EMS Raider Student and Family News

August 21 - 25

The Rise Up Experience is going STRONG!

Hello Raider commUNITY!

This week's newsletter is coming to you from Mrs. Imai, Mrs. Vega, and Mr. Gutierrez. We are happy to have been on this journey with you and your Raider from the beginning and we look forward to continuing the work ahead and to continue to enjoy the privilege of serving this unique and dynamic commUNITY! This past week was our 3rd week of the school year and you know what? We are moving full speed ahead with high quality instruction and exceptional opportunities for your Raider in our safe and welcoming campus. You can count on us to serve you and your Raider's needs from the moment they walk on campus until they are back with you at the end of the school day.

We hope that you were able to access your child's STAAR scores that were made available on August 16. Please use the link later in the newsletter to check scores from last year, if you have not done so already.

This week, your Raider's progress report for the first 3 weeks of school will be available in the Home Access Center (HAC) on August 24. Please make sure that you have access to the HAC, as it is one of the best ways to ensure that you are up to date on your Raider's grades and attendance information.

Please make note below of some updates on measures we are taking as a campus to ensure your Raider is in class on time, dressed appropriately and with his/her ID badge.

Please know that the experience your child receives at Eastwood Middle School is not only important for the 3 of us, but also for the 150+ adults here who work very hard to make certain that your Raider is prepared for success. In fact, the Rise Up Experience would not be possible without those dedicated individuals. On behalf of them, we thank you for your continued support as we continue to help your Raiders Rise Up like never before!

zoom_out_map

STAAR Scores and Interventions

With official STAAR scores coming in, we have had the opportunity to review scores in order to provide state mandated interventions for those students who failed one or more exams. Earlier this summer, our counselors did an incredible job of viewing preliminary data and placing students in the appropriate advisory class relative to their needed intervention(s). Thanks to our incredible instructional coaches, Ms. Medrano and Ms. Valles, we have been able to identify other students who will need to move into a different advisory teacher's class to receive their interventions, based on official STAAR scores. Keep in mind that this will NOT be for every student, only those who have failed one or more STAAR exams. Schedule changes will be made with the least amount of disruption to your Raider's schedule.

You can follow this link to access your child's STAAR results for 2023:

TEA Family Portal

DRESS CODE, TARDY VIOLATIONS AND ID BADGES

Safety and classroom instruction are our top priority for our Raider students. That being said, there are a couple of concerns that we will be addressing.

DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS

In order to make sure that your Raider is in class every day, maximizing their instructional opportunities, please review the dress code at the bottom of this newsletter and please make certain that your child comes to school dressed appropriately. We have had several students on a daily basis come to school with out the required shirt and/or pants.
Students who are out of dress code will have first period only to call home to have appropriate clothing brought to them. If they cannot get the appropriate clothing to them by the end of first period, we will place the student in ISS with a dress code violation discipline referral for the remainder of the day.
Our office staff, administration and security officers have many duties to attend to in order to assist in running an orderly school day. They are not available to accommodate students who arrive out of dress code.

TARDY VIOLATIONS

Again, in order to maximize your child's time in class receiving instruction, we have implemented a lunch detention program to address students tardy to class.
Students who are tardy to classes before their lunch period will have lunch detention THAT SAME DAY. Students who are tardy to class after their lunch period will have lunch detention THE FOLLOWING DAY. Students will be able to eat during lunch detention.
Students that fail to report to lunch detention will be given a discipline referral.

ID BADGES

IN THE INTEREST OF CAMPUS SAFETY AND TO COMPLY WITH DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, WE NEED YOUR CHILD TO ARRIVE TO SCHOOL WITH THEIR ID ON A LANYARD AROUND THEIR NECK. They need to wear their ID around their neck all day. If they lose their ID, they will need to purchase a new one in our library. The cost of the replacement ID is $10.

Please understand that we want your child here, on time, dressed appropriately with their ID on so that we can provide a safe environment for them to learn, grow and prosper. We thank you for your support with this.

zoom_out_map

Campus Traffic Patterns and Drop Off Zones - UPDATED

WE HAVE ADDED ADDITIONAL AFTER SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS AT ALBUM (NEAR OLD BUS DROP OFF) AND ON BYWOOD NEAR ARCHIE STREET! We are always looking to make our campus and surrounding streets safer for your Raiders.

Due to the large campus population and heavy traffic in the area, it is essential that all Raider community members (students, parents, and staff) adhere to safety standards when traveling around the campus area. We ask that you support our efforts to ensure ALL of our Raiders remain safe and secure while traveling by foot or vehicle.

First and foremost, we ask that you adhere to the directions given by staff members who are serving as cross guards or helping traffic flow. Do not stop in the middle of crosswalks or refuse or ignore their stop signs or directions. Understand that we are all trying to keep our Raiders safe and need your cooperation to do so!

More helpful reminders for keeping our Raiders and community safe:

Refrain from speeding on the streets surrounding the campus, especially during student arrival and dismissal times - the hours of 7:30 -8:30 am and 3:50 - 4:50 pm.
Be on the lookout for students who may be crossing the streets, whether at the crosswalks or not.
Emphasize the importance of crossing the streets safely at crosswalks rather than the middle of the streets where cars are less likely to slow down.
Refrain from making u-turns on Album, Chaswood, Bywood, and Escarpa streets, especially when students are arriving or departing the campus.
When dropping off or picking up your Raider, please pull all the way up to the front of the drop off area rather than staying back. This helps traffic flow more easily around the surrounding streets.
Consider parking away from the campus and having your Raider walk to or from your car rather than using the drop-off areas to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

CAMPUS SAFETY PROCEDURES - UPDATED

As some of you may have noticed, the district is currently improving our front visitor's vestibule area. As the work progresses, we will need to make some adjustments to ensure we keep our campus safe. Please read the procedures outlined below so you are prepared in the event you need to enter our school building during the school day.

All visitors must have a valid picture ID.
Be prepared to show your ID outside of the campus after notifying the receptionist you have arrived, and to have it scanned in our Hall Pass system for a quick background check.
The doors on the right-hand side are to ENTER the campus only. Doors on the left-hand side are to EXIT the building.
Should you need to sign your child out for an appointment or the day, you will do so inside of the visitor's vestibule. You may wait inside the vestibule or just outside the front doors for your child.
The receptionist will check to make sure the person picking up your child is authorized to do so as listed in our student information system.
Your child will be called down to the visitor's center. As they pass through the area our receptionist will note they are ok to leave, at which time they will exit the building out of the exit only (left-hand side) doors. As you see them come through, you can meet them just outside the campus doors.
Should you need to come inside the campus at or shortly after dismissal, you will be stopped at the door by an adult who will ask you the reason for your visit. They will communicate with the front office to make sure you are approved entry and you will be permitted to make your way to the front office for further assistance.
In order to comply with state mandates to safely and effectively control a single entry point for our campus, we are unable to accept food deliveries for your student during lunch. Our visitor center receptionist must remain focused on the task of monitoring entry, check in and processing of identification, monitoring student sign-outs and so on. Again, this is to ensure the safety and security of our single campus entry point. Thank you for your understanding.

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding of our new visitor's area procedures. It is up to all of us to help keep our campus (students & adults) safe, and we appreciate your support and partnership in doing so.

If you have any questions or concerns, please make campus administration aware and we can assist you.

zoom_out_map

WHAT ARE WE LEARNING IN CORE CLASSES?

6th Grade:

Reading/Language Arts: Unit 2: Narrative Elements in Reading Focus: Narrative Writing (Aug. 16-Sept. 27)
Social Studies: Unit 1 Think Like A Historian: Family Connection (August 2 - 18);

Unit 2 United States and Canada (August 24 - September 22)

Science: Unit 1: Investigating Chemicals (15 days)
Math: Unit 2: Classifying Rational Numbers (14 days) Aug. 21-Sept. 8

7th Grade:

Reading/Language Arts: Unit 2: Narrative Elements in Reading Focus: Narrative Writing (Aug. 16-Sept. 27)
Social Studies: Unit 2 Natural Texas and Its People (August 9 - 22)
Science: Unit 1: Investigating Cell Structures and Functions (15 days)
Math: Unit 2: Proportional Reasoning: Ratios, Rates

ADV-Unit 2: One Variable Equations and Inequalities (August 11-30)

8th Grade:

Reading/Language Arts: Unit 2: Narrative Elements in Reading Focus: Narrative Writing (Aug. 16-Sept. 27)
Social Studies: ; Era 1 Colonial America (August 9 - August 29)
Science: Unit 1: Investigating Among Living Systems (15 days)
Math: Unit 2: One Variable Equations and Inequalities (August 11-30)

ALG-Unit 2: Introduction to Functions (Aug. 22-Sept. 6)

zoom_out_map

THIS WEEK'S CAMPUS EVENTS

Monday, 8/21 - 8th Grade Summit K12 Testing - Main Gym

Tuesday, 8/22 - 7th Grade Summit K12 Testing - Main Gym

- 6-8 Grade Social Studies Checkpoint

Wednesday, 8/23 - 6th Grade Summit K12 Testing - Main Gym

- Cross Country @ Blackie Chesher Park - 4:00 pm

Thursday, 8/24 - 3 Week Progress Report available in HAC

-6-8 Grade Science Checkpoint

Friday, 8/25 - It's FRIDAY! That's a reason to CELEBRATE!

Saturday, 8/26 - Raider Volleyball vs Bel Air MS @ EMS 9:00 am

-Raider Football vs Parkland MS @ EMS 9:00 am

YISD ATHELETIC SCHEDULES - CLICK HERE

EMS 2023-2024 BELL SCHEDULE

EMS 2023-2024 DRESS CODE

EASTWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL WEBSITE LINK

zoom_out_map

EMS OFFICE STAFF & NURSE CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach out to anyone by calling our main number 915-434-4300, or any of the direct numbers below, from 7:45 am - 4:15 pm to assist you.

Office Clerk & Nurse Contact Information:

6th Grade Students

Heather Borrego

(915) 434-4368

hborrego@yisd.net

7th Grade Students

Ana Cadena-Medina

(915) 434-4310

amedina79@yisd.net

8th Grade Students

Aida Marquez

(915) 434-4367