Student drop off is at 8:45AM. There is no one to supervise students until that time.

Morning Help & Assessment Sessions began August 12, 2019 and are available to students each morning at 8:15 in the WildCat Lab, Room 245.  Students who report to school between 8:15- 8:45 must and report to Help Sessions.

Intramurals will begin next week August 19, 2019 and students must be present by 8:10 in the café in order to participate.

We are excited to announce upcoming events that your child will be invited to attend this Fall at East Cobb Middle School. To provide a safe and orderly environment at these events, we have implemented a behavior expectations plan. All students recently participated in Team Talks.  During these “Talks”, topics of discussion included but were not limited to: academics, retention, attendance, behavior, and goals. Stay tuned as the letter will be linked on this blog for your reference.  Your child was given the letter on Monday, August 12, 2019.

We urge you to allow students to ride the bus!  Taking the bus is the easiest, safest, most efficient way to get 1400+ students to and from school.  Cobb County School District now has a School Bus Tracking App for Parents “Here Comes the Bus” tracking features indicates:

• Real-time location of your child’s bus on a map
• Gives scheduled and actual arrival times at home and school for bus routes
• Provides push and email notifications when the bus is near.

Sign-Up Instructions for Parents:  https://herecomesthebus.com/

Cellphones/Devices must be docked in the pocket docking station upon entering class. (STUDENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO RETURN THE DEVICE TO THEIR LOCKER, IF THEY ARE IN POSSESSION OF IT UPON ENTERING CLASS, IT MUST BE DOCKED IN THE ASSIGNED DOCKING POCKET IN THE CLASSROOM).

Cellphones/Devices should not be seen or heard in the classroom, café, or at school unless it has been deemed appropriate for instructional use ONLY by a teacher, enacting BYOD Bring your own device); which will be communicated prior to or at the beginning of class.-Up Instructions for Parents:  https://herecomesthebus.com/

Be mindful as not turn in at the bus only entrance. Traffic must enter at the traffic light to turn into East Cobb Middle School. Violators are not only risking the safety of others but also run the risk of being ticketed.

Early check-out time ends at 3:45PM. If a student must be checked out prior to 3:45PM.  Announcements each day begin at 4:10PM in order to dismiss car riders right at 4:15PM.  There is no after school care at Middle Schools.

Please join us for Back to School Night for all grade levels, Thursday, August 15th starting with PTSA and directions from Ms. Young at 5:15PM in the café followed by your student’s schedule rotation. Make sure to know who your student’s homeroom teacher is. We are asking that parents come to Back to School Night without students to provide enough space for parents to sit, meet and hear from the teachers.

Picture day is this Friday, August 16, 2019!  Everyone will take a picture for the yearbook on Friday.  Parents, your students received picture packets in homeroom last week.  Please send money for the selected packet if you plan on purchasing pictures.

Greetings Jr. Wildcats!  The Administrative Team would like to welcome you to East Cobb Middle School where we educate with POSITIVITY!  It’s been a great start to the 2019-2020 school year! Students and staff are excited and ready to get to work! Every week, Ms. Young, principal will post weekly phone message with greetings, updates, reminders. Those post will also be available on this blog should you need to refer back for clarity or reminders.

Middle school officially begins at 9:15AM.  Student drop off is at 8:45AM. There is no supervision at ECMS until 8AM. Parents may drop off students between the 8:45AM-9:10AM.   We begin serving breakfast at 8:45AM.

Parents for morning drop-off, please remember that the curb (red) in front of the school is a fire lane and is for drop-offs only. Please do not park. Some parents have been parking and waiting; which hinders other students from being dropped off. If you are here early and wait to let your student out of the car, please park in the parking lot and then drive to the drop off lane to let your student out in front of the school.  Students must be picked up and dropped off at the red-curb lane right in front of the school. Students are never to cross over the car-rider line to the parking lot or vice-versa.

Parents are reminded that when picking up or dropping off students in our car-rider line to be alert, exercise patience and caution and be KIND! Those drivers who are impatient, uninformed or apathetic pose a great threat to our children, staff, and themselves during this time.

There will be opportunities for early morning activities such as intramurals and morning band shortly.  Scheduled morning tutoring/help sessions will begin the week of August 12th each morning at 8:15 in the WildCat Lab, Room 245.

We urge you to allow students to ride the bus!  Taking the bus is the easiest, safest, most efficient way to get 1400+ students to and from school.  Cobb County School District now has a School Bus Tracking App for Parents “Here Comes the Bus” tracking features indicates:

• Real-time location of your child’s bus on a map
• Gives scheduled and actual arrival times at home and school for bus routes
• Provides push and email notifications when the bus is near.

Sign-Up Instructions for Parents:  https://herecomesthebus.com/

Be mindful as not turn in at the bus only entrance. Traffic must enter at the traffic light to turn into East Cobb Middle School. Violators are not only risking the safety of others but also run the risk of being ticketed.

Early check-out time ends at 3:45PM. If a student must be checked out prior to 3:45PM.  Announcements each day begin at 4:10PM in order to dismiss car riders right at 4:15PM.  There is no after school care at Middle Schools.

Please join us for Back to School Night for all grade levels, Thursday, August 15^th starting with PTSA and directions from Ms. Young at 5:15PM in the café followed by your student’s schedule rotation. Make sure to know who your student’s homeroom teacher is. We are asking that parents come to Back to School Night without students to provide enough space for parents to sit, meet and hear from the teachers.

The ECMS Foundation is having the Chick-fil-A dunk tank Spirit Night for our school on Tuesday, September 10^th from 5-8pm. There will be some awesome ECMS teachers signed up to participate, come see which teacher you can dunk in the tank!

Front Office Deliveries & Messages:

Our front office at East Cobb Middle School is very busy all of the time. In the past, the front office has been inundated with parents dropping off lunches, cheerleading clothes, sportswear and equipment, instruments, keys, and money along with phone calls instructing them to relay messages to students about transportation and other personal reminders. Parents make sure that students bring lunch with them or that you provide money for them to buy lunch each day. Emergencies happen and we will be happy to assist in those instances. If you are going to bring forgotten items such as lunch or after school items for your child to pick-up from the front office, make sure that they are aware and they may come by during their lunch or at dismissal to retrieve. We cannot continue to subject our front office to serve as the liaison for personal deliveries and reminders.
Also as a reminder, students will never be called to the front office for early dismissal until the parent arrives to check the student o out. We are committed to not disrupting instructional time until absolutely necessary.

Dress Code Highlights: Dress code information was sent to all feeder schools and placed on the website. Shorts and skirts should be no more than 3 inches above the knee.  Additionally, the following is NOT permitted:

• No leggings
• No holes in clothes
• No slides
• No flip-flops

Regarding the Cellphones/Device Policy-A letter of notification was sent home in the first day folder.  If a student is in possession of a cellphone/device upon entering a classroom:

• Cellphones/Devices must be docked in the pocket docking station upon entering class. (STUDENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO RETURN THE DEVICE TO THEIR LOCKER, IF THEY ARE IN POSSESSION OF IT UPON ENTERING CLASS, IT MUST BE DOCKED IN THE ASSIGNED DOCKING POCKET IN THE CLASSROOM).
• Cellphones/Devices should not be seen or heard in the classroom, café, or at school unless it has been deemed appropriate for instructional use ONLY by a teacher, enacting BYOD Bring your own device); which will be communicated prior to or at the beginning of class.

The correct password for the CCSDWireless network is: cobb2019

The first day of school is Thursday, August 1, 2019!  Official school hours are 9:15AM – 4:15PM!  We look forward to seeing you all!

PARENTS! Regarding dismissal on the last day of school… Students who are not typically car riders or walkers will need a note from parents providing notification of car-riding or permission to walk. This note will be shown to their last period teacher. We will ask teachers to verify receipt of note/permission prior to dismissal. If students do not have a note they must ride the bus home, taking their regular mode of transportation.

No bus passes will be issued during the last week of school. Parents please be sure that you have made arrangements with your students for the last week/last days of school. ALL students must be picked up no later than 1:30 on Tuesday, May 21st and Wednesday, May 22nd.

Honors Assemblies are at 9:30 on the following days!
6th Grade May 20th
7th Grade 21st
8th Grade 22nd

Middle Schools will dismiss at 1:30 on both Tuesday, May 21st and Wednesday, May 22nd!

Wednesday, May 22, 2019 is the last day of school!

Yearbooks will be distributed this week beginning Monday, May 13, 2019.  Students are to keep their yearbooks with them or secured somewhere.  ECMS will not be responsible for lost or stolen yearbooks.  Please make sure that students write their names on the inside of the front or back cover with permanent marker.

LAST DAY FOR STUDENTS TO BRING BOOKBAGS/Backpacks IS TUESDAY May 14, 2019. There will be no locker use after this date. Tuesday May 14^th will be the last day to use lockers and students may not bring backpacks.

Field days begin this week! May 15th for 8th grade, May 16th for 7th grade, and May 17th for 6th grade and we are still in will need bottled water for our students and staff participating. If you are able, please bring in a case of water to donate to keep everyone hydrated throughout the highly active and engaging field day events. The 8th grade picnic is May 20th! You may drop them off in the front office. Thank you so much!

Honors celebrations will take place during the last week of school. Invitations will come home May 15th and May 16th with students who will be receiving an award. All ceremonies will begin at 9:30AM in the theater; 6th grade on May 20, 2019, 7th grade on May 21, 2019, and 8th grade on May 22, 2019.

Middle Schools will dismiss at 1:30 on both Tuesday, May 21^st and Wednesday, May 22^nd!

Wednesday, May 22, 2019 is the last day of school!

No bus passes will be issued during the last week of school.  Parents please be sure that you have made arrangements with your students for the last week/last days of school.  ALL students must be picked up no later than 1:30 on Tuesday, May 21^st and Wednesday, May 22^nd.

Tonight! Parents, bring your families and come join us for International and Family Night at ECMS on May 7, 2019 at 6PM. Experience cultures represented from around the globe with ethnic entertainment, food, artifacts, displays and information. This event proves to be a very engaging and educational experience every year. PARENTS PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR CHILDREN, ALL STUDENTS MUST BE ACCOMPAINED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN. Students are not able to stay after school, they have to go home and return with a parent if they plan to attend. This is a family event and not a drop off and pick up setting. Again, students must attend this event with their parents. Come one family, come all families for a great time.

Quarter 4 Progress Reports (final 4 ½ week mark) were made available on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 in StudentVue and ParentVue. Important information was sent home in the envelope. If you haven’t already do so, please sign on the appropriate line indicating that you have viewed your child’s progress report online and reviewed the contents in the envelope. Students should return the signed envelope to their homeroom teacher as soon as possible.

Parents continue to be mindful that due to testing we may experience delays in dismissal; though tomorrow (5.7.2019) is our last day of Milestone testing!

Field days are just around the corner! May 15th for 8th grade, May 16th for 7th grade, and May 17th for 6th grade and we will need bottled water for our students and staff participating. If you are able, please bring in a case of water to donate to keep everyone hydrated throughout the highly active and engaging field day events. The 8th grade picnic is May 20th! You may drop them off in the front office. Thank you so much!

Honors celebrations will take place during the last week of school. Invitations will come home May 15th and May 16th with students who will be receiving an award. All ceremonies will begin at 9:30AM in the theater; 6th grade on May 20, 2019, 7th grade on May 21, 2019, and 8th grade on May 22, 2019.

Quarter 4 Progress Reports (final 4 ½ week mark) will be made available on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 in StudentVue and ParentVue. Important information will be sent home in the envelope. Please sign on the appropriate line indicating that you have viewed your child’s progress report online and reviewed the contents in the envelope. Students should return the signed envelope to their homeroom teacher as soon as possible.

We are in the midst of the Assessment Season! Milestones End of Grades and End of Course Assessments are being administered April 15, 2019 – May 7, 2019.  The actual dates for grade levels and subjects is available on our website.

Reminder: Throughout the testing period, please be sure that your children eat a balanced breakfast. Also, cell phones and all SMART devices will not be allowed in the testing sessions. If they bring personal devices to school, students will have to keep the devices turned off and stored in their lockers.

Who remembers School House Rock? Our Choral and Art departments will be present School House Rock! the Musical. There will be two shows; 6th and 7th grade students will perform on May 2nd at 7PM. 8th grade students will perform on May 3rd at 7PM. All tickets will be $5. Students must go home and return with a parent. Come with your family and enjoy the show!

Parents, bring your families and come join us for International and Family Night at ECMS on May 7, 2019 at 6PM. Experience cultures represented from around the globe with ethnic entertainment, food, artifacts, displays and information. This event proves to be a very engaging and educational experience every year. PARENTS PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR CHILDREN, ALL STUDENTS MUST BE ACCOMPAINED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN. Students are not able to stay after school, they have to go home and return with a parent if they plan to attend. This is a family event and not a drop off and pick up setting. Again, students must attend this event with their parents. Come one family, come all families for a great time.

Quarter 4 Progress Reports (final 4 ½ week mark) will be made available on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 in StudentVue and ParentVue. Important information will be sent home in the envelope. Please sign on the appropriate line indicating that you have viewed your child’s progress report online and reviewed the contents in the envelope. Students should return the signed envelope to their homeroom teacher as soon as possible.

We are in the midst of the Assessment Season! Milestones End of Grades and End of Course Assessments are being administered April 15, 2019 – May 7, 2019.

The actual dates for grade levels and subjects is available on our website.

Reminder:   Throughout the testing period, please be sure that your children eat a balanced breakfast.  Also, cell phones and all SMART devices will not be allowed in the testing sessions. If they bring personal devices to school, students will have to keep the devices turned off and stored in their lockers.

Note:  Heads up parents! Due to testing, our afternoon dismissal may be delayed as much as 15 minutes or so. If students are arriving home a little later than normal that is why. Heads up for this Thursday, April 25, 2019 in particular…

Parents, bring your families and come join us for International and Family Night at ECMS on May 7, 2019 at 6PM. Experience cultures represented from around the globe with ethnic entertainment, food, artifacts, displays and information. This event proves to be a very engaging and educational experience every year. PARENTS PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR CHILDREN, ALL STUDENTS MUST BE ACCOMPAINED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN. Students are not able to stay after school, they have to go home and return with a parent if they plan to attend. This is a family event and not a drop off and pick up setting. Again, students must attend this event with their parents. Come one family, come all families for a great time.

Parents for morning drop-off, please remember that the curb (red) in front of the school is a fire lane and is for drop-offs only. Please do not park. Some parents have been parking and waiting; which hinders other students from being dropped off. If you are here early and wait to let your student out of the car, please park in the parking lot and then drive to the drop off lane to let your student out in front of the school.

Reminder:  Parents for morning drop-off, please remember that the curb (red) in front of the school is a fire lane and is for drop-offs only. Please do not park. Some parents have been parking and waiting; which hinders other students from being dropped off. If you are here early and wait to let your student out of the car, please park in the parking lot and then drive to the drop off lane to let your student out in front of the school.

Reminder:   As we embark upon the testing period, please be sure that your children eat a balanced breakfast.  Also, cell phones and all SMART devices will not be allowed in the testing sessions. If they bring personal devices to school, students will have to keep the devices turned off and stored in their lockers.

Milestones End of Grades and End of Course Assessments will be administered April 15, 2019 – May 7, 2019. 8^th grade commenced today!  Specific dates for grades and content are posted on the ECMS website or you can click the “Testing Updates!” tab above.  Also available on our website on the Admin Blog/Testing updates is a link for a practice site http://www.gaexperienceonline.com/ that will allow students to see what testing online is like. Parents are welcome to try it as well. The items on the demonstration tests are general and are organized by grade bands in the content areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The items do not necessarily represent the specific grade-level content that students learn daily in their classrooms. The primary purpose is to let students experience, firsthand, the functionality of the online testing platform.

ECMS is offering a Write Right Invitational

Last chance… let’s help students with innovative writing strategies to improve writing skills and learn new writing techniques… Prompts provided for all genres of writing (informational, argumentative, and narrative writing) with editing and revision assistance and feedback provided. Sign-up on the ECMS website by grade level for April 13th both days from 9AM -12PM. Let’s improve our writing and improve our performance!

Milestones End of Grades and End of Course Assessments are April 15, 2019 – May 7, 2019. Specific dates for grades and content are posted on the ECMS website or you can click the “Testing Updates!” tab above.

Click the “Testing Updates!” tab above for a link to the practice site that will allow students to see what testing online is like. Parents are welcome to try it as well. The items on the demonstration tests are general and are organized by grade bands in the content areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The items do not necessarily represent the specific grade-level content that students learn daily in their classrooms. The primary purpose is to let students experience, firsthand, the functionality of the online testing platform.

A reminder, as we embark upon the testing period, please be sure that your children eat a balanced breakfast.  Also, cell phones and all SMART devices will not be allowed in the testing sessions.