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

Nighthawk Families,

• This week students on Tracks 2 and 4 will have their Fall School Pictures taken during their Social Studies class on Wednesday. Flyers have been sent home with students.

• 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

Please support our Fine Arts Booster Club by purchasing a Go Play Save Coupon Book (paper copy or digital copy available). All funds will go to support our Visual Arts, Spanish, Band, Music, and Theater Arts programs this school year...and you get some great savings!

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.

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

For the 2024-2025 school year, HARMS will only have one team of 15 students with 2-3 alternates. Each student will have at least one study, and then they can have build events after that. If a student does not want to do a build even, they do not have to , student can choose to do only study events. ~ Debbie Schelin and Melissa Hockaday

Application deadline by Friday, 30 August, 2024.

WCPSS MS Information: Grades 6-8

Identified 6th, 7th and 8th grade students receive differentiated curriculum and instruction in language arts and/or mathematics within the general education setting. Options may include cluster and flexible skills grouping, curriculum compacting, differentiated units, and co-teaching between the classroom and AIG teacher. The AIG teacher consults with the classroom teacher regarding differentiated curriculum and instruction and also facilitates a variety of small group learning experiences. The AIG Teacher will serve the identified students face-to-face a minimum of 2 times per semester per area of identification.

Services vary depending upon course offerings and student performance. Differentiated course plans describe the course goals, content and evaluation.

NOTE: AIG identification for differentiated services does not guarantee a particular service option, program, class assignment, or school assignment

Submit AIG testing nominations for the Fall testing window!

Nominations are accepted all year. Testing occurs in the Fall and Spring. Students previously qualified as AIG do not have to be nominated to continue in the AIG programming.

HARMS AIG Identification and Nomination Form Link

The deadline for AIG Nominations for the 2024-2025 Fall Testing Window is

August 21st (Tracks 2, 3, and 4)

The deadline for AIG Nominations for the 2024-2025 Spring Testing Window is

December 8th (Tracks 1, 2 and 3) January 5th (Track 4)

Dear Families,

This week, our Tracks 1 and 2 students will focus on the character strength of 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.

Track 4 students will focus on the Love of Learning. Love of learning means mastering new topics on your own or in school.

Those with a love of learning are intrinsically motivated and engaged in a topic regardless of achieving an external standard. They enjoy learning simply for the sake of learning. They don’t need a prize or a high grade as a reward. Their reward is the process of doing the work and improving.

Developing a love of learning is highly beneficial for an individual. It means they are intrinsically motivated to deepen their existing skills and abilities or learn something completely new. Since intrinsically motivated action is correlated with positive emotions, those who act on their love of learning may also have enhanced mental and physical health. Additionally, individuals who love learning have the desire and ability to overcome challenges due to a sense of autonomy and control over their environment.

To practice and encourage the character strength of the love of learning with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families, where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.

Have a wonderful week!

Thank you for your support!

Please checkout this week's Nighthawk Athletic Newsletter .

We have Open Gym dates/times this week that you can find by clicking the newsletter above. Open Gyms are for any Nighthawk student, regardless of grade level.

Prepare Now for 24-25 Athletic Season

For any rising 7th or 8th grader interested in participating in Nighthawk athletic during the 2024-25 school year, please read the following:

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

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)

• We will start the year with a no-fuss fundraiser, just like last year.
• Our goal is to raise $40,000, with funds going to support teachers, student clubs, school dances, and so much more! (More information to come on that!)
• 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

"Nighthawk students interested in after-school theatre activities - please scan the QR codes below to express your interest in our Fall Showcase or Spring Musical. The title of the spring musical will be announced later this semester. Please note that these are only interest forms to help Mr. Pressley and Mr. Coppenbarger begin planning for the show(s). Audition forms will be released at a later date.

Fall Showcase: https://forms.gle/2Rnb7wDxvga3o7Sp6

Spring Musical: https://forms.gle/6W1PfTv7t8DLqjHZ9

Please contact Mr. Pressley with questions at tpressley2@wcpss.net"

Herbert Akins Rd MS opened in July 2022 and still remains the newest established middle school in WCPSS.

Our school opened July 1, 2022 with 825 students and in year 2 had over 1230 students. As we enter Year 3, we already have 1270 students. Each year we have had over 100 students enroll and join us after September.

HARMS is a multi-track year round school having students assigned to four different instructional calendars.

Due to the number of students in the Nest and the architectural design of the school, elective classrooms as well as 6th, 7th, and 8th grade core classrooms are located throughout the school building. Collaborative spaces can be found in all hallways and spaces in the tower (3 floor section) of the school.

Please take a moment to click here and register NOW!