Dear Eastwood Families,

Happy New Year! As we embark on the second semester of this school year, we are excited to continue supporting your child’s growth and success. The second half of the year is a crucial time for students to build on their achievements, set new goals, and finish the year strong.

Here are a few ways we can work together to ensure a successful semester:

1. Stay Organized: Encourage your child to use a planner or digital tools to manage assignments, deadlines, and extracurricular activities. Consistency is key!

2. Set Goals: Reflecting on the first semester’s progress, help your child set realistic and measurable goals for academic and personal growth.

3. Communicate: Open communication between school and home is essential. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to teachers, counselors, or administration if you have questions or concerns.

4. Support Good Habits: Adequate sleep, nutrition, and regular study routines are vital for maintaining focus and energy during this busy time of year.

We also encourage students to embody our school’s core values of unity, integrity, and excellence as they tackle challenges and celebrate successes.

Best Regards,

E. Peoples

Principal

• Jan 8- Students Return
• Jan. 13- Report Cards
• Jan. 13- Jan. 15- iReady Testing
• Jan. 17- Honors Day @ 9:00
• Jan. 20- Martin Luther King Jr. Day- Schools Closed
• Jan. 22- Spelling Bee @ 9:30

We’re excited to announce that our STAMP Shop is up and running! Students receive STAMP Bucks for exhibiting unity, integrity, and excellence—qualities that embody the Eastwood Way. These Bucks can then be used to "shop" for prizes and snacks, giving students an extra incentive to practice positive behaviors in the classroom.

To keep our shop stocked and motivating for our students, we would greatly appreciate any donations of items or treats. If you’re able to contribute or have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. McCoy at lbinion@tusc.k12.al.us.

Thank you for supporting our students and reinforcing the Eastwood Way!

As we begin the second semester, we want to emphasize the importance of consistent school attendance for your child’s academic success and personal growth. Every day in the classroom is an opportunity for students to learn, engage, and build the skills they need for a bright future.

Research shows that regular attendance significantly impacts a student’s academic performance and overall confidence. When students miss school, they miss valuable instruction and can struggle to catch up.

Here are some ways you can support your child’s attendance:

• Set a Routine: Establish consistent bedtime and morning routines to ensure your child arrives at school ready to learn.
• Communicate Challenges: If your child is experiencing any issues that may affect their attendance, please let us know so we can provide support.
• Plan Ahead: Schedule appointments and family trips outside of school hours whenever possible.

If your child is ill or needs to miss school for a valid reason, please follow the school’s procedures for reporting absences.

Report cards will be sent home on Monday, January 13. Please review your child's progress or areas of concern. If a conference is needed please email the teacher.

Honors Day will be held on Friday, January 17 at 9:00 am in the gym. Student invitations will be sent before the end of this week.

The Specialty Schools application window will open Thursday, January 2, 2025 and will close Friday, January 31, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. Use the link below for more information.

We are excited to announce that our 2024 yearbooks are officially on sale, and for a limited time, they're at their lowest price yet! Don't miss out on this great deal! Order now to capture the memories of this school year at an unbeatable price. Visit bit.ly/emsYB25 to order!

Below is a reminder for parents and for students about the TCS Dress Code, which is found in the TCS Student Code of Conduct:

The primary responsibility for a student’s attire resides with the student and parents or guardians. The following rules concerning dress and grooming are mandatory for all students attending Tuscaloosa City Schools. Students who fail to follow these rules will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in Code of Conduct 1.13, “Non-conformity to Dress Code.”

Section 1: Students "Must" Wear:

• Shirts: Must be opaque fabric. Must cover midriff and not be low cut in front or back.
• Bottoms: Pants, sweatpants, joggers, shorts, skirt, dress, leggings. Must be opaque fabric. Dresses and skirts must be fingertip length. Shorts, including athletic shorts, are allowed, but may not be less than a 3” inseam. Genitals and buttocks must be covered at all times.
• Shoes: Activity-specific shoes are permitted (for example for sports or TCTA classes.) Shoes that are secured to the foot and do not easily fall off are highly encouraged for safety reasons.

Section 2: Students "May" Wear:

• Hoodie sweatshirts, although hood cannot be worn over head.
• Fitted pants, including leggings, yoga pants and “skinny jeans” are allowed as long as it meets requirements in section 1.
• Ripped jeans, as long as underwear is not exposed, and rips are not above fingertip length.
• Tank tops, as long as underwear or midriff is not exposed.
• Athletic attire, as long as it meets requirements in Sections 1 and 3.
• Clothing with commercial or athletic logos provided they do not violate Section 3 below.

Section 3: Students May NOT Wear:

• Garments that reflect violent language or images.
• Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity) or the use of same.
• Hate speech, profanity, pornography.
• Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class.
• Clothing where underwear is exposed. Undershirts/camisoles cannot be worn alone as shirts.
• Spaghetti straps, or strapless tops, unless otherwise covered.
• Bathing suits.
• Hats or head coverings except as a religious observance or as allowed on special days or for certain athletic or class requirements.
• Pajamas, except when allowed on special days.
• House slippers or shoes intended for indoors only.
• Sunglasses (indoors.)
• Metal-spikes on shoes or metal-toed shoes, except for when needed for a class such as at TCTA.

The Tuscaloosa City Schools cellphone policy remains unchanged for the 2024-2025 school year. However, it's important for both students and parents know what that means. Cellphones are allowed in secondary schools, but should NOT be used in classrooms. Earbuds and headphones are also not allowed during the school day.

For middle school students, cellphones cannot be used at any time during school hours. They must be turned off and out of sight.

Research has shown that cellphones cause a major distraction and that students perform better academically when they do not use their cellphones in school. While we do not currently have a policy banning cellphones, it is important that students follow current TCS policy.

We invite you to join our school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). The PTA is more than just a group; it’s a community of dedicated parents, teachers, and staff who work together to make our school a better place for all students.

You may have noticed that students have not come home with a paper version of the TCS Code of Conduct and Resource guide yet this school year. That is because we are going "paperless."

A PDF copy of the 2024-25 Parent/Student Code of Conduct is available for download through the following link: TCS Code of Conduct. If you prefer to still have a paper version, they will soon be available upon request from your child's school office.

Teachers will be using the Remind app to enhance communication between home and school. Remind is a safe, simple way for teachers to send quick updates, reminders, and important information directly to your phone or email. This will help ensure that you stay informed and connected to your child's education.

1. How to Join:

   1. Join via Text Message:
      Simply text the class code provided by your child's teacher to 81010. You’ll receive a welcome text from Remind and be added to the class group. No app download is necessary, and you can start receiving updates immediately.

   2. Join via the Remind App:

      • Download the Remind app from your app store or visit www.remind.com.
      • Create a free account using your email address or phone number.
      • Enter the class code provided by your child's teacher to join the appropriate class group.

You can choose to receive messages via text, email, or through the Remind app, based on your preference. We encourage all parents to join as it will be the primary tool for communication this school year.