Good afternoon,

Our Spring conferences are coming up. Spring Parent Conferences will be held on Wednesday, March 19, from 1:00-7:30 and Thursday, March 20, from 1:00-5:00. We have planned our conferences to provide meaningful feedback on your child's progress both socially and academically. You will have the opportunity to meet with your child's teachers who will provide an overview on your child's progress on both their Achievement, how a student is progressing on skills and standards within their content classes, and on their Habits of Success, skills we value as essential to student engagement and learning.

Families will receive an email via Parent Square from each of their child's individual teachers to sign up for a 5 minute time slot for each class. Our Unified Arts teachers will be sending sign-ups to the families of students they have in the third quarter. E-mails and information regarding Parent Teacher Conferences and when sign ups will be sent will be shared through Parentsquare soon.

Parent conferences are optional, but we welcome all families who would like to meet with their child’s teacher. If you do not plan to attend conferences in March, please fill out the google form to specify you will not be participating. You can include your child/children's name(s) in the notes. Due to scheduling and the necessary preparation required for conferences, teachers will not be able to accommodate “Drop-Ins” during Parent Conferences.

Virtual conferences will also be available for families who may need that option. If you need to schedule a virtual conference, please reach out directly to your child’s teacher. These conferences may be held at a mutually agreed upon time between individual teachers and parents and may fall outside of the 19th and 20th.

As always, whenever a concern arises, please reach out to your child's Team Leader. The following are the contacts per grade level:

Team 6 contact: Ms. McCabe - tmccabe@easthamptonct.org

Team 7 contact: Mrs. Cates - kcates@easthamptonct.org

Team 8 contact: Mrs. Berube - mberube@easthamptonct.org

We understand that conference times are limited as we work to meet with all parents. However, we can schedule a team meeting at any time during the year to ensure we are fully supporting your child and family. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Best,

Christina & Emily

Mon. Feb 24th - Board of Education Meeting, Town Hall at 6:30pm

Fri. March 7th - No School Teacher Professional Development

Fri - Sun. March 7th - 9th - EHMS Drama Club Production of Spamalot Jr.

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

This week we held Fun FLEX for both our 6th & 8th grades to celebrate the growth made on iReady ELA and Math. Students were able to pick what activities they wanted to participate in for the morning. We are so proud of all our students and their progress so far this year!

Mrs. Berube's Period 2 class were the winners of our Martin Luther King Trivia Challenge. They received a delicious cup of hot chocolate during their lunch wave this week!

The EHMS Drama Club is hard at work bringing laughter and excitement to the stage as we prepare for our production of Spamalot Jr.! We can't wait to share this hilarious adventure with you from March 7–9. Stay tuned for an unforgettable show filled with knights, comedy, and musical fun!

Our 6th graders have engaged in meaningful discussions about friendships and conflict resolution in Advisory and Developmental Guidance. Today, our School Counselors, Mr. Mannes and Mrs. Mercaldi, joined Social Studies classes to further support students in developing essential skills for managing conflicts as they arise. Through group discussion, students are learning how to navigate peer relationships, communicate effectively, and resolve conflicts in a constructive manner. Our counselors discussed the following areas:

• Active Listening and Effective Communication

• Empathy and Perspective-Taking

• Problem Solving and Decision-Making

• Self-Regulation and Emotional Management

• Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment

These ongoing conversations help foster a respectful, supportive, and inclusive school community. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Emily Asklar, myself or one of our Guidance Counselors -Mrs. Mercaldi or Mr. Mannes.

February is Heart Health Month, a time to raise awareness about cardiovascular health and encourage healthy habits for students, families, and staff. A strong heart leads to a healthier life, and small changes can make a big difference! We are continuing with our movement challenge to keep our hearts healthy and strong! PE & Homeroom Teachers will provide students with the attached document for students to track their movement each week. We will keep track of our progress and the winning homerooms with the most movement in the month will receive a prize along with PBIS points for their grade-level. Below is a pdf of the tracking sheet for students.

Feb 24 - Feb 28 (subject to change)

MONDAY, FEB 24

East Hampton boys volleyball at McGee MS (Berlin), 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 bus.

McGee girls volleyball at EHMS girls (Teams: Pacesetter/Producers) Note: team pics

TUESDAY, FEB 25

Volleyball Olympics for boys volleyball and girls volleyball 2:35 until 4:30 pm.

Note: No study hall!

WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

East Hampton boys volleyball at Griswold MS (Rocky Hill), 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 bus.

Griswold girls volleyball at EHMS girls (Teams: Panthers/Pride)

Note: this will conclude our volleyball season!

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

SAVE THE DATE!

EHMS PTO will be hosting a Comedy Night on Saturday March 29th at Rule of 3! We hope to see everyone there.

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.

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