Good afternoon,

We hope everyone had a wonderful week. Our Spirit Week will start on Monday December 16th. More information is within the post. A reminder that on Friday December 20th, it is an early release for students. Dismissal is at 12:35.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,

Christina & Emily

Tues. Dec. 17th - EHMS PTO Meeting at 5:30 in the library

Tues. Dec. 17th - EHHS visit of Jazz Band & Voices for 8th graders

Wed. Dec. 18th - Project Oceanology Meeting #3

Fri. Dec. 20th - Early Release Day Students Dismissed at 12:35

Mon. Dec. 23rd - Wed. Jan. 1st - No School for Winter Recess

The Winter Band and Chorus Concert will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 6:30pm. The concert will be held in the East Hampton High School Auditorium. Students should plan to arrive between 6pm and 6:15pm. Concert attire is black and white with a splash of blue. In case of poor weather, the snow date is Thursday, January 16th at 6:30pm. Please reach out to Mrs. LaBrec and Mr. Shilansky in ParentSquare if you have any questions.

We look forward to sharing our music with you!

We will be holding several Spirit Days for the remainder of December. Each student who participates in a spirit day will earn a point for their team competition. Homerooms with 100% participation will earn an extra 5 points for their team.

Friday, December 20th will also be a fundraiser for CCMC (CT Children's Medical Center) and the top three homerooms that have collected the most money will earn 20 extra points for their team. Currently, the 7th grade is in 3rd place with 182 points, the 6th grade is in 2nd place with 212 points, and the 8th grade is in 1st place with 230 points!

Upcoming Spirit Days are as follows:

Sixth-grade students have begun their first writing unit of the year, focusing on crafting personal narratives. They are currently brainstorming and sketching ideas for a small moment to be developed into a detailed story!

Our 8th graders wrapped up their unit on contact forces with an exciting trebuchet demonstration! Using a large, real life trebuchet, we launched projectiles and students observed firsthand the forces and energy transfers we've been studying. Prior to the demonstration, students conducted research using articles and a simulation to deepen their understanding of trebuchet mechanics and the physics behind their motion. Many also participated in an engineering challenge to design and build mini catapults, applying their knowledge of force, motion, and energy in a creative way. This hands-on activity was a fun and engaging way to bring our learning to life!

Grade 6 students are currently studying rates and percentages in their math lessons. As part of this unit, they recently completed an activity where they applied their understanding of unit rates to compare different products and determine which one offered the better deal.

In the activity, students were given various scenarios involving products with different prices and quantities. They calculated the unit rate (cost per item, per ounce, per liter, etc.) for each option to help them make an informed decision about which product provided the best value for money. This hands-on activity allowed students to practice essential skills like calculating unit rates and working with percentages in real-life situations, such as shopping for groceries or comparing sale prices.

Below are students who have received Positive Office Referrals for their behaviors that have exemplified our PBIS pillars of Respect, Responsibility, Compassion and Pride. Students were able to choose a reward from our menu of options like eating outside with friends or prizes that we have. Pictured down below is last week's winner who chose to play games with friends. Great job! Some of the students rewarded are pictured below:

6th Graders

Gabriella Morbidelli, Garrett Hall, Olivia Gianinoto, Dylan Marino, Kadyel Cardona, Gavin Ladue, Collin Kloepfer

7th Graders

Adriana Karas, Arsen Kuleba, Richard Claude, Cameron Meacham, Zoe Holzer, Taylor Karabetsos

8th Graders

Nora Foster, Reid Wilk, Wyatt Rosenfeld, Corbin Engles, Joey Landon, Erick Leue, McKenna Landress, Georgia Clark, Julian Gouthro

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country, and we are excited to bring it to our middle school students! Over the past couple of weeks, students have been learning skills and techniques and how to play the game. They have participated in various pickleball activities allowing them to practice and improve their skills.

Next week, our 8th-grade students will have the opportunity to showcase what they've learned by participating in a pickleball tournament. We are excited to see them put their skills to the test and have fun in this friendly competition!

DEC 16 - DEC 20 (subject to change)

MONDAY, DEC 16

East Hampton girls basketball at McGee MS (Berlin), 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 bus, 3:30 pm game.

McGee boys basketball at East Hampton Middle, 3:30 pm game

Note: Boys basketball team picture

Cheer Leading practice 2:35 until 4:30 pm

TUESDAY, DEC 17

Boys basketball practice 2:35 until 4:30 pm

No Girls basketball practice

Cheer Leading practice 2:35 until 4:30 pm

WEDNESDAY, DEC 18

Boys basketball practice 2:35 until 4:30 pm

Girls team party 2:35 until 4:15 pm in commons with managers

Girls basketball practice 4:30 until 6 pm

No Cheer

THURSDAY, DEC 19

East Hampton boys basketball at William JMS (Colchester), 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 bus, 3:30 pm game.

William JMS girls basketball at East Hampton MS, 3:30 pm

Cheer Leading attending game!

Note: Team picture Cheer Leading

FRIDAY, DEC 20

No Athletics-return on Thursday, Jan 2

Just a reminder, boys and girls volleyball registration is now open. Deadline is Monday, Jan 27th. Registration for girls volleyball will remain open until the first 60 register, then that will close (at 49 girls right now). Boys will remain open until Jan 27th.

You can register on Arbitersports.com

Few questions I receive before registration

1. Can you sign up for ski club and volleyball? Answer: Yes, but you will make sure to communicate this with the coaches.

2. When are practices? Answer: Girls practice after school from 2:35 until 4:30 pm. Boys have an optional study hall from 2:35 until 4:00 pm and practice from 4:15 until 5:30 pm. Monday-Fri, only when school is in session.

3. How long is the season? Answer: Tentatively scheduled to start Monday, Feb 3 and ends by Feb 28.

4. Can I play volleyball and the school play? Answer: No, it’s very difficult to attend play practice and volleyball practices.

5. Does my daughter or son need a physical in order to participate? Answer: Yes, everyone needs an updated physical within a 13 month period.

6. If there is a varsity and jv team? Answer: Yes, one court is varsity and the other court is jv.

7. What time do games start? Answer: There is no set start time as there is for other sports, approximately 3:15 - 3:35 pm.

If you have any other further questions, please let me know.

Coach Mercaldi

mmercaldi@easthamptonct.org

Please see the attached communication from our School Nurse, Melanie King, on helpful guidelines for families as we approach the cold and flu season.

Per the East Hampton Board of Education’s Attendance Policy and Connecticut statute, parents and guardians may only approve the first 9 absences of the school year with a parent note. Absences 10 and above can only be excused with further documentation and under specific circumstances.

In addition, if a student has four unexcused absences in one month or 10 unexcused absences in a year they are classified as truant. If a child misses 18 or more days in a school year – excused or unexcused absences – the student is classified as chronically absent.

A phone call is appreciated, but only an email to our attendance inbox or written note can officially excuse absence 1 through 9. Below is our attendance email:

Note: Between the school name and the word Attendance is a underscore ( _ )

EHMS_Attendance@easthamptonct.org

If a student has four unexcused absences in one month or 10 unexcused absences in a year they are classified as truant. If a child misses 18 or more days in a school year – excused or unexcused absences – the student is classified as chronically absent.

The East Hampton Board of Education and the school community as a whole promote a secure and productive school climate, conducive to teaching and learning that is free from threat, harassment, any type of bullying behavior, and teen dating violence. Therefore it shall be the policy of the Board that bullying and/or teen dating violence committed against a student by another student is prohibited. The Board believes that a school environment in which students feel safe, supported, engaged and helpfully challenged is optimal for learning and healthy development. The Board seeks an environment in which students and adults feel socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically safe; an environment that is free of harassment, intimidation, teen dating violence and bullying. Our website provides links to various policies and reporting forms including our Safe School Climate Plan. Hard copies are also available in our main office. If at any point you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to building administration for further assistance.

Happy New Year! Did you resolve to be more on top of your and your child’s health this year? Here’s an easy solution: Sign your child up for School-Based Health Care. Your child’s school works with Community Health Center, Inc.’s School-Based Health Care program to provide health services to your child during the school day. This means they won’t miss as much class and you don’t need to miss work to support their health care needs. Learn more about the services offered at your child’s school and enroll today at SBHC1.com!

The attached bulletins below were developed through a collaborative effort among the Department of Children and Families, the Department Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Office of Child Advocate, the Department of Public Health, the State Department of Education, and the Governor's Office. The content includes information on suicide, helpful tips to support people of all ages, and where to go for additional support and resources.

Board of Education Statement on School Safety: The East Hampton Board of Education is committed to a safe and secure learning environment that honors and celebrates the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation. The Board of Education in partnership with the school community will not tolerate any threat of violence in the schools or any hate speech that targets any race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Each student is held to the highest standards of responsible decision making within a culture that is expected to foster compassion, caring, and empathy.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement of the East Hampton Public Schools: The school community of East Hampton is committed to the mission of honoring and celebrating the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation. We strive to guide our students to conscious, deliberate, individual and collective actions that cultivate the respect of all races, religions, and social backgrounds. Our school community endeavors to produce graduates who are equipped with a greater understanding of the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Nondiscrimination Statement of the East Hampton Public Schools: The East Hampton Board of Education, in compliance with federal and state law, affirms its policy of equal educational opportunity for all students and equal employment opportunity for all persons. It is the policy of the District to promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment regardless of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability (including but not limited to, intellectual disability, past or present history of mental disorder, physical disability, or learning disability), genetic information, marital status, or age or because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, marital status, or age of any persons with whom the individual associates. The District shall provide to all students without discrimination, course offerings, counseling, assistance, employment, athletics, and extracurricular activities. The District shall provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The District shall make reasonable accommodations for identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities, consistent with federal and state statutes and regulations.

Email: camaral@easthamptonct.org
Website: https://www.easthamptonps.org/o/ehms
Location: 19 Childs Road, East Hampton, CT, USA
Phone: (860) 365 4060