Evans Middle School #EvansStrong

Dear Panther Parents,   SPRING BREAK TIME!!! It is hard to believe that it is already time for Spring Break, Daylight Savings (YAY), and the beginning of Quarter 4. WOW!! This has been the fastest slow year ever!! LOL!! I think we can all agree that the past year has been a doozy. But, I am so proud of our community for embracing one another, supporting one another, and keeping our focus on the things we control. This is why EVANS IS SO FABULOUS!! You guys ROCK!!   March 15th is a student asynchronous day. A reminder of what to expect from this day: teachers will be planning and reviewing student progress and students will have an opportunity to complete optional enrichment OR make-up work to get caught up. Your child’s teacher will provide individual directions if work recovery is needed.    I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL and restful Spring Break. We will see you back on March 16th!   Happy Friday, Darla 469-302-7111 djackson@mckinneyisd.net School Website Evans Calendar of Events NEW!!! Updated 2020-2021 Academic Calendar McKinney ISD's News Brief : https://www.mckinneyisd.net/news-events/newsletter/january-21-2021/ MISD Student Technology Help Site https://sites.google.com/mckinneyisd.net/studenthelpcenter/home

Evans parents,  McKinney ISD is holding an important election this spring that contains four ballot items that will impact every student in the district. The link below provides complete information and FAQs about each of the election items. We encourage you to learn about each of them and to cast your vote!  Click here to learn more about the MISD 2021 Election!

UPCOMING EVENTS See what's happening this month. March 5th Q3 Grades Due 8th-12th Spring Break 15th Asynchronous Day for Students/Staff Workday 16th Tennis Match 18th Live Kind Club Meeting Student Council Meeting Track Meet 19th Q3 RC Posted on HAC 23rd Band UIL Sight-Reading Contest Tennis Match 25th Evans Strong Celebration Mod Pizza Spirit Night Track Meet 29th 6th Grade Choir Rehearsal 30th Band UIL Contest Tennis Match 6th Grade Choir Concert April 1st IPR Grade Due Live Kind Club Track Meet

March 25, 2021 MOD Pizza 10:30am-10:00pm https://www.groupraise.com/events/180437, sign up and RSVP through this link. Join us at MOD Pizza at 3009 S Custer Rd, McKinney TX. You can participate by take-out, delivery, and pick-up and your order in the store or via restaurant websites. Make sure you mention Evans PTO in the store or use the coupon code "GR180437E" to be sure we get a donation from your order.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!! We need lots of volunteers to sign up and help make copies for the teachers.  Make sure you fill out the volunteer application (link below) if you haven’t already done so this school year . Then signup up on the signup genius link. tps://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4EA5A82EA0F9CE9-copy Please click HERE to fill out your 2020-2021 Volunteer Application! You must be approved before volunteering, and this must be done every year. Thank You!!! We’re happy to announce our PTO has some new faces. Please join me in WELCOMING VP of Volunteers Tasha Sowards, VP of Membership Debbie Kleineberg, Jenny Johansen Secretary, and Jessica Montano School Supplies Coordinator. If you’re interested in joining our board next year we will be posting those open positions in the next few weeks.  PTO Membership Form   Follow Evans PTO on Facebook!

Everyone please shop via smile.amazon.com and select Evans PTO when they make purchases through Amazon. Remember to use the smile.amazon.com and search for Evans PTO to make sure we get the donation.

Kroger stores are on a mission to not just part of, but to help create a stronger community. Evans PTO recommends you link your rewards card to Evans PTO so that they can give back to our community.

Hi Panthers! We are wrapping up the Great Kindness Challenge this week. We’re so amazed by the generosity and kindness of our panthers - together we completed over 7500 acts of kindness! We’ve also been able to give much-needed donations of over 700 socks, underwear, and toiletries to Trusted World, and so far have collected over $200 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund in memory of panther Sienna Sutton. We have the best community around! Course selection and registration for next year has also wrapped up this week. If you have not yet turned in your course cards, you need to contact your counselor ASAP and send in your card. We know the last few weeks have been especially challenging for some. We have resources for those needing help with clothing, food, or other needs due to the winter storms. Please reach out to our Communities in Schools liaison, Ms. Singletary, for information. esingletary@mckinneyisd.net  One Heart McKinney is also a great resource for food assistance.  We hope you have a safe and restful Spring Break. See you soon! Kindly,  Patricia and Cathy Cathy DeLisle, counselor A-K, cdelisle@mckinneyisd.net        Patricia Spear, counselor L-Z, pspear@mckinneyisd.net

Dear Panther Families, We believe it takes the entire community to help our students grow into kind and compassionate young adults. Your student(s) receives a weekly CharacterDare on Mondays during Panther Time that is an actionable challenge focused on strengthening one of their “character muscles” like patience, kindness, commitment etc… The program we use, CharacterStrong, also provides Family CharacterDares that are aimed to provide actionable ways families can strengthen relationships, engage in character development activities together and continue conversations around serving others, and showing empathy and kindness for others. There are four categories of Dares:  • Conversation Starters  • Acts of Kindness  • Recreation and Rest  • Expressions of Love  Each week we will send out a Family CharacterDare that we challenge you to do with your students. The staff and administrators in the building will also be engaging in this personal character development as well. We believe in the power of role-modeling this work, and we have no doubt that with this common goal in mind, we are creating a more caring, compassionate, and capable world. You can go to characterstrong.com if you would like to learn more about it or contact Cathy DeLisle (cdelisle@mckinneyisd.net) with any questions.

Spring Break is here - don’t let the sun surprise you!! Remember Sunscreen! Sun Safety People usually develop skin cancer after years of neglecting their skin. Fortunately, there are several simple things you can do to help protect yourself: Select the right sunscreen: Choose one with SPF 15 or higher and apply it at least 20 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours even on cloudy days. Wear clothes that protect your skin: Your best choices are clothes made of tightly woven fabric. Wear a hat and sunglasses: Choose a hat with at least a 2-3 inch brim. Limit your exposure: Especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Examine your skin: Check head to toe at least every three months. Watch for new moles or changes in your skin or existing moles. Teach children about sun safety: Start this at an early age. Best of all…be a good role model! This is one of the most important things that you can do for your children and yourself.   Are You At Risk? Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer. While everyone should practice sun safety, certain people are at greater risk for developing skin cancer. These risk factors include: Fair skin: Those with a fair complexion and/or freckles, blonde or red hair, gray or green eyes have a greater risk of developing skin cancer. A history of sunburns: Your risk of developing skin cancer increases with each burn. Certain medications: Some medications can increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight. Check with your pharmacist. Excessive sun exposure: Tanning, whether outdoors or in a tanning bed, also puts you at risk. Sunny or high-altitude climates: Living in these climates increases your exposure to UV radiation. Moles: People with a large number of moles are more likely to develop skin cancer. Family/Personal history of skin cancer If you have one or more of these risk facts, speak with your physician regarding any specific recommendations he/she may have for your care.

Nurses Notations

RETURN TO SCHOOL CRITERIA   ANYONE testing POSITIVE (+) for COVID-19 All 3 of the following MUST be met before return to school: Fever free for 24 hours WITHOUT using the use of fever reducing medications AND Symptoms resolved (cough, shortness of breath, etc.) AND At least 10 days have passed since symptoms began. ANYONE testing NEGATIVE (-) for COVID-19 All 3 of the following MUST be met before return to school: A medical professional’s note stating individual is COVID 19 negative AND alternative diagnosis is documented and presented to the school nurse and HR (employees only), AND Fever free for 24 hours WITHOUT using the use of fever reducing medications AND Symptoms resolved (cough, shortness of breath, etc.) OR Quarantine for 10 days and all symptoms are resolved. ANYONE NOT tested for COVID-19 but has symptoms and is believed to be positive Options: MUST remain home for 10 days and follow the same return to school criteria as a positive COVID-19 result OR Receives an alternative diagnosis (i.e. strep, flu) from a medical professional, documented and presented to the school nurse and HR (employees only).   ANYONE who believes they have come in CONTACT with someone who is positive for COVID-19 MUST quarantine for 10 days from the last date of contact with the positive COVID-19 person (this could be up to 20 days if isolation from the positive person is not feasible). Nancy Yarbrough BSN RN Evans Middle School Nurse nyarbrough@mckinneyisd.net 469-302-7101

Sixth grade students need to turn in proof of immunization requirements BEFORE May 14th to get their schedule and attend 7th grade next fall. Texas State Law requires that 7th grade students for the 2021/22 school year show proof of the following immunizations:                 Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap) within the past 5 years                Meningococcal vaccine (one dose) within the past 5 years                (On top of the immunizations that were required for elementary) Your child may have already had these immunizations. Please provide the school nurse with a current list of your student's immunizations. Please make sure that your student receives any needed immunizations before the end of this school year! It is necessary for your child to be in compliance before they can attend 7th grade. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

News from the EMS Library   The library has two special events occurring during the month of March. March Madness . . . a literary version. Read some of the most popular books checked out in the EMS Library and vote for your favorite!    Here is the line-up: Roller Girl (Victoria Jamieson) Guts (Raina Telgemeier) Fish in a Tree (Lynda Mullaly Hunt) Amal Unbound (Aisha Saeed) Crossover (Kwame Alexander) Nyxia (Scott Reintgen) The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle (Rick Riordan) Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy (Tui.T. Sutherland) Chronicle of the Dark Star: Last Day on Mars (Kevin Emerson) Small Spaces (Katherine Arden) City of Ghosts (Victoria Schwab) Refugee (Alan Gratz) A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning (Lemony Snicket) Spy School (Stuart Gibbs) Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (Chris Grabenstein) Ashes in the Snow (Ruta Sepetys)              March is Women’s History Month Check out our collection of books by and about women who have made a difference in our world.   March Reading Challenge            Can you face the challenge? Try to read a book in one of each of the following categories: ·        As you cheer on college basketball, read a “March Madness” book. ·        Celebrate Women’s History Month and read a book by a female author. ·        March 2 is Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Celebrate and read one of his books. ·        March 17 is a St. Patrick’s Day! Read a book about Ireland. ·        Think about your favorite book character; read a book that you think he/she would enjoy.   Book Recommendation for March The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise Dan Gemeinhart 2020 Lone Star Book   Coyote and Rodeo Sunrise: those are not their real names and they are on the run. But Coyote and Rodeo aren’t running from the law; they are running from the past. Five years ago, Coyote’s mom and sisters were killed in a car accident; since then they embraced new names and traveled around the country in Yager, an old school bus. There have been good times and bad times and “once upon a time” times but when Coyote learns that the park in her hometown is being destroyed, it is time to go home. Coyote and her mom and sisters buried a box in the park full of memories; however, Rodeo has a strict “no-go” policy about returning to Washington State.  Coyote needs to get creative to convince him to drive cross-country in four days. Along the way, she meets a cast of characters who join them on their journey; among them, Lester, a traveling musician who needs to get to Boise to see his girlfriend; Salvador and his mother, who are on their way to St. Louis for a new job; Ivan, a kitten who decides to just come along for the ride. Going home is hard but over the miles, Coyote learns the importance of loyalty to all dreams, big or small, the sacrifices made for a true friendship, and true honesty with others and most importantly herself.   Happy Reading!!

LEARNING COMMONS

When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her Halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now, the tigers want it back. And when one of those tigers offers Lily a deal--return what Halmoni stole in exchange for Halmoni's health--Lily is tempted to accept. But deals with tigers are never what they seem! With the help of her sister and her new friend Ricky, Lily must find her voice... and the courage to face a tiger.

Need Tech Help? Click on the yellow box. This link is also on www.evansms.com Lots of information available on this site, scroll to the bottom of the page to put in a help ticket.    Check out our ebooks Click Here CHECK OUT EBOOKS AND AUDIOBOOKS. OPEN 24/7. Click above to be directed to the library website. Kelli Bolin LMS kbolin@mckinneyisd.net

What's for Lunch

March Lunch Menu March Breakfast Menu

Guidelines for Visitors Entering McKinney ISD Schools and Office Buildings

At this time, district policy dictates that we can only admit one adult per child. Please schedule appointments with staff whenever possible before coming up to the building. In accordance with state and TEA guidelines, before entering a McKinney ISD school or MISD office buildings, visitors will be required to answer “yes” or “no” to the questions below, which will be posted at the building entrance. Please note that only one adult per student may enter the building at a time. Visitors that answer “yes” to any of these questions will not be granted entrance to the building. COVID-19 Symptoms for Screening State Requirements Have you traveled outside of the country in the last 14 days? (CDC Travel Notices) Have you or anyone in your household experienced an onset or increase in: Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Chills Repeated shaking with chills Muscle pain Headache Sore throat Loss of taste or smell Congestion or Runny Nose (new symptom added by CDC in June 2020) Diarrhea Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Known close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19 Visitors that answer “yes” to any of these questions will not be granted entrance to the building.

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