What a fun school year the 2024-2025 school year has been! I would like to take a minute to thank each family for their support of our school and staff this year. This is my 14th year as an educator, and I can confidently say this has been one of the most positive school years I can remember, which is a credit to the staff, students, parents, families, and community members that make up the EMS family. I speak for our entire staff in thanking you for choosing Eastbrook Middle School for your student!

As we wrap up the school year, we ask for your continued support in keeping students on track and motivated with the warmer weather and additional sunshine we are receiving each evening. Students thrive on routine, so we appreciate your assistance and attention to this matter.

This week we have been celebrating our staff daily for Teacher Appreciation Week. It is still not too late to recognize staff or send a quick message of appreciation to staff who have had a positive impact on your student this year!

Final Exams will take place from Friday, 5/23, through Wednesday, 5/28. Our schedule will alter slightly on these days, so please be mindful in scheduling appointments during finals and communicate with the front office if your student will need to be out to ensure they complete their finals in a timely manner. Students who have not completed final exams may not be permitted to attend field trips taking place on the afternoon of Wednesday, 5/28.

Speaking of field trips, sixth grade students will have a field day, seventh grade students will go skating, and eighth grade will go bowling on the afternoon of 5/28. Please remind your students that all school rules apply through the end of the school day on 5/28. We look forward to students enjoying these memorable experiences with their peers and teachers to wrap up what has been a great school year!

At 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 23rd, we will recognize students named the most outstanding in each subject area, students who earned all year high honor roll, students who earned academic excellence for the 2024 calendar year, our Spelling Bee champion and runner-up, student council members, and 8th grade student-athletes who participated in nine seasons of athletics throughout their years at EMS. Students who are being recognized will be notified this Friday and their families will have the opportunity to attend. The EMS Awards Day will be held in the EHS auditorium, so seating will be limited. All adults attending will need to have a limited background check that has been completed for the 24-25 school year submitted to the EMS front office by Friday, May 16th. We are excited to celebrate the many examples of excellence displayed by our students this school year!

We are blessed at Eastbrook with a wonderful music department under the direction of Mrs. Tabitha Delong (choir) and Mr. Ryan Wamhoff (band). See the dates below to attend the last band and choir performances of the year. We encourage you to show your support of our students who have been working hard in preparation of their final performances of the school year!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!

The Eastbrook Athletic Department will once again be hosting a Physical Night! This is an opportunity for students to obtain a free sports physical for the 2025-2026 school year. Our turnout for the last few years has been outstanding, and we look to have an even better turnout this year.

In cooperation with Marion Health, the Eastbrook Athletic Department will offer these physicals at no charge. The Eastbrook Physical Night will be held on Monday, May 12, 2025, from 5 pm-8:30 pm at Eastbrook High School. Those attending the event will need to enter the building around back through door #8. Parents and Students will not only have the opportunity to acquire the needed physical but also complete other paperwork through Final Forms. Please have your portion of the physical form filled out prior to arriving at the Physical Night to allow the event to run more efficiently. Attached below is a copy of the athletic physical form provided by the IHSAA. Please follow this link https://eastbrook-in.finalforms.com/ to create or log in to your Final Forms account (if you have not done so already) and complete the athletic paperwork needed for the 2025-2026 school year. When you log into Final Forms under your parent account, there will be a blue button at the top that says "Click to switch to 2025-26 Registration." You will need to click this button to fill out information for the 25-26 school year. You can then switch back to the 24-25 school year if needed, at the top in the yellow box that says click here if you would like to return to the current school year. 

If your student is unsure if they will participate in an athletic sport for the 24-25 school year, please attend Physical Night anyway; again, this is free of charge to students. Also, students/parents if your student is unsure of participation, please create a Final Forms account anyway. This makes it easier for students, coaches, and the athletic department if the student decides to participate. 

A friendly reminder that all students participating in Eastbrook Athletics (Grades 6-12) must have an updated athletic physical (dated after April 1, 2025) and all Final Forms paperwork completed prior to any participation in athletics. We are excited to have you attend this event and look forward to another fantastic year of Eastbrook Athletics. GO PANTHERS!!

Be on the lookout for more information in coming weeks regarding free summer meals. This will look different this year than it has in years past. We will be passing out bulk meals at Eastbrook High School on Wednesdays from June 11th through July 2nd. Contact the middle school front office or EMS Food Service Director, Kathy Bernaix, at kbernaix@eastbrook.k12.in.us with questions.

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

Go Panthers!