Good afternoon,

We hope all our Panthers had a great week! Just a reminder that due to teacher Professional Development, there will be no school for students on Friday February 16th. Following that will be February recess with no school February 19 - 20. We will resume again on Wednesday February 21st.

We also wanted to share our appreciation for our counseling staff and school psychologist as we celebrated National School Counseling Week. We are grateful for the work our team does each day for our students and families. A big thank you to Mr. Mannes, Mrs. Mercaldi and Mrs. Vasquez!

Have a great weekend,

Christina & Emily

Mon. Feb 12th - Board of Education Meeting; Town Hall at 6:30

Tues. Feb 13th & Wed. Feb 14th - 8th Grade visit to EHHS (more information within the post and Parentsquare)

Wed. Feb 14th - Valentine's Day!

Wed. Feb 14th - EHMS PTO Meeting 5:30 in library

Fri. Feb 16th - Tues. Feb 20th - No School- Winter Recess

Thurs. Feb 22nd - Student Focus Group EH Prevention Town Hall 5:00 - 6:30

Parents are asked to join our schools and speak to children about marijuana edibles. While legal for purchase by adults in CT, please note that the psychoactive ingredient, THC, is still considered a controlled substance in school.

We have had recent incidents at our schools in which students are consuming THC edibles - with and without knowing what they contain.

The school district treats consumption and distribution of a controlled substance very seriously.

• Students who ingest or bring gummies to school will face consequences up to and including 10-days of suspension.
• Those who distribute gummies on school grounds will face consequences up to and including expulsion from school.

Brooke Clavet, the East Hampton Prevention Coordinator, came to EHMS lunch waves to talk about a new club opportunity that will take place every other Wednesday starting on February 7th. Please see the pdf below with more information regarding details to the club. If you are interested in your child participating, please complete the following google form.

Team newsletters are linked below! Enjoy our latest editions from our teams including Unified Arts!

EAST HAMPTON MS ATHLETICS SCHEDULE FEB 12 - FEB 16 (SUJECT TO CHANGE)

MONDAY, FEB 12

Pay to Participate fee is due!

Girls volleyball 2:35 until 4:30 pm

Boys study hall 2:35 until 4 pm

Boys volleyball 4:15 until 5:30 pm

TUESDAY, FEB 13

East Hampton girls (teams: Pacesetters/Producers) at Cromwell MS, 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 bus.

Cromwell boys at EHMS

WEDNESDAY, FEB 14

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

Griswold girls at EHMS (teams: Panthers/Pride)

Team picture girls volleyball Wednesday, Feb 14th

THURSDAY, FEB 15

Girls volleyball 2:35 until 4:30 pm

Boys study hall 2:35 until 4 pm

Boys volleyball 4:15 until 5:30 pm

FRIDAY, FEB 16

No School

Throughout the month of February, there will be multiple opportunities for your child to learn about East Hampton High School and receive support in scheduling. On Monday February 12th members of the EHHS Counseling Team will introduce themselves to our 8th graders and provide a brief overview of the scheduling process and courses available. Students will be given presentations by their counselor they will have come 9th grade.

Next, our 8th graders will be visiting the high school on February 13th & 14th (permission slips were sent out through Parentsquare) where they will get a tour of the building, learn about the classes and electives available for them and be introduced to graduation requirements.

February 13th - Permission Slip Link on Parentsquare

February 14th - Permission Slip Link on Parentsquare

During the week of February 21st, students will be assisted with selecting classes on PowerSchool with the support of our 8th grade teachers and guidance counselors. Information will continued to be shared through Parentsquare.

6th grade students have been researching their topics and are preparing TED talks to present their ideas and findings. Student topics range from outer space and climate change to Titanic and extreme weather!

The MathCounts competition is next Saturday, February 17th at Uconn. Students here were working hard after school on a practice test. Good luck to our students competing!

Students in 7th grade math are working on Operations with Integers. Students here are working collaboratively on a card sort.

The ELA Department celebrated World Read Aloud Day by dedicating part of class time to read aloud to students. World Read Aloud Day is celebrated around the world to promote the love and joy of reading. Here at EHMS, we have several reading initiatives happening to promote reading: Book Bling, Quarterly Reading Races, and the Nutmeg Game Show.

8th grade students celebrated the end of their Literary Nonfiction unit with a virtual author visit from author Steve Sheinkin. Mr. Sheinkin walked students through his writing and researching process and shared what inspires him. Mr. Sheinkin’s books are available for check out within classroom libraries and the LMC!

The PBIS Kids Committee will be selling Valentine's Day rubber bracelets to fundraise for future PBIS events.

Cost: $1.00
When: Monday, 2/12 will be the last day to buy a bracelet
Where: during lunch waves in the Commons

Students may purchase bracelets for themselves or for someone special. Purchased bracelets will be distributed in homerooms on Wednesday, February 14.

Below are some 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!

Our students celebrated this week are:

Nethum Nakandala, Shannon Mahoney, Connor Guarino, Hadley Galovich, Patrick Adams

Our students attended their third session of Ski Club. Students had a wonderful evening snowboarding and skiing. Thank you to our parent volunteers, Mrs. Terribile and Mrs. Mercaldi for their help yesterday!

Looking for a way to give back? Want to help make the world a better place? Then please join the EarlyAct Club at any of our upcoming events and opportunities to spread compassion! ALL are welcome and no previous club experience is required. Check out our rolling monthly agenda to see where you can help us to make a difference!

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.

The PTO is busy planning upcoming events at EHMS. Please join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, February 14th at 5:30pm in the EHMS library. We will discuss:

- Munson’s Chocolates fundraiser

- School play bake/snack sale

- Restaurant events

- Panther Prowl planning (the largest fundraiser for our school)!

Come to listen and learn about the PTO or share ideas for future events and fundraisers. We’d love to meet you!

Chess is back up and running in the library! Students are able to sign up to play chess during lunch in the library with Ms. Fielding!

School breakfast is a great way for students to start their school day and its FREE to everyone!

Please review your student(s)’s available balance for any lunch purchases at our secure “e-Funds for Schools” portal: https://payments.efundsforschools.com/v3/districts/56523 Funds should be added on an as needed basis to ensure the account balance covers all purchases.

Communications to families about your meal account come directly from the payment portal. Please be alert to these emails and remove from your “junk” status the following addresses:

easthampton@mealmagic.cloud

easthampton@Familyportal.cloud

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.

Access to the East Hampton attendance policy is available HERE

If your child is having any Chromebook or technology issues please click on the link below to do some troubleshooting: EHMS TroubleShooting Tips

If the troubleshooting doesn't work click on the link below to submit an IT work ticket:

Chromebook Trouble Ticket

Please encourage your child to take pride and care in their device. Below is a video to review the proper care of Chromebooks with your child.

East Hampton High School Tri-M is delighted to announce the availability of crewnecks and t-shirts for purchase in support of our Tri-M Music Honor Society and Music Department. The shirts are perfect for Bellringers in the music department, or music supporters. Act quickly, as orders will close this Sunday, February 11th. Whether through purchasing merchandise, or making a direct donation, your support truly makes a difference for the students within the music department in East Hampton.

Crewneck: https://www.customink.com/fundraising/2024-tri-m-crewneck-fundraiser-0815

T-shirt: https://www.customink.com/fundraising/2024-tri-m-shirt-fundraiser-7872

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!

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