Dear Panther Parents and Guardians,

Teacher Appreciation Week kicks off on Monday, May 5th, and we’re excited to recognize the incredible educators who go above and beyond for our students each day.

If you’d like to send a special shoutout to a teacher who has made a positive impact, please use the link below to submit your message of appreciation:

Submit a Teacher Shoutout: https://forms.office.com/r/0ML0zkvqtm

Let’s come together as a community to show our Panther teachers how much they are valued and celebrated!

With Panther Pride,

Jacqulyn E. Bridge

Principal

Thank you for a successful first week of our updated campus procedures. Your support and cooperation have made a noticeable difference in ensuring our school remains a safe and structured environment for all students and staff.

As a reminder, new backpack procedures are now in effect across all secondary campuses as part of Killeen ISD’s safety efforts:

• April 30 was the last day for traditional backpacks.

• Students may now bring no more than two small bags (no larger than 6x9 inches) such as a lunch kit or small purse.

• Yondr pouches do not count toward the bag limit.

• Clear or mesh backpacks of standard size are still permitted.

• Medically necessary items must be pre-approved by the campus clinic and administration.

• Athletics or fine arts bags must be checked in at the designated area before school begins.

For full details and guidelines, please visit: www.killeenisd.org/clearbags-secondary

We appreciate your partnership in helping your Panther stay prepared and focused as we close out the school year strong.

This month's character trait at EHMS is Perseverance. Each month, we will focus on a different trait to help build a positive and supportive school culture.

What is Perseverance?

Perseverance is the willingness and ability to keep going when things are tough. People who persevere show steadfastness and give the extra effort needed to do something despite how hard it is or how long it takes to reach the goal.

Why focus on Perseverance?

• Perseverance encourages positive self-talk and thinking. When faced with difficult tasks, perseverance helps students reframe with positive thoughts, such as: "I'm not good at this YET!"
• Perseverance develops empathy. Students gain a better understanding of who they are and develop more empathy and compassion for others who may struggle to reach a goal.
• Perseverance sparks personal growth. Pushing through complex tasks builds resilience and helps students discover how capable they are.

Perseverance in Action:

• Share stories and challenging experiences. Be vulnerable and share personal experiences when you have struggled with a task or concept and had to work hard to push through.
• Praise effort and process, not intelligence or performance. Affirm students for the process they used to tackle tasks and point out how their abilities grow through their own hard work.
• Give your students the chance to struggle. Struggle builds self-confidence, independence, and perseverance. Resist the urge to intervene immediately and give students time to figure it out.

We are proud to celebrate Ms. Martin for being named a Finalist for KISD Secondary Teacher of the Year! Her dedication, passion, and commitment to student success shine every day at Eastern Hills Middle School. Congratulations, Ms. Martin.

Panther Families,

As we wrap up the school year, we invite you to complete the Capturing Kids’ Hearts end-of-year survey. Your feedback helps us continue building a positive school culture for our students and staff.

Please take a moment to complete the survey using the link below:
🔗 https://iheartckh.com/public-survey/drycj84b

Thank you for your continued support!

Admission is free, but students must have fewer than 15 tardies and no referrals between April 28th -May 9th to attend. The talent show will be 1:30 - 3:30 PM. Below is the bell schedule:

Students are expected to keep their phones turned off and stored in their pouch.Please note that any violations will result in appropriate consequences as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. Lost or damaged pouches cost $25.50 to be replaced. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a focused and productive learning environment.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

ID badges are required at all times while on campus, riding the bus, and attending any school-sponsored event.

If a student has lost their ID, they may purchase a replacement for $5 or complete community service with Ms. Bridge to receive a new one.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and secure school environment!

Dear Panther Parents and Guardians,

We encourage all of our panthers to take advantage of i-Ready and IXL for additional practice at home! These programs are designed to help strengthen skills in both reading and math. By spending extra time on these platforms, students can reinforce what they are learning in the classroom and make even more progress.

Here are some key benefits of using i-Ready and IXL at home:

• Personalized learning that meets your specific needs.
• Extra practice to build confidence and improve understanding.
• The ability to work at your own pace, outside of school hours.

Students can easily log in to both programs through Clever by using their student account.

Go Panthers!

Dear Panther Parents and Guardians,

We want to remind you of the purpose and expectations for students attending the Panther Learning Academy. This program is designed to provide students with additional support in a focused learning environment, supplementing teacher-led tutoring sessions.

Expectations for Students Attending Panther Learning Academy

• Active Participation: Students are expected to engage in academic work while attending the Panther Learning Academy.
• Respectful Behavior: Students must respect their peers, staff, and the learning environment. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.

Consequences for Rule Violations

Any student who fails to meet these expectations or disrupts the learning environment will face disciplinary action, which could include being removed from the Panther Learning Academy.

Please note that students removed from the Academy for disciplinary reasons can still attend their assigned teacher’s tutoring sessions on designated days.

Program Purpose

The Panther Learning Academy is a supplement to teacher tutoring and offers additional opportunities for students to receive academic assistance. However, teacher tutoring remains an essential component of student success, and students are encouraged to continue attending these sessions as assigned.

We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a productive and respectful environment for all students.

Thank you

I am excited to recognize Ms. Brandi Cummings, Ms. Boles and our EHMS AVID teacher, Ms. Holly Standeford, for their outstanding work in leading Eastern Hills to be recommended as an Emerging AVID Schoolwide Site. This achievement marks a significant advancement for our AVID program compared to last year. Congratulations on this well-deserved accomplishment!

• May 12th- Spring Concert 7:30 PM Killeen HS

• Spring Concert - May 8th (KHS)

EHMS Orchestra Events

For ALL orchestra students:

• Tuesday May 13- Awards Concert (5:15 p.m. call time, 6 p.m. performance in the EHMS cafeteria)

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We’ve noticed that many students remain outside on campus after school dismissal until 5 PM or 6 PM. With the weather changing, we encourage you to consider enrolling your Panther in the Boys & Girls Club.

This program offers:

• Snacks
• Engaging activities
• Tutoring support
• Supervision until 6 PM

Please note that students are not permitted to remain inside the building after hours while waiting for a ride.

To sign your Panther up, please use the following link: https://mts.bgctx.org/onlinemembership.aspx

Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all students.

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