The Panther Post

Good afternoon,

Thank you to everyone who participated in our parent conferences. It was wonderful to see so many families here. A reminder that our Book Fair will extend through next week. Students can visit the fair during FLEX or at all lunch waves to make purchases.

Best,

Christina & Emily

Students still have time to visit the fair!

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 flyer to come soon!

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

Landon Santos, Owen Phillips, Owen Grendzinski, Isabelle Fromme, Tobias Finn, Lukas Werme, Graysen Loan, Alexa Colwell, Nick Dudek

Since September, EHMS has started introducing restorative practices by using basic restorative circles in advisory and focusing on positive, relationship-building conversations that help students respectfully resolve conflict. This work supports the Connecticut school climate law, effective July 1, 2025, which requires schools to adopt restorative practice response policies with the goal of improving school climate, strengthening relationships, and promoting positive student behavior and engagement. Please see the link for a parent-friendly infographic that provides more information about restorative practices and how they support a positive school community.

Over the last several years, we have had an ongoing partnership with Sandy Hook Promise, which promotes school-wide efforts to create safe schools for all our learners. Through our partnership, we have held programs that help to teach middle and high school students to recognize the warning signs of someone at-risk of hurting themselves or others and helps develop skills for students to confidently seek out a trusted adult.

It can be hard for adults to know how the children in their lives are feeling. Today, many teens and adolescents turn to online channels to express themselves, their thoughts and hopes, and their anxieties and personal feelings. Some even go as far as hinting they want to hurt themselves or someone else. Their friends and peers are the eyes and ears of a school community and may observe these communications but not always understand or know what to do with that information. As part of our efforts to promote student safety and well-being, our SAVE Promise Club student leaders have organized an advisory activity where students will watch a short video that includes subtle warning signs in the background that may signal a student is struggling and may need support.

The purpose of this activity is to help students better understand behaviors and signals that may indicate someone is struggling or needs support. The video emphasizes the importance of speaking up, seeking help from trusted adults, and supporting peers in a safe and responsible way. Our goal is to build awareness and empower students to contribute to a caring and attentive school community. The following resource is provided from Sandy Hook Promise on Knowing the Signs.

If you would prefer that your child not participate in this advisory activity, please email me at camaral@easthamptonct.org and an alternate activity will be provided. Below is a layout of the week:

Monday, March 23 - Special morning announcements on Say Something Week

Tuesday, March 24 - Say Something Speech Bubble Drawing

Wednesday, March 25 - Advisory Lesson: Say Something Scenarios Activity & Video

Thursday, March 26 - Speech Bubbles of “Say Something” pictures

Friday, March 27 - wear GREEN AND/OR WHITE

If you have any questions about this lesson or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting the safety and well-being of all students.

Students showed their support and awareness by wearing colorful and mismatched socks today in recognition of World Down Syndrome Day. This simple act was a powerful way to celebrate inclusion, embrace differences, and spread kindness throughout our school community. We are proud of our students for coming together to honor and support individuals with Down syndrome.

Middle School Counselors, Mrs. Mercaldi and Mr. Mannes, will be visiting all 8th grade classrooms to introduce students to Naviance, a program they will use more frequently once they enter high school. Naviance helps students begin exploring potential career paths and learning more about their interests and strengths. During these lessons, students will complete questionnaires designed to help identify possible career directions and gain a better understanding of the many opportunities available to them in the future.

Sixth grade students are beginning their work on division of decimals. This week they explored strategies using vertical whiteboards, which allowed them to work together, explain their thinking, and try different approaches. The activity encouraged students to discuss their reasoning and build confidence as they practiced solving decimal division problems.

Middle school can be a big period of social change within a student's life. The friendship "Want Ad" that took place in 6th grade Health classes is a poster project is meant to emphasize qualities within a friendship that are considered healthy for personal growth, while recognizing qualities that one might want to avoid within their social circle.

Ms. Seeley’s 8th grade students participated in a debate last week. Students were randomly assigned to either the proposition or opposition side of meaningful topics such as “Should we have zoos?” and “Is artificial intelligence beneficial or harmful?” Students researched their topics, prepared arguments, and engaged in rebuttals. Guest judges awarded points based on the strength of evidence presented, the use of allusions and analogies to support arguments, and students’ ability to respectfully listen to and respond to the opposing side.

EHMS students participated in Read Across America Week by taking part in a Bingo Board Reading Challenge. Students completed activities such as reading outside, finishing a book, reading a poem, and more to earn a prize. Keep reading, EHMS!

Below are some recent photos from the last few Project Oceanology trips that are participating 7th graders attend. We hosted our partnering school here at EHMS where collaborated to investigate squid and make observations about their adaptations for survival in the wild, as well as experiment with different density layers of water. Although whether didn't cooperate to be on the boat, students participated on indoor lab activities.

MARCH 23 -MARCH 27 (subject to change)

MONDAY, MARCH 23

Baseball tryouts 2:35 until 4:30 pm (Grades 7 and 8 only)

No Softball tryouts

TUESDAY, MARCH 24

Baseball tryouts 2:35 until 4:30 pm (Grades 6 and 7 only)

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.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25

Baseball tryouts 2:35 until 4:30 pm (Grades 8 only)

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.

THURSDAY, MARCH 26

Baseball tryouts 2:35 until 4:30 pm (Grades 6, 7 and 8)

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: Teams announced via Parentsquare

FRIDAY, MARCH

No Athletics!

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MONDAY, MARCH 30

Baseball practice 2:35 until 5 pm

Softball practice 2:35 until 5 pm

Player/Parent and Coaches Meetings via livestream

Softball at 6 pm

Baseball at 6:45 pm

Note: These meetings are mandatory for all athletes and strongly request a parent/guardian attend. Both meetings livestreamed, Coach Mercaldi will send link out over the weekend.

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