The Weightman M.E.O.W.
Monthly Events Of Wildcats: August 2022
Pasco County News
Keep up to date by visiting the Pasco County Schools News page. https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/news
Parents' Bill of Rights
https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/oll_documents/parent-bill-of-rights
Lift Up Pasco Schools
The Lift Up Pasco Schools referendum is designed to raise funds to significantly increase non-administrative salaries, enabling Pasco Schools to better recruit, retain, and reward its valuable employees. https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/lift-up-pasco
from Principal Fowler...
It is this time of year that my heart is filled with hope and excitement as we embark on a new school year. Here are a few things for families to know about the beginning of the school year @ TEWMS.
- The first handful of days, the entire campus is focused on making sure your student finds their classes, eats lunch and gets home safely.
When students arrive to campus on Wednesday, August 10th to begin the 22-23 school year, they will be instructed to visit our student alpha lists posted in our courtyard. The alpha lists will be grouped by grade level. On the alpha lists, there will be a students' 1st period teacher and room as of 8/10/22. When they arrive to their 1st period classroom, the teacher will have a printed schedule for them on blue paper. This blue schedule will be their official schedule. Through out the day, we will review with students their schedule to assist with them finding their way on campus and locating their classes. In addition, we will be reviewing bus pass information to. This information will be located in the top right corner of the blue official student schedule.
- Make sure they memorize their student number. Their student number is used in the cafeteria when making purchases, how search for them in myStudent when needing to find key information and what teachers may use to verify students.
- If your student is going to be riding a school bus, they need to know their bus number: ex: Z534, D419, C608. These numbers are what identifies the bus route that they are assigned to ensure they are taken home on the correct path.
I want to make sure everyone knows that the 22-23 school year begins on Wednesday, August 10th. The first day of school will be a regular scheduled day with the first bell ringing at 8:16 a.m., 1st period starting at 8:20am and dismissal at 2:40 p.m. (Bell schedule is posted below in TEWMS document).
As students obtain their schedules for the 22-23 school year, please know the following:
Student schedules will be address based on the following priority:
- missing a class period
- missing a core class
- double scheduled for a core class
6th grade-> Alana Irving : abaumruc@pasco.k12.fl.us
7th Grade-> Mary Beth Foti : mbova@pasco.k12.fl.us
8th Grade-> Sara Canterbury: scanterb@pasco.k12.fl.us
We are very much looking forward to the 2022-2023 school year!
Meet the Teacher: Friday, August 5
This day is similar to what most people consider Open House. It is a day that all teachers will be eagerly waiting to meet you and introduce themselves as well as share some general course information. The campus will be open from 8am -12pm for all families. To make the most of your time on campus, families need to make sure that they access their students' schedule, pay fees and obtain bus pass. Below are instructions on how to complete these tasks.
myStudent for Pasco County Schools
All families are to have a myStudent account in order to obtain student schedules, monitor student’s grades, assignments and attendance. Another account that is helpful for families to have is a Rycor account, where families can pay fees, purchase items, etc., throughout the school year. Both of these account can be made prior to the school year starting. The myStudent account needs to be set up first, then 24 hours later, the Rycor account can be made. Once an account is made, you do not need to redo, as these accounts roll every year.
- myStudent: https://pasco.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/?skipSAML=true
- Video to create myStudent Account: https://livepascok12fl.sharepoint.com/sites/myStudent_University/Shared Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FmyStudent_University%2FShared Documents%2FHelp Desk Documents%2FCreating a Parent Portal Account in myStudent%2Emp4&parent=%2Fsites%2FmyStudent_University%2FShared Documents%2FHelp Desk Documents&p=true&ga=1
- Rycor account: https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco
Open Campus: Saturday, August 6
TDAP requirement for 7th graders
Parents of 7th graders, please remember that the state requires that each 7th grader receive the TDAP immunization before attending school.
We are partnering with the Pasco Department of Health to offer free TDAP immunizations on August 5. Here are the details:
When: Friday, August 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Pine View Middle School (5334 Parkway Blvd, Land O Lakes)
Details: The immunizations are free and reservations are not required.
TDAP is required by Florida law.
For more information: Call 813-794-2360
Shot records can be dropped off in the front office Monday-Thurs: 8am-5pm or emailed to layende@pasco.k12.fl.us
Weightman Middle School Scoopie Night @ Culver's
Mark your calendars for August 24th!
Enjoy dinner and desert at Culver's of Wesley Chapel, FL - Wiregrass on Wednesday, August 24th, 5-8pm while supporting TEWMS!
28831 State Road 56, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543
10% of your purchase will come back to TEWMS
Business Partnerships w/ TEWMS
As a way to increase community connections and business support within the Weightman Wildcat community, we are offering advertisements in our M.E.O.W. (Monthly Events Of Wildcats) parent newsletters. The M.E.O.W. is published at the beginning of each month (August thru May) and is viewed over 7,000 times a month. Advertisements can include text, website information, contact information, email address, and/or Photo/Graphic (file must be: JPEG, PNG, BMP or GIF).
There are different price options:
- $75: Three Months (August, September, October)
- $75: Three Months (November, December, January)
- $75: Three Months (February, March, April)
- $150: Six Months (August, September, October, November, December, January)
- $250: 10 Months (August thru May)
- $50: 1 Month - Your choice (must identify month below)
*Please complete this form to have your business/service advertised in our M.E.O.W. newsletter: http://tewms.pasco.k12.fl.us/mform/view.php?id=62946.
Support TEWMS with our Step it UP! fundraiser coming soon
Step it UP! will launch this month thanks to our friends at POP! We’re empowering our kids to make a difference at our school. Check out the materials coming home with your student later this month and learn how you can help our school. Our families are AWESOME! Thank you for all your help with our upcoming Step It UP! Program. All funds raised will be used for supporting our Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) for students, the purchasing up new student furniture and celebrations through out the year.
School Advisory Council
The School Advisory Council consists of elected parents, staff, community and administrative representatives. This working committee is involved with developing and implementing our school improvement plan. The council is advisory in nature and meets monthly during the year. Meeting dates are adjusted if the council deems necessary. The public is invited to attend.
How can I become a member of SAC?
- Elected members of the SAC include teachers, educational support personnel, and parents.
- Members are also appointed to the council by the Principal to represent businesses and the community.
- Members serve two year terms.
- A chairperson is elected annually by the SAC membership
If you are interested in becoming a member of our SAC committee, please click here complete an application. (application link: http://tewms.pasco.k12.fl.us/mform/view.php?id=63231)
2022-2023 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST)
This year we will be using the new FAST assessments to progress monitor student growth in English Language Arts and Mathematics for 6-8th graders. These assessments will be administered three times through out the school year.
- August 15 – September 30
- December 5 – January 27
- May 1 – June 2
- students overall scale score will be reported
- Eventually all scores will be posted in the DOE Family Portal which can be accessed through the Pasco Parent Portal. From the Parent page, the parent should select “Check Grades/Attendance.” Once logged in, the parent will see the Florida Statewide Assessments icon to the right of their child’s picture. If the parent clicks on this icon, they will automatically be brought to their student’s state assessment scores.
6-8 English Language Arts (reading) FAST:
- 36-40 questions
- Only one test session and must be administered in one day
- 50% fictional/50% informational
6-8 Writing FAST:
- Third testing window Only
- Response to a prompt with text-based evidence and will be administered annually
- Writing score will be reported separately from Reading
- We will find out in the fall of 2022 if Pasco County has been selected to participate in the field test in Spring 2023
6-8 Mathematics FAST:
- 36-40 questions
- 2 segments: segment 1 is non-calculator and segment 2 is calculator
- All segments must be administered in one day
Reporting of student FAST:
There are 5 FAST performance levels
- Purple – Mastery
- Blue – Proficient
- Green – Satisfactory
- Orange – Below Satisfactory
- Red - Inadequate
We have had some families contact us regarding "opting-out" of state assessments. Please know that per Florida Statute 1008.22, as a Florida public school, we are required/mandated to administer statewide assessments to our students and all students in specified grade levels/courses are required to participate in State testing. As such, it is our obligation to use due diligence to comply with this requirement. Therefore, all students present and on campus on any testing or makeup testing days will be required to sit for the assessment. Florida has no opt-out policy for state assessments. The test results provide parents, students, and teachers information about student performance. Teachers use this data to provide targeted instruction and supports to students. The school and district use the results to help target resources and supports. 1008.22 Student assessment program for public schools.
GoPasco Summer Haul Pass
Hello! We at Pasco County Public Transportation are promoting our discounted “Summer Haul Pass” for all Pasco County students. The “Summer Haul Pass” is only $20 and includes unlimited bus transportation in Pasco. The pass is valid for three months. Its runs from June 1st through August 31st. The passes are available for purchase at the any Pasco County Library or at the Clerks Office in Dade City or New Port Richey. They are also available at our office at 8620 Galen Wilson Blvd. in Port Richey. If any student requires individual travel training to learn how to use the Pasco County Public Transportation Transit System I will facilitate their training at no charge and will actually ride the bus with them. This pass and service is available to students eight years old and above. If anyone requires any more information please contact Phillip A. Klimpel, pklimpel@gopasco.com or 727- 834-3200.
helpful links
- Student Online Registration: https://pasco.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/auth/
- How to pay for school items/fees: https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco/
- To access the calendar for the school year, please visit https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/library/home/calendar-next-year.pdf
- Ways to keep up to date with Pasco County Schools: https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/news
- TEWMS Website: tewms.pasco.k12.fl.us
- How to become a TEWMS volunteer: http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/comm/page/volunteer
- Navigating Middle School: https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/oll/page/navigating-middle-school
TEWMS documents
Upcoming Events:
August 5: Meet the Teacher, 8am-12pm
August 6: Open Campus, 10am-12pm
August 10: 1st day of school
August 19: Back to School Dance, 2:40pm-4:45pm
August 24: Culver's Family Night, 5-8pm
August 30: Step It Up Fundraiser Kick-off event
Thomas E. Weightman Middle School
Website: tewms.pasco.k12.fl.us
Location: 30649 Wells Road, Wesley Chapel, FL, USA
Phone: 813-794-0200
Facebook: facebook.com/TEWMSPrincipal
Twitter: @TEWMSPrincipal