Good afternoon,

We hope to see everyone at this year's Pantherfest this afternoon. Please refer to more specifics regarding the event in yesterday's Parentsquare. We look forward to sharing highlights in next week's Panther Post.

Have a great weekend!

Christina & Emily

Fri. Sept 20th - Pantherfest at 3:00 - more information to be shared

Mon. Sept 23rd - Board of Education Meeting, Town Hall at 6:30

Wed. Oct 2nd - 8th Grade Informational Parent Night (more information shared within this post)

Fri. Oct 25th - Picture Retake Day!

Our Panther Ambassador students led by our advisors Mrs. Mercaldi and Mrs. Vasquez planned activities for Start with Hello Week that started on Monday September 16th. The program seeks to combat social isolation by encouraging students and individuals to reach out and connect with others through simple, yet powerful, actions such as saying hello, starting conversations, and including those who may feel left out. This week-long event empowers young people to take meaningful steps towards creating a more welcoming and connected environment. Below are highlights from the week!

Each homeroom worked throughout the week on creating a Start with Hello poster for classroom doors. Winners will be announced next week!

This week, we held a special celebration to honor students who completed their summer reading and/or math. To mark the occasion, the students enjoyed a refreshing treat of lemonade and a selection of delicious cookies. As an added incentive, those who completed both summer reading and math were rewarded with a free donut coupon from Dunkin'. It was a fun and festive event, recognizing the hard work and dedication of our students.

Our Good Morning EHMS News Crew set us up for a positive Pantherfest morning!

Below are students who have received Positive Office Referrals for their behaviors that have exemplified our PBIS pillars of Respect, Responsibility, Compassion and Pride. Students were able to choose a reward from our menu of options like eating outside with friends! Great job!

6th Graders

Olivia Gianinoto, Arianna Slavin, Lillian Jewart

7th Graders

Zackary Lavender, Kayla Engelhardt, Lucas Werme, Noah Salamone, Mia Ricciardelli,

8th Graders

Robert Rapple, Eric Leue, Jimmy Marino, Riley McMahon

We are working to finalize our club advisors and the days that clubs will meet. Communication will be shared either in Parentsquare or our Panther Posts to provide families with details on clubs and the process for students to sign up. We encourage all our students to try an activity out and would love for everyone to be part of something here at East Hampton Middle School.

More to come!

EHMS Drama Club will be presenting the musical Monty Python’s Spamalot in March. If your student is interested in being involved with the show, have them join our google classroom (code m3qimce). Google classroom will be the best way for your student to keep up to date with the musical.

If your child is interested in being onstage, they will audition in December (dates TBA). If they are only interested in being backstage, please have your student let Mrs. Werme or Mrs. LaBrec know. Those interested in backstage will not need to audition.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Werme or Mrs. LaBrec, our advisors for Drama Club.

Sept 23 - Sept 27 (subject to change)

MONDAY, SEPT 23

East Hampton soccer (white uniforms) at RHAM MS, 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 bus, 3:30 pm game.

Note: Boys soccer at Veterans Park

Note: Girls soccer at RHAM MS

Cross Country practice 2:35 until 4 pm

TUESDAY, SEPT 24

East Hampton b/g cross country at McGee MS (Berlin), 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 bus.

Site: Pistol Creek

Note: Girls run first

Boys Soccer practice 2:35 until 4:30 pm

Girls Soccer practice 2:35 until 4:30 pm

Note: At dismissal, both soccer teams should go directly down to the locker rooms.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT 25

East Hampton soccer (white uniforms) at Beman MS (Middletown), 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 bus...games 3:45 pm

Note: Boys soccer at Ed Collins Football Field

Note: Girls soccer at Long Hill Road

Cross Country practice 2:35 until 4 pm

THURSDAY, SEPT 26

RHAM cross country at EHMS-2:30 pm dismissal.

Note: Girls run first

Note: Team picture before race!

Griswold MS (Rocky Hill) soccer at East Hampton, 3:30 games

Note: Girls soccer at East Hampton High School-2:25 pm dismissal for shuttle to HS. Will ride with Bus 8.

Note: Boys Soccer at East Hampton Middle School

Note: White uniforms!

FRIDAY, SEPT 27

No Cross Country practice

No Boys Soccer practice

No Girls Soccer practice

We hope you will join us in the below district fundraiser. Our EarlyAct members will be selling bags during lunch waves next week! More information will be shared through Parentsquare. Community members can donate and create a luminaria for $5 or make a donation of any amount at.

Per the East Hampton Board of Education’s Attendance Policy and Connecticut statute, parents and guardians may only approve the first 9 absences of the school year with a parent note. Absences 10 and above can only be excused with further documentation and under specific circumstances.

In addition, if a student has four unexcused absences in one month or 10 unexcused absences in a year they are classified as truant. If a child misses 18 or more days in a school year – excused or unexcused absences – the student is classified as chronically absent.

A phone call is appreciated, but only an email to our attendance inbox or written note can officially excuse absence 1 through 9. Below is our attendance email:

Note: Between the school name and the word Attendance is a underscore ( _ )

EHMS_Attendance@easthamptonct.org

If a student has four unexcused absences in one month or 10 unexcused absences in a year they are classified as truant. If a child misses 18 or more days in a school year – excused or unexcused absences – the student is classified as chronically absent.

The East Hampton Board of Education and the school community as a whole promote a secure and productive school climate, conducive to teaching and learning that is free from threat, harassment, any type of bullying behavior, and teen dating violence. Therefore it shall be the policy of the Board that bullying and/or teen dating violence committed against a student by another student is prohibited. The Board believes that a school environment in which students feel safe, supported, engaged and helpfully challenged is optimal for learning and healthy development. The Board seeks an environment in which students and adults feel socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically safe; an environment that is free of harassment, intimidation, teen dating violence and bullying. Our website provides links to various policies and reporting forms including our Safe School Climate Plan. Hard copies are also available in our main office. If at any point you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to building administration for further assistance.

School Meals are a great value to our students! Prepayment is expected for all cafeteria purchases. Families eligible for free and reduced meals may qualify by completing an application online on Easthampton.familyportal.cloud or by paper application here: Application for Free and Reduced School Meals(also available in the school’s Main Office). Families with children enrolled in HUSKY or Temporary Family Assistance programs will have their status transmitted directly by the State of Connecticut to the District.

To deposit funds on your child’s account, please visit Easthampton.familyportal.cloud . Our Cafeterias also accept checks made payable to “East Hampton Cafeteria Fund”.

In September, students can enjoy fresh apples from Beckett Farms of South Glastonbury and carrots from Cold Spring Farm of Colchester. Keep an eye out for upcoming celebrations! If you have questions, please contact Director of Nutrition Services, Kate Caselli at kcaselli@easthamptonct.org or 860.316.7324.

Happy New Year! Did you resolve to be more on top of your and your child’s health this year? Here’s an easy solution: Sign your child up for School-Based Health Care. Your child’s school works with Community Health Center, Inc.’s School-Based Health Care program to provide health services to your child during the school day. This means they won’t miss as much class and you don’t need to miss work to support their health care needs. Learn more about the services offered at your child’s school and enroll today at SBHC1.com!

The attached bulletins below were developed through a collaborative effort among the Department of Children and Families, the Department Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Office of Child Advocate, the Department of Public Health, the State Department of Education, and the Governor's Office. The content includes information on suicide, helpful tips to support people of all ages, and where to go for additional support and resources.

Board of Education Statement on School Safety: The East Hampton Board of Education is committed to a safe and secure learning environment that honors and celebrates the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation. The Board of Education in partnership with the school community will not tolerate any threat of violence in the schools or any hate speech that targets any race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Each student is held to the highest standards of responsible decision making within a culture that is expected to foster compassion, caring, and empathy.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement of the East Hampton Public Schools: The school community of East Hampton is committed to the mission of honoring and celebrating the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation. We strive to guide our students to conscious, deliberate, individual and collective actions that cultivate the respect of all races, religions, and social backgrounds. Our school community endeavors to produce graduates who are equipped with a greater understanding of the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Nondiscrimination Statement of the East Hampton Public Schools: The East Hampton Board of Education, in compliance with federal and state law, affirms its policy of equal educational opportunity for all students and equal employment opportunity for all persons. It is the policy of the District to promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment regardless of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability (including but not limited to, intellectual disability, past or present history of mental disorder, physical disability, or learning disability), genetic information, marital status, or age or because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, marital status, or age of any persons with whom the individual associates. The District shall provide to all students without discrimination, course offerings, counseling, assistance, employment, athletics, and extracurricular activities. The District shall provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The District shall make reasonable accommodations for identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities, consistent with federal and state statutes and regulations.

Email: camaral@easthamptonct.org
Website: https://www.easthamptonps.org/o/ehms
Location: 19 Childs Road, East Hampton, CT, USA
Phone: (860) 365 4060