East Hills Connection #1
August 19, 2024
EHMS Connections Newsletter #4
September 16, 2024
Dear East Hills Family,
Another great week!
This newsletter is FULL of information to keep our families and students in the loop of information. Please take a moment to scroll through to see if there is anything that interests you!
This is our way of helping those parents, who hear the answer, "Nothing" when asking about what's happening at school!
Thank you for helping us connect!
CLICK HERE! WE NEED YOUR VOICE AND FEEDBACK!!!
CALENDAR NOTES:
9/20: School Dance @ 3:00 pm
9/26: Half Day 11:30 Dismissal (Teacher In-Service)
10/3: School Closed (Rosh Hashanah)
10/7-10/11: BASD Education Week
10/10: Picture Day
10/17: Half Day 11:30 Dismissal (Teacher In-Service)
10/17: Walk-a-thon
10/18: School Dance @ 3:00 pm
10/29: MP 1 Ends
10/30 MP 2 Starts
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with your Family
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with your Family
If you are wondering how our community celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and what activities you can do with your family, here is your go-to list of events offered by BASD and organizations in Bethlehem:
September 19: Hispanic Heritage Celebration
September 19 through March: Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University
EHMS honors the fallen from 9/11
Band plays
The band played the national anthem and the administrators spoke to honor those impacted on September 11th over the intercom throughout the school.
DANCE!!! SEPTEMBER 20th (3:05pm-5:05pm)
Dance Dismissal and Parent Pick up Directions
Students will be dismissed at 5:05.
Students riding the late bus will walk across the parking lot by the gym and enter the Transportation lot to board the correct late bus.
All other students at the dance will be dismissed through the 6th grade entrance.
Students who are walking and riding bikes can proceed to Chester Road.
Parent pick up can occur on Chester Road or in the East Hills Parking lot.
Parents can park and wait in either location.
Parents and students, please be sure to communicate where you will meet for pick up.
All parents are asked to drive slowly and carefully in and out of East Hills and Chester Road while you are coming and leaving East Hills.
BRAUN BRAGS
Owen Faccinetto
This week we celebrate an amazing CHARGER soccer player! A teacher nominated Owen Facinetto, a 7th grader, who made a U15 BTAA soccer team this year! He is one of the youngest player at 11 years of age to qualify to play at that level.
A fun fact is that he is the team's goalkeeper and takes lessons with none other than former Liberty extraordinaire, Tony Silva. Owen loves to watch international play, and Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo are his two favorite players. This summer we traveled to Baltimore to see FC Barcelona play AC Milan.
This young man has some SKILLS! And we also know that hard work, practice and perseverance played a huge role in this accomplishment.
This section is to celebrate a student that we'd like to acknowledge for something fantastic. Please feel free to send in such accolades with a picture of your child.
Email me!
Email me the details of an amazing accomplishment of an East Hills Charger with a picture of the student you would like to nominate!
This week's ADMIN ADMIRATION!
Mrs. Christy Davies
Every week the administrators celebrate a teacher or staff member. There are so many amazing things happening here and always an outstanding staff member behind those efforts!
Mrs. Christy Davies- Instrumental
Mrs. Davies has been the pillar and remarkable veteran teacher responsible of our instrumental strength, growth and performance perfection here at East Hills! The marching bands, the concerts, the smiles going in and out of lessons are priceless! In addition to arriving here before 6:30am every single day preparing for early morning practice, she is always looking to make things better for the students and staff. She creates amazing relationships with her instrumental students, and she helps with so many other things around the school. Our staff can count on her whenever they ask for something! She has an enrichment group that stretches their brains in her Charger Block course and you can always see/hear her connecting to students about what they are doing inside and outside of the school.
Check out our marching band at some upcoming parades- you will know why we have the best instrumental teacher in the world!
Family Connections
Create Your Ultimate Personalized Study Space
Welcome back, families! As you get ready for school at home, here are some tips to set up a space to study. First, talk with your family to agree upon a place where you can work, and next, choose a spot where you feel most comfortable.
Find a quiet spot with minimal noise. If you don't have a dedicated room, even a quiet corner or a nook in your bedroom can work.
Get Comfy! Use a flat surface clear of clutter, like a sturdy desk or table. Remove clutter. Make space for your chromebook. Find a comfy chair that supports your back. (Level-Up: Search online images for "study spaces for kids" or "study nooks for kids" with your family to find images of a place you want to create for yourself. )
Good lighting is key! Natural light is ideal. Use a lamp to reduce eye strain.
Organize Supplies. Keep essential supplies, like pencils, highlighters, notebooks within easy reach. Use a portable organizer if it needs to get tucked away after studying, or a dedicated drawer.
Minimize Distractions: Keep your study area free from toys, apps, and phones; this includes closing distracting websites on your Chromebook.
Personalize your Space. Add a few personal touches to make your space inviting. Your favorite fluffy pillow, a plant, or photos can add the right touch.
Create a Routine. If you set a regular study schedule and use your space consistently, your brain will create a habit that associates this space with focused work, and you'll get a lot done! Plus your family will know that this is your space to be focused and do your best.
Lastly, BRING SNACKS! Healthy choices are best. They will help feed your brain. Pass on the Takis, and try crunchy veggies and dip, or easy to prep fruits like bananas or apples.
Check out this WFMZ NEWS Lifestyle Video: Help Your Child Thrive: Back to School Homework Tips
Join the Parent Association! We need you!
Join EHMS Parent Association!
East Hills Parents and Guardians,
Be in the know this school year by signing up for the EHMS Parent Association emails! Click the link to provide your name and email address.
This is an opt-in only list, so you MUST register your email to get the info from the Parent Association.
Sign Up Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_6FOsHtCB7M4phyyOkHwJBFEHZ2pxOwEmICxlp5XdWEXhEA/viewform
HOW ABOUT SOME CHARGER ATHLETIC GEAR???
Check out the link provided by our athletic director, Mr. Cramsey, to order some fantastic Charger spirit wear!!
We need STUDENT LEADERS!!
Join the Student Lighthouse Team for the 2024-2025 School Year
Are you interested in helping to make a difference in the school and the surrounding community? If so, consider joining the East Hills Student Lighthouse Team. To express your interest in joining, please complete the Application posted on Schoology in your Citizenship course. Or go to the following link to apply: https://forms.gle/nw3zL5N3UWqBzuYn8. Applications are due by Wednesday 9/18 at 9am. See Miss Matyus in room 302 or Mr. Leinbach in room 148 with any questions.
Snow Riders Club Flyer
Do you like Skiing or Snowboarding? Or, have interest in learning how to ski or snowboard? If so, consider joining the Snow Rider Club. Members will travel to Blue Mountain Resort after school on the Friday's in January and the first Friday in February. Please stop by Miss Matyus' room, which is room 302, or Mr. Leinbach's room, room 148, to get an information sheet.
AUDITIONS AND INTERVIEWS FOR CINDERELLA!
Check out our Athletic Teams
YEARBOOK INFORMATION
Attendance Hints! We want our students here EVERYDAY!
Please note-when students are absent, a note can come in with your child the following day.
Donations Needed for the Charger Care Closet
The Charger Care Closet is seeking donations of the following items: girls deodorant, boys deodorant, chapstick, toothpaste, face wash, and conditioner. Please make sure the items that are being donated are new and not used. Items can be dropped off in the main office. The Charger Care Closet greatly appreciates any donations that it receives!
Mrs. Constanzo shares some great ways to be healthy this school year!
Synergy is LIVE! Connect with PARENTVUE!
Dear Parents/Guardians,
You received your Synergy ParentVUE Activation Key letter by USPS mail.
If you need your Synergy ParentVUE Activation Key please email awest@basdschools.org. This needs to be set up before 10/31.
PARENTVUE
Synergy ParentVUE gives parents/guardians access to your child’s schedules, grades, attendance, discipline, etc. You can see records for all of your children with this single log-in by clicking each child’s name. You can access ParentVUE through your computer’s browser or mobile devices.
Steps for activating your Synergy ParentVUE account are below. Please use a browser to complete these steps.
1. Using your computer's Internet browser, go to https://PA-BET-PSV.edupoint.com.
2. Click on "I am a Parent."
3. Click on the Activate Account button to create your account.
4. Accept the privacy statement
5. Enter your first and last name exactly as shown at the bottom of this letter, along with the activation key.
6. You'll be prompted to choose a username and password, provide an email address, and complete your account set-up. Please securely record your password where you can find it for future use. You will be returned to the login screen.
AFTER you’ve activated your account, you can then download the appropriate free mobile app:
iPhones: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/parentvue/id412054615
Androids: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.FreeLance.ParentVUE
Schoology Parent Accounts
In addition to Synergy ParentVUE accounts, parents whose children are in middle school or high school should also have a Schoology Parent account. Synergy is the District's student information system. Schoology is the district's learning management system. Synergy and Schoology are both used to support your child's learning.
For parents who already had a Schoology account, there is no change and no further action is needed. If there is a East Hills student missing on your current Schoology account, please email awest@basdschools and request that student to be added.
For parents who do not already have a Schoology account and your child is in Grades 6-12, you should've received an email invite yesterday, Tuesday, September 10, 2024, to create a Schoology account.
For parents who do not have a Schoology username and password and didn't receive an email invitation, the district does not have an email address on file for you and/or your ParentVUE account has not been activated. Please activate your ParentVUE account. If you need to provide an email to the system email that information to rlford@basdschools.org. Once that is complete, a Schoology account invitation will be sent to you at a later date.
CELL PHONES!!
New for 2024-25
Summer is coming to a close and often we neglect to realize many of the changes the students will need to become accustomed to when school starts. Waking up early, preparing to catch the bus or travel to school, schoolwork, homework, and the list goes on.
One major area to consider is that your children will not have the same access to their cell phones when they become students again.
Parents, please prepare your child(ren) for the adjustment. Most parents have limitations they set for their children throughout the summer days to limit screen time. However, all of the students and you as parents need to know that we are adjusting our standards for the upcoming school year. We looked back on the level of distraction vs. usefulness cell phones have provided over the past few years and we realize the need to set a tone for the school day to be largely void of the distractions of cell phones. Here is what you should prepare your child(ren) for when they return to school:
Students may not CARRY phones in hands, pockets, etc. Cell phones must not be out at all. They must remain in bags during the school day. This means:
Students can never use cell phones in class, hallway or office without teacher/staff permission.
Students can never carry cell phones in hand in the hallway.
Students can never take cellphones to/in the lavatory.
Students can never take cell phones to the cafeteria (not in purses/lunch bags if those items are brought to the cafe).
***Smart watches have similar restricted use in all the same ways as cell phones. Smart watches can and will be collected if used inappropriately.