI/PHI

Certified Home Inspector

70380 Highway 21, Suite 2-280

Covington, LA 70433

985-718-4786

Www.a-pro.net/vic

Jefferson Auto Service North

Steve Fank, Sr./Owner

General Auto & Truck Repairs

All Major Brands of Tires

1429 N. Collins Blvd., Covington

985-809-1890

MondayMondayMondayMonday TuesdayTuesdayTuesdayTuesday WednesdayWednesdayWednesdayWednesday ThursdayThursdayThursdayThursday FridayFridayFridayFriday

2 3 4 5 6

WINTER

BREAK

Cinnamon Rolls

Hot Dog w. Bun

Baked Beans

Vegetable

Fruit Crisp

Ham & Biscuits

Gumbo w. Rice

Carrot Sticks

Fruit Choice

Texas Toast

Muffins

Drew Wiggles

Salad

Green Beans

Fruit Choice

Pancake-on-a-Stick

Grilled Cheese

Corn

Fruit Choice

Oatmeal Cookie

9 10 11 12 13

Banana Bread

Salisbury Steak

Potatoes w. Gravy

Broccoli & Fruit Choice

Vanilla Cookie

Beignets

Beef Taco w. Shell

Cheese, Lettuce, Salsa

Corn & Fruit

Cinnamon Roll

Sausage & Biscuits

Chicken Poppers

Macaroni & Cheese

Salad

Fruit Choice

Fruit Danish

Hamburger w. Bun

Tater Tots

Carrot Sticks

Fruit Choice

Breakfast Pizza

Chicken Wrap

w. Tortilla

Cheese & Lettuce

Corn & Fruit

Cinnamon Stick

16 17 18 19 20

MLK, Jr.

HOLIDAY

Cinnamon Rolls

Chicken Tenders

Potatoes w. Gravy

Broccoli & Fruit Choice

Cheese Stick

Ham & Biscuits

Pigs-in-a-Blanket

Baked Beans

Fruit Choice

Brownie

Churros

Fried Chicken

Rice w. Gravy

Carrot Sticks

Fruit Choice

Muffins

Pizza

Corn

Fruit Choice

Cinnamon Stick

23 24 25 26 27

Banana Bread

Chili w. Beans

Cheese & Corn Chips

Broccoli & Fruit Choice

Frozen Yogurt

Beignets

Beef Taco w. Shell

Cheese, Lettuce, Salsa

Corn & Fruit

Cinnamon Roll

Breakfast Pizza

Fish Patty

Baked / Sweet Potato

Fruit Choice

Roll

Cinnamon Rolls

Chicken Poppers

Macaroni & Cheese

Salad

Fruit Choice

Ham & Biscuits

Hamburger w. Bun

Tater Tots

Carrot Sticks

Fruit Choice

30 31

Cinnamon Rolls

Chicken Tenders

Rice w. Gravy

Broccoli & Fruit Choice

Cheese Stick

Ham & Biscuits

Hot Dog w. Bun

Baked Beans

Fruit Choice

Spice Cake

Breakfast is served with juice

& milk.

Lunch is

served with a roll & milk.