Hello Piedmont Middle Families - 

 

This is your principal, Amanda Starnes. This was another great week at Piedmont Middle School! Students are engaged in their academics and we are continuing to push our message that we must be “ENGAGED IN EXCELLENCE” every minute, every class, and every day. There are some important reminders for the week ahead included below.

 

Tomorrow is PICTURE DAY! All students will have their picture taken and these photos will be used for the yearbook.

 

Tuesday, September 23 - Teacher Workday: School is closed for students on Tuesday, September 23. 

See You At The Pole: Wednesday is See You At The Pole! All students are welcome to meet in the 6th grade courtyard  at 7:35 AM. This is a time to gather for prayer, encouragement, and community!

 

Student Clubs for This Year: During Panther Time this past Friday, students learned about the student clubs that will be offered throughout the school year. These clubs will meet during Panther Time 1-2 Fridays per month. Participation in these clubs is optional. Please review the club descriptions & club advertisement video for the same information your student received. ALL PARENTS MUST COMPLETE THE GOOGLE FORM TO SIGN YOUR STUDENT UP IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN A CLUB. 

 

Club Participation Google Form

 

Tech Fees & Chromebook Agreements Incentives: We will begin our incentive Panther Time events this week for students that have settled their tech fee and chromebook agreements. If your student still needs to pay or provide proof of free/reduced lunch to exempt the tech fee, this must be taken care of TOMORROW! Parents can email their proof screenshots or letters for free/reduced lunch to Diane.Tarlton@ucps.k12.nc.us 

 

As a reminder, these two items are required for students to maintain use of their chromebooks according to UCPS policy. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out directly to me at AmandaR.Starnes@ucps.k12.nc.us or call the front office.

 

Multilingual Learner Students: Parents, if you have an ML student at Piedmont Middle School, we would love to discuss your student's ML plan for the 2025-2026 school year. We invite you to come to Piedmont for a drop-in meeting with our ESL teacher on Tuesday, September 23 between 8:30am-3:30pm. These drop-in meetings will be brief and allow us to share with you where your student is progressing, accommodations they will be receiving in the classroom and on state tests.  All families with an ML student at Piedmont will be receiving a copy of their ML plan whether they are able to come by the school on September 23 or not.

 

Attendance: If your student is absent, please use this link to document that for the school. Parents can submit narrative notes or upload medical/dental documentation notes into the portal.  If you choose not to use the online system, paper documentation can also be turned into the front office.

 

New Cafeteria Balance App & Free/Reduced Lunch Applications: Our School Nutrition office has transitioned to a new platform called Payschools Central. Please visit https://www.payschoolscentral.com/ to register, create an account, link your student (you must know their Student ID#), and complete a free/reduced lunch application if applicable. Charging meals will not be allowed this school year once a student reaches a balance of $18.75. Instead an alternate meal will be provided. Free & Reduced Lunch status must be renewed each year. ALL STUDENTS MUST REAPPLY BY OCTOBER 8 IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE MEAL SERVICES.

 

Food Assistance: Attached to the weekly message is a flyer for a Free Food Distribution event! If you or someone you know is in need, please share this information!

Athletics: This week we have no home athletic events. 

Winter Sports Registration information- Arbiter Sports closes on Oct 27th. Any student wishing to participate in winter sports workouts or try outs MUST be registered in Arbiter. Registration closes October 27 and tryouts begin November 3. Students must meet all requirements before they are allowed to participate in any workout or try out, including registration and approval in Arbiter and a North Carolina sports physical.  

Link to Arbiter Registration: https://students.arbitersports.com/organizations/11936/account

The Winter Sports Interest Meeting will be on Monday, September 29^th at 6pm in the PDMS café. Anyone who is interested in participating in Wrestling, trying out for Boys or Girls Basketball and Basketball Cheer will be required to attend this meeting. We will introduce our Winter Sports coaching staff as well as cover any Arbiter Sports registration or Sports physical questions. We will cover preseason workout dates, tryout schedules and parent/player expectations.

PTO:  

Mark your calendars for these exciting PTO sponsored upcoming events:

October 11 - Homecoming Dance (Tickets will be on sale October 8-9; more info coming soon!)

October 25 - Haunted Trail 

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram!

Hello Piedmont Middle Families - 

This is your principal, Amanda Starnes. UCPS requires that all students must have a signed Chromebook agreement form and paid technology fees in order to maintain use of their chromebooks. We are still missing a significant number of technology fees and approximately 200 signed chromebook agreements. During Panther Time on Friday, I announced that our first incentive event for our students will be tied to these two initiatives. In order for students to earn a free Panther Time in the gym, students must complete the following items:

1. Ensure they have settled their technology fee balance of $30 by September 22. There are three ways to take care of your student’s technology fee - pay via the student’s Infinite Campus account (click FEES, then PAY NOW beside the technology fee), pay via cash or check to the front office, or bring your proof of enrollment letter in free or reduced lunch to the front office. All students that still owe a technology fee were given an invoice on Friday, 9/12. If you have questions about the technology fee please call the office at 704-296-6350.

2. Ensure they have turned in the signed chromebook agreement form by September 22.

As a reminder, these two items are required for students to maintain use of their chromebooks according to UCPS policy. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out directly to me at AmandaR.Starnes@ucps.k12.nc.us or call the front office.

Start With Hello Week: This week is our Start With Hello Spirit Week, where we will promote building a positive school culture focused on inclusivity! We have planned special events each week, including themed dress up days. Monday is Piedmont Spiritwear, Tuesday is Tie Day, Wednesday is GREEN for UNITY, Thursday is Favorite Sports Team, and Friday is Hat Day. We hope that our students enjoy this week and find new ways to connect with each other.

Attendance: If your student is absent, please use this link to document that for the school. Parents can submit narrative notes or upload medical/dental documentation notes into the portal.  If you choose not to use the online system, paper documentation can also be turned into the front office.

School Picture Day: Our fall school picture day will be September 22. All students will have their pictures taken this day and they will be available for purchase. These pictures will also appear in our yearbook. 

Lockers & Locks: If your student still needs a lock, please have them bring $10 to the front office.

New Cafeteria Balance App & Free/Reduced Lunch Applications: Our School Nutrition office has transitioned to a new platform called Payschools Central. Please visit https://www.payschoolscentral.com/ to register, create an account, link your student (you must know their Student ID#), and complete a free/reduced lunch application if applicable. Charging meals will not be allowed this school year once a student reaches a balance of $18.75. Instead an alternate meal will be provided.

Mums Sale: Thank you for all of the support of our FFA program this weekend for our Mums sale!

Athletics: This week we have only one home athletic event. Reminder that all students must have a parent with them to be in attendance at middle school athletic events. We require clear 4”x6” bags only. No outside food or drinks are allowed into the event. You are only allowed to bring 1 unopened plastic bottle of water to the event with you. 

Wednesday, September 17 - Volleyball vs. Sun Valley at 5:00 PM 

Piedmont High is hosting a softball camp on September 20 from 9:30 - 1:00 PM. Please see the flyer attached for more information. Contact Jason.Phelix@ucps.k12.nc.us to register. 

PTO:  On behalf of our students and ELA staff, I want to say a huge thank you to our PTO for their generous donation of our novel sets for our ELA classrooms. Thank you to all families that donated to this cause. Our students were so excited to start receiving their books this week! 

Mark your calendars for these exciting PTO sponsored upcoming events:

October 11 - Homecoming Dance

October 25 - Haunted Trail 

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram!

Piedmont Middle Families - 

Each year the state of North Carolina releases school performance data in early September. It is now live on the NCDPI website for all schools. Piedmont Middle School earned a school performance grade of 67 (School Grade C) for the 2025-2026 school year, which is exactly the same as the 2023-2024 school year. We did lose some ground in growth though, falling from “EXCEEDS EXPECTED GROWTH” (3.0) to “MEETS EXPECTED GROWTH” (1.87).  I am going to highlight some of our exciting wins in last year’s data below and also outline our areas of improvement as we continue to be focused on excellence and our goal of being a “B” school. 

 

Positive Wins from our Data:

• The number of students meeting GRADE LEVEL proficiency increased from 62.6% (23-24) to 63.7% (24-25)

• A two-year upward trend in GRADE LEVEL proficiency in the following areas: Math Grade 6, Math Grade 8, and ELA Grade 8. 

• Continued increases in certain subgroups in regard to GRADE LEVEL proficiency, including Students with Disabilities.

• Increase in Math Achievement Score (Grade Level proficiency in all grades + M1) from 65.6 (23-24) to 70.4 (24-25)

• Increase in Math Performance Score (Grade Level Proficiency + Growth Calculations)  from 71 (23-24) to 75 (24-25). 

• Increase in English Learner Progress from 15.3% (23-24) to 26.7% (24-25). 

After reviewing the data, we have clear areas of improvement in our ELA instruction and Grade 8 Science. While our ELA proficiency remained the same this year as last year, our growth in ELA decreased. The Grade 8 Science test was based on new standards that went into effect for the 2024-2025 school year. Therefore, the test was End-Of-Grade test was new as well. Based on reviewing the data, administration is already working closely with the ELA and Science Grade 8 PLC to identify specific areas for improvement and teaching strategies that are standards aligned.

Areas of Focus for 2025-2026 & Strategic Plans to Meet Them:

• Improving and Focusing on Student Growth across ALL Grades and Subjects

  • Focused PLC work on evaluating student work and student data to ensure that we are standard aligned and student focused

  • PLC Data Dashboards - analysis of beginning-of-year data to mid-year, to end-of-year and changes; standards aligned probes

• Improving ELA Grade Level Proficiency Across ALL Grades

  • Focused PLC work on proactively understanding student BOY data and progress monitoring

  • Monthly vertical alignment to ensure that we are appropriately challenging students to meet the expectations of the standards

  • Literacy focus across all subject areas

• Improving Science Grade Level Proficiency in Grade 8

  • Focused PLC work to shift learning in the classroom, to more closely follow the gradual release model

  • Enhancing literacy skills in science to prepare students for new question sets

  • Incorporation of new science & engineering practices (SEPs) opportunities for students in class

 

I am so very proud and honored to be the principal of Piedmont Middle School. One of my most important jobs in the role is to be the instructional leader and I am committed to this work. By identifying these areas for improvement, I am laser focused on promoting excellence in each of these areas through strong accountability of both our students and staff. 

We are not a B school- YET. We are on an incredible trajectory towards that though and I am excited to dig deeper into this work with our staff, students, and families. Thank you for your partnership with our school. As always, please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. 

Sincerely,

Amanda Starnes

Amanda Starnes

Principal

Piedmont Middle School

Hello Piedmont Middle Families - 

This is your principal, Amanda Starnes. Earlier this week, the state of North Carolina released our school accountability review data. We have many wins to celebrate and also some identified areas for improvement. Attached to this email is a letter outlining our school results and plans for this school year to reach our goal of being a “B” school next year. In order to reach this goal, we all must be committed to TEAM PIEDMONT - administration, staff, students, and families. Our motto this year is “ENGAGED IN EXCELLENCE.”  Through excellence in teaching and learning, we will meet our goal. 

Please reiterate with your student the need to engage with their teachers and classes - if your student needs help, please encourage them to be their best advocate and seek out assistance from their teachers.  

Immunizations: North Carolina law mandates that all children entering the 7^th grade are required to have a Tdap and meningococcal conjugate vaccine.  Tdap covers your child for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Meningococcal vaccine is given to help prevent meningitis. If you have not done so already, please bring in proof from your health care provider with the date the vaccines were given. If you have any questions, please call Nurse Clontz at 704-296-6350 or email at Hayley.Clontz@ucps.k12.nc.us 

For complete details and explanations, please review the website https://immunize.nc.gov/schools/ncruleslaws.htm for NC general statutes 130A-157.

Tech Fees: Tech fees ($30) are loaded into Infinite Campus. It is important for this fee to be paid immediately by all families to ensure continued use of the student chromebooks and access to our upcoming Incentive Events. Students that receive free and reduced lunch should submit their proof letter to the front office for this fee to be waived.

School Picture Day: Our fall school picture day will be September 22. 

Lockers & Locks: If your student still needs a lock, please have them bring $10 to the front office.

Beginning of Year Forms: If you have not returned your student’s beginning of year forms, please complete them and return as soon as possible.

New Cafeteria Balance App & Free/Reduced Lunch Applications: Our School Nutrition office has transitioned to a new platform called Payschools Central. Please visit https://www.payschoolscentral.com/ to register, create an account, link your student (you must know their Student ID#), and complete a free/reduced lunch application if applicable. Charging meals will not be allowed this school year once a student reaches a balance of $18.75. Instead an alternate meal will be provided.

FFA: The First FFA meeting is Tuesday afterschool in Mrs Phipps Room 308 from 3:30-4:30 with pick up in the car rider line at 4:30. Students must be a current FFA Member or be intending to pay their FFA dues of $15 to attend. Forms to join are outside the front office or outside room 308. 

Mums Sale: Our Agriculture classes will be hosting a Fall Mum Sale on September 12 from 4-6 pm and September 13 from 9 am-12 pm. Please see the attached flyer for more details. All proceeds will benefit our Agriculture classes, FFA students, and AgTech initiatives schoolwide.

Athletics: This week we have only one home athletic event. Reminder that all students must have a parent with them to be in attendance at middle school athletic events. We require clear 4”x6” bags only. No outside food or drinks are allowed into the event. You are only allowed to bring 1 unopened plastic bottle of water to the event with you. 

Tuesday, September 9 Football vs. East Union at 6:00 PM in the Piedmont High School stadium

Piedmont High is hosting a softball camp on September 20 from 9:30 - 1:00 PM. Please see the flyer attached for more information. Contact Jason.Phelix@ucps.k12.nc.us to register. 

PTO: Mark your calendars for these excited PTO sponsored events as well:

October 11 - Homecoming Dance

October 25 - Haunted Trail 

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram!

Hello Piedmont Middle Families - 

This is your principal, Amanda Starnes. We had a truly fantastic first week back to school! Our students and teachers worked together this week to understand expectations and begin making progress towards our academic goals for this school year. All students participated in the beginning of the year safety meetings with me. Please reiterate with your students the importance of following the rules and expectations outlined in the Piedmont Middle Parent & Student Handbook. Student safety is our number one priority but it requires each student to make the right choices throughout the day. Key items we discussed were how to engage in the classroom appropriately and how to eliminate opportunities to negatively engage with peers.

Tomorrow, Monday, September 1 is Labor Day Holiday. School is closed for students and staff.

As our teachers continue to transition to our new platform called Infinite Campus, please give us grace to get our first round of grades posted. The goal is that all teachers will begin using the gradebook by this Thursday, September 4. If you have any questions about your student’s grades, please reach out to their teachers or grade level administrator.

Beginning of Year Panther Prowl:Our first PTO sponsored Panther Prowl will be this Thursday right after school until 5:15. Tickets are $5 to attend and all students must bring exact change to school on Thursday to purchase their ticket during lunch. Pizza, candy, chips, and drinks will be for sale during the Prowl for $1-$2 each. This is a tremendously fun event and students have the opportunity to safely socialize, play games, and have fun together. Our staff and PTO volunteers are here to monitor students during the Prowl. Parents must be here to pick up their student promptly at 5:15.  

Tech Fees: Tech fees ($30) are loaded into Infinite Campus. It is important for this fee to be paid immediately by all families to ensure continued use of the student chromebooks and access to school events like our Panther Prowls or Incentive Events. Students that receive free and reduced lunch should submit their proof letter to the front office for this fee to be waived.

Lockers: Beginning Tuesday, September 2 all students must use their locker for their backpacks and lunchboxes. We do not allow students to carry these large items from class to class. If a student does not have a lock, they will still be required to use their locker. Locks are still available in the front office for $10. 

Beginning of Year Forms: If you have not returned your student’s beginning of year forms, please complete them and return as soon as possible.

Car Rider Line Management: Thank you for your assistance as we manage the car rider line each day. Continue to pull all the way up the sidewalk to drop off/pick up your student each day. In the afternoons, please fill the waiting lanes from right to left.

Infinite Campus: All parents are encouraged to claim their parent portal access to Infinite Campus. Please follow the steps included in this step-by-step guide. You will need your student’s Student ID # to lookup and connect your account. Then, you will have to complete an annual update of your information. Please carefully review and ensure that the correct phone numbers, emails, and contact info are updated and that you check the appropriate boxes to receive information. If a student lives in two different households, each parent/household must claim their accounts separately for both parents to have access.

New Cafeteria Balance App & Free/Reduced Lunch Applications: Our School Nutrition office has transitioned to a new platform called Payschools Central. Please visit https://www.payschoolscentral.com/ to register, create an account, link your student (you must know their Student ID#), and complete a free/reduced lunch application if applicable. Charging meals will not be allowed this school year once a student reaches a balance of $18.75. Instead an alternate meal will be provided.

8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip, November 12-14: All 8th Grade students interested in attending the 8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip are encouraged to register as soon as possible to capture early bird pricing!  Registration is due by September 6, with final payments due by October 3. Register at:  https://orangeskytravel.groupcollect.com/v2/go/200037

Parents are encouraged to attend as well and serve as a chaperone. Chaperones must be 21 years old and be an approved UCPS volunteer. Apply to be a volunteer at www.ucpsvolunteers.com.

Mums Sale: Our Agriculture classes will be hosting a Fall Mum Sale on September 12 from 4-6 pm and September 13 from 9 am-12 pm. Please see the attached flyer for more details. All proceeds will benefit our Agriculture classes, FFA students, and AgTech initiatives schoolwide.

Athletics: This week we have two home athletic events. Reminder that all students must have a parent with them to be in attendance at middle school athletic events. We require clear 4”x6” bags only. No outside food or drinks are allowed into the event. You are only allowed to bring 1 unopened plastic bottle of water to the event with you. 

Tuesday, September 2 Football vs. Porter Ridge at 6:00 PM in the Piedmont High School stadium

Wednesday, September 3 Volleyball vs. Marvin Ridge at 5:30 PM

Piedmont High is hosting a softball camp on September 20 from 9:30 - 1:00 PM. Please see the flyer attached for more information. Contact Jason.Phelix@ucps.k12.nc.us to register. 

PTO: Please see the information below regarding our PTO.

To join the PTO, please click this link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/piedmont-middle-pto-membership-2025--2026

Spirit Wear is still available to purchase online TODAY ONLY!  Orders will be fulfilled by September 19. Order here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/piedmont-middle-school-ptos-spirit-wear

Mark your calendars for these excited PTO sponsored events as well:

October 11 - Homecoming Dance

October 25 - Haunted Trail 

** Please note - If you are still not receiving email messages, it is likely because you have not completed your Infinite Campus parent portal enrollment. Directions to do that are included below. If you run into any errors, it is important to contact the school so we can try to make your account accessible as soon as possible. In the meantime, all weekly messages are housed on our website under “Quick Links” and “Weekly Messages from Mrs. Starnes.”

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram!

Hello Piedmont Middle Families - 

Today was a great first day back to school! Students were smiling and happy to be here surrounded by friends. Our staff and students had incredible energy that we know we will build on throughout the year. Below are some important reminders for all families:

Car Rider Line: It is important for all families to utilize all six lanes of the parking lot when dropping off in the morning and picking up in the afternoon. We need to get as many cars as possible off of Sikes Mill Rd and in order to do so, every lane of our parking lot must be utilized. Please close gaps between vehicles as closely as you safely can. At the sidewalk, every other car should merge from the second lane into the single lane. If you know of anyone that is interested in the paid traffic director morning and afternoon position at Piedmont Middle, please reach out to me directly at 704-296-6350.

Lunches & Payschools Central Accounts: Please be reminded that students are only allowed to charge up to $18.75 this school year before the student will be given an alternate meal. Parents, please sign up for the NEW School Nutrition app called Payschools Central. ALL FREE & REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED IN THIS NEW SYSTEM AS WELL. 

Chromebooks & Tech Fees: Most students received their chromebook & charger today. Student name labels should not be removed. All students are required to pay the $30 tech fee in order to have continued use of their device. If a student receives free & reduced lunch, they need to provide their proof letter to the front office to have the fee waived. All other families must pay this fee through Infinite Campus. When you log into your student's account, you will see a "Fees" button that will link you directly to the payment. If fees and/or proof letters are not provided, student activities may be withheld such as the upcomign Student Prowl or Incentive Events. 

We look forward to another great day tomorrow! As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at 704-296-6350. 

Hello Piedmont Middle Families - 

This is your principal Mrs. Starnes with important information about the first week of school! Our administration and staff are so excited to kick off a wonderful school year -we have so many opportunities for all students from academics, to enrichment opportunities, to social clubs, to athletics, and AGTECH initiatives to ignite curiosity and excitement for what their futures may hold. 

First Day Procedures: Our staff will be at the car rider line and bus lot to welcome our students tomorrow morning. Students are able to be dropped off as early as 7:35 AM. All 6th grade students should report directly to the cafeteria. Teachers will be organizing and walking 6th grade students to class for the first week to ensure all students know where to go. All 7th & 8th grade students should report directly to the gym. We will dismiss 7th & 8th graders to 1st block beginning at 8:05. In 1st block, all students will receive a new copy of their schedule so they know how to navigate the day. Teachers are prepared to assist students on every hall, during every transition. We will be implementing a water only policy this school year to avoid spills and messes in our classrooms. Students must complete their soft drinks, slushies, energy drinks, etc. before the day starts. Thank you!

Beginning of Year Forms: In Panther Time tomorrow, your student will receive an envelope with the standard Beginning of Year Forms. Please review these, sign, and return them Tuesday with your student.

Car Rider Line Management: We are currently in the process of finding and hiring a traffic director for our morning and afternoon car rider lines, but to begin the year, we do not have anyone in this position. Please be patient as administration will have to serve in this role until someone is placed in the position. Expect delays for the first couple of days as new families adjust to our car rider line. Parents will need to utilize all six waiting lanes in the afternoon to get traffic off of Sikes Mill Rd. The six lanes will be funneled into two and then the two lanes will merge into one at the sidewalk turn. All students are to be dropped off ONLY in the front of the school's car rider line - not in the side staff parking lot.  If you know of anyone who may be interested in this traffic director position (AM & PM), please email AmandaR.Starnes@ucps.k12.nc.us. 

Infinite Campus: All parents are encouraged to claim their parent portal access to Infinite Campus. Please follow the steps included in this step-by-step guide. You will need your student’s Student ID # to lookup and connect your account. Then, you will have to complete an annual update of your information. Please carefully review and ensure that the correct phone numbers, emails, and contact info are updated and that you check the appropriate boxes to receive information. If a student lives in two different households, each parent/household must claim their accounts separately for both parents to have access.

7th & 8th Grade Related Arts Schedule Changes: If 7th & 8th grade students wish to request a change for their 1st semester related arts class, a link will be on our website and explained to students beginning Monday. Please note: Schedule changes will not be made to honor teacher requests. Schedule changes will only be honored pending availability in the desired courses.

NC Center for Safer Schools Information: Attached to this message is a parent letter notifying you of a legislated video that will be shown to your student the first week of school. Please call the front office at 704-296-6350 and ask to speak with Mrs. Starnes if you have any questions. 

New Cafeteria Balance App & Free/Reduced Lunch Applications: Our School Nutrition office has transitioned to a new platform called Payschools Central. Please visit https://www.payschoolscentral.com/ to register, create an account, link your student (you must know their Student ID#), and complete a free/reduced lunch application if applicable. Charging meals will not be allowed this school year once a student reaches a balance of $18.75. Instead an alternate meal will be provided.

Chromebook Distribution: It is our goal for all students to have a chromebook by Tuesday. Please be patient as we work to ensure each student has one. Each chromebook and charger is labelled this year with the student’s name. Labels are NOT to be removed.

Tech Fees: Tech fees ($30) are loaded into Infinite Campus. Please ensure that you pay this tech fee in a timely manner to ensure your student’s continued use of their chromebook. Students that receive free and reduced lunch should submit their proof letter to the front office for this fee to be waived.

8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip, November 12-14: All 8th Grade students interested in attending the 8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip are encouraged to register as soon as possible to capture early bird pricing!  Registration is due by September 6, with final payments due by October 3. Register at:  https://orangeskytravel.groupcollect.com/v2/go/200037    

Parents are encouraged to attend as well and serve as a chaperone. Chaperones must be 21 years old and be an approved UCPS volunteer. Apply to be a volunteer at www.ucpsvolunteers.com.

Purchasing Locks & Locker Use: Students will not be allowed to carry their backpack, large purses, or lunchboxes from class to class. There will be built in locker breaks for all students throughout the day. Students will be required to use their assigned locker with a school-provided lock. Rising 7th & 8th graders are allowed to use their lock purchased last school year if they still have it. If your student is new or your student needs to replace a lost lock, please visit this link to prepurchase a lock to be picked up in the office. Locks will be for sale (cash or check) each morning from 7:35-8:15 in the cafeteria and gym as well. Full locker use implementation will be enforced beginning September 2. Please have your lock purchased by that date. 

PTO: We have an incredibly supportive and collaborative PTO at Piedmont Middle School. It takes all of us to ensure that our students, teachers, and school are supported throughout the school year. Our PTO supports student incentive events, purchasing of student educational materials and programs, teacher appreciation treats, and school improvement and upgrade projects. 

To join the PTO, please click this link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/piedmont-middle-pto-membership-2025--2026

Mark your calendars for these excited PTO sponsored events as well:

September 4 - Beginning of the Year Panther Prowl

October 11 - Homecoming Dance

October 25 - Haunted Trail 

** Please note - If you are still not receiving email messages, it is likely because you have not completed your Infinite Campus parent portal enrollment. Directions to do that are included below. If you run into any errors, it is important to contact the school so we can try to make your account accessible as soon as possible. In the meantime, all weekly messages are housed on our website under “Quick Links” and “Weekly Messages from Mrs. Starnes.”

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram!

Please see the attached document for the UCPS Parent Checklist to ensure you are prepared for the 2025/2026 school year. It includes information on Infinite Campus, the new school nutrition app called Payschools Central, our new cafeteria charging policy, the Edulog app for bus transportation, and general back to school resources. 

Parent Checklist - English

Parent Checklist - Spanish

Good Evening Piedmont Families!

This is your principal, Amanda Starnes. We are so excited to welcome you all to our 2025/2026 Open House tomorrow afternoon from 1:00-4:00 PM. Please review the information below carefully:

Students and families will have the chance to meet their teachers, walk their schedule, purchase spiritwear, join the PTO, and prepare for the upcoming year.

• Rising 6th graders with last names A-M will meet at 1:00 in the gymnasium for a brief presentation from administration.
• Rising 6th graders with last names N-Z will meet at 1:30 in the cafeteria for a brief presentation from administration.
• All rising 7th and 8th graders are invited to drop in between 2:00-4:00 PM.
• **Please respect times to ensure that parking is available for all.

Parking: Parking will be limited on campus. Please utilize the bus lot for overflow parking. Parking is available at the high school as well if parking becomes limited.

Schedules:  If any student needs a copy of their schedule, please stop by the table in the gym. Schedules are available in Infinite Campus for parents and students to view.

PTO will be set up as you enter the building for membership. Spiritwear from PTO will be sold in the courtyard beside the media center on the B Hall.

Locks that were prepurchased online using this link will be able to be picked up in the cafeteria beginning at 2:00. Locks will also be sold in person in the cafeteria beginning at 2:00. The cost is $10. We accept cash or check. **Reminder - only a school purchased lock may be used on lockers. If a student has one from last year, they may re-use that lock.

Transportation will be set up in the gym. Families are encouraged to stop by to ensure that you know your bus stop and times for pickup and drop off. Parents are still encouraged to have the Edulog app for this purpose as well.

Counseling and our Student Support team will be available in the cafeteria for any questions that families have.

Athletics will be set up in the media center. Our athletic director will be available to answer any athletics related question. We will also have clear bags for sale which are perfect for our athletic events!

**Chromebooks will not be distributed at Open House this year. We will distribute Chromebooks during the first week of school!

Hello Piedmont Middle Families - 

This is your principal Mrs. Starnes with some important information about the week ahead. We are officially one week from the start of the 2025/2026 school year.. Union County Public Schools has transitioned to several new platforms this year and it is important for you to complete the action steps included in this message so that you can stay connected to our school and your student’s education. 

** Please note - If you are still not receiving email messages, it is likely because you have not completed your Infinite Campus parent portal enrollment. Directions to do that are included below. If you run into any errors, it is important to contact the school so we can try to make your account accessible as soon as possible. In the meantime, all weekly messages are housed on our website under “Quick Links” and “Weekly Messages from Mrs. Starnes.”

Open House Information for all Families: Open House for all families will be Wednesday, August 20. At Open House, students and families will have the chance to meet their teachers, walk their schedule, purchase spiritwear, join the PTO, and prepare for the upcoming year. Rising 6th graders with last names A-M will meet at 1:00 in the gymnasium for a brief presentation from administration. Rising 6th graders with last names N-Z will meet at 1:30 in the cafeteria for a brief presentation from administration. All rising 7th and 8th graders are invited to drop in between 2:00-4:00 PM. **Chromebooks will not be distributed during Open House - all chromebooks will be distributed the first week of school.

**There will be a Fall sports parent meeting for all students & families that are participating in football, volleyball, and cross country immediately following Open House at 4:15 in the Gym.  

Infinite Campus: All parents are encouraged to claim their parent portal access to Infinite Campus. Please follow the steps included in this step-by-step guide. You will need your student’s Student ID # to lookup and connect your account. Then, you will have to complete an annual update of your information. Please carefully review and ensure that the correct phone numbers, emails, and contact info are updated and that you check the appropriate boxes to receive information. If a student lives in two different households, each parent/household must claim their accounts separately for both parents to have access.

Student Schedules: Sixth grade students received a copy of their schedules either at Panther Camp or in the mail. All 7th and 8th graders will be required to use their Infinite Campus logins/Parent Portal Access to view schedules. Schedules are live now.  Printed copies of schedules will also be available at Open House for 7th & 8th Graders. Students can access their Infinite Campus the same way they did Powerschool by going to the UCPS student start up page, clicking on NCEdcloud and logging in, and then clicking the “NCSIS” Infinite Campus icon. Student usernames and passwords did NOT change. Students can access the UCPS Student StartUp page on any computer or device.

Please note: Schedule changes will not be made to honor teacher requests. Once school starts, we will provide opportunities for 7th & 8th graders to request schedule changes ONLY for their related arts blocks, pending class availability. 

NC Center for Safer Schools Information: Attached to this message is a parent letter notifying you of a legislated video that will be shown to your student the first week of school. Please call the front office at 704-296-6350 and ask to speak with Mrs. Starnes if you have any questions. 

New Cafeteria Balance App & Free/Reduced Lunch Applications: Our School Nutrition office has transitioned to a new platform called Payschools Central. Please visit https://www.payschoolscentral.com/ to register, create an account, link your student (you must know their Student ID#), and complete a free/reduced lunch application if applicable.

Tech Fees: Tech fees ($30) are loaded into Infinite Campus. In order for your student to receive their chromebook the first week of school, the tech fee must be paid. Students that receive free and reduced lunch should submit their proof letter to the front office for this fee to be waived.

8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip, November 12-14: All 8th Grade students interested in attending the 8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Registration is due by September 6, with final payments due by October 3. Register at:  https://orangeskytravel.groupcollect.com/v2/go/200037

Parents are encouraged to attend as well and serve as a chaperone. Chaperones must be 21 years old and be an approved UCPS volunteer. Apply to be a volunteer at www.ucpsvolunteers.com.

School Supply Lists: Please visit this link to view your student’s school supply list for 2025/2026. 

Purchasing Locks & Locker Use: Students will not be allowed to carry their backpack, large purses, or lunchboxes from class to class. There will be built in locker breaks for all students throughout the day. Students will be required to use their assigned locker with a school-provided lock. Rising 7th & 8th graders are allowed to use their lock purchased last school year if they still have it. If your student is new or your student needs to replace a lost lock, please visit this link to prepurchase and pick up at Open House. The cost is $10. If you purchase a lock prior to Open House, you may stop by the cafeteria to pick it up on the day of Open House. Locks will be for sale (cash or check) at Open House from 2-4 in the cafeteria.

PTO: We have an incredibly supportive and collaborative PTO at Piedmont Middle School. It takes all of us to ensure that our students, teachers, and school are supported throughout the school year. Our PTO supports student incentive events, purchasing of student educational materials and programs, teacher appreciation treats, and school improvement and upgrade projects. 

To join the PTO, please click this link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/piedmont-middle-pto-membership-2025--2026

Our PTO will be at Open House with spiritwear for sale including tshirts and sweatshirts! 

Mark your calendars for these excited PTO sponsored events as well:

September 4 - Beginning of the Year Panther Prowl

October 11 - Homecoming Dance

October 25 - Haunted Trail 

NC Center for Safer Schools Video Memo

August 17, 2025

Subject: Action Required: Student Safety Video for 2025–2026 School Year

Dear Parent/Guardian,

We hope you are enjoying a safe and restful summer. As part of our ongoing commitment to student safety and in compliance with North Carolina General Statute §143B-1209.100, all public-school students will be shown a safety awareness video. In compliance with the law, the student safety video must be presented within the first five (5) days of the school year. Our school will be showing the video on Tuesday 8/26 for 8th graders, Wednesday 8/27 for 7th graders, and Thursday 8/28 for 6th graders.

This video is designed to help students recognize, avoid, and report unsafe situations, with a particular focus on abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The videos were created by the North Carolina Center for Safer Schools and the content aligns with standards established by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

We strongly encourage parents and guardians to preview the video(s) and accompanying course guide prior to the start of the school year. This will help you better understand the material your child will be learning and support meaningful conversations at home about personal safety.

• 📽️ [middle school video]

• 📘 [Course Guide]

While the video content primarily features school-based scenarios, the lessons are applicable to all areas of a student’s life. We encourage open dialogue with your child about these important topics.

Please note:

• Allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation occurring outside of school are referred to the Department of Social Services (DSS).

• Allegations involving school personnel are addressed by school administration, including the Title IX Coordinator, and law enforcement as appropriate.

All reports are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly, with timely communication to parents/guardians regarding outcomes.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child viewing the video, please contact Amanda Starnes at AmandaR.Starnes@ucps.k12.nc.us before the start of the 2025–2026 school year to discuss your concerns and explore alternative options if necessary.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our students safe and informed.

Sincerely, 

Amanda Starnes, Principal of Piedmont Middle School

Hello Piedmont Middle Families - 

Welcome back to the 2025/2026 school year! This is your principal, Mrs.Starnes. I will begin sending our weekly Sunday evening messages regularly to ensure that everyone has the information needed to ensure a smooth start for this school year. Union County Public Schools has transitioned to several new platforms this year and it is important for you to complete the action steps included in this message so that you can stay connected to our school and your student’s education.

*As we transition to Infinite Campus, I recognize that some families are still not receiving emails. There is a space on our website that will include all weekly messages to access until all email addresses and contacts are corrected.  Please visit the Piedmont Middle website, click on “Quick Links” and then click on “Weekly Messages from Mrs. Starnes.”

Panther Camp for Rising 6th Graders: All rising 6th grade students are encouraged to attend Panther Camp this Wednesday, August 13. Drop off begins at 8:00 and pick up will begin at 11:00. Students will have the opportunity to explore campus, receive and practice with their lock combinations, learn about the middle school classroom experience, and more. Be sure you register here. It is also our strongest recommendation that all families prepurchase their rising 6th grader a lock before Panther Camp so they can have over a week to practice with it before school starts. Purchase your lock here!

Open House Information for all Families: Open House for all families will be Wednesday, August 20. At Open House, students and families will have the chance to meet their teachers, walk their schedule, purchase spiritwear, join the PTO, and prepare for the upcoming year. Rising 6th graders with last names A-M will meet at 1:00 in the gymnasium for a brief presentation from administration. Rising 6th graders with last names N-Z will meet at 1:30 in the cafeteria for a brief presentation from administration. All rising 7th and 8th graders are invited to drop in between 2:00-4:00 PM. 

Infinite Campus: All parents are encouraged to claim their parent portal access to Infinite Campus. Please follow the steps included in this step-by-step guide. You will need your student’s Student ID # to lookup and connect your account. Then, you will have to complete an annual update of your information. Please carefully review and ensure that the correct phone numbers, emails, and contact info are updated and that you check the appropriate boxes to receive information. 

Student Schedules: Schedules will NOT be mailed home for all students this year. Rising 6th graders that attend Panther Camp will receive their welcome pack, including their schedule, in person Wednesday. Any 6th grader that does not attend Panther Camp will receive their welcome packet in the mail. All 7th and 8th graders will be required to use their Infinite Campus logins/Parent Portal Access to view schedules. Schedules are expected to go live as of August 14. Printed copies of schedules will also be available at Open House for 7th & 8th Graders. 

Please note: Schedule changes will not be made to honor teacher requests. Once school starts, we will provide opportunities for 7th & 8th graders to request schedule changes ONLY for their related arts blocks, pending class availability.

8th Grade Related Arts: For the 2025/2026 school year, we have two new related arts opportunities for our 8th grade students to participate in. We are excited to offer Yearbook as a related arts course. Students will curate our yearbook and work with software to complete the design, layout, and theme. Students will be exposed to photography and digital web design as part of this course. We are also excited to offer Computer Science Discoveries which will introduce students to many aspects of computer science including web design, film, the adobe suite of products, coding, and more! This course will replace our former Minecraft coding class.

**Please note - if a student participates in BAND or DLI, they will not be allowed to take either of these options.
Please complete this form for yourself/your student indicating if your student would like to be enrolled in one of these options.New Related Arts Courses for 8th Grade 2025/2026

New Cafeteria Balance App & Free/Reduced Lunch Applications: Our School Nutrition office has transitioned to a new platform called Payschools Central. Please visit https://www.payschoolscentral.com/ to register, create an account, link your student (you must know their Student ID#), and complete a free/reduced lunch application if applicable.

Tech Fees: Tech fees ($30) are loaded into Infinite Campus. In order for your student to receive their chromebook the first week of school, the tech fee must be paid. Students that receive free and reduced lunch should submit their proof letter to the front office for this fee to be waived.

8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip, November 12-14: All 8th Grade students interested in attending the 8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Registration is due by September 6, with final payments due by October 3. Register at:  https://orangeskytravel.groupcollect.com/v2/go/200037

Parents are encouraged to attend as well and serve as a chaperone. Chaperones must be 21 years old and be an approved UCPS volunteer. Apply to be a volunteer at www.ucpsvolunteers.com.

School Supply Lists: Please visit this link to view your student’s school supply list for 2025/2026. 

Purchasing Locks & Locker Use: Students will not be allowed to carry their backpack, large purses, or lunchboxes from class to class. There will be built in locker breaks for all students throughout the day. Students will be required to use their assigned locker with a school-provided lock. Rising 7th & 8th graders are allowed to use their lock purchased last school year if they still have it. If your student is new or your student needs to replace a lost lock, please visit this link to prepurchase and pick up at Open House. The cost is $10.

PTO: We have an incredibly supportive and collaborative PTO at Piedmont Middle School. It takes all of us to ensure that our students, teachers, and school are supported throughout the school year. Our PTO supports student incentive events, purchasing of student educational materials and programs, teacher appreciation treats, and school improvement and upgrade projects. 

The PTO is holding an open membership meeting for ALL parents tomorrow, Monday August 11 at 5:00 PM in the media center. Please make plans to attend to learn about how you can volunteer to support our students, staff, and school throughout the year. The cost is $8 and every dollar will support our students and staff this school year!

To join the PTO, please click this link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/piedmont-middle-pto-membership-2025--2026

Our PTO will be at Open House with spiritwear for sale including tshirts and sweatshirts! 

Mark your calendars for these excited PTO sponsored events as well:

September 4 - Beginning of the Year Panther Prowl

October 11 - Homecoming Dance

October 25 - Haunted Trail