Eckstein Weekly News

September

• Sep. 1 - 20: Yearbook Orders Open
• Sep. 4: 8th Grade Ultimate Frisbee Tryouts (4 p.m.)
• Sep. 7: Labor Day - No School
• Sep. 8: School Picture Day
• Sep. 9: 6th Grade Ultimate Frisbee Tryouts (3:45 p.m.)
• Sep. 11: 7th Grade Ultimate Frisbee Tryouts (4 p.m.)
• Sep. 10: Girls Soccer Tryouts (4 p.m. on field)
• Sep. 14: PTSA Board Meeting (7 p.m.)
• Sep. 15: Girls Soccer Tryouts (4 p.m. on field)
• Sep. 21: Music Department Potluck (5:30-7:30 p.m.)
• Sep. 25: Deadline to Return FERPA & Emergency Information & Student Release Forms
• Sep. 29: Picture Retakes

Thank you to everyone who helped with the first day of school, laptop distribution, and the upcoming picture day. Your help is appreciated!

• Please know that most of our classes and electives are at capacity and most requested changes will not be fulfilled.
• We are nearly 50 students overenrolled with a total enrolled student body of nearly 1,000 students. Because of this, our master schedule is highly complex with little room for movement and shifts.
• If you’ve emailed Ms. Tai about requests to change into different homerooms, lunches, or to be with specific teachers, those requests will not be reviewed. If you have further questions, please contact your grade level counselor and administrator.
• Spanish 1 and French 1 have a waitlist. If your student is on the waitlist and can be scheduled into a world language class, Ms. Tai will contact you directly. If you’d like to be on a waitlist for World Language, please email Ms. Tai.
  
  

• Ms. Tai will send out a communication to students via their grade-level Counselor’s Schoology page with. Families will also be notified that the process is opening. She will provide instructions on how to request elective changes online.
• As a reminder, most of our electives are full and core classes will not be moved to accommodate elective changes.
• If you have previously reached out to Ms. Tai about electives, we kindly ask that your student request their elective change request form online when it is available next week. Ms. Tai will only process requests received on that form. Thank you for your understanding.

Yearbooks are $35. Please order on Schoolpay located in your student’s Source account

You can also have your student bring a check made out to Eckstein Middle School or $35 cash to the Main Office.

Yearbooks are distributed during the last week of school in June.

Yearbook Ordering Windows

August 31 - September 20, 2026

November 30 – December 18, 2026

We will be taking pictures of every student on September 8 throughout the day. These pictures will appear on their student ID and in the yearbook.

For students that are absent on September 8 we will have a make-up day on September 20.

We need volunteers to help this process go smoothly. If you can volunteer, please sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45AFA829A6FBC61-58343241-eckstein#/

We have several upcoming volunteer needs. Please consider helping if you can. You can sign up on the SignupGenuis link below.

9/8/26 Picture Day (Times Vary) - You will hand out cards to students as they come to the auditorium to have their school picture taken.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45AFA829A6FBC61-58343241-eckstein#/

10/16/26 Eighth Grade Fieldtrip to High Trek Adventures (8 - 4 pm) - We need chaperones to help with our eighth grade students.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45AFA829A6FBC61-65602998-eighth

10/20/26 - Seventh Grade Vision & Hearing Checks (Times Vary) - We need volunteers to help screen our seventh grade class for vision and hearing. We have easy to use equipment that makes the process run smoothly.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45AFA829A6FBC61-65602337-seventh

Please consider volunteering one day a week to support our administrators during lunches. 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.

You will need to be cleared to volunteer. Please contact Julia Detering at jrdetering@seattleschools.org for more information.

It's time for fall sports at Eckstein!

• We will offer Girls Soccer and Ultimate Frisbee as fall sports.

1. Girls Soccer will have up to three teams.
2. Ultimate Frisbee will have two to three teams per grade level.

• You have to be cleared through FinalForms.

1. Physicals need to be uploaded to the website and will be checked in.
2. Student-Atlethes need to you a non-school email to sign their portion of the documents.
3. Paperwork needs to be completed prior to the first tryout.
4. Please use FinalForms for all athletic paperwork. We will not collect paper documents. Most important is having an updated athletic physical. Physicals expire after two years. All paperwork needs to be submitted prior the the first practice. Physical and registration forms are found here.
   
   

• 8th Grade: Friday, 9/4 at 4 p.m.
• 6th Grade: Wednesday, 9/9 at 3:45 p.m.
• 7th Grade: Friday, 9/11 at 4 p.m.

• 6th Grade: Mondays 4 p.m. & Wednesday 2:45 p.m.
• 7th Grade: Mondays & Fridays at 4 p.m.
• 8th Grade: Wednesdays at 4:15 p.m. & Fridays at 4 p.m.

If dropping off or picking up students on the north side of 75th Street, please direct your student to the crosswalk light on 31st Avenue. It is not safe for them to cross 75th Street at 30th Avenue or 32nd Avenue.

The east side of 31st Avenue is a no parking or stopping zone. If you park on the west side of the street, please don't block the driveways and keep 30 feet back from the stop sign.

South side of NE 75th Street.

Do not drop-off or pick-up students in the Bus Zone. There is limited space on 75th Street just east of the crosswalk on 30th Avenue, before the bus loading zone. Students must be ready to exit the car when you stop. If not ready, drive around the block. No parking or waiting in the drop-off/pick-up zones 8:30–9:15 a.m. & 3:30–4:15 pm.

30th Avenue
You can drop-off or pick-up your student on 30th Avenue by the southern most parking lot.

Dropping off and picking up students in the back of the school is ONLY for students that utilize our accessible entrance.

Our bus zone is small for the number of buses that use it, and the buses need to drop students off quickly and safely without the interference of other vehicles. It is illegal for a private vehicle to use a bus zone during the designated times.

Walking, biking, and rolling to school help reduce traffic congestion around schools and support cleaner air. These active transportation options also help students build connections in their community and arrive at school alert and ready to learn. About 30% of Seattle Public Schools students already walk or bike to school each day.

We encourage families to walk, bike, scooter, or park a few blocks away and walk the rest of the way to school. For resources, including information about starting a walking school bus or bike bus, visit the Safe Routes to School webpage.

Driver Safety Tips

• Slow down and watch for students crossing. The speed limit in school zones is 20 mph whenever children are present. Follow crossing guard directions and put away phones and other distractions while driving.
• Do not block or park within 20 feet of a crosswalk. Parking too close to intersections or crosswalks blocks visibility and makes it harder for drivers and people walking to see each other.
• Consider parking a block or two away and walking the rest of the way. If using the school pick-up and drop-off area, stay with your vehicle at all times. Do not park in load zones or use designated bus loading areas.

Contact: Brooke Nelson, Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator, brnelson1@seattleschools.org

Chess Club will start on Monday, September 14 from 4 - 5 pm and will run for ten sessions. In order to fund this club, we are asking participants for a $50 donation.

Please email Ms. Detering at jrdetering@seattleschools.org if your student is interested in joining.

Speech & Debate Club
Climb the Mountain is offering a Speech and Debate Club at Eckstein on Tuesdays from 4-5:30 pm. Students learn in small 4 -to 8 student labs with supportive instructions. We are a popular program, each year, over 1,000 students participate in our programs. For more information contact Director of the program, Seattle U professor and Debate Coach, Jim Hanson or visit our web page at https://climbthemountain.us/join-us. Scholarships are available.

Come and meet the team of teachers working with your child!

More information will be coming soon.

The SPS school district cellphone policy is that students must have their cellphones powered off and away for the day inclusive of lunch and all passing periods. Smartwatches are only to be used to check the time. This policy helps students concentrate on learning in the classroom.

We need your help with this policy.

We ask that you do not text your student during the school day.

• Middle school is the time when students become more independent and learn valuable problem solving skills.
• Please ask your student not to text you during the day, especially when they are in class.
• If they feel sick, they should go to the nurse or the Main Office to contact you.
• If they forget something at home, they should go to the Main Office to contact you.
  
  

Confiscated Cellphone/Smartwatches

Any student using their cellphone during the school day without staff permission will have their cellphone confiscated. Students who use their smartwatches for something other than checking the time will have their watches confiscated.

1. First Confiscation: The student’s parent/guardian will receive an email that includes why the cellphone/smartwatch was confiscated.
2. Second Confiscation: The student’s parent/guardian will receive an email, text, and/or phone call to that includes why the cellphone/smartwatch was confiscated and notifies the parent/guardian that the third confiscation will require a parent/guardian to retrieve the cellphone/smartwatch from school.
3. Third Confiscation: The student’s parent/guardian will be contacted by email, text, and/or phone call that requests they pick up the cellphone/smartwatch from school. We will notify the parent/guardian as soon as the confiscation occurs.

Students will be reminded of this policy, “phones are off and away,” everyday during announcements. Please talk to your student about our cellphone policy so that they understand the consequences.

The PTSA Weekly Bulletin includes important information about PTSA, high school, elementary, and community events that we do not post in our Eckstein Weekly News.

You can sign up for Eckstein PTSA Weekly.

• Co-Treasurer – Work alongside the current treasurer this year to step into the role next year. Serve on the PTSA Executive Committee, support the fiduciary care of the Board, and act as the point of contact for PTSA financial details and WA Non-Profit Treasury-related bylaws/guidelines/laws.
• DEI Co-Chair (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) – Lead the DEI committee and represent it to the PTSA Board. Attend EAC committee meetings, advocate for equitable fund distribution, and serve as a conduit of information between the EMS PTSA, Seattle Council PTSA, and Eckstein families.
• Volunteer Coordinator – Recruit and connect willing helpers to support PTSA activities.
• For more information, please contact PTSA President at president@ecksteineaglesptsa.org.

As we begin the 2026-27 school year, we are excited to share that every Seattle Public Schools student now has access to free school meals, regardless of family income or school attended.

For many SPS families, free school meals are already familiar. Students at schools participating in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) have been receiving breakfast and lunch at no cost. This year, thanks to a new partnership with the City of Seattle, free meals will now include all students at all schools.

As a result, every SPS student at every school can now receive:

• One free breakfast each school day
• One free lunch each school day

Meals are provided at no cost when they meet U.S. Department of Agriculture meal program requirements. Additional items, snacks, second entrées, or individual items that are not part of a complete meal may be charged separately.

What Families Need to Know
Even though meals are free, students must continue to enter their information when receiving a meal by scanning their student barcode or entering their student ID number at the cafeteria point of sale. This process supports required meal-program records and funding.

Please Complete the CNEEB Application
While school meals are available to all students at no cost, SPS encourages every family to complete the Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit (CNEEB) application. The information helps schools receive important funding and resources and may qualify students for additional educational benefits. Families who do not wish to provide income information may select the “Decline Benefits” option.

Learn More
Learn more about school meals and the CNEEB application on the SPS Culinary Services webpage.

Keep Your Child on Track in Middle School: Pay Attention to Attendance

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job.

Contacting Attendance:

• Attendance contact: Katy Ryan
• Phone: 206-252-5014
• Email: ecksteinms.attendance@seattleschools.org
• You are welcome to send an attendance email in your primary language. Our attendance office can translate your message.

Report an absence: Parent/Guardian must contact attendance office by phone call, email or note with the following information:

• Student name
• Parent/Guardian name and phone number
• Date of absence
• Reason for absence

Vacation: Students must complete and submit a pre-Planned excuse absence form prior to the absence. Forms are available in the attendance office.

Arriving Late to School:

• Parent/Guardian must notify the school of a late arrival with a phone call, email or note
• Students must check into the attendance office when they arrive late to school. They will receive a pass to the classroom

Leaving School Early:

• Parent/Guardian must notify school by phone call, email or note of the early dismissal
• Students will receive an early dismissal slip from the attendance office and must sign out before leaving the building

Please use the Source to check your students’ attendance record. You can see all absences and lates that your student accrues during the year. We encourage you to check in with your student periodically and review their attendance record together!

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.
4. Open the email and click the link.
5. Enter your email address in the Username field and create a Password.
• Please do not use an apostrophe ‘ in your password.
6. 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

A huge thank you to everyone who donated school supplies this year!

If your student still needs school supplies, clothing support or other help such as getting a sports physical or glasses to see in class, please email Ms. Davenport esdavenport@seattleschools.org, call 206-252-5098 or tell your student to come by Portable 9 at lunch.

Here is the Amazon Wishlist for the Community Cupboard that opens once a month for families to come get everyday household items, helping to alleviate some financial burden. This program has been extremely helpful to many families so your support means a lot: Eckstein Community Cupboard