Here are the Highlights from the JWMHS Weekly Call for the Week of December 1st!
Welcome Back!
We hope that everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving! We will see everyone tomorrow ready to finish the semester #MustangSTRONG! Please continue to do your work and keep your grades passing. Remember, your semester grade is what is posted on your transcript and calculated into your GPA and it is made up of your two quarter grades and exams. If you need assistance, Academic Lunch is available every day in Room 606 during lunches.
End of the Semester & Finals
The end of the first semester is close! We will have District Finals and Semester exams through December 20th and we do NOT allow for students to take exams early or during a different class period.
Giving Tuesday
Tuesday is Giving Tuesday and we would truly appreciate any support that you can provide to JWMHS. No amount is too small or too big for our organizations. Here are some links to donate on Tuesday. We thank you for your support!
To donate via Rycor, create an account or use your Pasco account and then scroll down to find the 24-25 JWMHS donation buttons. Some of the donations come with free Mustang Gear! Click here to make a donation via Rycor: https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco/
Some ways to donate to JWMHS include providing a donation for:
- Band Trip for a band student (any amount)
- Graduation Fees for a senior ($100)
- Prom ticket ($125)
- Grad Bash ticket ($150)
- Yearbook for a student ($100)
If you would like to donate to a team or organization, please consider donating to
- The Marching Mustangs Band
- Orchestra
- Chorus
- Athletics
- Yearbook
- Newspaper
- Mustang News Crew
- The Literary Magazine
- Senior Scholarships
- Mustang Excellence
- Campus Improvements
- Student & Staff Incentives
There are other ways to donate outside of Rycor. If you would like to make a donation of gift cards or donate to a specific student, please email Ms. Mattos at mmattos@pasco.k12.fl.us and she can assist you with submitting this donation.
Please Donate Now to the Baby It’s Cold Outside Baby Items Donations
While you are out shopping during the holidays, please consider purchasing baby items for our annual Baby It’s Cold Outside Baby Items Drive. Families in Pasco County will benefit from diapers, clothing, books, baby wipes, and other items. When we return to school on the 2nd, please begin to turn them into your RANCH classes! Thank you in advance for your donation to all of our causes this month and next.
The Most Wonderful Week of the Year
When we return on December 2nd, we will hold the Most Wonderful Week of the Year! Please review what we will be doing each day and join in the Holiday fun! Wristbands are on sale now for $10 each and will include all of the activities and the end of the week treat! Individual activities are $3 each!
Monday, December 2 – Happy Huladays – Regular Schedule
Wear your best tropical holiday outfit—school appropriate, of course!
- Activity – Games in the Courtyard during Lunches for students with band or ticket.
Tuesday, December 3 – Sleigh All Day – Activity Schedule
Show us your best favorite holiday colors fit!
- Activity – Lip Sync in Gym for students with band or ticket.
Wednesday, December 4 – The Nightmare Before Second Semester – Regular Schedule
Wear your ugly sweater!
- Activity – Find the Eight Elves hiding around campus!
Thursday, December 5 – Pajama Express (Snow Day) – Activity Schedule
Wear your holiday pajamas for a cozy day at school!
- Activity – Reindeer Games in the Gym for students with band or ticket.
Friday, December 6 – Happy Holiday Day! – Activity Schedule
Represent your class by wearing the selected holiday character outfit!
Class Day – Wear your most festive outfit:
- Seniors – Santa
- Juniors – Reindeer
- Sophomores – Snowmen
- Freshmen – Elves
- Staff – Grinch
- Activity – Pep Rally
- Treat in the Cafeteria Courtyard for students with band or ticket at all lunches.
Best Wishes and Congratulations!
Congratulations to Karolina Porcelli, the Outstanding Senior for the Class of 2025! We are so proud of her!
Best wishes to our Winter Sports! Play with integrity and good sportsmanship!
Prism 2024
Get in the holiday spirit and get ready to hear our Marching Mustangs at PRISM on December 20th and 21st at the RRHS PAC at 7PM.
Seniors! Buy Your Grad Bash Ticket on Rycor NOW
A great holiday gift is a ticket to Grad Bash! Buy yours for your Senior today!
Seniors! Buy your Grad Bash Ticket on Rycor NOW. Each ticket is $150 and includes transportation and the ticket to Universal Studios. Grad Bash will be held on Friday, April 11th.
Buy Your Yearbook on Rycor NOW
Buy your 2025 Stampede yearbook on Rycor/School Pay before January 1st, when the price goes up. Yearbooks make a great gift for students! Yearbook presale ends January 15th.
Save the Date – ASVAB for Juniors and Seniors on December 18th
The ASVAB will be offered on December 18th for all Juniors and Seniors. Please see Mrs. Chamberlin for more information!
ASVAB TEST for Juniors and Seniors
Financial Aid and Scholarship Information for the Class of 2025
Please check out the flyers below or that we have attached to the Weekly Call email for information on FAFSA and scholarships! FAFSA applications open on December 1st and the Pasco Education Foundation Scholarship Application opens on December 1st. Please check the Class of 2025 myLearning page or see Mrs. Chamberlin for more information.
Dual Enrollment Information for Next Semester Classes
Attention DE students: if you signed up for a fall or spring DE class at PHSC or online via eSchool or PHSC, make sure to watch the district dual enrollment page for updated information regarding returning and picking up textbooks. Mrs. Cortier will also post on social media when the information has been released.
Around the RANCH Newsletter & Call Transcript
Please read Around the RANCH newsletter this week (https://tinyurl.com/AroundTheRANCH). It reviews our School Improvement Plan, as well as JWMHS School Grade and AP Data.
Please read the entire transcript of the weekly call that can be found on our website or in your email as there are many things included that are not repeated each week during this call.
Let’s make JWMHS the best place to be! We look forward to a great week in #MustangNation!
Go Mustangs!
~ Ms. Schultz
Reminders and Announcements
Glass Water Bottles – Please DO NOT BRING THEM TO SCHOOL
Students are bringing glass water bottles to school and they are shattering in classrooms. Please do not bring them to school. It is a safety hazard. Thank you!
Safety and Security Procedures
For those who are not aware, the State of Florida enacted new laws (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/1473/?Tab=BillText) regarding school safety and security. These require us to keep gates and doors locked. It has proven a challenge as we run a very large and open campus. If you are not familiar with these laws, we ask that you familiarize yourself with them.
We also ask that you are patient this year as we implement our safety and security rules and policies. There are many changes for how we access campus and we hope you will be understanding at this time as we work through them!
Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures
Our campus will open at 7:50AM each day. Only specific gates will be unlocked. Please watch our video addressing this here: (https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSCarLoop).
Please review the map that outlines the new traffic pattern for dropping off and picking up students for both JWMHS and SSMS that can be found on our website. We believe these changes will allow us to move families in and out of campus in a safe, quick and efficient manner.
Pick Up and Drop Off are in front of SSMS and in the Red Car Loop. Middle School students can be dropped off and picked up at either lot in the designated areas. We would ask that High School Students be dropped off in the Red Car Loop in the designated areas for JWMHS. If you have students at both schools, please plan on dropping off in the Red Car Loop.
Parents, we are asking that you do not drop off in the front of the school or Green, Orange, and Purple Parking Lots. Please follow the procedures that we have in place so that campus is safe, especially with the amount of traffic.
We would also ask that you are not using surrounding neighborhoods to drop off and pick up your students. Please use our Red Car Loop.
You can find this information on our website here: https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSCarLoop
We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we implement this new procedure.
Bus Riders
Bus riders will need to enter their lunch number or scan their digital transportation badge to enter and exit the buses. When they arrive to campus, bus riders will need to safely walk on campus sidewalks when walking to and from the bus loop. Do not cut through the parking lots, this is unsafe.
Bike Riders
Bike riders will need to walk their bikes while on campus or crowded areas. Bikes will be stored at the bike racks near the red building. If you are biking through Bryant Square, the back gate is locked each day at 3:30PM. If it is locked when you get there, you will have to go around the campus.
Driving to School – Please Follow the Rules and Be Patient!
As you come to school, please follow the speed limit and the signs in the parking lot as to the direction of the traffic flow and where to drop off and pick up students. Again, please watch our video highlighting the traffic flow that you should follow. (https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSCarLoop)
Walking to Campus
If you are walking to school, we ask that you use a path that has a sidewalk and that you remain on that sidewalk as much as possible. We understand that this has proven difficult. Also, if you are walking through Bryant Square, the back gate is locked each day at 3:30PM. If it is locked when you get there, you will have to go around the campus.
Parking on Campus
All parking spots are assigned to staff or students. Please park in your assigned parking spot only. You can apply to park by following the parking procedures listed on our website. Only juniors and seniors are allowed to park on campus. Students that have been approved to park on campus can view their parking spot numbers in My Student. Student Parking passes will be passed out during all lunch periods during the first week of school. All student drivers must pick up their parking pass and display the pass in their vehicle.
Parents, if you come to campus, please park in a marked VISITOR spot or along a curb as all spots are assigned and reserved.
Be on Time & Enter the Correct Gates
Please arrive in your classes on time each day, as being on time is important now and in the future. If a student arrives after 8:30AM, he or she must go to Student Services and check in there as the gates will close and should remain closed for security. Do not prop open gates or put items in gates so that the gates remain open. If you arrive to campus on time, you should not need to worry about having to use these gates. If you arrive late to campus, please do not ask someone to come and open the gate. Please follow our expectations and report to Student Services. Violations of these expectations will result in disciplinary action.
Schedule Changes
All schedule changes have been completed. Students should look in myStudent for their schedules at this time. If you feel as though you need a schedule change from this point forward, we will need to set a Parent/Teacher/Student conference and develop a plan for success.
Pasco eSchool Placeholders
Of note, if you have an eSchool placeholder, on campus or off campus, please sign up for your classes as soon as possible. Directions can be found on our website. You must take 6 total classes each semester to be a student at JWMHS.
Dress Code Policy for the 2024-2025 School Year
We ask that you review the Dress Code policy with your child. Please view this policy here: a https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSDressCode and you can read the Student Code of Conduct here: https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/ssps/page/conduct. Students must wear shirts that extend to the waist. We are seeing many shirts that do not comply with this expectation. Please make sure that you are following the dress code.
Cell Phone and WCD Policy for the 2024-2025 School Year
The Cell Phone and WCD Policy for the 20240-2025 school year has changed. You can read the Student Code of Conduct here: https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/ssps/page/conduct. Students are only allowed to use their cell phones, earbuds, and other devices during lunches. Please remind students that texting from watches is not prohibited, neither is using your cell phone or other WCD during passing or classes unless part of the instructional plan.
Student Athletes and Paperwork
Any student who wants to play a sport must complete all of their paperwork on www.AthleticClearance.com prior to tryouts. All of this information can be found on the Mitchell website under Athletics and then Forms. Athletic fees must be paid online one week after you are on the team. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Burdick via email at dburdick@pasco.k12.fl.us.
Free Lunch and Breakfast for All & Breakfast Serving Times!
All students will receive free breakfast and lunch this year! Breakfast will be served each morning until 8:20AM when the warning bell will sound. If you need to put money on your lunch account, you can do so at this time via www.mySchoolBucks.com or sending cash or a check payable to JWMHS.
Please Keep Campus Clean – Throw Away Your Trash
Any drink containers or food wrappers need to be disposed of in our commons area garbage cans and not classroom garbage cans or recycle bins. Please take pride in your school and keep it clean!
Quick Links
Meet the Faculty and Staff! Watch a video about your teacher and get your class supply lists: https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSOrientation
Login to your Parent Portal and Complete the Forms Required for the New Year: https://pasco.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/index.php?skipSSO
Pay Student Fees or Purchase a Yearbook or Locker: https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco/
Request the Dance Number: https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSDanceMtg
Request a Schedule Change: https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSScheduleChange
Purchase Mustang Gear: https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSSpiritStore
Apply to be a Volunteer: https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSVolunteer
Purchase a Mustang Legacy Brick: https://tinyurl.com/mustanglegacybrick
Complete Athletic Paperwork: https://athleticclearance.fhsaahome.org/
