Around the RANCH

Welcome to September! We are already half way through the first quarter and Progress Reports are just around the corner, coming out on Friday, September 9th. Keep working hard and attending school each day! Let’s keep #MustangExcellence going and have another great week in #MustangNation!

As a reminder, Monday is Labor Day and we will not have school tomorrow! Also, this Wednesday is Early Release Day. Please review the bell schedule.

September is Attendance Awareness Month and we want to remind students and parents that showing up to school each day and every period is the way to be successful. Students who attend school are more likely to earn credits and graduate. Let’s come to school every day and be successful!

Please make sure, parents and guardians, that you login to your Parent Portal and complete the required documents for your child. This includes questions regarding medical and emergency care, the PSAT, and Media Center use. Without these being completed we are not able to take action in certain circumstances, such as a medical event, and will have to call 911 instead of our School Nurse handling it as she normally would.

As you are around campus in parking lots or at events, we ask that you please remain courteous and patient. If we can all do this, things will run smoothly and more efficiently, especially in the parking lot during drop off and pick up. Please be mindful of the neighborhoods near campus and the expectations that they have regarding safety and the rules of the roads. Here is information regarding parking, driving, bicycles, and fencing on campus: https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/parking-driving-bicycles-and-fencing-at-jwmhs/

As a reminder, #Excellence is the foundation of #MustangNation and #UnitedByExcellence! We are looking forward to each of you doing your best each and every day to contribute! You can expect weekly newsletters to keep you up to date as to what is happening at JWMHS around the ranch, as well as a weekly School Messenger call on Sunday night around 6:30PM. A good way of staying up to date on school information is to visit our website at https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/ and follow us on Twitter and Instagram (both @JWMHS), as well as like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jwmitchellhighschool! From there you can find several sources of information that will keep you informed of all the happenings at JW Mitchell High School.

We will strive to provide the best education possible for your child. If at any time during the school year you feel the need to contact me, please email me at jschultz@pasco.k12.fl.us or call (727) 774-9202.

We hope that you have a great week!

Go Mustangs!

~ Ms. Schultz

Let's Go Mustangs and help us Beat the Knights for a good cause!

This week we are collecting new shoes and socks for the Two Good Soles Charity. River Ridge has challenged us on and off the field with a charity drive collection. Let’s collect the most shoes and socks for our community! New items can be turned in to your RANCH teacher or Main Office until September 7th. So while you are off on Monday, stop in and grab some socks and a pair of shoes to donate! Help us #BeatTheKnights in this rivalry for the Two Good Soles Charity.

Find more information here: https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/two-good-soles-socks-and-shoes-drive-for-charity/

Here are some links you will need to make your school year successful:

How To for Students and Parents: https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/how-to-for-parents-and-students/

Login to your Parent Portal and Complete the Forms Required for the New Year: https://pasco.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/index.php?skipSSO

Pay Student Fees, Purchase a Yearbook or Locker, or Make a Donation: https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco/

Sign Up/Register for a Pasco eSchool Class: https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/do-you-have-an-eschool-placeholder-here-is-how-to-sign-up-for-classes/

Complete Athletic Paperwork here: www.athleticclearance.com/

Request the Parent/Guardian Dance Meeting: https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSDanceMtg

Purchase Mustang Gear: https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSSpiritStore

Apply for a Free/Reduced Lunch: https://connectplus.pasco.k12.fl.us/do/fns/free-or-reduced-price-meal-application/

Apply to be a Volunteer: http://pasco.k12.fl.us/comm/page/volunteer

Purchase a Mustang Legacy Brick: https://tinyurl.com/mustanglegacybrick

Parking, Driving, Bicycles, and Fences at JWMHS Information: https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/parking-driving-bicycles-and-fencing-at-jwmhs/

Bell Schedules for the 2022-2023 School Year: https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/wp-content/uploads/jwmhs/2022/07/bellschedules.2223.pdf

• Create or activate your myStudent parent portal at https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/parents.
• Once in your myStudent parent account, acknowledge all of the forms that are in your account.
• Once this is completed, you will be able to see the school fees.
• Notifications can be set where parents receive emails/texts regarding grades dropping below a certain percentage, missing assignments, and attendance data.
  
• If you need assistance with your account, please visit myStudenthelp@pasco.k12.fl.us or the school at 727-774-9200

• To Pay Online: In myStudent, under District and School Announcements, click “Pay Student Fees” or go to https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco/
• Click "Activate Parent Account" to create a new account or “Sign in” and enter your email and password
• A StudentQuickPay screen will pop up. The fees should automatically show on the screen
• Select/deselect the fees you want to pay for at this time under the "Due Now" and the "Other Items" section.
• Click on the shopping cart when you are finished and enter your credit card information.
• Click “submit” and you are done!

• Check your child’s bus pass. Review your child’s bus information by clicking “Child Info”. Then scroll down to “transportation routes” to verify it is correct. If your child’s bus information is incorrect, call the Transportation Office at (727) 774-4410
• View your schedule in myStudent by clicking “Class Schedule” on the left side of the screen. Then, visit our school website to virtually meet your teachers, virtually tour our campus, and obtain/download important information. (Do not look at the schedule in the grades area on the front screen as it will not show room numbers, lunch, or online placeholders.)

What do fees cover or donations go to? – Here is an explanation of some of the fees that are often asked about by parents. Quick links to pay fees and make donations can be found below.

• Class Fees: The Class Fee covers basic expenses that the Class may incur during the school year.
• PHSC/eSchool Fee: This fee covers the online tools that students use when they are taking an online class.
• Graduation Fees for the Class of 2023: The Graduation Fee is the fee paid by our Seniors to cover the graduation costs (cap and gown, medallion, diploma, diploma cover, graduation program, and venue).
• Security Fees: Security Fees help offset costs associated with safety including coverage at events and any materials needed to display expectations and rules.
• Technology Fee: This covers the technology and applications that we use as a school to support instruction and keep new digital tools in students’ hands.
• Mustang Excellence Donation: This fee will go to the general donations to JWMHS so that the school’s priorities can be met. Making this donation means that you will also receive a limited edition Mustang Stampede Student Shirt. This shirt design is going to be unique to each school year.
• Teacher & Staff Appreciation Donation: This fee will go to providing incentives for teachers and staff including meals during Teacher Appreciation Week hosted by our School Advisory Council. Making this donation means that you will also receive Mustang Gear.

• Lockers: If you are renting a locker this year, we will assign and distribute them during the first two weeks of school. You can pay for them now and show your receipt when you go to choose your locker.
• PE Lockers: If you are renting a locker this year, we will assign and distribute them during the first two weeks of school via the PE teacher. You can pay for them now and show your receipt when you go to choose your locker with your PE teacher.
• Schedule Changes: We have put a form online where students and parents/guardians can request a schedule change (https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSScheduleChange) . Of note, we do not have space in classes to change classes. We have done our best scheduling students. If you put in a request and on the first day of school a change was not made, we were not able to make the change. Please visit our website for more information on under what circumstances we change schedules (https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/schedulechange/).
• Senior Pictures: Please make sure that you contact Gigante Productions to take your Senior Picture so that you will be included in our award-winning Stampede Yearbook. (813) 907-1078 is the contact number and giganteproductions.com is the website.
• Busses: Check your child’s bus pass. Review your child’s bus information by clicking “Child Info”. Then scroll down to “transportation routes” to verify it is correct. If your child’s bus information is incorrect, call the Transportation Office at (727) 774-4410.
• Student Parking: Paying for a parking space does not guarantee that you will be assigned a parking space. There is an application process that must be followed. Please make sure that you visit our website to complete the application process. Students MUST have a parking tag to park on campus and every student is assigned their own spot. Enforcement will begin on the first day of school. Make sure that you check myStudent for your parking spot number.
• Yearbooks: This is the LOWEST price of the year for our award-winning Stampede Yearbook, $75 through the month of August.
• School Supplies: Each teacher will have his or her own supply lists. However, go to our website and you can see general school supplies that students will need to be successful.

Due to recent growth, only Seniors & Juniors will be allowed to apply for a parking tag to park on campus. All parking spots are assigned to students or staff, including in our Grass lot at the main entrance off of Jaguar Trail. Students without a tag are not allowed to drive to school. Please go to https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/parking/ to apply. The parking application will be shut down at brief times in order to process applications.

Principal - Ms. Jessica R. Schultz

9th (Class of 2026) - Ms. Holly Bruns

10th (Class of 2025) - Mrs. Carly Baldwin

11th (Class of 2024) - Mrs. Jill Cortier

12th (Class of 2023) - Mr. Joel Quina

9th (Class of 2026) - Ms. MaryEllen Ruconich

10th (Class of 2025) - Ms. Chandra Harlan

11th (Class of 2024) - Mrs. Haley Hettinga

12th (Class of 2023) - Mr. Jake Crouch

Mrs. Michele Chamberlin

Mrs. Chamberlin helps with scholarship information as well as help with the college application process. She will hold activities throughout the year to help with current and future planning!

For the Class of 2024-2026

Next Steps for College or Career Night

August 29th 6:30 p.m.

Media

For all Mustangs and Families

Florida College Tour College and Career Night

September 13th

Open to all 9th - 12th grade students

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

JWMHS GYM

Senior Pictures: Please make sure that you contact Gigante Productions to take your Senior Picture so that you will be included in our award-winning Stampede Yearbook. (813) 907-1078 is the contact number and www.giganteproductions.com is the website.

Mark your calendars now!

• Prom (location TBD) - April 29, 2023
  
• Senior Breakfast - May 25, 2023
• Graduation Practice (MANDATORY) - May 24 & 26, 2023
• Last Day of School - May 26, 2023
• Graduation at USF - Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Senior Dedication Pages in the yearbook can be pre-ordered by going here.