August 25, 2024

Dear Panther Parents and Guardians,

We are thrilled to report that the first two weeks of school have gone very well. Our Panthers are settling in nicely, and we appreciate your ongoing support in helping them succeed. We have a few important updates and reminders for the upcoming week:

1. Cross Country Parent Meeting: There will be a Cross-Country Parent Meeting on Monday, August 26th at 6:00 PM in the gym.
2. Football Games: Our 7th and 8th Grade football teams will both play at home on Tuesday, August 27th. Let's show our Panther pride and support our teams!
3. Volleyball Game: The 7th Grade Volleyball team will face LHMS at home on Wednesday, August 28th. Come out and cheer for our athletes! 8th Grade will be away.
4. Cell Phone Pouches: Please remind your panther to bring back their cell phone pouches on Monday.
5. Headphones with Mic: For instructional purposes, we are asking that students bring headphones with a microphone.
6. No School on Monday, September 2nd: Please note that there will be no school on Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement. Let's have a great week!

Warm regards,

Jacqulyn E. Bridge

Principal

Teacher Spotlight: Coach Jamal Holman

We are excited to highlight Coach Holman, who goes above and beyond both on and off the field!

Coach Holman is more than just a coach—he's a mentor who builds strong connections with students, inspiring them to reach their full potential. Whether he's guiding our athletes to victory or offering a listening ear in the classroom, Coach Holman is always there to support our students. His dedication to fostering positive relationships and promoting teamwork makes him an invaluable part of our school community.

Thank you, Coach Holman, for your unwavering commitment to our students' success!

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.

Your Panther has been sent home with two important forms: the Student Code of Conduct form and the Financial Income Survey form. We kindly ask that you take a moment to complete both forms and return them to the campus as soon as possible.

The Financial Income Survey is especially important as it helps our school continue to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students at EHMS. Your participation in completing this form is crucial in ensuring that we can maintain this valuable program for our students.

Thank you for your prompt attention to these forms and for your continued support of our school community.

As we begin the new school year, I want to share some important details regarding our arrival and dismissal procedures to ensure the safety and smooth operation of our school.

Arrival Procedures:

• Students will not be permitted to enter the building until 7:30 a.m. Parents will not be allowed to walk students to their class.
• Upon entering the building, students will have the option to either eat breakfast in the cafeteria (breakfast and lunch are free) or report to the gym to receive their schedule on the first day. All students will need to get a new schedule.
• After the first day, students will eat breakfast or report directly to their first-period class during the first two weeks of school.
• After the first two weeks, students will have the option to either eat breakfast or go outside. On days with bad weather, all students will report directly to their first-period class.
• Please remind your student, that they should not congregate outside classrooms or in the hallways.

Dismissal Procedures:

• The school day ends at 3:30 p.m. At that time:
• Students who walk home or are picked up by a parent/guardian will exit through the front doors.
• Bus riders will exit through Door 15 (located near the gym concession area). An announcement will be made with further instructions on days with inclement weather.
• All students who are not participating in Boys/Girls Club, teacher-sponsored clubs, or tutoring must exit the building by 3:40 p.m.

Parent Pick-Up and Drop-Off:

• Parent drop-off and pick-up are located at the front of the school building.
• Please ensure you are following the designated traffic flow to keep everyone safe.

For bus information, please refer to the Home Access Center under the Registration tab. Please ensure that your panther knows the bus number and route number. If a bus breaks down the bus number will change but the route number will remain the same.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in ensuring a safe and efficient arrival and dismissal process for all students. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school office.

To promote the best possible learning and social environment in Killeen ISD, students will not use their cell phones, smart watches, AirPods/earbuds, etc. during the school day. Secondary students will be assigned a personal secure pouch at the beginning of the school year. Students are expected to bring their secure pouch to school daily and return it in good condition at the end of the year. More information will be provided in upcoming newsletters, our student and parent handbooks, KISD website, and during readiness day.

Teachers begin tutoring on August 26th. The Panther Learning Academy begins on September 4th.

• October 8th- Spring Concert 7:30 PM Killeen HS
• October 26th- Middle School Region Camp Girls 8 AM- 11 AM Boys 12 PM- 3 PM Nolan MS
• December 12th- Winter Concert 7:30 PM Killeen HS
• January 25th – Region Choir Auditions All Day Belton HS
• February 8th- Region Clinic and Concert All Day Midway PAC
• March 7th- 6th Grade Festival 6:30 PM Killeen HS
• March 11th- Pre-UIL 6:30 PM Killeen HS
• March 27th- UIL Evaluation Time TBD Shoemaker
• March 28th-UIL Evaluation Time TBD Shoemaker
• April 26th- Solo and Ensemble all Day Nolan MS
• May 12th- Spring Concert 7:30 PM Killeen HS

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.

Dear Parents,

As we continue to foster a positive and focused learning environment, we kindly ask for your support in ensuring that all students adhere to our dress code policy. Starting this Monday, if a student is not in compliance with the dress code, we will ask them to call home for a change of clothes or provide them with appropriate attire at school.

To help your child be prepared, please make sure they avoid the following items:

• Tights or leggings worn as pants
• Crop tops
• Jeans with holes higher than 6 inches above the knee
• Shorts or skirts higher than 6 inches above the knee
• Sagging pants

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us achieve this.

Thank you for your continued support

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