Here are the Highlights from the JWMHS Weekly Call for the Week of November 3rd!
During this month, I hope that we can have an attitude of gratitude. Even though there have been many instances where we have had devastating losses, there is so much for which we can give thanks. In that spirit, I would humbly ask that you help #MustangNation meet the needs of our community during this time by participating in our collection drives this month.
Collecting for Hurricane Victims
We are still collecting toiletries (baby wipes, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, toothpaste), cleaning supplies, paper towels, socks of all sizes, shoes of all sizes (gently used and new from sizes for children from 11 to 5 and adults sizes 5.5 to 9, blankets, pillows, boys XL and L jeans, pants, and shirts, girls, M and L jeans, pants, and shorts. We are also collecting gift cards to Publix, Walmart, Winn Dixie, or Target for those in need.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
We are beginning to collect food for our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Please bring in gift cards to Publix, Walmart, Winn Dixie, or Target, canned goods, boxed non-perishables, and other food items that we can donate to families in our community. These should be brought to your 2nd Period/RANCH classes. We appreciate your donations.
November is American Indian Heritage Month
November is a time to celebrate and recognize the culture, traditions, and history of Native American and Alaska Native people and we will do so each week during RANCH.
Thursday Night Football for the District Championship
We’ve got a special Thursday night football game for our Mustangs this week as well. This Thursday our 9-0 Mustangs will battling the 9-0 Wiregrass Ranch Bulls for the District Championship. This is the first time in 30 years that 2 undefeated county teams meet in the regular season finale to decide the district championship. This is the Game of the Decade!
Part of the pregame festivities will include a College Gameday High School Edition. After school in the courtyard local football commentators will be having a live broadcasted pregame show. We are asking for the Stang Gang and any other Mustangs come out and show out. Let’s show these Bulls what Mustang Nation is all about.
All Mustangs that attend will be getting FREE Mustang swag and Pizza. Just like they do it on Saturdays bring your best/most creative posters too! The pregame show will be from 3:30-4:30.
Best Wishes and Congratulations!
Congratulations to our Marching Mustangs for earning a Superior at the MPA this weekend for DASH!
Congratulations to our Girls #MustangGolf Team who is continuing to win and is currently undefeated at 9-0!
Congratulations to our #MustangCrossCountry athletes that have qualified for regionals this Saturday at North Port High School
Congratulations to Finn Beaty for winning the Regional Diving meet and qualifying for the State championship this Saturday.
Congratulations to our Girls #MustangGolf team that has qualified for the Regional Meet that will be held in St Cloud on Tuesday.
Best wishes to our Winter Sports that will kick off this week! Play with integrity and good sportsmanship!
Senior Pictures with Gigante
Seniors must schedule their photo with Gigante, our official school photographer. Get your senior portrait taken and chosen by the November 15th deadline.
Senior Panoramic – November 7th during 1st Period
Seniors! Show up on time to school on Nov. 7th for the Senior Panoramic Photo, which will be taken in the gym at the beginning of first period.
Senior Dedication Page in the Yearbook – DUE November 15th
Buy your Senior Dedication page for the 2025 yearbook. Go to YearbookForever.com for Senior Dedications.
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.
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!
Around the RANCH Newsletter & Call Transcript
Please read Around the RANCH newsletter this week. 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.
We hope that you have a great week!
Go Mustangs!
~ Ms. Schultz
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/
