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May 2025 Newsletter

Donald H. Eichhorn Middle School

May 2025NewsletterDonald H. Eichhorn Middle School

Important Dates

Please note the following important dates in May & June:


  • Monday, May 5: DHEMS Band Concert @ LAHS
  • Thursday, May 8: DHEMS students visit district art show (during school day)
  • Thursday, May 8: Art show open to public (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
  • Monday, May 12 - Thursday, May 15: Scholastic Book Fair @ DHEMS
  • Thursday, May 15: DHEMS Choral Concert @ LAHS
  • Monday, May 19: DHEMS Honors Reception @ LAHS (invite only)
  • Tuesday, May 20 - Wednesday, May 21: Keystone Algebra testing
  • Monday, May 26: No school - Memorial Day
  • Friday, May 30: Fun Day/Field Day @ DHEMS
  • Tuesday, June 3: Outside Awards/8th Grade Pizza Party
  • Wednesday, June 4: 8th grade Knoebels trip
  • Thursday, June 5: Last day of school - 1/2 day for students - dismissed at 11:30 AM

Book Fair at DHEMS

The buy one get one free Scholastic book fair is coming to the DHEMS library from Monday, May 12 through Thursday, May 15. ELA classes will visit the book fair throughout the week. Everything at the fair is buy one get one free; so it's a great time to stock up on summer reading.

Bucknell Community Poetry Contest

Bucknell University students recently led poetry workshops for every student in the district. At DHEMS, Bucknell students worked with our ELA teachers to lead the workshops. Each student was given the opportunity to create and submit one original poem for review by the Stadler Center for Poetry & Literary Arts. One student from each grade level was selected and invited to read their poem at an event hosted by the Stadler Center. Congratulations to our winners from each grade: Talia Garthwaite (6th), Isa Lamparter (7th), Qasim Ali (8th)

Dental Exams / Physicals

6th & 7th grade parents: PA state requires 6th grade students to have a physical exam and 7th grade students to have a dental exam. If this hasn't been turned into Mrs. Smouse yet, please have the physical and dental forms (dated between 8/23/2023 to present date), faxed to 570-522-3331, emailed to smouse_h@dragon.k12.pa.us, or sent in to the school office.

DHEMS Happenings

Visit from BVPD

Officers Faulkner and Rice of the Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department have been frequent visitors of DHEMS this year. They have formed strong relationships with our students and staff, often talking to them in the hall, sharing lunch, or playing out at recess. We are grateful for the efforts of Officer Faulkner, Officer Rice, and our own Officer Shipman to build relationships with our students and look out for our safety!

Concert Season

It's spring concert season! May means spring performances from our band, chorus, and orchestra students, and performances by our advanced ensembles. Thanks to Mrs. Eischeid, Mr. Fortuna, and Mrs. Tiede for their leadership of our music programs!

RAPS Rewards

Sixty students were recently rewarded with Pelican's at the Park. Our winners were students who received RAPS points for being respectful, accountable, prepared, and safe within DHEMS. It was a cold day, but a fun trip for all who were able to attend!

Honors Reception

Our middle school honors reception will be held on Monday, May 19, 2025, starting at 6:30 PM in the auditorium at the high school. This year, we are making a change to our honors ceremony. Only 8th grade students who are three-year honorees, meaning they have been on honor roll every quarter during middle school, will be recognized at this year's honors reception. This change will allow us to have a more personal ceremony for attendees. You should have received a letter in the mail if your child is being recognized.

Lego STEAM Event @ LAHS

Students and families are invited to a Lego STEAM event held at the Lewisburg Area High School on May 13, 2025. Please see the attached flyer for more information and registration details.

April Students of the Month

Congratulations to our April students of the month. These students are selected by the faculty for consistently following school expectations of being Respectful, Accountable, Prepared and Safe.


6th Grade: Annabel Banks, Shameen Fernando

7th Grade: Elyse Kaufman, Cameron Kreitzer

8th Grade: Tristyn Bubb, Jessica Umstead

Related Arts: Aidan Wooden-Enyeart, Elise Swigart

Keystone Testing Reminder

Keystone testing is right around the corner! Students in certain 7th and 8th grade math classes will take the Keystone Algebra exam. Dates for testing are as follows:


  • May 20 - May 21: Keystone Algebra testing


As we prepare for state testing, please review the attached parent letters from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The FAQ contains helpful information regarding the assessments, and the electronic device letter is provided as well.


Please encourage your child to come to school set up for success by getting a good night's rest and eating breakfast. As a reminder, breakfast in the cafeteria is free for all students every day. Students are welcome to eat breakfast here!


If you have any questions about Keystone testing, please email Mr. Sokalzuk at sokalzuk_m@dragon.k12.pa.us.

Service Learning at DHEMS

We’re excited to announce that this month, our school will be holding a special service learning project called Sunshine Squad! Together, we’ll be learning about the experiences of hospitalized children and collecting donations to create Sunshine Kits for the patients at Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.


Students can drop off donations in their homerooms between May 9 - May 22. The following items can be accepted:

  • Coloring books (kids & adult), crayons, markers, colored pencils

  • Play-Doh (non-latex)

  • Scissors, glue

  • Arts & craft kits (including advanced kits for teens)

  • O-balls, rattles, teethers

  • Hot Wheels / Matchbox cars

  • Dolls, action figures

  • Card games, bubbles, small LEGO kits

  • Infant & toddler toys

  • Brand new books for all ages


Important Guidelines: No latex, food, religious materials, used items, R-rated media, or items with donor names.


Thank you for your support!

TSA State Competition

Eleven DHEMS students recently traveled to Seven Springs, PA, for the TSA State Competition. Our students, under the advisement of Mr. Morgan, fared extremely well, bringing home lots of hardware. Congratulations to our talented students!


First Place

Coding: Thomas Graham, Evan Young

Forensic Technology - Written: Madalyn Benfer


Second Place

Video Game Design: Thomas Graham, Josh Martin, Pablo Torres, Evan Young, Sinan Zafar


Third Place

Coding - Written: Evan Young

Delta Dart Glider: Evan Young

Tech Bowl: Josh Martin, Evan Young, Matthew Zhu


Fourth Place

Structural Engineering: Atticus MacArthur, Samantha Strieby


Fifth Place

Electrical Applications: Thomas Graham, Evan Young


Sixth Place

Electrical Applications: Pablo Torres, Sinan Zafar

Materials Process: Atticus MacArthur

Tech Bowl - Written: Evan Young


Eighth Place

Mechanical Engineering: Atticus MacArthur, Samantha Strieby


Ninth Place

Children's Stories: Thomas Graham, Pablo Torres

Forensic Technology: Madalyn Benfer, Tara Golten

Tech Bowl - Written: Josh Martin


Tenth Place

Construction Challenge: Madalyn Benfer, Tara Golten, Samantha Strieby, Sullivan Tiede

Mass Production: Madalyn Benfer, Tara Golten, Thomas Graham, Josh Martin

Weis4School

DHEMS is participating in the Weis4School program, where you can earn money for DHEMS simply by linking your club card to the middle school. Please click here and follow the steps to link your club card to DHEMS. Please note: we are listed as D H Eichhorn Middle School (we will not show up if you search Donald...). You can also type 87592 and DHEMS will show up as an option. Thank you for your support!

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Michael Sokalzuk
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