ALL STUDENTS

School Web Page Points of Interest
Please take time to review the school web page. There is an ever-growing amount of very helpful information and features. Click Middle/High School Campus 6-12 then click parents/students to find a special section that includes supply lists, course descriptions and the agenda, the student handbook, the schedule of classes and more information for this year. Click Middle/High School Campus 6-12 then click calendar to see the year at a glance. Click Middle/High School Campus 6-12 then click people to get to the names of your son or daughter's teachers. More and more teachers are learning how to use their web pages to include detailed course descriptions, homework assignments, study guides, old examinations and other items that are very helpful for both students and yourself to use at home. Click Middle/High School Campus 6-12 then click eagles of the month to see pictures and read biographies of the Eagles of the Month throughout the year.

Open Houses
Parents of Middle School students are asked to mark their calendars for the Open House on Monday, August 25th at 7:30 PM. The High School Open House will be Tuesday, August 26th at 7:30 PM. Parents on both nights will meet with teachers in the Guillermo Zambrano Auditorium and then follow a mini-schedule to meet each teacher for their son or daughter.

PowerSchool Parent Access
Once again, we are opening up PowerSchool access to parents. All parents will receive an e-mail, with a login id# and a password, so that access to the lastest updates are at your fingertips. Please use the parent log in (and not your child's student log in) as there are mailing features available to you that are not available to your child.

After School Sports
This week, students are invited to join the After School Sports program. Registration is easy; just show up to the sport of interest after school. Students simply need to take an information sheet home to register. While Soccer and Basketball are the most popular, we do have a very new and interesting VOLLEYBALL program as well. And in the first semester, we offer TRACK AND FIELD. Come on out!!

Yearbook and ID pictures
Where? PE Room #1 When?

Grade 6--Wednesday August 20th
Grade 7--Tuesday August 19th (Science classes)
Grade 8--Monday August 25th (Spanish classes)
Grade 9--Thursday August 21st (English classes)
Grade 10--Tuesday August 26th (English classes)
Grade 11--Wednesday August 27th (Socials classes)
Grade 12--Thursday August 28th (Ecology/Mex. Gov't classes)

Grade 9/12 Generation Photo--Friday August 29th
Grade 6 Group Photos--Friday August 29th

Recommendations for better pictures:
Solid colors on clothes look better in pictures.
For hygiene reasons we will not provide hairbrushes or combs, we will appreciate if you bring your own.
We ask students to pay special attention to their appearance on that day.

Senda Bus
During the 2008-2009 school year, due to Huasteca's schedule there is an early dismissal at 1:40 on Fridays for high school students only. The regular bus runs 30 minutes later for middle school students. In order for a special bus to be cost worthy to run for HS students only at 1:50, we need a minimum of 12 high school students to ride this bus. During 2007-2008 school year, we did not meet the minimum number required for this route. We are not planning to run this route for the 08/09 school year. If you desire this route for your high school child, please inform Betty Elizondo in the main office. If we get the minimum number, we can offer this option.

Clean Up Huasteca
We are organizing for the first time a "Clean Up Huasteca" on September 6 (Saturday), 2008. This "Clean Up Huasteca" will be the first in the school year, we are planning on a second one during the month of January, as done in previous years. We want two "Clean Up Huasteca's" during the school year because we feel our efforts are not enough (each year we go back to the Huasteca only to find it as messy as the year before). Look for more details as the date nears.

DISNEY CONCERT!
DREAMSCAPE:
Welcome back to school! To kick of this school year and the 80th Anniversary celebrations, ASFM is proud to present Dreamscape: The 80th Anniversary Disney Concert. Join the cast of over 50 current students, parents, teachers, and alumni in celebrating ASFM's 80th anniversary with song and dance! In remembrance of our school's beginnings and anticipation of its years to come, Dreamscape invites you to this magical onstage explosion of the most memorable Disney tunes that will have you tapping your toes, singing along, and believing in your dreams again! Get your tickets at the library or with the cast now!

WHAT: Dreamscape: the 80th Anniversary Disney Concert
WHEN: Thursday August 21st, Friday August 22nd, and Saturday August 23rd at 7:30 pm, Matinee Performance on Saturday 23rd at 2:30 pm.
WHERE: Guillermo Zambrano Auditorium
TICKETS: $100 pesos general seating, $120 for premium (numbered) seats; tickets can be bought at the library or with the cast.
See you at the show!

Huasteca Upgrades
Dear Parents,
I am pleased to report that we have installed a traffic light at the entrance to Campus La Huasteca. Therefore, our students, parents, staff, and visitors to Campus La Huasteca can make a protected left turn into the campus without having to cross in front of two lanes of traffic coming from the direction of the Huasteca Canyon. This should result in a much safer entrance to our School.
We have also added a new suite of offices for student services (Middle School Counselor, High School Counselor, College Counselor and School Psychologist near our Huasteca library that should result in improved services for our students.
We have also doubled the seating capacity of our bleacher area on our main soccer field so now there should be adequate space for spectators for soccer games throughout the school year and during our ASOMEX tournament.
We hope you and your child(ren) will enjoy and benefit from our efforts to improve our facilities.
We look forward to welcoming all of you back to school as we begin the 2008-2009 school year.
Sincerely,
Jeff Keller, Superintendent

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Advisory Time
Our Middle School Advisory Program during conference period guides the academic, social and emotional learning of adolescents as they navigate through this unique stage in their lives. Education is a dynamic process that involves both academic and “real life” experiences, our Advisory Program is in place to assist our middle school students with the “adolescent balancing act”. Modern educational research indicates that adolescence is a stage of development when an individual works through many struggles related to identity, self-knowledge, and social challenges. It is proven that these challenges are significantly easier to face, when students feel supported by a teacher advisor. Advisory programs provide this adult guidance that is necessary during this crucial developmental time.

This week we have:
6th--SABE Pledge
7th--Get to know your students
8th--SABE Pledge

HIGH SCHOOL

Conference Period
As you well know, ASFM is promoting much more than academic excellence. The whole child is focused on and values and character education are part of our program. We have included in our schedule each Wednesday a conference period during which smaller groups of students gather with a teacher to discuss issues, events and other items that are of importance to our student body. This is an excellent way for teachers to check in on students and get to know them better. Also it provides an opportunity for students to get to know their peers in a non-academic setting.
This week we have:
9th--Ice Breaker Activities
10th--UdeM paperwork
11th--Self Portraits
12th--Ice Breaker Activities

College Application Groups
Seniors (and their parents as a cc) should have received emails recently, to confirm the student's application groups for this year. There are three groups: (1) Students applying to universities in Mexico, (2) Students applying to universities in the US & Canada, and (3) Students applying to universities outside North America. Please check your email and notify Ms. Loring as soon as possible if there are any errors. Most future email communications will be based on these groups, so it is vital to make sure that your group assignments are accurate!

College Counseling - Summer Assignment for Seniors
Parents, please talk to your senior student and confirm that they have completed their summer assignment in Naviance. All seniors should have their Naviance checklist complete, up to and including their prospective college list. Seniors who plan to apply to universities outside Mexico also had an additional summer assignment that should be complete (it was due last Friday). Ask them to show you the work they've done... it's pretty amazing!

Upcoming Events... Mark your Calendars!
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 - Room A106 at 1:45 PM
MOCK ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE WITH SPECIAL GUEST, EDUARDO GARCIA OF AMHERST COLLEGE
Eduardo Garcia, Assistant Dean of Admission at Amherst College, will be joining us for a very special event. He will share some information about Amherst's prestigious programs, and also allow students and parents to experience a 'mock admissions committee' meeting, where you can see how the admissions process looks from the other side of the desk. This is a fantastic opportunity and I strongly encourage seniors who are applying to universities outside Mexico to attend. All high school students are welcome, as well as parents.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 - 7:30 PM in the Auditorium
SENIOR COLLEGE NIGHT
This presentation is basically 'part 2' - a follow up from Junior College Night, which was held in April. More information will be shared regarding the college application process and what is coming up this fall. ALL seniors who are planning to apply to universities outside of Mexico are REQUIRED to attend with a parent.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 - 7:30 PM in the Auditorium
EXPLORING COLLEGE OPTIONS
Representatives from Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Pennsylvania will offer a presentation about their fine programs, and be available to answer your questions afterward. This event is open to the public.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 - 1:45-4:00 PM in the Gymnasium
ASFM COLLEGE FAIR 2008
(Please note the new, corrected date... The college fair is not October 8, as listed in the agenda!)
Representatives from universities throughout Mexico and the world will be available to speak to you. All ASFM high school students will be required to attend from 1:45-2:48 PM; the event will be open to the public beginning at 3:00 PM for a fee of $50 pesos. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend as well!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 - 3:30 PM in Room A106
YALE COLLEGE VISIT
Jean Lee, Associate Director from the Yale College Office of Admissions, will be joining us to discuss the fine undergraduate programs available. ASFM high school students who are interested in the possibility of attending Yale are strongly encouraged to attend with their parents.

College/university planning
Please see Ms. Loring's ASFM web site at http://mshs-staff.asfm.edu.mx/~loring_sarah/ and click on the link to the college counseling web page.

NewsFlash!
Students and parents who are interested in receiving NewsFlash! messages about upcoming college events, sign up at http://teacherweb.com/MX/ASFM/Loring/gallery1.stm by clicking on NewsFlash!

Friday Aug. 22nd

Monday Aug. 25th

Tuesday Aug. 26th

Tuesday Sept. 9th

Thursday Sept. 11th

Monday Sept. 15th-16th

Monday Sept. 22nd-23rd

Friday Sept. 26th