Bellringer Newsletter

Good morning. It is hard to believe that we are already into the month of May, and the end of the 2025-26 school year is right around the corner. The end of year schedule for students was sent out via ParentSquare last week. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at everner@easthamptonct.org.

We are looking forward to welcoming the Class of 2030 to East Hampton High School on Friday, August 21, 2026 from 9:00 a.m--12:00 p.m at Freshman Orientation at EHHS. More details will be shared later in the summer.

Graduation for the Class of 2026 will be held on June 12, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at EHHS.

• May 4--May 15--Advanced Placement Exams
• May 14--Junior---Senior Prom
• May 21--EHHS Academic Awards Ceremony
• May 22--Early Release--Professional Development
• May 25--No School--Memorial Day
• May 29--12th Grade Class Trip--6 Flags
• May 29--10th Grade Class Outing
• June 3--EHHS Top 10 Ceremony--5:00
• June 4--EHHS Scholarship Evening
• June 5, 8, 9, and 10--Senior Class--Final Exams
• June 9--EHHS Spring Sports Awards
• June 12--EHHS Graduation 6:00 p.m.
• June 15, 16, 17, and 18--Final Exams--Grades 9-11
• June 19--Last Day of School (Grades 9-11)--Early Dismissal--12:10

Culinary Arts students took learning beyond the classroom with a visit to Stone Acres Farm. Students explored sustainable farming practices and gained a deeper understanding of how farms operate as full ecosystems.

They participated in hands-on farm chores, helping with the daily work that keeps the farm running, and had the opportunity to cook and eat using fresh, farm-sourced ingredients. Through these experiences, students connected food, agriculture, and sustainability in a meaningful, real-world way.

This trip highlights the power of experiential learning—giving students the chance to build skills, apply knowledge, and better understand where their food comes from.

EHHS completed the final two lessons for the No Place for Hate program through the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Last Thursday students explored intent vs. impact, learning about the reasons there may be disconnect between the intent of our words versus their impact. This past Thursday, students learned about the power of words, bias, and how to be an ally when situations of bias and stereotyping arise. In the culminating activity, students used their power of words for good to send positive messages to their peers that they will receive next week!

EHHS is now officially recognized as a No Place for Hate school through the ADL! Thank you to all students for your participation in the three activities and thank you very much for teachers and staff for delivering and facilitating these lessons.

EHHS DECA Chapter Hosts Trivia Night

The DECA Chapter hosted a Trivia Night on Thursday, May 7th. A big thanks to those that came out to play and have some fun!

The Beginner Bellringer Laboratory Preschool recently hosted a hands-on Touch-a-Truck event, fully organized by high school student leaders. As part of the program’s student-led model, students planned the event, coordinated with community partners, and created an engaging experience for the preschool children.

A highlight of the day was a visit from the East Hampton Fire Department, who brought a fire engine for children to explore. Preschoolers had the opportunity to see the truck up close, climb aboard, and learn about the important role firefighters play in the community.

Junior fire volunteers led the educational portion of the visit, teaching children basic fire safety in a way that was fun, interactive, and easy to understand. Their involvement made the experience especially meaningful, as they connected with the young learners and helped bring safety lessons to life.

This event reflects the mission of the Beginner Bellringer program—giving high school students real leadership opportunities while creating memorable, educational experiences for children.

Congratulations to Oliver Frucce and Kailyn Granitowski. They were honored as the CIAC Unified Athlete and Partner of the Year.

EHHS at ICDC

Sean Hargreaves, an EHHS sophomore, represented our school at DECA’s International Career Development Conference (ICDC) which was held in Atlanta from April 25–28. Sean qualified for ICDC with a strong performance at the CT State Conference earlier this year. While over 26,000 DECA members attended the conference, Sean was among the 18,000 competitors. Sean competed in the Principles of Hospitality and Tourism event, part of the Business Administration cluster.

Sean is the EHHS DECA Chapter's first member to compete at the national level and we are very proud of his accomplishment. We look forward to him sharing his experience with our DECA chapter.

🌿 Learning Beyond the Classroom at Beginner Bellringer Preschool 🌿

Our Beginner Bellringer Preschool took learning outside the classroom with a special family picnic at Sears Park.

This informal field trip created a meaningful opportunity for our high school student teachers to connect with preschoolers and their families in a relaxed, real-world setting. Families gathered to share lunch, children played freely on the playground, and our student teachers engaged in hands-on activities like tie-dye—building relationships that extend beyond the classroom walls.

Experiences like this highlight the heart of our laboratory preschool model: giving high school students authentic opportunities to develop skills in communication, leadership, and early childhood education while fostering a strong sense of community among families.

It was a joyful day of connection, laughter, and learning—reminding us that some of the most powerful educational moments happen through simple, shared experiences. 💛

The FCCLA club recently brought Earth Day to life with a special, student-led event at East Hampton Nursery School. High school members planned and executed a free, hands-on session for local families, featuring activities like flower planting, face painting, and Earth Day–themed crafts. In collaboration with preschool teachers, students created a welcoming and engaging experience for young children while building meaningful connections with families in the community.

Led by FCCLA member Peyton Moulthrope, this event highlighted the organization’s commitment to leadership, service, and community engagement. Students took ownership of every detail, from organizing materials to guiding activities, demonstrating responsibility, creativity, and care for others.

This experience reflects FCCLA’s core values by empowering students to make a positive impact beyond the classroom while developing real-world skills. Through opportunities like this, FCCLA members continue to grow as leaders and role models, strengthening both their school and the broader community.

The Recycling Fundraiser Challenge Wed 4/22 - Fri 5/8: Did you know that recycling one aluminum can saves enough electricity to run a 55-inch TV for over two hours? The EHHS Environmental Club is hosting an X-Block competition again this year to see which X-Block can bring in the most beverage cans/bottles to be recycled from Wed 4/22 to Fri 5/8. You will see large, clear trash bags in classrooms where students can recycle their drink cans and bottles. Save your cans to recycle in your X-block! The X-Block with the most cans and bottles by May 8th will win a sweet prize. All other recycling such as paper and cardboard should go in our regular blue bins. See below for specifics of what can be placed in the bags for our recycling challenge and happy recycling!

On Thursday, April 2, 2026, the Class of 2027 made their annual trip to Boston, Massachusetts. To honor the 250th anniversary of the United States declaring independence, the Class of 2027 visited several sites along the Freedom Trail to commemorate this important date in American history. Here are the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of the Class of 2027 visiting the Old State, the site of the Boston Massacre, and Faneuil Hall on their class trip. Happy 250th anniversary to the United States of America!

Our Culinary Arts students recently had the opportunity to learn from Stonington Farms Shellfish, a local oyster farm along the Connecticut shoreline. Students explored how oysters are sustainably grown and harvested, and gained insight into careers in aquaculture and the local food system.

The highlight of the visit was a hands-on oyster shucking demonstration, where students opened and tasted fresh oysters—many for the first time!

We are grateful for this engaging, real-world experience that continues to bring our curriculum to life.

Congratulations to Juliana Korczak who was nominated by the EHHS faculty to receive the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award. The criteria considered for this honor include dependability, service, leadership, and an unselfish interest in family, friends, community, and nation.

Julianna embodies these pillars through her involvement as historian of the National Honor Society, president of the Bring Change to Mind Club, secretary of the Spanish Club, and a member of the advisory committee. She has coordinated multiple events within the school and community, including Wellness Day, assisting in organizing a volunteer trip to the Salvation Army, and serving as a teen peer advocate.

Julianna will attend a ceremony with the local chapter of the DAR.

Congratulations, Julianna! We are proud to have you represent East Hampton High School.

The Secondary School Writing Centers Association (SSWCA) held its annual national conference at UConn this year, and four students represented East Hampton High School’s Ringer Writing Center! Tutors Ava France, Lily Pinkleton, Teagan Sullivan, and Empress Valencia delivered a fantastic presentation called “Face It: Online Tutoring Fits Our Future.” The tutors conducted research on their topic, compiling a literature review of academic sources that informed their conclusions. They also shared their own anecdotal experiences. In particular, they described how they worked asynchronously with 8th grade ELA students in the fall and shared what it was like when they got tutored by UConn campus writing center tutors via video conferencing. All four of the presenters went above and beyond the expectations for their work in the writing center practicum course this fall. They delivered a well-researched, thoughtful presentation to an audience of fellow writing center tutors and directors from Illinois, Connecticut, and Utah.

EHHS Project Graduation Committee

EHHS Project Graduation

@EHHSProjectGraduation

www.EHHSprojectgraduation.com

Students in the Class of 2026 have been asked to complete a short Senior Exit Survey. The information in this survey confirms each students postsecondary plan, and ensures the School Counseling Department sends final transcripts to the appropriate location. Students can follow the simple directions below to access and complete the survey if they have not done so already. Students should see their school counselor if they have questions.

• Log into their Naviance account
• Click "About Me" at the top
• Click "Surveys from your school" to the right side of the page
• Click the title "Senior Exit Survey

Bellringer Sideline Store. The store is available 24/7 and ships directly to you.

Please see the link below to grab your Bellringer gear.

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/connecticut/easthampton/east-hampton-high-school

The Profile of the Graduate Portfolio process has begun for the classes of 2025, 2026, and, 2027. Students are developing a Google Site that they will use over the course of their high school career to provide students an opportunity to demonstrate their growth and development of the five attributes in the East Hampton Public Schools: compassion, innovation, perseverance, collaboration, and active learning. This portfolio will display various achievements, projects, and activities over the course of the high school experience that will show attainment of skills, broadening of horizons, and pursuit of passions. Students will reflect on experiences, strengths, and abilities to confidently approach challenges. During XBlock students used a template developed by the Portfolio Committee, wrote a brief autobiography and are crafting their paragraphs explaining their understanding of the core values. By the end of the school year, students will have written about each of the values and uploaded examples of their work. Ultimately, this work will become part of their Senior Capstone beginning with the Class of 2025.

During student drop-off in the moring and pick-up in the afternoon, please refrain from using the Bus Lane. At these times (7:00--7:25 and 2:00--2:25) cars are not allowed in the Bus Lane as vehicles block the busses and present a safety hazard to students. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in keeping our students safe.

Please review the EHHS Attendance Policy and Student Handbook as they contain important information.

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.

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.

Access to the East Hampton attendance policy is available HERE

It is also necessary for a student to be present at least half of the school day for the student to be recorded as present. When a student arrives after the mid-day point or leaves before it, the day cannot be counted for that student. Building principals will share the specific times in their communications with families.

A student is considered to be “in attendance” if present at his/her assigned school, or an activity.

sponsored by the school (e.g., field trip), for at least half of the regular school day.

At East Hampton High School, half of the regular school day arrives at 10:55 a.m. This means that if a student arrives after 10:55, even with a note, the student will be marked Tardy Absent. If a student dismisses prior to 10:55 and does not return to school, the student will be marked Early Dismissal Absent. Please contact the school with any questions regarding our attendance policies.

To increase the ease of reporting an absence and documenting parent approval of the absence for a student’s first 9 absences, the East Hampton Public Schools has created email addresses that parents can use to contact their student’s school and report an absence. Effectively immediately, the following email addresses can be used by parents to report and document their approval of an absence:

EHHS_Attendance@easthamptonct.org

If you have successfully emailed the school, you will receive an autoreply that notifies you that the absence communication has been received and recorded. This process is effective for your student’s first 9 absences. After your student has more than 9 absences, additional documentation or communication will be required to excuse the absence. Please use the email to continue to notify the school that your child will not attend. You may call your child’s school at any time to report an absence, as well.

All East Hampton students are covered by a school district insurance policy covering injuries incurred during school sponsored and supervised athletic events or practices, extracurricular activities, intramural programs, field trips, and gym. Injuries must be promptly reported to supervising adults and claims are initiated through the school nurse’s office. Further information is found here: www.bollingerschools.com. Any other possible but unlikely injury to students occurring on school grounds or in our buildings would not be covered by the school’s accident policy. Parents who desire additional medical coverage may purchase a voluntary student accident policy directly at https://www.bollingerschools.com/site/parents/purchase-coverage.aspx. Please evaluate your family’s personal current medical coverage to determine if additional coverage may be needed.

School Meals are a great value to our students! Prepayment is expected for all cafeteria purchase.

School Breakfast Facts

A great breakfast program is offered at school every day!

Here are some fun facts about school breakfast:

· It’s easy! Instead of running around in the morning trying to make sure your children eat a healthy meal, let us do the work. They can get a great breakfast at school, and there will be no dishes for you to wash!

· It’s affordable! If qualified, your child may be able to get breakfast at a reduced price or for free. If your child already eats a free or lunch, they automatically qualify for a free or reduced price breakfast.

· It’s tasty! Schools now have more variety to choose from when deciding what to offer your children for breakfast. Request a menu so you can view what your child may be eating at school.

· It’s good for the brain! Research suggests that not having breakfast can affect children’s intellectual performance (CDC).

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"

EHHS Lunch Menu

Families eligible for free and reduced meals may qualify by completing an application online on Easthampton.familyportal.cloud or by paper application here: Application for Free and Reduced School Meals(also available in the school’s Main Office). Families with children enrolled in HUSKY or Temporary Family Assistance programs will have their status transmitted directly by the State of Connecticut to the District.

To deposit funds on your child’s account, please visit Easthampton.familyportal.cloud . Our Cafeterias also accept checks made payable to “East Hampton Cafeteria Fund”.

If you have questions, please contact Director of Nutrition Services, Kate Caselli at kcaselli@easthamptonct.org or 860.316.7324.

As a reminder to members of our school community, Board Policy #5145.122 allows the schools to work with the East Hampton Police Department to protect the health and safety of students and staff by conducting sweeps of school property by trained sniffing dogs. Please review the policy and procedures below. Our goal is to ensure that the East Hampton Schools are free of illegal substances. Annually, we provide notice of this policy to our school community. Should a sweep be conducted, parents and the Board of Education will be notified upon completion.

Use of Dogs to Sweep School Property

The Board permits the administration to invite law enforcement agencies to sweep school property with dogs trained for the purpose of detecting the presence of illegal substances, when necessary to protect the health and safety of students, employees or property or to detect the presence of illegal substances or contraband, including alcohol and/or drugs. The use of trained canine sniffing dogs and their associated law enforcement personnel is for the purpose of “alerting” on property only, and is subject to the following:

1. Parents and students shall be notified of this policy through its inclusion in the student/ parent handbook and the Superintendent and Principal or their designees, shall explain the policies and procedures followed in sweeps and searches to students and staff on an annual basis. Once notification has been given to parents and students through the handbook and assembly respectively, the school district will have met its obligation to advertise the sweep and search policy and associated procedure. Additional notices need not be given and actual times or dates of planned sweeps need not be released in advance.

2. The Superintendent or designee shall authorize the sweep. Immediately prior to the sweep, an announcement will be made for students and staff to ‘stay put’ in their classrooms while the sweep is taking place. Representatives from school administration shall accompany dogs and handlers while on school premises.

3. The Board shall be informed by the Superintendent of Schools that a sweep has taken place.

4. Parents shall be informed through the school’s mass communication system by the Superintendent of Schools that a sweep has taken place.

5. All school property which students have access to during the day, such as lockers, classrooms, parking areas and storage areas may be swept.

6. Individuals shall not be subjected to a search by dogs.

a. Dogs shall not be used in rooms occupied by persons except for demonstration purposes. The handler and representative from school administration will always be present with the dogs

b. When used for demonstration purposes, the dog may not sniff any student and/or staff.

7. Only the dog’s official handler will determine what constitutes an alert by the dog. If the dog alerts on a particular item or place, that locker or vehicle will be identified for later search. Upon completion of the sweep, the school administration will then search the identified property in the presence of a witness.

8. Searches that disclose evidence of misconduct shall result in disciplinary consequences in accordance with Board policy and may also result in referral to law enforcement agencies.

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes

Policy adopted: March 15, 2016

10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rules.

New Jersey v T.L.O., 53 U.S.L.W. 4083 (1985)

54-33n Search of school lockers and property

Students who are being dismissed due to illness, MUST FIRST see the School Nurse. Additionally, we ask that parents familiarize themselves with our attendance policy which is in the EHHS Student Handbook. Some of the main policies/procedures that we are mut be followed are listed below:

• EARLY DISMISSALS: A written request (no phone calls) from a parent or guardian must be presented to the main office before school begins so student may obtain an early dismissal slip. Students will wait in the main office for their parent/guardian to call the office and we will send your child out to meet you after they sign-out.
• NURSE DISMISSALS: In case of illness during school, dismissal will be arranged through the school nurse, or in her absence, through the office. Students feeling ill should report directly to the nurse's office. Students should not be texting or calling home when not feeling well.

Please note that having a parent’s written request before the start of the day allows the students name to appear on the Daily Attendance sheet so their teachers will be aware that they may not be in class on that day. This also eliminates the office staff from calling in and disrupting a classroom to dismiss the student. We do realize that there may be occasions when you may need to unexpectedly pick your child up early. In those cases we will call the student down when the parent/guardian arrives to the school.

Students that are dismissed from school will not be allowed to return without appropriate documentation from their visit/provider. In the event that doucmentation is not available, a parent will be required to sign their student into the main office upon return.

1. Dropping off on items--the table to drop off items for students has been moved inside the first set of doors. Parents will be able to drop items of for students, but will no longer be admitted to the main lobby.
2. Appointments--for security reasons, parents and visitors who are requesting to meet with a teacher or administration should call in advance to ensure that the requested party is available to meet rather than show up unannounced.
3. Effective immediately, there is an anonymous tip line to enhance a safe environment in our schools. Students, parents, and community members have access to the front page of the website to report self-concerns, mental health concerns of a friend, or concerns of violence. https://www.easthamptonps.org/

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.

Parents are asked to join our schools and speak to children about marijuana edibles. While legal for purchase by adults in CT, please note that the psychoactive ingredient, THC, is still considered a controlled substance in school.

We have had recent incidents at the High School of students consuming THC gummy candies - with and without knowing what they contain.

The school district treats consumption and distribution of a controlled substance very seriously. Students who ingest or bring gummies to school will face consequences up to and including 10-days of suspension. Those who distribute gummies on school grounds will face consequences up to and including expulsion from school.

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/substance-abuse/Pages/Edible-Marijuana-Dangers.aspx

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.

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: everner@easthamptonct.org
Website: www.easthamptonps.org
Location: 15 North Maple Street, East Hampton, CT, USA
Phone: 860-365-4030
Twitter: @EH_CTPrincipal