We hope this week's Eagle Express finds you warm and well. The 1^st Quarter ended last Wednesday and it's hard to fathom that 25% of our school year is already complete. We frequently question where all the time goes and it's difficult to comprehend that it is so fleeting. But as I reminisce on the first quarter of the year, I find myself more and more appreciative of my time at Evergreen. November is always a month to express gratitude and thanksgiving and we will say thanks throughout the year as well. Thank you for giving us your most precious resource every day and allowing us to teach and challenge and grow your students into the young people they are becoming. We are heartened each day by the learning that takes place and the growth that has already occurred. Students flourish at Evergreen and it is because of our collective partnership together in this journey. Thank you to our dedicated and tireless Teachers. They come early and stay late to prepare the best lessons for your students based on their learning needs. Thank you to our Office Staff who support teachers and parents and community in helping our school run well. Thank you to our Paraeducators and Instructional Assistants who support students and teachers in classrooms. And thank you to our Kitchen Staff for providing great meals; to our Custodial Crew for doing the dirty work others don't want to do; and to our Counselors for providing academic, social, emotional, and behavioral supports to our students. And thank you to our PTSA, Parents and Community for supporting us through gifts of time and resources. We certainly couldn't do it without you. It truly takes all of us working collectively to support student learning and we are grateful to have such a wonderful connection and partnership with all of our stakeholders.

We also wanted you to be aware of a new column in the Eagle Express as well called the Counseling Corner. Each month our counseling team will provide resources about services they offer or are offered through our community. This is just one more way we want to support you and your student at Evergreen. We hope you find the column valuable; as always, please reach out if there are other supports and resources you need information on.

Lastly, Wednesday is a day off from school to honor those who have served in our armed forces. We will be hosting our Veterans' Day Assembly on Tuesday morning and we look forward to hearing from EMS Campus Security Officer Eric Swanson who served 23 years in the US Army. We appreciate Mr. Swanson and his service to our country and to EMS and we look forward to hearing his message to our students.

We can never say thank you enough: to those who have served, to our families, to our friends, to our colleagues, and to our classmates. Please accept this heart-felt thanks for all you do for our school.

With deep appreciation and sincere gratitude,

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

Tues., 11/10 - NJHS Thanksgiving Food Drive Begins

Wed., 11/11 - NO SCHOOL: Veterans Day

Thurs., 11/12 - 2nd Season Sports Start

Thurs., 11/12 - Applications for School/Home Communications Task Force Due

Thurs., 11/12 - Poinsettia Orders Due

Wed., 11/18 - NJHS Thanksgiving Food Drive Ends

Fri., 11/20 - 8th Grade Panoramic Photo Orders Due

COUNSELING CORNER

WELCOME TO THE EVERGREEN COUNSELING CORNER, EMS FAMILIES! *new*

To further improve the communication between you and our counselors, we have created this Counseling Corner in the Eagle Express. On the first Friday of each month our counselors will provide information about an issue that directly relates to concerns expressed by Evergreen students and families. If there are any additional issues that you would like to see discussed during our monthly Counseling Corner, please let us know!

School Counselors provide valuable support at Evergreen Middle School. Our school counselors work with students individually, in small group settings, and in classrooms. Counselors address social/emotional, academic and career concerns, and provide the following supports for students:

~Transitions (Elem to MS, MS to HS and new students to LWSD)

~Progress Reports/Academic Monitoring

~Conflict Resolution/Mediation

~Friendship skills

~Grief/Loss

~Goal-Setting

~Career Exploration

~Classroom Presentations on a variety of topics

Students may reach us by stopping by the office; if we are not available, students may leave a note for their counselor in the box on the Counseling Secretary's desk. Students may also email us. Counselors will then send a pass for a student to come see them. Counselors can also be reached by calling 425-936-2320.

If you have any concerns about your student please let us know by calling or emailing us. We look forward to working with you this year!

Sarah Parnell (A-G) - sparnell@lwsd.org

Christy Walter (H-N) - chwalter@lwsd.org

Denise Ozeri (O-Z) - dozeri@lwsd.org

SCHOOL NEWS

NJHS THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE *new*

As we look ahead to Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, please choose once again to help donate to those who are much less fortunate. We hope you will participate in the NJHS Thanksgiving Food Drive and be a part in improving our community.

All the food will be donated to HOPELINK. Anything helps and with every donation, you will be impacting a person's life positively.

Students will be able to turn in food in the morning before school on November 10-18^th in the Commons. Each day will have a theme that students are encouraged to follow, but is not required.

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE

� Tin Can Tuesday (11/10)-Anything that comes in a can

� Thanksgiving Thursday (11/12)-Foods commonly eaten on Thanksgiving

� Fruit & Veggies Friday (11/13)-Bring canned fruits and vegetables

� Mash Up Monday (11/16)-Anything fits Monday's theme!

� Toddler Tuesday (11/17)-Baby or toddler food

� Wheat & Grains Wednesday (11/18)-Anything made primarily of wheat or grains

Please also make sure that all the food donated is nonperishable.

Thank you in advance for your generosity. Choose to help us make a difference in our community and fight hunger that is threatening families all over the world.

Best Regards,

The Evergreen National Junior Honor Society

POINSETTIAS FOR THE HOLIDAYS *new*

The Evergreen Middle School Music Department is having their annual Poinsettia sale right now! You have until Thursday, November 12th to order. Choose 6" white, red, or pink Poinsettias for $15 each. 24" Noble Fir wreaths are $21 each. Contact any EMS music student or email Mr. Peterson epeterson@lwsd.org or Mr. Beise rbeise@lwsd.org to get yours. Delivery to EMS will be on Thursday, Dec. 3rd. Sales support the Band, Choir and Orchestra programs at Evergreen Middle School.

8TH GRADE PANORAMIC PICTURE ORDER FORM *new*

Lifetouch will be at EMS on November 20th to do a panoramic picture of all the 8th graders. The deadline for ordering a copy of the picture is November 20. If you would like a copy of the picture, you must PREORDER. Additional orders will not be accepted. The price for the panoramic picture is $18.00. Your student may pick up a form outside the cashier's window or you can order online at www.mylifetouch.com. For online ordering use Picture Day ID Code LS115057TO.

PRE-ARRANGED ABSENCES AND ATTENDANCE POLICIES

If you know in advance your student will be missing school, please call our Attendance Office at 425-936-2321 to pre-arrange the absence. Then we can enter the event into Skyward as an excused absence and you will not receive a phone call indicating your student was absent.

Also, please note we can only excuse absences for the following reasons:

� illness

� medical appointments

� family emergencies

� religious holidays

� school-related field trips

� suspensions and absences created by the school

� other planned absences

All other absences will be considered unexcused, and students who accumulate too many unexcused absences will be subject to the Becca Bill and the King County Juvenile Court System.

Please see the Attendance Policies on p. 20-21 in the EMS Student Handbook for further explanation.

SCHOOL/HOME COMMUNICATION TASK FORCE SEEKS MEMBERS

Good communication can help parents engage in school activities and support their students' learning. The School/Home Communication Task Force will develop recommendations for consistent use of specific communications tools by schools in the district, including websites, newsletters, calendars, etc. This work will include clarifying the roles of school communications and PTSA communications.

Parents, teachers and office staff members are being recruited to serve on the committee. The group will meet monthly on a Thursday beginning December 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Resource Center. If you are interested in serving on the committee, please click on this School/Home Task Force sign-up link. Applications are due by November 12.

YEARBOOK

Evergreen Eagles: We will have our last Yearbook sell date starting November 1^st, 2015 running through December 18^th, 2015. The cost for Yearbooks are $30.00. They can be purchased online starting November 1^st, 2015 or at the cashier window. Don't miss out on the opportunity to purchase this great keepsake!

EVERGREEN ATHLETICS

EMS GIRLS' BADMINTON TEAM *new*

The 83 girls of the Evergreen Badminton Team just finished their season. We met our team goals of having fun, making new friends, learning about teamwork, and developing badminton skills. It was amazing to see how the girls improved as the season progressed! We wish our 8th grade players the very best as they move on and are looking forward to welcoming our current 6th and 7th grade players back next season! We encourage all Evergreen girls and next year's incoming 6th graders to think about joining us in September for another fun-filled season of badminton.

INTRAMURAL SPORTS

Intramural soccer started 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

2^nd Season sports (Boys' basketball - 7th & 8th and Girls' basketball - 6th, 7th & 8th) start on November 12^th. All paperwork must be filled out and submitted to Kathleen Nilsen by Friday, November 6^th. 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 2^nd season sports will be November 19^th. After this date sign-ups will be closed.

PTSA

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.

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.

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

INSIGHTS TO ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NIGHT

Wed., Nov. 18, 6:30-8:30pm @ Lake Washington High School

Learn about courses and opportunities at LWSD Middle & High Schools. Talk with industry professionals.

Click here to view the flyer.

REDMOND MUSTANGS JR. DANCE CAMP *new*

Dec., 9th, 10th, and 11th @ Redmond High School

For dancers in 1st through 8th grades.

Dancers will learn basic dance technique and a performance routine choreographed by RHS Dance Team Officers. No previous dance training is required! Dancers will perform the routine they learn with the RHS Dance Team during half time at Boys Varsity Basketball Game on December 11th.

Cost for the camp is $75 and includes a custom designed t-shirt and pizza dinner with the RHS dance team before the basketball game. There is also the option to purchase a photo of your child with the Dance Team for $10. Payment due in cash or check made out to RHS Dance Team on the first day of camp, Dec 9th.

Please view the flyer for more info.

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.