The Panther Post

Good afternoon,

Just a reminder that Monday October 13th is no school for students due to Columbus Day.

On Wednesday, October 15th, we invite all parents and guardians to join us for a special presentation by Scott Driscoll, President of Internet Safety Concepts, in the East Hampton High School auditorium from 6:00–7:30 p.m. Since founding Internet Safety Concepts in 2007, Scott has dedicated his work to educating communities about online safety through engaging conferences and seminars. During this session, he will share the positives, potential risks, and practical resources to help families guide their children in safe, responsible phone use — especially when it comes to social media and digital footprints. Middle school is a pivotal time for students to build the skills and confidence they need to navigate both in-person and online interactions. With your partnership, we aim to guide our students in making positive choices at EHMS and beyond. We are committed to providing you resources to support your child in today’s rapidly digital world.

A flyer with full details is below. We strongly encourage all parents and guardians to attend this important and informative event.

Best,

Christina & Emily

Mon. Oct 13th - Columbus Day - No School

Wed. Oct 15th - Scott Driscoll Presentation EHHS at 6:00pm

Mon. Oct 27th - Board of Education Meeting, 6:30pm Town Hall

Thurs. Oct 30th - Retake Picture Day!

Wed. & Thurs. Nov. 12th & 13th - Parent Conferences, Early Release for students

Big thank you to Kate Casselli, our Nutrition Director, who held various events this week at each of the buildings in celebration of CT Grown for CT Kids. Yesterday during all lunch waves we held a corn shucking competition. There was a winning homeroom from each grade-level and then 8th grade was our ultimate winner shucking at the fastest time.

Students who participated in the summer reading and math programs were celebrated with special surprises where they enjoyed time with friends. During the event, winners received exciting summer reading raffle prizes. We’d like to thank the EHMS PTO once again for sponsoring the prizes. Students were thrilled to take home wonderful rewards such as an Owala bottle, a Jellycat plush, a STEM robot, and more!

Our Unified Sports team is up and running. During FLEX this week, students played cooperative games and the Gaga pit came out!

Below are students who received Positive Office Referrals for their behaviors that have exemplified our PBIS pillars of Empathy, Honesty, Mindfulness and Safety. Students were able to choose a reward from our menu of options like eating outside with friends! Great job to our Panthers!

6th Graders

Jillian Meachum, Jonah Robinson, Benjamin Foulis, Victoria Dean

Oct 13 - Oct 17 (subject to change)

MONDAY, OCT 13

No Athletics!

TUESDAY, OCT 14

East Hampton girls soccer at Cromwell MS, 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 bus, 3:30 pm game.

Boys Soccer 2:35 until 4:30 pm

Cross Country 2:35 until 4 pm

WEDNESDAY, OCT 15

McGee MS (Berlin) cross country at East Hampton MS

Note: Boys run first

Griswold MS (Rocky Hill) soccer at East Hampton, 3:30 pm game.

Site: Boys Soccer at East Hampton HS (Shuttle at 2:45/2:50 pm)

Site: Girls Soccer at East Hampton MS

Note: No JV girls game!

THURSDAY, OCT 16

Cross Country 2:35 until 4 pm

Boys Soccer 2:35 until 4:30 pm

Girls Soccer 2:35 until 4:30 pm

FRIDAY, OCT 17

No Athletics!

Per the East Hampton Board of Education’s Attendance Policy and Connecticut statute, parents and guardians may only approve the first 9 absences of the school year with a parent note. Absences 10 and above can only be excused with further documentation and under specific circumstances.

Just a reminder that when we do not hear from a parent, then our attendance line will send out a call that your child is absent. Even if your child is sent home by the nurse the day before, we still need a call or notice each day your child is out.

In addition, if a student has four unexcused absences in one month or 10 unexcused absences in a year they are classified as truant. If a child misses 18 or more days in a school year – excused or unexcused absences – the student is classified as chronically absent.

A phone call is appreciated, but only an email to our attendance inbox or written note can officially excuse absence 1 through 9. Below is our attendance email:

Note: Between the school name and the word Attendance is a underscore ( _ )

EHMS_Attendance@easthamptonct.org

If a student has four unexcused absences in one month or 10 unexcused absences in a year they are classified as truant. If a child misses 18 or more days in a school year – excused or unexcused absences – the student is classified as chronically absent.

As we are now half-way through September, I would like to send a friendly reminder for parents to check their student's lunch account balances. Weekly, emails are sent through Meal Magic with negative account balances. Please check your junk folder to ensure you are not missing crucial information!

The Cafeteria Staff and I love to see smiling faces daily and we are grateful to have your students dine with us!

Please use the link below to set up an online meal account for your child or apply for free or reduced meals.

https://easthampton.familyportal.cloud/

For questions or concerns, contact Kate Caselli, Director of Nutrition Services at kcaselli@easthamptonct.org or 860.316.7324

The East Hampton Public Library is participating in the first annual Spooky CT writing contest! Submissions can be made to the Library via our website any time from Oct 1 through Oct 31. All entries will be published in the first edition of Spooky East Hampton, which will be made available on our website and in print at the Library. More information can be found in the flyer attached below.

Hello East Hampton Middle School!

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. My name is Lindsay DeFrancisco and I am very excited to join you this year to provide behavioral health services through the School Based Health Center. I am a licensed clinical social worker and will be providing crisis intervention, individual, group and family therapy to those students in need. There is a referral process and I’d be happy to chat with anyone who has questions about our program. The easiest way for a parent to enroll their child is through this link:

https://www.sbhc1.com/

I can be reached at DeFranL@chc1.com if anyone was questions.

Lindsay DeFrancisco, LCSW

Behavioral Health Clinician

Community Health Center, Inc. - School Based Health Center

Board of Education Statement on School Safety: The East Hampton Board of Education is committed to a safe and secure learning environment that honors and celebrates the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation. The Board of Education in partnership with the school community will not tolerate any threat of violence in the schools or any hate speech that targets any race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Each student is held to the highest standards of responsible decision making within a culture that is expected to foster compassion, caring, and empathy.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement of the East Hampton Public Schools: The school community of East Hampton is committed to the mission of honoring and celebrating the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation. We strive to guide our students to conscious, deliberate, individual and collective actions that cultivate the respect of all races, religions, and social backgrounds. Our school community endeavors to produce graduates who are equipped with a greater understanding of the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Nondiscrimination Statement of the East Hampton Public Schools: The East Hampton Board of Education, in compliance with federal and state law, affirms its policy of equal educational opportunity for all students and equal employment opportunity for all persons. It is the policy of the District to promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment regardless of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability (including but not limited to, intellectual disability, past or present history of mental disorder, physical disability, or learning disability), genetic information, marital status, or age or because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, marital status, or age of any persons with whom the individual associates. The District shall provide to all students without discrimination, course offerings, counseling, assistance, employment, athletics, and extracurricular activities. The District shall provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The District shall make reasonable accommodations for identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities, consistent with federal and state statutes and regulations.

Email: camaral@easthamptonct.org
Website: https://www.easthamptonps.org/o/ehms
Location: 19 Childs Road, East Hampton, CT, USA
Phone: (860) 365 4060