Pirate Weekly

from the Principal's desk...

Hello Pirate Families! 🏴‍☠️💜

Can you believe we have made it to the LAST WEEK OF OCTOBER?!? I feel like we just welcomed these kiddos back to school, and somehow we are already wrapping up the first quarter! Thank you so much for all your support in getting us this far. We couldn't do it without you!

Tomorrow marks the beginning of our SECOND QUARTER! That means every student will have a new science class, and our sixth graders will also be switching to a new elective. It also means we are officially ONE-FOURTH OF THE WAY THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR! 😲

Let's Talk Attendance!

I want to take a minute to remind everyone about something incredibly important: ATTENDANCE!

While students must pass their classes academically to earn credit, there is another piece of the puzzle that is just as important: showing up to school!

Students are allowed 7 absences per semester before their attendance can affect their ability to receive credit and advance to the next grade.

We have had some confusion about what counts as an excused absence, so let me help clear that up!

The only absences that do NOT count toward the 7-day limit are those with documentation such as a doctor's note, a courthouse note, or a funeral.

Now, we absolutely LOVE when parents call in to let us know their student will be absent! It saves you from getting the endless phone calls about your child being absent (please don't yell at us, that is a district office thing that we have no control over!!!) However, calling in to "excuse" your student does NOT mean the absence is excused for credit purposes. Without the required documentation, that absence will still count toward the 7-day limit.

We already have quite a few students who have reached their 7 days, and some who have gone over. Please take a few minutes to check your student's attendance and keep an eye on those numbers.

We know kids get sick, family situations happen, and life doesn't always go according to plan. But we want to make sure our students are here as much as possible so attendance doesn't become the reason they struggle to earn their credits.

Bottom line: We need those Pirates IN SCHOOL! Even on the days they would much rather be home sleeping until noon. (Which, let's be real, is probably every day if we gave them the choice!)

Red Ribbon Week! ❤️

This week we are celebrating Red Ribbon Week, and we have some fun dress-up days planned!

We love seeing our students participate and show their school spirit, but I do have one little favor to ask of our Pirate parents...

PLEASE help us with dress code this week!

Sometimes when we have dress-up days, our students seem to forget that they are still coming to SCHOOL, and our regular dress code still applies.

So, as you watch your child head out the door each morning, ask yourself one simple question:

"Is that school appropriate?"

If the answer is NO, turn those kiddos right back around and tell them to go slap some more clothes on! 😂

We appreciate your help in keeping our dress-up days fun while still making sure everyone is dressed appropriately for school.

🎃 Halloween Dance!

I'm sure your kids have been raving about the Halloween Dance happening this Thursday! But did they happen to mention the requirements to actually ATTEND the dance?!? Funny how they sometimes leave out those little details! 😂

Students must have NO F's and NO suspensions since October 19th, when we announced the dance. Grade cut off is on Tuesday after school to determine eligibility.

So encourage those kiddos to get those F's up so they can make those middle school dance memories that will last a lifetime! 💜🎃

🥫 SOUPER BOWL CANNED FOOD DRIVE! 🥫

East vs. West... LET'S GO, PIRATES! 💜🏴‍☠️

Our Souper Bowl Canned Food Drive is still going strong, but WEDNESDAY is the LAST DAY to bring in those canned goods!

And did I mention that we are in a little friendly competition with WEST?!?

Now, I don't know if you all remember, but last year I was wearing a color that was NOT purple...and let's just say I would REALLY prefer not to repeat that experience! 😂💜

I think it's time we show West that EAST IS THE BEAST! (At least, I think that's what the kids say these days...I'm just trying to keep up!)

So come on, Pirate Families! Let's rally together and BEAT WEST!

Dig through those pantries, grab some extra cans at the grocery store, and send those donations our way!

And here's a little parenting tip from your friendly neighborhood principal: Just start stuffing canned goods into your kids' backpacks without telling them! Let them spend Monday morning wondering why their backpack suddenly weighs 40 pounds! 😂

They'll survive. They're teenagers. They're tough.

LET'S GO, EAST! Let's fill those donation boxes, help families in need, and show West what PIRATE PRIDE is all about! 💜🥫🏴‍☠️

Pirate Athletics! 🏀🤼

We have some exciting things happening in Pirate sports this week!

Wrestling practice officially kicks off on Monday, and our girls basketball teams will have both their first away game and their first home game this week!

We can't wait to see what our Pirates can do! We love seeing our students get involved, work hard, and represent East Minico. Come out and cheer them on if you get the chance!

One Last Thing...

Thank you again for all your support. Thank you for helping your students get to school, encouraging them to do their best, and partnering with us to make East Minico a great place to be.

Although, now that I think about it...YOU should probably be thanking US for taking your teenagers off your hands all day! 😂

I mean, let's be real. A few of these kiddos have attitudes that could rival my own, and that is really saying something!

But it's a good thing I love every single one of them! Even on the days they make me question my life choices! 💜

Here's to another great quarter at East Minico!

GO PIRATES! 🏴‍☠️💜

📅 WEEKLY CALENDAR

Monday, October 26 ❤️

Red Ribbon Week: Wear Red! "Red-y to Be Drug Free!"

📚 2nd Quarter Begins!

After School Tutoring 4:00-5:00

🍴 Lunch: Chicken Tenders or Pepperoni Pizza

Tuesday, October 27 💤

Red Ribbon Week: Wear Your School Appropriate Pajamas! "Dream Big — Stay Drug Free!"

🔨 Builders Club Meeting during Lunches

🏀 Girls Basketball @ South Hills

🎃 Fright Night Band Concert @ Minico — 7:00 PM

🍴 Lunch: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce or Pepperoni Pizza

Wednesday, October 28 🌲

Red Ribbon Week: Wear Camo Gear! "Don't Let Drugs Sneak Up on You!"

🥫 Canned Food Drive — All donations are due by the end of Advisory!

📋 Grade Checks during Advisory to determine eligibility for the Halloween Dance

After School Tutoring 4:00-5:00

🍴 Lunch: Pulled Pork Sandwich or Pepperoni Pizza

Thursday, October 29 🎃

Red Ribbon Week: Wear Your Halloween Costume! "Hocus Pocus, Drugs Are Not Our Focus!"

💜 Girls Basketball Spirit Walk — Morning (Time TBD)

🥤 PTO Soda Treats during Lunch

🎶 Halloween Dance — 2:30 PM

🏀 Girls Basketball — HOME vs. West

🍴 Lunch: Pepperoni Pizza

Friday, October 30 🎉

No School — Non-Contract Day!

💜 Have a Spooktacular Weekend, Pirates! 🎃🏴‍☠️

Athletics this Week

Upcoming Events

Nov 2 or 3rd-Grins on the Go Begins

Nov 10-Vision Screening

Nov 10-PTO Meeting 1:30

Nov 25-29th-Thanksgiving Break

Pirate Pride Thursday Gear

Many students have been asking how they can purchase some Pirate swag to wear on Thursday's. The link to the website is below. You can order on the website and the shirts will be delivered to the school.