West Pine Middle

Ignite! Engage! Grow!

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A Note From Mrs. Wiley

Wildcat families,

Congratulations to several of our orchestra students for earning a seat in the Junior Eastern Region Orchestra. They performed Saturday in Jacksonville.


It's CONCERT WEEK! Concerts begin at 6:30pm in the gym.

  • 5/9: band
  • 5/10: orchestra
  • 5/11: choral music


See our athletics section for lots of upcoming information including games this week. There is an interest meeting Monday night at 5:30pm in the Pinecrest HS cafeteria for rising 9th graders interested in running Cross Country.


This week is Teacher Appreciation Week! Check out our PTSO section below for ways to help. You can also send an email or note of thanks to your child's teachers. A word of encouragement and thanks goes a long way.


Our END OF YEAR iReady Diagnostic Assessments in reading and math take place Wednesday and Thursday immediately after announcements. Please encourage your child to do his/her very best as it is the best indicator of performance on the EOGs. In addition, these assessments give our ELA and MA teachers information on areas needed for review.


Interim reports go home Friday, May 12th for all students who are in danger of failing this quarter or for the year. (Some teachers may choose to send to all students.) Our message in the building for all our students is to FINISH STRONG. Please continue to encourage your child to put forth his/her best effort these last few weeks of school.


Finally, I want to wish our robotics team the best of luck as they compete Friday at the MCS Robotics Competition. In addition, best of luck and safe travels to our Quiz Bowl team. They travel to Chicago this week for the Quiz Bowl National Championships.


Take care,

JW

8th Grade Luau (sponsored by the PTSO)

8th graders: mark your calendars! You don't want to miss out on a fun night just for YOU!

Details:

  • Student fees must be paid in order to attend. The balance cannot exceed $50.
  • Academic requirement: passing 3 of your 4 core classes
  • Discipline/Behavior requirement: No OSS for the year, no more than 2 ISS referrals during the 2nd semester, and no more than 5 minor incidents between May 1 - June 2.

8th Grade Information

Reminders

  • All fees/fines must be paid in order to participate in end of year activities. Contact our bookkeeper, Kathleen Mullen, if you have any questions.
  • Students must pass three of their four core subjects for the year and be in line with the NC attendance requirements for promotion.

Upcoming Dates
  • June 2: 8th grade dance (sponsored by the PTSO), 6-8pm
  • June 8: 8th Grade Picnic, 12-3pm
  • June 9: 8th Grade Promotion Celebration, 9am, baseball field (In the event of rain, the celebration will be moved indoors to the gym with admission by ticket only - 2/student.)

Grading Reminders

The MCS middle school final grades are calculated as follows:

  • Students will receive their actual EARNED average for the 4th quarter.
  • 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.
  • ELA, math and science (8th) will use the EOG as the final exam. For courses without an EOG (6-8 SS, 6-7 SCI, and encore classes), the final exam will be determined and created by the teachers. World History and Math 1 follow HS guidelines. Here is the link to the grading policy for the district.
  • Report cards will be mailed to families the week of June 12th. They will not go home with students the last day of school. Those in need of summer school or considered for retention will be notified prior to the end of the school year.

Summer School Updates

This year, summer school will take place June 14-15 and 19-22. Students attending will receive 4 days of intensive review in math and/or reading followed by the opportunity to retest the RDG and/or MA EOG. The hours of summer school are 8:30-11:30am. Transportation is not provided.


In addition, these dates and times will be used for students who are required to attend summer school in order to be promoted to the next grade due to poor attendance and/or grades. Parents will be notified no later than June 7th; however, parents can always review their child's grades and attendance in PowerSchool and reach out to their child's homeroom teacher if they have any questions.

WILDCATS Pawing Through Pages

March is National Reading Month! All WPM students will be participating in a school-wide collaborative reading challenge, WILDCATS Pawing Through Pages!, for the duration of the school year. For every 100 pages read, students will create and add paw prints to a Wildcat paw chain along each hallway. The goal is to work together as grade levels and as a school to read so many pages that the chains merge in the intersection and travel through the main hallway. Happy READING to all!

Attention 6th Grade Parents

Per North Carolina law, all students are required to show documentation of both the Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis) and MCV (meningococcal conjugate) vaccines in order to enter 7th grade. Now is the time to schedule an appointment with your health provider to receive these important immunizations. Please remember to send a copy of the immunization record to the school. Any questions/concerns, feel free to contact the school nurse.

Club and Academic Team Updates

Meeting Days

  • Monday:
  • Tuesday: Quiz Bowl
  • Wednesday: Quiz Bowl and Robotics
  • Thursday: Military Club
  • Friday: Dance Club and FCA

Wildcat Athletics

Baseball and girls soccer travel to Southern Middle on Monday, 5/8. WPM hosts New Century for baseball only on Tuesday, 5/9 for the FINAL HOME GAME of the season. Eighth grade recognition will take place for baseball prior to the game starting!


Game times start at 4:00pm. Parking available in front of the school and staff parking lot. Please refrain from parking at West Pine Elementary & the bus parking lot. Concessions available. Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for students. Students staying after school must have rides by 5:30pm.


The boys soccer interest meeting for rising ninth graders will be rescheduled again. We will share this information as soon as possible.


Cheer tryouts for WPM are from May 16-19 in the WPMS gym. This is for all rising sixth, seventh, & eighth graders. Students must have a completed BigTeams profile and updated physical in order to try out. Packets available in the front office with Mrs. Allen as well as all our elementary feeder schools. All packets and BigTeams forms are due to Coach Geldner and Mr. Willms by Wednesday, 5/10 for eligibility purposes.


Rising seventh and eighth grade students interested in playing football next school year, mark your calendars now! Conditioning week is Monday, 8/14 thru Thursday, 8/17. Official tryouts will start on Monday, 8/21. Times to be determined.

Upcoming Dates

  • May 19: Wildcat Reality Check, grades 7-8
  • May 26: 8th Grade EOG SCIENCE
  • May 29: Memorial Day Holiday
  • May 31: 6th & 7th grade EOG MATH; 8th grade EOG READING
  • June 2: 6th & 7th grade EOG READING; 8th grade EOG MATH; MATH 1 EOC
  • June 2: 8th grade dance (sponsored by the PTSO), 6-8pm
  • June 6: World History Final Exam
  • June 8: PBIS School Bash (during Encores)
  • June 8: 8th Grade Picnic, 12-3pm
  • June 9: 8th Grade Promotion Celebration, 9am, baseball field
  • June 9: Last Day of School/Early Release, 12pm

Please note: There will be no early checkouts during EOG/EOC TESTING until all testing is completed in the building.

School Information

Please acknowledge the MCS Student Code of Conduct in Parent Portal.


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.

Attendance Matters

When Moore are present, Moore succeed!

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

Mornings
  • 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.
Afternoons
  • 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!

When you link your card to West Pine Middle, a percentage of your purchase is donated to our school. These funds support many of our programs.

WPMS PTSO News

PTSO needs your help celebrating our teachers. Use the links to sign up.

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, May 8, 3:30pm

Monday, June 12, 8am

Follow Us On Social Media

In addition to our weekly update and the school's website, you can keep up with what our Wildcats are doing by visiting our social media pages.

  • Facebook: West Pine Middle School
  • Twitter: @WestPine
  • Instagram: westpinemiddlemcs
  • Hashtags: #thewpwildcatway #igniteengagegrow


Important Links