Principal's Welcome Letter

Dear Phoenix Families,

We are excited to welcome both new and returning families to what promises to be an outstanding 2026–2027 school year!

Last year, North Monterey County Middle School experienced meaningful growth in student achievement, with improved performance on state assessments in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. We also saw increased feelings of safety, belonging, and school connectedness, as reflected in the California Healthy Kids Survey. These accomplishments are a testament to the hard work of our students, staff, and families, and we are committed to building on this momentum to ensure every student is college, career, and life ready. 

At NMCMS, we remain dedicated to providing an equitable learning environment where every student has the opportunity to Rise Up through high expectations, meaningful support, and strong relationships. This year, we will continue to focus on creating classrooms where students feel safe, welcomed, and challenged through engaging, rigorous, standards-based instruction.

We are especially excited to launch new instructional materials in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. After an extensive review and pilot process involving teachers, support staff and community stakeholders, our district has adopted StudySync for English Language Arts and Eureka Math Squared California. These high-quality instructional programs will provide students with engaging learning experiences while helping us continue to close achievement gaps and accelerate academic growth for all learners.

Supporting every student remains one of our highest priorities. This year, we are expanding opportunities for English Learners through additional designated English Language Development (ELD) courses and increased collaboration across all content areas to strengthen language development throughout the school day. We are also dedicated to enhancing support  for our students receiving Special Education services. We are partnering with our Expanded Learning Program (NEST) to provide additional academic intervention and enrichment opportunities.

Our partnership with families is one of the greatest strengths of our school community. Last year, we were thrilled by the success of our first annual Parent Summit, and we look forward to expanding opportunities for family engagement throughout the coming year. We sincerely appreciate the trust you place in us each day by allowing us to educate your children, and we believe that when schools and families work together, students thrive.

For families who were unable to attend our 7th Grade Orientation in April—or for any family interested in learning more about our school—we invite you to attend our Make-Up Orientation on Wednesday, August 5, at 5:30 p.m. in the NMCMS Cafeteria. This event is a wonderful opportunity to meet members of our staff, learn about our programs and schoolwide expectations, and have your questions answered. All families are welcome, and we hope to see you there.

Our first day of school is Tuesday, August 11th with classes beginning at 8:30 am. Our campus and cafeteria will open that morning at 8 am. Students' homerooms will be posted in front of school on Friday August 7th, and students will receive their full schedule in the homeroom class on the first day of school. 

Thank you for being an important part of the Phoenix family. We are excited for the opportunities this new school year will bring and look forward to working together to make the 2026–2027 school year a rewarding, successful, and memorable experience for every student.

Rise Up!

Sincerely,

Daniel Rimmer, Principal

Megan Duits, Assistant Principal