Good afternoon,

Just a reminder that next week there will be an early dismissal for students on Wednesday March 19th and Thursday March 20th due to parent conferences. Students will be dismissed at 12:35. Sign ups will be available until the end of the day March 17th.

As your child becomes more independent, cell phones can be a great tool for communication and learning—but also a source of distraction and potential risks. We have observed that students at this age often find it difficult to navigate the complexities and challenges of communicating through cell phones. We encourage parents to have open conversations with their children about responsible phone use, including setting boundaries for screen time, discussing appropriate online behavior, and monitoring social media and messaging apps. Regular check-ins can help ensure a healthy balance between online and offline life. Your guidance is key to helping them make smart, safe choices! A reminder that our school rule is that cell phones remain in student's lockers throughout the day. If a student needs to call home, they can come down to the office at any time. Cell phones can only be out once the school day has ended at 2:35 and students are seated at their bus dismissal locations. Any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to Emily or myself.

Best,

Christina & Emily

Wed. March 19th - Early Release for Students Parent Conferences 1:00 - 7:30

Thurs. March 20th - Early Release for Students Parent Conferences 1:00 - 5:00

Fri. March 28th - Early Release for Students Teacher Professional Development

Students have been getting a sneak peek at the offerings available at the Book Fair! Students received this week a flyer along with a wish list that we ask is completed and brought next week when students are able to purchase books. Please see the communication attached for specifics! Happy Reading!

The Student Council is organizing the 6th Grade Spring Dance, happening on Friday, April 4th, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM in the EHMS Commons! This year's theme is a Pajama Party, so come dressed in your comfiest PJs. Admission is just $3.00, and if you bring a canned good to donate to the East Hampton Food Bank, you'll receive a free glow stick! Additional glow sticks will also be available for purchase at $1.00 each.

Our Student Council is also planning a 7th Grade Dance that will take place Friday May 2nd - more information to come!

Congratulations to our Band, Chorus and Jazz Band Assembles for their hard work in preparing for this year's Step Up Concert. It was amazing to see what great talented musicians we have cultivated over the years.

Below is a recording of the Livestream in case you missed it!

We extend a heartfelt thank you to Mrs. Werme and Mrs. LaBrec, our dedicated Drama Club advisors, for their hard work and guidance. Our students put on an incredible performance of Monty Python this weekend, and we couldn’t be more proud of their talent and dedication. A special thank you also goes to our EHMS PTO for their generous support in helping to purchase new stage lighting. Your contributions make a lasting impact on our school community, and we truly appreciate all that you do!

Congrats to 8th grader Avery Guild who had an impressive weekend at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in West Hartford, finishing in 13th place out of 64 total participants! We are incredibly proud of her hard work and dedication. Her achievement is a testament to her perseverance, and was our finalist two years in a row!

Sixth grade students chose books this week for their last reading unit of the school year! Students joined book clubs to read realistic fiction novels with characters set in the modern era that face real world issues, such as bullying. Students were excited to begin reading and sharing with peers. Sixth graders will later be asked to write a literary essay on their book.

EHMS celebrated Read Across America week with a road trip across the USA! Students were invited to take a virtual road trip across the country, making stops in each state to read a poem written by a poet from that state. Poets included old favorites, such as Robert Frost and Shel Silvertein, to modern poets, like Joyce Sidman (from CT!) and Luis Salgado. Students are invited to continue their poetry journey throughout the month of March!

Last week was Say Something Week. In partnership with Sandy Hook Promise, we held various activities for Say Something Week to empower our students to recognize warning signs, speak up, and seek help when needed. Each advisory created a poster to help promote Say Something - below are some of the posters! The posters are being judged and a winner will be selected soon!

On Friday, March 21, 2025, East Hampton Middle School will be celebrating World Down Syndrome Day! March 21 is symbolic because people with Down syndrome have 3 copies of their 21st chromosome, so we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on 3/21. Students are encouraged to wear mismatched socks on March 21st as chromosomes look like socks under a microscope. The homeroom with the greatest percentage of students who wear mismatched socks will earn 20 PBIS points for their grade, and the grade with the greatest percentage of students who wear mismatched socks will earn 30 PBIS points for their grade. During advisory this week, students learned about why we bring awareness to World Down Syndrome Day and the meaning behind wearing mismatched socks next Friday. Students decorated mismatched socks to help publicize the event. Below is the presentation shared in advisory.

Please encourage your child to wear their best mismatched socks on Friday, March 21, 2025 for World Down Syndrome Day!

Below are students who have received Positive Office Referrals for their behaviors that have exemplified our PBIS pillars of Respect, Responsibility, Compassion and Pride. Students were able to choose a reward from our menu of options like eating outside with friends! Great job!

6th Graders

Autumn Tilinghast, Luciano Lomando, Aaron Pierson, David Steuerwald, Emma Emery

7th Graders

Pranud Anthony and Nolan Hilton

8th Graders

Taylor Canterbury, Dash Palmer, Gianna Jarzabek, Emma Riddell, Tristan Hickey, Landon Baillargeon, Maddox Hansen

March 17-March 21 (subject to change)

MARCH 17-MARCH 20

No Athletics

FRIDAY-MARCH 21

Baseball tryouts grades 6 and 7 (2:35 until 5 pm)

No Softball

During the month of March the school nurse will be conducting a postural screening program for grade 7 female students and grade 8 male students. This postural screening program is required by the State of Connecticut. The purpose of this program is to recognize the signs of spinal curvature at its earliest stages so that the need for treatment can be determined.
If students already have documentation of a current postural screening by their doctor, they will not be reassessed.

Specifically, scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. In its early years, it is painless and develops gradually, especially during the years of rapid adolescent growth. Kyphosis, sometimes called round back, is an exaggerated forward bend of the spine and is often confused with poor posture. Many cases of curvature of the spine are mild and require only on-going observation by a doctor after first diagnosis. Others get progressively more severe as the child grows and require active treatment. Early treatment can prevent the development of a severe deformity which can affect a person’s appearance and health.

The postural screenings will be done by the school nurse. The procedure for examination is a simple one, requiring less than one minute. Students are asked to remove their shirt in privacy and then, with their back facing the nurse, lean over to touch their toes. (Girls are encouraged to wear bras or swimsuit tops. They will be reminded prior to the screening). The nurse will then assess the spine for any type of curvature. If a spinal abnormality is suspected, the parents will be notified of the findings and will be asked to seek further evaluation from their own physician.

You may choose to OPT OUT. Just send an email (listed below) to let the nurse know.

If you have any questions concerning the postural screening, please contact the school nurse.
Thank you!
Melanie King RN, BSN
East Hampton Middle School Nurse
mking@easthamptonct.org
860-365-4060 Ext 5

Calling all East Hampton Middle School parents and guardians! Join us at our monthly PTO meetings to stay updated on upcoming events and connect with our amazing school community. Let’s face it—your teen or tween might not spill all the details, so we’ve got you covered! 😊
📅 PTO Meeting Date:
🗓 March 18- **Special Guest Superintendent Tim Van Tasel**
🕔 Time: 5:30–6:30 PM
📍 Location: Middle School Library

🌸 Spring is in the air, and so is our East Hampton Middle School Spring Sale! 🌸

Fresh new designs have arrived—don’t miss out! Plus, enjoy 20% off your order with code SPRING.

🛍️ Shop now: https://1stplace.sale/17567

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.

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.

Below is a helpful handout for families as you engage in discussions around attendance with your children.

The East Hampton Board of Education and the school community as a whole promote a secure and productive school climate, conducive to teaching and learning that is free from threat, harassment, any type of bullying behavior, and teen dating violence. Therefore it shall be the policy of the Board that bullying and/or teen dating violence committed against a student by another student is prohibited. The Board believes that a school environment in which students feel safe, supported, engaged and helpfully challenged is optimal for learning and healthy development. The Board seeks an environment in which students and adults feel socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically safe; an environment that is free of harassment, intimidation, teen dating violence and bullying. Our website provides links to various policies and reporting forms including our Safe School Climate Plan. Hard copies are also available in our main office. If at any point you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to building administration for further assistance.

Happy New Year! Did you resolve to be more on top of your and your child’s health this year? Here’s an easy solution: Sign your child up for School-Based Health Care. Your child’s school works with Community Health Center, Inc.’s School-Based Health Care program to provide health services to your child during the school day. This means they won’t miss as much class and you don’t need to miss work to support their health care needs. Learn more about the services offered at your child’s school and enroll today at SBHC1.com!

The attached bulletins below were developed through a collaborative effort among the Department of Children and Families, the Department Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Office of Child Advocate, the Department of Public Health, the State Department of Education, and the Governor's Office. The content includes information on suicide, helpful tips to support people of all ages, and where to go for additional support and resources.

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