Eckstein Weekly News

October

• Oct. 16-18 - Eighth Grade Fieldtrip to Camp Orkila
• Oct. 16: PTSA General Meeting (7 pm on Zoom)
• Oct. 24 - Biker Donut Day (8:15 AM)
• Oct. 25 – Fall Sports Pep Assembly
• Oct. 25 - Haunted Library (6:30-8:30 pm)
• Oct. 28 - Nov. 1 – Spirit Week (See below)

November

• Nov. 3 - Daylight Savings Time Ends (Set clock back one hour)
• Nov. 6 - Quarter 1 Ends
• Nov. 7 - Quarter 2 Begins
• Nov. 8 - Veterans Day Assembly
• Nov. 11 - Veterans Day (NO SCHOOL)
• Nov. 12 - 7th Grade Vision & Hearing Checks
• 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
• Nov. 30 - Orchestra Concert (7 pm)

We want to give a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone that volunteered for and donated to both the Sixth Grade Eagle Night and the Seventh & Eighth Grades Eagle Night. Our students really enjoy these events. We couldn't put them on without your help.

Also, thank you to the parents/guardians who will be chaperoning the eighth grade fieldtrip to Camp Orkila!

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to help. We still need a few more volunteers, especially 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

We are asking for an ASB card donation of $10. Please pay on Schoolpay.

The ASB fee helps provide a budget for the Leadership programs that benefit all students at Eckstein, including:

• Athletics (uniforms, equipment, background checks, etc).
• Eagle Night Dances
• Public Speakers for MLK jr. (this year we have Chris Singleton) and other assemblies
• Door decorating supplies
• March Madness
• Talent Show
• Hot Cocoa mornings/Lemonade mornings
• Spirit Weeks
• Pep Assemblies
• Some field trip funds

*If your child participates in any of these events, you should be contributing to this fund, if at all possible.

**The ASB card is required in the high school for any student in a club or sport (it also costs $50+)

Spirit Gear orders will arrive in early November.

We will do our best to respond to your emails and phone calls within 48 hours. Please understand that sometimes it may take a bit longer. Thank you.

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

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.

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.

Please remind your students to ride their scooters safely. It has been reported that students have been using Lime scooters in an unsafe manner. Sometimes they have multiple students on one scooter and looking at their cellphones. They've also been riding unsafely in the streets. According to Lime Scooters, the minimum age to ride a Lime scooter in Washington state is 18 years old. Riders must also have a valid driver's license or ID, where required. Lime Scooter Rules & Regulations: https://help.li.me/hc/en-us/articles/360001546234-Rules-and-regulations-for-riding-Lime#:~:text=Except%20where%20permitted%20by%20local,ride%20at%20your%20own%20risk.

Reminder: Lime scooters and bikes are not allowed on school property.

Deadline for Submissions: Friday, November 11, 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.

Eckstein students and families are invited to the haunted library Friday, Oct. 25th. Look for more information in our Eckstein Weekly Update next Friday.

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

The Health Education Office will be hosting the 25th Annual Seattle Public Schools LGBTQ+ Families Dinner on 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.

We encourage leaders to share this information via newsletter and/or PTSA.

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

One People Gathering is a movement toward healing and unity, inviting everyone to engage with Indigenous voices. “Netse Mot,” or “One heart, one mind,” reflects our commitment to shared humanity and values of gratitude, generosity, and respect in a divided world. If you're interested in attending Engaging Young Minds, an event about this that is designed for middle school students at Paramount Theatre, please contact Mr. Grandbois or Ms. Davenport. The event is during school on October 22nd and 11:00am-12:30pm.

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