Nighthawk News
Week of April 22, 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 April 22, 2024
Nighthawk Families,
Track 4 returns to the building for the start of their 4th Quarter. Tracks 1, 2, and 3 had a successful start to Q4 the last three weeks. We are confident and excited to welcome back Track 4.
Track 3 begins their last track out of the school year and will return to the building on Monday, May 13, 2024.
This Friday we will celebrate and honor our Military Students and their families by wearing purple!
The Board Advisory Council Meeting is Monday, April 22nd from 6:30-7:30 PM at Woods Creek Elementary School. Any community member can attend to learn more from our district's WCPSS Board Member.
You should have received an email to take the Panorama Parent Survey. Thank you for your support in assisting WCPSS in hopefully increasing our previously low response rates for this survey. There are multiple uses of this survey to include: metrics of the Strategic Plan, ability to provide perception data for schools for the School Improvement process, and the results are often used to monitor multiple programs in our district and school. You can find the survey here.
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!
We hope to have you join us for our Spring Athletic Events! You can find the link to the schedule below.
Student enrollment numbers as well as having to provide four tracks determine the number of teachers we are allotted from the school system each year. We ask that our 6th and 7th grade families complete this Student Destinations Form to assist us with planning. Thank you in advance as this will ensure we recommend the correct number as well as the best teachers possible for our students.
End of Year Dates for your calendars:
8th Grade Track 1 - May 31st (Field Day/Picnic/Yearbook Signing); 8th Grade Dance - All Tracks - May 31st 7:00-9:00 PM
6th/7th Grade Track 1 - June 3rd
(Outdoor Stations)
8th Grade Track 3 and 4 - June 21st (Field Day/Picnic/Yearbook Signing)
7th Grade Tracks 3 and 4 - June 25th (Outdoor Stations)
6th Tracks 2, 3, and 4 - June 26th
(Outdoor Stations)
Teacher Appreciation Week is almost here and we need parent assistance! Here are two links to sign-up to either donate or volunteer your time
- Volunteer
We encourage families to take vacations during track outs to ensure students are in the Nest on instructional days to ensure learning and growth each school year. Here are the 2023-24 school calendar and the 2024-25 school calendar for your planning purposes.
With appreciation for your support and partnership as we continue to #buildournest in Year 2,
Anne Marie Adkins
Principal
Wear Purple on Friday, April 26, 2024!
WCPSS Student Survey
In the spring, students in grades 5-13 will be asked to complete the annual WCPSS Student Engagement Survey. Your child will be given an opportunity to complete this survey during the school day.
The survey includes questions about teacher-student relationships, relevance of school work, and future aspirations and goals.
The results of this survey help schools monitor their School Improvement Plans, and help the district track student perceptions about their educational experiences.
You can click here to review the questions included on this survey and click here to review results of the survey from previous years.
If you have any questions about when the survey will be completed, or if you would prefer your child not complete the survey, please contact your student's grade level counselor. The contact list with names and numbers can be found above on the Communication Protocol.
If you have any questions concerning the content of the survey, please contact the Wake County Public School’s Data, Research, and Accountability Department at wcpssdataaccountab@wcpss.net
Thank you for your continued partnership.
Positivity Project at Herbert Akins Rd MS
Tracks 1 and 2 - Fairness; Track 4 - Cheering Others' Successes
Dear Families,
This week our Tracks 1 and 2 will be focusing on the character strength of Fairness. Fairness means you believe that all people have value. You approach situations with an unbiased mindset and treat everyone with respect.
Fairness is the product of moral judgement — the process by which people determine what is morally right and what is morally wrong. Moral reasoning has been explored and analyzed in two main traditions: the justice reasoning approach and the care reasoning approach.
For individuals, cultivating the character strength of fairness is correlated with highly desirable developmental outcomes. It helps people to become trustworthy friends, responsible citizens, and generally moral people.
This week Track 4 returns for their 4th quarter and will be focusing on the Other People Mindset of Cheering Others’ Successes. This means when other people succeed, I am happy for them and cheer them on.
Being happy for other people when they succeed isn’t always everyone’s initial reaction. Often, it’s easy to become jealous or envious of others’ victories -- or even to experience schadenfreude, which is deriving pleasure from witnessing (or learning about) another person’s misfortune. People who have these reactions to the success or misfortune of others are colloquially known as “haters.” It’s important to note that these are natural emotions and in small doses can be helpful in allowing us to see what we care about -- and motivate us to pursue those goals.
But making a commitment towards cheering on other people’s successes can be a great way to improve our own health, happiness, and relationships. People can take active steps to be more genuinely happy for the achievements of others. Ways to do this include; telling others about the success of your modest friend; noticing when your reaction to a sibling’s success is envy or jealousy -- and asking yourself why that is; reminding yourself that appreciating the excellence in another is a character strength; asking your successful teammates and classmates what they do to prepare for games or tests.
Being supportive of people who succeed is good for our mental, physical, and emotional well-being and when people cheer each other on it begins a reciprocal process that forges stronger relationships. Those relationships are the foundation for a strong culture in teams, schools, and businesses.
To practice and encourage the character strength of perspective with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.
Have a wonderful week!
Nighthawk Athletic News
This Week's Newsletter can be found here!
This week's Athletic Schedule:
Monday, April 22nd - Softball away at FVMS
Tuesday, April 23rd - Boys' Soccer away at Holly Grove MS
Wednesday, April 24th - Softball away at Apex Friendship MS
Wednesday, April 24th- Track Meet home against FVMS and Holly Ridge MS
Thursday, April 25th - Softball game away at Lufkin Rd MS
NOTE: For students’ safety, all tracked out students MUST use carpool to be dropped off in front of school. Ideal drop-off time is between 3:20 - 3:30.
Mark your calendars for our End of Year Sports Banquet on Wednesday, May 22.
At the banquet, we recognize each sport from the 2023-24 school year.
Booster Club Memberships
Here is a link to the booster club website where information regarding sponsorships and memberships are available. Herbert Akins Road Middle School Booster Club
Booster Membership Square Site
Please get your friends and enter your team for the 3 v 3 basketball tournament in May! Details linked below
Lastly, if you have any questions or need any help please feel free to reach out. Thank you!
Brent Winston
Athletic Director
Herbert Akins Road Middle School
919-694-8300 ext. 53051
Little Mermaid Junior - 1st ever musical production at Herbert Akins Rd MS
Get your tickets now before they sell out! Click the photo below.
Click the picture below for the Science Spelling Words.
The Spelling Bee will be held during FLIGHT Time Clubs from 9:15-9:45 over two Wednesdays.
3-on-3 Basketball Tournament at Herbert Akins Rd MS
Sign-up as a Free Agent or Sign-up as a 3 Player Team! Teams that sign-up together can pick their team name! Sign-up NOW to ensure you and your team get a spot in the tournament!
8th Grade Dance scheduled for May 31st from 7-9 pm. Theme is Glow in the Dark.
The 8th Grade Dance "Glow in the Dark" will be held on Friday, May 31st.
This event will take place from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm in the school Cafeteria.
Volunteers are needed to make this event a success! This is the last dance of the year and the last at HARMS for our 8th Grade Students!!
Volunteers are needed before the event for set up, and after the event for clean up. We will have a DJ playing students favorite hits, Sparks Photo Booth taking pictures, and drinks/ snacks/cupcakes available at no charge for all students attending the event.
In order to volunteer, YOU MUST be registered with WCPSS as a volunteer!! Volunteer sign up is now done online from the convenince of your home. Please DO NOT wait as approval takes time.
Please reach out to herbertakinsmsptasecretary@gmail.com for any questions!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0E45A5AD29A7F49-48628623-8thgrade
It's hard to believe that we are already deep into planning for next school year. Planning enrollment is one of the most critical elements to planning a new school year. To have a better idea of student enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year, we would like to know your intentions ( Please note that this is not binding). To assist our team in accurate planning, please complete the following form to the best of your knowledge at this time.
Please select the option that best describes your family's plan for the start of the 2024-2025 school year. As a reminder, the school year for Tracks 1, 2, and 3 begins on July 8th, 2024. Track 4 will start on July 29, 2024.
Apply for School Meals
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
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.
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
Herbert Akins Rd MS Track Change Request Form 2024-25
This form will be reviewed through June 2024 if seats come available on tracks. Families will be notified prior to making the change.
We Need You as a Volunteer this Year!
Please take a moment to click here and register NOW!
Nighthawks PTA Information and Updates
Teacher / Staff Appreciation
PTA is getting an early start on collecting gift cards for Teacher / Staff Appreciation this year. Please sign up and add a small gift card to your next grocery store run! Thank you!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4AAEAE2BA7FE3-46949039-gift
Spiritwear Store Link https://1stplacespiritwear.com/schools/NC/Fuquay-Varina/Herbert+Akins+Road+Middle+School