East Middle School Newsletter

November 2 & 3 - No School - Fall Break/Election Day/Staff Professional Development

November 6 - Report Cards Live in Synergy

November 13 - Wear Blue for Diabetes Day

November 16 - Board of Education Meeting - 6:30 PM - Perry Center Board Room

November 25-27 - Thanksgiving Recess, No School

November 30 - School Resumes

What a fantastic first marking period it has been at EMS! From the amazing things happening in our classrooms to the excitement of extracurricular activities and all the fun moments we share with our students each day, there is so much to celebrate! As Thanksgiving approaches, I can't help but reflect on how thankful I am for our EMS family. Our students, staff, and families make this school such a special place, and I am truly grateful to be part of this wonderful community!

As we head into Thanksgiving and the busy winter season, I want to encourage everyone to take time to truly be present. This time of year is filled with celebrations, traditions, activities, and gatherings that can fly by before we know it. My hope for all of our EMS families is that you slow down, don't sweat the small stuff, and soak in those special moments with family and friends. Whether it's a big celebration or a quiet evening at home, sometimes the simplest moments create the greatest memories!

We have so many wonderful things planned at EMS as we celebrate the season of giving and togetherness! From our food drive and Christmas basket donations to partnering with our local senior living communities, winter-themed dress-up days, concerts, and other fun activities, there will be plenty of opportunities to spread kindness and joy. One of the greatest things about our EMS family is the many different cultures, traditions, and celebrations that make up our school community. We look forward to celebrating the season in ways that bring us together and remind us how much we have to be thankful for.

Finally, please remember that our EMS family is here for you. If your family needs any assistance during this season, please don't hesitate to reach out to our school. We are always happy to help in any way we can.

Wishing all of our EMS families a wonderful Thanksgiving and a winter season filled with gratitude, laughter, kindness, and most importantly, time spent making memories with those who matter most!

Thanks!

Melissa M. Titsworth

Principal

Grand Blanc East Middle School

(810) 591-3467

World Diabetes day is Saturday 11/14. We would love to see our school community recognize the day by wearing BLUE on Friday 11/13 in honor of our students who fight an invisible survival battle every single day.

Grand Blanc East Middle School Chromebook Expectations & Consequences

2026–2027 School Year

Bring Your Chromebook Charged Every Day

Students must bring a fully charged Chromebook to school daily.

Offense------ Potential Consequence

1st ----------------Warning & Reteach Expectations

2nd----------------Parent Contact (Email or Call)

3rd-----------------Responsibility Room & Behavior Reflection

4th-----------------Lunch Detention

5th+ --------------Administrative Referral & Loss of Take-Home Privileges

(admin discretion on length of time)

Charging During Class

• Teachers may allow charging in designated seats.

• Collateral (e.g., shoe, pencil case) may be required to borrow a charger—returned only when the charger is returned.

Intentional Damage to School Equipment

This may include examples such as slamming the lid on a pencil, removing keyboard keys, cracking screens, or damaging another student's Chromebook. Intentional damage is NOT covered by insurance.

Type of Damage-----------------Consequence

1st Offense--------------------------------Admin referral, parent contact, restitution, one day lunch detention

2nd Offense-------------------------------Admin referral, parent contact, restitution, one week lunch detention

3rd Offense/Gross Disrespect---1–5 day(s) of in school suspension, restitution,

parent meeting to implement a technology plan

Repair & Damage Fee Schedule

Damage Type-------------------------------------Approximate Cost to Family

Cracked screen--------------------------------------------------$25-50

Lost charger-------------------------------------------------------$20

Damaged keyboard--------------------------------------------$15

Damaged ports (may need new motherboard)--$50-100

Total loss/unrepairable---------------------------------------Up to $250 (replacement)

Repair Process & Loaner Devices

• Report issues within 24 hours to a teacher or the media center.

• Damaged Chromebooks must be turned in for repair.

• Loaner devices may be issued temporarily and must be returned daily unless otherwise approved.

• Repeated damage or negligence may result in loss of take-home privileges.

User Account & Software Guidelines

• Students may not share their login credentials.

• Only school-approved extensions and apps may be installed.

• Students may not use personal Google accounts on school Chromebooks.

• Use of VPNs, proxies, or hacking tools is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate administrative action.

• Do not use your school email account to sign up for non-school related websites, newsletters or accounts.

REMEMBER

• Treat your Chromebook with care.

• Do not put stickers on the Chromebook.

• Don’t leave it unattended in classrooms, hallways, or lunchrooms.

• If you break another student's device, you are responsible.

• Activity on your Chromebook is monitored and subject to review.

• Do not put any items in the Chromebook case.

For student drop off, the main goal is to keep traffic flowing smoothly and to prevent Perry Rd from backing up. Please refrain from letting your student out of the vehicle until you are beyond the crosswalk. Once you are beyond the crosswalk, pull as far forward as you can. If you aren't first in line, park close behind the car in front of you. Please leave a few feet between cars to help you pull out easily. Not following these directions can slow down the line of cars and start a backup. Your assistance will help keep this process smooth, help prevent a backup onto Perry Rd, and make the drop off process run faster. Thank you for your understanding!

Because students are not permitted to leave with anyone other than a parent or an authorized contact, it is important that each student has multiple emergency contacts listed in Synergy. Ideally, at least one contact should live outside the student’s household.

To add emergency contacts, log into Parent Vue, click on the link to update current student information, scroll to emergency contacts, add your new information, and then click save.

We need your pictures! Help us capture all the amazing memories from this school year. We’re looking for photos from:

🏀 Girls Basketball
🏈 Football
📣 Cheer
🏃 Cross Country
🎃 Halloween Dance
🎉 Any other fun school events and happenings!

Upload your photos here: https://photos.jostens.com/VNUGTV

📚 Don’t Forget to Order Your Yearbook!

Purchase your yearbook now before the price goes up in January!

Order your yearbook here: https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1552167/Grand-Blanc-Middle-School-East/

Questions? Please reach out to:

• Mrs. Pallay — tpallay@gbcs.org
• Mrs. McNeice — amcneice@gbcs.org

Thank you for helping us capture and celebrate all the memories that make this school year special! ❤️

Our Winter 1 Athletic Season is underway! Volleyball and Wrestling teams are set and ready to go and we are looking forward to a great season. Please click the button below for schedules and other information.

The Mid-Michigan chapter of Graduate Women in Science would like to invite your students to the 2027 Girls Math and Science Day at Michigan State University on Saturday, Mar 20th, 2027. This is a fantastic opportunity for middle school-aged students to participate in STEM demonstrations led by some of MSU's enthusiastic and knowledgeable students and researchers. The event is open to all students regardless of gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability status, etc.

This year, we want students to see and experience more types of STEM fields throughout the day, with the ability to revisit an activity as many times as they like. Therefore, the day for each participant will consist of two faculty talks, two 20-minute STEM-themed activities according to the student preference, a science fair-like session with a scavenger hunt, an afternoon snack, and an ice cream social with a gift bag giveaway and thank-you note signing.

Registration and attendance is FREE of cost and will be open from Feb 01st - 28th (or until spots are filled) !

Be on the Lookout for ZYN: What Parents and Educators Should Know

ZYN and other nicotine pouches are becoming increasingly popular among teens. These small, discreet pouches are placed between the lip and gum, where nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth. Because they do not produce smoke or vapor, they can be easy to use without being noticed.

Although ZYN pouches do not contain tobacco leaf, they do contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can lead to dependence—even with relatively small amounts of exposure. Nicotine can affect the developing adolescent brain and may cause feelings of stimulation or relaxation. Pouches are available in a variety of flavors and nicotine strengths, including mint, coffee, citrus, cinnamon, and unflavored options.

What can parents and educators do?

• Learn about nicotine pouches and be aware of products teens may encounter.
• Talk openly with teens about nicotine addiction and the potential health risks.
• Encourage teens who are using nicotine to seek support without fear of judgment.

Help Is Available

Teens who want to quit nicotine do not have to do it alone. Cessation programs and supportive resources are available, and students can also reach out to their GBCS school nurses for confidential guidance and support.

Helpful resources include:

• 1-800-QUIT-NOW: Call 1-800-784-8669 for free quit support, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Michigan Quitlink: Visit the Michigan Quitlink website to explore cessation resources and enrollment options.
• My Life, My Quit: Visit mylifemyquit.org or text “Start My Quit” to 36072 to connect with a quit coach. Please verify current age eligibility and availability for Michigan teens before sharing this resource.

By staying informed, keeping communication open, and connecting teens with supportive resources, we can help protect their health and well-being.

Attention 8th grade students/families still interested in attending the Washington DC trip this spring. Due to the tremendous amount of interest in the DC trip this year, the registration deadline has been extended until November 30th. There are only a handful of spots still available before we begin “waitlisting” and they won’t last, so act fast! Any student or parents/guardian still interested in attending, now is the time to get registered, so don’t delay, sign-up today! Please contact Mr. Jerry Todd jtodd@gbcs.org or 591-4298 with questions.

The annual FISH Holiday Food Drive will begin Monday, November 16th, 2026 and end November 24th, 2026. We will be collecting food, toiletries, and cleaning items for Grand Blanc families through the FISH organization.

There will be a contest between WIN time classrooms to see who can contribute the most; the top 3 classrooms are treated to donuts!

East Middle School staff and students have a tradition of generously supporting our FISH families. As we begin our plans for Thanksgiving, let’s remember those less fortunate. You can support the FISH food drive by sending in non-perishable items to school. Here is a list of suggestions:

Please join in our Spirit Days listed below to kick off our yearly food drive to benefit FISH of Grand Blanc. The food drive will take place Monday, Nov. 16 - Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Thank you to the parent volunteers at the Unified Arts Halloween Dance. These events are only as successful as they are because of your help and support - so thank you very much for your precious time!