EHMS Panther Newsletter
Weekly news from the Principal - Jacqulyn Bridge
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE OF THE WEEK
Dear Panther Parents and Guardians,
We are just five weeks away from the STAAR assessments, and our students are working hard to prepare! To provide extra support, we will be hosting our second STAAR Boot Camp on Saturday, March 8th, from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. This session will focus on key skills and strategies to ensure students feel confident and ready for the test.
Your support at home is essential—encourage your child to stay focused, complete their assignments, and take advantage of every learning opportunity. Together, we can help them succeed!
Thank you for your partnership, and we look forward to seeing our Panthers shine!
With Panther Pride,
Jacqulyn E. Bridge
Principal
Current Student Registration Ending Soon
Current Student Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now open online through the Home Access Center. The deadline to complete all forms is March 14, 2025. After this date, you will need to complete the New Student Registration process.
Important Reminders:
- Proof of Residency must be attached before submitting the forms.
- If your student is eligible for transportation next year, you must request it now during registration. Specific routing details will be provided as we approach the start of the school year in August.
- Once submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email.
How to Complete Registration:
- Log in to Home Access Center.
- Click the "Registration" icon in the menu.
- Select the "Update Enrollment" tab.
- Click the "Start" link next to the Current Student Registration form.
- Verify your student’s Date of Birth to proceed.
Need Assistance? Each campus will have a registration kiosk available for parents who need access or help with online registration.
If your student will not be returning to Killeen ISD in August 2025, please complete a Student Withdrawal Request form at: https://forms.killeenisd.org/Forms/student-withdrawal.
Register today to secure your student’s enrollment!
Character Trait of the Month: Courage
This month's character trait at EHMS is Courage. Each month, we will focus on a different trait to help build a positive and supportive school culture.
What is Courage?
Courage is the ability and strength to face something that may be difficult or challenging. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather perseverance in the presence of fear and the willingness to stand up for what is right or to try something new even though it may be uncomfortable or uncertain.
Why focus on Courage?
- Courage encourages engagement. Courage helps students raise their hand, participate, try new things, and voice their opinions.
- Courage builds self-confidence. Courage is the choice to act. By doing something, students increase their belief in themselves and their ability to do difficult or challenging things.
- Courage can help reframe a negative. When something does not go as planned or a student gets upset about a mistake or failure, courage can help reframe the event in a positive light.
Courage in Action:
- Provide leadership opportunities. Students can learn and demonstrate leadership by teaching and mentoring others, classroom roles and responsibilities, or community outreach.
- Encourage discussion and debate. Foster curiosity and empower students to formulate ideas and engage in respectful discourse and conversations.
- Celebrate failures. Create opportunities to reduce fear of failure and celebrate when students try something new, even if they are not successful the first time.
Announcements
Congratulations to Ms. Martin for being selected as Teacher of the Year! Your dedication, passion, and commitment to student success make a lasting impact every day. EHMS is lucky to have you—well deserved!
Important Arrival Update
All students will enter through Door 15 by the bus loop. Cars are not permitted in the bus loop for student drop-off to ensure safety and a smooth traffic flow.
Upon arrival, students must show their Yondr pouch and school ID to enter the building. If a student forgets their Yondr pouch at home, they will turn in their phone at Door 15 and will be called to pick it up at the end of the day.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and efficient arrival process!
EHMS Administration
Cellphone Policy
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.
Message from the Nurse's Office
EHMS Counselors
Joanne Sheffield
Counselor A - L
Shelby Boles
Counselor M - Z
Ebony Kees
SEL Counselor
Instructional Leadership Team
Robert Burns
Dean of Instruction
Brandi Cummings
Campus Instructional Specialist (CIS)
Lashawnda Franklin
Campus Instructional Coach (CIC)
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!
Tutoring Schedule
Panther Learning Academy Expectations and Reminders
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
UIL
Congratulations to all of our Academic UIL participants and coaches! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence have truly paid off. We are proud of your effort, perseverance, and achievements. A huge thank you to our amazing coaches for guiding and supporting our students every step of the way. Go Panthers!
EHMS Step Team
Upcoming Events
EHMS Athletics
Coach Lonso Logan
Boys Athletics Coordinator
Coach Bailey Owens
Girls Athletics Coordinator
Track
Swimming
Choir
- March 11th- Pre-UIL 6:30 PM Killeen HS
- March 27th- UIL Evaluation Time TBD Shoemaker
- March 28th-UIL Evaluation Time TBD Shoemaker
- April 10th- 6th Grade Choir Festival
- April 26th- Solo and Ensemble all Day Nolan MS
- May 12th- Spring Concert 7:30 PM Killeen HS
Band
- UIL C&SR - March 4-6 (CHS)
- Solo & Ensemble - April 26th (LHMS)
- All Star Band - May 2-3 (EHS)
- Spring Concert - May 8th (KHS)
Orchestra
EHMS Orchestra Events
For ALL orchestra students:
- Monday March 10- 3rd 9-Weeks Concert (5:15 p.m. call time, 6 p.m. performance in the EHMS cafeteria)
- Saturday April 5- Solo and Ensemble contest (individual times at Union Grove MS)
- Tuesday May 13- Awards Concert (5:15 p.m. call time, 6 p.m. performance in the EHMS cafeteria)
For UIL/Advanced group only:
- Thursday Feb. 27- UIL orchestra evaluation (Temple HS during the school day, schedule to be announced)
Boys & Girls Club
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.
EHMS Discipline
Deseree Lancaster
Assistant Principal A - L
Amy Carlson
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
Parent Resources
Mikayla Malone
A Parent's Guide to Addressing Campus Concerns
Who we are...
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
Website: https://schools.killeenisd.org/Page/75
Location: 300 Indian Trail, Harker Heights, TX, USA
Phone: (254) 336-1100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EHMSPanthers
Twitter: @middle_hills
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