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Eastbrook Middle School
Family Newsletter - September 2024
September 5, 2024
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Thursday, September 19th from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
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We invite and encourage parents and guardians to attend EMS Parent/Teacher Conferences on Thursday, September 19, 2024, in the Middle School Gymnasium. Below you will find some important information pertaining to this date:
- Middle school students will NOT have any school on this date.
- Appointments are not necessary - enter at Door 8 - come and go as you please.
- We encourage parents/guardians to pick up your student's progress report and ILEARN scores outside the middle school gym and then circulate from one teacher to the next.
- Sign in with each teacher that you meet with. Conferences will need to be limited to 5-10 minutes per teacher - if a longer conference is necessary - you will need to schedule that to occur outside of this date.
- Teachers who teach both middle school and high school students may be stationed in the cafeteria.
Thank you for partnering and supporting our staff as we work with your children throughout the school year!
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If you are planning to volunteer this school year within the school or on a field trip, please complete the request for a limited criminal history check at the following link below. This form needs to be completed only once for the 2024-2025 school year and will be valid for volunteering at all schools within the Eastbrook school district. |
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EMS students have seven 47-minute periods and one 30-minute homeroom (HR) period throughout the school day.
Our goal during HR time is to connect students with a teacher who can focus and support a student on their individual strengths and weaknesses.
Each day during the week there is a different focus during HR time:
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Motivating Mondays - Lessons from Mrs. Richards (counselor) and Mrs. Mize (technology) will focus on being a good friend, preparing for college and careers, and increasing technology awareness.
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Teacher Check-In Tuesdays - Students review their goals and progress. Teachers check-in with individual students.
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Whole Child Wednesdays* - Students will have the opportunity to gain soft skills and life skills that they can use outside of the four walls of EMS.
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Transition Thursdays - Students can ask for a pass to transition to different homerooms if they need additional support in a specific subject.
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Fun Fridays - For students who have earned the privilege, team-building and extracurricular activities will be provided by the homeroom teacher.
*Soft Skills and Life Skills Focus
Students will spend 2 HR periods this semester with each teacher focusing on the following skills:
6th Grade
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Ball - Sorting and Doing Laundry**
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Harmon - Writing a Thank You Note
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Hayes - Test-Taking Skills and Mindset
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Hemmick - Joining 2 Pieces of Wood Using a Drill**
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Holt - Reading a Nutrition Label
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Jackson - Teamwork
7th Grade
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Brown - Drywall Repair**
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Duckwall - Replacing a Power Outlet**
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Gimre - Map Skills - Without a GPS
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Housel - Problem Solving Puzzles
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Marsee - Writing a Thank You Note
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Newby - Completing a Check/Money Order**
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Zent - Random Acts of Kindness
8th Grade
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Bruckner - Manually Keeping Your Bowling Score
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Deisler - Reading a Tape Measure
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Pinkerton - Writing Your Full Name in Cursive
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Ross - Reading an Analog Clock
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Watts - Writing a Well-Crafted Email
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Wilson - Writing a Best Man/Maid of Honor Speech
**Parents Should Monitor if Students Use These Skills Outside of School
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Spare Time at EMS - Building up Panther Leaders
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At EMS, we want to teach our students how to best use their time if and when they complete all required school work during the day. We encourage you to also implement this with your children at home as you see fit.
See the graphic below to learn more about what students can do at school and at home when they finish all of their school work.
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Tutoring Available for EMS Students
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We are excited that the Eastbrook National Honors Society will have high school students providing after school tutoring on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays this school year from 3:10 - 3:40 p.m. in the EHS Learning Commons.
This service is a free, student-led tutoring program available to all EMS students and will provide homework help for any middle or high school student in grades 6-12. Registration is not necessary. Transportation is not provided.
Contact our high school counselor Mrs. Brittany Boller at bboller@eastbrook.k12.in.us with any questions.
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Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Richards
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Welcome back to a new school year. My name is Amy Richards, and I am the middle school counselor. This is my 4th year at Eastbrook Middle School and my 29th year in education. I graduated from Eastbrook High School and live in Eastbrook’s attendance area. I’m proud to be an Eastbrook Panther, and it is a privilege to serve you and your children. I am available to support your children in academics, preparation for high school and college, and personal or social issues that arise. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if I can help your child in any way. I can be reached by calling the school, through Parent Square, or via email at arichards@eastbrook.k12.in.us. I’m looking forward to a great year!
September 23rd-27th is College GO Week! The state of Indiana designates one week each September that is designed to deliver important college and career planning information to students in simple and fun ways. We will have special activities and college goody giveaways throughout this week. All throughout the year, I will be talking with your children about college and career information. College GO Week is just a week with extra emphasis on college and career planning.
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6th Grade Math Update - Mr. Hemmick
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Every month, students will be required to complete 30 topics on Aleks. There are a total of 12 different categories on Aleks that students should be working on. These topics range from fractions and decimals to data analysis and probability. The content in these 12 categories is all the content that all 6th-grade students should, in theory, master. Completing only 30 topics a month will not allow students to complete every single category. However, between in-class instruction and filling in any gaps with the topics, students should be in a great place with their overall math comprehension.
One thing we love about the topics is that it is catered to the needs of each student. Each student can take a test and it excuses them out of the content they already know and it gives them specific content to learn.
If you find that your student needs either some extra work to touch up on specific content, or you want them to push themselves further in math, topics are a fantastic tool to do that!
6th grade did not have any assigned topics for August, but starting September 1st, all 6th grade students will need to complete 30 topics for the month.
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6th Grade Science Update - Mrs. Ball
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In sixth-grade science, students have been learning about photosynthesis and cellular respiration. In addition to reading the text, they have opportunities to experience these concepts. They played a video game where they were immersed in photosynthesis and had to “perform photosynthesis” in order to complete the game. Students also conducted a light lab where they witnessed photosynthesis. They began by counting the oxygen bubbles produced under a light and then repeated the lab under a different light with a different intensity. Lastly, students blew CO2 into a cup of bromothymol blue. The introduction of CO2 caused the bromothymol blue to change color. |
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6th Grade Social Studies Update - Ms. Harmon
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During the first two weeks of school, our sixth graders have been diving into some exciting topics! We started by learning about the acronym GRAPES, which helps us understand different aspects of civilizations: Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, and Social Structure.
Along with GRAPES, we've also been reviewing our fifty states, as well as the Earth's continents and oceans. It's been a fun way to kick off the school year!
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7th/8th Grade Science Update - Mrs. Ross
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It has been a fantastic start to this year in Mrs. Ross’s science classes. We have focused on classroom management and lab procedures to ensure optimum learning and structure as we study the Scientific Method and do many hands-on labs (most involving candy) to reinforce and walk students through the 5-step process. Be sure to ask your student about the Twizzler lab, how long they could go without blinking, the gummy bear lab, and see if your student was able to “Save Sam” and successfully get the gummy lifesaver on the "drowning" gummy worm. My students have done an excellent job measuring, collecting, and recording data and we emphasized using the data to support the conclusion of each lab. I really appreciate my students’ excitement to participate in labs and I hope to instill a love of learning and science in them during my time with your child this year. Coming up this month, my 7th graders will be studying Cells and my 8th graders will begin studying Genetics. |
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8th Grade Math Update - Mr. Bruckner
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In September, eighth-grade math classes will focus on square roots, real numbers, and solving equations. Students will learn how to calculate the square roots of perfect squares and make estimates for other square roots. They will also compare real numbers. Near the end of September, students will begin a unit on solving equations. Mastering these skills will help students approach challenging math problems with confidence and precision, supporting their academic growth and future success.
Algebra students will explore the practical applications of ratios and proportions, delving into their relevance in various scenarios such as rates, percents, scale drawings, similarity, and indirect measurement. This foundational knowledge will provide a strong basis for understanding real-world problems. Additionally, students will engage in solving one-step, multi-step, and compound inequalities in one variable, honing their problem solving skills and equipping them to tackle diverse mathematical challenges.
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6th/7th/8th Grade Choir Update - Mrs. Delong
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Welcome to Middle School choir! I’ve loved getting to know your students so far and I’m thrilled to continue the journey!
Concert Dates were sent out on ParentSquare last week, but it is also attached in Google Classroom under the “Materials” tab.
There is a facebook page for Eastbrook Choirs. Please join the page to support the choir program this year and to hear about updated news and live streamed concerts. The QR Code is to the left.
The students sing karaoke on some Fridays if they had a good week, so if you look below, you will find a picture during that time!
I look forward to this year and all of the challenges it presents! Thank you for your support in Eastbrook Choir and for trusting our school with your students!
Thank you!
Tabitha DeLong
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Each month, 2 students from each grade level will be selected by their teachers to be recognized as "Students of the Month."
Congratulations to our August EMS Students of the Month!
6th Grade
Wade Gibbons - Nominated by Mrs. Holt
Anele Matangi - Nominated by Mr. Hemmick
7th Grade
Raidyn Butcher-Marley - Nominated by Mr. Brown
Nikita Powell - Nominated by Mr. Brown
8th Grade
Luke Bailey - Nominated by Mr. Bruckner
Ryder Horn - Nominated by Mr. Bruckner
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Updated Attendance Policy
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It is imperative that students be in attendance each day in order to maintain consistency in their learning. Most learning is a result of active participation in the classroom and cannot be replaced by individual study.
Students who miss more than 10% of the school year are labeled as chronically absent and are at a greater risk of falling behind academically. Thank you for partnership in sending your students to Eastbrook Middle School and communicating with us in the event that your student will not be at school for the day.
REPORTING ABSENCES
In the event that a student must miss school:
- Each student’s absence must be reported on the day of the absence to the school by the student’s parent/guardian by 8:30 A.M.
- If an absence has not been reported by 8:30 A.M. The office will call to check on the student’s absence. However, the absence will be recorded as Unexcused regardless of the reason. It is imperative that parents report absences prior to 8:30 A.M.
- Students who must leave school are required to sign out after receiving permission from the school office. Upon return, the student must sign in at the office. At no time are students to leave the building without permission.
ATTENDANCE CODES
Late to class
Tardy T
Days that count toward limits
Excused Illness (by parent) A-I
Truant U-AT
Unexcused U-AU
Days absent which do not count toward limits
Doctor’s written note E-D
Funeral E-B
Medical dismissal per school nurse E-NI
Out-of-school suspension O-S
Pre-arranged absence E-PA (no more than 5)
Counted as present
In-school suspension I-IS
Field trip I-F
College visit I-CV
Exempt by State of Indiana
Page or Honoree of the General Assembly X-P
Serving during a primary or general election X-E
Court Appearance X-C
Serving in National Guard X-NG
Serving in Civil Air Patrol X-CA
Educational-related non-school activity X-FT
State Fair Participation X-SF
*All exempt absences require paperwork verifying the absence/activity.
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Parent Prearranged Absences (PPA)
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In rare instances, there are life circumstances that prevent a student from being able to attend school that are not related to a personal illness. Please read and follow the information below. on how to communicate with EMS.
PARENT PREARRANGED ABSENCES (PPA)
If it becomes absolutely necessary to take a student out of school during school hours, a parent/guardian must complete a pre-arranged absence form. Failure to complete a form will result in unexcused absences.
Eligibility
A student must have an attendance record of 95% for the current school year. (During August, September, and October, the attendance record of the prior semester may be used to qualify). Special medical circumstances may be a mitigating factor toward meeting this requirement.
Limitation
● A PPA is intended for family-related activities.
● A PPA is not expected to exceed five (5) days per school year.
● No PPA will be allowed during the first or last five (5) school days of any semester without special approval from the principal.
● A PPA must be approved 1 week prior to the date of the leave.
Procedures
After receiving approval from the principal as outlined above, the parent must agree to:
- Assume full responsibility for any lack of progress that could be associated with the time of absence.
- See that the student gets all missed work completed by the deadline. Students will have the same number of days to complete the work.
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2024-2025 Student Handbook Updates
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Parents upon registering their student for the 2024-2025 school year agreed to the details within the EMS handbook.
Students during the first week of school reviewed and agreed to the details within the EMS handbook.
I have been pleased so far with our students effort and behavior here at school and our parents responsiveness towards supporting their student and our staff in correcting student behavior. Thank you for your partnership between school and home - it is very much appreciated!
I encourage all students and parents to click the link below and become acclimated with the following policies:
- Attendance Policy - Pages 8 through 12
- Dress Code - Page 15
- Tardy Policy - Pages 15 and 16
- Cell Phone Policy - Pages 30 and 31
- Athletic Eligibility - Page 32
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Communicate with Mr. Lunsford
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We want all students to be successful and have a positive experience during their years at Eastbrook Middle School! Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions throughout the school year.
Mr. Todd Lunsford
Principal
Eastbrook Middle School
(765) 668-7136, Extension 3000
tlunsford@eastbrook.k12.in.us
https://eastbrook.k12.in.us/middleschool/
Go Panthers!
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