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