EHMS Panther Newsletter

August 3, 2025

Dear Panther Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to a new school year at Eastern Hills Middle School! We are excited to partner with you to ensure your student has a safe, successful, and engaging school year. Below are important updates and reminders as we kick off the 2025–2026 school year.

Parent-Teacher Communication: Rooms

EHMS will be piloting Rooms as our primary communication platform with families.

• Teachers will send a welcome message by August 7th to introduce themselves and share key class information.
• Please make sure you are connected in Rooms to stay up-to-date on classroom and campus announcements.

Campus Safety and Security
The safety of our students and staff is our top priority.

• All visitors must present a valid ID and pass through the Entry Shield system.
• Divest items (backpacks, purses, or other belongings) before walking through the Entry Shield system.
• Leave unnecessary items in your car to speed up screening.
• If the system alarms, the individual will be screened with a handheld metal detector.
• Administrators will not be available for meetings during arrival, dismissal, passing periods, or lunch to supervise safety.
• Parent Liaison, Ms. Malone, will be available to meet with parents during the school day as needed.

Item Drop-Off

Food or personal items can be dropped off in the front vestibule.

• Press the intercom, show ID for verification, label the item, and place it on the table.
• The secretary will retrieve items once the vestibule is clear.

Student Expectations: Yondr Pouches, Dress Code, and ID's

• Cell phones will be secured in Yondr Pouches starting August 13th. Phones remain locked during the school day and are unlocked at dismissal.
• Students must follow the district dress code daily and will be enforced on August 13th.
• Student IDs are required and must be worn at all times on campus. ID’s will be issued on August 13th.

Free Breakfast and Lunch

All EHMS students receive free breakfast and lunch

PE Uniforms

PE Uniforms are avilable to be purchased for $20

Athletic Event Tickets

All athletic event tickets will be electronic. $5 for Adults and $3 for students. No cash will be accepted.

https://www.killeenisd.org/o/kisd/page/tickets

Boys & Girls Club

All athletes, cheerleaders, dance team members, and club members must join Boys & Girls Club to ensure they are supervised after school before practice starts. Snacks and homework assistance will be provided free of charge.

Upcoming Events

• Panther Readiness Day & Panther Camp: August 7th
• Football Equipment Pickup: August 7th, 5:00 – 6:30 PM
• Volleyball Tryouts: August 13th – 15th

We are looking forward to a year filled with academic success, school spirit, and Panther Pride. Thank you for your continued partnership in creating a safe and supportive learning environment.

Go Panthers!

Jacqulyn Bridge
Principal, Eastern Hills Middle School

To help you and your family prepare for the upcoming school year, please visit our Back to School Information page. Here, you will find important details about schedules, supplies, and other essential information.

To support a focused learning environment, all student cell phones must be secured in a Yondr pouch during the school day.

• Students will lock their phones and apple watches in the pouch upon arrival and keep the pouch sealed until the end of the school day.
• Phones may only be unlocked at designated stations when dismissed.
• Emergency communication should be directed through the front office.

Failure to follow the Yondr policy may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Students will begin using Yondr Pouches on the first day of school.

To maintain a safe and secure environment for all students and visitors, everyone must pass through the Entry Shield system and present a valid ID upon entering the vestibule.

Before entering, individuals will be asked to “divest”—placing items such as backpacks, purses, or other belongings aside if they may trigger the system.

• Recommendation: To help the screening process move faster, leave unnecessary items in your car whenever possible.

• After divesting, individuals will walk through the Entry Shield system to confirm they are not carrying any prohibited items.

• If the system triggers an alert, the individual will be screened using a handheld metal detector before entry is permitted.

Dropping Off Food and Personal Items

To ensure safety and minimize interruptions to learning, all item drop-offs will be handled through the front vestibule:

1. Parents/guardians should push the intercom button upon arrival.

2. Show a valid ID for verification.

3. Label the item with the student’s name and grade.

4. Place the item on the designated table in the vestibule.

5. Once the vestibule is clear, the secretary will retrieve the item and ensure it is delivered to the student.

Additional Reminders:

• An ID is required for all visitors to enter the campus.

• Administrators are unavailable for parent meetings during arrival, dismissal, passing periods, and lunch to ensure safety and supervision duties.

• Parent Liaison, Ms. Malone, will be available to meet with parents during the school day as needed.

Eastern Hills Middle School will be piloting a new online communication tool, Rooms, designed to make it easier for families and teachers to stay connected and support student success.

What is Rooms?
Rooms is a two-way communication platform built to simplify how families and teachers connect. Parents can send and receive messages from teachers, view class announcements, and get important reminders. Teachers can share updates about assignments, classroom events and student progress, helping create a partnership that supports learning at home and at school.

Rooms includes automatic translation in more than 90 languages, allowing parents and teachers to communicate in the language they’re most comfortable using. Messages are automatically translated, so each person receives them in their preferred language, helping break down barriers and ensure clear, meaningful communication.

How will families access Rooms?
Families will log in to Rooms using the Killeen ISD mobile app. Once logged in, parents can easily see their child’s classes and communicate securely with their teachers.

For more information, visit www.killeenisd.org/rooms.

Did you know that Boys & Girls Club is free? Students receive snacks and tutoring when they attend. It's also open until 6:00 PM. Click the link below to sign your student up.

• All students should be in dress code. Tights, crop tops, jeans with holes higher than 6 inches, shorts/skirts higher than 6 inches and sagging is not allowed.

Eastern Hills Middle School is a community of integrity and learning. Where teachers and administrators mentor and inspire students and each other, to embrace a growth mindset. Where students are challenged to act with humility and resilience as they develop skills that will prepare them to be lifelong learners and productive members of society. Where every individual feels safe and contributes to our culture of pride, competitiveness and belonging.

Email: jacqulyn.bridge@killeenisd.org

Website: https://schools.killeenisd.org/Page/75

Location: 300 Indian Trail, Harker Heights, TX, USA

Phone: (254) 336-1100

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EHMSPanthers

Twitter: @middle_hills