Welcome to North Buncombe Middle!

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Dear NBMS Families,

On behalf of our entire school community, I am delighted to welcome you to North Buncombe Middle School. We are thrilled to have you join us on this exciting journey of growth, learning, and self-discovery. For 8th grade families, welcome back! For 7th grade and new families, welcome to our amazing school!

At our school, we believe that caring relationships and engaging learning experiences are the cornerstones of a successful educational journey. We strive to create an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

We understand that the transition to middle school can be both exhilarating and challenging. That's why we prioritize building strong relationships between students, teachers, and families. Our dedicated team of educators is committed to fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment where every student feels a sense of belonging.

We encourage open communication and collaboration, ensuring that your voices are heard and your concerns are addressed. Together, we will navigate this new chapter, celebrating successes and overcoming obstacles as a united community.

Our teachers are passionate about their subjects and dedicated to helping each student discover their unique strengths and interests. We offer a wide range of academic programs, extracurricular activities, and enrichment opportunities to cater to diverse talents and aspirations.

Beyond academics, our school is a vibrant community that values personal growth, social responsibility, and cultural diversity. We encourage students to explore their interests, develop leadership skills, and contribute positively to our school and the broader community.

We invite you to embrace this new chapter with enthusiasm and an open mind. Together, we will embark on a journey filled with exciting challenges, rewarding accomplishments, and lifelong memories.

Once again, welcome to our North Buncombe Middle School family. We look forward to supporting you every step of the way and celebrating your successes. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns through an email, phone call or stop by to visit and chat face-to-face. I look forward to seeing you soon!

Warmest regards,

Nicholas Honeycutt

Principal

Email Principal Honeycutt

From left to right: Melanie Aiello, bookkeeper - Cyndi Kiser, front desk receptionist - Jane Huffman, data manager - Margie Burleson, head secretary and payroll

For students/families who choose to be car riders, this is a reminder that when exiting the car rider line during arrival and dismissal times, ALL TRAFFIC MUST TURN RIGHT. When everyone does this, it helps the car rider line operate smoothly and efficiently.

Unfortunately, last year several drivers would turn right but then make a U-Turn at the next road, Evening Shade Drive. That is a private road and parent vehicles making this U-Turn caused damage to that road that has been repaired this summer.

Therefore, please do not turn around on Evening Shade Dr, and it should not be used as a drop-off/pickup point unless the student actually lives within the Evening Shade neighborhood.

Signage is posted at the entrance confirming both the private road status and the NO U-Turn restriction. We want to be good neighbors so please route drop-off/pickup accordingly and avoid Evening Shade Drive. See the picture below.

Through our partnership with United Way, we offer "Community Nights" in our school cafeteria 14 times per year. This is an opportunity to enjoy a free catered meal, play games (we love BINGO), get homework help, connect with community resources, and much more. It is a great time for the entire family. All K-12 families in the North Buncombe district are invited to attend. We are excited to share the dates for our Community Nights for this upcoming year. We try to have a focus or theme for each Community Night, these themes will be shared later. The times are always 5 to 6:30 PM.

We are excited to partner with the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County to create

the conditions necessary for students and families to thrive inside and outside of the classroom. Click here to learn more about it. Some highlights of this partnership include:

1. A full time Community Partner Coordinator at our school
2. Community Nights
3. After School Clubs/Tutoring

We work hard to keep you informed of school information and events. It is our goal to communicate with parents and families as much as possible. Each week, I (Principal Honeycutt) send a newsletter called "NBMS Peek at the Week." The newsletter, similar to this newsletter, is sent each week in email, text and posted on our Facebook page. I do not often use the all-call program, you will not get a Sunday call from the middle school. All our weekly and upcoming information is shared in this online newsletter. This has been well received in the past, but if I need to change, I will do that. Just let me know.

Each grade level team also produces a weekly newsletter that is attached in the "Peek at the Week." You can also visit our school website or follow our school FaceBook page for information and updates.

1. Purchase school supplies. Make sure your child has the tools that he/she needs to be successful. If you need support with this, reach out to your grade level counselor our United Way Community School coordinator.
2. Provide a place to study.
3. Insist on good school attendance. Believe it or not, Attendance is the #1 school success factor!
4. Develop routines. Having a good morning and nighttime routine makes everyone's day run much smoother. Help your child develop the best routines from the start.
5. Monitor technology use. Be aware of how, and for what purposes, your child is using his/her cell phone, laptop, tablet, etc... Set limits and guidelines. Know who they are communicating with. Don't hesitate to look at your child's phone!
6. Set goals. At the beginning of the year, help your middle schooler set some academic goals. Help them set a goal to get involved in an after school activity.
7. Encourage a healthy lifestyle. With all the changes middle school students are going through, it's important that they eat right, exercise, and get enough sleep. Make sure that your child gets some exercise or does something physical on a regular basis, and insist on a reasonable bedtime.
8. Monitor Grades. Check Infinite Campus for graded homework, quizzes, and tests. Ensure that your child is getting off to a good start. If you ever have a concern about your child's progress in a class, contact the teacher.

We are excited to share that beginning last school year, our daily schedule will include a 30-minute recess for all students. This dedicated time for unstructured play and social interaction supports our commitment to whole-child development. Research shows that recess not only promotes physical activity and wellness, but also helps improve focus, behavior, and academic performance throughout the day. We believe this addition to our master schedule will enhance the overall school experience and provide students with a healthy balance between learning and physical movement.

Students will walk Monday - Thursday for recess and will have station play on Fridays.

We are looking for parents to serve on our 2026.2027 School Improvement Team. We appreciate parents serving on this committee to represent all the parents in our school.

Contact our School Improvement Team Chairperson, Cindy Roop, if you are interested in joining or for additional questions.

Our instructional school day is 7:50 AM to 3:02 PM. Students are expected to be in their homeroom when the bell rings at 7:50. Arriving after this time is considered a school tardy. Once a student accumulates 5 unexcused tardies, that will result in one session of after school study lab from 3:15 to 4:15.

Students are allowed to miss 18 days per year. Once a student has more than 18 absences, excused or unexcused, then your child will be expected to “make up” days through before school sessions, after school sessions, Community Nights, or a combination of these.

Click for our school attendance policy and descriptions.

Students have 6 classes per day, 4 core classes (Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies) and two exploratory courses of their choice. Every student is assigned one semester of PE as one of their exploratory courses. Students can choose to have PE just one semester or all year.

Students will receive a copy of their schedule at our Open House/Meet Your Teachers on Friday, August 21.

Mrs. Hintz is our 2026.2027 Teacher of the Year. She teaches Chorus and Theater and serves on school wide leadership teams. Her energy, passion and excitement help make our school the great place that it is.

Other specialists who support our NBMS Black Hawks include:

• AIG Specialist - Cynthia Roop - cynthia.roop@bcsemail.org
• ML/ESL Teacher - Erica Young - erica.young@bcsemail.org
• Media Specialist - Shelly Cloninger - shelly.cloninger@bcsemail.org
• School Nurse - Michele Bailey - michele.bailey@mahec.net
• School Psychologist - Hannah Hyers - hannah.hyers@bcsemail.org

• Battle of the Books
• Beta Club
• Chess Club
• Colorguard Club
• Dungeons and Dragons Club
• FFA
• Make and Take Club
• Math Club
• Music Club
• National Junior Art Society
• Pickleball Club
• Robotics Club
• SAVE Club (Students Against Violence Everywhere)
• Science/Environmental Club
• Spanish Club
• Student Council

We are always open to new club ideas, if you would like to sponsor a club or know an organization that would like to sponsor a club, please contact Principal Honeycutt.

After the first few weeks of school we will begin offering after school math and reading tutoring. A schedule will be shared and we will run after school buses two days per week. This is a great way for students to get support, homework help and not fall behind in assignments and classwork.

More information will be shared in future newsletters.

After a lot of conversation last year with our School Improvement Team, Parent Advisory Council and within Buncombe County Schools around the use of cell phones in school, the state legislature passed a new state law prohibiting the use of cell phones during the instructional school day (7:50 - 3:02).

What does this mean? Your child may bring a cell phone to school but it is to be powered off and not seen or used during the instructional day. This also applies to other electronic devices. Please see the language below in the BCS School Board Policy.

Policy 4318: Therefore, students are permitted to possess such devices on school property so long as the devices are not turned on, used, displayed, visible, or otherwise creating a distraction during the instructional day. Wireless communication devices include, but are not limited to, cellular phones, smartwatches, earbuds, headphones, gaming devices, paging devices, two-way radios, tablet computers, laptop computers, electronic devices with internet capability, and other similar personal electronic devices.

Violations of this policy will result in the device being taken and returned to students the first time. If the device is taken a second time, a parent/guardian will be required to pick it up after school and if it's taken a third time the student will be required to leave the phone in the office each day.

What else does this mean? Students will not be allowed to send or receive text messages from parents throughout the day. This means that families will need to discuss plans for after school and ensure that your child knows what that plan is. Parents will need to call the office for any after school changes.

• Students cannot have wireless earbuds/airpods/headphones between 7:30 AM and 3:02 PM.
• Students should have WIRED headphones/earbuds to use for classroom instruction and classroom videos. WIRED headphones/earbuds can be purchased for $1 in the school media center.
• Wireless earbuds/airpods/headphones can be used before 7:30 AM and after 3:02 PM.

We are proud to be a strong supporter of Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports. This is a program that helps students who struggle with behavior and rewards students who meet or exceed our behavior expectations. See our basic behavior expectations below (HAWK). We have rewards at the end of each nine week grading period for students who meet or exceed these behavior expectations.

As we prepare for the new school year, please take a moment to review these key updates regarding school transportation:

• General Bus Routes: Most bus routes will run on schedules similar to last year.

• NBMS & NWR: If your child rode to or from NWR or NBMS last year, they will ride the same bus at a similar time.

• Bus 89 Update: Bus 89 is closed this year. If your child rode Bus 89 previously, please contact us immediately to receive your new bus number and schedule.

• New Families & Address Changes: If you are new to our school or have moved recently, please reach out to get your assigned bus number and pick-up/drop-off times.

Questions or Assistance? Dr. Suzette Takei, Assistant Principal in charge of transportation, will be available in the cafeteria during Meet the Teacher on Friday to answer your questions and assist with logistics in person.

You can also reach Dr. Takei directly via email at suzette.takei@bcsemail.org or by calling 828-645-7944.

Our school dress code expectations are very simple:

1. No skin exposed from armpit to mid-thigh.
2. Athletic shorts are allowed but all essential parts must be appropriately covered.
3. No undergarments exposed.
4. Shirts must have two straps.
5. Hoodie hoods are not allowed to be worn in the building. When inside, hoods should be pulled down.

New for 2026.2027 - Students are allowed to wear hats each Friday. Hats must be school appropriate and cannot be pulled down to block the child's face. This does not include costume hats or oversized character hats.

Breakfast and Lunch will be offered FREE to all students. Our cafeteria staff does a fantastic job for our school, our students and our staff. Please reach out to Erica McHone, our cafeteria manager, with questions.

We have a very active and involved PTO! Your participation, whether all year or in specific activities, is greatly appreciated. Our PTO helps make our great school and even greater school!

One great way our PTO supports our school is to supply our Hawks Hideaway Staff Lounge with treats. See the flyer below.

NBMS and Clothes Bin have partnered to collect and recycle old clothing, shoes, bags and textiles! Each year millions of pounds of textiles end up in landfills. ClothesBin makes recycling easy and raises funds for our school.

• The Clothes Bin is located to the left of the gym entrance
• The Clotes Bin is easily accessed from the car rider line and is accessible after hours and on weekends.
• BAG all items in 13 gallon trash bags or smaller bags, like grocery bags.
• NO LARGE BLACK CONTRACTOR BAGS - these damage the bin and the sensor inside
• Items to recycle include clothing, shoes, bags, linens, belts
• PLEASE no household items, decor, toys, books, or glass