Nighthawk News
Herbert Akins Rd MS Community Newsletter
Week of August 1, 2022
Weekly Updates for the Week of August 1, 2022
All Nighthawks:
Last week was a wonderful week at Herbert Akins Rd MS! We finished our 3rd week of the school year with Tracks 1 and 3 and began the Track 4 school year.
Please take a moment to read about the students' learning in this week's newsletter. In addition, there is information as to how you can get involved and support our school community!
#NighthawksStickTogether
With appreciation for your partnership,
Anne Marie Adkins
Principal
Positivity Project - Track 4 will focus on the Other People Mindset; Track 1 will focus on Open-Mindedness
This week our school community will be focusing on the Other People Mindset. This means anything that builds relationships is going to make you happy.
The mission of the Positivity Project is to empower America’s youth to build positive relationships by understanding, appreciating, and exemplifying the character strengths in us all.
People who have strong positive relationships do five things consistently - these are the five practices of the Other People Mindset.
1. Recognize the good in other people,
2. Recognize that everything you say or do affects other people,
3. Support others when they struggle,
4. Cheer people on when they succeed,
5. Remain present when giving people your attention. People who have a strong Other People Mindset are able to build and maintain strong, positive relationships with others.
While mental health is incredibly complex, we do know that positive relationships can help people become happier, healthier, and more resilient. And, the Positivity Project believes that educators have a huge opportunity and vital role to play in this endeavor. Our nation’s youth spends a large percentage of their time in school. By deliberately and consistently teaching students that relationships are important -- and that positive relationships are cultivated through character and the Other People Mindset -- educators can roll back these trends and create strong citizens and leaders for our communities and countries.
This week our Track 1 students will be focusing on the character strength of Open-Mindedness. Open-mindedness means you like to consider new ideas and try new things. You examine things from all sides and don’t jump to conclusions.
Open-mindedness is the willingness to actively search for evidence that goes against one’s favored beliefs, plans, or goals. Open-minded individuals are able to weigh all evidence fairly, when it is available. They see the other side and fight the tendency to have a bias for their own views. And, rather than favoring the socially dominant views, they give attention to those that are less dominant.
Open-minded individuals are often good listeners and called upon to provide a balanced viewpoint. Both listening and the ability to deliver reasonable and practical advice are marks of good friends and confidantes. This strength helps individuals form meaningful and lasting relationships.
To practice and encourage the character strength of open-mindedness 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.
Knowing our strengths and those of others helps us to better understand and appreciate one another. We invite all family members to take the VIA Strengths Survey to begin engaging in conversation around our top strengths to better know how to engage and interact with one another.
Have a wonderful week!
FastBridge (English/Language Arts) Assessment
Our students, along with all 6th-8th grade students in WCPSS, will be taking this Universal Screening. A Universal Screening is the process of checking all students' performance (taking their "temperature") three times a year using the assessments included in FASTtrack Reading at each grade level. Results from these assessments will allow teachers to create whole group and small group instruction based on students' results. Our goal is to ensure students grow at least one year in their reading skills this school year.
First Annual Herbert Akins Road MS Curriculum Night
More details to come...
Thursday, Aug 25, 2022, 06:00 PM
2275 Herbert Akins Road, Fuquay-Varina, NC, USA
Nighthawk Students in 6th, 7th and 8th Grade - Open Gym this week!
This Wednesday, August 3rd we will have an Open Gym for any and all 6th, 7th,and 8th grade students. This is an off-season skill development and opportunity to start building connections with other students who are interested in the game of basketball.
Track 3 students are welcome to attend and should be dropped off in afternoon carpool. All students who participate must be picked up by 4:30 pm.
Each student must have all required paperwork uploaded to Dragonfly. More information is below.
Athletic Physicals can be found here. https://www.wcpss.net/Page/1465
PLEASE USE THE HERBERT AKINS ROAD ABOVE TO REGISTER ON DRAGONFLY. NO PAPER COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO PARTICIPATION.
How to use DragonFly instructions CLICK HERE.
CALLING ALL PTA VOLUNTEERS
Calling all volunteers! The PTA needs your help, consider joining a committee today. For more information, email herbertakinsmsptasecretary@gmail.com to get involved. We would love to have you in the nest.
Don’t forget to join the PTA!!
Committees/Projects that need YOU!
• Build Our Nest Fundraiser
• Food Truck Fridays
• Teacher and Staff Appreciation
◦ Early Release Events
◦ Love the Bus
◦ Principal and Assistant Principle Days
◦ Food Service Appreciation Day
◦ Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
• Food & Coat Drive
• Family Outreach
◦ Canes Family Night
◦ Fall Family Board Game Night
◦ Welcome to the Nest
• Book Fair & Literacy Week
• 6th & 7th Grade End of Year Celebration
• 8th Grade Celebration
Herbert Akins Road Middle School
Website: https://www.wcpss.net/herbertakinsroadms
Location: 2275 Herbert Akins Road, Fuquay-Varina, NC, USA
Phone: (919) 694-8300
Twitter: @HerbertAkinsMS