No school = time to relax 😎

Spring Break runs from Monday, March 30 through April 6—enjoy the break!

We’ll see everyone back and refreshed on Tuesday, April 7 🎉

On May 8th students will be participating in Raptor Recharge. It is an all-day field trip day. There are multiple events to choose from. Some events are free & others do charge a fee. Sign-ups start on March 9th for 8th graders. 7th & 6th grader sign-ups will follow afterwards. Students will be bringing home a sign-up form that needs to be signed by a guardian. The link for available activities can be found below with additional sign-up details. The remaining spots will be updated at the end of each sign-up day. 

https://bit.ly/RaptorRecharge2026

Dear Parents/Guardians, 

We're excited to announce the dates for our upcoming End-of-Year Awards Ceremonies, where we will be recognizing students for special honors, honor roll distinctions, and perfect attendance. 

Please note: If your student will be receiving an award, you will receive a call/or an invitation with detailed information about the ceremony. 

The ceremonies will take place in the gym on the following dates and times: 

- 7th Grade Awards Ceremony: Monday, 5/11/26, during EI (12:39pm - 1:26pm) 

- 6th Grade Awards Ceremony: Wednesday, 5/13/26, during EI (11:50am - 12:35pm) 

- 8th Grade Awards Ceremony: Friday, 5/15/26, during EI (12:05pm - 12:50pm)

Please be on time as the ceremonies will start promptly. Be sure to allow enough time for parking. 

Award Recognition Categories: 

- Outstanding Student Awards: Presented to students who have demonstrated leadership in both the classroom and extracurricular activities, possess a wide range of interests, and have achieved academic success in all subjects.

- Raptor Awards: These awards honor students who have earned the respect of their teachers and demonstrate outstanding participation and contributions to the school community. 

-Academic Achievement:
Students will be recognized for their academic accomplishments based on final grades through the third quarter (3/11). Honor Roll eligibility requires a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and students who have maintained a 4.0 GPA will receive special recognition for their exceptional achievement. The report will be run on 3/12 to finalize results.

- Perfect Attendance Eligibility: Awarded to students who have perfect attendance through the third quarter (3/11). 

We look forward to celebrating our students' achievements and hope you can join us in recognizing their hard work! 

Greetings Raptor Family,

The next and final PTA Meeting of the year with be TUESDAY, APRIL 21st at 6pm in the EMS library. This will be an extremely important meeting. We will not be having a meeting in March.

At this meeting, we will be voting for board members for the 26-27 school year. All board positions are open: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.  

Without board members, we will not have an active PTA for the 26-27 School Year. A non-active PTA would mean that the students, staff, and school would receive no support from the PTA in any way. (no events, help with conference meals, student snacks during testing, teacher appreciation, etc.) We truly hope that we will not reach this point. 

If you are interested in a board position, please contact us before the meeting. If have any questions about these positions, please contact the PTA - we would love to talk to you!

Kim Weaver (Kimberly.Weaver@k12.sd.us) 

Jennifer Millard (Jennifer.Millard@k12.sd.us)

You can also contact us through the PTA Facebook page. 

Click on the links below for schedules and resources.

Raptor Den meets in room 203 at 3:15-4:00pm

Dates will change every week, please make sure you check weekly for the upcoming dates. 

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday

March 23, 24 & 25

Adventure awaits! Join the Dungeons & Dragons Club and explore a world of imagination, strategy, and storytelling. Whether you’re a seasoned player or brand new to the game, all are welcome to roll the dice and embark on epic quests with friends

Game nights will be Thursdays, and gametime will be 3:07-5:00 with pickup/cleanup starting at 4:50. Room 231.

Do you enjoy solving challenging math problems and competing with your peers? Join the MathCounts Club! Members work together to strengthen their problem-solving skills and prepare for local and regional competitions.

Get ready to bump, set, and spike! Coach Wolla and Barker offers an exciting opportunity for students to enhance their volleyball skills, build confidence, and have fun in a supportive environment.

Participants will learn fundamental techniques like serving, passing, and hitting, while also focusing on teamwork, communication, and game strategies. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, our camp is designed to challenge and develop players at all skill levels.

With guidance from experienced coaches and interactive drills, campers will enjoy a mix of skill-building sessions, friendly competitions, and team bonding activities. This camp is perfect for fostering a love for the game and preparing young athletes for future volleyball opportunities.

Join us for an action-packed camp where learning and fun go hand in hand—because volleyball is more than just a game; it's a team sport that brings people together!

Practices go from 3:20 to 4:35

You will want to download the SportsYou app to stay up to date on your athlete. Use the specific code tied to your students grade level/gender as a specific coach keeps track of their attendance.

8th Grade Girls - XMX3-QGRY

8th Grade Boys - KJM7-9NND

7th Grade Girls - 32ZX-DY55

7th Grade Boys - AYQV-8V3H

6th Grade Girls - MZT5-H5CT

6th Grade Boys - F7QX-L6YZ

Please see attached schedule for details

We are seeing an uptick in cellphone use throughout the building. To protect the learning environment at East Middle School, cellphones are required to remain in student lockers, as outlined in the Middle School Handbook (page 44).

If families need to get a message to their student during the school day, they should contact the office before 1:00 PM, and we will ensure the message is delivered. Please note that we do not have a student phone available for students to call home during the school day, except before and after school. 

Thank you for your assistance on this matter.