H.L. Watkins Middle School

Dear Seminole Families,

We have officially completed our first week of the 2026–2027 school year, and I am proud of the way our students have responded! Our Seminoles have done a remarkable job getting acclimated to our PRIDE Expectations in the classroom and throughout the school building.

The first week has been about building relationships, learning routines, understanding expectations, and helping students become comfortable navigating their school day. Our faculty and staff have worked intentionally with students throughout the week, and now it is time for us to build upon that strong start.

By now, your student should:

• Have their student ID and understand that it should be worn each day.
• Know how to get to all of their classes within the five-minute transition period.
• Understand our tardy system and the importance of arriving to every class on time.
• Know the dismissal process and their daily mode of transportation. If your child is a bus rider, they should also know their bus number.

⏰ Tardy Policy Begins Monday, August 17

Beginning Monday, August 17, we will fully implement our schoolwide tardy policy.

Students have had the first week to learn their schedules, locate their classrooms, understand the five-minute transition period, and practice moving efficiently throughout campus. Moving forward, we expect students to arrive to every class on time and ready to learn.

Parents, we ask for your partnership by speaking with your child this weekend about the importance of punctuality. Being on time protects instructional time and helps students develop habits of responsibility and accountability.

🎯 From Procedures to Learning

With our first-week routines established, our focus now shifts even more intentionally toward high-quality teaching and learning. We want our students engaged, challenged, asking questions, collaborating, and taking ownership of their academic success.

Our theme this year, “Stronger. Smarter. Better.”, is more than a slogan. Each week, we expect to see our students becoming stronger in their habits, smarter through their learning, and better in the choices they make.

Thank you to our families for your patience, support, and partnership during the opening of school. It takes all of us working together to create the environment our students deserve.

Week One is complete. Now, let's continue building!

With Seminole Pride,

Dr. Presley L. Charles
Principal
Howell L. Watkins Middle School

Leading with LOVE | Stronger. Smarter. Better. | Excellence is the Standard | We Are ONE

Here is the link and QR Code for parents to RSVP for Curriculum Night.

• Student Arrival Time: Doors open at 8:45 AM | Classes begin at 9:30 AM
• Dismissal Time: 4:05 PM
• Uniform Required: Please see attachment

During the first week, students will:

• Meet their teachers
• Learn classroom expectations
• Review school procedures
• Build positive relationships
• Participate in team-building activities
• Begin engaging academic instruction
• Learn about clubs and extracurricular opportunities

Welcome back to a new school year! I'm excited to introduce myself as your school's School Behavioral Health Professional (SBHP) for 2026.

My role is to support the mental wellness of our whole school community — students, families, and staff alike. I do this through education, awareness, and support services delivered across three levels of care:

• Core/Universal Supports — school-wide activities like classroom lessons, wellness campaigns, and staff trainings that promote healthy coping skills and emotional awareness for all students. This is where you'll see most of my time and energy, because reaching the greatest number of students with proactive support has the biggest impact on our school community.

• Supplemental Supports — small-group interventions for students who may need a bit of extra support beyond the universal level.

• Intensive Supports — more individualized, targeted interventions for students with higher-level needs.

I work closely with our School Based Team, Mental Health Team, and other school staff to make sure these supports work together seamlessly, so every student has access to the right level of care at the right time.

Throughout the year, look for wellness tips, workshop announcements, and resources in this newsletter. I'm looking forward to a great year of supporting our students' mental health and wellbeing — please don't hesitate to reach out with questions or to learn more about available resources.

Jimmy Bell School Behavioral Health Professional

(Email address) Jimmy.Bell@palmbeachcountyschools.org

(Phone) 561-776-3645 Office

(Office Hours) 9am-3pm

● Phones must be off and away during transitions and class.

● Violations will result in parent contact and disciplinary action.

Title 1 Information

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The Parents’ Right to Know (PRTK) letters have been posted on our school’s website and are available in all languages. For your convenience, the letter is also attached to this newsletter.

We encourage all families to review this important information. Thank you for your continued partnership and support!

We are committed to Leading with LOVE—focusing on Leadership, Opportunity, Vision, and

Equity. Let’s partner together for a great year!

“We value your feedback! Please reply to this email with any suggestions or topics you’d like to see in future newsletters.”

Email: hlwcoordinator@gmail.com
Website: https://hlwm.palmbeachschools.org/
Location: Howell L. Watkins Middle, Macarthur Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA
Phone: 5617763600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HLWatkinsMiddle/
Twitter: @WatkinsSeminol1