Eckstein Weekly News

November

• Nov. 10 - Nov. 30: Order Spirit Gear
• 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 schools are only out of school on Thursday and Friday of that week.
• Nov. 30: Spirit Gear Orders Close
  
  

December

• Dec. 3: Orchestra Concert (7 pm)
• Dec. 4: Private School Transcript Requests Due
• Dec 7: Basketball Tryouts Begin (Exact Days TBD)
• Dec. 10: All Winter Concert (7:30 pm)
• Dec. 15: Choir Concert (7 pm)
• Dec. 17: Winter Assembly (AM Assembly Bell Schedule)
  
• Dec. 17: Yearbook Orders End
• Dec. 18: 1-hour Early Dismissal
• Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Winter Break (NO SCHOOL)

Eagle Gear is now available on SchoolPay until Friday, October 2nd! We have a variety of options featuring our new design for this year.

26/27 Eckstein Dark Gray Hoodie - $28
26/27 Eckstein Dark Gray Hoodie WITH Personalization - $33

26/27 Eckstein Light Gray Crew Sweatshirt WITH Personalization - $25

26/27 Eckstein Light Gray Crew Sweatshirt - $20
26/27 Eckstein Blue Tee - $15
26/27 Eckstein Light Gray Tee - $15
26/27 Eckstein Plaid PJ Pants - $20
26/27 Eckstein Gray Sweatpants - $20

THANK YOU to everyone who has already donated to our Eckstein Academic Campaign!

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!

How it Works

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

November 20

EAC Campaign comes to a close.

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.

Boys and Girls Basketball tryouts will start the week of December 7, 2026 after school. Specific days and times will be announced shortly.

Students have to be cleared through FinalForms.

• All students must have a physical completed by a healthcare provider uploaded into FinalForms before trying out.
• Physicals expire after two years.
• There are additional forms in FinalForms that need to be completed before trying out.
• Please note: We do not collect paper documents.
• All paperwork needs to be submitted prior the first practice. Physical and registration forms are found here.

Eckstein Families: We need coaches for both Girls and Boys Basketball teams.

• Boys Team: We need JV and JVC coaches.
• Girls Team: We need a JVC coach.

You are invited to join us for the next Superintendent Community Engagement Meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 6:30–8 p.m. on Zoom.

Join online: https://seattleschools.zoom.us/meeting/register/VHbo_rjsQAqzQ5H_QKKI1w#/registration

These meetings are an opportunity for students, families, staff, and community members to share feedback about the issues that matter most to our school communities.

Your experiences, perspectives, and ideas help inform important conversations across the district and guide our work to better serve every student. Topics for each meeting are selected based on feedback and issues of importance to the community.

Topics for this meeting include:

• Academic Rigor
• School Design (Neighborhood School, Option Schools, Dual Language, HC, etc.)
• School Safety and Security

To make participation as accessible as possible, language interpretation in Amharic, Chinese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese, as well as ASL services, will be available.

Learn more about the superintendent community engagement meetings on the SPS website.

If you have questions or would like to share feedback, please contact Seattle Public Schools using Let’s Talk.

Aligned with the district’s Great Schools Framework, the surveys will gather student, teaching staff, and family perspectives to:

• Identify strengths
• Support school improvement
• Establish a baseline for monitoring progress

Student Survey - Date TBD at Eckstein - To be completed in Social Studies classes.

Students in middle schools and high schools will receive personalized links through their SPS email.

Family Survey - Opens November 16

• SPS is reintroducing the family survey.
• Individual survey links will be emailed to guardians of currently enrolled students.
• A public link and QR code will also be available for families who do not receive an email invitation.
• The survey will record one response per household per school.
• Households with children at different schools may complete one survey for each school.

For more information: Great Schools Surveys Overview

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/

All PE Waivers are due next Friday, November 20, 2026.

Please email any documentation to Ms. Tai and complete the online form. jetai@seattleschools.org

If they have not already turned one in, Ms. Tai will be reaching out to their parent/guardian.

Regular attendance is one of the biggest factors in student success—both in school and in future careers!

You can check your student’s attendance record anytime on The Source, where you’ll see any absences or late arrivals since the first day of school. Take a few minutes to review this together and celebrate strong attendance habits.

Showing up every day and on time makes a real difference!

Accessing the Source:

How to get started:

1. You must be on record as the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in SPS.
2. Your email address must be on record at each student’s school.
3. Please make sure you have provided the same email address for each SPS student in your family.

To set up a parent or guardian Source account:

1. Visit The Source and click the Sign Up! link.
2. Type your email address in the field provided. Click Enter.
3. Check your email for a message from sourcesupport@seattleschools.org. If you don’t receive this email:

• Check your Spam or Trash folders.
• Contact the school(s) to provide your email address.
• Open the email and click the link.
• Enter your email address in the username field and create a password.
• Please do not use an apostrophe in your password.
• Click Enter to begin exploring the Source!

For more information about the Source, please visit the About the Source webpage.

If you have questions or need help, please email sourcesupport@seattleschools.org

Needs and Leads

Thank you, we are stocked with detergent! With the cold weather we could use more socks and gloves. Shampoo as well. Updated Community Cupboard list here: Amazon wishlist

We will take donations of lightly used or new coats, shoes, hoodies and sweats or in style pants. Drop outside Portable 9 or main office labeled "Davenport".

Basketball tryouts are fast approaching! Reach out if you need help with a sports physical for your student. Roosevelt Clinic enrollment link here: NeighborCare RHS enrollment

Erica Davenport

Social Worker, MSW

Eckstein Middle School

Work phone (206) 252-5098

PTSA Board Positions Open

Co-Treasurer: Partner with the Treasurer to manage PTS finances, budgets, and financial reporting with accuracy and care.
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.

Free Online Tutoring Available through Seattle Public Library and Library Link program

Free tutoring is available in person and virtually through Seattle Public Library. For information on tutoring services and to download flyers, please visit the Schools and Teachers Page. This resource is available 2 p.m.-10 p.m. daily. The tutors can help with math, writing, science, history, college essay writing, and more. The tutors are background checked and subject experts. There are also tutors available who speak other languages such as Spanish and Vietnamese. In addition to tutoring, SPL offers a variety of streaming services, ebooks, and other electronic resources through the Library Link program. Students can access these materials using 990000+Student ID number. The PIN is the last four numbers of the student ID number. This is also available to teachers and staff. Please visit the Library Link page for more information.

If you have questions, please reach out to Darcy Brixey, Library Services and Instructional Materials Program Manager, dlbrixey@seattleschools.org

Rock Climbing

Join the Puget Sound School Climbing League. Participate as an individual and/or join your school team, and climb with other middle schoolers from around the Puget Sound. More info on the FAQ page. Eckstein parent Audrey Crissman is leading a team this winter at Bouldering Project U District. Message ascl.pugetsound@gmail.com with questions. The season starts mid-November."

Rain City Water Polo Wants You!

Calling All Swimmers: Build strength and endurance through Water Polo!

Programs for all experience levels. Beginners welcome! Fall, Winter, Spring & Summer sessions.

https://www.raincitypolo.com/; Email secretary@raincitypolo.com for Free Trial

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!

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."

Roosevelt High School

Open House - January 11 (6 - 7:30 pm)
Details coming soon

Nathan Hale High School
January 12 & 27 (5:30 pm)

Info: https://halehs.seattleschools.org/events/school-info-night-tours-3/

Garfield High School

Tuesday, December 8 (6 – 8 pm)

We will cover the basics and share what makes Garfield High School great, including school history, academics, student support, clubs/activities/athletics, campus environment, performing arts, and more.

Even if Garfield isn’t currently your top choice for next year, or we aren’t your zoned school, we wish to share and help families make as informed a high school decision as possible.

There will be musical performances by Garfield Jazz Band and Vocal Jazz as well as open rehearsals that students and families will be able to sit in on and observe.

Come speak with teachers, students, and current parents and take a student-led tour of the building.

Please fill out this form if there are questions/specific areas you would like addressed: Garfield High School Open House – Fill out form

A January Open House date will be announced soon.

Nova High School - January 14
We also have school tours for prospective students almost every Thursday. Call the main office to schedule a tour.

Franklin High School Open House - December 15 (6-8 pm)

At this event, students and families will learn about all of the clubs, classes, and opportunities that are offered at Franklin. Light refreshments will be provided, along with student tours & club previews.