Dear East Hills School Community:

We had our first night of fall parent-teacher conferences this past Thursday for sixth- through eighth-grade families. It was great to see so many parents and family members in our building! This Monday, November 19 from 5:00-8:00 p.m, we have one more night of conferences for sixth- through eighth-grade as well as a continuation of some pre-arranged individual fourth- and fifth-grade conferences.  Thank you to our incredible PTO for making tasty snack bags for staff heading into Thursday's conferences and thank you in advance for providing dinner for our faculty this coming Monday night.

Additionally, we had a lovely 7th and 8th grade music concert Wednesday, November 14. The concert featured music from our 7th and 8th grade orchestra, band, and choir students. The music and performance sounded fantastic!  A special thank you to Mrs. Lucas, Mr. Erde, and Mr. Schumacher for directing such great performances.

Today East Hills was very fortunate to receive some amazing grants from the BHS Foundation! We are blessed to work in such an amazing school district with such generous families, community members, and staff!

Please note that Tuesday, November 20, is a half day for East Hills with an 11:35 a.m. dismissal. We do not have school for the remainder of the week. Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving Break!

"The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest."
-William Blake

Jason

Jason Rubel
Principal
East Hills Middle School
Bloomfield Hills Schools
(248) 341-6205
Twitter: @EastHills4_8
East Hills Middle School Website
"Enabling learners to become architects of their futures. . ."

A/B Day Schedule:
Mon., Nov. 19 - B Day
Tues., Nov. 20 - A Day - 1/2 Day 11:35 a.m. Dismissal
Wed., Nov. 21 - No School
Thurs., Nov. 22 - No School - Happy Thanksgiving!
Fri., Nov. 23 - No School

KEY DATES
The following are upcoming key dates for the school year, and our full calendar for the year can be accessed by clicking HERE:
Sat., Nov. 17 Fall Forensics State Tournament
Mon., Nov. 19 4th-8th Progress Conferences #2 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tues., Nov. 20 1/2 Day School 11:35 a.m. Dismissal
Wed.-Fri., Nov. 21-23 No School (Classes Resume Nov. 26)
Thurs.-Fri. Nov. 29-30 Blue Lake Auditions TBD
Sat. Dec. 1 Band/Orchestra Solo & Ensemble @ Novi MS TBD
Wed. Dec. 5 Picture Retakes 7:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Fri. Dec. 7 PTO Sponsored Cold Rush 6th/7th/8th Grades 3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tues. Dec. 11 6th Grade Band/Orch/Choir Concert 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m
Fri. Dec. 14 Talent Show 6th/7th/8th PM Start
Fri., Dec. 14 Progress Report #2 (6th/7th/8th Grades)
Mon.-Fri. Dec. 24-Jan. 4 No School (Classes Resume Jan. 7, 2019)
Wed. Jan. 9 PTO Meeting – Superintendent Dialogue 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Mon. Jan. 21 No School

A cohort of 20 8th Grade student representatives from East Hills are invited to participate in the BHS Global Education, Equity and Inclusion (GEEI) Global Youth Ambassadors Bringing People Together workshop on Tuesday, December 4, 2018.  It will run from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Doyle Center.  They will join other 8th grade students from across the district to explore ways to help create a more inclusive school community as well as their role in our global society.  District counselors, teachers, family Global Champions and high school Global Leaders are working with our district GEEI team to facilitate this high energy and interactive global leadership workshop. This is an excellent opportunity for our students to engage and dialogue with their peers in the spirit of respect, acceptance and building a stronger BHS global community.

Students will miss school for this workshop and will be expected to make up any work that they miss.  This is an optional activity.  

Youth participants in the 8th grade session have the opportunity to explore:

• Awareness and respect for future success in a global society

• Strategies and actions to help create more inclusive school communities

• Anti-bullying and anti-stereotyping strategies

• Personal leadership potential; defining characteristics of a good leader

• Solutions to diminish "culture clashes" and bullying at school

• Desire and skills for becoming allies and "agents of change" as a developing global citizen

If you are interested in being a part of this opportunity, please submit your interest to Mrs. Konzen via email (akonzen@bloomfield.org) by Tuesday November 20.  Unfortunately, due to space limitations, only 20 students are able to participate from each middle school.  Each cohort needs to represent the student population of their building. If you are not a participant of this workshop, your name will be passed on to the high school to be included on a waitlist for future training opportunities.

Do you ever wonder what opportunities and pathways are available for students entering high school? View the High School Opportunities Packet.

"Our reflection and action as individuals—and as part of the IB continuum of international education—can make the world a better place."

The IB Learner Profile Trait for November: THINKER
The IB Learner Profile trait for the month of November is Thinker. Students who are THINKERS work to solve problems independently. They can imagine many solutions to a question or challenge. Thinkers make good decisions and can predict the outcomes of their actions. They think creatively and critically.

How can parents help to develop students who are Thinkers at home?

●        Encourage your son or daughter to try to think of solutions to problems independently.

●        Pose different real-life problems and questions to your child.

●        Ask your children questions when they are working on a problem:

"Do you have any ideas about how you might begin?"
"How can you do this differently?"
"I had never thought of that. Tell me more about it."
"What other ways can you show that?"
"Why do you think that?"
"How did you figure that out?"



The richness of the Middle Years Programme allows teachers and students and families the opportunity to examine many aspects of being a "lifelong learner."   The Approaches to Learning, or ATLs, involves different sets of skills that students cultivate and evaluate in themselves.  This is a fine time of year to have some discussion with your student about how they think that their year is shaping up.  Are the set routines working?  Is there room for some tweaking?  Perhaps as simple as looking at their binder organization or as deep as conversations about strategies to persevere through the tougher assignments and projects.  While our staff frequently shares out such strategies and has such conversations, we believe strongly in our partnership with the student's home.

We appreciate your efforts at home to help support the Learner Profile Traits each month.

MYP learners strive to be:
Inquirers; Open-Minded; Knowledgeable; Caring; Thinkers; Risk-takers; Communicators; Balanced; Principled; and Reflective

We love to hear examples of how you are incorporating each Learner Profile trait at home. Please email us. And, as always, please feel free to contact me regarding anything MYP!

Spotlight on Student Learning:
Physical Education: Mr. Leitz and Mrs. Brown

PE students in grade 6-8 developed dance routines this week and performed them for a panel of judges.   Students focused on movement, choreography and entertainment factors as they developed, practiced and revised their routines.  Students focused on their role in collaborative groups and practiced creative thinking and transfer skills as they gave and received feedback on each routine and adapted their movements to improve their overall performance.  Students shared some very innovative and creative dance routines!

Approaches to Learning Focus: Transfer Skills:  Consider multiple alternatives, including those that might be unlikely or impossible

Julia Beattie

jbeattie@bloomfield.org
IB Teacher Leader
East Hills Middle School
Bloomfield Hills Schools
Phone: 248.341.6722

Please put on your calendars that our next leadership talk will be the last Wednesday this month - November 28.  We are fired up to have Mr. Bill Rogers come in to speak to our students.  Please see his bio below.  Our October session was awesome and the students were great! We ask each student to arrive at 7:00 a.m. and our program starts right at 7:15 a.m.  It is important your child arrives on time as the camera begins to record right at 7:15 a.m.  All our programs are videotaped and aired through Bloomfield. Cable.  All are welcome.  You do not need to be in the group to attend the event.  Family members are welcome, too.

Mr. Bill Rogers Bio
Mr. Bill Rogers currently serves as honorary president of the Michigan Section Professional Golf Association or PGA.  He has competed in local PGA golf events and the PGA Tour. He is currently the golf and managing director of Oakland University's Golf and Learning Center.   The Michigan Section PGA awarded Rogers the distinguished honor of Junior Golf Leader for his dedication to teaching more than 1,000 junior golfers through the Oakland University Golf Camp Program.  Mr. Rogers' two sons attended East Hills Middle School and graduated from the Bloomfield School District - where they both played golf.

We are proud to announce we will once again be participating in the Bloomfield Hills Optimist's Holiday Wish Program. Over the last nine years, our East Hills community has surpassed our goal with the outpouring of support and generosity. Each year we hope to bring smiles (and gifts) to a minimum of 100 children in our area.  Last year we had our best year ever! We were able to help 146 children in our nearby communities! This was absolutely amazing and ever so generous of our East Hills family.

The purpose of this holiday program is to provide gifts to Oakland County children in need, who otherwise during the holiday season, may not receive any gifts. In many instances, these gifts are for necessities such as warm gloves, coats, PJ's, etc.  Of course, the children also request educational games, books, art supplies, and toys.

If your family is interested in sponsoring one or more children, please complete this form (which further explains the process) and return it to the front office on or before Friday, November 16.  Forms may also be picked up in the main office at your convenience.

Holiday Wish Form 2018

Thanks in advance for any support you are able to give to the Holiday Wish Program.

On behalf of the EHMS PTO, we invite you and your child to participate in the third annual Cavalier Cold Rush Challenge!!

Friday, December 7, 3:05 – 4:30 pm

How can you help? Click HERE to volunteer!

Last year's Cold Rush was great fun and we had a successful 4th and 5th grade Fun Run at East Hills, so we thought we'd continue that energy again this year. If you're new to the Cold Rush, below is some additional information.

The Cavalier Cold Rush Challenge is where the students go outside after school to warm up, then run laps around the football field, and participate in fun, little obstacles along the way. They will be outside for approximately 45 minutes, so they need to dress in layers to stay warm, but able to remove outer layers as they get warm exercising. Mittens and gloves will be encouraged regardless of outer layers. Right now, we are planning to have donuts outside for them to earn as they traverse the course. Then, students will come inside to get their bags, have hot chocolate and healthy snacks and receive prizes. The Cavalier Cold Rush Challenge does not attempt to be a large fundraiser, just a self-sustaining event. Therefore, no pledge sheets will be sent home, but donations would be appreciated to help cover the cost of food and prizes.

Cold Rush Permission Slip - Due Monday, December 3

Important Dates for the Cold Rush Challenge
Permission slips due Monday, December 3 . . . turn in to the main office.
Donations, if any, due morning of Friday, December 7 . . . in the Front Gateway
The actual Cold Rush Challenge Event is after school until 4:30 pm Friday, December 7

All proceeds fund the event and any extra goes to support PTO activities.

Thank you for all your support!

If you have any question, contact Wendy Schwartz, Cold Rush Coordinator at wendylrschwartz@gmail.com

The Strategic Planning committee would like your feedback!  Between now and December 2nd at 10:00 p.m., you are invited to provide feedback on the draft Vision statement, Mission statement, and Goals.  Please take a few moments to complete the feedback survey.  Thank you for your input!

East Hills recognized Mrs. Amatulli, Media Specialist, for service in the Army during Veteran's Day. You make us proud!

The Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp is a non-profit summer school of the arts specializing in two-week arts programs for intermediate and high school students. A Scholarship Representative from Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp will be visiting EHMS on November 29 and 30 to evaluate students for scholarships and share some information about the summer camp.

Every student who auditions will be offered a scholarship toward tuition to attend the camp. We would love to extend this invitation to all music (vocal and instrumental), drama, and art students at our school.  Once a scholarship is offered, there is still no obligation to attend the camp.

Auditions for students who have an interest in attending Blue Lake next summer will take place throughout the school day according to the schedule below.  Please note that fifth graders are only eligible to audition for Band or Orchestra.

November 29 - Visual Art, Musical Theater or Drama. (Grades 6-8)
November 30 - Band/Orchestra (Grades 5-8) and Choir (Grades 6-8)

If you would like your child to participate in this scholarship opportunity, please fill out the permission slip so that we know how many students to expect.  The Blue Lake representative will share some basic information with your child to bring home to you. The camp's website is www.bluelake.org.

Audition suggestions:

• Instrumentalists - perform a scale and an excerpt of a prepared piece (no guitar, soprano sax)
• Vocal - sing several vocal warm-ups and an excerpt of a prepared piece
• Theater - prepare a one-minute monologue from standard theatrical repertoire; include a musical excerpt if auditioning for Musical Theater,
• Art - bring a portfolio with 2-3 exemplary works or bring 2-3 pictures of your work.

Blue Lake Permission Form

Sincerely,

Mr. Erde (Orchestra), Mrs. Lucas (Band),
Ms. Rayburn (Visual Art), and Mr. Schumacher (Drama/Choir)