#EagleNation Updates

• November 4: No School (Grading and Planning Day)
  
• November 5: No School (Election Day)
• November 6: Picture make-up day (NEW DATE)
• November 12: Report Cards Posted to ParentVUE
• November 14: Report Cards Sent Home via Homeroom
• November 19: Open House

EASTERN'S School Year Calendar/ MCPS School Calendar 24-25

Join us for 8th Grade High School Choice Form Assistance Night on October 29, 2024! Get your questions answered and submit your High School choice form. The event will take place from 6-8 PM at Eastern Middle School in the Cafeteria. Don’t miss this opportunity to get all the help you need for your high school decision process!

• Flyer
• Folleto

Directions: students must sign up in advance.

• Use this form to sign up.
• All students who sign up will receive a pass and report to the cafeteria on November 6th.

This week the EagleNation closed out the MCPS Mental Health Awareness Week by dressing in green, the color for Mental Health. Please continue to use your counseling resources to promote your student's positive mental health. We want our students to know that everyone needs help some time and there is no stigma to needing support!

This Saturday a small group of families, along with one of our regular substitutes, met to clean out three beds on the side of the building and planted yellow mums, the color of the EagleNation! All of our students earned SSL hours. We are grateful to the students, their families and our staff who stayed and worked hard!

I have been receiving inquires about Halloween expectations. Middle schools do not have parties like we host at MCPS elementary schools. (I loved those days of being an elementary school Room Mom on Halloween!) However, children are welcome to wear their costumes. I encourage students to dress up and bring some of the fun from the community into the building as long as it does not distract from the lesson of the day.

• Costumes should meet school dress code expectations. If a student has questions about the appropriateness of a costume, feel free to reach out to the grade-level administrator for a consult.

• Ensure costumes are free from messages that encourage violence, guns or are sexually explicit. They should comply with the MCPS Code of Conduct and fake weapons should stay at home; they will not be allowed in school.

• Masks are not allowed that cover the entire face (of COURSE surgical masks are allowed).

• Extra candy should be left at home and should not be passed out during the day, as that can make it difficult for teachers throughout the day.

Eastern Middle School is excited to announce the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Youth Leadership Institute (YLI)! This youth-led, interactive program is designed to empower and engage students ages 11-13 through leadership development activities. Interested students must submit a Parent/Guardian Permission Form to their counselor participate. SIGN UP NOW!

Google and Discovery Education are hosting a free STEM Family Day from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Montgomery College, Germantown Campus. The event will be held in the High Technology and Science Center on the Germantown Campus, 20200 Observation Drive in Germantown. Register.

Parents: please remember to label your child’s water bottle, lunch box, coat, binder, or anything else that you want to keep! We have water bottles, lunch boxes, and clothing in the lost and found, as well as binders and other school work. We know you and your student wants these items to be returned, but without names, we cannot help.

• Election Day Bake Sale (Nov 5): We need baked goods and volunteers! Students can earn SSL hours for donating or helping. Sign Up Here.

• Eastern Night at Nando’s (Nov 4): Dine at Nando’s Peri-Peri (Pike & Rose or Silver Spring). 40% of proceeds benefit the PTSA—last year we raised over $1,000!

• Save the Date: PTSA General Body meeting on Nov 12 at 7:30pm via Zoom. Meeting includes an update on the school’s cell phone policy. Zoom details to come.

• Sign up for the PTSA email group. It's FREE! Connect with other parents and receive important communications and reminders. https://groups.google.com/g/eastern-ptsa

• Become a member of the Eastern PTSA. Suggested donation: $10. Your contributions go to academic programs, teacher mini-grants, social events, staff appreciation meals and more. https://fspta-00016130.givebacks.com/store/items/709250

Please find the following message from MCPS on the Capital Improvement Program. Despite the push back of some projects, Eastern remains on the list. Please note the PTSA has asked for volunteers to speak at the board meeting and we want to support them advocating to keep Eastern's plans on time:

The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) lists projects to improve or build new facilities and infrastructure. The superintendent presented recommendations for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Capital Budget and amendments to the FY 2025-2030 CIP. The Board is scheduled to take action on the recommendations November 21.

You may see the full message here: https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2024-2025/BOE-Update-20241025.html

Emails and phone numbers for support in the school:

• Main Office: (240) 740-6280
• Admin Secretary: Ms. Perez: priscilla_b_smith@mcpsmd.org
• Attendance Secretary: Ms. Blanco: isaura_m_blanco-flores@mcpsmd.org
• Front Office Secretary:
• Financial Assistant: Ms. Zhang: rui_zhang@mcpsmd.org

Counselors: (COUNSELING WEBSITE- RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH)

GRADE 6

• (Last Names A-Q): Ms. Meyer jessi_meyer@mcpsmd.org
  
• (Last Names S-Z): Ms. Birkett shondell_birkett@mcpsmd.org

GRADE 7

• (Last Names A-R): Ms. Greene- rachel_m_greene@mcpsmd.org
• (Last Names S-Z): Ms. Birkett- shondell_birkett@mcpsmd.org

GRADE 8

• Ms. Cwerner cayla_cwerner@mcpsmd.org

Administrators:

• Principal - Ms. Shorts: lisa_n_shorts@mcpsmd.org
• 6th Grade Assistant Principal- Deidre Levin: deirdre_m_mcshealevin@mcpsmd.org
• 7th Assistant Principal- Matthew Kerwin: matthew_f_kerwin@mcpsmd.org
• 8th Grade Assistant Principal- Charles Feamster: charles_s_feamster@mcpsmd.org

Family Supports:

• Parent Community Coordinator - Mirna Medrano-romero: mirna_a_medrano-romero@mcpsmd.org
• PTA President- Shripal Shah: eastern.ptsa.president@gmail.com

• Online Bullying Reporting
• Formulario para Reportar Acoso, Hostigamiento o Intimidación
  

Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/easternms

Location: Eastern Middle School, University Boulevard East, Silver Spring, MD, USA
Phone: (240) 740-6280
X : @EasternMS_Prin