West Pine Middle
Ignite! Engage! Grow!

A Note From Mrs. Wiley
We are looking forward to another great week of learning at West Pine! Students will finish taking their NC Check-ins on Wednesday, and those who have been absent will take their make-up assessments throughout the week. We want our students to do their very best so we know how best to meet their academic needs.
The PBIS Store is open for all students from 11/14 - 11/17. If your child has points to spend, he/she may do so during these dates only. A HUGE shout out to Mrs. Bellmore for her behind the scenes work to ensure that the online store is updated and ready for students.
On Tuesday, November 15th at 6pm, our PTSO will host a parent engagement series entitled "Dangers Teens Face Online." This presentation will last approximately 90 minutes and will be led by our school social worker, Stacey Gatling, and SBI Special Agent Pulliam. It is geared more for parents/guardians. We hope you will join us.
Our PTSO is hosting the 2nd annual "We Are Thankful For You" luncheon for the WPMS staff, and they need your help. Please use this link to sign up.
Finally, we are thrilled to receive the news of our 5th redesignation as a National Forum School To Watch. West Pine Middle School continues to demonstrate academic excellence and developmental responsiveness that support the success of our students. Many strengths were noted, including a focus on a shared mission and vision, MTSS practices, and high academic expectations.
As always, it's a great day to be a Wildcat.
Take care,
JW

Military Family Spirit Week

Upcoming Dates
- November 23: Teacher Workday
- November 24-25: Thanksgiving Holiday/No School
- November 29-December 6: Book Fair
- December 9: Interim Report Cards for At-Risk Students
- December 16: Early Release Day, 12pm
- December 19-January 3: Winter Break/Holiday
School Information
Please acknowledge the MCS Student Code of Conduct in Parent Portal.
Club Info: Military Club - Thursdays 3-4pm; FCA - Fridays 3-4pm
Instructional (including the encore fees) and technology fees can be paid online, or students can bring in cash or check. Contact Ms. Mullen, our bookkeeper, if you have any questions.
Dogs are not allowed on campus. If your dog is in your car during our morning and/or afternoon carline, we ask that you ensure your dog is restrained when your child exits or enters the car.
Don't forget to review the dress code with your child. In particular, students must wear clothing that covers their skin from chest to mid thigh with opaque (non-see-through) fabric in front, back, and on the sides. Clothing must cover undergarments, and breasts, genitals and buttocks must be covered with opaque (non see-through) fabric. For more information, visit the MCS Student Code of Conduct.
Bus Transportation Information: Students are not allowed to ride a bus in which they are not assigned. They can only ride their assigned bus.
- Routes: Transportation can be viewed on Parent Portal (web browser only, NOT the app). Here you can verify your child's transportation information.
- Communication: Please continue to contact the call center (910-947-5861) for any concerns or questions about your student's route.
The MCS middle school final grades are calculated as follows:
- For a single semester course, a student’s final grade shall be determined based on the final exam 15% of the final grade) and the grade for each nine-week marking period (each marking period representing 42.5% of the final grade).
- For a year-long course, a student’s final grade shall be determined based on the final exam (15% of the final grade) and the grade for each semester (semesters are the average for two nine-week marking periods with each semester representing 42.5% of the final grade).
- Middle school students taking high school courses will be graded using the Grade 9-12 formula.
Wildcat Athletics
1. Basketball
Congratulations to the final squads who made both the boys and girls basketball teams! The first home game of the season is scheduled for Monday, 11/21 starting at 4:00pm. More details about costs, seating in the gym, student pickup times, and parking to come in next week's update!
2. Wrestling
The wrestling team is officially set and we look forward to seeing the progress that will be made both as a team and by individual student athletes over the next several weeks. The cutoff to join the wrestling team was on Thursday, 11/10. Thank you for your understanding! The first wrestling match of the season is scheduled for Wednesday, 11/30 at New Century MS starting at 4:00pm.

Attendance Matters
School attendance is important and in order to receive the best education, students need to be present to fully support their academic success. School administrators and teachers track student attendance in PowerSchool. Parents should monitor their child’s attendance and ensure that students do not accumulate excessive absences. Both excused and unexcused absences count towards student attendance. Failure to meet minimum attendance policies may jeopardize a student’s ability to participate in sports or promote to the next grade. Parents will be contacted by school administration or a school social worker under the following circumstances:
- The child has accumulated three (3) unexcused absences in a school year.
- After not more than six (6) unexcused absences, the principal shall notify the family by mail that they may be in violation of the Compulsory Attendance Law.
- When student absences, excused or unexcused, reach five (5) in a semester or eleven (11) in a year in grades 9-12, or fifteen (15) in a year in grades K-8, the principal will contact the family.
- Students in grades 9-12 who are absent from a class more than eight (8) days, excused or unexcused, during a semester course shall not receive credit for the semester or year.
- Students in grades K-8 who are absent more than twenty (20) days during a year shall be referred to an interdisciplinary attendance committee which shall determine if the student should be retained. Additional policies are outlined in MCS Board of Education Policies, Section 6000.
Car Line Key Points
- Doors open at 7:30am. For our students' safety, we ask that you not drop off your child prior to that time as there are no staff members on duty.
- All students are dropped off at front of school in the morning. Please do not drop off in the bus parking lot, grassy area, tennis courts, at WPES, or at a local business.
- Students who work the school store or are involved in an early morning club meeting may be dropped off in the grassy area or front driveway.
- We are getting our students in to the building on time, so that is great news! The line will remain long unless more students ride the bus or families carpool.
- Older siblings will go to the younger sibling's car line for pick-up.
- Don't forget, 7th grade is picked up on the service road behind the baseball field. Cars will enter at WPES.
- 8th grade cars may proceed to the staff parking lot for afternoon dismissal. Once that area is full, 8th grade cars must remain in the main car line with the 6th grade cars. A staff member will be outside to help direct traffic. Use your right turn signal to alert the staff member on duty that you are going to 8th grade pick-up.
- Cars are asked to pull all the way up to the first open spot. The students will walk to your car. Do not stop when you see your child. Staff will direct you to keep moving as we have MANY cars to move through the line.
- Friday car lines will be much longer due to students not having athletic practices after school. Expect longer wait times.
Support our School: Link Your Lowes and/or Harris Teeter Cards!
WPMS PTSO News
- PTSO General Business Meetings and Parent Informational Sessions. Mark your calendars and join us to learn how we all can support our students.
- November 15: Dangers Teens Face Online, presenters: Stacey Gatling, social worker and Dee Pullium, Special Agent with NC State Bureau of Investigation (This session is for adults and is more explicit.)
- Help us celebrate the staff at WPMS with our annual "We Are Thankful For You" luncheon on Friday, November 18.
- Our PTSO is raising money for a flag pole and flag for our ball fields. Please reach out to one of our officers (see below) if you would like to help.
Parent Involvement
PTSO
Do you want to get involved but don't know where to start? Join the WPMS PTSO. For more information, reach out to one of our board members or email them at wpmptso@gmail.com.
- Alison McCloskey - president
- Amanda Peterson - secretary
- Meredith Morgan-Coleman - treasurer
- Karyn Schwagel - board member
Parent Advisory Representatives
Here are your parent representatives for the 2022-23 school year.
- Parent Advisory Council (PAC): Chiquita Monroe
- Military Family Advisory Council (MFAC): Alison McCloskey
- Hispanic Community Advisory Council (HCAC): Elizzeth Salgado
- African American Community Advisory Council (AACAC): Whitney Alford
- School Improvement Team (SIT): Alison McCloskey and Lynn Antil
Booster Clubs
Band, Orchestra , Choral Music/Theater, and Athletics
2022-2023 SIT Meetings
Monday, November 14, 3:30pm
Monday, December 12, 3:30pm
Monday, January 17, 3:30pm
Monday, February 13, 3:30pm
Monday, March 13, 3:30pm
Monday, April 17, 3:30pm
Monday, May 8, 3:30pm
Monday, June 12, 8am
Important Links
Do you have a question, concern or celebration you would like to share with our School Improvement Team? Enter it below. Our team will respond at the next SIT meeting and will note it in the minutes.