Please take a few minutes to read our latest newsletter and stay connected with what’s happening at Heritage Middle School!
Thank you for supporting our students and teachers each day. We appreciate all you do to help our Eagles come to school ready to learn, grow, and SOAR!
October and November Parent Newsletter
Dear Parents,
We have a lot coming up at HMS, and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Please take a few minutes to read this week’s announcements for upcoming events, important dates, and reminders. Thank you for staying connected and supporting our Eagles!
Attendance:
Great job to our 8th graders for having the highest attendance last week of 95.9% but 6th and 7th grade was right on their heels. Our overall attendance was 95.6 which is fantastic! Thank you for making attendance and school a priority!
Benchmark Tests
Our students will take their ELA and math benchmark tests this week. These results help teachers see what students have learned and plan instruction to provide support and challenge where needed.
Please have students at school on time so testing can begin right away. There will be no second-chance breakfast on testing days, but students can eat breakfast when they arrive. Thank you for helping our Eagles start the day ready to do their best!
AIG Nomination Window
Burke County Public Schools is now opening our Academically and Intellectually Gifted nomination window for 3rd-8th graders beginning October 12th, ending on October 23rd. This nomination is for parents and teachers to consider students for placement testing into our county’s AIG program.
If you feel your 3rd-8th grade student should be considered for AIG testing please notify your students' teacher. The deadline to nominate your child is October 23rd.
Band and Chorus Concert
Join us Monday, October 12, at 7:00 PM for our 8th Grade Band & Chorus Fall Concert! Come enjoy an evening of music and support our talented Eagles. Admission is $1. Performing students should arrive at 6:15 PM in concert attire for warm-up.
Spirit Wear Sale
Show your Eagle pride while supporting HMS! Our schoolwide spiritwear fundraiser includes T-shirts, hoodies, crewnecks, and more. Scan the QR code, or use the link, to shop before the sale ends on November 2!
https://form.jotform.com/262825932248161
Upcoming Dates:
Oct 16th- 1st 9 weeks ends
Oct 19 & 20th- Teacher Workdays (No School)
Oct 26th- Fall Pictures
Upcoming Fall Picture Information:
Carolina Photography will be photographing Fall pictures at Heritage Middle School on
Oct 26. Every student will be photographed!
You have three convenient ways to order your students portraits:
1. Pre-Order Online through picture day: Visit www.carolinaphoto.net and click
“Click Here to Order Photos” then enter your school’s name as the “code” or scan
the QR code below. On a mobile phone, just hold down the QR code to redirect.
2. Day-of Payment: Send the completed flyer with cash or check payment to
school to be handed to the photographer on picture day.
3. After picture day-Proof: Once pre-orders are delivered (approximately two
weeks after picture day), you will receive an individual proof with an online code
for online ordering. There will be a shipping charge to the home.
If you have questions, go to answers@carolinasp.com
Good afternoon Eagle Families,
We’re heading into week 7, with benchmark tests beginning next week! Being at school and arriving on time helps your Eagle start each day ready to learn.
Please support regular attendance with consistent routines and appointments outside school hours when possible. If your child is sick, keep them home and notify our office. If attendance is a challenge, reach out so we can help.
This week, we will also practice a lockdown drill. These drills help students and staff learn how to respond in an emergency by practicing our safety procedures and following directions calmly. Teachers will guide students through the drill, and we encourage you to remind your child to listen carefully and take the practice seriously. Our goal is to help everyone feel prepared and keep our school community safe.
🏐⚽ Eagle Athletics
Come out and support our Eagles this week!
Tuesday:
⚽ Soccer vs. Walter Johnson Middle— HOME
🏐 Volleyball travels to Walter Johnson Middle
Wednesday:
🏈Football vs West McDowell- HOME- Pink Out Game!
Thursday:
Soccer travels to Liberty Middle School
Volleyball vs Liberty Middle School
Archery Parent meeting @ 6:00 in the cafeteria
Upcoming Dates:
Oct 8th- SGA Elections
Oct 13th- ELA Benchmark Test
Oct 14th- Math Benchmark Test
Oct 16th- 1st 9 weeks ends
Oct 19 & 20th- Teacher Workdays (No School)
Oct 26th- Fall Pictures
Good afternoon Eagle Families,
Just a reminder that Monday is Labor Day, and there will be NO SCHOOL. We hope everyone enjoys a safe and relaxing long weekend!
We also want to say THANK YOU for helping us keep our school attendance rate above 95%! Every day matters, and we truly appreciate your partnership in making sure our students are at school, ready to learn. ❤️
🚗 Car Rider Reminder:
For the safety of our students, the car rider line does not open until 7:20 AM. Please do not allow students to exit their vehicles before 7:20. Our staff is not on duty to supervise students until that time.
Thank you for helping us keep our Eagles safe and for being such an important part of our school family!
🦅For Athletics this week:
Our soccer team (boys only) will host Watauga on Tuesday, Sept 8th
Our Volleyball team will host WJMS on Thursday, September 10th as our girls and boys soccer team travels to WJMS
Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend! 🇺🇸
Upcoming Dates:
Sept 21st- 8th grade Crystal Coast Parent Meeting @ 5:30
Sept 22nd Interim Reports sent home
Sept 22nd- DHS Homecoming Parade
Just a reminder that Monday is Labor Day, and there will be NO SCHOOL. We hope everyone enjoys a safe and relaxing long weekend!
We also want to say THANK YOU for helping us keep our school attendance rate above 95%! Every day matters, and we truly appreciate your partnership in making sure our students are at school, ready to learn. ❤️
🚗 Car Rider Reminder:
For the safety of our students, the car rider line does not open until 7:20 AM. Please do not allow students to exit their vehicles before 7:20. Our staff is not on duty to supervise students until that time.
Thank you for helping us keep our Eagles safe and for being such an important part of our school family!
🦅For Athletics this week:
Our soccer team (boys only) will host Watauga on Tuesday, Sept 8th
Our Volleyball team will host WJMS on Thursday, September 10th as our girls and boys soccer team travels to WJMS
Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend! 🇺🇸
Upcoming Dates:
Sept 21st- 8th grade Crystal Coast Parent Meeting @ 5:30
Sept 22nd Interim Reports sent home
Sept 22nd- DHS Homecoming Parade
Good afternoon Eagle Families,
Here are our announcements for the week of August 31st.
From Athletics:
✔️Tuesday 9/1 we will have our fall sports parent meeting in the auditorium for any member of the boys and girls soccer team, and the volleyball team. You need to make sure that you have at least one parent/guardian at the meeting.
✔️Our football team will host Jacobs Fork on Wednesday. Our cheerleaders will also be hosting neon day on Wednesday. We invite our students to wear their brightest colors and cheer on our football players.
✔️On Thursday, 9/3 we will have a home volleyball game and home soccer game against Jacobs Fork.
✔️Cost is $5.00 for students and adults to attend a game. If your child is staying for the game they will report to the auditorium.
Other announcements:
✔️If your student rides home (car or bus) with another student we need a note turned into the front office from both students' guardians. We can not take phone calls.
✔️If your family needs weekly food bags, please have your student stop by Ms. Scruggs’ office, Room 119, to get a permission slip and return it by 9/4.
✔️If your 7th grade student has not received the required meningococcal and Tdap vaccines, please contact his/her physician for an appointment as soon as possible. Documentation must be submitted to our school nurse, Mrs. Morrison. Students who are not in compliance will be excluded from school. Notes were sent home last week if this applies to your student.
Here are our announcements for the week of August 31st.
From Athletics:
✔️Tuesday 9/1 we will have our fall sports parent meeting in the auditorium for any member of the boys and girls soccer team, and the volleyball team. You need to make sure that you have at least one parent/guardian at the meeting.
✔️Our football team will host Jacobs Fork on Wednesday. Our cheerleaders will also be hosting neon day on Wednesday. We invite our students to wear their brightest colors and cheer on our football players.
✔️On Thursday, 9/3 we will have a home volleyball game and home soccer game against Jacobs Fork.
✔️Cost is $5.00 for students and adults to attend a game. If your child is staying for the game they will report to the auditorium.
Other announcements:
✔️If your student rides home (car or bus) with another student we need a note turned into the front office from both students' guardians. We can not take phone calls.
✔️If your family needs weekly food bags, please have your student stop by Ms. Scruggs’ office, Room 119, to get a permission slip and return it by 9/4.
✔️If your 7th grade student has not received the required meningococcal and Tdap vaccines, please contact his/her physician for an appointment as soon as possible. Documentation must be submitted to our school nurse, Mrs. Morrison. Students who are not in compliance will be excluded from school. Notes were sent home last week if this applies to your student.
Good afternoon, Eagle families. This is Erin Wall, principal of Heritage Middle School.
Our first day of school is Monday, August 24th. Doors open for students at 7:20 am. The tardy bell rings at 7:50 am.
Here are just some reminders for this week:
⭐The car rider line is the winding, double-lane road. Please note that the staff entrance is closest to the Heritage Middle School road sign. Do not enter the car rider line from the staff entrance. Use both lanes of the car rider line. We will have people directing traffic during morning drop off and afternoon pick up. We unload and load cars all the way down the sidewalk, so you will need to pull all the way up. To keep traffic flowing, students will need to have a book bag, lunch box, athletic bags and band instruments ready so they can exit the car quickly. Students should only exit and enter the vehicle when pulled up to the sidewalk and the vehicle is completely stopped.
⭐School dismisses at 2:50 pm. Follow the same traffic pattern as morning drop off. Students are responsible for watching for their vehicle, walking to their vehicle, and entering their vehicle. If students do not enter their vehicle in a timely manner, we will ask the driver to re-enter the car rider line in order to keep traffic flowing. Please be patient with us for the first few weeks of school due to a significant amount of traffic. This will settle out after the first 10 days.
⭐If your student will be riding a bus, please know that the pick up and drop off times provided at the beginning of the year are only estimates. It takes about two weeks for routes to become established. Students need to be at their bus stop 15 minutes before their pick-up time to accommodate fluctuations in routes the first week of school.
Breakfast and Lunch will be free again this year. There will be no 2nd chance breakfast the first week of school. Please remind your students to eat breakfast when they arrive at school.
⭐If there is a transportation change during the day, parents must call the school and not send a message through class dojo or teachers e-mail.
⭐Administration will be having class meetings throughout the week to review rules at HMS. Below are some highlights from these meetings:
⭐Remind your student about the BCPS cell phone policy. When the bell rings at 7:50 cell phones are stored in lockers. When the dismissal bell rings at 2:50, cell phones can be taken out.
⭐We also want to make sure that everyone is dressed for a successful day. Below is what is part of our student handbook and Policy 4300R for dress code.
The items below are some of the main points of the Dress Code and are not intended to represent the entire document. The entire Student Code of Conduct can be found on the BCPS web page. Policy 4300R.
✔️No exposed cleavage or belly skin (tops may not plunge lower than 3 inches from the collarbone), no exposed undergarments/undergarment straps, minimum of 3 fingers worth of clothing on shoulders, no tops that dovetail inward in the back and expose the back, no fishnet or see-through garments worn over other inappropriate garments, no leggings or tights unless a garment within the dress code length is worn over them, no shorts, skirts, or dresses that are mid thigh or shorter (this includes Nike Pro shorts).
✔️No sagging or slacking pants, no garments w/alcohol, tobacco, drugs, racist images/words, or obscenity.
✔️Hats allowed - Teacher Discretion in the classroom
✔️Hoodies are not allowed to cover your head
✔️No blankets (safety issue)
✔️No bedroom shoes/slippers.
✔️No dark glasses worn within the building
✔️Any other disruptive clothing or attire
⭐6th grade: Send in $10 for a lock & Join Class Dojo.
🦅Athletic Tryouts:
Boys Soccer Tryouts
August 25th & 26th (Tuesday & Wednesday)
Girls Soccer Tryouts
August 27th & 28th (Thursday & Friday)
Volleyball Tryouts
August 25th & August 26th (Tuesday & Wednesday)
🦅All students must have an athletic physical to be able to try out for sports.
⭐Upcoming Information: ⭐
✔️There will be no school on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day.
✔️First Round tryouts for one of the school’s two Destination Imagination Teams, which is competitive STEAM, will be held on Wednesday September 2nd. This round will last approximately to 4:30pm. If your child is interested in doing D.I. or wanting to know more about the program, they should contact Mr. McQuaid in room 701 or email him at mmcquaid@burke.k12.nc.us
✔️Please contact our school office at 874-0731 with any questions you may have.
We’re looking forward to a great school year!
Our first day of school is Monday, August 24th. Doors open for students at 7:20 am. The tardy bell rings at 7:50 am.
Here are just some reminders for this week:
⭐The car rider line is the winding, double-lane road. Please note that the staff entrance is closest to the Heritage Middle School road sign. Do not enter the car rider line from the staff entrance. Use both lanes of the car rider line. We will have people directing traffic during morning drop off and afternoon pick up. We unload and load cars all the way down the sidewalk, so you will need to pull all the way up. To keep traffic flowing, students will need to have a book bag, lunch box, athletic bags and band instruments ready so they can exit the car quickly. Students should only exit and enter the vehicle when pulled up to the sidewalk and the vehicle is completely stopped.
⭐School dismisses at 2:50 pm. Follow the same traffic pattern as morning drop off. Students are responsible for watching for their vehicle, walking to their vehicle, and entering their vehicle. If students do not enter their vehicle in a timely manner, we will ask the driver to re-enter the car rider line in order to keep traffic flowing. Please be patient with us for the first few weeks of school due to a significant amount of traffic. This will settle out after the first 10 days.
⭐If your student will be riding a bus, please know that the pick up and drop off times provided at the beginning of the year are only estimates. It takes about two weeks for routes to become established. Students need to be at their bus stop 15 minutes before their pick-up time to accommodate fluctuations in routes the first week of school.
Breakfast and Lunch will be free again this year. There will be no 2nd chance breakfast the first week of school. Please remind your students to eat breakfast when they arrive at school.
⭐If there is a transportation change during the day, parents must call the school and not send a message through class dojo or teachers e-mail.
⭐Administration will be having class meetings throughout the week to review rules at HMS. Below are some highlights from these meetings:
⭐Remind your student about the BCPS cell phone policy. When the bell rings at 7:50 cell phones are stored in lockers. When the dismissal bell rings at 2:50, cell phones can be taken out.
⭐We also want to make sure that everyone is dressed for a successful day. Below is what is part of our student handbook and Policy 4300R for dress code.
The items below are some of the main points of the Dress Code and are not intended to represent the entire document. The entire Student Code of Conduct can be found on the BCPS web page. Policy 4300R.
✔️No exposed cleavage or belly skin (tops may not plunge lower than 3 inches from the collarbone), no exposed undergarments/undergarment straps, minimum of 3 fingers worth of clothing on shoulders, no tops that dovetail inward in the back and expose the back, no fishnet or see-through garments worn over other inappropriate garments, no leggings or tights unless a garment within the dress code length is worn over them, no shorts, skirts, or dresses that are mid thigh or shorter (this includes Nike Pro shorts).
✔️No sagging or slacking pants, no garments w/alcohol, tobacco, drugs, racist images/words, or obscenity.
✔️Hats allowed - Teacher Discretion in the classroom
✔️Hoodies are not allowed to cover your head
✔️No blankets (safety issue)
✔️No bedroom shoes/slippers.
✔️No dark glasses worn within the building
✔️Any other disruptive clothing or attire
⭐6th grade: Send in $10 for a lock & Join Class Dojo.
🦅Athletic Tryouts:
Boys Soccer Tryouts
August 25th & 26th (Tuesday & Wednesday)
Girls Soccer Tryouts
August 27th & 28th (Thursday & Friday)
Volleyball Tryouts
August 25th & August 26th (Tuesday & Wednesday)
🦅All students must have an athletic physical to be able to try out for sports.
⭐Upcoming Information: ⭐
✔️There will be no school on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day.
✔️First Round tryouts for one of the school’s two Destination Imagination Teams, which is competitive STEAM, will be held on Wednesday September 2nd. This round will last approximately to 4:30pm. If your child is interested in doing D.I. or wanting to know more about the program, they should contact Mr. McQuaid in room 701 or email him at mmcquaid@burke.k12.nc.us
✔️Please contact our school office at 874-0731 with any questions you may have.
We’re looking forward to a great school year!
Eagle Families,
Parents will need a Parent Portal account to complete Online Registration Annual Updates each year for your student. Parent Portal is also a great place for parents to keep up with their student’s grades and attendance. Parents can obtain access to their Parent Portal Account by completing these simple steps.
*Step 1: Obtain your Portal Activation Code
~You will need:
Student ID Number (Your student will have or call our data manager, Mrs. Rash)
Student First & Last Name
Student Date of Birth
Visit: https://portalaccess.ncsis.gov/
Follow the steps
https://www.burke.k12.nc.us/.../parent-portal-self-service
Parents will need a Parent Portal account to complete Online Registration Annual Updates each year for your student. Parent Portal is also a great place for parents to keep up with their student’s grades and attendance. Parents can obtain access to their Parent Portal Account by completing these simple steps.
*Step 1: Obtain your Portal Activation Code
~You will need:
Student ID Number (Your student will have or call our data manager, Mrs. Rash)
Student First & Last Name
Student Date of Birth
Visit: https://portalaccess.ncsis.gov/
Follow the steps
https://www.burke.k12.nc.us/.../parent-portal-self-service
Good morning Eagle Families,
🦅 Eagle Families.......Get Ready for a Great School Year! 🦅
We’re excited to welcome our students and families back to Heritage Middle School for the 2026–2027 school year! Mark your calendars for Open House on Tuesday, August 18, from 4:30–7:00 PM.
Open House is a great opportunity to:
✨ Pick up your student’s schedule
✨ Meet teachers
✨ Get bus information
✨ Ask questions and get important back-to-school information
✨ Pay device fees
✨ Explore clubs and activities
✨ Reconnect with friends
✨ Get ready for an AMAZING year!
📚 School Supply Lists are also available! Check the attached list for supplies needed for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, as well as Exploratory Classes and Band. Please note that some supplies are needed throughout the year, so hang on to this list for future reference.
We can’t wait to fill The Nest with our Eagle Families again! 🦅
Together, We will SOAR!
🦅 Eagle Families.......Get Ready for a Great School Year! 🦅
We’re excited to welcome our students and families back to Heritage Middle School for the 2026–2027 school year! Mark your calendars for Open House on Tuesday, August 18, from 4:30–7:00 PM.
Open House is a great opportunity to:
✨ Pick up your student’s schedule
✨ Meet teachers
✨ Get bus information
✨ Ask questions and get important back-to-school information
✨ Pay device fees
✨ Explore clubs and activities
✨ Reconnect with friends
✨ Get ready for an AMAZING year!
📚 School Supply Lists are also available! Check the attached list for supplies needed for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, as well as Exploratory Classes and Band. Please note that some supplies are needed throughout the year, so hang on to this list for future reference.
We can’t wait to fill The Nest with our Eagle Families again! 🦅
Together, We will SOAR!
Attention Middle School Band Students:
Middle school band students, including rising 6th-grade students who will be playing an instrument in band, are invited to the Burke County Youth Band Camp on Monday, July 27 through Friday, July 31 at Patton High School.
The beginning camp is from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily. Students do not need experience for this camp, but they will need an instrument.
An advanced camp is available for rising 7th- through 9th-grade students. The advanced camp will be from 1 to 4 p.m.
Registration tuition is $60 and can be dropped off at Patton or paid the first day of camp. Walk-ins are welcome.
https://sites.google.com/burke.k12.nc.us/bcps-beginner-bands/band-camp
🚌 Bus Transportation Information for the 2026-2027 School Year 🚌
To ensure we have accurate transportation information ready for Open House, please complete the Bus Transportation Form using the QR code below if any of the following apply:
✅ Your child will be a new bus rider next school year
✅ Your family has moved to a new address
✅ Your child is a rising 6th grader attending HMS
❌ You do NOT need to complete the form if your child rode an HMS bus this school year and there have been no changes to transportation information.
Completing this form will help us provide the correct bus number, pickup location, and drop-off information at Open House.
If you have questions, contact Mrs. Holt. See less
To ensure we have accurate transportation information ready for Open House, please complete the Bus Transportation Form using the QR code below if any of the following apply:
✅ Your child will be a new bus rider next school year
✅ Your family has moved to a new address
✅ Your child is a rising 6th grader attending HMS
❌ You do NOT need to complete the form if your child rode an HMS bus this school year and there have been no changes to transportation information.
Completing this form will help us provide the correct bus number, pickup location, and drop-off information at Open House.
If you have questions, contact Mrs. Holt. See less
