Here are the highlights for the Weekly School Messenger Call for the Week of August 21st.
Let’s keep this momentum of #MustangExcellence going and have another great week in #MustangNation!
As a reminder, school starts at 8:25AM and will end at 2:52PM. Please dress your best and in dress code to start off each day on the right hoof! (bellschedules.2223.pdf) You can find the Bell Schedules for the 2022-2023 School Year here: https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/wp-content/uploads/jwmhs/2022/07/bellschedules.2223.pdf
College Planning Night for Seniors – Monday, August 22nd
Our College Planning Night for Seniors is tomorrow, Monday, August 22nd at 6:30PM in the Media Center. This event is for seniors and parents and will assist in navigating the college application process and financial aid. We will have nights for underclassmen in the future, so we respectfully ask that this night is for seniors only.
Underclassmen Picture Day – Thursday, August 25th
Thursday, Aug. 25 is Underclass Picture Day. Visit our website for a link to preorder your photos online (https://www.giganteproductions.com/order-1). All students will be photographed via a staggered schedule based on English classes on campus. Students without an English class on campus may enter the gym for their photo during their lunch period or a place holder period. Masks are optional and may be removed for photos, but mask removal is not required. Parents who chose “no” for the Media Release form have opted their student out of inclusion in the yearbook. All other photos will be included in the yearbook, and ID badges will be made for all students who remove their masks for their photo. If you opted out on the Media Release but wish to change your selection, log into your Parent Portal in MyStudent and make the appropriate changes. Picture Make up day is scheduled for Sept. 29. Seniors should visit Gigante’s website to make an appointment for their senior portraits as soon as possible.
Parent Bill of Rights Acknowledgements in myStudent
If you have not logged into your Parent Portal of myStudent, we ask that you do so this week. There are consent forms that need to be completed as a result of the Parents Bill of Rights legislation. We would like to partner with you regarding making decisions for your child that are consistent with your wishes as a parent/guardian. Please help us do so by completing this important paperwork. Login here: Login to your Parent Portal and Complete the Forms Required for the New Year: https://pasco.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/index.php?skipSSO
Youth Leadership Pasco Applications for 10th and 11th Graders
Youth Leadership Pasco Applications are now open for interested 10th and 11th grade students!! Application deadline is August 31st! If you are not familiar with YLP it is a leadership development program featuring issue-oriented seminars and interaction with community leaders in Pasco County. This is a great networking, leadership and personal growth opportunity for student leaders! Sessions will be once a month from October through March usually 8-2:30. Interested 10th and 11th grade student leaders should apply here: https://leadershippasco.com/Youth_Leadership_Pasco_Program
Student Parking
As students come to school each day, they should park in their assigned parking spot. If students do not have a parking spot, they cannot drive to school until you they have a parking space. Students can see their spot number in myStudent. If a student does not have a spot, please apply on our website, but know that there are not many spots available. We will be passing out tags this week and next and will let you know where to pick up your parking tag so please listen for announcements.
Bicycle Parking
If you ride a bike to school, please park them in the middle of campus near the RED Building outside of Room 528. There is an alcove there where you can do so safely. We encourage you to bring a bike lock so that you bike remains safe. Do NOT park or attach your bike to the fences. If you do, we will cut the locks and move them to the assigned parking area. (jwmhs bike parking.png)
Pick Up, Drop Off, and Parking Lots (Oh my!)
Parents and Guardians, as you are around campus in parking lots or at events, we ask that you please remain courteous and patient. If we can all do this, things will run smoothly and more efficiently, especially in the parking lot during drop off and pick up. We will continue to send out more information regarding this and will clarify procedures between the high school and the middle school as necessary.
However, in the meantime, 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. Drop off should only be occurring in the Red Parking Loop near the Tennis Courts. Please stay in the right lane to go into the Red Parking Loop you will then merge left into this parking loop.
If you enter campus during the day, please do not expect to turn left and then enter the first lane in the Orange Parking Lot. This lane is exclusively for our exceptional education students and their busses. If you do turn left into campus, you must drive into the campus and not drop off a child. You will need to make a left into the second lane in the parking lot.
Please do not park in students’ spots if you come to campus, even if you are just dropping off or picking up quickly. As we have announced, each student has their own spots and you are in someone’s assigned spot. Visitor spots are in the front of the school at the Main Office.
Please remind your children that in the Red Parking Loop that they should remain on the sidewalks and not walk through this active parking lot. Please help us by dropping off and picking up such that students are entering and exiting the car next to the sidewalk.
Also, be mindful of the neighborhoods near campus (Bryant Square) and the expectations that they have regarding safety and the rules of the roads. Please do not pick up students in neighborhoods, parking in the roads and blocking houses. If some parents/guardians would stagger picking up by 5 minutes, or wait until about 315PM to pickup students, it would alleviate some of the traffic congestion and lower the blood pressure for all of us.
Attached is a picture of the routes that you can use to enter the campus off of Little Road and Jaguar Trail (routes for entering campus.png). All of this information can also be found here: https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/parking-driving-bicycles-and-fencing-at-jwmhs/
Gates and Arrival at School
The gates will remain open each day until 8:40AM. If a student arrives after 8:40AM, 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. Please arrive in your classes on time each day, as being on time is important now and in and the future.
Breakfast and Lunch
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.
Keeping Campus Clean
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. Keep our campus clean, including the cafeteria and patio areas. Please take pride in your school and keep it clean!
Lockers
Locker distribution has already happened, but you can still pick yours out or pay for one.. Check out your class schedule to see where the best place to get your locker might be.
Schedule Changes, Balancing Classes, and Counselor Requests
We are still balancing classes but we have completed all Schedule Change Requests. As a result, schedules may change only because we are making sure class numbers are manageable. For those who have requested to see their school counselors, for the first two weeks of school we ask that you are patient as we register new students and systematically review schedule issues and change requests. We anticipate that we will be able to serve everyone faster this way. We thank you for your patience.
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 here: https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/do-you-have-an-eschool-placeholder-here-is-how-to-sign-up-for-classes/
Healthy Student Forms and the Clinic
Last week we sent home a Healthy Student Form. This will allow your child to receive Tylenol or Ibubrofin in the Clinic. Please make sure that you complete this form if you would like for the Clinic, School Nurse, and Clinic Assistant to help in these matters.
Mustang Spirit
You can purchase a BEAT THE KNIGHTS shirt online! Get them in time for the big game and show your #MustangPRIDE!
You will get free Mustang gear for donating to our Mustang Excellence Fund or to our Staff and Faculty Appreciation Fund. If you have already made this donation, we thank you in advance. These donations will help us throughout this school year as we recognize our Mustangs for their hard work and excellence! There is still time to make these donations and get your free Mustang gear!
Here is the link to purchase a Beat the Knights shirt or make a donation: https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco/
Here is the link to our online Mustang Spirit Store to purchase Mustang Gear (not the Beat the Knights shirt): https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSSpiritStore
Mustang Athletics
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. Please do not pay the athletic participation fees until you have made the team. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Dixon via email at rdixon@pasco.k12.fl.us or at 727-774-9382.
Best wishes to our #MustangFootball team this week as they open their regular season at home against Gulf High School. Best wishes to #MustangGolf in their first match of the year! We also want to wish #MustangVolleyball luck in their tournament and games this week.
August 23rd Referendum
Please read about the August 23rd Referendum that is on the ballot this August here: https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/lift-up-pasco. The referendum question is on the back of the ballot. Regardless of how you vote, we encourage you to vote and exercise your civic duty, especially our new voters. You can find out more information at https://www.pascovotes.gov/. Thank you for contributing to democracy in Pasco County!
Around the RANCH Newsletter
Please read our Around the RANCH newsletter. It has a lot of important information and you can find it here: https://www.smore.com/ez7n6.
We hope that this is your best year yet! Have a great evening!
Go Mustangs!
~ Ms. Schultz
Here are some links you will need to make your school year successful:
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, Purchase a Yearbook or Locker, or Make a Donation: https://www.studentquickpay.com/pasco/
Sign Up/Register for a Pasco eSchool Class: https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/do-you-have-an-eschool-placeholder-here-is-how-to-sign-up-for-classes/
Complete Athletic Paperwork here: www.athleticclearance.com/
Request the Parent/Guardian Dance Meeting: https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSDanceMtg
Purchase Mustang Gear: https://tinyurl.com/JWMHSSpiritStore
Apply for a Free/Reduced Lunch: https://connectplus.pasco.k12.fl.us/do/fns/free-or-reduced-price-meal-application/
Apply to be a Volunteer: http://pasco.k12.fl.us/comm/page/volunteer
Purchase a Mustang Legacy Brick: https://tinyurl.com/mustanglegacybrick
Parking, Driving, Pick Up, Drop Off, Bicycles, and Fences at JWMHS Information: https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/parking-driving-bicycles-and-fencing-at-jwmhs/
Bell Schedules for the 2022-2023 School Year: https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/wp-content/uploads/jwmhs/2022/07/bellschedules.2223.pdf
Around the RANCH Newsletter: https://www.smore.com/sdm8t
Highlights from the Weekly School Messenger Call for the Week of August 21st: https://jwmhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/highlights-from-the-weekly-school-messenger-call-for-the-week-of-august-21st/
