The Weekly Update #4

Dear Eastern Middle School Families,

We have a busy school week ahead. Here is a look at what is happening this week:

• Tomorrow, Monday, October 12th, will be Student Picture Day for both our students and staff; families will receive information on how to order their child's picture via email in the coming weeks. Tomorrow all of our 8th grade students will complete a PSAT readiness check during their English classes.
• Tuesday, October 13th, we will hold our PTSA Meeting on Zoom from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM. The zoom information is found below in the Weekly PTSA Updates section. Please join us as we cover several important topics.
• Wednesday, October 14th, our 8th grade students will be taking the PSAT. There will be an adjusted bell schedule for all students. While our 8th graders take the PSAT, our 6th and 7th graders will be completing the MCPS Student Expectations Lessons.
• Thursday, October 15th, we will host 2 evening events. Our first evening event is for all of our 8th grade families interested in learning about the High School Regional Model and get questions answered by our 8th grade School Counselors at 5:30pm. Our second evening event is for our 8th grade Humanities families who children will be attending the NYC Field Trip. That Parent Information Night will begin at 6:30pm.
• Friday, October 16th, there will be no school for students as it is a Professional Day for teachers.

Also, please save the date for our upcoming Fall Open House on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. More information, including a flyer, schedule, and other important details, is forthcoming.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in making Eastern Middle School a wonderful place to learn and grow.

Yours in partnership,

Elizabeth J. Merino (she/her/ella)

Principal/Directora

Para traducir este boletín, seleccione "español" en "Translate Newsletter" en el cuadro negro a su derecha o en su celular encima.

Monday, October 12: Student Picture Day

Tuesday, October 13: PTSA Meeting on Zoom at 7:00 PM

Wednesday, October 14: PSAT for 8th grade students

Thursday, October 15: Regional High School Parent Information Night at 5:30pm and 8th grade Humanities NYC Field Trip Parent Information Night at 6:30pm

Friday, October 16: No School for Students, Professional Day for Teachers

Picture Day is TOMORROW Monday, October 12th, and make-up day is scheduled for November 18th.

Eastern Athletics has officially kicked off! Programs are now open to all students across 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Please refer to this document for information regarding current season sports, required forms, and key contact details. Let’s have a great season!

Contact the Counseling Office or your student’s grade level Counselor for more information:

240-740-6290

• 6th Grade:

• Ms. Bolinger: Last Names A-R

• Jordan_A_Bolinger@mcpsmd.org

• Ms. Gamble: Last Names S-Z

• Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

• 7th Grade:

• Ms. Ruffin: Last Names A-R

• Kristen_Ruffin@mcpsmd.org

• Ms. Gamble: Last Names S-Z

• Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

• 8th Grade:

• Ms. Meyer: Last Names A-R

• Jessica_A_Meyer@mcpsmd.org

• Ms. Gamble: Last Names S-Z

• Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

Students can view videos with their MCPS accounts (or on YouTube) and complete a form to earn SSL hours! The form does not open until October 19th and will close October 23rd, but students can watch the videos and record their responses on this tracker in advance. However, only submissions through the form from 10/19 - 10/23 will earn SSL hours. This is a wonderful opportunity to discuss digital safety and responsibility with your family as well as to earn SSL hours. 8th grade students attending a field trip that week should plan ahead so they don’t miss the opportunity to participate!

Our lost and found bin is starting to fill up with water bottles. If your student has lost their bottle, please encourage them to check the lost and found area in the back of the cafeteria. The bin will be emptied at the end of each marking period. The end of quarter one will be Friday, October 30th.

Winter athletics are right around the corner! Families interested in their child participating in middle school BASKETBALL should review the attached information regarding registration, physical requirements, and important dates.

Important Dates: ParentVUE registration opens October 26 at 12:00 PM, our Winter Athletics Interest Meeting will be held November 17, and winter tryouts/practices will begin December 8.

Winter Athletics Parent Memo English

Winter Athletics Parent Memo Spanish

Every fall, our ELD teachers send notices to parents and families of students who are receiving English Language Development services. This year, we will streamline that process and have all of those letters available for acknowledgement on ParentVUE beginning the week of 10/12. If you would not like your child to receive services, please indicate that on ParentVUE or contact their English Language Development teacher soonest. In addition, we will notify parents and students about accommodations that they will receive this school year for both classroom and testing settings. You are also welcome to contact Ms.Mesina, our ELD Content Specialist, at: Shannon_L_Mesina@mcpsmd.org with any questions.

Last Thursday, Eastern’s Junior Minority Scholars Program hosted students for the first of three Loteria-themed events. Participants enjoyed playing the game Loteria to learn about Mexican/Mexican American culture as a way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. We also used Loteria card designs as a way for students to discuss their identity here at Eastern in preparation for our first big project expressing and revisioning Eastern Eagles' character traits, goals, abilities, values, and roles ahead of the 75th anniversary. We will have the second event on Thursday, 10/16. If you know a student who may be interested in participating or just learning more about opport unities with the Minority Scholars Program, please reach out to Ms. Hall in room 607.

• On October 14th, all 8th grade students will participate in the PSAT 8/9 assessment. *New* PSAT practice is now available in IXL for all students. Please review the MCPS message shared with the community on 9/25. IXL access directions for students are linked here as well as they are linked in the community message. Additionally, we are elevating once again free practice resources from the College Board here.

Things to Know

• One sheeter

• PSAT 8/9 Student Guide

• PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide

The Eastern Counseling Department is hosting a Q&A Parent Meeting for 8th grade families preparing for the new High School Region Model.

📅 Thursday, October 15
🕠 5:30 PM
📍 Eastern Middle School Media Center

Join us to learn about any new updates, ask questions, and get helpful information.

• Wednesday, October 14 Northwood HS 7 PM

• Monday, October 19 Albert Einstein HS 6:30 PM

• Monday, October 26 Montgomery Blair HS 6 PM

MCPS and the Department of Consortia and Application Program Services (DCAPS) are hosting Webinars via Zoom for parents that would like more information about the High School Regional application process for the 2027-2028 school year. Please use this link to get the latest information. Presentations are in English and Spanish.

Get to know Ms. Afram, Eastern Middle School's fantastic Career Advising Coach!

Please save our Community Schools Resource Hub which is linked by clicking on the picture below. There are resources on food, health/wellness, student programs, and family support services.

Eastern Families, did you know we have a fully stocked "Eagle Essentials Closet" with clothing, school supplies and hygiene products for our students?

If your student needs something, please let us know — or encourage your student to advocate for themselves! They can ask a teacher, school counselor, school nurse, administrator, or a staff member in the main office for support. 💛

🧡 What is in the Eagle Essentials Closet?

📚 School Supplies

Backpacks • Pencils • Pens • Markers • Crayons • Colored pencils • Highlighters • Lined paper • Spiral notebooks • Composition notebooks • Binders • Dividers • Folders

🧴 Hygiene & Personal Care

Skincare • Haircare • Menstrual products

👕 Clothing & Shoes

Underwear • Bras • Sports bras • Socks • T-shirts • Long-sleeve shirts • Shorts • Pants • Sweatshirts • Winter coats • Hats • Gloves • Sneakers • Soccer cleats • Umbrellas

📏 A Wide Range of Sizes

Our clothing ranges from approximately kids' sizes 10–16 through adult XS–XXL, so we can support students at many different stages and sizes.

🎓 Formal Wear for Promotion

We also have formal clothing available to help our 8th graders feel confident and ready for their promotion celebration!

💛 A HUGE THANK YOU! Eagle Essentials would not be what it is without our incredible community of supporters.

Thank you to the volunteers who have helped organize and maintain the closet, and to the generous donors who have supplied items, including Eastern Staff & Families, Overflow City Church, I Support the Girls and Leveling the Playing Field.

And a very special thank you to the MCPS Educational Foundation for the generous grant we received last school year. That funding allowed us to purchase the bins, racks, and organizational materials that helped us turn this space into a functional, welcoming resource for our students.

This closet represents what happens when a school community comes together to make sure students have what they need to learn, grow, and soar. 🦅💛🖤

The Board of Education received a presentation on Oct. 8 outlining proposed school calendars for 2027–2028 and 2028–2029 and moved the proposals forward for public comment and feedback. A key feature of the discussion was a two-year calendar approach, designed to give families and staff greater ability to plan ahead by establishing major calendar dates earlier.
Under the approach, the Board would adopt the next school year’s calendar while tentatively setting major dates, such as the first and last days of school and winter and spring breaks, for the following year. The community will now have an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed calendars, with final adoption scheduled for Nov. 19.

See the video of the presentation here

See the slide deck here

MCPS is hosting Curriculum Preview Day, an opportunity for families to explore instructional materials, learn more about what students are learning and discover resources available to support learning at home. This event is open to K–12 families for all MCPS courses. Join us for our drop-in sessions, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. or 5-7 p.m. in the Carver Educational Services Center cafeteria on Monday, Oct. 19. Families can connect with MCPS instructional specialists, ask questions, explore curriculum materials and receive support accessing digital learning resources.

Stay Connected to MCPS

• VISIT the MCPS homepage.

• CALL 240-740-3000. Staff take calls from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, in English and Spanish (240-740-2845). Visit the AskMCPS website.

• READ news and information sent via email and text message and on the MCPS News page.

• FOLLOW the MCPS social media pages:
  x.com/mcps / facebook.com/mcpsmd / instagram.com/mcps_md facebook.com/mcpsespanol / x.com/MCPSEspanol / instagram.com/mcpsenespanol

• SIGN UP for emails and text alerts and make sure your ParentVue information is up to date.

• WATCH the MCPS cable channels Comcast 34 (1071 HD), Verizon 36 or RCN 89

More MCPS Resources

• School calendar

• Parent resource page

• News and Information page / Noticias en Español

• Latest photo galleries

• MCPS TV videos

• MCPS TV español

Explore this free 8-week virtual parenting program starting the week of October 12, open to all MCPS parents and caregivers of children Pre-K through 12th grade. It offers practical tools for a calmer, more connected family, including ways to support your child's mental wellness and success in school, plus a chance to connect with fellow parents. The program is offered in English, Spanish, and Amharic.

Attendees who complete at least 5 sessions and the evaluation receive a $50 e-gift card (one per family/household). Families can learn more and register at https://pep-frp.org/.

• Join us on zoom to learn about upcoming events, the new high school programs, school construction plans, and where to find parent resources for the new curriculum. Eastern PTSA October meeting Tuesday, Oct 13, 2026, at 7:00 PM https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83136447912?pwd=XMAmblaD9ueaXy71Z0OIcRYI6UhNDQ.1 Meeting ID: 831 3644 7912 Passcode: 451782

• Subscribe to our PTSA email listserve. Click here to join - it's FREE!

• Join as a PTSA member with a suggested donation of $10. Your contributions go to academic programs, teacher mini-grants, social events, staff appreciation meals and more. Click here to join.
• Join the Eastern PTSA WhatsApp group. Click here to join.

Emails and phone numbers for support in the school:

• Main Office: (240) 740-6280
• Attendance Secretary: Isaura Blanco: Isaura_M_BlancoFlores@mcpsmd.org
• Front Office Secretary: Aura Cincuir: Aura_R_CincuirPena@mcpsmd.org
• Humanities Secretary : Jessica Alvarez: Jessica_B_Alvarez@mcpsmd.org
• Financial Assistant: Vanessa Delgado: Vanessa_R_Delgado@mcpsmd.org
• Counseling Secretary/Registrar: Herenia Lovo: Herenia_V_Lovo@mcpsmd.org
• Admin Secretary: Priscilla Perez: Priscilla_B_Perez@mcpsmd.org

Counselors:

GRADE 6

• Last Names A-R: Ms. Jordan Bolinger: Jordan_A_Bolinger@mcpsmd.org
• Last Names S-Z: Ms. Donniel Gamble: Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

GRADE 7

• Last Names A-R: Ms.Kristen Ruffin: Kristen_Ruffin@mcpsmd.org
• Last Names S-Z: Ms. Donniel Gamble: Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

GRADE 8

• Last Names: A-R: Jessica Meyer- Jessica_A_Meyer@mcpsmd.org
• Last Names S-Z: Ms. Donniel Gamble: Donniel_K_Gamble@mcpsmd.org

Administrators:

• Principal/6th grade Administrator: Ms. Elizabeth Merino: Elizabeth_J_Merino@mcpsmd.org
• Magnet Coordinator/7th grade Administrator: Ms. Katherine Estes: Katherine_E_Estes@mcpsmd.org
• Assistant Principal/8th grade Administrator: Ms. Deirdre McShea-Levin: Deirdre_M_McSheaLevin@mcpsmd.org

Family Supports:

• PTSA Co-Presidents- Mitra Feldman and Kea Anderson: Eastern.PTSA.President@gmail.com
• Community School Liaison- Ms. Dana Pelzman: Dana_K_Pelzman@mcpsmd.org