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09/06/2024 Parent Communication

Herbert Akins Road Elementary School

From the Hawk’s Nest        

 

Friday, September 06, 2024

Good Afternoon Hawk Families.  

  • Another phenomenal week was had by all at the Hawk’s Nest. We are excited to welcome back Track 2 as they return on Monday, September 9th! A big congratulations to Track 1 for completing the first quarter of the 2024-2025 school year—enjoy your well-deserved Track-Out!

  • As a reminder, I will be taking medical leave starting Monday. If you have any concerns or need assistance during my absence, please reach out to our established administrative team or Mr. John Williams, who will be serving as the interim principal.

  • Ms. Alford, our AIG Instructor, has shared a link to her  newsletter.  Please take a moment to review. 

  • From WCPSS Office of Student Assignment:  On Sep. 3, staff members presented the first draft of a new Student Enrollment Proposal to the Board of Education. The draft includes proposed school assignment changes for the 2025-26 school year.  Some students at our school are proposed to be affected by this plan.  Please view the information on the following link to gain more insight on the proposed changes that may impact some of our families that are attending Herbert Akins ES. There will be an Open House informational session on September 24, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 @ Herbert Akins Road Middle School. This is the beginning of a community conversation that is scheduled to conclude with the Board adopting a final plan on November 26. For more information about the proposal and to check for updates as the process moves forward, visit wcpss.net/2025enrollmentproposal.

  • Field trip season is starting & we would love to have family members volunteer to chaperone these trips.  Click here to view the WCPSS link for more information.  Please register or renew your registration as soon as possible to give adequate time for the approval process.  Only approved volunteers will be allowed to attend a field trip.  If you have any questions, please contact the front office (919-567-4100).  

  • We're excited to introduce this year's main fundraiser, the HARES Bubble Run. Our goal this year is to raise $55,000 for playground Shade Structure and Instructional and Student Engagement Support Materials to benefit ALL students at Herbert Akins Road Elementary.

We’re excited for this fundraising experience because it offers 3 important things to our school community:

     1️⃣ User-friendly fundraising platform

     2️⃣ Character enrichment program

     3️⃣ Fitness-focused event that includes ALL of our students

As a family, you will work together asking friends and family to donate on your student’s Donation Page at MyBooster.com. The best part is, you can still support our school just by SHARING about the fundraiser!

Students will also experience an amazing character enrichment program called “Castle Quest”, teaching students about how to be brave and live with character.

Key Dates to Remember:

💻 Sign up online at MyBooster.com – 09/05/2024

🎉 Fundraiser Kickoff in school – Track 2 & 4: 9/18 Track 1 & 3: 9/30

👟 Event Day – Track 2 & 4:9/26 and Track 1 & 3: 10/08

  • As we move further into the school year, we want to shine a spotlight on the power of regular attendance and its impact on student success! We know that being on a year-round schedule can bring some unique challenges, but showing up each day is the key to keeping students engaged, on track with their classwork, and building strong habits for lifelong learning. Every day is an opportunity for growth, and when students are present, they're diving into valuable lessons and interactions that simply can't be duplicated. We truly appreciate your commitment to making daily attendance a priority. Let’s keep the momentum going and help our students soar to new heights this year!

  • At Herbert Akins Road ES, we encourage all parents to partner with us in fostering a love of reading. Please read with your child every evening and engage with them by discussing the books they are reading and discovering their interests. Consider participating in family excursions to the public library, setting up a cozy reading nook at home where your child can immerse themselves in books, or joining in on a family novel read to enhance reading skills and nurture a lifelong habit of reading. You might also explore audiobooks during car rides or downtime to make the most of every opportunity to enjoy stories together. These meaningful activities will yield significant social benefits as you help your child develop positive academic habits that will last a lifetime. By embracing our school theme, "Believe, Achieve, Love: Every Student, Every Success," we can work together to support every student in achieving success through a love of reading.

 

Just a couple of reminders from the PTA!

  • Make sure to grab yourself and your kids some awesome Herbert Akins gear! Spirit weeks start in September! https://spirithero.com/collections/herbert-9

  • Have a business interested in sponsoring the Boosterthon? We are taking sponsors now! Please reach out to a PTA representative for more information! 

  • Join us for the first Spirit Night of the year! It will be held at Chick-fil-a in Holly Springs on September 10 from 6:30-9. You must order in the app for this event! Let’s show our support for Herbert Akins Elementary! See our Facebook page for more information.

  •  Boosterthon for tracks 2 and 4 begins September 18!!

 

 The information below was in prior messages:

 

The Rest of the Newsletter Continued

 

  • Please be aware that our neighboring Middle School will soon begin after-school activities such as football, volleyball,  and soccer, which may impact afternoon traffic. We appreciate your continued cooperation and understanding as we work together to ensure a smooth and safe experience for all. Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to Believe, Achieve, Love: Every Student, Every Success!

  • As we move forward this school year, we want to remind all students and families that at Herbert Akins Road Elementary School, we embody Safety, Ownership, Achievement, and Respect (SOAR) in everything we do. Please take a moment to review the link provided, which outlines what SOAR expectations look like in our daily routines.

  • With all WCPSS schools now operating on a regular schedule, we’ve noticed some delays and congestion in our afternoon carpool due to late bus arrivals. We kindly ask that everyone remains mindful, cautious, and courteous during this time. Please follow the designated flow of traffic and avoid entering the carpool lane through the exit. Your cooperation is essential to ensure the safety of all students, staff, and families. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

 

PBIS Information & Request

  • Our PBIS store needs your help! If you are interested in volunteering to support our PBIS store on Fridays, please see the Sign Up Genius below. We would love to have at least 2 helpers each Friday. *You must be an approved volunteer to participate.* Thank you for supporting PBIS and helping to reward our students for SOARing!

 

Sign Up Genius Link

  

 

  • We kindly remind all parents that students must remain in their vehicles until the bell rings at 8:45 a.m. For safety reasons, no students should exit their vehicles before this time or be out of their vehicle playing in the courtyard or on the grass in front of the school. Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring a safe and orderly start to our school day. 

  • WCPSS has shared that the price for school lunch and breakfast will increase at the start of the 24/25 school year.  Breakfast will cost $1.75 and Lunch will cost $3.50.

School Day at Herbert Akins ES

  • Just a quick reminder that school officially starts at 9:15 & ends at 3:45. If all parents would be kind enough to make sure their student is on time for arrival, and to do what they can not to pick their student up from school from 3:00 - 3:45 unless it is absolutely necessary.  We understand appointments and planned events that do not coordinate with the hours of school but with limited staff in the front office it becomes extremely challenging to manage in the morning and the afternoon.  Everyone's attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.  

                                                                                               

 2024-2025 Year Round Calendar

 

Reminder of the Student Device Agreement (WCPSS issued chromebooks)

  • Please review the following link reminding everyone that the WCPSS issued chromebooks are to be used for educational purposes only and are the property of the WCPSS.

 

Follow us on Twitter!

  • Please Find us on Twitter @herbertakins to keep up with happenings at school!

 

Keep up With Events at School!

  • Find us on Twitter or X @herbertakins to keep up with happenings at school!

  • Keep up with PTA info on their Facebook page “Parents of Herbert Akins Road Elementary School”.

 

 

Have a great weekend!



Jonathan Murdock

Principal

HARES Home of the Hawks Nest

 

Important Dates:

  • 💻 Sign up online at MyBooster.com – 09/05/2024

  • 🎉 Fundraiser Kickoff in school – Track 2 & 4: 9/18 Track 1 & 3: 9/30

  • 👟 Event Day – Track 2 & 4:9/26 and Track 1 & 3: 10/08