Wednesday, November 20 @ 7:15pm - Parallel Lives (Phyllis Rose)
Thanks for the RSVPs! This week's book club is confirmed. Additional RSVPs are welcome, but please feel free to attend on Wednesday without replying.
RSVPs can be sent to esms.bethservetar@gmail.com
Visit http://esms.org to see future book club selections
Please check your email for instructions and link from program director, Nick Lacativa. Details can also be found on our website.
Details on a winter trimester showcase will be communicated once they become available.
Here are three ways to find schools and start your application:
Use MySchools to explore NYC high schools, find choices for your application, and apply—all in one place. You can search for schools by location, your academic and extracurricular interests, and more!
The deadline to apply is Monday, December 2. If you submit your application before the deadline, you can change it any time up until the deadline.
Questions? Talk to your school counselor, visit High School Admissions, or call 718-935-2009.
Thanks!
The DOE High School Admissions Team
For every dollar you spend at Fairway, ESMS gets 3%. On Double Days, we get 6%. Only when you use your Fairway Community Partners card. For a Fairway Community Partners card, please contact Parent Coordinator, Beth Servetar at esms.bethservetar@gmail.com. Next Double Days will be Tuesday, December 3rd.
Shop often, shop hard!
Congrats to the ESMS Girls Varsity Volleyball Team on a great season, making it all the way to the playoffs! They advanced all the way to the quarter finals.
Poetry Club page at: http://www.esms.org/poetry
10/25/19
Dear ESMS Families,
I am excited to announce that, effective today, Nick Lacativa will be taking on the role of After-School Program Director at ESMS. Nick has worked with Manhattan Youth for many years, in various roles, including Athletic Director at Computer School and most recently, Assistant Director at Baruch Middle School. He will be a great addition to the ESMS community and I hope you will join me in welcoming him. Moving forward, please direct all questions and communications to Nick. He is CCed in this email, and I’ve included his contact information below.
Nick Lacativa
NLacativa@manhattanyouth.org
917.565.7472
I appreciate your patience and understanding during this transition. I’m excited to continue working with the ESMS After-School program in my role as Education Director. While I won’t be around every day, I will be working alongside Nick to help ensure programs are rich and robust, not only at ESMS, but across the Manhattan Youth network.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Best,
Matt
Matthew McGlennen
Education Director
Manhattan Youth
O: 347.756.5103
Did you know that New York City provides a database of free & low cost after school programs in NYC, searchable by program type, borough, and age.
For more information, visit - https://growingupnyc.cityofnewyork.us/afterschool/?ages=pre-teen&ages=teen&page=2
For future reference, this link has been added to our Activities and Opportunities for Students 2019-2020 page on our website under 'After School' on the navigation bar.
(9/24/19) -
Dear Families,
We are writing to inform you of an important update to the calendar for the 2019-20 school year. Schools will be closed for winter break beginning on Monday, December 23, 2019. Schools will remain closed from Monday, December 23 through Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Schools will reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2020. This is an update from the previously announced winter break start date of Tuesday, December 24. This calendar adjustment has been made in order to better accommodate families’ needs around the holidays. Please visit schools.nyc.gov/calendar for further information about the school calendar, and contact 311 or 718-935-2200 with any questions.
Sincerely,
The New York City Department of Education
The DOE provides free Microsoft 365 ProPlus to students and families. Much of this software has education-specific content that supports our students’ academic improvement. In addition, familiarity with these tools will help prepare students for college and careers.
Visit nycstudents.net to download Microsoft Office 365. You will need to enter the student's OSIS number, last name, and date of birth, or the student's username.
Fall offerings, some with registration deadlines, are starting to roll in so be sure to check out our 'Activities and Opportunities for Students' Page.
You can find it HERE
On our website's navigation bar, under "For 8th Grade Families", you will find an assortment of documents to help with your High School search. Tip - Don't forget to breathe!
To ease access and to help reduce paper, we have posted essential ESMS forms on our website. You can find them under the 'About ESMS' tab on the navigation bar or at http://esms.org/forms. A Parental Release Form will be sent home with students in their First Day Packet for signature and return.
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible purchases to the ESMS PTA when you shop via Amazon Smile. If not signed up, register at the Amazon Smile Page: smile.amazon.com, select:
East Side Middle School PTA
Location: New York, NY
Once selected, start all your Amazon purchases via http://smile.amazon.com
Thank you for your support!
5th grade students and their parents are invited to learn about East Side Middle School. Please note: Students are assigned to an Open House date according to their elementary school in District 2. Schedules will be posted under the "Admissions" tab of this website. Doors open at 5:45pm
Please note that the originally planned after school showcase for this day has been cancelled. Once determined, info will be emailed out about a winter trimester after school showcase.
November 20th @ 7:15pm - Parallel Lives (Phyllis Rose)
This is a rescheduling of the 11/12 event. Interested participants should email Beth Servetar by 11pm on Sunday 11/17.
In her study of the married couple as the smallest political unit, Phyllis Rose uses the marriages of five Victorian writers who wrote about their own lives with unusual candor: Charles Dickens, John Ruskin, Thomas Carlyle, John Stuart Mill, and George Eliot--née Marian Evans.
Interested in participating? Email Parent Coordinator Beth Servetar by 11pm the Sunday prior to each book club. We need at least 3 advance RSVPs to ensure that the club will meet; once an event confirmation email goes home a day ahead, please feel free to RSVP late or to attend without replying.
Please email our Parent Coordinator (esms.bethservetar@gmail.com) if you plan to attend
Young poets are invited to write, share and publish their works. Working with Mr. Getz, students can join us every Thursday morning for our Poetry Corner!
Tryouts for both Varsity and JV Girls Basketball will take place in the Gym.
If your child still wants to order a class ring, orders will be taken through Nov 22nd.
Orders can be placed with: Beth Servetar, Parent Coordinator, esms.bethservetar@gmail.com
Registration for the Winter Trimester closes on Friday, November 22nd.
Click HERE for the Winter schedule.
Click HERE to Register.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns to Nick Lacativa, Manhattan Youth After-School Program Director, at nlacativa@manhattanyouth.org or (917)565-7472
Fall Trimester runs from Sept 9 - Nov 22. Check your email and the ESMS website for winter programming
The Gender and Sexuality Alliance meets during lunchtime in a discussion group led by Mr. Forigua. All students are welcome.
For those who were unable to take their photo on October 18th. In addition, 8th grade homeroom and grade photos will be taken this day.
Picture Retakes will take place on Tuesday, November 26, along with 8th Grade Homeroom photos and the 8th Grade Class photo! Please plan accordingly!
Big Buddies is our morning, student-run mentoring program that pairs interested 8th graders with 6th graders who requested a buddy. If your 6th or 8th grader has a question about BB or forgot to sign up, please have them contact Kate Hankin or Beth Servetar.
Pies ordered through the ESMS PTA Pie Sale will be available for pickup in the ESMS Cafeteria.
If you cannot be there for pickup, please make alternative arrangements. The PTA cannot refrigerate the pies during the day.
Elected representatives of the ESMS Student Council and their committees meet during lunch.
Schools closed for Thanksgiving Break
Use your Community Partners card at the register and on December 3rd, Fairway will donate 6% or more of your purchase totals to support our school initiatives.
Need a Fairway Partners Card? Please email ESMS Parent Coordinator, Beth Servetar, at esms.bethservetar@gmail.com
Big Buddies is our morning, student-run mentoring program that pairs interested 8th graders with 6th graders who requested a buddy. If your 6th or 8th grader has a question about BB or forgot to sign up, please have them contact Kate Hankin or Beth Servetar.
Elected representatives of the ESMS Student Council and their committees meet during lunch.
Monthly Meeting to include four student representatives from ESMS.
Young poets are invited to write, share and publish their works. Working with Mr. Getz, students can join us every Thursday morning for our Poetry Corner!
The Gender and Sexuality Alliance meets during lunchtime in a discussion group led by Mr. Forigua. All students are welcome.
November PTA Meeting
with Guest Speaker
Tuesday, November 19th.
9:15 AM — Cafeteria
* * * * *
9:30AM - Immediately following the meeting, please join us for a free seminar:
"Planning for the Costs of College",
presented by Anthony Becker, Certified Financial Planner
Mr. Becker will review the costs of today's college education and discuss strategies for saving, plus pursuing grants, scholarships, loans & work study.
ESMS
THANKSGIVING PIE DRIVE
Online Ordering Is Now Closed
Thank you to all who ordered pies and supported the ESMS PTA.
Your contributions help fund important programs and services for our students and teachers.
Items will be available for pick up on Tuesday morning, November 26th (8:30-10am, Cafeteria). If you cannot be there for pickup, please make alternative arrangements. The PTA cannot refrigerate the pies during the day.
Questions?
Contact Eugenia Tinsley or Rachel Hall Danes
PRINCIPALLY FOR PARENTS BOOK CLUB
Parents are invited to join Mr. Getz and Ms. Hyman for our Principally For Parents Book Club
Each month Principal David Getz and Assistant Principal Amanda Hyman invite parents to join them for our Principally for Parents Book Club. Participants read the selected book prior to the class and then join Mr. Getz and Ms. Hyman to discuss it in detail.
Interested in participating? Email Parent Coordinator Beth Servetar by 11pm the Sunday prior to each book club. We need at least 3 advance RSVPs to ensure that the club will meet; once an event confirmation email goes home a day ahead, please feel free to RSVP late or to attend without replying.
SELECTIONS
November 20th @ 7:15pm - Parallel Lives (Phyllis Rose)
This is a rescheduling of the 11/12 event. Interested participants should email Beth Servetar by 11pm on Sunday 11/17.
In her study of the married couple as the smallest political unit, Phyllis Rose uses the marriages of five Victorian writers who wrote about their own lives with unusual candor: Charles Dickens, John Ruskin, Thomas Carlyle, John Stuart Mill, and George Eliot--née Marian Evans.
December 11th @ 7:30pm - When Breath Becomes Air (Paul Kalenithi)
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST • This inspiring, exquisitely observed memoir finds hope and beauty in the face of insurmountable odds as an idealistic young neurosurgeon attempts to answer the question What makes a life worth living?
January 15th @ 7:30pm - Strangers in their Own Land (Arlie Russell)
The National Book Award Finalist and New York Times bestseller that became a guide and balm for a country struggling to understand the election of Donald Trump.
If purchasing your book on Amazon, please be sure to use ESMS' Amazon Smile Account (see bottom of ESMS home page for details).
Please email our Parent Coordinator (esms.bethservetar@gmail.com) if you plan to attend.
WINTER IS COMING!
WINTER TRIMESTER AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING INFORMATION
REGISTRATION OPENED at NOON (11/15)
REGISTER HERE
The Fall Trimester will come to a close on Friday, November 22nd with Winter Trimester programming officially beginning on Monday, November 25th!
Registration for the Winter Trimester will open on Friday, November 15th at noon and will close one week later on Friday, November 22nd. The registration link will be provided as we get closer to the date.
Click HERE for the Winter schedule so that you and your family may plan ahead, prior to registration. If there are any changes to the schedule before registration we will let you know.
Basketball Tryouts
Winter tryouts for Basketball will take place on the week of November 18th. We offer four competitive teams: Girls JV, Girls Varsity, Boys JV & Boys Varsity. (Please note: 8th graders may ONLY play Varsity level)
-Boys Basketball Tryouts (Varsity & JV)- Monday November 18th (3:30-5:40pm)
-Boys Basketball Callbacks (By Invite ONLY)- Tuesday November 19th (3:30-5:40pm)
-Girls Basketball Tryouts (Varsity & JV)- Thursday November 21st (3:30-5:40pm)
Please reach out with any questions or concerns to Nick Lacativa, Manhattan Youth After-School Program Director, at nlacativa@manhattanyouth.org or (917)565-7472
2019 is quickly coming to an end. Make your tax deductible donation before it's too late. Corporate Match? Don't forget to ask your employer and confirmations are available from the PTA.
Donate to the ESMS PTA NOW so that we can continue to bring great programming to our school and our children.
Have you donated to your favorite middle school this year?
Please contribute to ESMS by donating HERE!
Take a Chance
Make a Friend
6th Graders, Ayesha and Lola
meet in front of the
ESMS Friendship Wall
New Poems Added!
Welcome to our corner, where we gather to write, share and publish our poetry.
It’s a wonderful creative space for young poets to embrace their inner talent.
If that appeals to you, please come join us to explore great poems!
Thursday mornings at 8:00 in Mr. Getz's office
-The Students of the ESMS Poetry Corner
Read some of our published poetry here
(Poetry Page updated on 10/29/19)
6th Grade
EGG DROP 2019
Thanks to 6th grader ingenuity and creative design (utilizing materials such as foam/sponge/balloon), we are happy to report that several eggs survived the 5 story drop.
Are You Receiving School Email?
If you are not receiving email communication from the school and the PTA, you may not be registered in our system.
All new families must complete this form in order to receive emails, newsletters, and other notifications from ESMS.
Please click HERE to submit your information.
Keep in touch, Tiger!
Mr. Getz urges you to read this
important DOE/DOHMH FAQ on the
dangers of vaping
CLICK IMAGE FOR FULL VERSION
Related Reading
NY Times, Sept 2019:
Trump Administration Plans to Ban Flavored E-Cigarettes
NY Times, Opinion, Sept 2019:
We Still Don’t Know How Safe Vaping Is
NY Times, Aug 2019:
Don’t Use Bootleg or Street Vaping Products, C.D.C. Warns
Are you entered in our internal database of student and parent cell phone numbers? We program cell numbers into the School Messenger system in order to be able to send important text messages to kids and/or parents if needed. (For example, if there is a safety event at our school while students are out for lunch or right before school starts, we would like the ability to immediately send them instructions.)
Click HERE to enter cell phone information for the student and at least one parent or guardian. THIS APPLIES TO ALL FAMILIES GRADES 6-8, even if you submitted last year.
Nothing you submit through this link impacts your child's information elsewhere (not in the DOE's main database or on your child's blue card), and it will not be shared or used for purposes other than urgent notifications. Enter your numbers today!
ESMS is collaborating with Making Caring Common, a project of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, to build a more caring, inclusive school community where students feel safe, supported, and connected. As a member of the Caring Schools Network, we will work to better understand how students, staff, and parents experience our school community.
We will also have access to research-based strategies and insights from leaders in the field of education to promote safety, caring, and respect. You can learn more about MCC’s Caring Schools Network at https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/caring-schools.
NEXT ACADEMIC RESOURCE FAIR
January 15, 2020
We hope you found the Academic Resource Fair on 10/17/2018 informative
Vendors at the Resource Fair are offering special incentives to ESMS families.
Please take advantage of these great discounts and be sure to mention ESMS.
Please show them your support!
More information HERE
Have you donated to your favorite middle school this year?
Please contribute to ESMS by donating HERE!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE
NY Times, Sept 2019:
Trump Administration Plans to Ban Flavored E-Cigarettes
NY Times, Opinion, Sept 2019:
We Still Don’t Know How Safe Vaping Is
NY Times, Aug 2019:
Don’t Use Bootleg or Street Vaping Products, C.D.C. Warns
NY Times, Aug 2019:
How to Help Your Child Study
The Atlantic, Aug 2019:
Twitter Needs a Pause Button
NY Times, Feb 2019:
Why Girls Beat Boys at School and Lose to Them at the Office
Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2017:
(with resource links at end of article)
The Talk - How Adults Can Promote Young People’s Healthy Relationships and Prevent Misogyny and Sexual Harassment
and accompanying Podcast
Throughout the school year, Mental Health is an important topic covered in our classrooms and discussed at our PTA meetings. Utilizing curricula and guest speakers, topics relevant to our kids, and their well being, are explored.
Here are select resources you might find helpful:
Dr. Dennis's full presentation with tech slides from her 2nd visit
(Courtesy of Guest Speaker, Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary of Hunter College)
Teen Mental Health Handout for ESMS Parents (Courtesy of ESMS Parent & Guest Speaker, Michele Galietta)
Mental Health Resources, Tri-state (Courtesy of Emotion Regulation Lab @ Hunter College)
NAMI Basics (Courtesy of Guest Speaker, Clara S. Kiely, MSW @ NAMI-NYC Metro)
Teen Anxiety Presentation & Teen Anxiety Study (Courtesy of Guest Speaker, Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary of Hunter College)
How to Help Your Child in an Unhealthy Relationship (Courtesy of Guest Speaker, Annie Robertson, RAPP (Relationship Abuse Prevention Program)
RAPP offers free relationship counseling through their uptown offices. Students or parents may reach out to arobertson@egscf.org
Seton Hall University School of Law's Institute for Privacy Protection's is teaching a four-class program on "Privacy and Balancing Technology Use" to sixth graders at East Side Middle School. The program will be taught during the weekly advisory period by Seton Hall Law School students who are fellows at the University's Institute for Privacy Protection. They will cover privacy, reputational impact, advertising & content choice, and balancing time spent on screens and time spent offline.
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Professor Julia Hernandez, who will be running the program through Seton Hall at julia.hernandez@shu.edu
Thank you to the talented musicians from Jazz at Lincoln Center for performing at East Side Middle School!
This series of concerts at ESMS was part of
illustrating the ideals of American democracy through the lens of America’s greatest and most democratic art form: jazz.
Remember to begin all future purchases at http://smile.amazon.com. Bookmark it in your browser now!
STATEMENT ON ACCESSIBILITY
We are working to make this website easier to access for people with disabilities and will follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0.
If you need assistance with a particular page or document on our current site, please contact pta@esms.org or call (212) 360-0114 request assistance.
