The Panther Post

Good afternoon Panther families,

We hope everyone had a great week. We had a lot of exciting happenings through the week that we are excited to share with you. Our 7th graders have begun their field trips with Project Oceanology, we had a very successful Pantherfest last Friday and we are continuing to grow our before and after school opportunities for students. We hope that students join in something that sparks their interest.

Just a reminder that if at any point you have a questions or would like to connect to your child's team of teachers, please reach out to your child's Team Leader. Each team will be sharing their October newsletters with you soon!

Best,

Christina & Emily

• October 5th - Summer Math & Reading Celebration
• October 7th - No School - Teacher Professional Development
• October 10th - No School - Columbus Day
• October 17th - 21st - School Safety Week
• October 20th - Picture Retake Day

Wake Up Panthers is up and running! Please consider having your child participate.

If you would like your child to participate in 'Wake Up Panthers' please sign up for the days they will be attending, by completing this Google Form. (The initial google form was to gauge parent interest, so please complete this link as well) Each day costs $5. You can pay by cash, check (make checks payable to East Hampton Middle School) or electronically by following the directions in the attachment included in this post. Payments should be brought to the main office. Families can drop off their child to the middle school starting at 7:00 and any time up to 7:40. We ask that you follow the route of the buses and drop off at the gym doors. A staff member will monitor students either choosing to read, do homework, or just play in our gym.

A Parentsquare with the online payment was sent on the morning of Friday 9/9.

We are pleased to announce that our Homework Club is ready to soon begin. Facilitated by a staff member, students who are interested can stay after school until 4:00 to have a quiet, structured space to work on school work. There will be times that we collaborate with the high school and students from Interact come to help assist students. We will hold this club starting Tuesday October 4th and run every other Tuesday after that. If you are interested in your child participating, please complete the following google form. If there are any questions, please contact our main office.

Are you looking to be a leader in your school community? Then you should consider joining EHMS’s student council! Meetings will be held the first and third Friday of each month from 7:15 AM -7:45 AM. Our first meeting will be held on Friday, October 21st. If you have any questions reach out to Mrs. Sullivan. Complete the google form if you would like to join!

A Student Council Member is . . .

A leader - One who makes decisions that benefit the school community.

Responsible - One who attends meetings before school and completes assignments or tasks.

A good listener - One who listens to the ideas and suggestions of the students that they represent and members of the Student Council.

Hard-working - One who rolls up their sleeves and gets things done even when it seems impossible.

A team-player - One who makes compromises for the success of the entire Student Council and school.

Each month Team Leaders will share an update on current happenings throughout the team. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to your child's Team Leader. Contact information is within each newsletter. October newsletters will be coming soon from your child's Team Leader!

Click on your child's team below to access their welcoming September newsletter. Don't forget to check out Team Amythest's newsletter. This is our specials and P.E. team.

Enjoy!

EHMS is holding a yearbook cover contest for both the front and the back covers. Those artists whose covers are chosen will get a free yearbook! Students were notified on our morning announcements beginning 9/30.

Entries must include:

School year

Name of school

School appropriate design

Please submit your entry on regular size paper (8.5 x 11). The deadline for entry is Monday October 17 at 3p. No cover designs will be accepted after this date. Drop off your entry to Mrs. Buchan in the office or email her at cbuchan@easthamptonct.org.

Can't wait to see all the designs!

Thank you to EHMS PTO, Donna Roberts, Cyndi Buchan, our Athletic Department and all the staff who helped to make Pantherfest a great success! It was a wonderful celebrating our Cross Country and Soccer teams as a Panther Community!

Sixth grade students in Mrs. Gieras’s class are preparing for their upcoming unit, “A Deep Study of Character” and “The Literary Essay.” Reading partners were excited to choose the novel they will read and study!

We are excited to share that our 7th grade students will have the opportunity to participate in Project Oceanology and our field trips began this week! Project Oceanology’s Connecticut River Connections program is a grant program funded by the Connecticut State Department of Education. Middle school classes from school districts along the Connecticut River will be partnered for a joint investigation of the watershed they share. Students from partnering schools will be established to conduct experiments in the classroom, in the laboratory, on the shore, and aboard their EnviroLab research vessel. Project Oceanology’s hands-on, inquiry-based programs are carefully designed to align with Next Generation Science Standards. Students will collect, handle, and study a wide variety of marine and aquatic organisms, study the behavior of eagles and seals in their natural habitats, and use sophisticated oceanographic technology to measure water quality in the Connecticut River. Students will practice critical thinking and communication skills within their work in the program. For more information or if there are any specific questions, please reach out to your child's science teacher.

Have your child enter the EHMS Yearbook Cover Contest! We need designs for both the front and back cover.

Entries must include:

School year

Name of school

school appropriate design

Submit your entry on regular size paper (8.5 x 11).

The deadline for entry is Monday October 17 at 3pm. No cover designs will be accepted after this date. Drop off your entry to Mrs. Buchan in the office or email her at cbuchan@easthamptonct.org.

Our next meeting will be: Wednesday, October 12th at 5:30pm in the EHMS Library/Media Center. We will have a Pantherfest wrap-up discussion, so we encourage anyone who’d like to be involved with Pantherfest 2023 to attend. We will also discuss upcoming events, so come with your ideas or just to listen as we plan for this school year!

We are so GRATEFUL to our volunteers and generous sponsors

for making this year’s Pantherfest event yet another HUGE SUCCESS!!

For 23 years, this much-loved cross country and soccer invitational event has been our primary Fall fundraiser and we depend on volunteers, donations and services from local families and businesses to ensure that it runs smoothly and successfully.

Special thanks to our “Gold Paw” Sponsors:

A Plus Reporting Service LLC (Plainville)

Carl Guild & Associates (East Hampton)

CitiHair Design (Middletown)

Mikes’ Auto Service LLC (Haddam)

Many thanks to our “Silver Paw” Sponsors:

Adams Hometown Market (Portland)

ADL Imaging (East Hampton)

Cold Spring Farm (East Haddam)

Dexter's Tunes, Tales & Ales (East Hampton)

Duggan's Dance Center (Marlborough)

Lakeside Automotive (East Hampton)

Paul’s & Sandy’s Too (East Hampton)

Pizzeria DaVinci (Cobalt)

East Hampton Village Center sponsors:

Airline Cycles

The Black Walnut Artisan Bread

Le Petite Boutique and Willow.

We also thank the following for their donations of goods, services and time:

EHMS Art Teacher Carl Pastor for designing the t-shirts, East Hampton Parks and Recreation, EHHS Interact Club, the EHHS Cross Country Team, EHMS EarlyAct Club, Big Y Marlborough, Stop & Shop and more than 75 parent and community volunteers. Without you this event wouldn’t happen year after year.

Thank you again and see you next September!

Did you miss your chance to buy a Pantherfest 2022 shirt?

Contact PTOehms@gmail.com to order.

We have shirts available in a variety of colors, sizes and sleeve lengths. Remaining shirts are white and royal blue (we also have a couple of short sleeve shirts in slate blue sizes large and x-large only). There are plenty of medium shirts but very few size small shirts remaining so act now! Short sleeve shirts are $10 and long sleeve shirts are $15. Remaining shirts will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

Effectively immediately, the following email addresses can be used by parents to report and document their approval of an absence:

Memorial_Attendance@easthamptonct.org

Center_Attendance@easthamptonct.org

EHMS_Attendance@easthamptonct.org

EHHS_Attendance@easthamptonct.org

If you have successfully emailed the school, you will receive an autoreply that notifies you that the absence communication has been received and recorded. This process is effective for your child for the first 9 absences. After your student has more than 9 absences, additional documentation or communication is required to excuse the absence. However, please continue to use the email designated for your child's school to continue to notify the school that your child will be absent. You may call your child’s school at any time to report an absence, as well.

Math Minute started this week and it's already a hit with students!! "Can you solve the problem in a minute?"

Students have started volunteering in the library and are shelving books. The library is happy with the lively company, creative ideas, and much needed help from these dedicated volunteers!!

Message from Mrs. Hafele:

It is cold and flu season! Just a reminder that we do not carry any cold medications in the health office, so please ensure that students have taken what they need at home before coming to school. Any student with a fever will be sent home and must be fever free for 24 hours prior to their return to school. Students may bring cough drops (for themselves only) to school, if needed. Let’s work together to stay well!

Some reminders:

• Water Bottles: remember to send in water bottles with your child!
• Medications: Even if your child is planning on carrying their inhaler or EpiPen, please remember that they are required to submit a medication authorization form filled out by their doctor. Also, please be sure to drop off any medications that we need to have on hand if we have the medication authorization form allowing us to administer.
• OTC Permission: Each year we need a new form giving the school nurse permission to administer over-the-counter medications such as; acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or antacid throughout the year, please obtain a copy and return it as soon as possible.

If at any point you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me at khafele@easthamptonct.org or call the school office at 860-365-4060.

Thank you!

Mrs. Hafele

EAST HAMPTON MS ATHLETICS SCHEDULE OCT 3 -OCT 7

MONDAY, OCT 3

McGee MS (Berlin) soccer at East Hampton, 3:30 pm game.

Girls soccer at East Hampton High School, 2:45 pm shuttle.

Boys soccer at East Hampton Middle School

Cross Country practice from 2:35 until 4:00 pm. Please report to the library at dismissal.

TUESDAY, OCT 4

East Hampton boys/girls cross country at Griswold MS (Rocky Hill), 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 bus.

Note: Sunnycrest Park-Boys run first!

Girls Soccer 2:35 until 4:30 pm

Boys Soccer 2:40 until 4:30 pm. Report to art room at dismissal.

WEDNESDAY, OCT 5

East Hampton soccer at William Johnston MS (Colchester), 2:20 dismissal, 2:30 pm bus.

Note: Girls Soccer 3:30 pm game-West Soccer Field (we are sending our JV team, varsity is off) Coaches will let the girls know on Tuesday who is traveling to Colchester 2–30's for time.

Note: Boys Soccer 3:30 pm game-East Soccer Field

Cross Country practice from 2:35 until 4:00 pm

THURSDAY, OCT 6

Beman MS (Middletown) at East Hampton, 3:45 pm game.

Boys soccer at East Hampton High School., 2:45 pm shuttle.

Girls soccer at East Hampton Middle School.

Cromwell boys/girls cross country at East Hampton MS

Note: Boys run first

Note: Team pictures girls' soccer and cross country.

FRIDAY, OCT 7

NO Athletics!

Student, parents, and community members have access to an anonymous tip line on the front page of the school district website to report self-concerns, mental health concerns of a friend, or concerns of violence. Simply click here or view on the website - https://www.easthamptonps.org

If your child is having any Chromebook or technology issues please click on the link below to do some troubleshooting: EHMS TroubleShooting Tips

If the troubleshooting doesn't work click on the link below to submit an IT work ticket:

Chromebook Trouble Ticket

Please encourage your child to take pride and care in their device. Below is a video to review the proper care of Chromebooks with your child.

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