Our Vision: The Herbert Akins Road MS Learning Community collaborates to facilitate equitable outcomes and growth through social, emotional, and academic opportunities.

Nighthawk Families,

• FLIGHT Time Clubs begin this Wednesday, September 4th. Thank you for your patience in this process as we work to ensure students are assigned to one of their top three choices. Students received an email on Friday as to their club assignment.

• On Thursday, September 5th our Band will perform a Movie Night concert! We hope you will join us for this fun evening in the Nest.

• WE NEED YOUR HELP! The Build Our Nest fundraiser is the only PTA fundraiser of the school year and the majority of funding goes to support our FLIGHT Time Wednesday Clubs as well as our After School Clubs. We really need you and your student supporting by sending emails to all family, friends, and neighbors as EVERY donation helps, regardless the amount! Your student will bring home an envelope this week for cash/check donations. ANY amount counts and students will get their names on a stick for the Nest in the cafeteria IF they get any amount of donation for our school. Thank you!

• Volunteer Renewal closes October 1st!

  As a valued member of our volunteer community, we would like you to renew your volunteer status for the 2024-25 school year.

  The volunteer renewal process is quick and simple for all volunteers who were approved for the 2023-24 school year. The renewal window is now open through Oct. 1, 2024. Go to the MyVolunteer Volunteer Renewal site to renew your volunteer status today! Log into your MyVolunteer account and follow the directions for Volunteer Renewal. The process should only take a few minutes. Once approved, the renewal date in your MyVolunteer profile will be updated.

  All 2023-24 approved volunteers received an email on July 1 from no-reply@criminalrecordcheck.com with a link to renew your approved volunteer status for the 2024-25 school year.

  If you have any issues during the renewal process, contact the MyVolunteer customer support team at 877-272-0266 or customercare@mycrc.com.

• Our Nighthawk PTA has begun their 2-week Build Our Nest fundraiser where all funds stay at the school and are not shared or obtained by a third party. Students and classes are encouraged to get donations from family, friends, and neighbors anywhere in the world as they compete daily for prizes and experiences. The funds from this fundraiser will fund our weekly FLIGHT Time Clubs (for ALL students), After School Clubs, Technology Resources, Chromebooks for classroom usage, Teacher Appreciation/Recognition, Classroom Supplies for Special Projects, Field Trips and so much more! The goal this year is $40,000 which should be obtainable with more students in the Nest as over $32,000 was raised last school year. Please donate during this two week period!

• Per a directive from NC DPI, SL 2021-132/SB 693 stipulates that information on child abuse and neglect, including age-appropriate information on sexual abuse, must be provided by all NC schools to students in grades 6 through 12 at the beginning of each school year. This law requires actions by schools including:
  

  • Sharing a document with information on child abuse and neglect, including age-appropriate information on sexual abuse, with students in grades 6 through 12 at the beginning of each school year.

  • Posters located in visible, high-traffic areas throughout each public secondary school that includes specific required information and resources as listed in the law.

  
  

• The document here is for your information that contains important information and resources available in our community. WCPSS is committed to the safety and well being of children in our community. If you have any questions about this information, please reach out to the school social worker or school counselor.

• Please follow us on our school's Facebook page, X "Twitter" account, and Instagram to stay abreast of up-to-date news and reminders throughout each school week. Scroll all the way to the end of this newsletter and click on the buttons to follow us on each platform.

With appreciation for your support and partnership as we continue to #buildournest in Year 3,

Anne Marie Adkins

Principal

Dear Families,

This week, our Track 1 students will focus on the Other People Mindset and Character Strengths studied during the first quarter.

In today's world, it's easy to get distracted by phone calls, messages, and social media. These distractions can pull us away from what's most important — our relationships with other people.

Tracks 3 & 4 students will focus on Prudence. Prudence means you plan for the future and achieve your goals by making careful everyday choices.

Prudence is about doing the right thing at the right time for the right reasons. It's a way of thinking ahead, setting goals, making plans, and having the discipline to follow through. It’s more about using your head than your heart.

Prudence helps with managing yourself effectively. Whether aiming for a sports record, getting good grades, or saving for something special, you need to plan ahead and stay focused. Even with a plan, you must resist temptations that might distract you. Prudence gives you the wisdom to use the right strengths at the right time to achieve your goals.

To practice and encourage the character strength of prudence at home, please visit the Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families. There, you can watch a video, read a quote, and discuss three questions together.

Thank you for your continued support!

Meal Benefits Expiration Date HAS PASSED - Please see below.

Families must reapply every school year if they are interested in receiving meal benefits.

To apply for free or reduced-price meals, you can do so online by visiting www.MySchoolApps.com. Paper applications will always be made available in our school's front office, or you can call 919-588-3535 or 919-856-2920 to have one mailed to you.

• Application information
• Application information - información sobre la solicitud (Español)
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Frequently Asked Questions - preguntas frecuentes (Español)
• Sample application/Ejemplo de solicitud (Please fill out an original / Favor de completar una solicitud original)
• Meal charges policy | Cuentas de Alimentos

Online Application

• Apply for Free or Reduced Price Meals Online
• Solicitud en línea para las comidas escolares Gratis/Precio Reducido: Español

Questions about applying for free and reduced meals:

(919) 856-2920 (English)

(919) 588-3535 (English and Spanish)

cnsmealbenefits@wcpss.net

Free and Reduced-Price Benefits Office fax number:

(919) 856-3704

In our Parent/Family Survey that was sent to all families in July, one of the topics/activities of interest for families was the opportunity to learn more about workshops/meetings/seminars to help parents support their students to be more successful in their social, emotional, and academic development. As opportunities arise and/or are made available, we will be sure to communicate them to our families. See below for one of the first opportunities this school year.

On Sept. 18, Dr. Laura Politte, a board-certified child/adolescent and adult psychiatrist, currently serving as medical director of outpatient services in the WakeMed Health & Well-Being service line, will present “Smooth Transitions: Supporting Children and Parents in Returning to School”.

Dr. Politte will explain the unique emotional, social, and cognitive challenges children face when they return to school. She will also identify ways to face additional stressors while discussing strategies to support children and their parents during this season.

The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 at the William F. Andrews Center, 3024 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27610. Registration is free and open to the to parents, guidance counselors, teachers and community members.

As a reminder, information regarding the district's new Say Something App/Initiative has been shared in the Nighthawk News newsletters over the past few weeks. See below for information that was shared by all three local news stations this past Friday.

Sept 10th, Dec 10th and Mar 11th from 4-8pm

Please checkout this week's Nighthawk Athletic Newsletter .

Tryouts for our 7th and 8th graders for Fall Athletic Teams begins this Tuesday, September 3rd!

🏈 FOOTBALL 🏈

Dates: Tue. 9/3 - Thu. 9/5

Time: 3:30 - 5:30

**Bring cleats and sneakers**

🏐 VOLLEYBALL 🏐

Dates:

Tue. 9/3 (7th grade only)*

Wed. 9/4 (8th grade only)*

Thu. 9/5 (7th / 8th grade)

Time: 3:30 - 5:00

*Players will be notified each day if they have or have not advanced to final round of tryouts

⚽ GIRLS’ SOCCER ⚽

Dates: Tue 9/3 - Thu. 9/5

Time: 3:30 - 5:00

📣 CHEER 📣

Dates: Tue. 9/3 - Thu. 9/5

Time: 3:30 - 5:00

All athletes must have ticket to play to participate in any tryouts!

MOST IMPORANT

Click here for the video on how to do athletic physicals

*Check out our NEW athletic paperwork/physical Google Doc for information on how to load all paperwork on DragonFly

Brent Winston

Athletic Director
Herbert Akins Road Middle School

bwinston@wcpss.net

919-694-8300 ext. 53051

Cheerleading: Lauren McKenzie and Samantha Carrino

Volleyball: Carl Alombro and Grace Cascadden

Girls Soccer: Chris Tuggle and Sarah Maye

Football: Brent Winston, Joe Samuels, and Eric Knudson

Dance: Aliyah Echols and Trinity Harrison

The 2024-2025 PTA is very excited about this upcoming school year!

• Please join the PTA so that you can receive communications throughout the year (we promise to keep them to a minimum!) regarding school dances, fundraisers, Teacher Appreciation events, family fun nights, and more!
• Join here: Join the PTA - HERBERT AKINS RD NIGHTHAWKS PTA (weebly.com)

• Buy Spirit Wear (the PTA receives a portion of sales) - Herbert Akins Road spirit wear, Fuquay-Varina, NC, Nighthawks | 1st Place Spiritwear
• Rent the Spirit Rock (for birthdays and other celebrations)
• Find information on volunteering for events
• If you have any interest in joining a committee this year, please contact Alex Jamieson at herbertakinsmsptapresident@gmail.com. Examples of committee positions are:
• School Dances
• Fundraising
• Teacher Appreciation
• Audit
• Spirit Nights
• So much more! Do you have special interests? Let us know! We probably have a committee for it! :)

Thank you so much, and we look forward to a FUN and awesome school year!

Alex Jamieson, PTA President

Athletic Teams at Herbert Akins Rd MS include the following:

FALL

Football, Volleyball, Girls Soccer, Cheerleading, and Dance

WINTER

Boys and Girls Basketball, Cheerleading, and Dance

SPRING

Boys and Girls Track, Boys Soccer, Softball

WCPSS allows 7th and 8th graders to participate on competitive athletic teams. 6th graders are allowed to serve as team managers. Managers for each season will have a process in which to complete paperwork to show their interest.

Please take a moment to click here and register NOW!