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EVERGREEN EAGLE EXPRESS
Week of January 24, 2016 - Issue 23
EVERGREEN MIDDLE SCHOOL
6900 208TH Ave. NE, Redmond, WA 98053
Main Office: 425-936-2320
Attendance Line: 425-936-2321
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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE  |
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Hello Evergreen Families -
The 1st Semester successfully came to a close on Friday and we have reached the half-way mark of the school year. We celebrated with a Winter Wonderland dance, complete with a snowmaking machine and great music. Students had a wonderful time smiling and dancing and taking pictures with their classmates. There aren't too many opportunities to take a selfie with a friend, catch snowflakes in your hand, and dance to Justin Bieber all in the same location, all at the same time. Needless to say, it was a wonderful way to finish off the first half of the year. During the next week, teachers will be scoring final assessments and computing semester grades. Report cards will come out in early February. Regardless of your student's achievement, they have built a solid foundation and are off to a good start building and honing their academic, social, emotional, and behavioral skills.
Sometimes as parents it is easy to praise or condemn our student based on their achievement. We say "good job" for earning A's and 4's and "do better" for earning D's or 1's/2's. But what if our student was successful but didn't work hard? We might erroneously praise their achievement and focus on how successful they were when in fact they didn't work hard and build their academic grit. If our student worked hard but didn't achieve at the expected level, we might share our frustration with their performance/achievement and discourage them from working as hard in the future. Ultimately, achievement and earning high marks is important but as I've written about in earlier Eagle Express editions, a growth mindset and persevering through difficulties will carry a student further in their academic career than just praising their intelligence. Carol Dweck's research on Growth Mindset shows that when the work becomes progressively harder, students who were praised for their intelligence give up quicker than students who were praised for their work ethic and determination. We know there will be times this 2nd Semester when the work is challenging and your student may feel like giving up. We would encourage you to help them press on. As you review your student's work with them this semester, feel free to use any of the following phrases that praise growth and work ethic over intelligence.
"I noticed that you went back to...
You have really grown at...
The steps you took must have really helped you at...
I see that you have been trying so hard at...
You are taking on harder tasks and that must make you feel confident.
I see that you are working really hard at this.
I noticed you are thinking through the steps we discussed."
These sentence starters are designed to focus on effort and a growth mindset rather than intelligence and a fixed mindset.
We can all acknowledge that school will progressively get harder as students get older but if they have a growth mindset then they will be ready to tackle the challenges ahead of them and persevere until they achieve their goals.
We appreciate all the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral support you have provided this 1st Semester and we look forward to partnering with you in the 2nd Semester as well.
As always, please let us know how we can best support your student in all facets of their education.
Thanks and take care and have a great 2nd Semester.
Sincerely,
Principal
Evergreen Middle School
"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty."
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IMPORTANT DATES |
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Mon., 1/25 - 2nd Semester Begins
Tues., 1/26 - EMS Play Applications Due (revised)
Wed., 1/27 - 3rd Season Sports Paperwork Due
Wed., 1/27 - Eastlake High School Future Freshman Parent Night; 7pm @ EHS
Wed., 1/27 - Mandatory Parent (Only) Meeting for EMS Play; 7:30-8:30pm in EMS Library (revised)
Thurs., 2/11 - NO SCHOOL: Mid-Winter Break
Fri., 2/12 - NO SCHOOL: Mid-Winter Break
Mon., 2/15 - NO SCHOOL: President's Day
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SCHOOL NEWS |
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EMS PLAY *updated*
Revisions:
The application deadline has been extended to Tues., Jan. 26. Return your application to the office and bring fee/check and conflict calendar to the parent meeting.
The mandatory parent (only) meeting has changed to Wed., Jan. 27 at 7:30pm in the EMS Library
Please encourage your student, if they are even a little bit interested, to try out. It may become their passion! Also, did we mention that colleges look for students who are well-rounded on their applications? A theater background could be just the thing to tip the scales in their favor!
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EHS FRESHMAN PARENT NIGHT
The Eastlake High School Counseling Department will be hosting their Incoming Freshman Parent Night for the Class of 2020 parents on Wednesday, January 27th @ 7:00 p.m. in the theater. This is an opportunity for parents of current 8th grade students who plan to attend EHS in the fall of 2016-2017 to learn more about our course registration process, graduation requirements, and activity and athletic opportunities available to our students. If you are unable to attend this presentation and would like more information it will be available on the Counseling Haiku page as well as the Eastlake webpage following the presentation. We hope to see you there!
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LWSD HIGH SCHOOL GUIDE *new*
Unable to make one of the high school parent info. nights? Just want more information?
Click on the link below to visit the LWSD website. Here you will find information to help your student prepare for high school, succeed in and graduate from high school, and ensure readiness for life after graduation.
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EVERGREEN ATHLETICS |
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SPORTS CLUB 2 (INTRAMURALS)
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2nd season intramurals started on January 19th and will run through January 29th. Intramurals will be every day after school except Wednesdays and will end at 4:00.
The sports for this season are floor hockey and kickball.
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February 1 - March 25
Volleyball - 7th and 8th Grade Girls
Wrestling - Boys and Girls
All paperwork must be filled out and submitted to Kathleen Nilsen by Wednesday, January 27th. 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 3rd season sports will be Wednesday, February 3rd. After this date sign-ups will be closed.
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PTSA |
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EMS MEMBERSHIP UPDATE *new*
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LUCKY LEAP YEAR:
GO FOR 29
BY FEBRUARY 29
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Leap Year only happens once every four years. It's a rare opportunity with an extra day to do something exciting - like increase our PTA's membership! It's not too late to become an Evergreen Middle School PTSA Member. Just follow the link below and return the Membership form with your check to the Evergreen MS office.
Contact EMS PTSA Membership Chair, Deb Knaus with any questions kdknaus@msn.com.
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YOUR PTSA DOLLARS AT WORK
Where does our PTSA money go, you ask? Many different things. Among the grants given out at our PTSA General Membership Meeting on Thursday, January 14, 2016, were: a new sanding tool for the woodshop classes, new dividers for the math department for use during testing, 200 To Kill a Mockingbird books for the 8th grade Language Arts classes, and a new headset for Ms. Melton so she can keep attendance records more efficiently.
If you haven't already, please remember to have your donations matched through your company, if available. Some companies are already set up to give to EMS PTSA but, if you need our tax I.D. number, please contact EMS PTSA Co-Treasurers Jiarui Ge or Wei Tao as we are not supposed to advertise it. Thanks!
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SECOND SEMESTER SCHEDULES
The second semester of the school year begins on Monday, January 25. Volunteers are needed before the start of the school day to hand out schedules to the entire student body.
**ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST HAVE A CURRENT VALID LWSD BACKGROUND CHECK ON FILE**
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EXTRACURRICULAR |
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REDMOND LIBRARY PROGRAMS *new*
Redmond Library offers many programs throughout the year that may be of interest to your family. Click on any title below for more information.
Teen Book Club (2nd Thurs. of each month from 4-5pm); next meeting on Feb. 11
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CAMP FAIR 2016
Sat., Feb. 6, 10am-2pm @ St. Thomas School in Medina
It's not too early to start thinking about camps for the summer! Your chance to check out over 65 different local camp opportunities for tots through teens is coming to St. Thomas School in Medina. Parking and entrance is free but you must register for this indoor event.
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NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
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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
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Evergreen Middle School PTSA
Eagle Express is published by parent volunteers of Evergreen Middle School.
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