Good afternoon,

The third quarter has come to a close today. On Monday March 31st, students will transition to their final special's rotation. Report cards will be distributed electronically the week prior to vacation.

Just a reminder, as provided in the Superintendent's last update, EHMS will each conduct their crisis response drill during the morning of Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Parents are welcome to share this information with their children. As a district, steps will be taken before, during, and following the events to monitor and support our students and staff as we practice our response protocols. Please reach out to your child's guidance counselor if we can provide any support.

Lastly, our East Hampton Middle School PTO will be hosting a FAMILY-FRIENDLY comedy night at Rule of 3 Brewery on Saturday, March 29 at 6:30 pm. It is through fundraisers such as this that our EHMS PTO has been able to support PBIS programming, new stage lighting, school spirit events, assemblies, field trips, classroom supplies, Family and Consumer Science equipment, school facility projects, and student/staff recognitions. Please come out and support our EHMS PTO for an evening of laughs, raffles, and the delicious smash burgers and fried chicken sandwiches of Cluck Cluck Moo’s Food Truck!

Best,

Christina & Emily

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

Fri. April 4th - 6th Grade Dance in Commons 5:30 - 7:00pm

Thurs. April 10th - 6th Grade Field Trip Hurd Park

Wed. April 9th - EHMS PTO Meeting Library at 5:30pm

Mon. April 14th - 18th - Spring Recess No School

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!

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

Kaylani Melendez, Garrett Hall, Calvin Poe, Kennedy Hall, Arianna Slavin, Skylar Lafountain, Marianna D'Amore

7th Graders

Mason Ferguson

8th Graders

Aiden Hatcher, Max Schunk

In Family and Consumer Science, students practiced properly stitching a button and continued working on their sewing projects as we wrapped up our third-quarter specials rotation.

Students in the 7th grade honors math class have started their first 8th-grade unit on Transformations. In this activity, they kicked off their discussion by relating transformations to dance moves.

Each morning during announcements, students were presented with a masked singer! Students had a google form where they would guess what staff member was singing! Here are a few of the masked singers from the videos!

As Spring and the end of the year approaches, we will reflect with our students on their growth both personally and academically. In the coming months, we will also measure student performance formally through the Smarter Balanced Assessment in Mathematics, English Language Arts & Science.

Students have had regular exposure throughout the school year to the content and skills specific to grade-level standards measured by the assessments, the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills embedded in the assessments, and the technology and assessment platform on which they will be assessed. Assessment schedules are structured to limit the amount of time students are assessed on any given day. Students are given all of the time they need to complete the assessment to their satisfaction. As a result, testing schedules are flexible and responsive to student needs.

Through our district assessments, we have been supporting students by cultivating a positive culture where students are encouraged to do their best and proudly show what they know. We will continue the same support as we prepare students for Smarter Balanced. The Smarter Balanced Assessments include the English Language Arts and Mathematics Computer Adaptive Tests and the Mathematics Performance Task. Students in grade 8 will also be administered the Next Generation Science Standards Test. The assessments will begin on Wednesday, April 23rd with the English Language Arts Computer Adaptive Test.

We anticipate that both the preparation for the assessment and the assessment schedule will help students feel comfortable and allow them to perform at their best. We encourage strong attendance during the testing days along with healthy habits, including appropriate rest and daily breakfast. Cell phone and smartwatches are not allowed to be in the testing locations. Students are to follow the school rules in keeping those devices in their lockers.

This assessment information is only one measure of our students and their impressive efforts this year. We consider multiple data points when considering student progress and planning for instruction. This is a critical tool for this ongoing work and we appreciate your partnership as we gather information about our students at the conclusion of another year.

As always, please contact us if you have any questions regarding this process.

Please see the following flyer to support an 8th graders' capstone project.

Online sales open.

Online sales close on April 18, 2025

Yearbook Cost: $25

$5 for your child’s name printed on the front cover (not available after 4/18/25)

$1 for each icon you add (not available after 4/18/25)

$30 after 4/18/25

Order online here

Cash or checks are also accepted

Please make checks payable to: EHMS

Paper forms are available in the main office.

There will be NO yearbook sales on the last day of school.

MONDAY, MARCH 31

Baseball practice 2:35 until 5 pm

Note: Player/Parent and Coaches meeting at 6:30 pm via google meets. Link will be sent out over the weekend.

Softball practice 2:35 until 5 pm

TUESDAY, APRIL 1

Baseball practice 2:35 until 5 pm

Softball practice 2:35 until 5 pm

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2

Baseball practice 2:35 until 5 pm

Softball practice 2:35 until 5 pm

THURSDAY, APRIL 3

Baseball practice 2:35 until 5 pm

Softball practice 2:35 until 5 pm

FRIDAY, APRIL 4

Baseball practice 2:35 until 5 pm

Softball practice 2:35 until 5 pm

Recently I have seen an increase in the number of students drinking energy drinks. Some come to see me after experiencing negative effects. I am providing some information related to consuming caffeine as a child/adolescent and some suggestions for healthier alternatives.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has stated that energy drinks are not appropriate for children and adolescents, due to the high levels of caffeine these drinks contain.

“While 400 milligrams of caffeine each day appears to be safe for most healthy adults, the amount of daily caffeine that would be considered safe in children is not known, and the AAP recommends limiting use in children,” says Green.

In addition, the AACAP recommends that children between the ages of 12 and 18 should not consume more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day and should avoid energy drinks entirely.

Effects of Energy Drinks on Kids

Due to children’s developing brains, decreased impulse control (placing self-imposed limits) and smaller body sizes, they are more susceptible to the effects and risks of caffeine ingestion. Children who consume caffeine can have difficulty sleeping and may develop behavioral or mental health issues, such as increased aggression, anxiety, stress and depression. Energy drinks provide those same effects, along with the added negative effects of sugar.

Additional adverse outcomes — especially after too much consumption — may include:

Sleep disturbances

Agitation

Arrhythmias (abnormal heart beats)

Diarrhea

Feeling jittery

Seizures

Increased heart rate

High blood pressure

Rapid breathing

Dehydration

Anxiety and panic attacks

Healthy Alternatives

• Unsweetened coconut water
• Diluted 100% fruit juice
• Low-fat milk or milk alternatives

If your child needs electrolytes after sports practice, you can make your own sports drink. Mix 1/3 cup of 100% fruit juice with 2/3 cups of water and add a dash of salt. This offers a healthy dose of electrolytes without the added sugar.

Source: Johns Hopkins Hospital Stephanie Green MD, MS/ Raquel Hernandez MD, MPH

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

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:
🗓 April 9th, 2025
🕔 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