The Panther Post

Good afternoon,

We look forward to seeing you next week at our parent conferences. We are grateful for your partnership.

A reminder that our Spring Scholastic Book Fair will be open from March 17th - March 26th. Students are encouraged to review their flyers and website to complete their Wishlist. Students will also have the opportunity to visit the fair to add items to their Wishlist. We encourage you to talk with your child about their Wishlist after their visit. Students are to bring their signed Wishlists with them when making a purchase at the Book Fair. If a student does not bring their signed Wish List, they will not be able to make any purchases at that time. There will be various times students have the opportunity to visit the fair including FLEX and lunch waves.

Best,

Christina & Emily

Tues March 18th & 19th - Parent Conferences - Early Release Days for students

Fri. March 20th - WDSD Wear mismatched socks

Mon. March 23rd - Opening Night of District Art Show at EHHS

Fri. March 27th - Professional Development Day - Early Release Day for students

Thu. April 2nd - 6th Grade Dance 5:30 - 7:00

Fri. April 3rd - No School for Students

Thu. April 9th - Empower Field Trip 6th Grade

Fri. April 10th - Pep Rally

Mon. April 13 - Fri. April 17th - Spring Break - No School

Fri. May 1st - 7th Grade Dance 6:00 - 7:30

In advisory this week, students decorated mismatched socks while engaging in conversations on why and how World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated. The decorated socks will be hung on classroom doors and hallways as we prepare to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on Friday March 20th. We encourage students to wear mismatched socks on Friday March 20th.

Online sale starts March 3, and ends April 10, 2026.

Yearbook Cost: $25

$5 for your child’s name printed on the front cover

$2 for each icon

Sales continue after 4/10/26 until all yearbooks are sold. Payment is cash or check ONLY. Personalization and icons are NOT available after 4/10/26.

Yearbook Cost: $30 after 4/10/26

Cash or checks accepted

Please make checks payable to: EHMS

Return form to Mrs. Buchan in the office.

Or

Order online

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! Great job to our Panthers!

Positive Office Referrals

David Johnson, Aiden Mathieu, Blake Hebler, Ian Williams, Collin Kloepfer, Arthur Skinner, Ainsley Mortimer, Lennox Hanna, Junedi Salad

A big thank you to Mrs. LaBrec and Mrs. Werme for their dedication and hard work in leading yet another successful drama production. This weekend our drama club presented Beetlejuice Jr., and the cast and crew did an amazing job—even with the weather causing some schedule changes for our cast over the last month. We’d also like to give a special thank you to our EHMS PTO for their tremendous support over the weekend.

Congratulations to our EHMS Band and Chorus students for a fantastic performance at this year's Step Up Concert. The students were eager to see past teachers and get a glimpse of the opportunities that await at high school. A big thank you to Mrs. LaBrec and Mr. Shilansky for helping to plan all the details that go along with the trip to EHHS.

You can watch the completed concert on the EHPS YouTube Channel!

Congratulations to our school Spelling Bee Champion, Pranud Anthony, who competed in the statewide spelling bee last Sunday. He placed 4th out of 68 participants from across the state of Connecticut. We are incredibly proud of his hard work and accomplishment!

This past Monday evening, we selected 8th graders Taylor Karabetsos and Charlie Montalbano as our CABE Student Leadership Award recipients. They were chosen by the team for their consistent leadership, their ability to make thoughtful and sometimes difficult decisions, and the way they collaborate effectively with others.

As Spring is approaching it means that our EHMS Bike Club will soon be here! This week during all three lunch waves, students had an exciting opportunity to participate in virtual bike races thanks to the CT Cycling Advancement Program (CCAP)! Using computerized stationary racing bikes, students competed head-to-head and cheered each other on, creating lots of energy and excitement in the Commons. It was a fantastic way to build momentum for our upcoming Spring Bike Club season -outdoors with regular bikes.

Interested families and students should Join the Bike Club Group page in ParentSquare for more details —Mr. Searles and Mr. Debowsky are looking forward to a great season of riding! If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Searles at jsearles@easthamptonct.org.

To join the Parentsquare group from a browser: Bottom left corner click on "Participate" then click on "Groups", then click on "Explore" tab to find and join the Club. As you join the Parentsquare group, you will see the following information.

-Who? Club coach/advisor - Mr. Searles and Mr. Debowsky (assisted by members of the EHHS Bike Club) in collaboration with CCAP (Connecticut Cycling Advancement Program)

-When? PRACTICES on Tuesdays and Thursdays, April-May from 3PM - 4:30PM (weather permitting). Depending on how many join, we may have to split students into different days. Those who race will practice twice a week. Those not racing may be assigned either Tuesday or Thursday. The RACE schedule will be forthcoming.

-Where? PRACTICE mostly EHMS trails, sometimes offsite (Airline Trail, Hurd State Park) Bikes can be locked up at the bike rack during the day or dropped off after school in the back lot. RACES at various locations around the state. **Members are responsible for obtaining their own rides to offsite locations from family members or carpooling**

-What? Students will need a helmet, gloves, water bottle and mountain bike (not a BMX or road bike). If students do not have access to a mountain bike, contact me about borrowing a loaner.

-How much? No cost! Even race licenses and entry fees are covered by the Club.

-Why? To have fun together outside while getting exercise!
To improve bike skills, and compete and win races! (races optional)

Important Upcoming Dates:
3/26 - 4PM Parent Info Meeting in the Commons
3/29 - Registration Deadline (forms will soon be posted to ParentSquare)
4/7 - First practice!

More details, including the registration forms, coming soon!

Spring Registration (Baseball and Softball) deadline on Sunday, March 15. Register on Arbiter Sports Registration. For further information contact EHMS athletic director Mr. Mercaldi at 860-463-6837.

MARCH 16 - MARCH 20 (subject to change)

SPRING (Baseball/Softball) SPORTS DEADLINE-SUNDAY, MARCH 15

Arbiter sports registration

TUESDAY, MARCH 17

No Athletics-Information sheets to go via parentsquare

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18

No Athletics

THURSDAY, MARCH 19

No Athletics

FRIDAY, MARCH 20

Baseball tryouts 2:35 until 4:30 pm (Grades TBA)

Softball tryouts 4:30 until 6 pm (Grades 6, 7 and 8)

Note: No study hall, arrive back at EHMS 4:15 pm by gym doors.

Note: Tryouts will be indoors and outdoors, please bring sneakers and cleats (if you have them).

Join us for a night of laughs, friendly competition, and great company — all for a great cause!

Friday, March 27

Rule of 3 Brewing

$15 per ticket

Form a team or join one when you arrive

Food trucks on site- Twin Beaks

Raffles & prizes

Everyone welcome

Grab your friends, test your trivia skills, and help support the Middle School PTO.

Buy tickets now:

https://square.link/u/CL1Qf6o6

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.

A message from the School Based Health Center:

School-based health centers help parents by getting their children help sooner, reducing transportation barriers, and working with families to get the care their children need.

Impact of Behavioral Health Services

Student Satisfaction Reports:

• Students report having a trusted adult makes them more likely to come to school.

• Improved peer relationships

• Improved communication with family members

• Increased ability to manage difficult situations

• Improved self-image

Clinical Observations:

• Improved relationships with peers

• Reduced self-harm

• Increased skills to manage difficult emotions

For more information - contact Lindsay DeFrancisco, LCSW

DeFranL@chc1.com

Enrollment form link:

https://www.sbhc1.com/

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