Eckstein Weekly News

February

• Feb. 10-14: SPIRIT WEEK
• Feb. 10 & 11: Eckstein Musical Auditions (3:55-5:30 pm)
• Feb. 11: Multicultural Night (6-8 pm)
• Feb. 11: Election Day - Two School Levies on the Ballot
• Feb. 14: Pep Assembly (PM Assembly Schedule)
• Feb. 17-21: Mid-Winter Break - NO SCHOOL
• Feb. 25: Black History Month Assembly (AM Assembly Bell Schedule Below)

March

• Mar. 4: EIM Side-by-Side (7 pm)
• Mar. 6: Concert Band Festival (7:30 pm)
• Mar. 13: Orchestra Concert (7 pm)
• Mar. 20: Jazz Band Festival (7:30 pm)
• Mar. 27: Student Led Conferences (NO SCHOOL FOR EMS STUDENTS ONLY)
• Mar. 29: Band Solo & Ensemble & Orchestra Day

Due to inclement weather and an abundance of caution, MS & K8 Basketball games will be cancelled this weekend (2/8/2025). We did not come to this decision lightly as we presented this matter before our Steering Committee. One of the main factors is that our HS Gyms will not be available to us due to Metro League Make up games which were cancelled earlier this week.

• Your rising 7th or 8th grade student is now able to request electives for next school year! Every student’s parent/guardian has received an email about the process and other important reminders.
• Please have your student access this Form to request electives on their Counselor’s Schoology Page: Ms. Reema Ziadeh for current 6th graders and Mr. Bryan Manzo for current 7th graders. The Counselor’s Schoology page is a Program Support Class and all students have this course on their Schoology course dashboard.
• The Form is Titled: 2025-2026 Eckstein Elective Registration - Rising 7th & 8th graders (Due 2/14/2025)
• Your student must access and authenticate through their SPS account. Please do not email your requests.
• Your student has an option to save a copy of their responses.
• If you have questions, reach out to the Eckstein Registrar, Jessica Tai, jetai@seattleschools.org

This year we're thrilled to be doing AS YOU LIKE IT by Shaina Taub and Laurie Woolery. Yes, it's based on the Shakespeare play, but set in a contemporary modern world with a fantastic story and terrific songs (the cast album is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Bandcamp for those who want a preview of the music!)

We're also happy to introduce this year's Directing Team! Jon and Andi are returning from last year, and we're also welcoming two new talented folks to the team, Karin Terry and CJ Lorentz. We're all working theatre professionals in the Seattle area, and we share a joy in working with helping younger performers reach their potential and learn new skills.

Audition Packets are in the Main Office

Please join us in celebrating the many cultures at Eckstein Middle School! Come and share about your culture and learn about others through food and music.

Tuesday, February 11th, 6-8pm, Eckstein cafeteria. (Enter by the garden)

Please bring a dish to share at this potluck event with a note detailing ingredients. RSVP here. We look forward to seeing you!

Why do schools need levies? State, local, and federal dollars fund school districts. There continues to be a disparity between what the state funds for education and what it costs Seattle Public Schools (SPS) to serve our students. So, every three years, the district asks voters to consider renewing expiring levies.

The district is asking voters to consider renewing two levies in the Feb. 11 election.

• Prop. 1 – The Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy continues funding for areas like student transportation, support staff, meals, special education, and student opportunities like athletics, music and art.
• Prop. 2 – The Building Excellence VI (BEX VI) Levy focuses on maintaining and improving school facilities. It funds renovation, repair and replacement of schools, as well as repairs to roofs, HVAC systems, and playgrounds. The capital levy also funds 90 percent of the district’s technology budget.

Ballots for the levy renewals will be mailed around Jan. 22 and are due to King County Elections by 8 p.m. on Feb. 11. Visit the SPS website to learn more about what the levies fund.

If you know that your student will be missing school around mid-winter break, please have them complete a Preplanned Absence form. Your student can pick one up in the Attendance Office. Parents/guardians need to complete the top and bottom portions. Students will then take the form around to each of their teachers. When the form is complete, students will turn it into the Attendance office to have the absence excused.

This year we are hosting many middle school basketball and volleyball games in our gym. Our students would like to sell concessions during these games. The proceeds from the sales will go to our ASB. ASB supports the entire student body and funds such things as new uniforms for our sports teams, Eagle Nights, and special guests for our assemblies.

In order to have our students run a concessions stand we need at least one adult to oversee the stand. You would not be selling anything, just watching the students.

Games are on Saturdays and run for 1.5 hours beginning at 8 am and ending at 3:30 pm. We would like one adult per game.

Volunteers will need to be cleared through the SPS Volunteer Application.
https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/volunteer/

Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45AFA829A6FBC61-54982325-help

The Family Acceptance Project does great work and research with parents/caregivers of many backgrounds who are having a hard time supporting their LGBTQ+ child’s identity. They are based out of the University of Michigan (formerly SF state). You can learn more at their website here: https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/.

Hello Eckstein Families! Homeroom teachers will soon be reaching out to you to schedule a Student Led Conference on March 27, 2025.This is a NON-SCHOOL day for Eckstein students ONLY, so that we can hold these conferences. Your student will have the opportunity to share with you in a formal setting, their goals, accomplishments, and areas of growth. Please look for a message from homeroom teachers and sign up for a time on that day for you and your student to come to school for the conference. Remember, these are STUDENT Led, and teachers are only hosts this day. We look forward to seeing you March 27!

Health Guidance for Going to School

Showing up to school every day is critical for children’s well-being, engagement, and learning.

Make sure to send children to school if:

They are generally healthy and well and can participate in usual day-to-day activities, even if they:

• Have a mild cold, which may include a runny nose and/or mild cough that they can cover.
• Have eye drainage without fever, eye pain or eyelid redness.
• Have a mild stomachache.
• Have a mild rash with no other symptoms.
• Have head lice. Though they are annoying and should be treated, lice are not a reason to exclude a child from school.
• Have been fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medicine such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen during that time.

Avoid keeping children at home unless they are too sick to participate in school. For questions, please contact our nurse, Amelia Kaune – 206.252.5017 or aakaune@seattleschools.org

School Avoidance

Children may avoid school due to anxiety (symptoms may include decreased appetite, feeling tired, stomachache, headache etc). If you are worried that your child may be suffering from anxiety, talk with the school nurse, social worker, or Wellness Center to discuss the challenge and identify what can help your child stay in school.

Period 1: 8:55 AM – 10:40 AM
Period 2: 10:45 AM - 11:35 AM
Period 4: 11:40 AM – 1:00 PM
1st LUNCH: 11:35 AM - 12:05 PM (Class 12:10 PM – 1:00 PM)
2nd LUNCH: 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM (Class 11:40 AM – 12:30 PM)
Period 3: 1:05 PM - 1:55 PM
Period 5: 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM
Period 6: 2:55 PM - 3:45 PM

Needs

Amazon Wishlist: Eckstein Community Cupboard Wishlist

We are in need of beanies, socks, shampoo and conditioner, and 2XL sweatpants as well as all the regular supplies!

Eyeglass vouchers are no longer being offered to school nurses for free. We have at least 20 students that need eye exams. If you happen to work as an optometrist or know of an establishment that would see our students for free, or at a discounted rate, please let me know: esdavenport@seattleschools.org

Leads

Grief and Loss Summer Camp and Resources

Save the Dates

• Student-Led Conferences - March 27, 2025 - NO SCHOOL FOR ECKSTEIN STUDENTS ONLY
  Learn more: https://ecksteinms.seattleschools.org/news/student-led-conferences-march-21-2024/
• Eighth Grade Promotion Celebration - June 17, 2025; 5-6:30 pm
  Eighth Grade Cruise - June 18, 2025.

We will list the open house for high schools as we learn about them.

Roosevelt High School Information Night

February 13, 2025 (6:30 pm)
Summary : If you are curious about what its like to go to Roosevelt? This evening is for families of incoming freshmen and potential transfer students.

Nathan Hale High School Family Information Nights

We invite and encourage families who will be assigned to NHHS next year to attend our information evening in order to get a head start on transition to high school. We also welcome families who are assigned to another school but are interested in NHHS and are considering going through the Open Enrollment process.

Future and prospective parents/guardians and students are invited to join us for the following informational evening:

Thursday, February 13th, 2025 (rescheduled date)

6:00PM – 7:00PM Information Tables and Tours in Commons (last tour leaves Commons at 6:40)

7:00PM – 8:00PM Presentation and Questions in Performing Arts Center

Center School

The Center School in Seattle is a unique public high school that focuses on fostering creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration among its students. Located in the heart of the city, it offers a diverse curriculum that emphasizes arts, project-based learning, and student leadership. The school aims to create a supportive community where students can explore their passions, develop their talents, and prepare for future challenges in a rapidly changing world. With a commitment to inclusivity, The Center School provides an engaging environment for learners who prefer a smaller learning community.

OPEN HOUSE DATES:

Tuesday, February 11, 2025, 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Interested students and parents can RSVP using the QR code in the flyer or the link here: https://forms.office.com/r/YC1wdjaKUb

For more information on The Center School, we invite you to take a virtual school tour linked here: https://vimeo.com/703976333/ad1b681004

For inquiries about scheduling a Shadow Day, please contact Michele Hayes, Counselor at mrhayes1@seattleschools.org.