East Hills Connection #1

Another great week in the books! We are happy to welcome our new Assistant Principal, Mr. Garrett Podhyski, and sad to have only one more week with Mr. Tannous!

A bittersweet transition, but good things ahead for both of these gentlemen!

Some exciting WEEEKEND EVENTS TO ATTEND:

• Saturday, October 26, 2024: Liberty vs. Freedom Football Game
• Sunday, October 27, 2024: The Bethlehem Halloween Parade

Also, the quarter ends on October 29th. Please review grades and assignments with your child to make sure he/she is all caught up on work!

Thank you for helping us connect!

Mr. Horvath, Mr. Tannous, Mr. Podhyski and Mrs. Braun

10/29: MP 1 Ends

10/30 MP 2 Starts

11/5: School Closed (Teacher In-Service)

11/6: 3-HR Delayed Opening (MS/HS)

11/15: School Dance @ 3:05 pm

11/25 and 11/26: Parent/Teacher Conferences (11:30 Dismissal)

11/27-12-2: School Closed (Thanksgiving Break)

The Parent Association wants to thank all folks that were able to donate to the Charger Challenge fundraiser. This fundraiser gives our school the most funds for school events, field trips, rewards and activities.

If you were unable to contribute, but would still like to do something for the school, please look out for any upcoming dance donation or volunteer opportunities!

Thank you!

This winter we will be combining Free Sports Physicals with Liberty. Physicals will be on 11/4/24 AT Liberty High School. Below is the sign-up genius link, please send out as soon as possible. All paperwork is to be completed online, with an uploaded picture of section 6(Physical). Link for sign up genius is below. Attached are the directions for big teams.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0944AAA92FA7FA7-51958916-basd

Any questions, please feel free to reach out to either myself or your Athletic Trainer.

From October 14th-October 23rd, we will be collecting items to be donated to individuals affected by Hurricane Helene/Hurricane Milton. Please see the attached flyer for a list of items that can be donated. Items brought in for donation can be brought to either Miss Matyus' room (302) or Mr. Leinbach's room (148).

This section is to celebrate a student that we'd like to acknowledge for something fantastic. Please feel free to send in such accolades with a picture of your child.

Email me the details of an amazing accomplishment of an East Hills Charger with a picture of the student you would like to nominate!

rbraun@basdschools.org

We are really going to miss Mr. Tannous. His fist bumps, contagious laugh, and barking out funny comments have given all of us many many smiles and laughs. He started in 1989 in Allentown as a 4th grade teacher and went on to be an Assistant Principal until now! What a career he had and probably will continue on to something that shares the great qualities he has as a leader and friend! So many people are better for knowing him, we know we are!

As he goes on to his next chapter in life, we want to offer our best wishes and hope MANY DAYS of great fishing in his future!

We have A LOT of suggestions for his BUCKET LIST!

Freedom/Liberty Game - 1:00 pm - Oct 26

Bethlehem Parade - 2:00 pm - Oct 27

Chores! How to Get Your Tween to Clean

Why is this such a struggle? Despite your pleas, warnings and threats to remove devices, the garbage is still inside,

socks are on the floor, and the kid is on another device. Try these quick motivators.

1. Push past the whine and play the long game.

Early adolescents are testing their boundaries. It's tough, but hold strong. Chores are part of preparing for adulthood routines. When the whining starts, imagine your kid taking care of themselves in ten, fifteen years. Can they cook, do laundry, and be responsible at their job? That image alone can give us parents the extra push we need to stand firm and stick to the chore plan.

1. Family chore time

Sometimes kids need a partner to motivate them, either a sibling or parent. If everyone is doing a chore simultaneously, it gets done faster, establishes a routine, and you can gamify it by setting a timer.

1. Make the choice between "Boredom or Chores", instead of "Games or Chores".

Chores have to be done before games. Keep it simple. There is no other option.

1. Provide rewards and keep a structure. Here is a downloadable chore chart: When the chart is complete, make a payday. Give kids some say in the reward they want to earn.

1. Be consistent and reward yourself. We've heard most habits take 30 days to start being established. The chore habit has to last for years! Your chore is the hardest: to keep the system running, with consistent consequences and rewards. Parents, remember to reward yourselves. You deserve it!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Explore a variety of FREE events and activities happening within the #BASDcommunity in the event section of the BASD website.

To check out upcoming events, FOLLOW THIS LINK.

East Hills Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society chapter is honored to win the Service Award of Excellence! This award celebrates our significant contributions to the community and our spirit of service. #NHSserviceExcellence #easthillsmiddleschool #BASDproud

Life is PANDEMONIUM at Freedom High School! We are so excited to invite you to the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on November 22-24! Tickets will be on sale on 10/5! Two musicals in a year for our community!

A riotous ride, complete with audience participation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a fast-paced crowd pleaser and an instant theatre patron favorite.

bit.ly/FHSTCtickets

East Hills Parents and Guardians,

Be in the know this school year by signing up for the EHMS Parent Association emails! Click the link to provide your name and email address.

This is an opt-in only list, so you MUST register your email to get the info from the Parent Association.

Sign Up Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_6FOsHtCB7M4phyyOkHwJBFEHZ2pxOwEmICxlp5XdWEXhEA/viewform

The East Hills Gay Straight Alliance will meet this Thursday. The GSA gathers every other week in room 301 from 3:05 to 4:20. We meet to provide a fun and supportive space for LGBTQ+ students and their allies. Please see Mr. Carpenter with any questions.

Attention 8th grade girls interested in playing basketball. Coach Radio is having Fall open gym sessions on the following dates from 6pm-8pm at Freedom high school. Please see Ms. Babinsky with any questions.

Do you like Skiing or Snowboarding? Or, have interest in learning how to ski or snowboard? If so, consider joining the Snow Rider Club. Members will travel to Blue Mountain Resort after school on the Friday's in January and the first Friday in February. Please stop by Miss Matyus' room, which is room 302, or Mr. Leinbach's room, room 148, to get an information sheet.

Please note-when students are absent, a note can come in with your child the following day.

The Charger Care Closet is seeking donations of the following items: girls deodorant, boys deodorant, chapstick, toothpaste, face wash, and conditioner. Please make sure the items that are being donated are new and not used. Items can be dropped off in the main office. The Charger Care Closet greatly appreciates any donations that it receives!

Mrs. Constanzo shares some great ways to be healthy this school year!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

You received your Synergy ParentVUE Activation Key letter by USPS mail.

If you need your Synergy ParentVUE Activation Key please email awest@basdschools.org. This needs to be set up before 10/31.

PARENTVUE

Synergy ParentVUE gives parents/guardians access to your child’s schedules, grades, attendance, discipline, etc. You can see records for all of your children with this single log-in by clicking each child’s name. You can access ParentVUE through your computer’s browser or mobile devices.

Steps for activating your Synergy ParentVUE account are below. Please use a browser to complete these steps.

1. Using your computer's Internet browser, go to https://PA-BET-PSV.edupoint.com.

2. Click on "I am a Parent."

3. Click on the Activate Account button to create your account.

4. Accept the privacy statement

5. Enter your first and last name exactly as shown at the bottom of this letter, along with the activation key.

6. You'll be prompted to choose a username and password, provide an email address, and complete your account set-up. Please securely record your password where you can find it for future use. You will be returned to the login screen.

AFTER you’ve activated your account, you can then download the appropriate free mobile app:

iPhones: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/parentvue/id412054615

Androids: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.FreeLance.ParentVUE

In addition to Synergy ParentVUE accounts, parents whose children are in middle school or high school should also have a Schoology Parent account. Synergy is the District's student information system. Schoology is the district's learning management system. Synergy and Schoology are both used to support your child's learning.

For parents who already had a Schoology account, there is no change and no further action is needed. If there is a East Hills student missing on your current Schoology account, please email awest@basdschools and request that student to be added.

For parents who do not already have a Schoology account and your child is in Grades 6-12, you should've received an email invite yesterday, Tuesday, September 10, 2024, to create a Schoology account.

For parents who do not have a Schoology username and password and didn't receive an email invitation, the district does not have an email address on file for you and/or your ParentVUE account has not been activated. Please activate your ParentVUE account. If you need to provide an email to the system email that information to rlford@basdschools.org. Once that is complete, a Schoology account invitation will be sent to you at a later date.

New for 2024-25

Summer is coming to a close and often we neglect to realize many of the changes the students will need to become accustomed to when school starts. Waking up early, preparing to catch the bus or travel to school, schoolwork, homework, and the list goes on.

One major area to consider is that your children will not have the same access to their cell phones when they become students again.

Parents, please prepare your child(ren) for the adjustment. Most parents have limitations they set for their children throughout the summer days to limit screen time. However, all of the students and you as parents need to know that we are adjusting our standards for the upcoming school year. We looked back on the level of distraction vs. usefulness cell phones have provided over the past few years and we realize the need to set a tone for the school day to be largely void of the distractions of cell phones. Here is what you should prepare your child(ren) for when they return to school:

Students may not CARRY phones in hands, pockets, etc. Cell phones must not be out at all. They must remain in bags during the school day. This means:

1. Students can never use cell phones in class, hallway or office without teacher/staff permission.

2. Students can never carry cell phones in hand in the hallway.

3. Students can never take cellphones to/in the lavatory.

4. Students can never take cell phones to the cafeteria (not in purses/lunch bags if those items are brought to the cafe).

***Smart watches have similar restricted use in all the same ways as cell phones. Smart watches can and will be collected if used inappropriately.