Have a Great Summer!!!

2021-2022 Bus Route Information Form

In an effort to make sure our bus routes are correct and everyone who wants bus transportation is assigned to a bus, we are asking you to please complete a form to request bus transportation and to let us know how your child will be getting to/from school daily for the 21-22 School Year. This form needs to be completed ASAP no later than August 1st in order to receive bus transportation on the first day of school. 

Camp Mustang

(Summer School 2021)

Arrival Time:  8:30 am

Departure Time:  1:30 pm

Dates

June 10-11

June 14-18

June 21-24

June 28-July 1

July 6-8

July 12-15

July 19-22

July 26-29

Register Here - https://forms.gle/T2n3YF9KS2LHY4FK6

Hope Middle School 

Open House

Open House is scheduled for Thursday, August 19, 2021. This is a floating event from 5:00-7:30 PM. We encourage students to bring only one parent to this event. Student schedules will be mailed home the week of August 13th and be visible on PowerSchool.

Hope Middle School Music Programs

Did you know Hope Middle School currently offers Band, Chorus, and String Orchestra as an Encore elective for our students?  These ensembles have long-standing traditions of excellence including giving concerts at school and around Pitt County as well as traveling for culturally enriching trips to competitions and workshops held at Busch Gardens and Disney World. We hope you would consider being a part of our journey together! 

Normally, you would need to join these ensembles during sixth grade to participate. Due to the previous Covid school year, we are opening registration up to any interested rising seventh grader. You do not need any prior music experience to participate! If you are already enrolled in one of these groups, you cannot join another as per Pitt County Policy.  Although our classes are optional we hope that many more would consider joining our positive and rewarding programs. 

If you are a rising 6th or 7th grader interested in Chorus, please contact Mr. Paul Flowers by email at flowerp@pitt.k12.nc.us. If you are interested in Band or String Orchestra, please contact Ms. Theresa O’Deens by email at odeent@pitt.k12.nc.us.  

To support our scheduling team, we prefer to hear from you by June 25th if you would like to participate in any of these programs, but no later than August 16th at Open House.  We hope to see you in classrooms in August! 

2021-2022 Pitt Councty School Virtual Learning

Grades 4-8

Click on the link for more information and application

Pitt County School Virtual School

Hope's Science Olympiad Team

Congratulations to Hope's Science Olympiad Team for placing 1st in the Northeast Regional competition.  They placed first in 20 of the 22 events!!  The team now moves on to the State competition in April.   

 April Competition Update

Hope's Battle of the Books Team

Congratulations to our Battle of the Books team for placing 3rd in today's district competition. It was a very close battle, with only 4 points separating 1st from 3rd place! We are so proud of these Mustangs and their hard work!

Students interested in reading books from next year's list should visit the HMS virtual library to see the full list of titles.

Today is a good day to read!

Hope Middle School Tour

Please visit the link below to view the tour of Hope Middle School offered through Parents for Public Schools of Pitt County.

Hope Middle School Tour

Congratulations 🎉 Mrs. Karen Thompson!

Hope Middle School’s Teacher of the Year!

 Alert Now Message for the week

May 24th

Good evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of May 24th. The next 2 weeks will be a buzz with a lot happening, please read closely so you will be aware of all that is going on.

Monday: Our virtual students will take their math EOG on campus. Students should have received an email reminding them of their test and which room they will test in. Students may be dropped off between 8:45-9:00. They are reminded that they must bring their school issued chromebook and charger to the exam. They will return both for the summer at the end of their exam. Virtual students will be able to pick up year end packets as they leave campus.

Tuesday all face-to-face students are expected to return their chromebooks and chargers. They can refer to an email from Mrs. Below last week that gives instructions how to clean and prepare their chromebook for return. Please double check with students before they leave that they have both chromebook and charger with them.

Wednesday all of our face-to-face students who take their exams as standard administration will take their math EOG. Thursday, these same students will take their reading EOG. Small group testing will continue through the week. As a reminder, students will not be able to be checked out between 9:15-12:45. Please plan accordingly. By 6th grade, our students have taken 5 EOGs and by 8th grade they’ve taken 10 EOGs. But it never hurts to remind our students to do their best, read all of the directions, get a good night’s rest the night before and eat a good breakfast. Students are reminded that breakfast is still available at school for students at no cost!

Friday our World History and Earth and Environmental students will take their Final Exam. All of our students will celebrate the end of the year with our PBIS celebration in the afternoon. Please be mindful that if your student will need to be checked out early, 2:30 is our cut off time. Yearbooks will also be delivered to students.

As a reminder to 8th grade parents, June 1st is our send-off parade! We look forward to seeing all of our 8th graders and their families. We will have signs for each student available for pick up after the parade and through the next day. We hope you will display them proudly in your yard!

A error on Treering's side means we have yearbooks for sale on campus! Yearbooks can be purchased for $40 cash/check (made payable to HMS) and will be delivered to students on May 28th. We hope you'll cash in on their error!

I got a bit excited last week thinking about the last day of school! The last day for students is June 4th, with an early dismissal at 1:30. Please make sure transportation is arranged and students are picked up no later than 1:45 PM.

It’s a great day to be a Mustang!

May 17th

Good evening Mustang families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of May 17th. 

The EOG testing window opens tomorrow, May 17th and extends through June 3rd.  Our virtual students will take their reading EOG tomorrow morning on campus.  Both face to face and virtual 8th graders will take their Science EOG on Friday, May 21st.

Virtual students will return to campus again on May 24th to take their math EOG.

Standard administration of math and reading EOGs will take place Wednesday, May 26th and Thursday, May 27th for Face to Face students.  If your child is not testing those days they may work virtually from home.  

Each student has received emails from Mrs. Stancil including their individual testing schedule. Just a few reminders:  

All EOGs must be taken at school; students need to be at school at 9:00 and we will complete testing between 12:30 and 1:00; and as a final reminder students can NOT be checked out during these times.  Doing so would cause misadministration for the entire room of tested students.  We have asked students to share these emails with their parents so that the entire family may be informed of their testing schedule.  

We have scheduled virtual students separate from our face to face students in order to maintain a safe testing environment for all students.  If you have any questions or concerns for your child’s testing schedule please email Mrs. Stancil at stanicd@pitt.k12.nc.us

Our F2F students are reminded tomorrow is a virtual day and they should check into canvas and complete their iReady requirements.

Wednesday night our Baseball and Softball teams will host their final games of the season.

Congratulations to our Soccer Team who went undefeated this season!  We are so proud of you and so thankful we were able to watch you play this year!

The last day of school is June 3rd and it is an early release day.  Dismissal will begin at 1:30.  Transportation for students must be arranged for students to be picked up no later than 1:45.  Our office will be closed at 2:00.

While we are trying to keep this year as normal of a school year as possible, it is important students stay current with their emails and information being shared by teachers to ensure they do not miss important details.  We are excited to spend these next 13 & ½ instructional days with our students.  It’s a GREAT day to be a Mustang!

May 10th

Good evening Mustang families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of May 10th.  I’d like to first wish all of the mother’s receiving this message a very Happy Mother’s Day!  

Tomorrow, like most Mondays is a virtual day!  Students should use this time to complete their iReady requirements.  Many students have been assigned their end of year diagnostic test.  Students who show growth from their beginning of the year diagnostic test to the end of the year will receive an award!  We hope everyone will take their time and do their best!

Tuesday, our band, chorus and orchestra students will be able to showcase their talents at the Music Showcase Outdoor Concert Tuesday, May 11th at 6:30.  Performances will be under the back portico.  Guests should bring their own chair and socially distance from other family pods in the parking lot.

Yearbooks are still on sale. Orders placed before May 14 will have to pay shipping for books to make it to school in time for the May 28 distribution day.  Books ordered after May 15 will have to pay for shipping directly to your home. Links for the treering ordering site can be found on our school website and facebook page. 

Students interested in the Pitt County Virtual Academy should apply no later than May 14th.  The application is available on our website, Facebook page and attached to this email.  Applications should be returned to Hope attention Mrs. Eblin.  If students wish to continue to learn virtually next year, this is the only opportunity to apply.  Space is limited and not all students will be eligible.

The EOG schedule has been published for Hope Middle School.  You can find those dates on our website, Facebook page and in this email.

The PTA is looking for executive board members for next year!  The positions open are Hospitality, Vice President, Dance Committee and Secretary.  Anyone interested should contact Gretchen Hvastkovs through email at hopemiddleschoolpta@gmail.com

Final Reminders: Charged chromebooks are needed each day, check your students mask for proper fit and length of shorts needs to reach fingertips when arms hang relaxed on the side.

We would like to thank each and every student, parent and PTA member who celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week with us.  We really do have the best teachers on the planet.  We’d also like to recognize our awesome school nurse, and our School Nutrition Heros for their work in our school.  We are so thankful for their service to our students.

It’s a great day to be a mustang!  Good night!

May 3rd

Good evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings the week of May 3rd.

Tomorrow, like most Mondays is a teacher workday!  Students should use this time to complete their iReady requirements for the week.  We encourage parents to ask their students about their time completed for accountability.  Students are also reminded to check canvas for any announcements or updates and that weekly assignments are due by Monday at 11:59 PM.

This week we will celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week!  The HMS PTA has a great week planned and everyone can participate tomorrow!  If you would like to volunteer or donate, you can check out the HMS PTA Facebook Page or email hopemiddleschoolpta@gmail.com for details.  Here's a link to donate directly to the Teacher Appreciation Week

Tuesday soccer and baseball will host AG Cox.  Thursday, soccer will travel to Wellcome.  We are so excited these student athletes have been able to have a season this year and feel a bit sad to see it winding down!   

Yearbooks are still on sale. Orders placed May 1-May 14 will have to pay shipping for books to make it to school in time for the May 28 distribution day.  Books ordered after May 15 will have to pay for shipping directly to your home. Links for the treering ordering site can be found on our school website and facebook page. 

8th grade parents/students should have received the invitation for our 8th Grade Send Off Parade scheduled for June 1st.  The rain date is June 3rd.  We can’t wait to celebrate our students!

The PTA is looking for executive board members for next year!  The positions open are Hospitality, Vice President, Dance Committee and Secretary.  Anyone interested should contact Gretchen Hvastkovs through email at hopemiddleschoolpta@gmail.com

Final Reminders: Charged chromebooks are needed each day, check your students mask for proper fit and length of shorts needs to reach fingertips when arms hang relaxed on the side.

We are winding down on the days and weeks left in in this school year.  And while it’s been the hardest year on record, it’s still a GREAT day to be a Mustang!

April 26th

Good evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings the week of April 26th.

Tomorrow, like most Mondays is a virtual day!  Students should use this time to complete their iReady requirements for the week.  We encourage parents to ask their students about their time completed for accountability.  Students are also reminded to check canvas for any announcements or updates and that weekly assignments are due by Monday at 11:59 PM.

The final ELA check-in is also scheduled for Monday.  Students will receive their testing code in their emails around 9:00 AM.  Questions should be emailed to Mrs. Stancil.

Another action packed week of athletics is planned.  Monday: baseball is at Eppes, Tuesday, Soccer will host Chicod.  Wednesday, baseball and softball host Greene Co. and Thursday, Soccer travels to Greene Co.  Please remember masks are required for parent spectators and at this time student spectators are not permitted.  We can’t wait for those restrictions to loosen so we can have our Mustang Maniacs at our matches!

An email went out last week for students who have been identified to attend summer school this year.  195 students also received this email on Friday.  Parents must respond to the link by April 27th.  Questions can be directed to Mrs. Johnson at johnsoj3@pitt.k12.nc.us.  We strongly encourage students who were invited to attend to be best prepared for their next grade.  If your student didn't have their most successful year, please check your email and check theirs to be sure you don't miss the registration.

Yearbooks are still on sale. Orders placed before April 30 will receive free shipping to the school. Orders placed May 1-May 14 will have to pay shipping for books to make it to school in time for the May 28 distribution day.  Books ordered after May 15 will have to pay for shipping directly to your home. Links for the treering ordering site can be found on our school website and facebook page. 

The PTA has a fundraiser running now to “Shower our Teachers”.  Check out the link for more details and to donate.

8th grade parents/students should have received the invitation for our 8th Grade Send Off Parade scheduled for June 1st.  The rain date is June 3rd.  We can’t wait to celebrate our students!

Reminders: Charged chromebooks are needed each day, check your students mask for proper fit and length of shorts needs to reach fingertips when arms hang relaxed on the side.

It’s a great day to be a Mustang!

April 19th

Tomorrow is a virtual day and students are reminded to use this time for iReady, checking into canvas and checking email.  Week-long assignments are due by Monday night at 11:59 PM.  Also on Monday, students should also plan to take their math NC check-in.  Students will receive their testing code in their email Monday morning.  Please email Mrs. Stancil if you have any questions or concerns.  

We have a busy week ahead in athletics, Monday Softball will travel to PS Jones to meet the Demons.  Tuesday, the soccer team will host the Jaguars from EB Aycock.  Wednesday, the softball and baseball teams will host Chicod  Thursday, the soccer team will travel to Farmville. 

We are so excited to have our student athletes back on the fields.  Please help us keep our student-athletes, coaches, staff and spectators safe by following the covid protocols in place.  Masks are required for entry and social distancing from other family pods is expected.  These guidelines are for both home and away games.

Students are doing great during drop off.  We know you are tired of answering questions -- we are tired of asking them.  But the expectation is that we will still screen each student before entering the building.  So please be patient -- we see it as the opportunity to speak to every child, every morning and for those of us at car duty, it’s a bright spot in our day!

The traffic backs up easily on Mills Road, so thank you for pulling into all 3 lanes as you enter our driveway.  If you’re an early bird and get here before students may be dropped off or before they are dismissed, please make sure you pull all the way up to get as many cars into our lane as possible.  

Final reminders:  Students should come with a fully charged chromebook each day, a water bottle is encouraged and check those shorts length!  Masks should fit snugly over the nose and mouth and be worn all day, every day.

It’s a great day to be a mustang! 

April 12th

Good evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of April 12th.  

Tomorrow is a teacher workday for students in grades 6-12.  This is in order to fully prepare for all our F2F students to return on Tuesday.  K-5 students will continue to have a virtual Monday.

Please know that we are EXCITED to have our students back!  In an effort to keep all of our students and staff healthy and at school, please remind your students of the following: 

Bus routes, times and stops have changed to accommodate the increased ridership Updates have been emailed to student email accounts from Mrs. Stancil. If your stop moved, it is likely due to more students in your area now riding.  

Masks are still required.  All day, everyday except when actively eating or drinking or during a scheduled mask break outside.  They must be fitted to cover the mouth and nose at all times.  Since this is not a new expectation, students should be warned that they will receive a step if consciously choosing not to wear their mask appropriately.  This expectation extends to the bus.

Assigned seats on the bus are non-negotiable.  Students MUST sit in their assigned seat on the bus to avoid  a whole bus being quarantined in the event of a positive rider.

The only down-side to having all of our students return is the reduced spacing requirements.  This impacts potential quarantines.  Please know that if we have to quarantine a group of students, we are not happy about it either.  We ask for your grace and understanding should we have to make that call.  Please see the attached letter from Drs. Lenker and Silvernail.

As a reminder, the option for hybrid is no longer available.  Students who have selected to be a F2F student should plan to attend every day, Tuesday-Friday unless they are sick.  Attendance will be taken daily as in a traditional school year.  To be counted present, a student must be at school, unless they have been quarantined, which then they may work virtually.  

Students should continue to remain in their cars until a staff member greets them and they are dismissed.  All 3 lanes are open for drop off in the front of the school.  Check out the video on our Facebook page from Mr. Sanderson if you have any questions!

All students are expected to report to school with a fully charged device to use during the instructional day. Plug in that Chromebook and make sure you bring it with you on Tuesday! 

Lastly, April 15th we will have spring portrait makeups for anyone who has not taken a yearbook photo or would like to purchase pictures.

We look forward to seeing all our F2F students on Tuesday!

March 29th

Good evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of March 29th

Tomorrow is a Teacher Workday.  Therefore no new assignments or instructions will occur.  However, students are reminded of their weekly assignments, including iReady requirements for the week.  

Report cards have been mailed and families should have received them by now!  Students who are at risk for failing  and being considered for retention and were notified as a part of their report card package. 

Tuesday, we will welcome our B week students on campus.  We are excited to host our spring spirit week as we countdown to Spring Break beginning April 2nd.  

Tuesday:  Color War!  6th Grade: Red, 7th Grade: Blue, 8th grade Green, Staff: Purple
Wednesday: Team Spirit!  Wear your favorite team jersey OR Hope Mustang Gear

Thursday: No Step/No Uniform Day

Just a reminder that proper mask-wearing in the classrooms and hallways is critical to the safety of our students and staff.  Please check your student’s mask daily to ensure proper fit so that their nose and mouth can be covered all day, except during outside mask breaks, or when actively eating or drinking.

Tuesday our soccer team will host Ayden Middle School; Wednesday our baseball and softball teams will host Grifton school.  Please be reminded that our student population may not attend home games at this point. The current athletic  attendance policy is based on 30% capacity so ONLY families of players may attend home games at Hope. 

The 3rd round of check ins have begun.  All of our students (6th-8th grade) will take the Math Check in on Monday, April 19th and the Reading check in on Monday, April 26th. 

It’s always a great day to be a mustang!

March 22nd

Good Evening, This is Mrs. Johnson with an important update regarding the shift to Plan A in the middle schools.

Many of you have heard by now that because of the law passed last week and our board of education’s vote, middle school and high school students will be able to return to campus both weeks, following spring break.  Please note this decision was intended for the current F2F students, therefore our planning is based on those students alone.  If your student is 100% virtual and you would like for them to return for these last 6 weeks, you MUST contact the school no later than March 26th.  There are many systems and structures that have to be adjusted in a limited timeframe in order to safely welcome back students in our classrooms and buses.  Proper mask-wearing in the classrooms and hallways is critical to the safety of our students and staff.  Please check your student’s mask daily to ensure proper fit so that their nose and mouth can be covered all day, except during outside mask breaks, or when actively eating or drinking.

Restrictions on the bus have been reduced to accommodate more students, however bus seating assignments will be critical in the case of an infected rider.  Please stress to your students to sit in their assigned seat to avoid an entire bus being quarantined.  If you now require bus transportation due to the change, please email Mrs. Stancil directly or call the main office.  Students who have not been assigned a bus may not ride.  Updated stops/times will be emailed to student email accounts by March 31st.

Please note that the option for hybrid is no longer available.  Students who have selected to be a F2F student should plan to attend every day, Tuesday-Friday unless they are sick.  Attendance will be taken daily as in a traditional school year.  To be counted present, a student must be at school, unless they have been quarantined, which then they may work virtually.  Students may change from F2F to virtual at any time until the remainder of the year, however after March 26th there will be no movements from virtual to F2F.

We have been quite fortunate to not have had any school-related cases that involved staff/student quarantines.  With the reduced spacing permitted and increased number of students in classroom spaces, we anticipate that quarantines will be inevitable.  Please be patient and extend grace to our school nurse or staff if you are notified of a necessary quarantine.  We are still held to our local restrictions from the Pitt County Health Department and do not anticipate being very popular with families we have to quarantine.

March 21st

Good evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of March 22nd

Tomorrow is a virtual day and students should check into canvas and catch up on any assignments, including iReady requirements for the week.  Remember, teachers have virtual office hours between 2:30-3:30 every Monday to answer any questions you have about assignments you need to submit.  We’ve just started the 4th nine weeks, so all of our students have the opportunity for a clean slate to end the year on a strong note!

Tomorrow report cards will go into the mail!  Students who are at risk for failing  and being considered for retention and will be notified as a part of their report card package.  Questions regarding student progress should be directed to teachers, first.

Additionally, spring portraits are happening in the media center, but appointment only.  If you have not had your portrait taken for the yearbook, or you are interested in spring pictures, please check out our website or facebook page for an appointment.

Tuesday, we will welcome our A week students on campus.  We are excited to host our spring spirit week as we countdown to Spring Break beginning April 2nd.

Tuesday:  Color War!  6th Grade: Red, 7th Grade: Blue, 8th grade Green, Staff: Purple

Wednesday: Team Spirit!  Wear your favorite team jersey OR Hope Mustang Gear

Thursday: Wacky-Tacky Day

Friday: No Step/No Uniform Day

Our B week students will have the opportunity to participate next week.

8th graders who have not met with Mrs. Slappey or Mrs. Eblin and received confirmation regarding the schedule (pink sheet) need to check their emails ASAP.

Just a reminder that proper mask-wearing in the classrooms and hallways is critical to the safety of our students and staff.  Please check your student’s mask daily to ensure proper fit so that their nose and mouth can be covered all day, except during outside mask breaks, or when actively eating or drinking.

Our community has been excellent at communicating with our school nurse and front office staff about household exposures, symptoms and positive cases.  We are so thankful!  We urge you to continue this transparency in order to keep our students and staff well.  Even though it seems community cases in Pitt County at large have dropped tremendously, it’s still critical that we follow the protocols in place

It’s always a great day to be a mustang!

March 15th

Good evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of March 15th.

Tomorrow is a virtual day and students should check into canvas and catch up on any assignments, including iReady requirements for the week.  Remember, teachers have virtual office hours between 2:30-3:30 every Monday to answer any questions you have about assignments you need to submit.  As a reminder, the 3rd 9 weeks ends on the 16th.  Make that final push to get assignments submitted!

Tuesday we are excited to welcome back our last wave of virtual students who are choosing to be face-to-face for the last 9 weeks.  In the car line and on the bus route, please remember to extend grace to those who’s 2nd  first day of school will be Tuesday!

Attention 8th Grade Families: Mrs. Eblin and Mrs. Slappey will be conferencing with students in regards to their high school registration course selections.  Conferences will take place March 2nd-23rd.  If your child is a “virtual only” student, Mrs. Eblin and Mrs. Slappey will reach out to them via email to set up a phone or Zoom meeting to discuss their course selections. Please make sure your student checks their email this week for instructions.  High School registration will end Wednesday, March 24th.  

Any 8th grade student who plans to attend South Central High School next school year and is interested in the AVID program should complete an application by April 1st.  The original deadline for these applications have been extended.  Applications can be found on our school website and emailed to a school counselor when complete.  

We hope you were able to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend and you’ve moved your clocks ahead!  We look forward to seeing our B week students this week!

March 8th

Good evening Mustang Families, this is 6th grader Kallie Stone, with your Hope Happenings for the week of March 8th

Tomorrow is a Teacher Workday.  There will be no scheduled Zooms or new instruction.  However, our students are reminded of the regular Monday night due date for weekly assignments and iReady.

Tuesday, A week students will return to campus. Wednesday is a regular student day.

Attention 100% virtual students!  If you plan to return to campus for the 4th 9 weeks, you must reply to this survey by March 7th at 11:59 PM.  We need to hear from all 100% virtual students by the deadline, even if you are choosing to remain 100% virtual.  If you are currently hybrid and attending at least one week, we do not need to hear from you!

Attention 8th Grade Families: Mrs. Eblin and Mrs. Slappey will be conferencing with students in regards to their high school registration course selections.  Conferences will take place March 2nd-23rd.  If your child is a “virtual only” student, Mrs. Eblin and Mrs. Slappey will reach out to them via email to set up a phone or Zoom meeting to discuss their course selections.  High School registration will end Wednesday, March 24th.  

Any 8th grade student who plans to attend South Central High School next school year and is interested in the AVID program should complete an application by March 8th.  Applications can be found on our school website and emailed to a school counselor when complete.  

Miss Price is excited to share plans for a spring showcase!  You can learn more about it HERE.  Audition forms will be collected for the next week.  Performance dates are set for late May.   We look forward to being able to highlight our student talent!

Fall retake picture proofs have arrived.  Hybrid students should have received their proofs in class.  Virtual Students can stop by the front office to pick up their proofs Monday-Friday from 8am-3pm.  Instructions on how to purchase your pictures will be included in your proof package.

Our Spring Picture Day will be held on Monday March 22nd.  If you would like to take Spring Pictures please go to the Hope Middle School website or facebook page to find the link to make an appointment.  Everyone taking pictures must have an appointment.  Walk-ins will not be allowed.

We look forward to a great week at Hope Middle School where everyday is a great day, to be a mustang!

March 1st

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of March 1st.

Tomorrow is a virtual day and students should check into canvas and catch up on any assignments, including iReady requirements for the week.  Remember, teachers have virtual office hours between 2:30-3:30 every Monday to answer any questions you have about assignments you need to submit.  We only have 2 weeks left in this marking period, make them count!  Also, Math 1 students should plan to take the NC Check-in.  They will receive their testing codes Monday morning in their student email accounts.

Tuesday, B week students will return to campus.  

Spring athletics begin March 1st.  Student athletes are reminded to check the athletic website for information about try-outs, delays and cancellations.

Attention 100% virtual students!  If you plan to return to campus for the 4th 9 weeks, you must reply to this survey by March 7th at 11:59 PM.  This is your last chance to return to on campus learning this school year.  Adjustments to schedules, assignments to weeks and transportation will be communicated by March 12th to student email accounts.  We need to hear from all 100% virtual students by the deadline, even if you are choosing to remain 100% virtual.

Families  Fall retake picture proofs have arrived.  If your student participated in the Fall Retakes, Week A students should receive their proofs on Friday Feb. 26th and Week B students should receive their proofs on Tuesday March 2nd.  Virtual Students can stop by the front office to pick up their proofs Monday-Friday from 8am-3pm.  Instructions on how to purchase your pictures will be included in your proof package.

Miss Price is excited to share plans for a spring showcase!  You can learn more about it HERE.  Audition forms will be collected for the next 2 weeks.  Performance dates are set for late May.  

We’re ready to jump into March together and charge towards June.  

February 22nd

Good Evening Mustang Families!  This is 7th grader, Gracie Schremp here to report your Hope Happenings for the week of February 22nd.  Hard to believe we’ve blown through February so quickly!  

Tomorrow is a virtual day, students are encouraged to check into their canvas courses and check emails.  These days are a perfect time to catch up on iReady requirements and complete any missing assignments from the previous week.

Progress reports went home with our B week students last week, A week students will receive theirs this week.  100% virtual students progress reports were mailed on Wednesday.  

Tuesday, A week students will return to campus!  If you have not returned your attestation form yet, please be sure to bring it on Tuesday morning!

As a reminder A week students who have not received a step in the month of January, Friday is “No Step-No Uniform Day”.  B week students celebrated this past Friday.

Spring sports are scheduled to begin March 1st. Students and parents should check the school’s website for registration information, updates, tryout cancellations or postponements AND to print sports physical forms. Online Registration is open for Baseball, Softball and Soccer. 

This is a friendly reminder from the Media Center to please return your library books when you come back to campus. Many students still have books from last school year. Your books can be dropped off in the media center drop box or the bins located on each hallway. If you have books from other media centers in Pitt County, Mrs. Below would be happy to return them to the correct school for you.  

We hope that you had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed seeing the sunshine!  We look forward to a great week at Hope Middle School where everyday is a great day, to be a mustang!

February 15th

Good Evening Mustang Families and Happy Valentine’s Day!  We hope you were able to celebrate friendship and love today, in a socially distanced or virtual way!  This is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of February 15th.  

Tomorrow is a Teacher Workday.  There will be no scheduled Zooms or new instruction.  However, our students are reminded of the regular Monday night due date for weekly assignments and iReady.

Tuesday we will welcome our B week students back to school!  Progress reports will be printed this week as well.  Students on campus will receive their progress reports on Wednesday.  A week students will receive theirs when they return the following week.  We will be mailing 100% virtual student progress reports.  Students and parents are reminded that they can always check their grades in Canvas and PowerSchool anytime.  Good practice would be to check Canvas and PowerSchool as often as you check social media.

We have talked to countless parents and students who are expressing that virtual learning is not their best learning experience, that they learn better in class.  And while we agree, being in class everyday for most students is best - we are not able to accommodate students returning both weeks at this time.  We have met capacity in most of our classroom spaces.  Our hope is once the vaccine is more widely distributed, the Governor will reduce the restrictions on social distancing as they have in the elementary school.  Until then, know that we will continue to do all we can to support our students when they are at school and home alike.

It has come to our attention that our phone calls are popping up on cell phones as “potential spam”.  To avoid any important calls from school, especially during the school day we highly encourage you to store our number in your cell phone as a contact.  252-355-7071 is our main line which all calls will come from.

Spring sports are scheduled to begin March 1st. Students and parents should check the school’s website for registration information, updates, tryout cancellations or postponements AND to print sports physical forms. Online Registration is open for Baseball, Softball and Soccer. 

This is a friendly reminder from the Media Center to please return your library books when you come back to campus. Many students still have books from last school year. Your books can be dropped off in the media center drop box or the bins located on each hallway. If you have books from other media centers in Pitt County, Mrs. Below would be happy to return them to the correct school for you.  

We have one homeroom in 6th grade who has collected the attestation forms from everyone!  We’re waiting on a 7th grade and 8th grade homeroom.  These forms must be collected from every face to face students.  Please send yours in on Tuesday or the next day you are on campus.

We have hope you have a wonderful evening!  Good Night!

February 8

Good Evening Mustang Families, This is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of February 8th.  

This evening’s call will be short and sweet!  Just one reminder and a couple of announcements.

Monday is a Virtual Day.  We encourage students to check into their Canvas courses and emails for important announcements and reminders.  Tuesday we will welcome our A week students to campus.

8th Grade families who need additional information regarding high school registration should look at the HMS website and the appropriate high school website for more information.  A recorded video from the DHC and SC Zoom meetings fro this past Friday will be posted very soon.  The high schools have done a really great job gathering all of the pertinent information in one place.  For those students who will be requesting a transfer from their home high school for open enrollment, please note the process will be 100% electronic this year.  The link will be available on the Pitt County Schools website on the Student Assignment page beginning March 1st.

Spring sports are scheduled to begin March 1st. Students and parents should check the school’s website for registration information and to print sports physical forms. Online Registration is now open for Baseball, Softball and Soccer.

January 31

Good Evening Mustang Families, This is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings fo the week of February 1st.  

Monday will be Virtual.  We encourage students to check into their Canvas courses and emails for important announcements and reminders.  Additionally, students should complete their Math Check-in #2, not inclusive of Math 1 - that will be given at a later date.  As a reminder, students must use a school issued device for the assessment.  Students who are planning to take the assessment at school should arrive between 12:15-12:30 pm.  Students should stay in their vehicles until they have been screened by a staff member.  Parents should plan to return no later than 2:30 pm for pick up.  Directions and codes have been sent to student emails, not parent emails.

Tuesday we will welcome B week students back to campus!  It’s been a few weeks since we’ve seen their faces and we’re looking forward to seeing them!  If they have attestation forms they did not turn in at the beginning of January, please complete them and turn them in this coming week.

Wednesday we hope you’ll take the night off from cooking and head to Chipotle for Spirit Night.  Orders may be called in or placed online for HMS PTA to still receive 33% of the proceeds.  Please consider visiting Chipotle between 5-9 to support the HMS PTA.

Spirit wear is still available for online ordering through tonight!.  Orders must be placed no later than 11:59 pm.  Delivery is scheduled for the week of February 22nd.

This is a friendly reminder from the Media Center to please return your library books when you come back to campus. Many students still have books from last school year. Your books can be dropped off in the media center drop box or the bins located on each hallway. If you have books from other media centers in Pitt County, Mrs. Below would be happy to return them to the correct school for you.  

Good new for anyone who missed the The Health Sciences Academy application deadline.  The HSA has extended their application period until further notice. Any interested students should see our school counselors, Mrs. Eblin or Mrs. Slappey for an application.  If you have questions about the program, Mrs. Slappey can answer them specifically -- she was previously a HSA Counselor!

Whether on campus or off, virtual or face-to-face, it’s a GREAT day, to be a MUSTANG!

January 25

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of January 25th

Monday, Pitt County Schools will resume Virtual Mondays.  We encourage students to check into their Canvas courses and emails for important announcements and reminders.  Additionally, students should complete their ELA Check-in #2.  As a reminder, students must use a school issued device.  Students who are planning to take the assessment at school should arrive between 12:15-12:30 pm.  Students should stay in their vehicles until they have been screened by a staff member.  Parents should plan to return no later than 2:30 pm for pick up.

Tuesday, we are so excited to FINALLY welcome back our A week students!  For some of our A week students, this will be their first time on campus this school year.  We are ready for you!  There will be extra staff available to help anyone who needs help finding their homeroom.  Any staff member at the bus or car lot can direct you to help.

Spirit wear is now available for online ordering.  Orders must be placed no later than January 31st at 11:59 pm.  Delivery is scheduled for the week of February 22nd.

Bus information for riders returning on A week was sent the week before we went virtual.  Students should check their emails from Mrs. Stancil.  If they still need help, they should email her directly at stancid@pitt.k12.nc.us

Make-up Fall school pictures have arrived.  If you would like to come by, parents may pick them up from the front office between 8:00-4:00 Tuesday-Friday.  F2F students will receive them when they return to campus.

This is a friendly reminder from the Media Center to please return your library books when you come back to campus. Many students still have books from last school year. Your books can be dropped off in the media center drop box or the bins located on each hallway. If you have books from other media centers in Pitt County, Mrs. Below would be happy to return them to the correct school for you.  

Good new for anyone who missed the The Health Sciences Academy application deadline.  The HSA has extended their application period until further notice. Any interested students should see our school counselors, Mrs. Eblin or Mrs. Slappey for an application.  If you have questions about the program, Mrs. Slappey can answer them specifically -- she was previously a HSA Counselor!

We were impressed by all of the participation during the 2 virtual weeks!  We look forward to that continuing as we resume Plan B this coming week.

January 17

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of January 18th.

Monday Pitt County Schools will observe the MLK Jr. Holiday, therefore there is no school for students or staff.  Students are not required to log in for virtual class meetings, however are reminded that assignments from the previous week are due no later than 11:59 pm.

Tuesday-Friday we will continue virtual learning.  Please note that teachers have office hours between 8:30-9:00 and 3:00-3:30 with no morning office hours Thursday or afternoon hours Friday to accommodate staff development.

We have been so impressed with the attendance on Zooms this past week.  Teachers have updated their Zoom schedules through email and their Canvas pages.  Teachers are following their bell schedule each day and we highly encourage students to join daily Zoom meetings throughout the day.  This includes their core classes and their encore classes.  Engagement is the key to success during this virtual learning experience.

Spirit wear is now available for online ordering.  Orders must be placed no later than January 31st at 11:59 pm.  Delivery is scheduled for the week of February 22nd

Make-up Fall school pictures have arrived.  If you would like to come by, parents may pick them up from the front office between 8:00-4:00 Tuesday-Friday.  F2F students will receive them when they return to campus.

Thank you to the many families who have extended their kindness and encouragement as we transitioned to virtual learning overnight.  We are so proud of our students and feel fortunate to serve our Hope community!

It’s a great day, to be a Mustang!

January 10

Good evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of January 11th.

Tomorrow is a virtual day.  All students are expected to log into their canvas courses and check messages, assignments and emails.  It’s also a great opportunity to complete your iReady middle of the year diagnostics.  As a reminder, teachers has Zoom office hours between 2:30-3:30 every Monday.  However, most will do their best to accommodate students and parents Mondays.

8th Grade Students will be taking their Science NC Check in on Monday.  Students who signed up to take the Check in at home will receive their Access Code via student email Monday morning at 9:00.  Students who have registered to take the assessment at school received an email on Friday reminding them of the time.  If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Stancil.

Students who attend A Week and have signed up for a bus will receive an email by Monday morning at 9:00.  If you do not receive an email or have questions regarding buses, please email Mrs. Stancil.

Tuesday we will welcome A week students back to campus!  It feels like forever since we’ve seen those friends!  We will unload buses and car riders beginning at 8:45 amB week and 100% virtual students are encouraged to log in and 

Basketball try-outs will resume on Tuesday.  Athletes and parents are encouraged to check out the HMS website for updates, times and locations for try-outs.

It’s critically important for parents and students to continue to communicate with their teachers, our school nurse, Nurse Kirby or the front office if someone in your home tests positive for Covid-19.  We can direct you to the timeline of when your student can safely return.  Additionally, if anyone in the home is experiencing symptoms, students cannot return to school until that person has either tested negative for Covid-19 or has been alternatively diagnosed.  It’s not convenient, but it’s critical to follow these guidelines in order to keep all of our students and staff safe and healthy as well as for us to safely keep our doors open.  

We feel fortunate for our community and grateful for the opportunity to serve our students!  It’s always a great day to be a Mustang!

January 4

Good Evening Mustang Families, 

This is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of January 4th!

We are looking forward to welcoming you and your students back to school for the second half of the 20-21 school year!  We trust you had a restful and relaxing winter break.  Please listen for some important updates.

The Board of Education will meet tomorrow at 11 am for a special called meeting.  The purpose is to discuss the most up to date information from our schools and departments in regards to COVID-19.  It’s expected that a decision will be made whether or not we will return to school this week as planned or begin instruction virtually for all students.  From the PCS website, the under Board of Education tab, you can find the link to watch the meeting live.  Please pay close attention to the PCS website and social media accounts following the meeting for updates.  I expect an all-call from the district will give more information following any decision made tomorrow afternoon or evening. 

Now for some campus updates:

Boys and Girls Basketball Tryouts will kick off this week (January 6th-8th). All students interested in trying out must register on the school’s website from their  school gmail account. Students must have a sports physical on the approved state form in order to participate in tryouts. More information about tryout dates and times, as well as links to the printable physical forms, can be found on the school’s website. 

Students who will be riding the bus next semester should plan to check their emails today, after 4:00 pm with updated bus information.  With so many students returning face-to-face this semester, bus routes, times and stops have been updated.  Please be patient with the changes and let Mrs. Stancil know if you have any issues.

When students return to school, it is imperative that we maintain as safe an environment as possible. Prior to sending your student(s) back to a school campus for any reason, please review the following scenarios and questions. If ANY of the following are true for your student, you MUST contact your school immediately.

1. During the break, my student tested positive. If so, please report the date symptoms developed or date of positive test to your school prior your student’s return.
2. During the break, my student had symptoms (runny nose/congestion, sore throat, headache, fever, chills, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, new cough, new loss of taste/smell) but did not see a doctor or have a positive test. Please share with your school the last date of your student’s symptoms.
3. During the break my student was exposed to someone (not in the household) that later tested positive. If so, what was the date of exposure? When did the individual develop symptoms or test positive? Did your student have a COVID test? Date of your student’s test? Result? Please share this information with your school.
4. During the break, someone in my student’s household developed symptoms or tested positive. Please share with your school: Date of onset of symptoms for the individual. Date of positive COVID test. Did your student develop symptoms? Did your student get tested? Date of test?

*Note: Exposure is defined as being within 6 ft of someone diagnosed with COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more cumulatively within 48 hours of testing positive (even if masks were worn).   

Again: If ANY of the above scenarios are true for your student, you must contact your school immediately.

Finally, do not send your student to school under any circumstances if:

* you are waiting for COVID test results for your student

* your student has any symptoms (that have not been alternatively diagnosed by a physician or your student has not yet received negative COVID test results)

* anyone in your student’s household has symptoms (that have not been alternatively diagnosed by a physician or the individual has not received negative COVID test results)

* your student has had direct contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID within 48 hours of exposure. In this scenario, your student should quarantine for 6 days prior to testing.

If there are ANY questions regarding these scenarios or circumstances, please contact your school prior to your student’s return to any school campus for any reason. We all must work together to maintain the safest environment possible during the pandemic, and we appreciate your support.

For students who will be returning to campus for the first time or the first time this semester, we encourage you to check out the welcome videos on our Facebook page to learn more about the traffic patterns for pick up and drop off.

Lastly, this is your friendly reminder to plug in and charge your Chromebook tonight so it is ready to go for instruction Wednesday morning!

We look forward to an exciting and successful 2nd semester with our students!  It’s a great day to be a Mustang!

December 14

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of December 14th.

Tomorrow is a virtual day.  Students should use this day to check into the canvas courses and complete any assignments from the previous week that may be outstanding.

As a change from previous years, this week is the final week of the marking period and 1st semester.  All assignments and assessments must be submitted by the teachers’ deadlines.  The marking period will officially close December 18th.  Grades will be locked and teachers will be unable to accept any late or missing assignments after December 18th.  Students are encouraged to connect with their teachers about outstanding assignments and confirm deadlines that may be earlier than December 18th in order to receive full credit.

In the season of giving, please remember Operation Santa is still underway.  New, unwrapped toys will be collected until December 15th.  Also, the Beta Club is collecting non-perishable food items for the Joy Soup Kitchen.  The homeroom the collects the most donations wll receive a pizza party in January.  

Curbside meal pickup will be available during the holiday break on December 21st and 28th, each with 7 breakfasts and 7 lunches, completely free of charge.  See our Facebook or website for more information.  Also, curbside meal pickup is now available on Saturdays!  2 breakfasts and 2 lunches will be served for each child in your car.  The closest curbside pickup location in our community is Wintergreen Intermediate on pickup days between 9:50-10:30 am.

Applications are currently open for 8th graders interested in the Health Sciences Academy, Northeast Regional Biotechnology and Early College high schools.  Please make sure you follow timelines for these applications for full consideration.

When B week students return this week it will be Spirit Week!  Tues: Twinning Tuesday, Wed: Pajamas Day, Thur: Holiday Wear, Fri: No Step/No Uniform and wear a holiday hat or socks!  

Have a great evening!  

December 6

Operation Santa is underway. Please bring in new unwrapped toys from now until Dec 15th to help families in need for the holidays.  Students who participate will receive one "no homework pass" to use in any of their classes.  All unwrapped toys should be brought to the office and placed in the festive box decorated by our students.    

The Beta Club is collecting non-perishable food items for the Joy Soup Kitchen.  Each homeroom will be competing to collect the most items to be awarded a pizza party in January when we return to school.  Please consider supporting this wonderful cause.

We are excited to host our annual book fair with Usborne Books & More continuing through Dec. 11. We love the quality and educational value these books offer to our families. Our school earns 50% back in books for our classrooms, so it is win-win to purchase books for your home, knowing your child will benefit here at school as well! Please consider the book fair for some of your holiday shopping!  Shopping links for the bookfair can be found on the school website, school facebook page and in our media center virtual library. 

Applications are currently open for 8th graders interested in the Health Sciences Academy, Northeast Regional Biotechnology and Early College high schools.  Please make sure you follow timelines for these applications for full consideration.

8th grade students interested in applying for one or both of the Early College High Schools can complete an online application by January 22nd.  A Live Question and Answer Session will be held tomorrow, December 7th at 6pm via Zoom. The Zoom link will be posted on our Hope Website.  

There is a Parent Climate Survey available on our website, our Facebook page and previously sent to parents and guardians.  We are always looking for opportunities to improve our service to our community.  Please consider completing the survey no later than December 11th.

When A week students return this week it will be Spirit Week!  Tues: Twinning Tuesday, Wed: Pajamas Day, Thur: Holiday Wear, Fri: No Step/No Uniform and wear a holiday hat or socks!  

Have a great evening! 

November 30

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of November 30th.  We hope you all had a restful holiday break and you’re ready to jump into December with both feet.  These are the last 3 weeks of the 2nd marking period and 1st semester.

We are excited to host our annual book fair with Usborne Books & More beginning today through Dec. 11. We love the quality and educational value these books offer to our families. Our school earns 50% back in books for our classrooms, so it is win-win to purchase books for your home, knowing your child will benefit here at school as well! Please consider the book fair for some of your holiday shopping!  Shopping links for the bookfair can be found on the school website, school facebook page and in our media center virtual library. 

8th grade students who are interested in applying for the Northeast Regional School of Biotechnology and Agriscience can pick up an application in the front office.  Applications are due to a School Counselor no later than December 11th for early admittance into the program.   

8th grade students who are interested in applying for Health Science Academy can pick up an application in the front office.  Applications are due no later than January 15th to a School Counselor.  

8th grade students interested in applying for one or both of the Early College High Schools can complete an online application by January 22nd.  A Live Question and Answer Session will be held December 7th at 6pm via Zoom. The Zoom link will be posted on our Hope Website.  

Online applications and more information for each of these program opportunities are located on our Hope Website and will be shared through your child's SEL class this week.  Please see Mrs. Slappey and Mrs. Eblin if you have any further questions. 

As a reminder tomorrow B week students will return to campus.  A week students will return next week, Tuesday, December 8th.

We’ve received the survey data from students who wish to return next semester on campus.  We plan to inform students and parents of any changes to schedule, bus routes or week assignments in late December.

We look forward to a great week!  Have a great evening.

November 16

 Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of November 16th.

Tomorrow, Monday November 16th is the last scheduled virtual Monday.  We expect to hear updates from the Board of Education about whether or not they will continue after Thanksgiving this coming week.

Students should make the most of their virtual Monday by logging into Canvas and checking their email.  

NC Check-ins will continue this week on Thursday and Friday.  If virtual students are taking their exams at home, please remember all of the information they need will be delivered to their student email by 8:30 AM of their testing day.

8th grade parents can check out our website and Facebook page for more information regarding the Early College High School applications and more information.  Mrs. Slappey and your homeroom teachers will have more information to present in class coming soon.

The Beta Club is still taking cleaning supply donations They are also selling HMS gators and face  masks.  Both are HMS spirit gear and available for anyone to purchase.

A quick note from the PTA Please help the PTA during this challenging year by becoming a member.  Membership is down 75% this year, so the PTA wants to entice you with a few prizes.  Join before Nov 30 and you will be entered to win a gift card to Texas Roadhouse or Winslows.  To join, please visit the Hope PTA Facebook page and click the link to memberhub.  They will announce their two winners on December 1st on their Facebook page.

The PTA will also be doing their annual Gift Card Fundraiser with Texas Roadhouse beginning November 16-30.  Check out their Facebook page for more information.

Attention 100% Virtual Students!   It’s time for you to make your spring learning commitment for 2nd semester.  This is only required to be completed for students who are currently 100% virtual.  Even our families who recently changed to virtual within the last few weeks, we need your commitment for the second semester, too.  Here’s the link: Spring Learning Commitment Survey The survey is open now extending through November 20th.  If you have any questions, please see our Facebook and website for more information.  A FAQ Document has been created to help support parents in their decision-making.

As a reminder, Monday, November 23rd and Tuesday, November 24th before the Thanksgiving holiday and the following week, beginning Monday, November 30th are B week.  We will welcome our A week students back this week, however they will not return to campus until the week of December 7th.

We are thankful for you, for your students and the community we serve.  It’s a GREAT day to be a Mustang!

November 9

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of November 9th.

Monday is a virtual day, students are reminded to check into their canvas courses and check emails.  As a reminder, teachers have office hours at 2:30-3:30 each day and encore teachers throughout the day.  We encourage you to reach out to teachers to connect with them during this time.

Our students, both virtual and F2F have been doing great on their NC check-ins.  We’ll continue more this week.

Wednesday, we will recognize the Veteran’s Day holiday, there is no school for staff or students!

Please remember fall picture proofs and order forms are due back to homeroom teachers by November 13th.  You can also place an online order at mylifetouch.com.  

8th grade parents can check out our website and Facebook page for more information regarding the Early College High School applications and more information.  Mrs. Slappey and your homeroom teachers will have more information to present in class coming soon.

The Beta Club is still taking cleaning supply donations They are also selling HMS gators and face  masks.  Both are HMS spirit gear and available for anyone to purchase.

A quick note from the PTA Please help the PTA during this challenging year by becoming a member.  Membership is down 75% this year, so the PTA wants to entice you with a few prizes.  Join before Nov 30 and you will be entered to win a gift card to Texas Roadhouse or Winslows.  To join, please visit the Hope PTA Facebook page and click the link to memberhub.  They will announce their two winners on December 1st on their Facebook page.

The PTA will also be doing their annual Gift Card Fundraiser with Texas Roadhouse beginning November 16-30.  Check out their Facebook page for more information.

Thursday evening you should have received a call, text or email regarding the spring learning commitment for 2nd semester.  This is only required to be completed for students who are currently 100% virtual.  Even our families who recently changed to virtual within the last few weeks, we need your commitment for the second semester, too.  Here’s the link: Spring Learning Commitment Survey The survey is open now extending through November 20th.  If you have any questions, please see our Facebook and website for more information.  A FAQ Document has been created to help support parents in their decision-making.

In this month where many take the time to reflect on all that they have to be thankful for, we at Hope want to thank YOU for all your support, your encouragement and sharing your children with us.  We are thankful that we get to be a part of their educational journey.

It’s a great day to be a Mustang!

November 2

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of November 2nd.  We trust you have a safe and happy halloween!

Students should have received their report cards by now in the mail.  If not, they can request a copy at school when they return or you can stop by with a photo ID and we’ll be happy to print you one.

Monday is a virtual day, students are reminded to check into their canvas courses and check their emails.

Our Fall Picture Proofs have arrived.  Week B students should have received their proofs from their homeroom teacher last week and Week A students should receive their proofs this week.  All virtual students who took pictures can stop by the front office on Monday between 8am-3pm to pick up their proofs.  If you would like to purchase school pictures, please complete the order form inside of your proof package and send in the order form and money to your homeroom teacher by November 13th or you can place your order online at mylifetouch.com.

Attention 8th Grade students! The online application for Early College High Schools will open on November 2nd.  Here is the link: ECHS Application Link  The first information session for the ECHS will be November 9th.  More information will be available soon.  As hard as it is to believe, many opportunities that will be available in high school will begin roll-out in the next several weeks.  Students should begin thinking about what they want their high school experience to look like.

Tonight is the last night to order spirit wear for this online store.  Orders must be completed by 11:59 PM.  You cannot order directly from Engraver’s World, you must order through the store.  Orders will be delivered by November 30th.  The link is: HERE

PTA is holding its membership drive and looking for members to help for a great school year for parents, teachers and students.  Check out the HMS PTA Facebook page for more information.

Look forward to our A week learners returning to campus this week!  It’s a great day to be a mustang!

October 26

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the !  I apologize for the Monday call this week rather than the usual Sunday.  I’m sure many of you were disappointed to not hear from me last night!

We initially told families that we would send report cards home with A week students this past Friday, and then B week students would get theirs this coming Tuesday.  To be in sync with our other middle schools, we opted to mail them.  They went out today and should hit your mailboxes by Wednesday.  If you haven’t received it by Friday, let us know.

This Wednesday, we’ll recognize Unity Day with our A week students by wearing orange.  October is National Bullying Prevention month, and Unity Day is when our school community unites against bullying.  Check out our Facebook page for more information about Unity Day.

Don’t forget about the Virtual Book Fair -- see the Media Page of the School’s website for links to enter.  The bookfair is open until November 1st.

The spirit wear online store is open!  You can find the link on our facebook page, website and enclosed in your student’s report card package.

Lastly, don’t forget if you’d like to donate to the Beta Club’s first service project to send in cleaning supplies.  Donations can be dropped off at Mrs. Banning or Mrs. Eberenz’s rooms.  You do not have to be a member of the Beta Club to donate.  These donations are shared with the Pitt County Schools’ Social Workers to help families in need.

We will welcome our B week students to campus this week.  Students who have not received a step during the month of October can participate in No-Step, No Uniform day on Friday!  Each and every day, It’s a great day to be a mustang!

Monday, October 19th (testing announcement)

We will be administering NC Check-ins starting on Friday, October 23rd through Tuesday, November 24th. What are NC Check-ins?

NC Check-ins are interim assessments developed by the NC Department of Public Instruction that are aligned to NC grade-level content standards (for reading and Mathematics) and NC Essential Standards (for Science). 

The main purpose of the NC Check ins is to provide students, teachers and parents, with immediate in-depth action data and a reliable estimate of students’ current performance on the selected subset of content standards. Both the end-of-grade (EOG) tests and the end-of course (EOC) tests share a common question bank with the NC Check-ins, which then exposes NC Check-In students to similar question types and rigor found on the EOGs and EOCs. 

It is extremely important that all of our students take this assessment independently in a quiet, test friendly environment. Our Week A & B students will take the assessment in their ELA, Math and Science classroom. The ELA and Math assessments can only be administered on a PCS device, therefore we are scheduling times for our virtual students to come to the media center to take the assessments. If your child has checked out a device and you would like them to take the assessment at home, Mrs. Stancil will be sending out directions with needed supplies and a plan to collect the packets. 

We are starting our testing with the 7th grade ELA, our ELA teachers have posted a link on their canvas pages allowing our virtual students to complete the form indicating where they would like to test.  If your child is going to be testing at home, they will receive an email with more information. 

October 18

Good evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of October 19th.  Monday is a virtual day, students are expected to check into their canvas courses for announcements and assignments.  Printed report cards will be ready Friday for students who are on campus, and the following Tuesday for B week students.  Report cards for virtual students will be mailed.  However, students and parents may view final 1st quarter grades by Friday through PowerSchool.  

If you still do not have access to PowerSchool, we encourage you to come by school Monday-Friday, 8-4 to complete the request.  Additionally, if you do not have access to Canvas as a viewer, please see the email that will follow this message, our Facebook or website for directions.  We can not stress enough how important it is for parents to be informed partners in their student’s education during this time.

The Media Center is hosting a VIRTUAL book fair. October 19-November 1. Visit the book fair from the comfort of your own home and support our literacy efforts.  Proceeds from the book fair help build our library collection. Please visit our virtual library, found on the media page of the school website, for preview videos and shopping links.  Book orders of $25 or more qualify for free shipping - right to your home! 

The Hope Middle School Beta Club has started our first service project for the year.  We are sponsoring a drive to support our Pitt County Schools Social Workers.  We will be collecting cleaning supplies (dish soap, laundry detergent, antibacterial wipes, hand soap, etc.) for our Social Workers to give to student families in need.  The drive will run through October 30.  Students can bring supplies to Mrs. Banning or Mrs. Eberenz's classrooms or drop in our collection bin in the front foyer of the school. We hope ALL students will participate, you do NOT need to be in Beta Club to help with this worthy cause!   Please help us help our Pitt County School families in need. 

The USDA has made an exciting announcement and declared all student lunches and breakfasts free of charge to students.  This however, does not include a la carte items.  We encourage families who have had a change in their financial situation to still complete the free or reduced meals application as they may be eligible for other benefits.  Any students interested in breakfast or lunch are able to visit the kiosk outside the cafeteria in the morning, or order their lunch during HR.

We look forward to welcoming our A week students back to campus on Tuesday!  It’s a great day to be a mustang!

October 5

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of September 27th.

Monday is a Virtual Learning Day!  All students should log into their canvas courses to check-in and complete any assigned tasks.  Students should also check their email twice, once in the morning and once in the afternoon to ensure they are current with important information.  Many teachers are scheduling dedicated time with their virtual students, working in small groups with their F2F learners, but all have dedicated office hours from 2:30-3:30.

Monday is also school picture day for our virtual learners!  Please make an appointment to have your picture made with this link: ttps://booknow.appointment-plus.com/cxhkghhs/.  Our A Week students will have picture day on Tuesday!  Students are allowed to be out of uniform for picture day, but please be mindful of the appearance policy regarding lengths, straps and fit.

PTA is still seeking members for this school year!  The cost of membership is $10 and you can register by using the link from the Hope FB PTA page.  The executive board is eager for your participation, input and support.

We still have a handful of 7th grade students who need to submit their immunizations.  Please submit proof by October 30th.

There have been many questions and many calls regarding students returning to school full-time.  The Governor and BOE decided that K-5 students could return under plan A in October.  However, no decision was made for students in grades 6-12.  We realized we have students who are virtual and some who are already attending every other week that are facing challenges with virtual learning.  We are concerned for our struggling students but we are held to the Governor’s executive order at this time and due to capacity constraints we are not able to allow our students to return from virtual or attend both weeks.  We encourage you to reach out to your teachers if you are experiencing challenges or frustrations.

Exciting news from the Media Center - Beginning this week - the library will open for student browsing during homeroom! We will continue to use the hold and deliver model we started the year with, but now students can come in during homeroom. For our 100% virtual families, your students may come in and use the library on Wednesday afternoons from 4-6 pm. 

We look forward to seeing our Virtual students Monday, A Weeks students Tuesday, and B week students remotely!

September 27

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of September 27th.

Monday is a Virtual Learning day.  All students should plan to log into the Canvas courses to check in, check student emails and complete any assigned tasks.  This is also a great time to complete their iReady tasks.  All teachers will have office hours, via Zoom between 2:30-3:30 each day.  

Tuesday-Friday this week we will welcome our B week students on campus

The Beta Club Virtual Induction Ceremony for our 7th and 8th grade new inductees will be held this Thursday, October 1st at 6:00 pm.  The link will be shared through parent email on Monday, September 28th.  Please make plans to join us for this special occasion.

Fall Picture Day is coming soon.  October 2 is Picture Day for B Week Students, October 5 is for Virtual Students- email was sent out from Lifetouch with information about scheduling a time and October 6th is for A week students.  Students are encouraged to dress to impress -- but should still follow the appearance policy in regards to shoulder straps and lengths for shorts, dresses and skirts.  

As a reminder, 7th grade immunizations are still required this year, for both F2F and Virtual students.  At this time, 267 students have not submitted their updated immunization chart.  Proof must be submitted by October 30th.

Through the good days and the hard days, it’s still a great day to be a mustang!

September 21

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of September 21st.

Monday is a Virtual Learning day.  All students should plan to log into the Canvas courses to check in, check student emails and complete any assigned tasks.  This is also a great time to complete their iReady tasks.  All teachers will have office hours, via Zoom between 2:30-3:30 each day.  

Progress reports were mailed on Thursday to all of our students.  Also enclosed are PowerSchool access forms for parents.  You are welcome to come by anytime between 8-4, Monday through Friday with a photo ID and completed form to gain access.  We’ve been able to help most parents while they wait.  Also, if you are currently do not have access to your student’s canvas account as a viewer, we strongly encourage you to do so.  Parents may download the app to any mobile device and their students can provide you with a pairing code when they log in.  Canvas and PowerSchool will give you access to missed assignments, attendance and most up to date grades.  We also encourage you to sit with your student nightly, especially on their remote weeks and walk through each teacher’s homepage ensuring all assignments are complete and submitted.

Tuesday-Friday this week we will welcome our A week students on campus.  

As a reminder, 7th grade immunizations are still required this year, for both F2F and Virtual students.  At this time, 267 students have not submitted their updated immunization chart.  Proof must be submitted by October 30th.

The media center is open for book circulation! Face to Face students can place holds in Destiny and their books will be delivered to English classrooms. Virtual students may also get books from our library by placing holds in Destiny, but will have to come to school to pick them up. Books are left in the secured corridor during school hours for pick up daily, or Mrs. Below is available for after hours pick up on Wednesdays from 4-6pm. Directions for how to place a hold in Destiny can be found on the media center page of the school website. 

Through the good days and the hard days, it’s still a great day to be a mustang! 

September 13

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of September 14th.

Monday is our first of 9 Virtual Learning days.  All students should plan to log into the Canvas courses and check student emails for assignments and messages from their teachers.  All teachers will have office hours, via Zoom between 2:30-3:30 each day.  

Tuesday-Friday this week we will welcome our B week students on campus.  Progress reports will also be available this week.  If parents do not currently have access to PowerSchool, we encourage you to visit the front office between 8-4, Monday-Friday to complete a formal request for access. We are not able to accommodate requests over the phone or through email.

The deadline to pay the annual technology fee is Tuesday, September 15. Families have the option to pay the full amount of $25 or pay $5 per month for 5 months.  Payments can be made by cash or check at school or through the online payment platform SchoolCashOnline.  See our school website for details about making payments online. If you have not made any payments by Sept 15, you will be considered as opting out of the technology fee, and your family will be responsible for any damages to a PCS device. 

Attention 7th and 8th graders, Pitt County Teen Court is looking for volunteers! If you are interested in law and procedures and would like to make a difference among your peers and community please consider applying for Teen Court. Applications are with 7th and 8th grade Social Studies teachers as well as with your counselor Mrs. Slappey. Applications will be due September 25th by the end of the school day. They can be turned in to your Social Studies Teachers or Mrs. Slappey.   

As a reminder, 7th grade immunizations are still required this year, for both F2F and Virtual students.  At this time, 267 students have not submitted their updated immunization chart.  Proof must be submitted by October 30th.

The media center is open for book circulation! Face to Face students can place holds in Destiny and their books will be delivered to English classrooms. Virtual students may also get books from our library by placing holds in Destiny, but will have to come to school to pick them up. Books are left in the secured corridor during school hours for pick up daily, or Mrs. Below is available for after hours pick up on Wednesdays from 4-6pm. Directions for how to place a hold in Destiny can be found on the media center page of the school website. 

Through the good days and the hard days, it’s still a great day to be a mustang! 

September 9

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of September 8th.  We trust you had a relaxing Labor Day holiday weekend.

As a reminder, tomorrow, Tuesday is a Teacher Workday.  Wednesday, we will welcome our A week students back to campus and our B week students will return to remote work.

We have just a few reminders for students and their families this week:

Students are asked to check in for attendance purposes no later than 11:59 AM each day.  This is a change from 11:59 PM that was previously stated.  Each homeroom teacher will have an attendance check-in for their homeroom in Canvas.  Virtual and remote students should do this daily.  However, student responsibilities do not end at attendance check-in.  Students should be checking their canvas announcements and calendars daily, along with their email to stay up to date on all school related tasks and assignments.

You may have heard on the news, but it is the intention of our educational leaders that traditional end of year testing will resume -- in other words, whether on campus, virtual or remote, this is school and students are being held accountable like in August of 2019, unlike the spring of 2020.

Friendly reminders were given to students over the last two week about dress code.  We will enforce the dress code beginning Wednesday, September 9th.  The BOE did update the color of bottoms could be any solid color, however the length did not change.  We discourage students from wearing running shorts or other athletic wear that does not meet the fingertip rule.  

You may be aware, but the BOE met this past Friday morning and voted on a motion that would make the next 9 Mondays virtual learning days.  Further details about how teachers will use those days to support our learners are to come.

We look forward to seeing our A week students for a short week Wednesday.  

It’s a great day to be a Mustang!

August 21

Good Evening Mustang Families, this is Mrs. Johnson with your Hope Happenings for the week of August 24th.

Monday will begin the first full week of face-to-face learning for our A week students and first full remote week for B week students.  

Please be mindful if students who are remote or virtual have questions, they should email their teachers and allow up to 24 hours for a response.  Teachers will do their best to respond as soon as possible, but appreciate your patience.  We are all learning the true meaning of flexibility through this.  

Our virtual students should continue to check in daily through canvas.  If you are home as either a virtual or a remote student and having tech issues, please call 252-830-4222.  If you prefer to use an online chat with tech support instead, go to our school’s website for the link.  When reporting issues via email, please include a screenshot of any error messages you may be getting. 

The following information is regarding devices from Mrs. Below- face 2 face students requiring a school issued chromebook should have received their device during homeroom last week.  If your student did not, please make sure you send the signed Student Device Agreement to school on Monday with A week students. The form can be found on our website if you need another copy.  For B week or 100% virtual students, Mrs. Below will be available from 10-2 on Monday.  This is the last scheduled device pick up time. After Monday, you will have to make an appointment with Mrs. Below to pick up a device.   

Students did a great job wearing their masks and practicing social distancing.  We encourage our students to have water bottles and stay hydrated.  We are building in mask breaks where appropriate.

Our pick up and drop off is going really well.  Please continue to watch for HMS staff direction to keep students and staff safe in the lines.  As a reminder, in the morning students may be dropped off in lane 1 or lane 3.  In the afternoon, pick up in lane 1 is reserved for 6th graders (and siblings), lane 2 for 7th graders and lane 3 for 8th graders.

Early bird is available from 8:15 -8:40 for $1/per day/student in the gym.  Students will be met by a staff member to be screened.

We have loved having students back in the building and connecting with our virtual students this week.  Whether face-to-face, remote or virtual, it’s a Great day to be a Mustang!