Hornet Nation News

The following newsletter contains much of the same information we shared with you in the last newsletter. However, it does have some updates, so please take a moment to read through its entirety!

ATTENTION: Mark your calendars for important dates in August!

• August 1 - Our Office Officially Opened! (8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)

• August 5th - Welcome Day

• This day gives students an opportunity to get excited about the year. Students can get organized, walk their schedule, practice their locker combination, ask questions they may have about junior high, and get familiar with the school.

• Seventh Grade orientation is from 8:00 to 10:00.

• Eighth Grade & Ninth Grade orientation is from 10:00 to 12:00.

• Students do NOT have to come to our Welcome Day. All resources for purchasing ASB cards, Hornet gear, and yearbooks can be done online. Click the link to access SchoolCash Online.

• If you come to our Welcome Back Day and want to make purchases for an ASB card, a yearbook, PE clothes, or Hornet Wear, we will ONLY be able to take cash or check. Electronic payments must be made online. You can use the QR code attached or we will have it posted at our Welcome Back session.

• Signing up to play any junior high sport is done through AKTIVATE. (Click this link to learn how to sign your child up for sports.)

• Students will have access to their schedules via Infinite Campus on Aug 5th. We will provide a printed copy for students who would like to come to school on that day.

• August 14 - First Day of School (12:00 p.m. release)

• August 15 - Back To School Night

• Hours - 5:30 - 7:30

• August 28 - School Picture Day

We are excited to inform you that Boise School District offers SchoolCash Online as our preferred method of payment for all school fees, including everything from field trips to yearbooks.

• Pay for your child's school activities, items, or fees anytime, anywhere via the secure online payment platform. Manage all students in your household from one location.
• Stop sending money to school with your child.
• Get automatic email notifications about upcoming school fees and activities.
• Help increase efficiency and security at the schools.
  
  

Registering for a SchoolCash Online account is free and easy.

Visit https://boiseschools.schoolcashonline.com/ and click Register to get started. Should you encounter any difficulties, please contact the SchoolCash Online parent help desk by visiting schoolcashonline.com/Home/Support.

Note: Transaction and/or credit card fees may apply to certain purchases.

Looking to be a leader? Want to foster connections at East? Our Ambassador Program is the perfect way to do both! Click the link to find out more information: Student Ambassador Program

Your child does NOT need a cell phone at school. Students who bring a phone to school will be required to store it in their locker throughout the day. While we believe storing phones in lockers all day is best for student well being and learning, they can use them is before school, during break and during lunch when needed. All tech needs can be met in the classroom through the use of chromebooks and ipads. If you are concerned about getting in touch with your child, please know that families can always contact our front office. Every classroom has a phone and we have office aides here to help run messages to students. Our office number is 208-854-4730.

*Phones are NOT allowed in locker rooms or bathrooms.

Cell Phone Informational Resources:

• Book - The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• Link - Supplements for Each Chapter
• Webpage - "The Case for Phone - Free Schools" by Jonathan Haidt

Last school year, students were required to use their lockers. We will continue having students use them this school year as well! Here are some things to consider as you prepare for the upcoming school year:

1. Students will not be allowed to use any type of bag, including Lulu Lemon and cinch bags. Please make a plan with your child on what materials they will need to stay organized since they will be utilizing their lockers throughout the day. Binders are a great option.
2. Encourage your child to make a plan for moving from class to class with their materials. Most students found success when they planned for what materials they needed for each class and worked in the best time to stop at their lockers. They do not need to go to their locker between every class. Students have a break at 9:23 and lunch (at 11:30 or 12:17) to coordinate a stop at their lockers.

PTO is a wonderful organization that support East students and staff. They need your help! They are in need of a chairperson for the Poinsettia Committee. It is a huge fundraiser for our school and is completely organized and set up for someone to jump in and run with it! They are also looking for a co-chairperson for running concessions. Please email Dr. Z at gale.zickefoose@boiseschools.org or Mrs. Brooks at annetta.brooks@boiseschools.org for more information.

The PTO board will have a table at our Welcome Back Day if you would like additional information.

August

12th & 13th - 8th Volleyball Tryouts 3:00-4:30

12th - Cheer Tryouts 6pm - 7pm, Football Weigh-ins @ 12:00 pm (Practice to follow until 3:00p.m.)

13th - 9th Volleyball Tryouts 1:00-2:30, Football Practice 3:00-4:30

14th - 9th Volleyball Tryouts 1:00-2:30, Football Practice 1:00-2:30

15th - Cheer Practice 3-5 (Parent meeting afterwards)

19th - Cross Country Practice Begins! 2:45-4:00

20th - Softball Practice Starts @ Timberline Softball Field

Durham has a BusZone app for parents to see the location of their student's bus. The app is the source of Durham's late bus notifications.

Please click the links for information about our bus routing software and an online parent user guide.

• BusZone App

• Bus Rules and Procedures Pamphlet

In case you didn't get information about Hope Squad, a new program we are starting this fall, we wanted to give you a brief summary of it. All of our secondary schools in the Boise school district are implementing it. It is an evidence-based, peer-to-peer youth suicide prevention program, dedicated to spreading hope and creating a school culture that promotes connectedness and inclusivity. Hope Squad is made up of students who are peer selected for their kindness, approachability, and trustworthiness. The program is dedicated to preventing suicide through public awareness and education, reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, and serving as a resource to those affected by suicide.

Trusted adults within your student's school community have been trained as Hope Squad advisors to administer the most up-to-date mental health resources and training. Hope Squads will meet during one of their class periods to learn, discuss, and collaborate on ways to promote mental wellness in the school in the effort of suicide prevention.

It is important to note that Hope Squads are not expected to take on the responsibilities of a school

counselor or other mental health professionals. Instead, members learn the skills needed to spot signs of suicide, intervene, and refer their peers to both local and national mental health resources. Research shows that young people who might be struggling with their mental health or contemplating suicide are more willing to talk to a peer than a teacher or a coach. (Intro video)

Please discuss the benefits of your school’s Hope Squad with your student, so they are aware of this wonderful mental wellness resource.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact your child's counselor or refer to the Hope Squad website.

Free Breakfast!! --- Starting this year, all students will be eligible to receive breakfast for free. Students will have this meal at break. They will need to scan their ID/ASB card for the meal.

Student MealsStudent Meals? Sign up for MySchoolBucks

MySchoolBucks is a safe, secure online payment system that can be used to fund student meal accounts with a debit or credit card. You can make one-time payments, set up autopay and low balance alerts, or monitor transactions.

For more information about student meals, including our FREE breakfast for all students initiative, please visit our Food & Nutrition Services website.

Note: MySchoolBucks charges a fee for each transaction for online payments.

Getting into the parking lot to drop students off and pick them up is always hectic! We are encouraging families to "drive to five." This means families drop students off, with other kids, at a spot that is five minutes away from school. Some locations that can be considered are:

• The Coffee Mill
• The corner of Warm Springs and S. Shakespeare Way

There are sidewalks and crosswalks accessible to East students so that they can walk safely to school. Help limit congestion at East AND encourage your children to be independent!

The general school supply list linked includes supplies that students typically need. They are not required the first day of school, but students will need to have a writing instrument the first day of school. If you prefer, you may wait until the first week of school to receive a list of supplies from individual teachers.

Email: annetta.brooks@boiseschools.org
Website: east.boiseschools.org
Location: 5600 East Warm Springs Avenue, Boise, ID, USA
Phone: 208-854-4730