The Topsail Times

Happy New Year, Pirate families!

We hope you enjoyed a restful winter break and had plenty of time to relax and celebrate with family and friends. As we begin this new year together, we are excited to welcome our students back to campus on January 6 and continue the great work they started before the break.​

This edition of the Topsail Times includes important updates and details about our upcoming events for the week, including academic, athletic, and extracurricular activities. Please take a few moments to look over the information so your student is prepared for a smooth and successful return.

Important Dates This Week:

• 1/5: No school for students
• 1/6: Students return to school
• 1/6: Girls Basketball/Boys Soccer/Cheer Tryouts Begin
• 1/7: Theater Practice (Aux gym stage) @ 3:45pm.
• 1/8: Theater Practice (Aux gym stage) @ 3:45pm.
• 1/8: PTO Meeting @ 5:30pm.
• 1/9: FCA (Aux gym) @ 4pm.
• 1/7-1/9: 5th Grade Math STAR Testing
• 1/7-1/9: 5th Grade MClass MOY Testing
• 1/8: NC Check-in (B)

As a reminder, TMS is a peanut-free school. Please CLICK HERE for a Peanut-free website with a list of 36 of our favorite peanut and tree nut free candies (and as always, confirm on the label that it was made in a factory that doesn’t also process tree nuts or peanuts).

Thank you for your support in helping TMS stay peanut-free!

Though it is going to be warmer this week, we have more cold weather coming. As the weather in January is typically colder, please make sure students are dressed appropriately for the conditions with warm layers, jackets, and other cold-weather gear so they are comfortable outside. Unless it is extremely cold or unsafe, students will continue to go outdoors for PA, and appropriate clothing helps prevent students from feeling uncomfortable or becoming ill while they are outside.​

Thank you for your help with this and for continuing to support our students’ health and well-being.

Girls Basketball and Boys Soccer Tryouts begin Tuesday January 6th from 3:45 PM - 5:30 PM. Students who don’t meet eligibility requirements are unable to tryout.

We have a new role at TMS! Mrs. Baer has agreed to take on the role of a volunteer coordinator for TMS! We are looking for volunteers that would like to spend time working with our students. Any time that you are willing to give to support our students would be great! It does not have to be a consistent time every day or week, it can be a single time. If you have a way you would like to help, please reach out to Lidnsay Baer (lindsay_baer@pender.k12.nc.us) and she will get you set up.

We have noticed an increase in Chromebook damage this year. We have already had more repair requests than all of last year and want to partner with you in reminding students to take great care of their devices. Please encourage your child to treat their Chromebook as they would their own personal device—carrying it carefully, keeping it in a safe place, and avoiding food, drinks, or rough handling around it.

For the 2nd semester, students that have to report CB damage for the 2nd time will receive a school consequence consistent with the level of damage on top of being required to pay to repair the damage.

For more information about Chromebook care, repairs, and expectations, please visit the Pender County Schools Technology Services page (including the FAQ section) and review the Student/Guardian Chromebook Agreement linked there: https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/page/technology-services and Chromebook Agreement: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UHGTNrN_jcbxY9a1D_uy1d2YBMdJJSFm/view

We’re grateful to be on a team with you as we work to support your child’s mental health needs. Middle school is often a challenging time in a student’s life and their needs are growing and changing as they get older. Please CLICK HERE for a few ideas and resources to help navigate these changing needs.

Freshman applications are available online at https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/o/pechs/page/admission.

Applications are due to Ms. Wood (TMS school counselor) no later than Friday, January 16th.

Building resilience happens both at home and at school. We want kids to feel empowered with problem solving strategies. Below are some ideas to help continue the work at home or to help you get started.

Please double check that your student is bringing a clean, reusable water bottle that they can refill during the school day. It helps to send them with healthy snack(s) as well! As we enter the cold and flu season, also remind them about cough etiquette and good handwashing (and not sharing water bottles with friends).

Please CLICK HERE for this January's cafeteria menu.

Please join us for our upcoming PTO Chick-fil-A spirit night on Wednesday, January 28th from 7am-7pm!

Topsail Middle School is currently in second place for overall minutes read for middle schools with 20,291 minutes (CFMS is in 1st place)!

We are in 3rd place for the average number of minutes per student (23.9) behind CFMS and WPMS.

Congratulations to Corrina Golden in 7th grade for having the most minutes read in the school!

1. Read anytime, anywhere out of school
2. Keep track of your minutes and contribute to the school and district total
3. Every minute matters - together we can meet our goal

Join us in reaching ONE MILLION MINUTES reading by the end of the school year.

Reading builds knowledge, imagination, and lifelong learning skills. By working together, Pender County Schools will reach this incredible goal. Let’s grow our love for reading — one page at a time!

Tracking form will be provided by the school.

October 1 - May 31

Topsail Middle School would like to remind our families and students of a few important reminders:

• Sick/late notes must be received within 3 days of absence/tardy.
• Our final check out time at TMS is 3pm.
• Please, no outside food/drink in cafeteria, and only water bottles in classrooms (i.e.: no Starbucks, Dunkin drinks, fast food drinks, sodas, energy drinks, etc.).
• To parents who are dropping off their students in the parking lot in the morning, please do not let your child out of the car before the bell at 8:10am. We do not have staff out there before that time and several parents have been dropping off before the bell, which is causing a major safety issue.

• Please remind your children that they may only use their own lunch accounts. They are not permitted to use accounts belonging to siblings, relatives, or friends. Unfortunately, we have had to turn several students away this week because of this issue.

  
  

We have a few important systems that will help our school year run smoothly. Please take a moment to make sure you have access to each one:

Infinite Campus

• What it does: Lets you view your child’s grades and attendance, and submit excuse notes.
• Step 1: Get your student’s activation code here: Lookup Activation Code
• Step 2: Use your code to create your account here: Infinite Campus Login
• WE ARE ALSO IN S DISTRICT COMPETITION TO HAVE THE MOST FAMILIES SIGN UP, SO PLEASE HELP TMS WIN!

Here Comes the Bus

• What it does: Allows you to see your child’s bus location, receive alerts when the bus is near, and have peace of mind about arrival times.
• What you need: Your child’s Student ID number
  • If you do not know it, email jeremy_mortensen@pernder.k12.nc.us and he will send it to you.
• District Code: 29081
• Sign Up Here: Here Comes the Bus

Rooms

• What it does: Our county-wide communication system for messaging between teachers and parents.
• Set up your account here: Rooms Information

Thank you for taking the time to set up these systems. Having access will make communication and daily routines much smoother for you and your child! We greatly appreciate the tremendous partnership we have with our TMS families!

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