Evergreen Eagle Express
Week of October 18, 2015 - Issue 11

 

EVERGREEN MIDDLE SCHOOL 

6900 208th Ave. NE, Redmond, WA 98053 | 425.936.2320 

 

 
IN THIS ISSUE
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
IMPORTANT DATES
SCHOOL NEWS
EVERGREEN ATHLETICS
PTSA
EXTRACURRICULAR
Join Our Mailing List!
QUICK LINKS

 

 

LWSD WEBSITE

 

EMS PTSA   

 


SCHOOL LUNCH 


TANDEM CALENDAR

 


REPORTING A SCHOOL ABSENCE
CONTACT INFORMATION
Principal          

Assistant Principal 

Assistant Principal
Katy Rudolph    

Office Manager     

Secretary to the Assistant Principal
  
Counselor (A-G)

Counselor (H-N)

Counselor (O-Z)  
 
Counseling Secretary/Registrar
 
Athletic Director    
 
Main Phone Line    
425.936.2320

Attendance Line     
425.936.2321

Counseling Office  
425.936.2326
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
 
Hello Evergreen Families - 

We hope you and your student enjoyed the three-day weekend.  While it was a day off for students, it was a day on for staff.  EMS teachers participated in a full day of professional development that was both informative and useful.  We are grateful to our community for funding these professional development days and our staff learned many practical strategies that can be implemented as early as Monday morning.  We continued our focus on supporting all learners through engagement and interaction strategies.  We also used time to better familiarize ourselves with Skyward and its functionality as our new gradebook.  We also spent time learning some of the new Office Mix features and had time to apply these learnings to our lessons and instruction. 
 
In addition to administrators conducting both formal and informal observations, our staff has committed to observing each other in an informal sense to collect and share feedback to improve our instructional practices.  Teachers will be giving up one of their planning periods to observe a colleague and collect feedback to improve their own practice or to collect feedback to share with the colleague who was observed to inform and improve their practice.  In short, we are committed to growing and improving our instructional practices by observing our peers; and it does not go unnoticed by our school administration that our fantastic group of teachers want to continue to refine and improve their practices.  Many of our teachers also participate in other coaching and observation cycles in addition to the formal and informal observations they receive from administrators, and I am proud to say the Evergreen staff is a highly dedicated group of professionals.
 
I am grateful to serve as principal of such a collaborative, professional, and outstanding group of educators.  We are committed to improving our methods so we can continue to educate your students at the highest levels possible.
 
Thank you again for your commitment to our professional development and growth.  We hope you enjoyed the day off; we definitely enjoyed the day on.
 
We look forward to our continued partnership and helping your student achieve their full potential.
 
Wishing you all my best,

Robert Johnson

Principal
Evergreen Middle School

425.936.2320


"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty."

IMPORTANT DATES
Mon., 10/19 - Parent Needs Assessment Survey Ends
 
Wed., 10/21 - Science Club Enrollment Deadline
 
Wed., 10/21 - Unity Day: Wear Orange to Unite Against Bullying
 
Tues., 10/27 - EMS Music Concert/Poinsettia Sales Begin

Wed., 10/28 - Reflections Art Entries due by 1pm

Thurs., 10/29 - Intramural Soccer Starts

SCHOOL NEWS
NEW LOCKER COMBINATIONS FOR DARK BLUE LOCKERS *new*
For the 150 students who were issued a new dark blue locker this summer, please see Ms. Nilsen on Monday morning to receive your new locker combination.  The contractor has installed an easier to use, single handed lock so it will be easier for you to hold on to your materials while opening your locker.  This also meant issuing you a new combination, however.  Please see Ms. Nilsen to receive your new combination.

SCIENCE CLUB ENROLLMENT DEADLINE EXTENDED *new*
Due to overwhelming enthusiasm and excitement for the EMS Science Club, we have extended the registration deadline to Wednesday, October 21All registration materials and money must be turned in to Kathleen Nilsen by Wednesday at the conclusion of lunch.  She is available to collect registration forms and money before school and at lunch.  Please see her on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday to turn in your materials.  There will be no additional extensions or exceptions.  Please see Ms. Palmer or Mr. Steele if you have any additional questions.

UNITE AGAINST BULLYING *new*
Wear orange Oct. 21 -- Make it orange and make it end! What are your true colors when it comes to bullying? Make your color orange on Unity Day, Wednesday, October 21. That's the day everyone can join together - in schools and communities - and send one large, orange message of support to students who have experienced bullying. Together, we can make our school communities more compassionate, respectful and caring!


EVERGREEN MUSIC DEPARTMENT CONCERT AND POINSETTIA SALE KICK-OFF *new*
Tuesday, October 27th, Evergreen MS Field House         
 
Come hear great music, some Happy, some Scary, some Fun, some Dangerous: ALL Entertaining.
We look forward to our first Music Presentation of the year!
 
Eric T. Peterson, Director of Bands; Head Cross Country and Track Coach
epeterson@lwsd.org; 425 936-2330 (Music Office)
Evergreen Middle School (Redmond); 425 936 2320

 
VISUAL ARTS *new*  
Be sure to look at the display case by the front door of EMS.  There you will find all the wonderful art that was shown throughout the Western Washington State fair.  This year we brought back SEVEN ribbons which include both a first and a second place.  This art was created by the 6th, 7th and 8th grades.  It is definitely worth a look!
 
YEARBOOK *new*
The yearbook is on sale now, but that will only last until December 18thAfter December 18th the yearbooks will not be available for purchase. The book is $30 and can be purchased at Ms. Nilson's window before school and during all lunches.  Do not wait to buy a book.  They will not be for sale any other time of the year!  
 
Diana Sparks Ba ART, MaED             
UW
ART/Yearbook/Pottery


HOW TO CHECK YOUR STUDENT'S GRADES IN SKYWARD
Attached are PDFs outlining the steps parents need to take so they can access their student's grades in Skyward.  Also included is a PDF if you would like to receive email notifications about missing assignments.
 
EMS passed out these instructions at Curriculum Night and we wanted you to have an electronic copy of them for your files.
 

COMMUNITY SERVICE & PRESIDENTIAL SERVICE AWARDS
Many middle school students are becoming more involved in their communities by volunteering their time and talents to support local organization.  The EMS Community Service Facebook page helps students and parents find those opportunities.  EMS also recognizes students who will serve more than 50 hours between June 1, 2015 and May 31, 2016.  These students are eligible to receive a Presidential Service Award to be presented at a school assembly at the end of the year.  Information about earning an award can be found on the Facebook page or in the attached document.  Please contact Deb Zimmerman if you have any questions regarding the Presidential Service Award. 


EVERGREEN ATHLETICS
1ST SEASON SPORTS *updated*
Matches/meets for this week are listed below:
 
BOYS' TENNIS

 
 
CROSS COUNTRY

    
 


GIRLS' BADMINTON
 
 
 
 
INTRAMURAL SPORTS
Intramural soccer starts on 10/29 and runs through 11/10.  It is after school from 2:45 - 4:00pm every day except Wednesdays.  Please see Ms. Nilsen or Mr. Dowling if you have any questions. 
2ND SEASON SPORTS *new*
2nd Season sports (Boys' basketball - 7th & 8th and Girls' basketball - 6th, 7th & 8th) start on November 12th.  All paperwork must be filled out and submitted to Kathleen Nilsen by Friday, November 6th.  Any athlete whose paperwork is not submitted by this date will be ineligible for the first practice. The last day paperwork will be accepted to participate in 2nd season sports will be November 19th.  After this date sign-ups will be closed.


PTSA
PTSA MEMBERSHIP UPDATE *new*  
I would like to thank all of those who have sent in their membership forms. To date we have 557 members!  There is still time to become an Evergreen Middle School PTSA member.   Just follow the link to the EMS PTSA All in One Form, complete your form, and return to the Evergreen Office.  A big THANK YOU to the parents of our 6th graders who are overwhelmingly are our biggest supporters to date!

Please check your email for your PTSA card and welcome email from our EMS PTSA Co-President, Stephanie Hajicek.  Remember there are discounts and benefits available to our members.  (See below.)  Just show your card!

Finally, because of you we have reached 100% Staff membership. The number of families that sponsored a staff membership this year was the highest we have ever had here at Evergreen MS.  THANK YOU!

Please continue to check back for membership updates and discounts.

Deb Knaus
Evergreen MS Membership Chair

 
2015-2016 PTSA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS 
Member benefits are available to all WSPTA members. 
Have your electronic member card available when taking advantage of benefits.
 
Great Wolf Lodge
PTA members can save up to 20% on available rates now-December 30!  Upon check in, please provide your valid PTA member card.  Click here for more information or call (866) 925-WOLF (9653).  Promo code:  WSPTA984A
 
Key Arena/McCaw Hall
Get priority access to some of the best sports and entertainment in Seattle!  From discounted tickets to a family event or a private suite for your friends, Key Arena/McCaw Hall has what you're looking for!  Visit the WSPTA designated ticket page for more information.

Xfinity Arena at Everett 
October 17, 2015: EnduroCross
November 18-21, 2015: Disney on Ice: Frozen
 
FedEx
Local PTAs and individual members can receive B&W copies at 4� each (single sided), color copies at 39� each (single sided), and 15% off all other production services. Members can use these special rates for all printing needs.  Click here for other FedEx discounts through the month of October.

 
PTA REFLECTIONS ART CONTEST
Each year, the PTA Reflections Program challenges students to create art inspired by a specific theme.  Themes are selected from hundreds of ideas submitted by students across the country. The 2015-2016 theme is "LET YOUR IMAGINATION FLY".
 
Students are encouraged to participate in the Reflections Program by submitting entries to the front office on or before Wed., October 28, 2015 at 1pmLate entries will be returned. The program has the following categories:  special artist division, dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography and visual arts.   
  
Specific guidelines for art submissions (rules) are available here.  3-Dimensional artwork is not accepted.  You can find the Student Entry Form here.  Hard copy entry forms are in the front office.  For specific questions, please contact Chitra Srikumar at chitra_srikumar@msn.com.

 
SHOPPING WITH AMAZON SMILES BENEFITS EVERGREEN
Please use Amazon Smiles when doing your online shopping!  Amazon gives 0.5% of your purchases to the charity of your choice... so choose the Evergreen PTSA!  Use http://smile.amazon.com as the URL to get to Amazon.com.  When you "Select Charity", choose "Evergreen Middle School PTSA" (Tacoma, WA) and it will remember us as your selected charity for next time.  It's easy to earn money for Evergreen by shopping with Amazon Smiles!

 
EVERGREEN PTSA WEBSITE
The Evergreen Middle School PTSA website is up and running!  For the latest news on EMS happenings, please visit http://evergreenptsa.org.
 
  
JOIN THE EMS PTSA FACEBOOK PAGE
EMS PTSA invites you to join our discussion on Facebook.  Click here for up-to-date notices about school activities and communicate with other Evergreen families.

EXTRACURRICULAR
STUDY ZONE: DROP IN FREE HOMEWORK HELP
Sunday, 4-6pm; Mon.-Thurs., 6-8pm @ Redmond Library
Need a place to study or get homework help?  The Redmond Library offers free help for students grade K-12 during their Study Zone hours.  You bring all your materials and instructions.  Volunteer tutors work in a group setting, not private one-to-one sessions.  For schedule information, tutor subjects and languages, visit kcls.org/studyzone.

NON DISCRIMINATION POLICY

The Lake Washington School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, gender, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran, military status, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.


 

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies:
Director of Human Resources
16250 NE 74th Street
Redmond, Washington, 98052
(425) 936-1266


Eagle Express is published by parent volunteers of Evergreen Middle School.  Click here to contact us about the newsletter.  For more information about the PTSA you can visit the Evergreen Middle School PTSA website at http://evergreenptsa.org.