May 2026 PA Post
2025-2026 Wrapped
Hello Friends, We have come to the end of our traditional year at AMS (year round, keep it up!) and what a fantastic year it has been. This year's focus was on community engagement, bringing fun and connection to our community. Well, I can proudly say this volunteer team did just that!
Behind every one of the numbers above is a group of people who simply showed up, joyfully and generously. ❤️
As we look toward summer, we hope each of you takes time to relax, travel, grow with your family, and connect with the people who ‘fill your cup’ as it goes. We cannot wait to show you what we are cooking up for next year this coming Fall! As for me, your PA President, I will be retiring this year and handing the torch to Jennifer Moore, our current VP. Some final thoughts from me to you all.
When we enrolled our son at AMS, we chose this school on a feeling that he would be safe, seen, and loved. What I didn't anticipate was that this community would give that same gift back to me. Serving as your PA President this year has brought me friendship, healing, and joy I never anticipated. That is the power of communal care, and it is what this association is made of.
I leave you with one word: Lumina ✨. Light doesn’t ask to be noticed, it just makes everything possible. It is a quiet enabling force, it illuminates the invisible. As parents, this represents the unseen labor, the quiet anticipation and anxiety we carry, and the foundational support that makes life & home operations possible. We are the light that does not need to be noticed to be impactful.
That's this community. Thank you for a beautiful year.
Be Kind, Be Curious, and Have Fun.
- Claire Neeley
Farewell ❤️
Alas, we must also bid farewell to some of our lovely PA board members who have served over the years with. Thank you all so much for your time & dedication to this organization and its efforts to stitch us together.
Welcome!
And without further ado, we are THRILLED 🥳 to welcome our newest members to the PA and are eager to see them continuing to build upon whats been started.
Community Spotlight
Join us in celebrating amazing things happening in our AMS Community! This month we are celebrating…
Not your typical “Going Out”!
What began as a lesson on the rock cycle quickly turned into an unforgettable overnight adventure for four NOVA students. Jorge, Ana, Harrison, and Ellis set out to see a real moon rock by traveling to Space Center Houston, the official visitor center for NASA, this past spring.
Curious to learn more about their experience, the PA arranged an interview to gain deeper insight into their exciting undertaking. On the trip were two parent chaperones, Natalia and Greg, who were there to ensure safety and support as needed (basically driving only). Greg was sure to clarify, “they maintained a hands-off approach just as the AMS guides do during a normal going out. Hence, when the students came up against something they didn't understand, know about, etc. the chaperones would simply ask them to look at it again, ask their peers for input, or say "I know you can figure this out together". And they did. The struggle was real at times.”
The interview began with the students reflecting on the work it took to make the trip possible. To cover the cost of the journey, the group organized a bake sale during First Friday and raised more than $800. Their fundraising efforts helped pay for gas, food, an Airbnb stay, and admission tickets to Space Center Houston.
When asked where they kept the money they raised, the students laughed before admitting it was stored in a simple cardboard box at school. As one student explained, “It was kind of weird that it was in a closet at school, in a box.” The lighthearted comment captured both the excitement and the simplicity of their student-led adventure.
As part of preparing for the trip, the students also stopped at H-E-B to purchase groceries for their stay at the Airbnb. Working together, they prepared dinner on their first night, as well as breakfast the following morning before heading off to NASA. The students also cooked meals for their parent chaperones, Natalia and Greg, during the trip. The experience gave the students an opportunity to practice independence, teamwork, and planning throughout the trip.
The trip itself also came with unexpected challenges. One student described the experience of checking into their Airbnb rental, explaining that there were “a lot of steps” involved in getting inside. The group had to locate a lockbox hidden near a fence line, enter a code, and retrieve the key before they could finally access the house. “There were more steps than we thought, but we worked together and got it done,” the students shared. The experience became another example of the teamwork and problem-solving skills they used throughout the trip.
The students described several hands-on activities as highlights of their visit. One challenge involved wearing special glasses that flipped their vision upside down while they worked to complete a puzzle. Another favorite activity allowed them to draw their own spaceship designs, scan them into a program, and watch them appear on a giant interactive wall mural alongside other creations. Seeing their ideas come to life made the experience both exciting and memorable.
Asked whether one student had emerged as the leader of the group, Jorge explained, “Not really. If something would come up, we would all discuss it and help each other make the decision.” His response reflected the teamwork and collaboration that helped make the trip successful.
Asked whether they would return to Space Center Houston, the students quickly answered, “Yes.” Although they enjoyed their visit, they explained that time constraints prevented them from seeing everything they had hoped to experience. Among the missed attractions were the massive training pool used by astronauts — one of the largest swimming pools in the world — and the Mission Control exhibit. In a lighthearted twist, the students also admitted that despite traveling all the way to NASA to see a moon rock, they never actually got to see it. Even so, the students agreed that there was still so much more to explore, making them eager to return in the future.
The students’ journey showed how curiosity, teamwork, and determination can turn a simple classroom lesson into a real-world learning experience. What started as a discussion about rocks ultimately became an unforgettable opportunity to experience science and space exploration firsthand. Thanks for sharing Ellis, Jorge, Ana, and Harrison!
AMSPA Spring Recap
As we close out such a special school year, we wanted to take one more moment to reflect on what an incredible afternoon Bloom Festival was for our AMS community. From giant bubbles floating across the lawn and children creating their own Bloom Garden masterpieces to delicious food, music, sunshine, raffle baskets, and families gathered together laughing and connecting - there was a bit of magic in the air. The activities and beautiful weather were sweet, but the feeling of community was the reason it was such a success. Seeing families spread out across campus, children in pure joy, parents connecting, and everyone simply enjoying being together was such a beautiful reminder of what makes AMS so special.
We are so grateful to every family who attended, volunteered, donated, supported, and helped bring this event to life. Thank you for making our very first Bloom Festival such a meaningful and memorable celebration for our school community. The PA loved creating this event for all of you, and we are already so excited for next year 💛🌸
Reach out or check the bulletin with the Bloom Fest recap for a link to the photo album and download pin!
$42,000. FORTY TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS. Let that sink in!!! This is the amount our parent community generously gave during Appreciation Celebration Week.
For the last several years the PA has sponsored an End of Year fund for the guides, assistants, faculty, and staff who show up every single day for our kiddos. This money is delivered via check on the last day of school, enabling our guides and staff to travel with their families, invest in self-care and educational opportunities, and so much more.
We also loved seeing the daily gifts of baskets filled with goodies that our fantastic room parents coordinated à la carte, showering classroom guides with sweet treats, lovely scents, games, and goodies. These personalized expressions of gratitude mean so much to our guides. Thank you AMAZING Room Parents!
To our Guides and Staff: YOU ALL ARE THE BEST AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Upcoming PA Events
🌿 One Last Great Northern Gathering ☀️
Sunday, May 31st from 10:30 AM–1:00 PM at Northwest Park
Let’s celebrate the end of an incredible school year together with one more joyful morning of park play, creativity, and community. We’ll also have a simple opportunity for families who would like to participate in a small book / toy donation drive to give back together as a community. Bring the kids, a blanket, snacks, coffee, or just yourselves — and come enjoy one more sweet morning together before summer begins 🌿 Families should have received an email + calendar invite with RSVP details. Please reach out if you have any questions and hope to see you there!
A look ahead to next year…
We are already dreaming about what we can do for this amazing community next year… here are a few sneak peeks of new things already in motion.
More and better support for Room Parents and new AMS families
Our brand new Empowered Families SubCommittee - more opportunities to engage with and feel empowered by the resources our AMS educators provide.
More intentional integration of all campuses and all age students.
And of course more opportunities to gather and grow this AMAZING AMS community!
