#EagleNation Updates

• March 24: Architect Meeting#2 @3:30

• March 27: Cultural Heritage Night

• March 28: End of Q3

• March 31: No School (Teacher Grading Day)

• April 14- April 21: Spring Break

EMS School Calendar 24-25

MCPS School Calendar 24-25

MCPS 2025-2026 School Calendar

Please join us for Cultural Heritage Night on Thursday, March 27th from 6-8 and enjoy food, displays and performances showcasing Eastern's diversity. The deadline to sign up for performances and tables is extended to Friday March 21st. Sign up through the QR code in the attached flyer or at lunch!

Please remind your student about the importance of coming to school every day and on time. We have seen and increase in the number of students arriving to school late. Friday we had about 30 students who arrived after 8:21 AM and have observed similar patterns on other days. Please partner with us in teaching our students good habits!

As we move into spring testing season, keep an eye on the working condition of your students’ chromebooks. If students’ devices are in disrepair, remind them to get a pass from their advisory teacher to bring their Chromebook to the Library Media Center during advisory time. There is an approximately two week wait to receive a replacement device. Let’s do everything we can to have testing go smoothly.

Please attend our next community engagement meeting, Monday March 24th at 3pm. The architects explained that the Feasibility Study analyzes the pros and cons of three different approaches to the construction at Eastern: 1) Replacement; 2) Revitalization; and 3) Modernization. Some of the issues raised included:

• safety concerns surrounding drop off/ pick up;

• safety and security of the fields;

• lack of adequate educational spaces;

• heating and air conditioning;

• need for interdisciplinary spaces;

• upgrading outdoor spaces such as the courtyard;

• creating better collaboration spaces for students;

• upgrading the counseling spaces.

*See Slides from the previous meeting here!

17 STUDENTS FROM EASTERN MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE WINNERS IN C-SPAN’S 2025 STUDENTCAM DOCUMENTARY CONTEST

Read Press Release

Congratulations to Mr. Jeremy Zhang, a seventh grader at Eastern Middle School, who was elected as the Second Vice President to represent the middle schools across the state . He currently serves as the Montgomery County Junior Council Treasurer. With Eagle Pride!

Honors Geo students celebrated Pi Day, since we're in our volume unit, with many pies! Students and families volunteered to bring pie; two periods had leftovers which were shared with teachers and staff throughout the school at the request of the students. They also competed in the most digits of Pi memorized, won by Larissa Deng at 97 digits, and the most digits of pi said in one breath, won by Sasha Debord at over 125 digits.

Eight Eastern Eagles competed today in the State competition of MATHCOUNTS (the national middle school math competition), four as a qualifying team (Ellen Cheng (7th grade), Jonathan Cole (7th grade), Michael Deng (7th grade), and Malinda Zhu (8th grade)), and four as qualifying individuals (Ethan Chen (7th grade), Elena Kim (6th grade), Nora Ma (6th grade), and Clara Yun (7th grade)). There were 238 participants today, out of over 850 students who competed in the regional rounds across Maryland. CONGRATULATIONS!

Eastern eagles represented at the MSP Annual Conference this year hosted at Watkins Mill High Schools. Middle school and high school students from across the county came together for this inspiring event which included student-led sessions and an awesome display of student talent at the talent show!

When you invite your students individually to participate in the 8th annual “Girl Power Contest," they are more likely to participate.This is a great opportunity for students to express themselves, develop their creative skills, and be part of important conversations regarding representation and empowerment. This contest runs from March 1 to March 31! Students can submit short stories, poems, drawings, or any other creative work that reflects their vision by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 31. For more information follow this link.

On Thursday, May 29th from 8:00am-10:15am Eastern will host Career Day. Come tell our students about your career and what skills, experiences, and education they will need to get there. Sign up to speak to our students using the QR code on the flyer or the link below!

Flyer

Link version of sign up

Girls on the Run Registration is open now and will continue until March 20th, with the program starting on March 9th.

https://www.girlsontherunofmoco.org/6th-8th-grade-program-details

The Regional History Bee and Bowl on March 23 is at Centennial High School in Ellicott City. Please reach out to Mr. Heifetz for more information and find the permission form for students here.

The Away All Day phone collection was implemented for the entire week last week except the half day. On average we confiscated 10 phones or PMDs (Personal Mobile Devices) throughout the learning day, where students had devices out during the day. *On the half day we only confiscated a total of four devices that were out during the learning day.

As a reminder, phones and PMDs must be Away All Day. Please remind your student that the headphones and earbuds are considered PMDs and are not allowable during the school day. Students who have formal reasons that are documented were issued passes in alignment with their official plans. Thank you for your support and here is a reminder of the policy and consequences here.

Emails and phone numbers for support in the school:

• Main Office: (240) 740-6280
• Admin Secretary: Ms. Perez: priscilla_b_smith@mcpsmd.org
• Attendance Secretary: Ms. Blanco: isaura_m_blanco-flores@mcpsmd.org
• Front Office Secretary: Ms. Black alicia_m_black@mcpsmd.org
• Financial Assistant: Ms. Zhang: rui_zhang@mcpsmd.org

Counselors: (COUNSELING WEBSITE- RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH)

GRADE 6

• (Last Names A-Q): Ms. Meyer Jessica_A_Meyer@mcpsmd.org
  
• (Last Names S-Z): Ms. Birkett shondell_birkett@mcpsmd.org

GRADE 7

• (Last Names A-R): Ms. Greene- rachel_m_greene@mcpsmd.org
• (Last Names S-Z): Ms. Birkett- shondell_birkett@mcpsmd.org

GRADE 8

• Ms. Cwerner cayla_cwerner@mcpsmd.org

Administrators:

• Principal - Ms. Shorts: lisa_n_shorts@mcpsmd.org
• 6th Grade Assistant Principal- Deidre Levin: deirdre_m_mcshealevin@mcpsmd.org
• 7th Assistant Principal- Katherine Estes: katherine_e_estes@mcpsmd.org
• 8th Grade Assistant Principal- Charles Feamster: charles_s_feamster@mcpsmd.org

Family Supports:

• Parent Community Coordinator - Mirna Medrano-romero: mirna_a_medrano-romero@mcpsmd.org
• PTA President- Shripal Shah: eastern.ptsa.president@gmail.com

• Online Bullying Reporting
• Formulario para Reportar Acoso, Hostigamiento o Intimidación
  

Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/easternms

Location: Eastern Middle School, University Boulevard East, Silver Spring, MD, USA
Phone: (240) 740-6280
X : @EasternMS_Prin