The Topsail Times

Good afternoon, TMS families,

We hope everyone enjoyed the weekend and is ready to welcome our students back to school tomorrow. The Topsail Times is now ready to view and includes important events, dates, and other updates about everything happening at Topsail Middle School this week.

This week, students in grades 5th through 8th will take the Reading EOG on Tuesday, May 12, and students in grades 5th and 8th will take the Science EOG on Thursday, May 14. Please help your child do their very best by making sure they get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast on test mornings. Breakfast is always available in our cafeteria if needed.

We are also down to just two weeks left of school, with our last day being Thursday, May 21. We have several fun activities planned over the next two weeks, so be sure to check the important dates listed below.

We look forward to seeing everyone back at school tomorrow!

Important Dates This Week:

• 5/11: Math 1 EOC (8th grade)
• 5/12: Reading EOG (5th - 8th grades)
• 5/12: PCS Board Meeting @ 6:00 pm.
• 5/14: Science EOG (5th -8th)

Upcoming Important Dates:

• 5/11: Math 1 EOC (8th grade)
• 5/12: Reading EOG (5th - 8th grade)
• 5/14: Science EOG (5th & 8th grade)
• 5/18: 6th Grade Awards Assembly (2:00 pm.)
• 5/19: 7th Grade Awards Assembly (12:30 pm.)
• 5/20: 8th Grade Promotion (9:45 am.)
• 5/20: 5th Grade Awards Assembly (1:30 pm.)
• 5/20: 7th Grade Team Day
• 5/21: 5th, 6th, 8th Grade Team Day
• 5/21: Last Day of School

Parents, due to the high number of early check-outs on exam days, we will not be able to make changes to student pick-up lists on the day of the exam. If adjustments are needed to your student's pickup list, please make those adjustments prior to exam day. If you email about changes on an exam day, we will be happy to make those changes to start on the following day. This adjustment will allow us to make sure that students that checkout early on exam days only go home with those adults listed. Thank you for your help keeping our students safe.

In order to reduce distractions during our EOG testing, students can only bring clear plastic water bottles for EOGs on May 8, 12, 14. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this!

Please be aware that the 2023–24 Individual Student Reports (ISRs), currently available in the NCSIS Parent Portal, will be archived on July 15, 2026. After this date, these reports will no longer be accessible through the portal.

If you would like to keep a copy for your records, we encourage you to log in to the Parent Portal and download or save your student’s ISR to a personal device before the deadline.

We are in need of testing volunteers to help proctor in classrooms during our upcoming EOGs on May 8th, 12th, and 14th. If you are available and interested in supporting our students during testing, we would greatly appreciate your help. Your time and assistance make a big difference in helping us provide a smooth and successful testing environment for all students.

If you have not had a background check done in the last 3 years, please CLICK HERE.

Please CLICK HERE to sign up!

Thank you in advance for your support!

Mr. Norem’s final band performance at Topsail High School was a memorable celebration of his outstanding career and lasting impact on so many students. The band performed beautifully, and students and staff shared heartfelt words about the difference Mr. Norem made in their lives and in the lives of countless Topsail Middle Band alumni. We are grateful for his years of dedicated service and wish him a retirement filled with happiness, relaxation, and well-deserved enjoyment.

This week, Mr. Hewitt’s annual STEM Egg Drop Competition challenged students to use creativity, problem-solving, and engineering skills to design a successful egg protector. Congratulations to our winners: 1st place, Maddox Spencer; 2nd place, Cici Hunt; and 3rd place, Callen Vinson.

Students interested in Middle School Football (rising 7th and 8th graders) and Middle School Softball (rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders) need to see Coach Altergott during their lunch period from May 11–15.

Rising 9th graders interested in High School Boys Soccer should go to Coach Altergott’s room during lunch on Monday, May 11.

Please make sure to stop by during the assigned time if you are interested in participating.

If you love running and want to join one of the most successful programs at Topsail High School, please attend the meeting to find out all the information about summer training, try-outs, team rules/expectations, and all the fun we have on our way to our 3rd consecutive year making it to the State Championship Race!

Date: Tuesday, May 12th

Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

Location: Topsail High School Media Center

As we near the end of the school year, some students may need to replace Chromebook chargers that have been lost or misplaced. Families may do so by sending $25 cash or check made payable to TMS, or by using the electronic payment option linked below. A more affordable charger option is also available through Amazon, if preferred.

Electronic payment: here
Amazon option: Universal Laptop Charger

TMS families - skip the coffee run and let the coffee come to YOU.

Matter More Coffee is setting up in our morning car line on Monday, May 11th. Place your order at the gate, drop off your student, and grab your drink on the way out.

Cold brew, hot coffee, energy refreshers, and muffins available. Proceeds support TMS - get caffeinated without leaving your car!

The Summer 2026 Food Program will provide weekly home food delivery from June 4 through September 10 for participating families. Community volunteers will deliver food every other week on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, with all family information kept private. To request an enrollment form, contact Ms. Wood at adrienne_wood@pender.k12.nc.us or 910-815-7374.

As the weather continues to warm up, we want to remind students and families of the Topsail Middle School and Pender County Schools dress code expectations. More information can be found in Board Policy 4316 . We ask students to follow these guidelines for their health and safety, and because we believe clear standards help promote discipline and self-respect. All TMS students are expected to follow the Pender County Schools dress code each day.

As a reminder, when reporting absences, please email tms@pender.k12.nc.us. Please do not email your child’s teacher directly.

Thank you for your support with this!

Will you have a student moving up to THS for the 2026-2027 school year? Nominations are currently being accepted by THS PTSO (Parent, Teacher, Student Organization) for board members to serve next year. If you are interested, please email them at topsailptso@gmail.com. THS PTSO is a great way to get involved at THS!

CLICK HERE for our rock calendar and instructions to reserve your dates.

Please CLICK HERE for May's cafeteria menu.

Also, as a reminder we are a peanut-free school, so please do not send any peanut-based products with your TMS students for lunch or a snack.

Thank you for your support with this!

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. Please email the to the following: tms@pender.k12.nc.us Please do not email your teacher.
• 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

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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