Nighthawk News
Week of August 26, 2024
Our Vision: The Herbert Akins Road MS Learning Community collaborates to facilitate equitable outcomes and growth through social, emotional, and academic opportunities.
Communication Protocol
Week of August 26, 2024
Nighthawk Families,
Students on Tracks 1 and 3 will have their Fall School Pictures taken during their Social Studies class on Tuesday, August 27th. Flyers have been sent home with students.
With traditional calendar schools beginning this week, please be aware there could be potential delays in bus transportation or earlier arrival times in the morning. While there are drivers for all routes, we have been informed that there are not substitute drivers if a driver is sick or out and that the routes have been designed to be longer or buses will be doubling back to run two routes per school campus.
Our Nighthawk PTA will begin 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 the upcoming two week period which begins August 29th!
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.
We are delaying the start of Flight Time Clubs until 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.
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
Positivity Project at Herbert Akins Rd MS
OPM - Being Present and Self-Control
Dear Families,
This week, our Track 1 students will focus on the Other People Mindset of Being Present.
This means when we are with other people, we are present and give them our full attention.
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.
Just as plants need sunlight to grow, our relationships need attention. If we don’t give our full attention when we are with our family, friends, and even colleagues, we can't build strong relationships. It’s crucial to put down our phones and tablets and really listen when others are talking. Positive relationships are the foundation of a positive culture, and we can’t build positive relationships without attention.
Tracks 3 & 4 students will focus on Self-control. Self-control means having the ability to control your emotions and behaviors. You think before you act.
Having self-control helps people stay calm during tough times and avoid impulsive actions. It doesn’t mean you don’t have thoughts or feelings; it means you can manage them.
When working or gathering in groups, self-control is shown through “self-monitoring.” This means being honest about what works and what doesn’t. Group members adjust their roles to help the group succeed.
To practice and encourage the character strength of self-control at home, please visit the Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families. There, you will watch a video clip together and discuss a quote and three questions.
Thank you for your continued support!
Say Something App and Program
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.
8th Grade DC Trip Parent/Family Informational Meeting - 8/29/24 from 6-7 PM
Apply for School Meals - Each School Year!
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
Science Olympiad
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.
THREE Parent Groups supporting our school! Here are the Fine Arts Boosters ~
Fine Arts Boosters - Go Play Save Fundraiser! Click below to purchase😀LAST CHANCE!
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!
Mark your calendars for dinner out at Culver's to support our Fine Arts Programs
Sept 10th, Dec 10th and Mar 11th from 4-8pm
Nighthawk Athletic News
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
Brent Winston
Athletic Director
Herbert Akins Road Middle School
919-694-8300 ext. 53051
Fortunate to have supportive Athletic Booster Club! One of THREE parent groups!
Athletic Booster Club Passes - Save Money/Buy a Pass for ALL Seasons/ALL Sports
Athletic Spirit Wear - 15% Off This Week
Grateful for an outstanding Nighthawk PTA as another committed Parent Group!
Nighthawks PTA Information and Updates
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, Build Our Nest from Thursday Aug 29 - Monday Sept 16.
- 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! :)
Alex Jamieson, PTA President
Theatre Activities - After School
"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"
Did you know? Facts about Herbert Akins Rd MS
Check back weekly for new facts to learn more about our school!
Herbert Akins Rd MS opened in July 2022 and still remains the newest established middle school in WCPSS.
In the Nest we have 4 Instructional Calendars (Tracks) in which students are assigned. Students are assigned tracks in middle school when they enter for the first time, either as a new student to the school community or a 6th grader. WCPSS encourages schools to offer family alignment if families have students in elementary and middle school; however, in order to utilize the school buildings as intended by the school board and district policies, students' track assignments are new in middle school and are not guaranteed to be the same as they were in elementary school.
WCPSS allows 7th and 8th graders to participate on competitive athletic teams. 6th graders are allowed to serve as team managers. Each season AD Winston will communicate a process with interested students.
We Need You as a Volunteer this Year!
Please take a moment to click here and register NOW!