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Nighthawk News
Week of August 21, 2023
Our Vision: The Herbert Akins Road MS Learning Community collaborates to facilitate equitable outcomes and growth through social, emotional, and academic opportunities.
Week of August 21, 2023
Nighthawk Families,
While every week has much in store for our Nighthawks, this week is exciting as we welcome back Track 3 to the Nest! It will be the first time we have over 1175 students in the building at the same time. Our students and staff have been working hard to establish safe and orderly structures at the start of the school year to ensure social, emotional, and physical safety for everyone. In addition, high levels of learning can take place for every student.
This week we continue the PTA Build Our Nest fundraiser and have daily competitions and prizes planned. These will be updated and shared daily through our school website, Talking Points, Twitter (which is on our webpage on the bottom right) as well as our Facebook page. This is a fundraiser where ALL proceeds are kept at the school level and no 3rd party vendor is involved. Last Spring, the PTA raised $24,000 in the Boosterthon but the school only received $12,000. Let's raise at least $24,000 and keep ALL the $$ at our school! Tracks 1 and 2 raised over $15,000 so it's truly possible that we could reach the stretch goal of $40,000. Your student should have brought home a flyer with the specifics and QR codes to register and send emails for donations.
The grade level who has the highest participation rate will earn their AP an opportunity to "Sit as a Nighthawk in the cafeteria" during the grade level's lunch. The Admin Team is looking forward to seeing who the winner will be! If the school raises $40,000, I will be thrilled to experience the Water/Ice Bucket Challenge. The top three teachers whose classes raise the most money as well as the AP whose grade level raises the most money will have the pleasure of showering me with water and ice 💧🧊
It's getting busier by the day in our Nighthawk Nest. Please take a few minutes to read this week's edition of the Nighthawk News (be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom) so you and our student(s) can stay engaged!
With appreciation for your support and partnership as we continue to #buildournest,
Anne Marie Adkins
Principal
Apply for School Meals - See Below
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 throughout ALL Wake County Public Schools, Crossroads, and at Central 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 lÃnea 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. New school year applications will be available on July 1.
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
Canvas | Parent Observer Accounts
Families can view their student's course content and progress by creating a Canvas Observer Account. If you have multiple students in WCPSS, you can link all students under a single Observer account. Observers have limited permissions, which allow you to see what is happening in a course without interrupting or participating. More information is available: https://www.wcpss.net/techguides
Positivity Project at Herbert Akins Rd MS - Self-Control and Being Present
Dear Families,
This week Track 1 will be focusing on the character strength of Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence. Appreciation of beauty and excellence means you notice and value the world’s beauty and people’s skills. You don’t take things for granted.
Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is the ability to identify and enjoy that which is admirable in the world. There are three types of goodness in which positive psychology focuses: physical beauty (e.g. a sunset, a song, or building); an exceptional skill or talent; and moral goodness (e.g. a character strength). Appreciation of beauty can generate awe; appreciation of a skill can generate admiration; and appreciation of moral goodness can generate moral elevation. All of these feelings (awe, admiration, and moral elevation) help us forget ourselves and find increased joy and meaning in the world.
Appreciating excellence and beauty helps an individual experience positive emotions and connect to the world around them. It’s an outward facing strength, meaning the individual is focused on the world outside their head. And, not only is the individual outwardly focused, but often deeply absorbed in a sense of awe or admiration, freeing them to forget anxieties and troubles. And it is associated with other strengths, such as gratitude, curiosity, love of learning, and purpose.
This week our Track 3 and 4 Teams will be focusing on the character strength of Curiosity. Curiosity means you like exploration and discovery. You ask lots of questions because you want to learn more about anything and everything.
Curiosity is a crucial component of one’s character. Our innate urge for discovery and exploration is a key element of our human desire for wisdom and knowledge. It’s what keeps us intrigued in the plotlines of movies and books. It’s what pushes us to try new activities or travel to different places. All individuals experience curiosity but differ in their willingness to experience it -- behaviorally, intellectually, and emotionally.
Individuals with the character strength of curiosity are more likely to ask questions and try new things. Curiosity, then, is a form of courage. Asking questions exposes the fact that we don’t know and trying a new activity means we might fail. But, it’s only through asking questions and exploring new opportunities that we learn and grow.
ALL FAMILIES: To practice and encourage the character strengths 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
During the 2023-2024 school year we are going to start a NightHawk Athletic News Letter to help keep everyone informed of all things Athletics. This will be a great resource for parents and athletes to check for any new information, athletic practice/game schedules, weekly team needs, booster club, ect.
To start many are wondering about our athletic schedule and tryout dates. Here is a link to our 2023-2024 NightHawk Athletic Schedule with tryout dates for each season. This document will be updated if any changes are made to the game schedules.
For tryouts please if you already have a Dragonfly account, log on and verify everything is completed. When Dragonfly rolled over to the 2023-2024 school year a few of the forms expired and needed to be redone. If you have not created an account please be sure to do so as soon as possible. Below is some helpful information regarding the Dragonfly process. If you plan on trying out for any sports or doing any open gyms please do not wait to get your DragonFly completed.
Athletic Paperwork Information
Athletic Physicals can be found here. https://www.wcpss.net/Page/1465
PLEASE USE THE REGISTRATION LINK FOR DRAGONFLY. NO PAPER COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE FIRST DAY OF TRYOUTS.
How to use DragonFly instructions CLICK HERE.
Open Gym Schedule
Our coaches will be holding an open gym for any 6th, 7th, 8th grade athletes interested. All Athletes must have their physical examination form and medical eligibility form uploaded on DragonFly prior to attending any open gyms. All open gyms will be from 3:30-5 PM and will take place inside.
Cheer Open Gym- Tuesday 8/29
Football Open Gym- Wednesday 8/23 & 8/30, Thursday 8/24 & 8/31
Volleyball Open Gym- Tuesday 8/22 & 8/29 Thursday 8/24
Soccer Open - Monday 8/21, Wednesday 8/9
Athletic Spirit Wear Site
Anyone is interested in getting some Nighthawk Athletic Gear, please check out the following link. https://harmsathletics23.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Items will be shipped to the school about 6-8 weeks after the site closes on 8/27/23 and I will deliver them to you child.
Herbert Akins Road Booster Club
Thank you to those who came to our Booster Club meeting on Tuesday night. We would like to invite any interested parents to our next booster club meeting on 9/13/23 at 6 PM after our Fall Kickoff Parent Meeting.. Here also is an interest form for any parents who can not attend. Interest Form
Scott West
Athletic Director
Herbert Akins Road Middle
919-694-8300 ext. 53051
You can also find a copy of this newsletter linked here.
Who on Track 3 or 4 is going to win the Build Our Nest challenges this week!
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-gift
PTA is looking for volunteers to scoop ice cream at the ice cream social for Track 3 and 4 on Friday, August 25th. Please sign up to help serve our students.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0E45A5AD29A7F49-icecream
Build Our Nest
Build Our Nest kicks off Monday 8/21 for Tracks 3 and 4!! PTA has a FUN week of contests planned!! We are trying to raise $24,000 with a stretch goal of $30,000 to fund Instructional grants for teachers, provide social engagement opportunities for students and families, provide financial assistance for field trips, assist with school technology needs and support student clubs! Tracks 1 and 2 have already raised over $15,000 so we think we can make at least $30,000 with the contributions from Tracks 3 and 4.
Monday’s contest - Donut Party up for grabs! Homeroom with highest registrations WINS!!!
Register & donate today!
Spirit Wear SALE
Nighthawks Spirit Wear Sale Continues
30% OFF STOREWIDE!!
Stock up on Nighthawks Spirit Wear & gear!
Store Link https://1stplacespiritwear.com/schools/NC/Fuquay-Varina/Herbert+Akins+Road+Middle+School
6th Grade Social - PTA is excited to offer a FUN event for our new Nighthawks! Please visit the 6th Grade Social tab on the PTA website for more information.
We Need You as a Volunteer this Year!
Please take a moment to click here and register NOW!
Building Classroom Libraries for Sustained Silent Reading
This school year we have implemented SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) to help enhance our school's reading culture. The staff and students read together during Nighthawk time across all grade levels, which promotes the enjoyment and lifelong skill of reading. We could use additional reading materials for the classrooms such as magazines, fiction and nonfiction books at a variety of reading levels, cookbooks, guidebooks, etc.. These donations can be brought to the office marked Attention: Stacee McCarter. Thank you for your support with reading both at home and in school.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Kate Caflisch (kcaflisch@wcpss.net), Library/Media Coordinator, and/or Jean Jaros (jjaros@wcpss.net), Reading Intervention Teacher.
Transportation Information - Bus, Walker, Carpool, Bike Rider
2023-2024 Bus Routes can be found here.
If you have not yet requested bus transportation for 2023-2024, please go to the WCPSS website to complete your request. You will have to request transportation even if you had transportation last school year.
To request a walker's pass and/or carpool number click here.
Please watch this carpool video to better understand how carpool will operate at our school. It is imperative that everyone adhere to the structures for safety and to ensure we are completed with carpool and bus arrival/dismissal so the elementary school can begin their procedures.
Information about Carpool/Walkers/Bus Riders can be found in this folder.
Staff Introductions - Check back weekly to learn more about our Nighthawk Team!
6th Grade, Track 3 Team
Mr. Wall (SS), Ms. Brown (ELA), Ms. Reynolds (Math), Ms. Wilt (Science)
6th Grade, Track 4 Team
Ms. High (ELA), Ms. Sanchez (Math), Ms. Whittington (SS), Mr. Alomboro (Math/Science), Ms. Schelin (Science), Ms. Ross-DeSantos (ELA/SS)
Fine Arts Team
Mr. Guzman (Spanish), Ms. Lugo (Visual Arts), Ms. Schakel (Band), Mr. Pressley (Theater Arts)
Email attendance435@wcpss.net or scan QR code/fill out info in body of email
Picture Day for Tracks 1 and 3
HARLEM WIZARDS - Nighthawk Family Event - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
On February 7th Herbert Akins Road MS will welcome the Harlem Wizards for a fun filled family night and we need volunteers to help make this event great. If you would like to sign up for the planning committee, please see the sign up genius link.