Principal Peoples' Notes

Dear Eastwood Middle School Families,

I want to take a moment to thank all of the parents who promptly notified the school about the concerning social media post. Your quick actions allowed us to respond rapidly and coordinate with the Tuscaloosa Police Department (TPD). I also extend our gratitude to the TPD for their immediate and thorough response to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

Please be assured that the safety of our students, staff, and families is our highest priority. In light of recent events, we will have additional law enforcement on campus on Monday to provide an extra layer of security and reassurance to our school community.

We also want to remind everyone of our "See Something, Say Something" policy. If you or your child see or hear anything that feels concerning or unsafe, please do not hesitate to report it to a trusted adult or school staff member immediately. Your vigilance and communication are key to keeping our school safe.

Thank you for your cooperation and for reinforcing our shared commitment to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment.

Evelyn Peoples,

Principal

Homecoming week for EMS is vastly approaching. Below is information pertaining to t-shirts, dress up days, and homecoming courts guidelines. If you have any questions pertaining to homecoming please reach out to Dr. Griffin at charrisgriffin@tusc.k12.al.us or Ms. Powell at bnpowell@tusc.k12.al.us

We are incredibly proud of our Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) team attending their very first meeting in Birmingham! A huge thank you to Ms. Robinson and Dr. Griffin for supporting and guiding our students at this exciting event.

A special shout out to our amazing students Addison Hill, Olivia Ball, and Jaxon Larkin for representing us exceptionally well, showing professionalism, and exemplifying our core values of unity, integrity, and excellence. With over 100 schools from Alabama and Mississippi participating today, our students are standing out and demonstrating remarkable leadership skills.

During the opening session, students were asked to write down what leadership means to them, and they used the information discussed in our character education lessons to craft thoughtful and meaningful responses. Of course, our students knew exactly what to say!

We couldn’t be prouder of how you’ve represented our school. Here are just a few pictures of our incredible day!

Way to go, team! Keep shining!

We are thrilled to announce the outstanding students selected to represent our school in this year's Future City STEM competition! These talented young innovators have demonstrated incredible creativity, problem-solving skills, and a passion for science, technology, engineering, and math.

We are excited to see the amazing city of the future they will create and the innovative solutions they will present. Your hard work and dedication have already made us proud!

Let’s cheer them on as they prepare to compete and bring their visions to life!

We are excited to announce that our 2024 yearbooks are officially on sale, and for a limited time, they're at their lowest price yet! Special Offer: If you order by October 25th, you can receive 4 FREE icons (a $20 value) when you choose to personalize. Don't miss out on this great deal! Order now to capture the memories of this school year at an unbeatable price. Visit bit.ly/emsYB25 to order!

A special election will take place on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, asking Tuscaloosa residents to consider an increase in ad valorem rates to support the Tuscaloosa City Schools. In order to vote in that election, you must be a registered voter and have lived in the city of Tuscaloosa at least 30 days.

If you are not a registered voter but would like to participate in the referendum vote, you must register to vote by Sept. 10. You can confirm your voter registration status, register to vote or search for your specific polling location on Alabama’s election website. Absentee voting is also currently open.

For more information on polling locations and absentee voting, click HERE.

The upcoming referendum on Sept. 24 will determine the future funding for the Tuscaloosa City Schools for years to come. While the Tuscaloosa City Schools cannot tell you how to vote, we can tell you to GO VOTE and be part of the decision making process in what it means for the future of TCS.

In recent years, the Tuscaloosa City Schools have seen incredible progress, and offer a variety of programs to ensure each and every student is able to achieve. In order to continue our academic progress, continue current programs, and offer the best education possible for our students, additional funding is required.

TCS has put programs and personnel in place that are make a real and tangible difference in the outcomes of our students. Those programs are at risk, however. On Tuesday, September 24, the Tuscaloosa community will vote on a proposed increase to the ad valorem rate. If approved, it would mean guaranteed pre-K for all, the expansion of art and music to year-round in elementary schools, plus driver's ed in high schools, investment in school safety, competitive compensation for teachers and more. If the referendum fails, it means TCS will have to make difficult budget cuts that will impact every school, and pull back programs that are making a difference.

For more information, visit www.tuscaloosacityschools.com/referendum.

To find your polling location, go to: Voting Information - Tuscaloosa City School District (tuscaloosacityschools.com)

We want to hear from you! Please take a moment to complete this survey to help us better understand the needs of our students and families, the topics you’d like us to discuss, and the activities you feel would be most beneficial. Your feedback is essential in shaping our programs.

Thank you to all the grandparents who attended Grandparents Day! We had a wonderful time celebrating with you. Please visit our Facebook page to see all the pictures from the event!

Below is a reminder for parents and for students about the TCS Dress Code, which is found in the TCS Student Code of Conduct:

The primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and parents or guardians. The following rules concerning dress and grooming are mandatory for all students attending Tuscaloosa City Schools. Students who fail to follow these rules will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in Code of Conduct 1.13, “Non-conformity to Dress Code.”

Section 1: Students "Must" Wear:

• Shirts: Must be opaque fabric. Must cover midriff and not be low cut in front or back.
• Bottoms: Pants, sweatpants, joggers, shorts, skirt, dress, leggings. Must be opaque fabric. Dresses and skirts must be fingertip length. Shorts, including athletic shorts, are allowed, but may not be less than a 3” inseam. Genitals and buttocks must be covered at all times.
• Shoes: Activity-specific shoes are permitted (for example for sports or TCTA classes.) Shoes that are secured to the foot and do not easily fall off are highly encouraged for safety reasons.

Section 2: Students "May" Wear:

• Hoodie sweatshirts, although hood cannot be worn over head.
• Fitted pants, including leggings, yoga pants and “skinny jeans” are allowed as long as it meets requirements in section 1.
• Ripped jeans, as long as underwear is not exposed, and rips are not above fingertip length.
• Tank tops, as long as underwear or midriff is not exposed.
• Athletic attire, as long as it meets requirements in Sections 1 and 3.
• Clothing with commercial or athletic logos provided they do not violate Section 3 below.

Section 3: Students May NOT Wear:

• Garments that reflect violent language or images.
• Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity) or the use of same.
• Hate speech, profanity, pornography.
• Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class.
• Clothing where underwear is exposed. Undershirts/camisoles cannot be worn alone as shirts.
• Spaghetti straps, or strapless tops, unless otherwise covered.
• Bathing suits.
• Hats or head coverings except as a religious observance or as allowed on special days or for certain athletic or class requirements.
• Pajamas, except when allowed on special days.
• House slippers or shoes intended for indoors only.
• Sunglasses (indoors.)
• Metal-spikes on shoes or metal-toed shoes, except for when needed for a class such as at TCTA.

The Tuscaloosa City Schools cellphone policy remains unchanged for the 2024-2025 school year. However, it's important for both students and parents know what that means. Cellphones are allowed in secondary schools, but should NOT be used in classrooms. Earbuds and headphones are also not allowed during the school day.

For middle school students, cellphones cannot be used at any time during school hours. They must be turned off and out of sight.

Research has shown that cellphones cause a major distraction and that students perform better academically when they do not use their cellphones in school. While we do not currently have a policy banning cellphones, it is important that students follow current TCS policy.

We invite you to join our school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). The PTA is more than just a group; it’s a community of dedicated parents, teachers, and staff who work together to make our school a better place for all students.

You may have noticed that students have not come home with a paper version of the TCS Code of Conduct and Resource guide yet this school year. That is because we are going "paperless."

A PDF copy of the 2024-25 Parent/Student Code of Conduct is available for download through the following link: TCS Code of Conduct. If you prefer to still have a paper version, they will soon be available upon request from your child's school office.

Teachers will be using the Remind app to enhance communication between home and school. Remind is a safe, simple way for teachers to send quick updates, reminders, and important information directly to your phone or email. This will help ensure that you stay informed and connected to your child's education.

1. How to Join:

   1. Join via Text Message:
      Simply text the class code provided by your child's teacher to 81010. You’ll receive a welcome text from Remind and be added to the class group. No app download is necessary, and you can start receiving updates immediately.

   2. Join via the Remind App:

      • Download the Remind app from your app store or visit www.remind.com.
      • Create a free account using your email address or phone number.
      • Enter the class code provided by your child's teacher to join the appropriate class group.

You can choose to receive messages via text, email, or through the Remind app, based on your preference. We encourage all parents to join as it will be the primary tool for communication this school year.

📚🏫 Exciting News! 🎉 EMS is launching the 21st Century After-School Program starting on the first day of school!🌟 Join us for engaging activities, homework help, and fun learning experiences! 🤩 Don't miss out on this opportunity to boost your child's skills and creativity after class! Register now and let's make afternoons unforgettable! Once the school receives the application and a spot is available for your student, Ms. Drake or Dr. Morton will notify you of the following mandatory orientation meetings. Click here to register:

• September 24: Tax Referendum Voting Day