Dear Panther Parents and Guardians,

Happy Sunday! I hope this message finds you well.

No School on Monday

A quick reminder that there will be no school on Monday. We encourage everyone to take this time to relax and enjoy a long weekend.

Thank You for a Great Week of MAP Testing!

We want to thank our amazing students for their hard work and dedication during MAP testing this week. Their efforts have shown tremendous growth, and we couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments. Way to go, Panthers!

Health and Wellness Reminder

As a friendly reminder, if your child is feeling unwell, please keep them home. Students must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before returning to school. This helps ensure the health and safety of our entire school community.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in making this a successful school year.

Warm regards,

Jacqulyn E. Bridge

Principal

District leaders will continue to monitor weather conditions throughout the long weekend. You can expect an update from the district on Sunday and throughout the day Monday. (Reminder, Monday is a staff and student holiday, we are monitoring Tuesday’s weather.)

Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our highest priority when considering weather-related delays or closures. Currently, Killeen ISD schools will be open as normal on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

If a decision about a delay or closure is needed, we will notify families and staff as early as possible through our official district channels – email/text/phone call, website, mobile app, district social media and local media outlets.

#SaveTheDate: Parents and guardians of current KISD students can register for the 2025-2026 school year through Home Access Center beginning February 3, 2025 . (Reminder: Annual transfers must be renewed at the time of registration.)

Please join me in congratulating Ms. Holt on being named our Teacher of the Month! Her dedication, creativity, and unwavering commitment to her students make her a true inspiration. We are so grateful for the positive impact she brings to our school each day.

Thank you, Ms. Holt, for all that you do—you are truly deserving of this recognition!

Did You Know?

Returning the Impact Aid form helps Killeen ISD secure funding for our students’ education! These funds make a difference in classrooms across our district.

If you have not already do so, please complete the form sent home with your student and return it ASAP. Let’s work together to build a brighter future for our kids!

This month's character trait at EHMS is Respect. Each month, we will focus on a different trait to help build a positive and supportive school culture.

What is Respect?

Respect is the willingness and ability to act professionally and thoughtfully with ourselves and others. Leaders can deal respectfully with opposition and provide space for both dignity and differences to coexist.

Why focus on Respect?

• Respect contributes to a positive culture. People feel safe, supported, and engaged in the context of thoughtful social, emotional, civic, and intellectual interactions.
• Respect decreases conflict. Respect helps us, and others, to be able to express ourselves without fear of being judged, humiliated, or discriminated against.
• Respect encourages empathy. Respect helps us to understand each other and put ourselves in someone else shoes.

Respect in Action:

• Teach students words have power. How we talk to others and ourselves can motivate or discourage, connect or destroy, hurt or heal. We should choose our words with care.
• Create opportunities for group decision-making. Open dialogue engages students in a process where compromise is crucial to making decisions.
• Vary protocols for classroom sharing. Frequently use open-ended questions, partner sharing, and small group activities to connect and promote understanding between students.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This is a reminder that student IDs were issued prior to the holiday break. Starting January 7th, all students must wear their IDs visibly above the waist during school hours.

Please ensure your child has their ID ready for the first day back. Your support in reinforcing this policy helps us maintain a safe and organized environment for all.

Thank you for your cooperation.

• January 22nd - CCR Pretest

Students are expected to keep their phones turned off and stored in their pouch.Please note that any violations will result in appropriate consequences as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. Lost or damaged pouches cost $25.50 to be replaced. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a focused and productive learning environment.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Dear Panther Parents and Guardians,

We encourage all of our panthers to take advantage of i-Ready and IXL for additional practice at home! These programs are designed to help strengthen skills in both reading and math. By spending extra time on these platforms, students can reinforce what they are learning in the classroom and make even more progress.

Here are some key benefits of using i-Ready and IXL at home:

• Personalized learning that meets your specific needs.
• Extra practice to build confidence and improve understanding.
• The ability to work at your own pace, outside of school hours.

Students can easily log in to both programs through Clever by using their student account.

Go Panthers!

Dear Panther Parents and Guardians,

We want to remind you of the purpose and expectations for students attending the Panther Learning Academy. This program is designed to provide students with additional support in a focused learning environment, supplementing teacher-led tutoring sessions.

Expectations for Students Attending Panther Learning Academy

• Active Participation: Students are expected to engage in academic work while attending the Panther Learning Academy.
• Respectful Behavior: Students must respect their peers, staff, and the learning environment. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.

Consequences for Rule Violations

Any student who fails to meet these expectations or disrupts the learning environment will face disciplinary action, which could include being removed from the Panther Learning Academy.

Please note that students removed from the Academy for disciplinary reasons can still attend their assigned teacher’s tutoring sessions on designated days.

Program Purpose

The Panther Learning Academy is a supplement to teacher tutoring and offers additional opportunities for students to receive academic assistance. However, teacher tutoring remains an essential component of student success, and students are encouraged to continue attending these sessions as assigned.

We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a productive and respectful environment for all students.

Thank you

Congratulations to our 7th Grade Boys B Team Basketball!

We are so proud of you for taking home the Bronze Championship in an incredible game! Your hard work, determination, and teamwork have paid off, and you’ve shown everyone what it means to play with heart and pride.

Way to represent Eastern Hills Middle School and make us all proud!

• January 25th – Region Choir Auditions All Day Belton HS
• February 8th- Region Clinic and Concert All Day Midway PAC
• March 7th- 6th Grade Festival 6:30 PM Killeen HS
• March 11th- Pre-UIL 6:30 PM Killeen HS
• March 27th- UIL Evaluation Time TBD Shoemaker
• March 28th-UIL Evaluation Time TBD Shoemaker
• April 26th- Solo and Ensemble all Day Nolan MS
• May 12th- Spring Concert 7:30 PM Killeen HS

• KHS Cluster Pre-UIL - February 11th (KHS)
• KISD Pre-UIL - February 19-20 (CHS)
• UIL C&SR - March 4-6 (CHS)
• Solo & Ensemble - April 26th (LHMS)
• All Star Band - May 2-3 (EHS)
• Spring Concert - May 8th (KHS)

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We’ve noticed that many students remain outside on campus after school dismissal until 5 PM or 6 PM. With the weather changing, we encourage you to consider enrolling your Panther in the Boys & Girls Club.

This program offers:

• Snacks
• Engaging activities
• Tutoring support
• Supervision until 6 PM

Please note that students are not permitted to remain inside the building after hours while waiting for a ride.

To sign your Panther up, please use the following link: https://mts.bgctx.org/onlinemembership.aspx

Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all students.

Dear Parents,

As we continue to foster a positive and focused learning environment, we kindly ask for your support in ensuring that all students adhere to our dress code policy. Starting this Monday, if a student is not in compliance with the dress code, we will ask them to call home for a change of clothes or provide them with appropriate attire at school.

To help your child be prepared, please make sure they avoid the following items:

• Tights or leggings worn as pants
• Crop tops
• Jeans with holes higher than 6 inches above the knee
• Shorts or skirts higher than 6 inches above the knee
• Sagging pants

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us achieve this.

Thank you for your continued support

Eastern Hills Middle School is a community of integrity and learning. Where teachers and administrators mentor and inspire students and each other, to embrace a growth mindset. Where students are challenged to act with humility and resilience as they develop skills that will prepare them to be lifelong learners and productive members of society. Where every individual feels safe and contributes to our culture of pride, competitiveness and belonging.

Email: jacqulyn.bridge@killeenisd.org