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The Cougar News

May 2, 2025

The CougarNewsMay 2, 2025

A Note from Principal Bame

Dear AMS Families,


Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 5th–9th. Our wonderful PTA is planning ways for families to help celebrate our dedicated teachers. Please consider donating items as part of their collective effort. Sign up information can be found at THIS LINK.


8th Grade Parents: 8th grade commencement tickets (3 per family) will be passed out to students in a sealed envelope through homeroom on Monday, June 2nd. Families are welcome to give unused tickets to other families. However, we will not be organizing ticket swaps for logistical reasons. Again, tickets are being issued due to feedback from last year and facility fire code maximum occupancy concerns. We also honor that the most important graduation is always high school graduation.


Thank you and have a great weekend!


With PEAK pride,
Mrs. Raleigh Bame, Principal

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AMS Spring Testing Volunteers 2025

Apex Middle School needs you! We need adult volunteers in the roles of test-session proctors as well as hall monitors for our End-of-Year Testing. These volunteer opportunities help our teachers cultivate an ethical and fair test administration as well as support our hard-working students if they step into the hall during testing. As a proctor, you would walk around your assigned space, ensure there are no distractions, monitor behavior and needs, and be a friendly face. You will not be responsible for test materials or technical assistance. This is a great opportunity to get your steps in!


How do I get involved?


What Should I Expect?

  • You shall feel a sense of pride and fulfillment as you serve a vital role in our Cougar community.

  • You will receive an email reminder one week prior to your volunteer date(s). If you realize you cannot honor your commitment, please contact our Test Coordinator, Lynn Flood LFlood@wcpss.net.

  • You can bring personal items like water and a quiet snack. We ask that you turn off your personal device(s) and keep it out of view during testing (cell phones and smart watches). Teachers and students must have their devices powered down except for medical exceptions.


When Am I Needed?

We have five days of testing. Proctors would need to be on campus at 7:45am for an overview in the Media Center. Testing will conclude by 12pm on most days.

Testing Volunteers Needed on the Days Below (highlighted in yellow)

Events at the PEAK this Week

Monday, 5/5

  • 📚 Beginning of Teacher Appreciation Week

  • 🌮 Cinco De Mayo

  • ⚾ Softball Game (Away vs. Holly Ridge)

Tuesday, 5/6

  • 🩺 National Nurses Week

  • ⚽ Soccer Game (Home vs. Friendship)

Wednesday, 5/7

  • ❌ No events scheduled

Thursday, 5/8

  • ⚾ Softball Game (Home vs. WLMS)

Friday, 5/9

  • 🤾‍♀️ PTA Dodgeball Event (3:30 - 6:00 pm)

AMS Families: Please Complete the WCPSS Survey!

WCPSS Family Survey 2025

Wake County Public Schools has launched a districtwide family survey - Panorama Education Survey, to learn more about you and your child’s experiences in our schools, more specifically here at Apex Middle School. Your responses to this survey will be confidential and only reported in combination with other responses. No one will be able to see individual responses from any parent or guardian. The survey should take about 10-15 minutes. Your honest feedback is essential as we work to create the district, school, and classroom environments that are most supportive for our students.


If you have any questions, please contact our school-based survey coordinator, Arvis Bridges-Epps at abridgesepps@wcpss.net. Please complete the survey by Friday, May 6th. Thank you for your input on our school.

AMS Culture Night - Call for Presenters

We would love for more of our Apex families to celebrate their culture on May 15th. We will have performances in the gym including music by the Raleigh Academy of Chinese Learning, dancing from the Cherokee Nation and India, a Step Team group, and another Tai Chi demonstration from AMS's own Mr. Fong but this time he's bringing a sword! More families representing the countries of Germany, Morocco, Palestine, Iraq, Guatemala, Pakistan, Brazil, Turkey, and Zimbabwe are already excited to share their clothing, food, digital presentations, and other wonderful exhibits from their home countries. Let's make this evening a true celebration of all our Apex families! Please use the link to let us know how you can participate. Thank you!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSder2_pMDg7YdqV-L7flvxyW4gH_z2vGSkQll_5r7-smkjwbg/viewform?usp=sharing

Grade Level Updates

6th Grade Reminders

Spring is in the Air: With the temperatures rising, it is important to ensure that our students are dressed appropriately and are adhering to the school's standards. Our 6th graders have done a lot of growing this year, some of the clothes that fit at the beginning of the year may no longer fit now. The dress code is in place to maintain a positive and focused learning environment while promoting a sense of unity and respect among our students. Your cooperation in reinforcing these guidelines is greatly appreciated. By working together, we can ensure that our students are dressed comfortably, appropriately, and ready to focus on their education. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the dress code, please refer to the student handbook or contact administration.


Friendly Reminder: We just wanted to reiterate the importance of not sharing personal items (clothes, hairbrushes, makeup, etc.) or food to ensure germs and other agents are not being passed around.


Grades: We are quickly approaching the halfway mark of the 4th Quarter. Be sure you and your student are checking PowerSchool and Canvas daily. The weekly checklist below will help and support you in knowing what is happening in each Core subject.


Important Dates:

Mon, May 26: No School - Memorial Day

Fri, June 6: Reading EOG

Mon, June 9: Math EOG

Tues, June 10: Field Day


6th Grade Wish List: Pencils and Post-It Notes (ELA). Markers and Colored Pencils (Science). Please and thank you!

6th Grade Updates

ELA UPDATES:

Next week we will continue building background knowledge about the space race and space exploration. We will be reading different article and annotating for main idea and supporting details

We will begin reading Hidden Figures on Monday, May 12. Just as a reminder, we only have class sets of this novel. If your child has their own copy, please have them bring it to school starting next Monday. We are reading the “Young Reader’s Edition.” We will post the links to the read aloud on the Weekly Checklist

Book Return: Please check under seats, in closets, under beds, and other places that books tend to be for any class novels or library books. These need to be returned to school as soon as possible. Donations of these books are also greatly appreciated.

  • Percy Jackson The Lightning Thief

  • Good Masters, Sweet Ladies

  • A World Without Fish

  • Flush

Upcoming Major and Minor Assessments:

  • Wed May 7: M4U1 Mid Unit Assessment (MINOR)

  • Fri May 16: STAR Reading Assessment (NOT on PowerSchool)


MATH UPDATES:

We are intentionally assigning DeltaMath lessons to review concepts taught this year. It is very important that students are completing their Deltamath every week. Students should also complete at least 5 Dreambox lessons every week.

Math 6: We will continue working on Unit 7: Rational Numbers. Students should complete lessons 16-19 in their student workbooks.

Math 6+: We will continue working on Unit 8: Introducing Proportional Relationships. Students will complete lessons 8-13 in their student workbooks.

Upcoming Major and Minor Assessments:

  • Math 6: None this week! Looking ahead - End of Unit 7 Assessment on Wednesday May 14.
  • Math 6+: None this week! Looking ahead - End of Unit 8 Assessment on Friday May 16.


SCIENCE UPDATES:

We will be investigating the relationship between Earth and the other planets in our solar system. We will look at how gravity affects orbit and if habitation is possible. Earth vs Mars is a topic we will discuss and look at exploring in the next weeks.

Upcoming Major and Minor Assessments:

  • Explorers: only skills this week


SOCIAL STUDIES UPDATES:

The Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation unit introduces students to the political, economic and social factors that brought about the beginning of the Middle Ages and ways that these factors also contributed to the end of the Middle Ages. Students will also study how the movement of people, goods and ideas helped introduce new innovations that led to the Renaissance and Reformation. During this unit, students will learn about specific events, people and groups that played a major role in changes that occurred in the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation.

Upcoming Major and Minor Assessments:

  • Unit Test: Friday 5/30th (Major)
  • Due same day: RKJ and student slides/unit worksheets

7th Grade Updates

Important Dates:

Mon, May 26: No School - Memorial Day

Fri, June 6: Reading EOG

Mon, June 9: Math EOG

Tues, June 10: Field Day


7th Grade Students - EOG Math Workshop

  • May 28-29, June 2-4 from 3:30-5 pm

  • Testing Strategies, Review, and Practice Problems

  • Sign-up Genius link will be sent soon!

  • *Capped at 100 students per day


Thank you to all the families that donated to the 7th grade XEPA store. It is such a pleasure to reward students with something a little different for their academic successes. The 7th grade science department truly appreciates your generosity!


Fun Dinner Conversation Topic Featuring SCIENCE: Which organs can you live without and which organs can you not live without?


ELA UPDATES

Upcoming Minor/ Major Assessments:

ELA classes will visit the Media Center this week. Please help us in encouraging your student to check out a book and read independently each night.

  • Francis: 05/05
  • Hayes: 05/06
  • Telke: 05/07
  • Mid-Unit Assessment Parts 1 and 2 – 05/08 and 05/09


MATH UPDATES

Upcoming Minor/ Major Assessments:

Math 7

  • Volume Quiz 5/8 (Minor)

  • Star Math 5/9 - Please have Chromebooks charged!

Math 7+:

  • Scientific Notation Quiz 5/6 (Minor)

  • Star Math 5/9 - Please have Chromebooks charged!


SCIENCE UPDATES

Upcoming Minor/ Major Assessments:

  • XEPA Store on Monday 5/5

  • Infographic Project due Tues 5/6 (MAJOR)


SOCIAL STUDIES UPDATES

Upcoming Minor/ Major Assessments:

  • End of Unit Quiz - Tuesday, 5/6 (Minor Grade)

8th Grade EOY Activity Fee

👉 https://apexms.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true&category=Eighth%20Grade

🎉 8th Grade End-of-Year Activity Fee

Parents can also pay the $10 activity fee for EOY 8th grade activities at the same link above.

Deadline to pay the activity fee: May 16

ELA UPDATES

Students will explore the author's purpose and author’s motives in using infographic information. Students will continue reading The Omnivore's Dilemma and completing the reading log.

Upcoming Major and Minor Assignments:

  • 5/12 EOUA


MATH UPDATES

Math 8

Students will learn and review exponent laws.

Weekly Agenda

Upcoming Major and Minor Assignments:

  • Star Math on Monday.


Math 1

Students will take the Star Math assessment, review for the test, and take the final check in.

Weekly Agenda

Upcoming Major and Minor Assignments:

  • Star Math on Monday

  • Exit Ticket on Tuesday

  • Test on Thursday

  • EOC Check In #2 on Friday and the following Monday


Math 2

This is the last week of the Math 2 course! The final exam is May 13th. This exam grade is 20% of the final grade.

Upcoming Major and Minor Assignments:

  • Mod 7 Lesson 3 Activity

  • Mod 7 Lesson 4 Activity

  • Star Math on Friday

  • Final Exam on Tuesday


SCIENCE UPDATES

Students will begin the last unit of the year: Populations and Ecosystems. Students will start by learning about all the biotic and abiotic features of an ecosystem.

Upcoming Major and Minor Assignments:

  • None


SOCIAL STUDIES UPDATES

Students will finish up the unit on the Great Depression and WWII. Then, students will begin the next unit, which is focused on the Cold War.

Upcoming Major and Minor Assignments:

  • Unit Test on WWII on 5/6 (Oxendine)

  • Unit Test on WWII on 5/7 (Ruppert and Silverthorn)

Community Corner

Resources

Educational Leave and Travel Leave Requests

Educational Leave Policy – Wake County Public School System (WCPSS)

The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) policy for educational leave is designed to support excused absences for educational experiences that are comparable to what a student would have experienced in school.


As per the policy:

“For an excused absence for educational reasons, the intent of the experience should have been educational from the outset and comparable to that which the student would have experienced in school. Family trips and vacations that were not designed, initially, to be educational will not be excused. Signing this form documents that this absence is for valid educational purposes.”


Educational leave is typically granted for experiences such as cultural visits, academic programs, or enrichment opportunities that align with the academic mission of the school. It is important to note that family trips or vacations that are not designed to be educational in nature do not qualify under the WCPSS policy.


Apex Middle School’s Educational Leave Flexibility

At Apex Middle School, we recognize that family travel and extracurricular activities, such as tournaments, can provide valuable experiences that contribute to a student’s growth. While these types of travel may not meet the strict requirements for educational leave as outlined by the county, we have elected to offer some flexibility for our middle school families.


To support our families, Apex Middle School will allow up to five days of excused travel per student, per year, even for non-educational travel such as family vacations or tournaments. This is a courtesy designed to help families balance educational responsibilities with extracurricular and personal opportunities. These absences will be excused under this flexibility, even though they may not meet the specific criteria for educational leave outlined by WCPSS.


However, beyond these five days of excused travel, any further requests for educational leave will need to be based on experiences that are rooted in academic or educational purposes. This includes academic programs, enrichment opportunities, or other educational experiences that are comparable to what the student would have participated in during a regular school day.


NOTE: for the 2024-2025 school year, use the form below for both and educational leave or travel leave request. We are working on creating a separate travel leave request form for the 2025-2026 school year.

School Social Media and Contact Information

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Mrs. Raleigh Bame, Principal
https://www.wcpss.net/apexms