7^th Grade students are going to Lincoln Park & Colman Pool on June 22. Students will leave campus at approximately 9:15 and return in time to catch the 1:35 bus home at the end of the day. Please contact Cindy Watters (7^th Grade House Administrator) with questions. cjwatters@seattleschools.org

8^th Grade students are going on an Argosy Cruise on June 22. Students will leave campus at approximately 9:15 and return in time to catch the 1:35 bus home at the end of the day. Please contact Chris Cronas (8^th Grade House Administrator) with questions. cpcronas@seattleschools.org

7th Grade Lincoln Park Permission Slip 06.22.10

8th Grade Cruise Permission Slip 06.04.10

May 25, 2010

Dear Eckstein Middle School students and families:

I am writing to you today with important information about how Eckstein places student and staff safety as our top priority, and how we ensure a safe learning environment.

There have been reports in the media related to student offenders who attend schools across the State of Washington. It has been reported that one student sex offender attends our school. That information is correct.

Seattle Public Schools complies with all laws and statutes that govern the enrollment of student offenders, including laws related to notification.

When the juvenile rehabilitation system has determined it is time for a student offender to continue his or her education within a school setting, then Seattle Public Schools develops a comprehensive plan to ensure a safe learning environment for all students.

SPS works very closely with the justice system, probation officers, the student, the school and parents/guardians to create an educational and safety plan including a behavioral contract. The behavior contract includes a commitment to attendance, academic and behavior goals. It could include restrictions that students must follow and is closely monitored. If the student is out of compliance, we work with family members, the student, probation officers and other community supports to correct the issue.

As the school leader, I also want to share with you that state laws determine who should and can be notified when a student offender enrolls in a school. In general, notification is prohibited. The exception is that principals have discretion to inform certain staff within the school for safety purposes. The extent of notification is established in the law. That means SPS is specifically prohibited by law from notifying other students, family or community members.

I am very proud that Eckstein has a safe and welcoming environment focused on student learning.  That environment has been created due to the dedication and commitment of everyone in our community.  Thank you for your on-going involvement in and support for Eckstein and for our students.

Please let me know if you wish to discuss this matter further.

Sincerely,
Kim Whitworth, Principal

From next Tuesday, 06/01, Eckstein will be hosting the UW Bookstore here on campus! A mini-store will be set up in Room 124A, Ms. Clark’s room, from 8:00am – 2:30 pm Tuesday – Friday where students and families are welcome to browse and buy books. We encourage you to drop in and pick up something for summer vacation. Eckstein will benefit from any purchases made by receiving a small donation from the sale which we intend to use toward funding classroom libraries throughout the building. We hope you consider purchasing not only a book or two for your student but perhaps a book or two for Eckstein as well. We have even included a list of popular books that we are looking to stock which the store manager will be happy to help you find. If you cannot purchase something at school during the week, please consider visiting the UW Bookstore in the University District where the sale will go on through the weekend (be sure to mention your student attends Eckstein when you’re checking out). Your purchase can still benefit Eckstein. Thanks and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Cronas.

7th Grade Families. Please join us on Thursday, May 27 (6:30 – 8:00) for People on the Move Project night. People on the Move is a project all 7th graders complete that asks them to research movements, migration and immigration of people into and within the United States and relate them to the student’s family history of movement . In addition to researching movements the students created an artifact that will help them tell the stories of their moves.

We will begin the evening in the auditorium with an overview for the evening and then move classrooms to view student projects. If you have any questions please contact your child’s 7th grade social studies teacher.

There will be a Staff vs. Student Soccer Game on Tuesday May 18th, 2010. The game should start as close to 3PM as possible, so that we can play two (2) thirty (30) minute halves and finish just after 4 PM. Rules will be standard soccer (a.k.a FIFA) with NO slide tackling for Staff safety. Come cheer on both staff and students. Thanks, Mr. Brewer.

— The Eckstein JV Soccer games have been CANCELLED for Saturday May 8, 2010 at Rainier Beach HS. This because of not enough confirmed players. Thanks for a great season. Thanks, Mr. Brewer.

In lieu of a formal graduation ceremony, we will be celebrating our 8th Graders on 06/21 and 06/22 with the following activities: 06/21, students will attend regularly scheduled morning classes. In the afternoon there will be a House Assembly for students, followed by a barbecue in the afternoon that families are invited to attend. On 06/22, the last day of school, we will be taking students on an Argosy cruise, returning to school in time for them to make their buses. For those who are interested and available to help, we are looking for parent volunteers for both 06/21 & 06/22. Please contact our volunteer coordinator, LauraLeigh Young (llyoung@seattleschools.org) if you would like to be involved. Thanks. Mr. Cronas

A coming of age story set to fabulous music by by famed musical theatre composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown!  Friday May 14 at 7:30 and Saturday May 15 at 7:30.  $7 in advance at the Z-Box or after school in the theatre beginning May 3 (checks to Eckstein Musical)  $10 at the door.  Please note that due to mature themes and content, “13” is recommended for 5th grade and up.  Questions?  ecksteinmusical@hotmail.com

(This was distributed during homeroom on Tuesday, May 4th. Students should be taking this home today to show their parents/guardians. For the complete text and testing schedule click MSP note home to families 2010)

Measurement of Student Progress (MSP) is upon us once again, and we need your help! As all three grade levels take the tests, this puts a strain on our resources here at school. Any help you could provide would be appreciated.

• Please send a snack and a water bottle to school with your student each day of testing May 17, 18, 20, 21.

• Make sure your students have TWO sharpened No. 2 pencils and an eraser daily. These pencils must have No. 2 printed on the pencil and must NOT be mechanical pencils, even if the lead is No. 2 lead.

• If possible, a donation to your homeroom teacher of nut-free snacks, such as crackers, would be great. Please send these in to your homeroom teacher as soon as possible.

• 7th and 8th grade parents, please send math tools (calculator and ruler) with your child for the math test May 18th. ALSO, 8th graders may use tools for the science test, May 21st.

• Please avoid deliveries as the main office will be short staffed. Also, please arrange appointments for non-testing days and make sure the attendance office has a note ahead of time to reduce interruptions to classes.

Lastly, please make sure your student gets plenty of sleep, eats a good breakfast with some protein and that he/she gets to school on time.

Students report to their homerooms for testing.  For a complete testing schedule click on the link above.

Thank you!!

Prevention Works in Seattle, a coalition to prevent youth substance use in northeast Seattle, is conducting a parent survey about underage drinking and youth marijuana use in our community. Please take the survey and make your opinions on the subject known! The survey is short and easy to take. All you need to do is go online to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NESeattleParentSurvey and take 10 minutes to let us know what you, as parents, think about youth substance use. The survey is anonymous and confidential and will help our community to plan prevention activities. Since individuals in a household might have different opinions about these issues, we would like all adults in each household to complete their own surveys. Two years ago, only 30% of our survey respondents were men. The coalition encourages men to participate in the survey this time around! If you would like more information, please contact Inga Manskopf at 396-0919 or inmanskopf@seattleschools.org. Information about Prevention Works in Seattle is available at: www.PreventionWorksInSeattle.org. Your opinion is important! Please take the survey today – it closes May 28, 2010. Inga Manskopf, Community Coordinator Prevention WINS Eckstein SPF-SIG Project Website: www.preventionworksinseattle.org Blog: www.preventionworksinseattle.blogspot.com