Weekly Community Message from Mr. Lawrence

April 2, 2023

Mr. Lawrence

April 10, 2023

April 2, 2023

Good evening Topsail Middle families, this is Mr. Lawrence with this week's community message.  Congratulations to Scott Jeno who has been voted by the TMS staff as the TMS 23-24 Teacher of the Year.   A special shout out to our 5th grade students who competed at UNCW over the weekend, teachers, and parent volunteer coaches that have made this Science Olympiad season a successful one to remember for our students.  Parents, just a reminder that we will not have school on Friday this week in observance of Good Friday Holiday. We have new information to share this week, so check your email or the school website for our TMS community message. 

  • The TMS Parent Survey will be closing on April 3rd.  We are hoping to use this information to help plan parent engagement activities and see what other ways we can help build partnerships between home and school.  At this time only 10% of our population have responded.  Please take a few minutes to complete this survey so we can have a better understanding from all of our families.  Thank you for your participation and assistance.  TMS Parent Survey

  • Attention 8th grade parents!  Have you always wanted to see your child’s name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Now you can!  For just $5, you can have a star with your child’s name as part of the decorations for the formal on Saturday, April 29th. Stars are 11x11 inches in diameter. After the event stars can be taken home immediately or sent home the following week with Homeroom Teachers. This will be a great keepsake for years to come.  All orders are due by Friday, April 14th.  Please use this form to purchase your star.

  • There will be an interest meeting on Tuesday, April 4th from 3:30-4:00 pm for all rising 9th-12th grade students who are interested in trying out for the Topsail High Cheerleading Program.  The meeting is for athletes to pick up information and ask questions. Use this link for more information.

  • TMS will host the mobile dental clinic starting on April 17.  It will be on campus and see patients through the middle of July.  Anyone interested in these services can pick up a form from the Nurses office.

  • 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.

  • Attention 8th grade parents.  THS will have auditions for Colorguard on April 4 and 5 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the THS Band room.  For more information contact Jake Wentzek at jake_wentzek@pender.k12.nc.us 

  • 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

  • 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. This even applies to students currently attending TMS on a waiver, reapplication is required. 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.

  • Our Spring Book Fair by Bedford Falls begins this week . 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. 

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

  • Pender County Schools will be offering Career Accelerator Academies, this summer, for rising 6th - 12th grade students.   Depending on location, students will  have the opportunity to explore careers related to Health Science, Foods and Nutrition,  Marketing, Agriculture, STEM,  Robotics or Computer Science while also learning  technical & problem solving skills needed in today's job market.  The CTE Accelerator Academies will operate at 2 middle schools (Cape Fear Middle School and Topsail Middle School) and all 3 of our high school locations.  Dates for rising 6th grade at TMS will be 7/24 - 7/27.

Athletics & Clubs

  • Boys tennis club will practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 4.  Please contact Shelby James, shleby_james@pender.k12.nc.us  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.  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 

  • TMS running club will have practices on Thursdays until 3:45.  For more information please contact the Club Advisor, lindsay_baer@pender.k12.nc.us 

Team Newsletters

PTO NEWS

  • 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