Jerry Longabaugh Principal

This will be the final edition of our EMS newsletter for the 2011-2012 school year. As I sat down to write this newsletter article, I reflected on this school year and a number of thoughts and issues we have faced during the past school year. At what level will the State of Kansas fund education? More importantly, how will this impact teaching and learning at the classroom level?

One issue that is of great importance to all of us is the testing and assessment of our students. We are in the process of finishing up the 2012 state assessments in social studies, reading, math, and science. Our students are dedicated to this task and have given us their best effort. Our teachers have worked hard to prepare our students for the state assessments and students have performed well. The hard work is done and now we wait for the results and the performance levels of our students.

We are hosting the Pioneer League Vocal Music Contest on Wednesday, April 25. Due to this activity, there will be no school for EMS students on Wednesday, April 25. This is for EMS students only. All other schools in the district will have regular classes. We will be sending out reminders to students and parents in early April.

We have scheduled our final recognition assembly for Friday, May 11. The seventh grade assembly will be held at 8:00 a.m. and the eighth grade at 9:00 a.m. We look forward to seeing you there.

Our final day of school at EMS will be Thursday, May 17. Students will clean out their lockers at the end of the day on Wednesday, May 16. Students will not have access to their locker on the last day of school and therefore should not bring their backpack. The only items necessary on the last day of classes will be a pencil/pen and paper. In the past, we have been very successful in avoiding any major problems by implementing these procedures. Our goal is to have a safe, productive, uneventful last day of school for all.

We will continue to dedicate ourselves to meeting the changing needs of our students, parents, and community. I would like to personally thank all of the Eisenhower Middle School parents and guardians for your support throughout this school year. This has been a very successful and positive school year. On behalf of the EMS faculty and staff, I would like to wish each of you a safe and relaxing summer.