Eckstein Weekly News

October

• Oct. 31: Orchestra Wreath Sales End

November

• Nov. 1: Daylight Savings Time Ends (Fall Back)
  
• Nov. 1: Vaccine Clinic at Eckstein
• Nov. 2: Eckstein Annual Campaign Packets Go Home with Students
• Nov. 5: Quarter 1 Ends
• Nov. 6: Quarter 2 Begins
• Nov. 9: PTSA Meeting (7 pm on Zoom)
• Nov. 10: Veterans' Day Assembly (AM Assembly Schedule)
• Nov. 13: Reflections Contest Entries Due
• Nov. 14: Concert Attire Distribution (2-4 pm)
• Nov. 15: Vaccine Clinic at Eckstein
• Nov. 19: Jazz Night (7:30 pm)
• Nov. 20: PE Waiver Submission Deadline
• Nov. 20: Eckstein Annual Campaign Ends
• Nov. 21: Wreath Sale Pick Ups (12-3 pm)
• Nov. 26-27: Thanksgiving & Native American Heritage (NO SCHOOL)
  Please Note: Middle schools and high school are only out of school on Thursday and Friday of that week.
• Nov. 30 - Dec. 17: Last Yearbook Ordering Period

Our first Pep Assembly of the school year was a blast! There were games, challenges, and lots of excitement.

Only students who signed up earlier this week can attend. Lists of students who signed up for their particular timeslot will be checked the door. Students not on the list will be denied entry.

The Eckstein PTSA organizes this fundraiser each fall to ensure every Eckstein student is given learning opportunities that promote academic success and social well-being.

Our goal is to raise at least $125,000 to fully fund our 2027 budget.

This budget pays for essential needs that the school district does not provide. With your generous donations, we can support:

• Academics
• Athletics
• Library
• Teacher Resources
• Community events
• And Much, Much More!

November 2

• All students will receive a packet with an envelope and EAC donation card. You can use this card to indicate your level of donation.
• Students who return donation cards will be entered into a drawing for a $10 gift card. A contribution is not necessary to enter the drawing, but they do need to return the card.
• We will also have contests for homerooms and grade levels.
• Please return the pledge card and envelope regardless of the amount you are able to contribute.

November 4

Homeroom drawings begin. Students that return the pledge card to their homeroom teacher will have their name placed in a drawing for a gift card.

November 20

EAC Campaign comes to a close.

There are new protections for the bike lane on 75th Street. It now has concrete barricades to protect bikers from being hit by cars.

Unfortunately, we have seen several students being dropped off in this bike lane by cars driving through the barricades.

PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. You may drop your students off on 75th East of 31st where there is a designated drop-off zone or on 30th Avenue. Thank you!

If you know that you will be taking your student out of school during the week of November 23, 2026, please have them complete a Pre-Planned Absence form located in the Attendance Office prior to the absence in order to excuse it.

Do you have a student or students who want to express themselves, share their artistic talents, and ideas and have a chance to be recognized and celebrated at a local, state, and maybe even national level? It’s time for the National PTA Reflections Art Contest.

Deadline: November 13.

Students can submit original works of art in the categories of Visual Arts, Literature (fiction and poetry as well as essays), Photography, Film Production, Music Composition, and Dance Choreography. This year’s theme is “What My Culture Means to Me”.

Check the National PTSA website: https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections

More details and the rules for each category are included below:

• 2026-27 Student Entry Packet
• 2026-27 WSPTA Student Entry Form (fillable)
• 2026-27 Accessible Arts Division Guidelines | en Español
• 2026-27 Dance Choreography Category Full Guidelines| en Español
• 2026-27 Film Production Category Full Guidelines | en Español
• 2026-27 Literature Category Full Guidelines | en Español
• 2026-27 Music Composition Category Full Guidelines | en Español
• 2026-27 Photography Category Full Guidelines| en Español
• 2026-27 Visual Arts Category Full Guidelines| en Español

*The Accessible Arts Division is a category for students with disabilities who receive services under IDEA or ADA: Section 504 to have the opportunity and accommodations they may need to fully participate in the program.

More than 300,000 students from around the country submit original works of art for this 50-year-old contest. Despite all that competition, Eckstein Middle School has done really well in the past. In the 2021-2022 contest, eighth-grade student Lekha Dhaka won first place for Outstanding Interpretation in the firm production category for her film Trash, an animation that explores the impact plastic pollution has on the Earth's oceans.

Please contact Ian Towler at reflections@ecksteineaglesptsa.org with any questions or to learn more.

Private School Application Requests are due Friday, December 4, 2026.

• No Requests Prior to December: Please do not request private school application records prior to December (exceptions noted below). Most private schools require Quarter 1 grades for the current school year, which are not available until December 1, 2026.

If you plan on submitting applications to private schools, please read about the process here: https://ecksteinms.seattleschools.org/academics/registrar/private-school-records-and-recommendations/

Period 1: 8:55 AM – 10:40 AM
Assembly: 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
Period 2: 10:45 AM - 11:35 AM
Period 4: 11:40 AM – 1:00 PM
1st LUNCH: 11:35 AM - 12:05 PM (Class 12:10 PM – 1:00 PM)
2nd LUNCH: 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM (Class 11:40 AM – 12:30 PM)
Period 3: 1:05 PM - 1:55 PM
Period 5: 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM
Period 6: 2:55 PM - 3:45 PM

PE is a WA State Requirement: WA State Legislature mandates that students in grades 1-8 participate in at least 100 minutes of weekly PE classes (equivalent to one semester of PE instruction hours) unless they qualify for a waiver. Please note that SPS does not endorse PE Waivers (Reference: RCW 28A.230.040). Students may be excused from the PE requirement for the following reasons:

1. Physical Disability (6, 7, 8 grades)
2. Religious Belief (6, 7, 8 grades)
3. Participation in Directed Athletics (7, 8 grades only)

Notes
(1) Documentation (e.g. letter from coach/team/proof of registration) is required to waive PE and must be emailed to Ms. Tai (jetai@seattleschools.org).

(2) For any sport/activity that begins after November 20, a guardian may sign instead of a coach. We will request additional information from your family if needed. Incomplete waivers will not be approved.

(3) If your student requested to waive PE last spring and does not have it on their schedule, you must submit a valid PE waiver to formally waive PE.

(4) If your student has PE on their semester 2 schedule, and you would like to waive it, please wait to submit a waiver in January after semester 2 electives changes are open. Even with a PE waiver, your student may still be required to take PE as our elective availability is limited. If your student is able to switch into another elective in semester 2 out of PE, Ms. Tai will email to complete a waiver at that time.

A friendly reminder that we will be setting our clocks back one hour this Sunday! ⏰

Enjoy that extra hour of sleep, but remember to plan ahead for Monday morning!

Please make sure to get to bed on time, set your alarms, and arrive at school on time and ready to learn.

Let’s start the month of November off right with great attendance, positive attitudes, and big smiles!

We look forward to seeing everyone on time Monday morning. School starts at 8:55am.

Have a wonderful weekend! 😊

Community Cupboard

Thank you for all of the donations! Still in need of student planners, lunchbox and laundry detergent as well as all updated items: Community Cupboard Wishlist We will accept donations of NEW socks, and NEW or LIGHTLY used hoodies, shoes, and other in-style clothing for middle schoolers. Items can be dropped off outside door of Portable 9 in back parking lot in plastic bag labeled "donation".

To help a student with shoes: Sign Up Genius

Tuesday, December 1 from 6:30–8:30 PM, Roosevelt High School is hosting Hazing Uncovered, a TED-style family conversation led by Lynnet Mitchell focused on hazing, group culture and belonging, alcohol and other substance use, consent and boundaries, teen safety, and how families can support their students.

Erica Davenport

Social Worker, MSW

Eckstein Middle School

Work phone (206) 252-5098

PTSA Board Positions Open

DEI Chair: Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within our school community through programs, partnerships, and awareness.
Co-Treasurer: Partner with the Treasurer to manage PTS finances, budgets, and financial reporting with accuracy and care.
Reflections Co-Chair: Inspire creativity! Lead the Reflections program and support students in exploring the arts.
Volunteer Coordinator: Connect people and opportunities! Recruit, organize, and support volunteers across PTSA events and programs.

Interested? Email president@ecksteineaglesptsa.org

Ongoing Needs

You will need to be cleared to volunteer through the SPS Volunteer Application.

Math Tutors During the Day

We are looking for people to tutor some of our students in Math 7 & 8. We could use the help any period, but we really need help during third period. Since you will be working with the student one-to-one, you will need a Tier 2 volunteer clearance. This requires you to get a national background check.

If you would like more information about tutoring, contact Carrie Kazala at cekazala@seattleschools.org.

If you would like more information about volunteering or need the link to the SPS volunteer application, please email Julia Detering at jrdetering@seattleschools.org.

Lunchtime Help

Your duties will include:

• Monitoring the hall outside the cafeteria
• Handing out Library Lunch passes
• Helping administrators on the field and garden
• No "disciplining" is required. If you spot something that needs attention, let an administrator know, and they will handle it.

Please contact Julia Detering at jrdetering@seattleschools.org for more information.

Eckstein Families Needed to Assemble Weekend Food Bags

Local families assemble weekend food bags every Sunday from 3-4 PM at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 4805 NE 45th Street.

The Packs for Kids program is run through the University District Food Bank. Eckstein parents pick up food from UDFB on Thursdays and distribute prepared weekend bags to Eckstein MS, Green Lake ES, and Wedgwood ES each week. More information about the Packs for Kids program can be found here. https://www.udistrictfoodbank.org/packsforkids

If you are looking for an outreach activity for your family, please sign up here.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050C48A4AA2FA2FC1-weekend

High School students can earn Service Learning Hours.

Bike Cage Morning Greeter

We would like someone at the bike cage behind the school from 8:35 am - 8:55 am to greet our biking students. You will need to be cleared to volunteer through the SPS Volunteer Application. Please contact Julia Detering at jrdetering@seattleschools.org for more information and to sign up.

Bryant Fall Classic Chess Tournament - December 5th

On December 5th, Bryant Elementary will host one of the longest running school chess tournaments in the State, and we expect to have well over 130 players again this year. The tournament is a State Qualifier and is open to participants through 6th grade. Be sure to register your chess player today!

YESC Eco-Retreat

WHO: Students grades 6-12

WHEN: Saturday, November 14 - Sunday, November 15

WHERE: YMCA Camp Colman, Longbranch, WA. Transportation provided from select Seattle and Eastside locations.

WHAT: Workshops, high ropes course, relax and explore nature in a new setting, meet other passionate youth, have fun!

REGISTER: Registration closes November 3. Register here or at our LinkTree. Tiered program cost and financial aid is available!

YESC Youth Leadership Council

WHO: Students grades 6-12

WHEN: First Meeting Wednesday 11/3, meetings 1st and 3rd Wednesdays through May

WHERE: Virtual. Register for link.

WHAT: Meet other passionate youth, create environmental service projects that impact the region, and learn new skills to help your green teams thrive.

REGISTER: NO COST. Sign up at our LinkTree. Deadline 11/1.

Improv Class at Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center

"Looking for a fun, confidence-building activity as 'the big, wet, dark' afternoons arrive? Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center is hosting a 4-week Teen Improv Class starting November 18.

Running Wednesdays from 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM (no class Nov 25), this program is perfect for theater kids, class clowns, or absolute beginners looking to build quick-thinking skills and meet new friends right after school.

Register on the Seattle Parks portal with Class Code #93948 or call (206) 684-7534."