Welcome Back, Mustangs!

Welcome Back, Mustangs! We hope that this is your best year yet!

Please read the Highlights from the JWMHS Weekly Call for the Week of August 10th that is linked below for a complete transcript of information that will help you this week.

As you are around campus in parking lots or at events, we ask that you please remain courteous and patient. If we can all do this, things will run smoothly and more efficiently, especially in the parking lot during drop off and pick up. We will be sending out more information regarding this and will clarify procedures between the high school and the middle school. Please be mindful of the neighborhoods near campus and the expectations that they have regarding safety and the rules of the roads. Here is information regarding parking, driving, bicycles, gates, safety, and fencing on https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSCarLoop

#Excellence is the foundation of #MustangNation and we are #HereForExcellence! We are looking forward to each of you doing your best each and every day to contribute! You can expect weekly newsletters to keep you up to date as to what is happening at JWMHS around the ranch, as well as a weekly JWMHS Call on Sunday night around 6:30PM. A good way of staying up to date on school information is to visit our website at https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/ and follow us on Twitter and Instagram (both @JWMHS), as well as like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jwmitchellhighschool! From there you can find several sources of information that will keep you informed of all the happenings at JW Mitchell High School.

We will strive to provide the best education possible for your child. If at any time during the school year you feel the need to contact me, please email me at jschultz@pasco.k12.fl.us or call (727) 774-9202.

We hope that you have a great first week!

Go Mustangs!

~ Ms. Schultz

For our returning 10th, 11th, and 12th graders, we ask that you follow the directions included in this newsletter to pay school fees, buy yearbooks, rent lockers, and get your schedule. JW Mitchell High School is excited to offer Open House / Orientation Day on August 5th. No standing in long lines to make payments or get schedules! This should help our Mustangs become familiar with the school campus and meet teachers, counselors, and administrators in a more timely fashion. You will have an opportunity to learn how to get involved and stay connected while visiting our campus at your leisure. The entire orientation process should take less than 15 minutes!

For our new students to JW Mitchell High School, including our 9th graders, we ask that you follow the directions included in this newsletter to pay school fees, buy yearbooks, rent lockers, and get your schedule, especially if you did not do so during 9th grade MustangU Orientation. On Tuesday, August 5th we invite you to come back to our campus and find where your classes are so that you feel comfortable on the first day of school!

When students and families arrive to campus, you can walk around campus and follow your schedules. On each teacher’s door there will be a QR Code that will lead to a website that includes a Welcome Video from the Teacher and the Class Supply List. After you have found all of your classes, you have completed the on-campus visit.

• Create or activate your myStudent parent portal at https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/parents.
• Once in your myStudent parent account, acknowledge all of the forms that are in your account.
• Once this is completed, you will be able to see the school fees.
• Notifications can be set where parents receive emails/texts regarding grades dropping below a certain percentage, missing assignments, and attendance data.
  
• If you need assistance with your account, please visit myStudenthelp@pasco.k12.fl.us or call the school at 727-774-9200.

• To Pay Online: In myStudent, under District and School Announcements, click “Pay Student Fees” or go to https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco/
• Click "Activate Parent Account" to create a new account or “Sign in” and enter your email and password
• A StudentQuickPay screen will pop up. The fees should automatically show on the screen
• Select/deselect the fees you want to pay for at this time under the "Due Now" and the "Other Items" section.
• Click on the shopping cart when you are finished and enter your credit card information.
• Click “submit” and you are done!
• If you need assistance paying fees, please stop by the gymnasium for help.

• Check your child’s bus pass. Review your child’s bus information by clicking “Child Info”. Then scroll down to “Transportation Routes” to verify it is correct. If your child’s bus information is incorrect, call the Transportation Office at (727) 774-4410.
• Where's the Bus App provides parents with a live time and location of your student's assigned school bus and its ETA to the bus stop. By monitoring ridership with Student IDs, parents can receive notifications, when students board the bus. Arrival times are available instantly with Apple or Android apps or any internet device (smartphone, tablet, PC, etc.). Visit the Transportation Services page at www.pasco.k12.fl.us for additional information on Where's the Bus.
• View your schedule in myStudent via myPascoConnect by clicking “Class Schedule” on the left side of the screen. Then, visit our school website to virtually meet your teachers, virtually tour our campus, and obtain/download important information. If you are using the myStudent app, click on each course name/heading to see the Room #. (Do not look at the schedule in the grades area on the front screen as it will not show room numbers, lunch, or online placeholders.)
• As an FYI, Homeroom/RANCH is your 2nd period teacher/class. On the first two days of school, students will report to Homeroom/RANCH to begin the school day.

• Go throughout the school and visit your classrooms! Teachers and staff will be in their rooms to meet you and talk about their classes!
• If you do not attend, you can download all of the information that you would need here: or https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSOrientation
• When you have completed this, you can go home and enjoy the rest of your summer vacation! We will see you on August 11th!

What do fees cover or donations go to? – Here is an explanation of some of the fees that are often asked about by parents.

• Class Fees: The Class Fee covers basic expenses that the Class may incur during the school year.
• PHSC/eSchool Fee: This fee covers the online tools that students use when they are taking an online class.
• Graduation Fees for the Class of 2026: The Graduation Fee is the fee paid by our Seniors to cover the graduation costs (cap and gown, medallion, diploma, diploma cover, graduation program, and venue).
• Security Fees: Security Fees help offset costs associated with safety including coverage at events and any materials needed to display expectations and rules.
• Technology Fee: This covers the technology and applications that we use as a school to support instruction and keep new digital tools in students’ hands.
• Mustang Excellence Donation: This fee will go to the general donations to JWMHS so that the school’s priorities can be met. Making this donation means that you will also receive a limited edition Mustang Stampede Student Shirt. This shirt design is going to be unique to each school year.
• Teacher & Staff Appreciation Donation: This fee will go to providing incentives for teachers and staff including meals during Teacher Appreciation Week hosted by our School Advisory Council. Making this donation means that you will also receive Mustang Gear.

• Lockers: If you are renting a locker this year, we will assign and distribute them during the first two weeks of school. You can pay for them now and show your receipt when you go to choose your locker.
• PE Lockers: If you are renting a locker this year, we will assign and distribute them during the first two weeks of school via the PE teacher. You can pay for them now and show your receipt when you go to choose your locker with your PE teacher.
• Schedule Changes: We have put a form online where students and parents/guardians can request a schedule change (https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSScheduleChange) . Of note, we do not have space in classes to change classes. We have done our best scheduling students. If you put in a request and on the first day of school and a change was not made, we were not able to make the change. Please visit our website for more information on under what circumstances we change schedules (https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/schedulechange/).
• Senior Pictures: Please make sure that you contact Gigante Productions to take your Senior Picture so that you will be included in our award-winning Stampede Yearbook. (813) 907-1078 is the contact number and giganteproductions.com is the website. Pictures MUST be taken by November 15th to be included in the yearbook.
• Busses: Check your child’s bus pass. Review your child’s bus information by clicking “Child Info”. Then scroll down to “transportation routes” to verify it is correct. If your child’s bus information is incorrect, call the Transportation Office at (727) 774-4410.
• Student Parking: Paying for a parking space does not guarantee that you will be assigned a parking space. There is an application process that must be followed. Please make sure that you visit our website to complete the application process. Students MUST have a parking tag to park on campus and every student is assigned their own spot. Enforcement will begin on the first day of school. Make sure that you check myStudent for your parking spot number under My Info to Student Info to Parking Info.
• Yearbooks: This is the LOWEST price of the year for our award-winning Stampede Yearbook, $80 through the month of August.
• School Supplies: Each teacher will have his or her own supply lists. However, go to our website and you can see general school supplies that students will need to be successful.

Due to recent growth, only Seniors & Juniors will be allowed to apply for a parking tag to park on campus. All parking spots are assigned to students or staff, including in our Grass lot at the main entrance off of Jaguar Trail. Students without a tag are not allowed to drive to school. Please go to https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/parking/ to apply. The parking application will be shut down at brief times in order to process applications.

Principal - Ms. Jessica R. Schultz

AP, DE, & Student Services - Mrs. Jill Cortier

9th (Class of 2029) - Mrs. Carly Baldwin

10th (Class of 2028) - Mr. Kevin Welsh

11th (Class of 2027) - Mr. Joel Quina

12th (Class of 2026) - Mrs. Holly Earnheart

Graduation Enhancement - Ms. Rebecca Forte

9th (Class of 2029) - Mrs. Shannon Cordero

10th (Class of 2028) - Mrs. Haley Hettinga

11th (Class of 2027) - Mr. Jake Crouch

12th (Class of 2026) - Ms. Cathy Quigley

Mrs. Michele Chamberlin

*Includes scholarship information as well as help with the college application process.

Senior Pictures: Please make sure that you contact Gigante Productions to take your Senior Picture so that you will be included in our award-winning Stampede Yearbook. (813) 907-1078 is the contact number and www.giganteproductions.com is the website. Pictures MUST be taken by November 15th to be included in the Yearbook.

Important Senior Dates: Mark your calendars now! The dates with a * are mandatory attendance events to participate in the June 6th Graduation Ceremony. Please do not schedule appointments or work hours during this time as it can jeopardize your participation in the June 6th Graduation Ceremony.

• Senior Panoramic - November 6th at 8:30AM (JWMHS Gymnasium)
• Prom (Clearwater Marine Aquarium) - Friday, April 25, 2026
  
• Grad Bash - Friday, April 17, 2026
• Graduation Practice - Tuesday and Wednesday, May 26* & 27*, 2026 (8:25AM to 2:00PM)
• Senior Breakfast - Thursday, May 28, 2026 (9:00AM to 11:00AM)
• Last day of School - Friday, May 29, 2026
• Graduation at USF - Saturday, June 6, 2025 at 6:30PM

Senior Dedication Pages in the yearbook can be pre-ordered by going here and must be ordered by November 14th.