Around the Ranch

Welcome to September! Can you believe it? We are already into the second month of school! As we continue through the year, we kindly ask for your continued attention to a few important reminders:

· Student Fees: Please take a moment to pay student fees in Rycor. This will allow us to place orders for classroom supplies and plan for special events on campus.

· Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up: Please use the designated areas for drop-off and pick-up. For safety reasons, please follow directions from staff members to help keep traffic flowing smoothly.

· Attendance & Punctuality Matters: Encourage your child to arrive on time to class each day.

· Dress Code & Wireless Devices: Students should wear school-appropriate clothing and stow their headphones, earbuds, smartwatches and phones when they enter the building.

· Required Paperwork to Complete: Please complete online emergency card and parent consent on the parent portal. This is a vital piece of information for us to have in case of emergency.

Please read the Highlights from the JWMHS Weekly Call for the Week of August 31st that is linked below for a complete transcript of information that will help you this week.

As a reminder, attendance and punctuality matter. Please makes sure that you are on time to school and to classes. That might mean leaving a little earlier than normal so that you are in your classes and ready to learn as soon as the bell rings! The District Office sent out information regarding our new attendance procedures and how to report absences. Please make sure that you read that communication as you must have a myStudent Parent Portal in order to report absences. I have also included an attachment to the email that you receive each week regarding this and instructions below.

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 week!

Go Mustangs!

~ Ms. Schultz

To report your student’s absence, please click here. If you need help submitting your student’s absence, please follow the steps below:

1. Once you click on the link above you will need to log into your myStudent Parent Portal.

2. On the left, click on or hover your mouse over the Forms section.

3. Click on the form named “Parent Absence Reporting”.

4. You will then need to select your student from the drop-down list.

5. The following will be automatically filled in once your select your student:

· Enrolled School

· Which parent account is filling out the form

· The email address attached to the parent myStudent account.

6. You will need to enter a good phone number for us to call you.

7. Please enter the date for the absence.

8. If the student has missed more than one day of school, please enter the last day of absence.

9. Select the appropriate reason for the absence(s). If “other” is selected, please enter the reason in the text box.

10. If you would like to provide additional information, please fill out the “Brief Description” section.

11. Check the box acknowledgement.

12. If you need to upload supporting documents, click “Select” at the bottom of the form.

13. Once everything is filled out and accurate, click “Submit Request”.

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.

Order Your Cap & Gown and Diploma by September 19th!

It's time to order the senior cap & gown and designate how you want your name listed on your high school diploma. Please complete the link below NOW so we can start the ordering process.

Students, please have a conversation with your parents/guardians prior to completing the form. Know that if multiple forms are submitted for a student, the latest form will be the one that will be used. A confirmation email will be sent to the email address listed on the form to confirm submission. Please type your name very carefully-exactly as you want it on the diploma. Any misspellings are not guaranteed to be caught and will require a $20 reprint fee.

Go to https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/mform/view.php?id=166474 to complete the form by 9/19/25.

Pay Your Graduation Fees Now

The fee for these items is part of your $100 Graduation Fees. Please make sure to pay your fees via Rycor, if you haven't already done so. Students will not be allowed to pick up their cap & gown until Graduation Fees have been paid. As a reminder, students are expected to attend two days of graduation practice on Tuesday, May 26th, and Wednesday, May 27th. Caps & gowns will be distributed on the second day of graduation practice (Wednesday, May 27th).

Participating in Graduation Changes

As a reminder, due to a change in Florida State Statutes, only students who have met all graduation requirements (all coursework credits, 2.0 unweighted GPA, and all required tests/EOCs) will be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony on June 6th. There no longer is a Certificate of Completion that will be awarded. Please make sure that students are on track to meet all of their requirements prior to the end of the school year. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Graduation Requirement Reviews with Counselors

Counselors will be going into classrooms in the coming weeks and will give each student a graduation plan to show their progress. After that time, if you still have questions, please feel free to reach out to your Senior counselor (Ms. Quigley or Ms. Forte) or your Senior Assistant Principal, Mrs. Earnheart. Any questions regarding graduation (ceremony, diploma, cap & gown, etc.) please reach out to Mrs. Cortier.

Senior Dedication Pages

Buy your senior dedication page for the 2026 yearbook and get your senior portrait taken and chosen by the November 14th deadline. Visit GiganteProductions.com for portrait appointments, and YearbookForever.com for senior dedications.

College Application and Common App Help with Mrs. Chamberlin

Common application help sessions are continuing during lunches in the CRC for the month of September. Extended after school sessions will be held September 15th and September 29th from 3:00 to 4:30 pm in the media. Mrs. Chamberlin will be available to assist with the college applications and the STARS and Spark!

Seniors SAVE the date for Financial Aid Night!

Seniors SAVE the date for Financial Aid Night that will be held on Wednesday October 15th at 6:30PM in the media center. Mrs. Chamberlin and the Financial Aid Reps from PHSC will present on the FAFSA, Bright Futures and Scholarships!

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