The Weekly Update #4

Dear Eastern Middle School Families,

Happy Sunday! This week, we celebrate Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11th, a holiday that holds a very special place in the Merino household. We take this time to honor all the brave men and women who have served our country, including my husband, who served two tours in Iraq. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the veterans and military families in our community for your service, bravery, and sacrifice.

This week at Eastern we will celebrate Hispanic Heritage with a very fun spirit week. We look forward to celebrating each day this week.

On Tuesday at 7pm, please join us for our monthly PTSA meeting from 7:00pm - 8:00pm via Zoom. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83510024789?pwd=q8ccodBDaT5pP2uafYwgXEE6avdEF2.1

This Wednesday, November 11th is our annual Open House from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. This event is open for all families, and we ask that you pre-register using this link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmz0o3Z7j35u4f5SZbY_k43RPkVGc9Lrs2m0SX9Gn2fXfDBw/viewform. There is more information in this link about our event found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1de1MfnMrGiO-n25t0kqxMPOGFOZH2RJjfnLs-M70Op8/edit?tab=t.0.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in making Eastern Middle School a wonderful place to learn and grow.

Yours in partnership,

Elizabeth J. Merino (she/her/ella)

Principal/Directora

Para traducir este boletín, seleccione "español" en "Translate Newsletter" en el cuadro negro a su derecha o en su celular encima.

Wednesday, November 11: Open House for Families 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Tuesday, November 17: Winter Sports Interest Meeting: Basketball 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM

Wednesday, November 18: Make Up Picture Day

We wanted to take the time to honor and celebrate the rich, vibrant cultures of our scholars. To give this celebration the space it truly deserves, we have extended our Hispanic Heritage Month festivities. We encourage all of our students to participate in the fun!

This Wednesday, November 11th from 9am-2pm we will welcome our families into our building and our classrooms for Open House. You can find more information here about this year’s Open House at Eastern Middle School.

We have an exciting question for our Eastern Students, Staff, and Community: What should we name our eagle mascot?

We don't think our eagle has ever officially had a name, and with Eastern celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, we think it's about time! 🎉

Students will receive the link to vote via StudentVue message on Monday, 11/9/2026 at 8:00 AM. The deadline to vote will be Monday, November 23rd.

Here is the link to vote: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd48a6oK4DLaYBJzHYCYgmVcQ0ROqvd8wt5C8_hVwLocoY3_g/viewform?usp=header

Stay tuned to find out what name our Eastern community chooses!

Election winners will be announced on Monday, November 9th!

It looks like we will have a fully-staffed SGA Board. We have some truly amazing students running for office this year, and any hype or recognition you can give them when you see them around school would be wonderful!

This year we are "rebranding" our Parent Conferences that will now called Family Check-In's held on Monday, November 23rd. As I shared at our PTSA meeting in October, we have historically had a fantastic turn out for our Parent Conferences which is wonderful! In order to ensure equitability for all families to hear from their child's teachers, we wanted to move from the term Parent Conference to Family Check-In. The rationale behind this is because the term Parent Conference is a more intimate meeting that is not what has been provided at a secondary level. While this is a great and important time to hear from your child's teachers, because of the volume of parents who attend, there is a time limit to check in with your child's teachers of 5 minutes.

Should you want or need a more time with each of your child's teacher, or would like to have a more in-depth conversation, please contact your child's School Counselor directly. Our School Counseling team information is found below:

Grade 6 - Last Names = A - R

Ms. Jordan Bolinger - Jordan_A_Bolinger@mcpsmd.org

Grade 6 - Last Names = S - Z

Ms. Donniel Gamble - Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

Grade 7 - Last Names = A - R

Ms. Kristen Ruffin - Kristen_Ruffin@mcpsmd.org

Grade 7 - Last Names = S - Z

Ms. Donniel Gamble - Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

Grade 8 - Last Names = A - R

Ms. Jessica Meyer - Jessica_A_Meyer@mcpsmd.org

Grade 8 - Last Names = S - Z

Ms. Donniel Gamble - Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

Tuesday November 10 or Wednesday November 11

3:00-4:15

Callbacks: November 12, 2026

Chorus Room 501

First Rehearsals Wednesday, November 18 and 19th

See Ms. Rowe

(room 605) or Ms. Boyd (room 501) for Audition information!

At Eastern, we value our partnership with families and know that your voice plays a vital role in helping us create the best possible learning environment for all students.

We invite you to share your feedback by participating in the MCPS Family Survey. This short survey gives you the opportunity to share your experiences and opinions about our school and the broader school district. Your honest input will help us understand what’s working well and where we can improve.

The survey is easy to complete, takes only a few minutes, and your responses are completely confidential. The results will be used to guide our efforts in strengthening programs, services, and supports for students and families.

The survey is open from November 8, 2026 through November 20, 2026.

Please look out for the upcoming climate survey in your email. It will be sent to the primary email address linked to your child’s student profile.

We deeply appreciate your time and commitment to our school community. Your feedback makes a difference!

Contact the Counseling Office or your student’s grade level Counselor for more information:

240-740-6290

• 6th Grade:

• Ms. Bolinger: Last Names A-R

• Jordan_A_Bolinger@mcpsmd.org

• Ms. Gamble: Last Names S-Z

• Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

• 7th Grade:

• Ms. Ruffin: Last Names A-R

• Kristen_Ruffin@mcpsmd.org

• Ms. Gamble: Last Names S-Z

• Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

• 8th Grade:

• Ms. Meyer: Last Names A-R

• Jessica_A_Meyer@mcpsmd.org

• Ms. Gamble: Last Names S-Z

• Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

Please be aware that hearing and vision screenings will be conducted for our 8th-grade students as part of the mandated school health screenings on November 13, 16 and 17. If your child wears glasses, please remind them to bring and wear their glasses on the day of the screening so their vision can be accurately assessed.

Thank you for your support and cooperation.

Checkout what has been happening in Eastern’s Library Media Center in our Marking Period 1 Newsletter!

Get to know Ms. Afram, Eastern Middle School's fantastic Career Advising Coach!

Check out Mrs. Afram’s Career Newsflash! This month’s edition highlights our exciting career exploration events, including Bushra Mohammadi’s firsthand experience at Healthcare Heroes: Behind the Scenes at Holy Cross Health. Catch up on all the career exploration, learning, and opportunities that took place this month!

Please save our Community Schools Resource Hub which is linked by clicking on the picture below. There are resources on food, health/wellness, student programs, and family support services.

Eastern Families, did you know we have a fully stocked "Eagle Essentials Closet" with clothing, school supplies and hygiene products for our students?

If your student needs something, please let us know — or encourage your student to advocate for themselves! They can ask a teacher, school counselor, school nurse, administrator, or a staff member in the main office for support. 💛

🧡 What is in the Eagle Essentials Closet?

📚 School Supplies

Backpacks • Pencils • Pens • Markers • Crayons • Colored pencils • Highlighters • Lined paper • Spiral notebooks • Composition notebooks • Binders • Dividers • Folders

🧴 Hygiene & Personal Care

Skincare • Haircare • Menstrual products

👕 Clothing & Shoes

Underwear • Bras • Sports bras • Socks • T-shirts • Long-sleeve shirts • Shorts • Pants • Sweatshirts • Winter coats • Hats • Gloves • Sneakers • Soccer cleats • Umbrellas

📏 A Wide Range of Sizes

Our clothing ranges from approximately kids' sizes 10–16 through adult XS–XXL, so we can support students at many different stages and sizes.

🎓 Formal Wear for Promotion

We also have formal clothing available to help our 8th graders feel confident and ready for their promotion celebration!

💛 A HUGE THANK YOU! Eagle Essentials would not be what it is without our incredible community of supporters.

Thank you to the volunteers who have helped organize and maintain the closet, and to the generous donors who have supplied items, including Eastern Staff & Families, Overflow City Church, I Support the Girls and Leveling the Playing Field.

And a very special thank you to the MCPS Educational Foundation for the generous grant we received last school year. That funding allowed us to purchase the bins, racks, and organizational materials that helped us turn this space into a functional, welcoming resource for our students.

This closet represents what happens when a school community comes together to make sure students have what they need to learn, grow, and soar. 🦅💛🖤

Middle and high school students are invited to this event from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. This interactive event will feature hands-on crafting, discussions on issues impacting female students today and a conflict resolution workshop. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScc7yj4wuQ35-nhW80H26fM1KYIGJgQzApKxi2DpDfMz5Xy_w/viewform

The numbers tell a story we can't ignore. Many MCPS school buildings are aging, and the cost of maintaining and repairing them continues to grow. In the latest installment of The Hard Truth, MCPS takes a closer look at the challenges facing our school facilities, why these repairs matter and what it will take to provide safe, modern learning environments for every student.
The hard truth? Our schools need attention, and the needs are real. Watch the video, learn about the challenges and join the conversation about the future of our schools.
Watch The Hard Truth: 75% of Older Schools Need Repair
Watch the Video Series

MCPS reminds families that secure firearm storage can save lives. Firearms should always be unloaded, locked and stored separately from ammunition. Families should also ask about firearm storage in homes their children visit.
Please talk with your children about firearm safety, remind them that weapons are prohibited at school and encourage them to “See Something, Say Something” if they become aware of a weapon or threat.

• Learn more: Parent's Guide to Firearm Storage.

• Read the community message sent to families this week

Interested in learning more about your student’s new Amplify Desmos Math curriculum? MCPS is hosting a webinar for elementary school families from 6-7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9 via Zoom.
The webinar will explore the daily lesson structure, including access to enrichment as well as Caregiver Hub resources for families, and homework. The webinar will be available in English, with live interpretation available in Spanish, French, Amharic, Chinese, Portuguese and American Sign Language.
Can’t make it? A recording will be posted on the MCPS website after the event.

Be sure to join us for the Mental Health & Wellness Fair on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 at James Hubert Blake High School, 300 Norwood Road in Silver Spring. Free and open to staff, students and families, this event will feature workshops, a student-led forum and community partners sharing information about mental health and wellness. Participating students can earn four Student Service Learning hours.

Stay Connected to MCPS

• VISIT the MCPS homepage.

• CALL 240-740-3000. Staff take calls from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, in English and Spanish (240-740-2845). Visit the AskMCPS website.

• READ news and information sent via email and text message and on the MCPS News page.

• FOLLOW the MCPS social media pages:
  x.com/mcps / facebook.com/mcpsmd / instagram.com/mcps_md facebook.com/mcpsespanol / x.com/MCPSEspanol / instagram.com/mcpsenespanol

• SIGN UP for emails and text alerts and make sure your ParentVue information is up to date.

• WATCH the MCPS cable channels Comcast 34 (1071 HD), Verizon 36 or RCN 89

More MCPS Resources

• School calendar

• Parent resource page

• News and Information page / Noticias en Español

• Latest photo galleries

• MCPS TV videos

• MCPS TV español

BioInnovation Day: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15. General admission is free to families who register through the QR code on the flyer or pre-register here.

Create an original video promoting awareness of the dangers of illicit opioids, overdose and fentanyl among teens. Secondary students can earn 10 SSL hours. Videos can be submitted in English or Spanish. First place wins $5,000, 2nd place, $3,000 and 3rd place, $1,000. Deadline: Monday, Nov. 30. Submit an entry.

• Please join the PTSA meeting on Zoom, Tuesday, November 10, at 7 pm to discuss the high school choice process, the elementary and middle school boundary study, and more! https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83510024789?pwd=q8ccodBDaT5pP2uafYwgXEE6avdEF2.1

  Meeting ID: 835 1002 4789
  Passcode: 161778
  

• Subscribe to our PTSA email listserve. Click here to join - it's FREE!
• Join as a PTSA member with a suggested donation of $10. Your contributions go to academic programs, teacher mini-grants, social events, staff appreciation meals and more. Click here to join.
• Join the Eastern PTSA WhatsApp group. Click here to join.

Emails and phone numbers for support in the school:

• Main Office: (240) 740-6280
• Attendance Secretary: Isaura Blanco: Isaura_M_BlancoFlores@mcpsmd.org
• Front Office Secretary: Aura Cincuir: Aura_R_CincuirPena@mcpsmd.org
• Humanities Secretary : Jessica Alvarez: Jessica_B_Alvarez@mcpsmd.org
• Financial Assistant: Vanessa Delgado: Vanessa_R_Delgado@mcpsmd.org
• Counseling Secretary/Registrar: Herenia Lovo: Herenia_V_Lovo@mcpsmd.org
• Admin Secretary: Priscilla Perez: Priscilla_B_Perez@mcpsmd.org

Counselors:

GRADE 6

• Last Names A-R: Ms. Jordan Bolinger: Jordan_A_Bolinger@mcpsmd.org
• Last Names S-Z: Ms. Donniel Gamble: Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

GRADE 7

• Last Names A-R: Ms.Kristen Ruffin: Kristen_Ruffin@mcpsmd.org
• Last Names S-Z: Ms. Donniel Gamble: Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

GRADE 8

• Last Names: A-R: Jessica Meyer- Jessica_A_Meyer@mcpsmd.org
• Last Names S-Z: Ms. Donniel Gamble: Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

Administrators:

• Principal/6th grade Administrator: Ms. Elizabeth Merino: Elizabeth_J_Merino@mcpsmd.org
• Magnet Coordinator/7th grade Administrator: Ms. Katherine Estes: Katherine_E_Estes@mcpsmd.org
• Assistant Principal/8th grade Administrator: Ms. Deirdre McShea-Levin: Deirdre_M_McSheaLevin@mcpsmd.org

Family Supports:

• PTSA Co-Presidents- Mitra Feldman and Kea Anderson: Eastern.PTSA.President@gmail.com
• Community School Liaison- Ms. Dana Pelzman: Dana_K_Pelzman@mcpsmd.org