Eckstein Weekly News

October

• Oct. 24 - Biker Donut Day (8:15 AM)
• Oct. 25 – Fall Sports Pep Assembly (PM Bell Schedule)
• Oct. 25 - Haunted Library (6:30-8:30 pm)
• Oct. 27 - Vaccine Clinic @ Eckstein
• Oct. 28 - Nov. 1 – Spirit Week (See below)

November

• Nov. 2 - Last Day to Order Evergreens (see below)
• Nov. 3 - Daylight Savings Time Ends (Set clock back one hour)
• Nov. 4 - PTSA Board Meeting (7 pm on Zoom)
• Nov. 6 - Quarter 1 Ends
• Nov. 7 - Quarter 2 Begins
• Nov. 8 - Veterans Day Assembly (AM Bell Schedule)
• Nov. 11 - Veterans Day (NO SCHOOL)
• Nov. 12 - 7th Grade Vision & Hearing Checks
• Nov. 15 - Reflection Entries Due
• Nov. 19 - Fall Choir Concert (7 pm)
• Nov. 21 - Jazz Night (7:30 pm)
• Nov. 28 & 29 - Thanksgiving & Native American Heritage Day (NO SCHOOL)
• Nov. 29 - Dec. 19 - Last Yearbook Ordering Period

Our eighth graders had a wonderful time at Camp Orkila. We couldn't have gone on the fieldtrip without the 45 parents/guardians who chaperoned. A HUGE THANK YOU to those volunteers.

Enjoy beautiful holiday greens while supporting your community. Our young musicians need to raise money for instrument repair and supplies.

· Noble Fir Wreath, $35

· Noble Fir Centerpiece, $25

· Noble Fir Door Swag, $25

How to Order

Click here to order: https://go.dojiggy.io/ecksteinorchestra. The last day to order is Nov. 2nd at midnight.

How to Pick-up

Greens can be picked up at the Eckstein parking lot on Saturday, November 23, 2024, noon-4pm.

If ghosts have no legs than how do they ride
their bikes to school with friends at their side
to the bike cage for donuts and cider and cheer
for Halloween themed activities, celebrations, don’t fear
you’re not a ghost but an eagle—so fly
by bike to school—Give it a try.

Our first biker donut day is Thursday October 24th from 8-8:45 in the bike cage.

Be there for tricks and treats. Be safe around cars and on the streets.

Interested in volunteering with Eckstein Bikes! ? email Katie Morse katelinmorse@gmail.com

The Eckstein Haunted Library is back on Friday, October 25th from 6:30 – 8:30pm at the Eckstein Library, with non-spooky walkthrough for younger siblings 6-6:30pm!

New this year:

1. Required sign-up ahead of time to cut down on lines. Sign-up either as a group 3-6 people or a group of 1-2 people!
2. Non-spooky walkthrough for younger siblings 6:00-6:30!

Details:

• Eckstein students will be creating a haunted library for other students!
• Sign-ups required this year to avoid the long line issue! Sign-up for a time slot with a group of 3-6 people or 1-2 people here.
• 6:00 – 6:30 non-spooky option for younger siblings or those who do not wish to be scared Note: students can only go through the haunted library once so students can EITHER choose the non-spooky option or the regular option. No sign-up needed for non-spooky option!
• Students are only allowed to go through once!
• Students coming WITHOUT an adult are required to have a permission slip. Students can pick up permission slips in the library OR you can download a permission slip here.
• Siblings are welcome if accompanied by their grownup (18+)! No permission slip needed if Eckstein student is accompanied by their grownup.

Volunteers are needed! Sign-up for a spot here.

Got supplies to donate or questions? Email the librarian Erin Sterling at emsterling@seattleschools.org.

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: 11:40 AM – 1:05 PM

1st lunch: 11:35 AM – 12:05 PM (class: 12:10 – 1:05 PM)

2nd lunch: 12:35 PM – 1:05 PM (class: 11:40 – 12:35PM)

Period 5: 1:10 PM – 2:00 PM

Period 6: 2:05 PM – 2:55 PM

Assembly: 3:00 PM- 3:45 PM

At Eckstein - October 27 (9 am-3 pm)

Schedule appointment here: https://schedule.seattlevna.com/service?lang=en

SPS is offering vaccine clinics this fall and throughout the school year. The clinics are open to all SPS staff, families, and students—regardless of their enrolled school.

Please visit the SPS vaccine clinic webpage for more information and to register for a clinic.

Questions? Contact the Health Services team at HealthServices@seattleschools.org.

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to help. We still need more volunteers in the afternoon slot.

7th Grade Vision/Hearing Checks on Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Every year we need to perform vision and hearing tests on all seventh grade students. For vision, we use a scanner that can measure vision in less than a minute. We need volunteers to work the equipment and take notes. Hearing takes a bit longer with standard hearing check equipment. We need volunteers to perform the test and take notes. We hope to have multiple scanners for both hearing and vision.

If you can help, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45AFA829A6FBC61-52019476-7thgrade

If you know that you will be taking your student out of school during the week of November 25, 2024, please have them complete a Pre-Planned Absence form located in the Attendance office prior to the absence in order to excuse it.

Does your student like making things and/or talking about books and want to meet other friends during lunch? Eckstein Library’s Maker Mondays and Books & Bites just started this week and students can join any time!

Maker Mondays is a chance to use the Eckstein Makerspace and make everything from jewelry to cardboard crafts during each lunch in the library on Mondays. Books & Bites is for students to talk about books they’re reading and play games during each lunch in the library on Tuesdays. Students can sign-up on the library Schoology page or by emailing / talking to Ms. Sterling!

Do you have books published in the last few years that your student is no longer reading? The Eckstein Library takes donations!

A few popular titles that already have a lot of holds: One of Us is Lying series, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series, The Summer I Turned Pretty series, Heartstopper, OnePiece, Jujutsu Kaisen; authors Alan Gratz, Jennifer Nielsen, James Ponti, Jeff Kinney, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Raina Telgemeier. A few genres/formats that are super popular: murder mysteries, dystopian, manga, World War 2, graphic novels, teen romance, books with LGBTQIA+ characters. Or you can check the Eckstein Library wishlist here!

Want book suggestions, events at the library, and middle school literacy information? Follow the Eckstein Library on Instagram (@ecksteinlibrary) or Facebook (Eckstein Middle School Library page).

Eckstein Library Eagles Read program is now live!

Every year, Ms. Sterling picks 50 books that represent a variety of genres and interests to encourage students to read. For every Eagles Read book students read, they receive a button of the book and every month 2 students are randomly chosen to win an Italian soda in a color-changing cup. If students read 10 Eagles Read books by the end of each semester, they will be invited to a pizza party. Students can fill out the form if they read one of the Eagles Read on the library Schoology page!

Check out the library website for the list of Eagles Read books! Note: the books that are marked as YA are young adult books, which means that they may have more mature themes or language. Every student and family is different, so students are encouraged to read what they are comfortable with and there is no incentive to read ALL of the Eagles Read. Happy reading!

Deadline for Submissions: Friday, November 15, 2024

Calling all artists, writers, filmmakers, dancers, photographers, composers!

Do you have students who want to express themselves, share their artistic talents and ideas and have a chance to be recognized and celebrated at a local, state and maybe even national level? It’s time for the National PTA Reflections Art Contest.

Students can submit original works of art in the categories of Visual Arts, Literature (fiction and poetry as well as essays), Photography, Film Production, Music Composition and Dance Choreography.

This year’s theme is “Accepting Imperfection”

We had a great group of original artworks last year, but we’d like to see even more submissions this year. If you would like to help encourage student submissions, and/or help select the winners from Eckstein that will move on to the next level, please contact Jen Song at reflections@ecksteineaglesptsa.org

More details and the rules for each category are included below

• 2024-25 Accessible Arts Division Guidelines | en español
• 2024-25 Dance Choreography Category Guidelines | en español
• 2024 25 Film Production Category Guidelines | en español
• 2024-25 Literature Category Guidelines | en español
• 2024-25 Music Composition Category Guidelines | en español
• 2024-25 Photography Category Guidelines | en español
• 2024-25 Visual Arts Category Guidelines | en español
• 2024-25 Student Entry Form (fillable)
• 2024-25 Student Entry Form Packet (fillable) | en español

*The Special Artist division is a category for students with disabilities who receive services under IDEA or ADA: Section 504 to have the opportunity and accommodations they may need in order to participate fully in the program

More than 300,000 students from around the country submit original works of art for this 50-year-old contest. Despite all that competition, Eckstein Middle School has done really well in the past. In the 2021-2022 contest, eighth grade student Lekha Dhaka won first place for Outstanding Interpretation in the firm production category for her film Trash, an animation that explores the impact plastic pollution has on the Earth’s oceans.

Please contact Jen Song at reflections@ecksteineaglesptsa.org with any questions or to learn more.

Parents/Guardians: A reminder that you can use the Source to check your students’ attendance record. You can see all absences and lates that your student has accrued since the first day of school. We encourage you to check in with your student and review their attendance record together!

Contacting Attendance:

• Attendance contact: Katy Ryan
• Phone: 206-252-5014
• Email: ecksteinms.attendance@seattleschools.org

Report an absence: Parent/Guardian must contact attendance office by phone call, email or note with the following information:

• Student name
• Parent/Guardian name and phone number
• Date of absence
• Reason for absence

Vacation: Students must complete and submit a pre-Planned excuse absence form prior to the absence. Forms are available in the attendance office.

Arriving Late to School:

• Parent/Guardian must notify the school of a late arrival with a phone call, email or note
• Students must check into the attendance office when they arrive late to school. They will receive a pass to the classroom

Leaving School Early:

• Parent/Guardian must notify school by phone call, email or note of the early dismissal
• Students will receive an early dismissal slip from the attendance office and must sign out before leaving the building

We now have a Rainbow Society (club) for our students at Eckstein meeting every other week during lunch.

Learn about LGBTQ at Seattle Public Schools - SPS LGBTQ+ Slide Deck

What is Rainbow Society?

A Rainbow Society is a lunchtime group that celebrates, supports, and uplifts LGBTQ+ people and their allies. Many of our students are from families where they, or their parent(s)/guardian(s) or siblings identify as LGBTQ+. Additionally, a growing number of students are feeling safe to self-identify as transgender, nonbinary, or otherwise gender-diverse at school and/or home. Rainbow Society offers safe, affirming spaces that help create a welcoming school environment and build awareness, understanding, and kindness.

Who can attend Rainbow Society?

Any student can attend Rainbow Club. Typically, Rainbow Clubs include LGBTQ+ students, students who belong to LGBTQ+ families, and students who are allies to the LGBTQ+ community – or just interested in participating in the fun activities! Including allies is important because not all students have language to describe their identities, not all students are sure how they identify, and some students may not be ready to be “out” but would still like to attend. Rainbow Clubs help build awareness and understanding among students who are not LGBTQ+. Opening the club to all students helps create a welcoming environment where anyone can learn, participate, and support the community.

25th Annual Seattle Public Schools LGBTQ+ Families Dinner
Thursday, Nov. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Meany Middle School.

This event brings together LGBTQ+ parents/guardians and parents of LGBTQ+ or gender-expansive students in SPS. We offer a communal dinner, a resource fair, time for community and connection, family-friendly entertainment, and fun activities for kids.

Interested families should RSVP. Families can also join our Rainbow Families Mailing List for future updates.

For questions, contact Sam Cristol, LGBTQ+ Program Coordinator at secristol@seattleschools.org.

Please consider volunteering one day a week to support our administrators during lunches. Your duties will include:

• Monitoring the hall outside the cafeteria
• Handing out Library Lunch passes
• Helping administrators on the field and garden
• No "disciplining" is required. If you spot something that needs attention let an administrator know and they will handle it.

You will need to be cleared via an SPS Volunteer Application found here: https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/volunteer/
Please contact Julia Detering at jrdetering@seattleschools.org for more information.

Socks & Hoodies Drive

The Family Partnership Road Crew is starting a socks and hoodie drive for our students that are always in need of some warm, clean clothes. The collection bin will be outside the main office! New youth and adult socks for all genders. Hoodies size youth large-adult 2XL hoodies, new or never used. If you're willing to email out to your organization or put a bin out for donations email or call esdavenport@seattleschools.org 206-252-5098. We appreciate all of your support in making Eckstein an equitable place where all students are welcomed!

Updated Amazon list: Amazon wishlist