Weekly Community Message from Mr. Lawrence

March 19, 2023

Mr. Lawrence

March 20, 2023

March 19, 2023

Good evening Topsail Middle families, this is Mr. Lawrence with this week's community message.  Congratulations to our upper grades band students who participated in an MPA competition last week.  Report cards will be going home on Tuesday of this week.  We have new information to share this week, so check your email or the school website for our TMS community message. 

  • Attention all 6th grade parents.  TMS will be offering a vaccination clinic on April 26.  TMS will be working in conjunction with the Pender County Health Department to administer all required immunizations for 7th-grade students in North Carolina.  I have included a permission form in both English and Spanish for your convenience.  Permission forms must be returned to the school by April 14.

  • Attention 5th-grade parents: We will be sharing the Always Changing Program with our 5th-grade students on Thursday, April 6.  This is a traditional opportunity that we have provided our 5th-grade students in PCS to learn further about human development. Please see this letter for more information.  Also, just a reminder that we will need the permission slips turned in to your child’s homeroom teacher by Friday, March 31.

  • In an effort to build on our partnership between school and families, it is important that we hear what you, that parents and guardians, want for Parent and Community Engagement opportunities with Topsail Middle School.  Please take a few minutes to complete this Parent Survey to tell us your thoughts on overall school climate and parent involvement.  We will share the results of this survey with you in the coming weeks and use this information to determine our planning for parent engagement activities moving forward and for the 2023-2024 school year.  Thank you for your participation and assistance. TMS Parent Survey

  • 8th grade is planning a field trip to the CFCC North Campus on Thursday, April 20th.  More information will come Monday, including permission slips.  This field trip will be free to students.  If you are interested in being a chaperone, contact Mr. Wieland at brandon_wieland@pender.k12.nc.us. Chaperones are required to complete the online volunteer tracker. It may take up to 1 week for approval.

  • The 8th grade formal is coming up and we need your help to make it a success. If any families or businesses would like to donate money or services please see this attached letter and let us know if you have any questions. (All monetary donations must be handled by the PTO) Pto4tms@gmail.com  The formal will be held on Saturday, April 29th from 6:30-9:00 pm. Permission slips with more detailed information will go home on March 20th and tickets will go on sale beginning March 23rd. If you have any questions about the dance, please contact Mrs. Wieland at karin_wieland@pender.k12.nc.us

  • TMS will be hosting a glitter and glow dance for students on Friday, March 24 after-school until 4:30.  Tickets will be available during lunch periods this week and will cost $5.  Tickets will be sold Monday through Thursday during lunch times, but will not be sold to anyone on Friday.  Included below is the processes for picking up your child after the school dance:

    • All 6-8 grade students will be picked up at the conclusion of our school dance in our large parking lot to the North of campus.  This is the same parking lot we utilize for MS drop-off and pick-up.

    • 5th-grade students will be picked up in the front circle.

    • Siblings will go with their youngest sibling for pick up.  IE if you have an 8th-grade student and a 5th-grade student they both will be picked up in the front circle of our school.

  • TMS plans to host 2 different summer learning sessions for our students this summer.  Our first session will be a Math/Reading/Science Remediation program running from May 30 through June 9.  This means students would have a chance to attend a 1 day remediation day followed by retaking an End of Grade assessment in math, reading, and either 5th or 8th grade Science.  We are also looking to host a Summer Learning program from June 15-30, more information to follow later this school year about this.

  • Parents, we are planning another Coffee and Pastries event at TMS on Thursday, March 23 at 8:00 am.  Please sign up by using the following link.

  • If you would like for your student to attend a Pender County School other than the one they are zoned for (aside from Pender Early College), you will need to submit a reassignment request.  The application will open on  Wednesday, March 1st and close on Friday, March 31st.  The application can be found at https://penderncc.scriborder.com/  A quick reference guide to complete the application can be found using this link.

  • Save the dates for our Spring Book Fair by Bedford Falls at the end of March. We will be having our spring book fair starting Thursday, March 30- April 6.  We are in need of volunteers.  Please use the sign up genius below if you could offer your time to help us at our Spring Book Fair.  All the proceeds from the book fair come directly back to the library to help update it!  Thanks for your help!    https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0f44abaa28a7f49-tmsspring/30779669#/

  • ELA teachers at TMS have been reading The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan school wide with grades 5-8 as a One Book One School.  They will be finishing up the book within a few weeks!  The author Tara Sullivan will be coming to visit TMS on Friday, April 21st.  This will be an awesome experience for our students to meet an author. Her other books she has written are called Golden Boy and Treasure of the World. 

  • Attention 8th grade parents, the 8th grade Formal is coming up and we need your help to make it a success.  If any families or businesses would like to donate money or services please see the attached letter and let us know if you have any questions.  All monetary donations must be handled by our PTO at pto4tms@gmail.com 

  • Yearbook orders are now live! Order yours at ybpay.com and the code for our school is 14491023.

  • Spring picture day will be March 30.  The easiest way to order pictures in online at mylifetouch.com  Only students who have ordered spring pictures will have pictures taken this spring.  

Athletics & Clubs

  • Tryouts for baseball and volleyball will begin on Monday, March 20, and last for 3 days, March 20-22.  Baseball tryouts will be after-school until 4:30.  Volleyball tryouts will be after-school until 5:15.  Be sure that all athletic forms, including physicals, are completed prior to the beginning of tryouts, or athletes will not be allowed to participate in conditioning or tryout for a team.

  • Boys tennis club will begin on March 16.  Practices will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 4.  Please contact Shelby James if your student is interested in participating. 

  • OMKC is also preparing for the Month of the Military Child in April and we need your help. If you have not yet registered your child for the club (which meets after school on the 3rd Friday of each month), please go to:  http://operationmilitarykidsclubs.com.  Every military kid registered with OMKC by March 1st will be getting a star to represent them at their school during the month of April as we recognize all the military kids who make our schools shine.  Then, in place of club at the school in April, we will be hosting the Freedom Family Fest at Kiwanis Park on April 30th from 1-4pm, for all our military kids and their families!  Mark your calendars and plan to join us for the fun!  

  • The Builders Club meetings are on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month.  Anyone who would still like to join Builders Club is welcome and should see Mrs. Williams in Room 603 or Mrs. Hardison in Room 604 for a form. 

  • TMS is starting a Math Fun Club on Tuesdays beginning March 28 and running until May 9.  It will be after-school until 3:45.  This will be open to all students in all grades and is designed to strengthen math knowledge and practices.  Anyone interested can contact Barry Lu for more information: barry_lu@pender.k12.nc.us 

Team Newsletters

PTO NEWS

  • It's time to shine!!  Grab your neon and anything glittery and get ready to have some fun.  March 24 is our long awaited Glitter and Glow Dance!!  Of course to pull off such an event we need a little assistance.  Parents please take a look at the signups and see if there is a place that you can volunteer your time to help us provide this opportunity to our students.  There are spots for selling tickets, decorators, chaperones, clean-up crew, and parking lot monitors. Please note that there are specific sign up spots for parents wanting to help with chaperoning for 5th grade or 6th - 8th graders. Please do not sign up for both.  

  • Tickets for the Glitter and Glow Dance will be on sale for 5$ during lunch starting Monday, March 20th in the cafeteria and they will be sold until Thursday, March 23rd.  Please note that NO tickets will be sold on Friday the day of the dance.  Students must have a signed permission slip to purchase their ticket and will receive a wristband at time of purchase. They will need this wristband for entry to the dance.  Pizza and candy will also be available for purchase at the event.

  • Are you interested in being more involved at TMS??? The 2023-2024 school year is quickly approaching and the TMS PTO is currently recruiting for our '23-'24 school year PTO board.  We have several openings.  Please send us an email (pto4tms@gmail.com) if you are interested in learning more.

  • Just a reminder for anyone who is interested in volunteering….before any adult can volunteer with the school they must have completed the background check through Pender county schools. If you want to volunteer in a position that requires you to handle cash you must request a level three clearance. 

  • It's never too late to join the PTO! And we are always looking for volunteers. Come join us in helping to make TMS a place for our students and teachers to thrive!!( https://www.topsailpto.com/ )

  • Does your student have a birthday coming up or do you want to celebrate a special victory for your team or club?  We're still taking reservations to paint the rock!  Please use the signup genius to reserve your date.  Payments can be sent in with students or made to the PTO venmo account.  ( https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/4090948aea92fa5fe3-tmsrock )  

  • Still In Need of Spirit Wear?  We’ve got you covered!  Head over to the PTO and either print off the order form and send it in with your student or email it directly to the PTO. You may pay by cash, check, or Venmo. The shirts will be given to teachers to be distributed during homeroom the following week. (https://www.topsailpto.com/shop)

*****Be sure to follow us on Facebook by searching Topsail Middle School or on Twitter by searching for our handle which is @tms_pirates