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 have a four day week as Tuesday, November 5th is a Teacher Workday.

• Our upcoming Veteran's Day event on Wednesday, November 6th is a community event! Please see all the details below in the newsletter.

• On Monday, November 11th, we will not have school in observance of Veteran's Day.

• Track 3 returns to the Nest on Tuesday, November 12th.

• Class attendance and participation are critical elements of the educational process. We will be sending home October Perfect Attendance certificates this week.

  We want to reward and acknowledge those students who attend school regularly.

  • Each month, students with Perfect Attendance (no excused or unexcused absences) will be recognized.

  • At the end of each quarter, students with 2 or fewer absences (excused or unexcused) will be recognized.

  If there are extenuating circumstances for your student with regards to attendance, please contact your grade level counselor for support.

• Any absences, whether excused or unexcused, can have a negative impact on a student’s academic achievement. Regular attendance must be prioritized and encouraged throughout our school community.
  

• The 7th and 8th Grade Fall Dance is Friday, November 8th! Mark your calendars now!

• Please see below in the Athletics Section for this week's game schedule.

• 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)

• 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

Dear Families,

This week, Tracks 1 and 2 will focus on the character strength of Leadership. Leadership means valuing each person in your group and encouraging everyone to do their best.

Leadership can be formal, like being a team captain, or informal, like helping others work together. It’s about getting things done while keeping the group’s spirit strong. Leadership isn’t just about telling people what to do — it’s about listening, understanding others, solving problems, and inspiring everyone to work toward a common goal.

As students learn more about leadership, they will see how working together with others can help them achieve more. Being a good leader helps build confidence and a strong sense of self.

To practice and encourage the character strength of leadership at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Here is the link to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Grades 6–8

This week, Track 4 will focus 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 judgment; 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 houses 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 at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Here is the link to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Grades 6–8

Thank you for your support!

Veteran's Day Appreciation Event

Herbert Akins Road Middle School is proud to announce our first annual Veteran's Day Appreciation Event. We will be honoring all immediate family member veterans of our wonderful students. The event will take place on November 6th, during the halftime break at our home football game. We would like to show our appreciation by personally thanking the parents, grandparents, and siblings of our students, who have served our country. Veterans will be individually escorted onto the field, displaying their name, rank, service branch, and years of service. Following the ceremony we would like to show our appreciation by providing catered food for our veterans. Veterans will have free admission to the game and are welcome to attend the whole game.

American Flags purchased will be used to create a "field of flags" at school on Monday before the football game. Students will be able to retrieve their flags before the game on Wednesday afternoon and show their support for our veterans during the game and during the halftime break.

Human Trafficking

From the Counseling and Student Services Staff:

We will be presenting the Wake County required Human Trafficking Program to all 7th and 8th graders. Attached you will find a letter outlining more details about the program and its purpose as well as a schedule of when we will be presenting. Please reach out to the counseling staff if you have any questions or would like to request printed copies of this information.

We need parent and family support to work our Concessions Stand at each home game. We ask all Student Athletes' parents to sign up to work once. Please see Communications from your Student's Coaches.

Please checkout this week's Nighthawk Athletic Newsletter .

⚽ GIRLS’ SOCCER

Monday 11/4/24

home against West Lake MS 4pm

🏐 VOLLEYBALL

Monday 11/4/24

home against West Lake MS 4pm

🏈FOOTBALL

Wednesday 11/06/24

home against West Lake MS 4pm

To prepare for future seasons ~

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 7th/8th Grade Dance will be on Friday, November 8th from 3:30-5:30 pm. Tickets may be purchased online on the PTA Website until midnight on November 5th. Students can also purchase tickets with cash during lunch November 6th-8th. Students who purchase in-person during lunches need a signed permission slip (linked below).

Please note that the social ends at 5:30 pm and dismissal will follow normal carpool procedures. Please review your student’s carpool number with them.

Students cannot be picked up early from this event.

Note: Track 3 students should be dropped off in the carpool during dismissal and will sit in the media center until the dance begins.

Permission Slip:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tuJWvBFGKalDV7HMK4brOj3XHfS9PfrE/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117054496572315199450&rtpof=true&sd=true

Link to PTA website for online purchasing: https://harmsmemberhubcomstore.givebacks.com/store/items/1124438

PTA Volunteers: We also need volunteers to make this a success! Please sign up for a station/time slot below (must be an approved WCPSS Volunteer)

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44A5A928A2F4CE9-52666571-7th8th

Now's the time to order a yearbook for your student and SAVE. https://bit.ly/3B8oAKd

The yearbook is a record of moments in time for your student. Order today for $45.00.

JOSTENS PAYMENT PLAN: Spread out the cost of your yearbook order with three interest-free payments.*

Nighthawks,

We are excited to announce that our spring musical this year will be WILLY WONKA JR.

Please read through the following information carefully to ensure you are prepared for auditions by clicking here.

Meal Benefits Expiration Date HAS PASSED - Please see below.

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

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)

• 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

Be sure to let your friends and family know about the year-round application process if Herbert Akins Rd MS is not their base school OR if it is their base school, the information below pertains to them as well.

Please take a moment to click here and register NOW!