The Panther Post

Good afternoon,

At the beginning of the week, overall grades have been made visible to students and families. Please take time to review your child's grades. If there are any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's specific teacher. Linked again for your reference below is our grading policy.

In addition, I wanted to take the opportunity to provide some information regarding our new certified staff here at East Hampton Middle School. Linked below are staff bios. We are so grateful to have an amazing team here at EHMS.

We hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Best,

Christina & Emily

Wed. Oct 1st - 8th Grade Parent Night, EHMS Library, 6:00pm

Mon. Oct 6th - Board of Education Meeting, Town Hall, 6:30pm

Tues. Oct 7th - EHMS PTO Meeting, EHMS Library, 5:30pm

Fri. Oct 10th - Teacher Professional Development - No School

Mon. Oct 13th - Columbus Day - No School

Thurs. Oct 30th - Retake Picture Day!

This week, our Technology Director, Rich Fielding, and Library Media Specialist, Mary Sawyer, visited all 6th grade Science classes to review how students can access PowerSchool, StudentSquare, Google Classroom, and their school Gmail accounts. These sessions helped ensure that students are familiar with the tools they’ll use to stay informed and connected throughout the school year. Mary Sawyer will continue to reinforce these topics during Library Media classes as our 6th graders transition to EHMS building confidence using digital platforms to monitor their progress and communicate with teachers as needed.

A huge thank you to the EHMS PTO for sponsoring our Summer Reading Raffle! Students were thrilled to get their tickets this week and drop them into the boxes for a chance to win some fantastic prizes. Popular choices included a Jellycat, Owala, footballs, a sketch pad set, and even a karaoke machine. Winners will be announced just in time for next week’s Summer Reading & Math Celebration!

Seventh graders are exploring Unit 1, where they are learning about scale factors and scaled copies. They’ve discovered that to make a true scaled copy, all sides must be multiplied by the same factor while the angles stay the same. Through hands-on and collaborative activities, students have been identifying and creating their own scaled copies.

We wanted to take the opportunity to give a big thank you to our EHMS PTO and our Athletic Director, Mr. Mercaldi and all our coaches for their work in planning this year's Pantherfest event. A thank you to our high school students, both the runners and Interact members, who contributed to the success of the afternoon. In addition, our office staff Cyndi Buchan and Donna Roberts who did a lot of work behind the scenes to make Pantherfest a success. Congratulations to our student athletes and there participation throughout the afternoon.

We are working to finalize our club advisors and the days that clubs will meet. Communication will be shared either in Parentsquare or our Panther Posts to provide families with details on clubs and the process for students to sign up. We encourage all our students to try an activity out and would love for everyone to be part of something here at East Hampton Middle School.

More to come!

Sept 29-Oct 3 (subject to change)

Reminder, dismissal forms should be submitted 24 hours in advance, thank you.

MONDAY, SEPT 29

East Hampton soccer at Griswold MS (Rocky Hill), 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 bus, 3:30 pm game.

Note: White uniforms

Site: Girls Soccer at Griswold MS-Note: no JV game!

Site: Boys Soccer at SunnyCrest Park

Cross Country 2:35 until 4 pm

TUESDAY, SEPT 30

RHAM cross country at East Hampton MS (note: team pictures before)

Note: Boys run first!

Boys soccer 2:35 until 4:30 pm

No Girls Soccer

WEDNESDAY, OCT 1

McGee MS soccer at East Hampton, 3:30 pm game.

Site: Boys Soccer at East Hampton High School-shuttle at 2:50 pm

Site: Girls Soccder at East Hampton Middle School. (note-team pictures before)

Cross Country 2:35 until 4 pm

THURSDAY, OCT 2

East Hampton Cross Country at Griswold MS (Rocky Hill), 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 bus.

Note: Boys run first!

Site: SunnyCrest Park

Boys Soccer 2:35 until 4:30 pm

Girls Soccer 2:35 until 4:30 pm

FRIDAY, OCT 3

East Hampton Soccer at William Johnston MS (Colchester), 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 bus, 3:30 pm game.

Note: Boys soccer only at East Field-wear white uniforms

Girls Soccer 2:35 until 4:30 pm

No Cross Country

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.

As we are now half-way through September, I would like to send a friendly reminder for parents to check their student's lunch account balances. Weekly, emails are sent through Meal Magic with negative account balances. Please check your junk folder to ensure you are not missing crucial information!

The Cafeteria Staff and I love to see smiling faces daily and we are grateful to have your students dine with us!

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

Hello from the School Nurse at East Hampton Middle School!

First let me introduce myself. My name is Mary Gould, and I am excited to be joining you and your child on this journey for the 25-26 school year. As a school nurse, my primary role is to ensure the health and well-being of every student. I am here to address medical concerns, manage chronic conditions, provide first aid and promote a healthy and safe, school environment.

As a parent and now grandparent I am no stranger to how overwhelming the start of a new school year can be. There is a lot of information being shared, while also trying to make sure physical forms, immunizations and medication are up to date. Although this is a lengthy message, it is important to read through so that I can provide the safest possible care for your child. I have highlighted the important information below.

Communication: I am very pro-communication! Please call, email or send me a parentsquare regarding any health concerns or questions you may have. Many times email/parentsquare is best as I am most likely helping students in my office during the school day. You can also call me after hours and leave a voice mail with further information. Please make sure your emergency contact information is up to date!!

Call/parentsquare home:

• The student needs to be picked up from school

• Follow-up at home is required or recommended (ie doctor visit, continued observation at home, etc.)

• Any significant injury to the head, new marks on face

• Further communication is needed regarding student Health Office visit

Please note the above criteria are determined by a Registered Nurse Assessment.

If you would like to be called for any other reason, please communicate that to the Health Office specifically and your child’s chart will be updated.

Injuries:

Please let the Health Office know if your child has an injury, as it is beneficial in planning any accommodation your child may need, including extra passing time in the hallway, a PE excusal, help from a buddy, etc.

A student who needs to be excused from PE due to physical injury or has any other restrictions (ie. Related to concussion, stitches, broken bone, etc.) MUST have a doctor’s note.

To return to PE/Sports or regular classroom activities without restrictions the Health Office Requires a doctor’s note to clear the student.

Medications:

Every medication that is brought into school requires a “Medication Authorization” form to be signed by the student’s doctor and parent/guardian and the medication in original packaging with prescription label is to be brought in by a parent/guardian, not in the child’s backpack. No child may carry their own medications at the Elementary level. Please use a large ziplock bag for the medication plus the medication order and label the bag with your child’s name before dropping off. Any controlled medications will need to be counted and signed off with the RN and parent/guardian, so please allow for a few extra minutes at drop off.

Please note: COUGH DROPS count as medications and are not allowed in school. All over-the-counter medications also need a medication order from your provider.

Self-Carry:

Students may self-carry/ self-administer EPI pens and inhalers! If your child self carries you must submit a “Medication Authorization” form signed by the doctor and parent/guardian under the “self-carry” portion of the form.

Illness and Attendance: If your child is feeling unwell, please keep them home and notify the main office. If sent home from the Health Office, your child may return to school after 24 hours of being symptom free.

If your child is sent home for one episode of vomiting, they MAY return to school the next day if they did not have another episode of vomiting at home. Also, if they can keep food and fluids down and they do not have a fever.

Mandatory Screening: During the school year I will be conducting postural screenings for anyone who does not have one documented on a recent physical exam from the doctor. You will be notified of the screening ahead of time and can choose to opt out. Just send an email/parentsquare to let me know.

Health Records: All students in grade 6 must have an updated health assessment, including all required immunizations, submitted to the school prior to entering 7th grade.

All students playing sports must have a current physical record. Physicals are good for 13 months from the exam date.

If your child has any specific medical needs, such as allergies, asthma or other chronic conditions, please notify the Health Office as soon as possible.

Together we can ensure that your child has a safe, healthy and successful school year!

Thank you for your cooperation and support!

Mary Gould, BSN, RN-BC

East Hampton Middle School Nurse

(860)365-4060 ext.5

mgould@easthamptonct.org

Hello East Hampton Middle School!

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. My name is Lindsay DeFrancisco and I am very excited to join you this year to provide behavioral health services through the School Based Health Center. I am a licensed clinical social worker and will be providing crisis intervention, individual, group and family therapy to those students in need. There is a referral process and I’d be happy to chat with anyone who has questions about our program. The easiest way for a parent to enroll their child is through this link:

https://www.sbhc1.com/

I can be reached at DeFranL@chc1.com if anyone was questions.

Lindsay DeFrancisco, LCSW

Behavioral Health Clinician

Community Health Center, Inc. - School Based Health Center

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