Eckstein Weekly News

February

• Feb 12: PTSA Parent Education Event: Parenting in the Digital Age (6:30-8pm)
• Feb 12: PTSA Board Meeting (6-6:20pm)
• Feb 12-16: Spirit Week
• Feb 13-14: Footloose Musical Auditions after school (callbacks on 2/15)
• Feb 15: Biker Donut Day (8-8:45am-Bike Cage)
• Feb 16: PM Pep Assembly (See Bell Schedule Below)
• Feb 19: Presidents Day (No School)
• Feb 19-23: Mid-Winter Break (No School)

March

• Mar 1: Women's History Month Assembly featuring Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, NASA Astronaut (9am Auditorium-AM Assembly Bell Schedule)
• Mar 8: 6th & 7th grade Dance-Neon Theme. Tickets will be on sale through SchoolPay in February (7:00-8:30pm Eckstein Cafeteria & Gym) Dance contract required!
• Mar 21: Student-Led Conferences (No School at Eckstein, come at scheduled conference time)
• Mar 22: Winter Sports Pep Parade during Homeroom-wear Eagle colors!

AM Assembly Schedule:

Period 1: 8:55 AM – 10:40 AM (Assembly: 9:00 AM- 9:45 AM)

Period 2: 10:45 AM - 11:35 AM

Period 4: 11:40 AM – 1:00 PM

1st LUNCH: 11:35 AM - 12:05 PM (Class 12:10 PM – 1:00 PM)

2nd LUNCH: 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM (Class 11:40 AM – 12:30 PM)

Period 3: 1:05 PM - 1:55 PM

Period 5: 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM

Period 6: 2:55 PM - 3:45 PM

PM Assembly Schedule:

Period 1: 8:55 AM - 9:45 AM

Period 2: 9:50 AM - 10:40 AM

Period 3: 10:45 AM - 11:35 AM

Period 4: 12:10 PM - 1:05 PM

1st LUNCH: 11:35 AM - 12:05 PM (Class: 12:10 PM – 1:05 PM)

2nd LUNCH: 12:35 PM - 1:05 PM (Class: 11:40 AM – 12:35 PM)

Period 5: 1:10 PM - 2:00 PM

Period 6: 2:05 PM - 2:55 PM

Assembly: 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM

There are a handful of extra yearbooks for sale. The waitlist yearbooks are first come, first serve and once they are all sold, we will not have any more available. The Schoolpay link is active February 12-March 4 and if supply allows again May 31- June 21. Waitlist yearbooks are $35. You can use this link to purchase a yearbook off the waitlist.

If you cannot pay online, please reach out to Andrea Drachler, Fiscal, at aldrachler@seattleschools.org and she will help you purchase a yearbook during those time windows via cash or check delivered to the Eckstein Main Office.

Auditions are coming up for Eckstein's Spring Musical "Footloose"!

February 13th from 3:55pm - 5:30pm in the Auditorium

February 14th from 2:45pm - 5:30pm in the Little Theatre

Callbacks for a few specific roles will be held on February 15th from 3:55pm - 6:00pm.

Full information and Audition forms are available in the office, and you can email ecksteinmusical@gmail.com with any questions.

There is love in the air

and sometimes rain

we bike to school anyway

so we can gain

friendship and donuts--a wheely good time

Join us Thursday the 15th

for another kind

of Biker donut day

filled with love

ride on Eagles

soar above.

8-8:45 am Bike Cage

The next Eckstein dance is for 6th & 7th grade on Friday, March 8th from 7:00pm-8:30pm! We’re looking for volunteers for chaperoning purposes and for bake sale items. It’s a really fun night and we organize it well. Leadership students will be there to help run as well! Please sign up to help out if you can!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B48A8A623A13-47809223-eckstein

The Eckstein students moving to the state level are:

Enzo, Visual Arts

Eliza, Visual Arts

Sylvie, Dance Choreography

Lauren, Film Production

Marina, Literature

Greta, Literature

Six other Eckstein students won honorable mentions in their categories. Those students are:

Henry, Visual Arts

Abby, Literature

Adeline, Literature

Macy, Literature

Alexa, Literature

Cora, Dance Choreography

Congratulations to Senior Jazz for 1st place in Preliminaries & 3rd place in Finals at the Clark College Jazz Festival! Special shoutout for Soloist Awards to Emily, Ellie, Oren and Margot!

Congratulations to Senior & Intermediate Jazz for receiving Top 3 Ensembles & Top 2 Jazz Combos at Bellevue College Jazz Festival! Special shoutout for Soloist Awards to Ellie, Oren and Margot!

Spring sports are on the horizon. Seattle Public Schools and Eckstein offer three sport options: Co-ed Track, Girls Volleyball and Boys Soccer. Track is a no-cut sport whereas soccer and volleyball are cut sports. As with the Fall and Winter sports there will only be two teams, a JV and Varsity. We will continue to have robust teams in order to develop our younger athletes.

Please use FinalForms for all athletic paperwork. WE WILL NOT COLLECT PAPER DOCUMENTS. Most important is having an updated athletic physical. Physicals last two years but if you turned it in last year, please notify athletic coordinator Derek Grandbois as soon as possible. All paperwork needs to be submitted by 4pm on March 13th for the first day of spring sports March 14th. Physical and registration forms are found here.

Track:

The Track team will hit the oval soon after mid-winter break, but your coaches are preparing now. The head track coach, Frank Field will hold a pre-season meeting on Tuesday, February 13, in the auditorium during homeroom. Frank can be contacted at frfield@seattleschools.org

Last year’s team finished third at the city meet and has a great shot at finishing higher this season. Get those physicals and registration forms in early! We’ll need parental help too (we have 140 runners and three coaches!), so NOW is the time to fill out the volunteer forms (including fingerprinting). It takes a couple of weeks after submitting to get authorized, so don’t delay.

All abilities are welcome! Track is a no-cut sport. And you CAN participate in track even if you’re doing a non-SPS sport such as baseball. So tell your student to come to the meeting to learn more about how to participate, and please consider volunteering!

Boys Soccer:

“It’s almost time for the beginning of the Eckstein Boys’ Soccer season! We’ll be holding tryouts the second week of March right after school from 4:00-5:30 on our field, and so if you haven’t already done so, now is the time to get the required paperwork in to FinalForms. Contact Mr. Grandbois if you need support (late paperwork, in most cases, will not be accepted). This season will be different from those in the past, as we will only have two teams, the varsity and one JV, which, unfortunately, means that there will be cuts. We look forward to seeing you in March – Go Eagles!”

Girls Volleyball:

We will be holding coaching interviews soon. We are still looking for more coaches, if you are interested or know someone who is please reach out to Mr. Grandbois, djgrandbois@seattleschools.org. Tryouts and practice times will be communicated as soon as a coach is hired. 6th-8th grade girls are eligible to tryout. There will only be two teams, so cuts will occur.

From our District Office Partners:

As part of the SPS adoption process, a field test of the identified 6-8 ELA instructional materials finalists will take place Feb. 1 – March 6. The purpose is to test out the three resources selected for advancement and to gather feedback about teachers’ and students’ experiences.

The three finalists are Inquiry By Design, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Literature, and McGraw Hill Study Sync.

Learn more about the adoption and the finalists.

The focus of this field test will be an argument unit.

Find the participating buildings and corresponding curriculums.

During the field test, the ELA department will be gathering data aligned to the adoption criteria, observing classrooms by invitation only, and learning about each program. On March 6, field test teachers will take part in a panel discussion identifying the pros and cons of the tested curriculums so that the adoption committee can make a more informed final selection.

All stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the three finalists. The feedback window will be open Feb. 1 through March 1.

Link for families and teachers so you can make your opinions known.

Contact: Kathleen Vasquez kavasquez@seattleschools.org

SPS continues to encourage all students with COVID-19 symptoms be tested for COVID-19. Currently, we are not conducting tests at school, but home COVID-19 test kits are available for free in the health room for students to take home. If your student tests positive for COVID-19, they must follow the following:

• Isolate at home for 5 days. Day 1 of isolation begins on either the first day of symptom onset or, if student is asymptomatic, the first day they test positive for COVID-19.
• Be fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications (ie Tylenol, ibuprofen).
• Symptoms must be improving.
• Wear a mask at school and school-sponsored activities, including sports, for days 6-10.

For more information on symptoms and SPS’ COVID policies, please see this decision tree.

It’s respiratory illness season and Eckstein is seeing its share of students out ill. Illnesses like influenza (flu), COVID-19, RSV and many others are spread when a person coughs, sneezes, talks, or laughs. The best way to prevent the spread of infectious respiratory illness is to:

• Stay home when ill
• Wash hands often with soap and water
• Cover coughs and sneezes. SPS continues to encourage masking at school, especially after travel or break
• Avoid close contact with sick individuals
• Practice healthy habits
• Get vaccinated for preventable diseases

For information on COVID-19 symptoms, testing, and isolating, please follow this flowchart.

Check out the Is My Child too Sick to go to School guide for more information.

The Eckstein PTSA is only 24 memberships away from reaching their goal for this school year! Please considering joining/renewing TODAY to support our students and staff, create connections, and advocate for our community needs! Memberships last for one school year, so if you have been a member in the past, you will need to renew your membership for this school year. Membership is $20 per adult and $15 per student or staff. (Scholarships available.)

Ways to join or renew: complete the paper membership form (request in the main office), scan the QR code or complete the form on-line at tinyurl.com/ecksteinptsa. Questions? Please contact: membership@ecksteineaglesptsa.org

Culinary Services takes menu decisions seriously and aligns them with state and federal guidelines. Our goals include providing healthy and nutritional options, offering attractive choices to reduce waste, and addressing various medical, cultural, and regional needs, tastes, and sensitivities.

We understand that dietary preferences and restrictions vary among students. We encourage families to identify students with special diets by filling out the meal accommodation form.

This information helps our kitchen managers prepare food for those with allergies, ensuring a safe and accommodating dining experience.

Your collaboration is vital in creating an inclusive and diverse food environment that meets the needs of our student population.

We recognize the importance of cultural and dietary considerations in menu planning. If you have specific concerns or suggestions related to the menu, we would be more than happy to discuss them further. Please contact William Park: wtpark@seattleschools.org.

Dear Eckstein Families,

During homerooms this past month, your student has begun preparing for Student-Led Conferences at Eckstein that will take place March 21, 2024. Eckstein has applied for a waiver day/no school day to allow time to host these conferences. Eckstein is committed to 100% participation from students and families to make this happen. Please tell us if your family may need support by contacting your grade level Administrator.

Student- Led Conferences are an opportunity for students to share their goals and progress. Parents/guardians will listen actively, ask questions, and comment on student work. Your student will be collecting artifacts of their work over the next months, setting goals for learning, and reflecting on progress. This will all culminate with your coming to school for a presentation by your student. Please note- this is not a Parent/Teacher conference you may be used to attending in elementary school. Student-Led is just that. The student decides what progress looks like to them and what goals and progress they are excited to share with you.

Closer to the conference date of March 21st, your student’s homeroom teacher will reach out to you to set up a specific time. For now, please put this date on your calendar! Each conference is allotted 20-30 minutes and will take place in their classroom, with multiple conferences being held at the same time. The homeroom teacher is the host, but the student runs the conference. Families will be presented with what your student has been learning and hear about progress on responsible scholar goals.

This video will illustrate what you can expect!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_WBSInDc2E

We look forward to seeing you at Eckstein March 21st, 2024!

Hey Eckstein families,

Thanks so much to those that have already contributed from our Wishlist! If you are still looking for ways to support our community, use the link below to purchase items from the Eckstein Wish List.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1AORCGX3J1MBW?leftNavSection=Reorder&ref_=abls_lnv_rl

To send them straight to the school select Erika Davenport (our social worker currently out on maternity leave) in the address section, and the items will be sent to the social work office.

Biggest needs right now include:

Sweatshirts

Sweatpants

Detergent

Dish soap

Cleaning spray

Thanks for making our community stronger and better equipped!

Save your stuff and save the date!

Saturday, April 20, 2024, 9 am-3 pm
Eckstein Middle School Cafeteria
3003 NE 75th Street, Seattle
Web: sites.google.com/view/ecksteinbandfamilies

We need your donations to make this event a success! Please set aside your gently used clothing, household items, books, music, furniture, sporting goods, and more. See the Donation List for details.

Donations will be accepted on Friday, April 19, 1:30-6:30 pm, in the Eckstein Cafeteria.

Come for bargains, baked goods, and music from our own Eckstein jazz combos. Proceeds go to our public school music program directed by the legendary Moc Escobedo. Funds support student scholarships and instrument repair and replacement. Our goal is to make music accessible to all.

Thank you for supporting Eckstein music!

Gratefully,
The Eckstein Band Families
ecksteinbandfamilies@gmail.com

The SPS Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction (CAI) team has developed an introduction to the 2024-25 high school course registration. The purpose for this document is to help rising 9th-12th graders and their families understand the basics about the course registration process and to promote consistency in our communications about high school across the district.

The English version of this introduction has been posted on our webpage. On this same page, we will soon have translated versions of this document in the district’s top five languages: Spanish, Amharic, Somali, Chinese (Simplified), and Vietnamese.

Please make sure your staff members leading the course registration process for your school include these documents in their communications to students and families. We have also shared this expectation with your registrars.

For more information, please email Caleb Perkins: cbperkins@seattleschools.org

Parent drop off and pick up of students is on NE 75th Street, right in front of the school. Please pull forward as far as you can to accommodate more vehicles. Drivers are asked not to exit their vehicles during drop off or pick up to maximize safety for students and smooth operations. Also please be sure not to block the bike lane.

Please do not drop off students or park in the staff lot located on the north end of 30th Ave NE. This is a small lot exclusively for staff. We also ask that you not drop off students on the west side of 30th as it blocks traffic. If you would like to drop off your student on 30th you may drop them in the back lot closer to the athletic field.

Our accessible drop-off location is behind the school, just to the left of the loading dock, through the double doors. To access, please turn right into the alley on the far east end of school, off of NE 75th street. Once you enter the gate, turn right. The loading dock will be straight in front of you. Upon entering the school through the double doors, turn right to find the front hall.

Students taking yellow school bus transportation will be dropped off curbside next to the staff parking lot on 30th. They will also catch the bus in the same place in the afternoon.

A covered bike cage is available for students biking to school. For more information about safe routes to school contact Jessica Levine jclevine@seattleschools.org and michelesolis100@comcast.net.

Please give attendance at least 30 minutes notice before picking up your student early from school to avoid a delay. You can contact Attendance these ways:

• Email Attendance in the morning about the early dismissal: ecksteinms.attendance@seattleschools.org
• Call Attendance at least 30 minutes before the dismissal at: 206.252.5014
• Send a note to school with your student to give to Attendance.

Thank you for helping us ensure your students leave school at the time you need them.

The Center School's Open House for Prospective Students and Families on Thursday, February 15th from 5:30-7:30pm. Interested students and parents should RSVP using the link here: https://forms.office.com/r/AzHG5qUrp5

Nathan Hale High School will have its School Info Night for Prospective Families on Tuesday, February 13th from 6:00-8:00pm.