East Middle School Newsletter

January 17.........End of 2nd Marking Period/1st Semester

January 20-21....MLK/Records - no classes, building closed

January 22.........First Day of 3rd Marking Period/2nd Semester

January 28.........6th & 7th grade Orchestra Concert, 6:30 pm, EMS Cafeteria

Looking ahead.....

• February 11 - PTO Meeting
• February 12 - District Count Day
• February 13 - Half Day All Students
• February 14 & 17 - No School (President's Weekend)

Happy New Year! We hope this message finds you well-rested and ready for an exciting year ahead. January is a month of new beginnings, resolutions, and fresh opportunities, and we're thrilled to embark on this journey of growth and learning with you and your children.

As we dive into the second half of the school year, we have some important updates to share:

1. Exciting Course Selection for Next Year: The journey of education is a continuous adventure, and we're already looking ahead to the upcoming school year. Course selection for the next academic year is just around the corner. Our dedicated staff will be available to guide students through the process, helping them choose classes that align with their interests, goals, and academic strengths. Please be sure to look for the course request sheets that will be coming home soon. They will need a parent signature and need to be returned back to school.

2. Fresh Start to Second Semester: The start of a new semester brings renewed energy and opportunities for growth. Encourage your child to set new academic and personal goals and let us know how we can support them in achieving success. Whether it's exploring new extracurricular activities or seeking additional academic challenges, we're here to help every student thrive.

We value the partnership we have with you in your child's education journey.

Here's to a successful second semester filled with growth, achievement, and memorable learning experiences!

Warm regards,

Melissa Titsworth

Principal

This year’s East Middle School FISH Food Drive was truly incredible! Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our students, staff, and community, EMS was able to donate over $900 to the FISH organization, along with an abundance of food, cleaning supplies, and hygiene items. These donations will go a long way in supporting the FISH food pantry and helping those in need right here in our Grand Blanc community.

We want to give a special shoutout to our top three WIN classes—Mrs. Finton, Mr. Bunker, and Mrs. White—for their outstanding contributions. These classes donated the most items and were rewarded with a donut breakfast, generously sponsored by the EMS PTO. What a sweet way to celebrate their contributions!

In addition to the food drive, EMS also adopted 9 families through the FISH Christmas Basket Program. This initiative provides gifts for children, along with hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and a two-week supply of food to help families get through the winter break.

We are so proud of the giving spirit shown by our EMS family. Your contributions are making a real difference for families in our community, and we are grateful for each and every one of you. If you'd like to learn more about FISH of Grand Blanc or find ways to continue supporting them, please visit their website at www.fishofgrandblanc.org.

Our Winter 2 season is underway. We are looking forward to our Swim, Boys' Basketball, Girls' Competitive Cheer, and Pom Pon Teams seasons! For athletic schedules, please visit www.gbcs.org/ems.

Ski Club kicked off last Thursday after school at Mt. Holly! Students had the chance to hit the slopes and enjoy a fun afternoon of skiing and snowboarding.

You can purchase your membership cards and lift tickets directly from Ms. Haffajee on Thursday from 4:30-6:30 PM. She will be located upstairs in the lodge near the fireplace.

We look forward to seeing everyone on the slopes!

We are excited to announce that Math Club will begin on Monday, January 13th, after school in Ms. Haffajee’s classroom! The club will run until 4:15 PM, and students must have a ride home at that time.

If your child is interested in joining but hasn’t signed up yet, please encourage them to see Ms. Haffajee this week for more information and to sign up.

We look forward to seeing students explore and enjoy math in a fun, interactive environment!

Please remember that students are NOT allowed to carry any medication with them at school, whether it's prescription or over the counter (this includes Tylenol, Motrin/Advil, and even cough drops). Please use the button below to access the over the counter medication form. Once the form is completed, a parent must drop off a new, unopened package of the medication to our counseling office.

If you have any questions regarding this, please contact the counseling secretary, Mrs. McNeice, at 810-591-3583.

For your planning purposes, we would like to share the following testing dates with you:

• PSAT - April 10th (8th grade only)
• M-Step - April 30 & May 1/ May 7 & May 8 (all grades)

If possible, please schedule any absences or appointments around these dates when possible, to ensure our students' success during the test period.

Thank you,

East Middle School

Registration for the 8th grade trip is still taking place and there are a few spots still available! The trip takes place March 7th – March 10th.

8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip registration link can be found at https://studentadventures.org/mytrip/GB2524/

Registration ID number: GB2524

Please contact Mr. Jerry Todd jtodd@gbcs.org with questions.

Pink Out January 31

GBCS is going PINK district wide on Friday January 31st, in support of the American Cancer Society.

Shirts are on sale now through 1/24 with delivery to schools 1/29

Order Shirt here: https://hooping-for-a-cure.square.site/

Or Make a Donation Here: https://raiseyourway.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.personalCampaign&participantID=15544

Proceeds from the shirts go to the American Cancer Society.

Any questions – please contact GB Boys Booster President Tee at 810-814-2119

Everyday Preventive Actions:

• If you or your child gets sick with flu-like illness, district policy requires your child to stay home from school for 24 hours after a fever or diarrhea is gone. The fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs that can cause illnesses.