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The Cougar News

May 10, 2024

The Cougar NewsMay 10, 2024

Greetings from Principal Bame

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Dear AMS Families,


Our staff and teachers appreciate all of the kind notes, gifts, and words of appreciation this week. We capped off the week with a delicious lunch sponsored by our wonderful PTA. Thank you so much for making the week special!


Let's finish the school year strong together! Please remind your middle schooler about our school policies and responsibilities, including attendance and completing assignments on time. Additionally, students should be reminded to leave items at home that are not school appropriate or may get lost or stolen. Your support is invaluable in helping them succeed. Thank you for your partnership!


Bus Rider Update

Families of current bus riders will receive a message today asking if they wish to decline bus service for next school year. This will help our transportation staff in planning for next school year.


Wear Green on Friday, May 17th

May is Mental Health Month, dedicated to prioritizing student well-being and promoting a healthy school/ life balance. We encourage staff and students to wear green on Friday, May 17th.


AMS PTA is Seeking a PTA President for 2024-25

Our AMS PTA Board has several positions vacating due to either their kid(s) moving on to high school or reaching their two year term limit, and the most pressing of these positions is the PRESIDENT. According to PTA Bylaws, our AMS PTA is not allowed to function without a named President. Our current President is an 8th grade parent headed out of AMS, and we have not had anyone step up to take on this role for next school year. Ideally, we would love an adult (males welcome & encouraged) who will be around for the full two year term to provide some consistency, but even one year works. If you are at all interested, please reach out via email: apexmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com


Events for the Week:

  • Monday, 5/13: Softball away vs WLMS

  • Tuesday, 5/14: none

  • Wednesday, 5/15: Art Club

  • Thursday, 5/16: PTA General Membership Meeting

  • Friday, 5/17: 4th Quarter Interims posted



Thank you for supporting Apex Middle School!


Kind regards,


Mrs. Raleigh Bame

✨Triangle Family Magazine Feature✨

Mrs. Ryan was invited to submit artwork to be considered for Triangle Family Magazine's Student Art Showcase. One of our 8th grade students had a painting selected for the issue! The digital version can be viewed here https://www.midtownmag.com/triangle-family/ and paper copies are available at local Harris Teeter and Food Lion stores.

Summer Program: EOG Remediation and Re-administration

Apex Middle School is committed to providing all students with an excellent education. At the end of the school year, your child will participate in the regular administration of North Carolina End-of-Grade (EOG) tests. Students who score Level 3 or higher on these assessments are considered proficient. Students who do not score a Level 3 or higher on the regular administration and have passed the course/subject have the option to participate in a Remediation and Readministration opportunity in the summer.


Should your child meet the criteria for this opportunity and you choose for your child to participate, the Remediation and Readministration will take place on Thursday, June 13th and Friday, June 14th. Transportation will be provided to those that indicate below that they would be interested. Breakfast and lunch will be available for all students.


At this time, we are providing families with information about this opportunity. After students complete their EOGs we will determine which students are eligible and those families will receive an invitation for the summer program. Completing the form below will help us determine how many students might be interested in the summer program should they qualify. This is an opt-in opportunity and responses must be received by Friday, May 17th. If you would like for your child to participate, if eligible, please click on the link HERE.


Our school will provide remediation and a readministration of tests on the following dates:

Reading EOG: Thursday, June 13th

Math EOG: Friday, June 14th



NOTE: The last day of school is June 12, 2024

Grade Level Updates

6th Grade Message

Grades: Please note that at the end of next week, we will be halfway through the 4th Quarter. Be sure you and your student are checking PowerSchool and Canvas daily. The weekly checklist is linked below for your help and support in knowing what is happening in each Core subject.


Artist in Residence:Artist in Residence: This week our 6th graders worked with Senora Lynch, an American Indian from North Carolina. She shared with the students her culture and traditions along with showing the students her beautiful artwork. They created pinch clay turtles that they will be bringing home in the next couple days. Thank you to our amazing PTA who sponsored this awesome event. If you would like to check out more of her work, her clay art is part of the current American Indian exhibition at the North Carolina Museum of Art, "To Take Shape and Meaning." That exhibition is on through July 28th and has free days for Wake County residents on May 19, June 16, and July 21.



Important Dates:

Fri, May 24: All Assignments Due for WIN Celebration

Mon, May 27: No School - Memorial Day

Thurs, May 30: WIN Celebration

Tues, June 4: Reading EOG

Wed, June 5: Math EOG

Tues, June 11: Field Day - Wear Homeroom color

Wed, June 12: Last Day - Hawaiian Theme


Field Day: Just as a heads up, Field Day is NOW TUESDAY, June 11th. Each Homeroom class has been given a color. In previous years, students have gone all out dressing in their color (shirts, shorts, tutus, headbands, etc)

Veeder: Blue

Dewar: Red

Grz: Lime Green

Ganzel: Turquoise

Maynard: Orange

Schroeder: Purple

Tate: Kelly Green

Paxton: Dark Green

Simpson: Pink

DePerno: Gray
6th Grade Weekly Checklist
6th Grade Families: Click on this button to review daily assignments for the upcoming week.

7th Grade Message

Next week, we will be halfway through Quarter 4. Please stay updated with your student’s grades and assignments by checking PowerSchool and asking to see your student’s planner. Staying focused and on top of work these last few weeks is crucial. Please see the weekly checklist linked below and on the AMS website for additional details about weekly assignments.


At the end of the year, we like to engage in fun events like field day, incentives, and team activities to celebrate a year of hard work. Please be on the lookout in the next couple of weeks for Signup Geniuses and wishlists. The 7th grade hall appreciates any donations and contributions!


A message from Social Studies: Dear parents, we are truly amazed at the creativity and artistic ideas of our students, and they will once again put their creativity and artistic skills on display. Social studies began the Cold War Virtual Museum project this week and students will be creating a main artifact that will be displayed on presentation day Friday, May 17th. While we are not asking you to go out and purchase supplies, please indulge your students as they ask for any spare or unused materials that you may have around your home. This is a project that students should be using supplies that they have access to at home, no great expense is needed. Please reach out to your student's teachers if you have any questions. Thank you for your support from your Social Studies Teachers.


Field Day: Just as a heads up, Field Day is Monday, June 10th. Each Homeroom class has been given a color. In previous years, students have gone all out dressing in their color (shirts, shorts, tutus, headbands, etc)


Hayes: Hot Pink

Collar: Black

Dube: White

Bonham: Red

Francis: Purple

Robinson: Orange

Telke: Green

Garbarino: Royal Blue

Dunphey: Light Blue

Stanisclaus: Yellow



Fun dinner conversation topic featuring ELA: What is one benefit, for kids, of playing video games? The article we read this week argued the position that “Kids learn more valuable lessons at the computer than at school, in part because the computer activity is self-chosen and the school activity is not” (Gray). Do you agree with this? Why or why not?
7th Grade Weekly Checklist
7th Grade Families: Click on this button to review daily assignments for the upcoming week.

8th Grade Message

Grades: Next week marks the halfway point of quarter four, and it's crucial to remind our students to keep going strong. Let's encourage them to stay focused and give their best effort in their classes and homework. With your support, we can help them finish this quarter on a high note and achieve their goals.


Congratulations to the following 8th graders who are being recognized as PEAK students. These students consistently are prepared, engaged, ambitious and kind.

  • Alex Nguyen

  • Levi Nelson

  • Kai Chen

  • Molly Pinnell

  • Ella Ruckert

  • Piper Phodes


Field Day: Just as a heads up, Field Day is Monday, June 10th. Each Homeroom class has been given a color. In previous years, students have gone all out dressing in their color (shirts, shorts, tutus, headbands, etc)


Beavers-Teal

Rebando-Purple

Cravens-Orange

Rush-Royal Blue

Picha-Green

Keener-Hot Pink

Oxendine-Red

Ruppert-Carolina Blue

Silverthorn-Cammo

Sanchex-Pastel Pink

Jones-Black

Shaddix-Gray
8th Grade Weekly Checklist
8th Grade Families: Click on this button to review daily assignments for the upcoming week.

Community News

PTA Updates

Raleigh Bame

I am the proud principal of Apex Middle School, home of the Cougars!