Nighthawk News
Week of November 6, 2023
Our Vision: The Herbert Akins Road MS Learning Community collaborates to facilitate equitable outcomes and growth through social, emotional, and academic opportunities.
Week of November 6, 2023
Nighthawk Families,
Last week was a wonderfully successful week in our Nighthawk Nest. Thank you to our PTA for hosting a Book Fair for our students and families over the last two weeks.
Our school is applying to be a Purple Ribbon School to recognize our Military Families/Students at Herbert Akins Rd MS. In doing so, we appreciate the support of our entire school community. Below you will see one way you can support in the month of November.
This Tuesday, November 7, 2023, is a Teacher Workday and students will not be in school.
This Friday, November 10, 2023, is the Veteran's Day holiday and we will not have school that day. Our school office will also be closed so staff has the opportunity to observe the holiday.
As we are approaching Veteran's Day we would like to welcome you to Celebrate a Veteran within your family here at Herbert Akins Road Middle School. We are honored to recognize the Veterans that are close to our hearts who have served in any capacity at any time. Please upload a picture if able so we can display the photos throughout school on our television announcements. Form here
- Have you had the opportunity to have dialogue and discussion at home around each family members' Character Strengths? We encourage everyone to take just one minute to review the research and purpose behind teaching the Positivity Project here.
Please take time to stay connected and find all the opportunities offered to our students and school community each week. This Nighthawk News is filled with much information so be sure to continue reading below!
With appreciation for your support and partnership as we continue to #buildournest in Year 2,
Anne Marie Adkins
Principal
Culvers Spirit Night - November 7, 2023
We are fortunate to have had parents start a Fine Arts Booster Club to benefit our students. We hope you will stop by Culver's to help them raise funds to support our Music, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts, and Spanish programs!
Positivity Project at Herbert Akins Rd MS
Leadership and Bravery
Dear Families,
This week Tracks 1 and 2 will be focusing on the character strength of Leadership. Leadership means you value each member of your group and inspire people to do their best.
Leadership can be both formal and informal. It is concerned with getting others to do what needs to be done while maintaining group morale to ensure readiness to act in the future. This character strength’s focus is on the personal qualities of leaders rather than the practice of leadership. These qualities include the ability to understand others and inspire them toward a common goal, the capacity to mitigate conflict and mold consensus, and the desire to lead other people.
For individuals, leadership is a way to achieve what you know is important, as groups of people invariably achieve more than individuals. If you want to achieve your vision for the future, you need to inspire others to join you. As an individual’s ability to lead develops, so does that person’s confidence and sense of self-efficacy.
This week Track 4 will be focusing on the character strength of Bravery. Bravery means you act with mental, moral, or physical strength even when you know things are difficult or scary.
Bravery refers to voluntary (not coerced) action in the face of a dangerous circumstance. This strength involves judgement; the brave person must have an understanding of the risks and consequences involved in acting. According to Socrates and Plato, forethought separates acts of valor from acts of rashness. This means that bravery isn’t simply fearlessness, but instead the overcoming of fear.
Overcoming fears is critically important in individual development, as it allows the person to do more and become more. A person can be brave every single day. For example, some people with social anxiety are brave just by leaving their house and talking with people. On a physical level, bravery allows us to overcome fears, such as swimming or playing a sport. And, on a moral level, doing what we know to be right, despite the risks, gives us the sense that we are acting on behalf of a larger purpose.
To practice and encourage the character strength of bravery with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2) where together you will watch a video, read a quote and talk about the answers to three questions.
Have a wonderful week!
MATH COUNTS at Herbert Akins Rd MS - Click below to complete the form.
Costume Drive for our Theatre Arts Program
Little Mermaid Jr. - Important Information for Students to Be Involved!
Herbert Akins Rd MS Theatre Arts First Ever Production!
We are excited to announce that the first ever Herbert Akins Road Middle School Theatre Arts Production will be… The Little Mermaid Jr! Please take a moment to read over the audition and tech information below. If you are unable to access any of the files below, please try accessing them from your students WCPSS Chromebook before contacting Mr. Pressley. Thank you.
Audition Information:
Tracks 1, 3, & 4:
Monday, November 27th - Audition Workshop (3:30-5:30) - Room 1402
Tuesday, November 28th - Acting Auditions (3:30-5:30) - Room 1402
Wednesday, November 29th - Singing Auditions (3:30-5:30) - Room 1402
Track 2:
Monday, December 4th - Audition Workshop (3:30-5:00) - Room 1402
Tuesday, December 5th - Acting & Singing Auditions (3:30-5:00) - Room 1402
Notes about auditions:
All audition materials will be provided at auditions.
Students must attend all audition dates for their track to be considered for a role.
All who audition must sing (even if you don't want to be considered for a role in which you sing by yourself on stage.)
All who audition must complete THIS GOOGLE FORM WITH THEIR PARENT PRIOR TO AUDITIONING.
Students & Parents must FULLY and CAREFULLY read and complete the audition Google Form.
Please note - this is a different form than the Play Production Interest form. You must fill out this form and audition to be considered for a part.
Take a breath! We are here to help and support you through your audition. 😀
Questions? Contact Mr. Pressley at tpressley2@wcpss.net
Tech Information:
Students interested in being on the tech crew do not need to audition.
Students wishing to participate in tech must complete THIS GOOGLE FORM as their “audition.”
Students & Parents must FULLY and CAREFULLY read and complete the tech Google Form.
Please note - this is a different form than the Play Production Interest form. You must fill out this form to be considered for a tech role.
Questions? Contact Mr. Pressley at tpressley2@wcpss.net
Helpful Links:
Thank you for your interest in the production. We look forward to seeing your student(s) at auditions!
Mr. Travis Pressley
Theatre Arts Teacher & Director
Herbert Akins Road Middle School Theatre Arts
2275 Herbert Akins Rd, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Click below to join our Fine Arts Boosters!
Nighthawk Athletic News
Game Scores
As we celebrated our 8th graders last time playing at Herbert Akins Road we took on visiting Holly Ridge. Monday soccer fought hard until the very end but the Hornets scored a late goal to win 2-1. This brings their record to 4-1-2 for the season. The volleyball team also fought hard with some very close sets with the Hornets but fell 0-3. This brings their record to 1-6 for the season. Our football team battled all game long against Holly Ridge and came up with a big stop in the 4th quarter to win the game 16-12! This makes their record 3-4. We are proud of all our athletes and coaches and looking forward to seeing what the future holds for our 8th grade athletes. We know great things are ahead for them all!
Fall Team Schedule
Girl’s Soccer:
Game Monday 11/6 at Apex Friendship starting at 4 PM.
Volleyball
Practice Wednesday 11/8. Game Monday 11/6 at Apex Friendship starting at 4 PM.
Football
Practice Monday 11/6, Wednesday 11/8 from 3:30-5:30. Game Thursday 11/9 at Apex Friendship starting at 3:45 PM.
Cheerleading
Practice Monday 11/6 from 3:30-5:30. Game Thursday 11/9 a Apex Friendship starting at 3:45 PM.
Here is a link to our 2023-2024 NightHawk Athletic Schedule with tryout dates for each season. This document will be updated if any changes are made to the game schedules.
Tracked Out Athlete Drop Off
Parents due to our large number of carpool and coaches being on duty in the afternoon. Please go through the carpool line to drop off athletes no earlier than 3:30. Athletes will enter through the front of the school building. If an athlete arrives earlier than 3:30 they will need to sit in the cafeteria until it is time for practice. Parents please be sure not to drop off your athletes in the back by the gym you must go through the carpool drop off. This is a safety concern!
Winter Athletic Tryouts
Boy’s and Girl’s Basketball
Winter Athletic Tryouts will begin 11/15/23 for boy’s and girl’s basketball. Tryouts will be from 11/15-11/17 from 3:30-5:15 PM for the girl’s and boy’s tryouts will be from 5:30-7 PM. All required athletic paperwork must be completed on dragonfly in order to try out. Information regarding dragonfly is below.
Cheerleading
Winter Athletic Cheer Tryouts will be 11/15/23. Tryouts will be from 3:30-5:30 PM. All required athletic paperwork must be completed on dragonfly in order to try out. Information regarding dragonfly is below.
Athletic Paperwork Information
Athletic Physicals can be found here. https://www.wcpss.net/Page/1465
PLEASE USE THE REGISTRATION LINK FOR DRAGONFLY. NO PAPER COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE FIRST DAY OF TRYOUTS.
How to use DragonFly instructions CLICK HERE.
Apex Friendship Game Parking/Entrance
Please bring a chair to sit at the game. Apex Friendship currently has one large 10 row bleacher for parents to sit on at the soccer/football field. We are still charging $6 but are asking them to bring a chair. If the soccer/football parents want to sit on the track, this is fine but please do not allow them to sit directly behind the soccer/football teams. It really worked out last year, the parents from both teams had plenty of room to set up. Instead of having one large parking lot we have 3 smaller lots. One parking lot is directly by the front entrance of the school and football field. This parking lot fills up quickly. Please tell your parents that there are 2 separate parking lots behind our school. Also, there is the high school parking lot near the tennis courts. To get to these lots please take the second entrance. This entrance is the bus loop that we share with AFHS. You will see all the WCPSS yellow buses. Once you enter this area you will see a parking lot to your left by our school courtyard. Parents can choose to park here. The last parking lot is on the backside of our school. Once you pull into the bus area just tell parents to drive straight, towards the AFHS softball field. As you get closer to the softball fence, they will see the parking lot to the left. The volleyball parents have plenty of seating in the gym. They will sit on the bleachers. The concession stand will be open, accepting cash only.
Apex Friendship Map
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gEgSoGvna739FKm6rpjm-0wLV4gp-cXTr3EHOjklPzQ/edit?usp=sharing
Booster Club Memberships
Here is a link to the booster club website where information regarding sponsorships and memberships are available. Herbert Akins Road Middle School Booster Club
Booster Membership Square Site
Lastly, if you have any questions or need any help please feel free to reach out. Thank you!
Scott West
Athletic Director
Herbert Akins Road Middle
919-694-8300 ext. 53051
Prospective Student/Family Tours
Game Night - Friday, December 1st
Prospective Student/Family Expo - January 18, 2024
HARMS PTA Silent Auction Fundraiser
STEM Career Day
Apply for School Meals
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
Meal Benefits Expiration Date
Prior year meal benefits will carry over up to 30 school days in the new school year based on your student's school calendar. Families must reapply every school year if they are interested in receiving meal benefits.
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
Communication Protocol
We Need You as a Volunteer this Year!
Please take a moment to click here and register NOW!
Nighthawks PTA Information and Updates
Teacher / Staff Appreciation
PTA is getting an early start on collecting gift cards for Teacher / Staff Appreciation this year. Please sign up and add a small gift card to your next grocery store run! Thank you!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4AAEAE2BA7FE3-gift
Spiritwear Store Link https://1stplacespiritwear.com/schools/NC/Fuquay-Varina/Herbert+Akins+Road+Middle+School
Email attendance435@wcpss.net or scan QR code/fill out info in body of email
Harlem Wizards - Nighthawk Family Event - Mark Your Calendars!
On February 7th Herbert Akins Road MS will welcome the Harlem Wizards for a fun filled family night and we need volunteers to help make this event great. If you would like to sign up for the planning committee, please see the sign up genius link.