Mr. Clark's Weekly Message

The first day of school is almost here, and we are excited to welcome our Bengals back to Fuquay-Varina Middle School! We hope everyone had a great summer and is ready for an amazing 2026–2027 school year.

As we begin the year, our theme is ELEVATE. This year, we are challenging every student to elevate their effort, elevate their choices, elevate their relationships, and elevate their commitment to excellence. Our staff is ready to support, challenge, and encourage our students as we work together to make this our best year yet.

A few reminders for the first week:

• Be Patient: The first few days will be busy as everyone learns new routines, schedules, and procedures. Please allow extra time, especially during arrival and dismissal.
• Transportation: Bus routes and times may fluctuate during the first week as transportation works through adjustments. We appreciate your patience.
• Carpool: Please follow all established carpool procedures and the directions of staff members to help us keep arrival and dismissal safe and efficient.
• Student Schedules: Students should follow their assigned schedules. Our staff will be available to help students find classrooms and navigate the building.
• Attendance & On-Time Arrival: Starting the year with strong habits matters. Please help ensure students arrive on time and are ready to learn each day.
• Stay Connected: Continue to monitor school communications and Infinite Campus for important information, grades, attendance, and updates throughout the year.

Most importantly, we want our students to come to school knowing they are celebrated, challenged, and connected. We have high expectations for our Bengals because we know what they are capable of accomplishing.

Families, thank you in advance for your partnership and support. We are excited about what is ahead and cannot wait to see our students on the first day of school.

Let's ELEVATE & Go Bengals!

Drinks & Food in Classrooms

To help keep our classrooms clean and minimize distractions, water is the only drink permitted in classrooms. Students who arrive in the morning with energy drinks, coffee, soda, or any other beverage will be required to finish it in the cafeteria before heading to class.

Cell Phones

As a reminder, students are required to have their cell phones turned off and stored in their book bags during the school day. Thank you for helping us maintain a learning environment where students can remain focused and engaged.

Dress Code

Appropriate dress is necessary to maintain an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and safety. Reasonable accommodations may be made on the basis of students’ religious beliefs or medical conditions. Students are expected to adhere to standards of dress and appearance that are compatible with an effective learning environment. Presenting a bodily appearance or wearing clothing that is disruptive, provocative, revealing, profane, vulgar, offensive or obscene, or which endangers the health and safety of the student or others is prohibited. Additional information may be found at this LINK.

Signing Students Out for Dismissal

Please note an important change for this school year. The latest time a student may be signed out for early dismissal is 2:30 PM. This allows our front office staff adequate time to prepare for our regular dismissal procedures. Please plan accordingly when scheduling appointments.

Excused Notes for Attendance

If your child is absent and you need to submit an excused absence note, you may email the documentation to Ms. Jones at jjones64@wcpss.net, or your child may bring the note directly to the front office when they return to school.

DoorDash/Uber Eats & Food Deliveries

Students are not permitted to receive DoorDash, Uber Eats, or other food deliveries during the school day. Please ensure students arrive at school with everything they will need for the day.

Walker Pass Request

Any student that will be walking to and from school must have a Walker Pass. Families will need to complete the 26-27 Walker Pass Request Form in order to give permission for a student to walk off-campus. Students that do not have a Walker Pass will NOT be permitted to leave campus.

We are excited to begin another great season of Bengal Athletics! Please review the important information below as we prepare for fall sports. See more information on our website under "Student Life".

Mandatory Fall Sports Interest Meeting - Students Only

The Fall Sports Interest Meeting for will be held:

Wednesday, August 26
3:00–4:00 PM After School
FVMS Main Gym

This meeting is for students only. Students will need to be picked up by a parent/guardian at 4:00 PM in the back parking lot/bus loop. If you arrive before 4:00, please park in a parking spot, as a couple of busses may still be running late.

Fall sports include Football, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, and Cheerleading.

All athletes and potential 6th grade managers should plan to attend this meeting. If they cannot make it, they should see their Coach or AD Bellucco to receive their tryout number and further instructions.

Tryout Dates

Football & Girls Volleyball: Beginning August 31st through September 2nd

Girls Soccer & Cheerleading: Beginning September 2nd through 4th

Please plan accordingly and make arrangements for your student to attend all applicable tryout dates.

All student-athletes 7th and 8th grade) MUST be eligible based on attendance and academics from Semester 2 of last year.

All student-athletes (7th and 8th grade) MUST have necessary forms submitted AND approved on Dragonfly in order to tryout.

Stay Connected - FVMS Athletic Booster Club - Booster Hub!

We encourage all parents, including 6th grade parents, to become familiar with our FVMS Athletics Booster website and our new Booster Hub App.

Important announcements, communication, volunteer opportunities, sign-ups, and other athletic information will be shared through these platforms. You can also purchase a Booster Pass for your student and your family to support us, save money, and cheer on the Bengals!

FVMS Athletics Booster Website:
https://sites.google.com/wcpss.net/fvmsathleticsbooster/home

Booster Hub App:
https://fvmsathletics.boosterhub.com/register/18516

Thank you for supporting FVMS Athletics and our student-athletes. We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead! Here is our updated Master Calendar for games this season.

Go Bengals!

FVMS Athletics Booster Club

Please take a few minutes to review our carpool procedures prior to the first day of school. Familiarizing yourself with these procedures in advance will help ensure a safe, smooth, and efficient arrival and dismissal process for all students and families.

If you have not done so already, please purchase your child's agenda. Agendas are $5 and can be purchased on the School Cash Online website.

Agendas will be distributed the 2nd week of school in your child's homeroom class.

Interested in auditioning or being on the tech team for our schoolwide musical? Ms. Lundberg will be holding an information session for all interested 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students on Wednesday, August 26th from 3-5pm in the auditorium for our Winter musical, "Cinderella"! Students may sign up for an audition or interview slot at the end of the info session.

International Thespian Society members have a mandatory beginning of the year meeting on Thursday, August 27th from 3-5pm in the auditorium.

ITS members and Advanced Dramatics students are all invited to our NYC field trip this year! Ms. Lundberg will be holding our NYC Parent/Student Information Session on Thursday, August 27th from 5:00-5:30pm in the auditorium.

All 7th grade students must provide documentation that they have received the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccine. We must receive this documentation by September 25th. Failure to do so will result in your child being excluded from school. You may bring your child’s updated shot records to the school between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm, email them to Ms. Rita Junkin at rjunkin@wcpss.net or fax them to 919-670-4397.

Only Medical and Religious exemptions are accepted in NC. For more information about exclusions, please visit http://www.immunize.nc.gov/schools/ncexemptions.htm

If you would like to register your child for bus transportation next school year, you may do so at this LINK. If you have any questions about transportation, you may email Mr. DeVane at edevane@wcpss.net.

Every child deserves access to healthy meals at school. If your family qualifies, your student can receive breakfast and lunch at a discounted rate or even for free. Your application matters! Even if your child doesn't eat school meals every day, applying for meal benefits may help your family and your school.

Meal Benefits Expiration Date

Prior year meal benefits will ​carry over up to 30 school days in the new school year based on your student's school calendar. ​Families must reapply every school year if they are interested in receiving meal benefits.

Deadline to apply:

• Traditional: October 6, 2026

You can apply online anytime during the school year. The application is available in multiple languages, and it's mobile-friendly.

• Apply for Free or Reduced Price Meals Online
• Solicitud en línea para las comidas escolares Gratis/Precio Reducido: Español

Application resources

• Application information
• Application information - información sobre la solicitud (Español)
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Frequently Asked Questions - preguntas frecuentes (Español)
• Sample application/Ejemplo de solicitud (Please fill out an original / Favor de completar una solicitud original)
• Meal charges policy | Cuentas de Alimentos

Questions about applying for free and reduced meals:

(919) 856-2920 (English)

(919) 588-3535 (English and Spanish)

cnsmealbenefits@wcpss.net

Free and Reduced-Price Benefits Office fax number:

(919) 856-3704

• FVMS Website: https://www.wcpss.net/fuquayvarinams
• Principal Messages: LINK
• FVMS Instagram: @fuquayvarinams
• FVMS PTA Site: https://linktr.ee/fvms_pta
• WCPSS Website: https://www.wcpss.net/
• WCPSS Homework Resources: https://www.wcpss.net/domain/16067
• 2026-27 School Calendar: WCPSS Calendar