WAMS Weekly Update - 8/23/26

WAMS Weekly Update - 8/23/26

Aaron Acome

August 23, 2026

August 23, 2026

Good afternoon Western Alamance Middle School families,

We are so excited to welcome our students back to school tomorrow morning! Please continue reading as we have several important announcements for you as you plan for the first week of school. 

First Day of School - Monday, August 24: Students may not arrive on campus before 7:55 AM. Between 7:55-8:10, students will be supervised in the gym. Homerooms will open at 8:10 AM, and all students should arrive by 8:25 am. When students arrive, staff will be available to help guide them to the correct location. All students arriving at school prior to 7:40 am will report to the gym and sit with their grade level. 

Car Rider Drop Off and Pick Up Information: 

WAMS Car Rider Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures 2026-27

All traffic coming onto campus for drop off and pick up should turn right into our car circle from Center Crest Dr.

Arrival

  • All car riders will drop-off in the car circle from 7:55-8:30am in one line. Cars should pull all the way up to the flag pole and not stop in the middle of the circle.  

  • Students will enter the building at B wing and report to the gym.

  • Students will sit by grade level in the gym until released to homeroom at 8:10am.

  • Students eating breakfast will go directly to the cafeteria upon arrival.

  • Students are marked tardy if they are not in homerooms by 8:30 am.

Dismissal

  • Walkers will be dismissed at 3:30pm and car rider names will be typed beginning at 3:30pm. Any student needing to leave prior to them must be picked up before 3:00pm. Students can not be checked out after 3:00pm. 

  • Cars should follow the map above for entering the car rider line.

  • Name tags should be displayed on the front dashboard with students first and last name and grade level. Please write names in large bold print in order to see names clearly.

  • When entering the circle, cars should pull all the way up to the flagpole and not stop in the middle of the circle. Students will walk to their designated vehicle.

  • Students must be picked up by 4:00pm or as soon as the car rider line is complete. If car riders are left after the car rider line is complete, we will follow these steps per semester (the steps start over at the beginning of the new semester):

  • Step 1: Verbal reminder to the parent

  • Step 2: Written reminder to the parent

  • Step 3: You will be charged $10.35 (daily rate) for your child to stay in our after school program that day.

Weapon Detection Systems

This year, all schools will have Weapon Detection Systems (WDS) in place. This is an added layer of security that will quickly scan students and visitors as they enter the building. We’ve put together some helpful information and a video of what the process looks like for our students. Take a look at our webpage for more information. All students will pass through the Weapon Detection System during the arrival process to school.  The following video clip will give you a good idea of what it should look like on a regular basis. 

WDS will also be used at athletic events; anyone planning to attend an ABSS athletic event must enter through the main entrance and walk through the WDS. 

Here Comes the Bus

Is your student a bus rider? ABSS will be implementing the “Here Comes the Bus” app to help track students as they travel to and from school and get updates on delays and expected arrival times. We anticipate there will be some delays as we account for bus driver shortages. Please be patient as we roll out this new platform. Families can download the free app in the Google or Apple app stores. For directions on how to connect to ABSS, please visit our Back to School webpage.

Finance:Givebacks

We want to make families aware that Givebacks is our new online school payment portal, replacing Online School Payments (OSP).

Please note that lunch accounts remain the same and are completely separate from school fees and payments made through Givebacks.

Families will receive notifications directly from Givebacks when a fee is assigned to their student. These notifications will include a link to make the payment online.

The recent fee notification families received is for our optional Technology Insurance for the 2026–2027 school year. The cost is $25 and covers the first instance of damage to a student's Chromebook.

We strongly encourage families to consider purchasing the Technology Insurance. At only $25, it can provide significant savings should accidental damage occur to your student's Chromebook during the school year.

Thank you for your attention to this new payment process!

Infinite Campus 2026-2027 School Year Forms

Infinite Campus is where you access grades, attendance, assignments, and other important school information. The Back to School forms must be filled out in their entirety and accurately, as they provide important information to the State and also ABSS regarding your child, including medical needs and who can pick them up from school. Our call system, which includes emails, calls, and text messages, is synced with Infinite Campus every day. If your contact information is not updated, you may miss important updates. More information about Infinite Campus is available on our website. 

Rezoning

As a reminder, ABSS went through a rezoning process, and the new boundary lines will go into effect for the 2026-2027 school year. You can check your address on our “Find My Zone” tool. 

Immunizations

All preschool, kindergarten, 7th, and 12th grade students must have up-to-date immunizations. Schedule an appointment with your child’s doctor or the Alamance County Health Department to make sure your student is up-to-date on all required immunizations.

Free and Reduced Lunch Forms

It’s time to apply for free and reduced cost breakfast and lunches. Families must reapply each year to receive continued benefits. Complete the electronic free and reduced lunch form for the 2026-2027 academic year. 

Fall Athletic Schedules: We’re excited to kick off the 2026–2027 athletic season! Below are the tryout dates and times for our fall sports:

  • Football (7th & 8th Grade): Begins Monday, August 10th | 5:00–7:00 PM

  • Cross Country (Girls & Boys): Begins Tuesday, August 25th | 3:30–5:00 PM

  • Boys Soccer: Begins Tuesday, August 25th | 3:30–5:30 PM

  • Cheerleading: Monday, August 24th & Tuesday, August 25th | 4:00–6:00 PM

  • Tennis: Begins Friday, August 28th | 4:00–5:30 PM @ Western High School Tennis Courts.

  • Volleyball: Begins Wednesday, August 26th | 3:30–5:30 PM

Fall eligibility, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Passed all core classes and at least one encore class during the second semester of last school year. 

  • Had no more than 13 total absences during the second semester.

  • Have a current physical and all required forms uploaded and approved in DragonFly Max.