Frequently Asked Questions

Eastern Middle School

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Eastern Middle School open each morning?

The building opens at 7:30AM each day and may report to their first period class.  

For students who arrive to school during the hours of 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM they will report to the Large cafeteria.  After 7:30 AM, students will have full access to the school building, the Media Center, as well as have the opportunity to attend extra help sessions from their teachers (before 7:30 AM must be arranged with their teacher).  Students will be able to use this time to get organized in order to be prepared for the start of the school day

Are students allowed to bring their cell phones to school?

Yes, students may bring their phones to school and may use them to call home before school begins (8:00AM) and after school ends (2:45PM). Phones should be turned off and stored in their backpacks during the school day. If a student uses their phone without permission during the day it will be confiscated and sent to the main office. Phones will only be returned to a parent.

What should I do if my child is going to be absent?

Parents are asked to call the school at (203) 637-1744 prior to 8:00AM to report an absence. If EMS does not receive a call and the student is marked absent the school will call home.

What should I do if my child is going to be tardy to school?

Parents are asked to call the school at (203) 637-1744 prior to 8:00AM to report a tardy. The student will be marked absent/excused until they arrive to school. Parents do not have to come in to the school with their child. The child should report to the main office to receive a late pass.

What if my child forgets something that he/she needs for the school day?

Parents are encouraged to help their child to pack up the night before. However, parents may drop off materials in the main office. They should then write their child’s name on the board in the foyer located to the right, under the TV monitor. We will not interrupt class so a student may retrieve an item from the main office.  (This year due to Covid mitigation, parents should buzz the front office, inform what's being dropped off and then place the item on the cart outside the front door.). Office staff will then bring to the office.

What should I do if my child forgets their lunch?

Our cafeteria will provide our students with a basic lunch for the day, but parents are encouraged to put some money into their lunch account for snacks or as a backup in case they leave their lunch at home. The website for electronic payments is www.myschoolbucks.com, you may also pay by check.  This year, lunches will be available for all students at no cost.  

What should I do if my child needs to leave during the school day?

Parents are asked to send their child in with a note and have them report to the main office before school starts for an early dismissal pass. The student will then meet their parent in the office and they will sign them out. If they are returning to school, you may send them to the office for a pass back to class. You don’t need to come in to school with them.  This year, due to Covid, parents should sign their child out by the front door, buzz the office and your child will be sent out to you.  

Who is allowed to take the late bus (4:10PM)?

The late bus runs on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday only. There is no late bus on Wednesday and Fridaay afternoons. Anyone who stays after school with a teacher, in the Media Center, at a club, intramurals or any supervised activity may take the late bus home. Students need a pass from the adult that they stayed with or who organized the activity. No students will be allowed to ride the bus if they do not arrive at the bus circle with a pass. There are three late bus routes and they cover the entire attendance area. Please check the website for each of these three routes.

Does the Boys & Girls Club pick up students at Eastern Middle School?

The Boys & Girls Club offers a van to the club each day of the week at approximately 3:00 pm and again at 4:00PM. Families need to be a member of this organization in order to access this service. The Boys & Girls Club is open until 6:00PM each day.

When will we receive information on the Clubs and Activities offered at EMS?

The Club and Activities Handbook will be distributed to all students in late September/early October. This book will also be posted on our website. Also included in the booklet will be times that our instructional staff is available for extra help.

Can a student start his or her own club at EMS?

Students that want to start a club at Eastern should meet with their grade level counselor.  The counselor will help the students see if other students are interested in starting a club and find a faculty advisor.  The club can start quickly if the student finds friends that are interested and a faculty member to be an advisor.  All clubs must be approved by administration.  

Are students able to bring a visitor/guest to school?

EMS STUDENT VISITOR PROCEDURE

A current student wishing to sponsor a visitor to Eastern Middle school must apply to his/her Administrator, in writing, signed by a parent or guardian at least TWO days in advance of the visit. ONLY PROSPECTIVE EMS students are permitted a ONE DAY visitor’s pass.

Visitors are not permitted during a testing period, on the day preceding a vacation, or during the first two weeks of the start of the school year or the month of June. The administration reserves the right to deny visitor access at any time.

1. The student sponsor must have each classroom teacher sign the pass, thereby agreeing to have the visitor attend classes with the sponsoring student.

2. Return the pass to your Administrator for signature, which would indicate approval.

3. On the day of the visit you must have your visitor sign in at the Main Office for a visitor’s pass.

4. The sponsoring student will carry the visitor’s pass and return it to the Main Office at the end of the day.

5. The guest must remain with the student sponsor and attend classes for the entire day.

What is the procedure for an extended absence from school?

If a student will be missing school for an extended period of time, they should schedule a meeting with their school counselor in order to notify their teachers in a systematic manner. Documentations from parents must be provided in order to facilitate this process. Extended absences are not considered excused unless they meet the district’s criteria.

What time does the nurse arrive at school each day?

8:00AM

What forms do I need in order for my child to play a sport and when are they due?

A sports physical form must be completed within 13 months and a parent permission form must be completed by a guardian for each sports season. Due dates for the parent permission forms are the following:

Fall Session – 2^nd week of school

Winter Session – End of November

Spring Session – Mid-March

How does the pattern schedule work at Eastern Middle School?

The pattern schedule at EMS runs as follows:

Pattern one days are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and alternate Mondays. Pattern two days fall on Wednesdays, Fridays and alternate Mondays. All academic classes meet every day and each elective class meets on a pattern. The exception to this rule is that grade six world language classes meet on a pattern basis and in grades seven and eight they meet daily.

Does EMS serve lunch on an early release day and what time does school end on those days?

A grab and go lunch is available for students on early release days. School ends at 12:45PM on early release days.  Students can order a bag lunch for pick up on an early release day.  See your counselor for assistance.  

Does EMS serve breakfast?

Eastern serves breakfast from 7:30am-7:50am.  Students on free/reduced lunch will be charged following the same guidelines as lunch.

What resources are available to students after school in the Media Center?

The Media Center gives our students a place to complete homework, read, complete research or just to socialize with their peers. Students are able to stay after school in the Media Center on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 2:50PM until 4:00PM. Students who go to the Media Center after school are provided with a pass for the late bus.

What is Advisor Base and what activities take place there?

Advisor Base is held each day throughout the school year. During this time period students may be involved in a variety of activities which include but are not limited to: participating in a music ensemble, sustained silent reading, completion of homework or tests/quizzes, receiving additional academic or social-emotional support. Each of these activities will be listed on a work menu, students should be prepared to engage in one of these activities prior to arriving to Advisor Base. Advisor Base is after period 3 for grade 6, after period 4 for grade 7, and after period 5 for grade 8. Students are assigned to Advisor Base by grade level and usually one of their academic teachers serves as their Advisor Base teacher. During AB, teachers read the daily announcements to their students. AB is also used by the school counselors to assist students in learning about Naviance so they can establish their goals in that computer program, which they will have access to until they graduate from Greenwich High School. Each of the large music ensemble groups also meets during this time on a designated day. This is the only time that these groups come together to rehearse.

How much passing time is there between classes?

Four minutes.

What is the difference between Grade Level Chorus Class and the Grade Ensemble that meets during Advisor Base?

Chorus class rehearsals take place twice in a student’s schedule. Full ensemble rehearsals take place once a week year-round during Advisor Base. Chorus students also meet as a scheduled class during the school day for small group instruction on a pattern basis. Students are required to attend the advisor base rehearsals and take the class unless there is an unresolvable scheduling conflict or if special permission is granted by the director.

How do I have my child tested for Advanced Mathematics, ALP English, and Advanced Science?

Please refer to the following website for information regard the advanced placement process:

https://www.greenwichschools.org/teaching-learning/academics/advanced-learning-program-alp

How do I access the Aspen Family Portal?

Below is the Aspen Family Portal website:

https://ct-greenwich.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.do

Username: Primary parent email address on file

Password: neednew1

If you have difficulty with logging onto the Aspen Family Portal, please email the Parent Portal Help Desk at parent_portal@greenwich.k12.ct.us