The Cougar News

Dear AMS Families,

We hope this message finds you well! As we head into the final stretch of the school year, we have a few updates to share with you.

A Successful Culture Night!
We are incredibly proud of the collective efforts of our staff, students, and community in putting together another wonderful Culture Night. The event was a true testament to the diversity and talent within our school community. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event a success!

Mid-Quarter Grades Now Updated
Mid-quarter grades have been updated in PowerSchool, reflecting your student’s current academic standing. Please take a moment to check in and ensure that everything is on track. As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s teachers.

Only 19 School Days Left!
It’s hard to believe, but there are only 19 school days remaining in the 2024-2025 school year! We want to finish strong, and we’re counting on our students, staff, and families to make the most of every day. Let’s work together to end the year on a positive note and achieve all of our goals!

Greetings from Student Services!
We are excited to announce that Apex Middle School now has a designated Attendance email address. Please email us at attendance312@wcpss.net to communicate about student absences, doctor's notes, and tardies. We look forward to hearing from you!

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?

• Be a current registered WCPSS volunteer. www.wcpss.net/volunteer. If you have questions about your volunteer status, contact our lead secretary, Annie Jarrette ajarrette@wcpss.net.

• Watch the NC DPI Proctor Training video: youtu.be/O-M6zSGEPwo

• Review the NC DPI Proctor Guide: 24-25 The Proctor's Guide 7_12_24_Final.pdf

• Review the Overview of Proctoring at AMS

• Arrive at 7:45am on test days; check-in at the main office and go to the Media Center for a Volunteer Welcome.

• Link to Sign-Up: or bit.ly/AMSTestVolunteer

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.

AMS Band has two BIG events coming up! May 27 at 7pm is our Spring Band concert at Apex High School! May 29 is Picnic on the patio from 5-6pm in the AMS Courtyard! Bring food, chairs, friends, and we have the ice cream!

ELA UPDATES:

This week we will continue reading Hidden Figures: Young Readers Edition. We will be working to identify the amazing accomplishments of these women, comparing and contrasting author’s point of view in different texts, as well as identifying ethical habits of character.

• Tues June 3-Thurs June 5: EOG Review

• Fri June 6: ELA EOG

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:

• Thurs May 22: Mid Unit Assessment (Minor)

• Thurs May 29: Unit 2 Packet Check (Major)

• Mon June 2: End of Unit 2 Assessment (Major)

MATH UPDATES:

Math 6: We will continue working on Unit 8: Data Sets & Distributions, completing workbook lessons 4-8. Students will receive their Mid Unit 8 Progress Check (minor) on Wednesday 5/21, and may bring it home to complete it if needed.

Math 6+: We will conclude our study of Proportional Relationships

• Math 6: End of Unit 7 Assessment on Wednesday May 14. (MAJOR)
• Math 6+: None this week! (End of Unit 8 Assessment coming up on 5/20)

SCIENCE UPDATES:

Upcoming Major and Minor Assessments:

• None

SOCIAL STUDIES UPDATES:

Students will begin our Renaissance and Reformation part of our last unit. We will 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.

Link found here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BABAF2DA1F9C34-56600371-endofyear

Fun Dinner Conversation Topic Featuring SCIENCE: How do you know if something is in motion? 2. How can something have a negative acceleration?

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

ELA UPDATES

Upcoming Minor/ Major Assessments:

• STAR Reading – 05/19 (Does not show in PowerSchool or count towards grade – used for progress monitoring data)

• This week, we will work on the second and final portion of our performance task for Module 4: Screen Time and the Developing Brain. Students will use Adobe Express to get in touch with their creative side, and, after taking a stance about the implications of social media/technology, create a Public Service Announcement. Either by themselves or with a partner, they will use class time to plan and film their PSA.

• PSA due 05/16 at the end of class (Major)

MATH UPDATES

Upcoming Minor/ Major Assessments:

Math 7

• EU7 Test Delayed 5/20 (Tigers and Walrus)

• EOG Review

Math 7+:

• EOG Review

SCIENCE UPDATES

Upcoming Minor/ Major Assessments:

• No minors or majors this week

SOCIAL STUDIES UPDATES

Upcoming Minor/ Major Assessments:

• Cold War Quiz - 5/19 (Minor Grade)

• Cold War Museum Project Begins on 5/20 (Due 5/29 - Major Grade)

Thank you for your continued support this year. As we approach the end of the school year, we encourage you to check PowerSchool regularly. The end of the year gets busy, and we want to ensure that the students finish strong academically.

ELA UPDATES

Students will begin the week by discussing what makes an effective infographic in a Fishbowl Discussion. Then, students will complete a RAFT (Role, Audience, Format, and Topic) project synthesizing their learning from Module 4. Students will take their final STAR Assessment on Friday.

Upcoming Major and Minor Assignments:

• 5/19-Fishbowl Discussion

• 5/23-STAR Assessment

MATH UPDATES

Math 8

• Students will take an NC Check In and begin working on Statistics.
• Weekly Agenda

Upcoming Major and Minor Assignments:

• Check In on Monday. We will then start Statistics. Math 8 EOG on Tuesday, June 3rd.

Math 1

• Students will continue to work on Statistics.

• Weekly Agenda

Upcoming Major and Minor Assignments:

• Spiral Quiz on Friday.

• Stats Test will be next Tuesday.

• Math 1 EOC on Tuesday, June 3rd.

SCIENCE UPDATES

Upcoming Major and Minor Assignments:

• 5/19 - NC Check I

SOCIAL STUDIES UPDATES

Upcoming Major and Minor Assignments:

• Cold War End of Unit Quiz

Are you ready for an unforgettable adventure in Summer 2026? Join us, and a fantastic group of students and families, as we head to London and Paris to explore two of Europe’s most iconic cities. From famous landmarks to hands-on cultural experiences, this trip will be full of memories that will last a lifetime. Take a look at the itinerary and activities using the signup link: www.eftours.com/2781226YV. Early enrollment means lower prices and more manageable monthly payments! We’ll hold another interest meeting this fall, but spots are already filling up! Please email Ms. Hayes with questions at kghayes@wcpss.net!

**This trip is supported by AMS but not school or district sponsored.

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.

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Email: apexms@wcpss.net
Website: www.wcpss.net/apexms
Location: 400 East Moore Street, Apex, NC, USA
Phone: 9193872181