The Eckstein Weekly
February 18, 2020
Admin Message
Greetings Eckstein Families,

We are excited to showcase our NEW “Eckstein Weekly” newsletter. This communication will REPLACE the “Parent Bulletin” that was sent out on Friday afternoons. If you had not previously subscribed to the “Parent Bulletin” please sign up to receive this publication here. If you already had signed up to receive the “Parent Bulletin,” then you will automatically be receiving this new format. 
 
A couple items of note this week:
1. “Schoology" and “The Source” are back on-line. District Technology was hard at work with the vendor of the programs and finally got the issue resolved late last week. Thank you for your patience as the platforms were down and material was inaccessible. Because of the system issue, teacher were given until Friday, February 14, 2020 at 5 pm to input grades. Performance Reports will go home with students during the week after mid-winter break.
2. Last week Eckstein joined the Seattle Public Schools and many schools across our nation in observing Black Lives Matter at School Week.  You can learn more about the national work by visiting  https://blacklivesmatteratschool.com/   At Eckstein we are actively working to ensure a welcoming environment that provides identity safety for all of our students, staff and families. We want students to see themselves, their culture, and their history reflected in the curriculum, highlighted on images on the walls of the school, and in the ethnicities of our staff. Our staff thoughtfully prepared lessons and facilitated conversations about BLM, so please ask your student what they learned last week.  Our new District Strategic Plan,  Seattle Excellence , calls on us as educators to unapologetically focus on students who are the furthest away from educational justice, beginning with our African-American young men.  Educators in the Seattle Public Schools and at Eckstein will help these young men achieve their goals and dreams.   This is not a one-week effort.  We continue to celebrate Black History during this month of February AND will continue to infuse material into class curriculum throughout the year in ways such as reading from diverse authors, recognition of experts in fields, and ensuring we are a welcoming, identify safe environment for our students.

I wish you a wonderful mid-winter break full of fun and relaxation!

Kristin Rose
Interim Principal
Eckstein Middle School
206-252-5015 |  kprose@seattleschools.org
PTSA News
Gun Violence Prevention Bill in WA State
Please contact your legislators and help advocate to support the Washington State PTA's Top 5 issue "Prevent Gun Violence".

T wo bills are being considered. Bill HB 2240/SB 6077 would restrict the number of rounds in high capacity magazines. Bill HB 2467 would create a centralized background check system for firearms transfers.


Volunteer with the Eckstein PTSA
The Eckstein PTSA needs a few volunteers to form the Communications team. Do have any experience with Constant Contact, writing, editing, or public relations? We need you! Responsibilities include posting the new weekly newsletter! Email here for more info.

Use Amazon Smiles to Support Eckstein
It all adds up! Choose Eckstein Middle School PTSA as your charity.  https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1104211
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Attendance Phone:
206-252-5014

Main Office Phone:
206-252-5010
Eckstein News
From the Counselors
Parents and students are cordially invited to a workshop with Martin Abdo on a 4-step process from effectively managing stress. The method he developed is called OPA which stands for Organize. Prioritize. Act. OPA is a cognitive behavioral tool to reduce stress quickly and effectively. It helps manage overwhelming stress, creates daily structure, and assists with goal setting. The workshop is Wednesday, March 4 th  from 7pm-8pm in the Eckstein library.   

From the Library
The Eckstein Library is starting a community book club, called Donut Forget to Read! Open to anyone in the Eckstein community – students, family, teachers, and friends, we will start by reading the book  Maybe He Just Likes You  by Barbara Dee and having a discussion on Tuesday, March 10 th  at 5:15. The book is about a girl who suddenly starts getting unwanted physical attention from kids in her grade and doesn’t know what to do about it. Want to come? RSVP to the librarian Erin Sterling at  emsterling@seattleschools.org .

Saturday School Coming Up on Feb 29
This is an academic work session. Students are expected to arrive at 9 am with school work and a commitment to get caught up. Teachers, a counselor and principal have volunteered to be onsite to work with students. It is expected that all students who attend will have a positive and productive experience, however students unable to follow expectations will be sent home to ensure a positive learning environment. Permission forms will be available in the main office starting Tuesday, February 26, 2020.

Talent Show Auditions
Eckstein Talent Show auditions are on February 27-28 before school, during lunch and after school. The tryout forms are outside room 120. We welcome a wide variety of acts. Come to watch the talent show and enjoy the bake sale on March 25th at night! There will be a grand prize for the winner.

Eckstein Solo & Ensemble Festival
Saturday, March 21, 2020. Signup deadline is Friday, March 6. Enter here:  https://tinyurl.com/ry37u64  The Solo and Ensemble Festival is a great venue for students in band to perform a classical piece and receive friendly feedback from local professional musicians. Musicians of all abilities are encouraged to participate. Piano accompaniment is encouraged but not required for solo performances. Email  eckstein.soloensemble@gmail.com or  link to more information:  Eckstein Solo & Ensemble 2020 Flyer

Elective Registration for 6 th  & 7 th  graders
Your student will be receive an Elective Registration Worksheet on colored paper for choosing electives for the 2020-2021 school year. Please go over the choices with your student and fill out the form in preparation for our New Online Course Request System. After mid-winter break, counselors will visit classrooms with laptops to coach students through completing their elective course requests online to ensure that everyone gets their choices entered. After they have made their selections, students should turn in their Elective Registration Worksheet to the Main Office.

8th Graders' Baby Pictures
Submit your student's baby picture for a fun yearbook guessing game. Tell us the name and age of your student when you submit the photo. We will only be able to fit so many pictures so submit first to get a spot. Put images in Ms. Stern's mailbox or email her at  hsstern@seattleschools.org

JV C Team Volleyball Coach Needed Immediately
Eckstein is looking for a volleyball coach for the JV C team. Please contact Julie Matz for more info on this position.

Boys Soccer Tryouts
Boys Soccer Tryouts will be Thursday, March 5 th  and Monday, March 9 th   from 4:00-5:30 PM on the Eckstein field. Practices will start on Thursday, March 12 th  and run Mondays and Thursdays after school from 4:00-5:30 P.M. All boys interested in trying out for boys soccer should plan on attending both dates suited out with appropriate gear (athletic shoes and shin guards).

Girls Volleyball Tryouts
Girls Volleyball Tryouts will be on the following dates/times in the Eckstein gym:
Wednesday, March 11 th  from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM for 7 th  & 8 th  graders
Friday, March 13 th  from 4:00-6:00 PM for 6 th  graders
Monday, March 16 th  from 4:00-6:00 PM by request
Practices will start on Tuesday, March 17 th , and follow these dates/times:
Varsity: Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:00-5:30 PM
JV: Tuesdays and Fridays, 4:00-5:30 PM
JVC: Mondays and Fridays, 4:00-5:30 PM

Eckstein Track
Be a part of the Eckstein track program! There will be a meeting in Room 209 on March 5 th  after school. Practices will tentatively start the following week.

All Spring Athletes Need to Complete Athletic Paperwork
This includes a physical form signed by your doctor in order to turn out for any sports. Forms are available here and across the hall from the front office.

8th graders interested in Cheer at Roosevelt?
8th graders are welcome to tryout Mar 31-Apr 2. More info here.
Calendar
  • Feb 15: Varsity Girls' and Boys' Basketball Game, JAMS 10 am
  • Feb 15: JV Boys' Basketball Game, Eaglestaff 8:30 am
  • Feb 15: JV Girls' Basketball Game, Ingraham 3:30 pm
  • Feb 17-21: Mid-Winter Break
  • Feb 24: Musical rehearsal begins, 3:55 pm-5:30 pm
  • Feb 25: Special Ed Resource Fair, Mercer Middle School 6:30-8 pm
  • Feb 27-28: Eckstein Talent Show Auditions, all day
  • Feb 29: Saturday School, 9 am-1 pm
  • Mar 3: Winter Choir Concert, 7:30-8:30 pm
  • Mar 4: Stress Management Workshop, Eckstein Library 7-8 pm
  • Mar 9: PTSA Board Meeting, Eckstein Library 7-8 pm
  • Mar 10: Donut Forget to Read! book club, Eckstein Library 5:15 pm
  • Mar 13: Orchestra Concert, 7:30 pm
  • Mar 19: Concert Band Fest, 7:30 pm
  • Mar 21: Band Solo and Ensemble Festival, 9 am-12pm
  • Mar 25: Eckstein Talent Show and bake sale
Community News
Girls on the Run
Super Jock n Jill is hosting a team this Spring on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-5:30pm for 3 rd -6 th  grade girls from March 2 nd  to May 18 th . Girls on the Run is a local non profit that serves girls in 3rd-5th and 6th-8th grade and teaches girls life skills such as empathy, positive body image, and intentional decision making. Participants also run/walk non-competitively to prepare for an  end of season 5K ! Financial assistance is available for any family, no questions asked. Running shoes are also included for any girl in need.
The Weekly is distributed on Fridays during the school year. Please send submissions by *Wednesday at 5PM* to Eckstein Weekly Inclusion is at the discretion of the Eckstein PTSA and Administration. Your 2019-20 Eckstein Weekly is edited by the PTSA Communications Team. Sign up for the Eckstein Weekly here!