We are off to a GREAT start here at Evans Jr. High School, students and staff are settling into routines and meeting both behavioral and academic expectations each day. The few issues we have had have been handled with respect and maturity by our students and as a staff we are encouraged by the partnerships we have with our Eagle Nation families. We will as a team work together to have a year filled with behaviors that represent our core values of being respectful, responsible and safe both in Eagle Nation and out in the community. Thank you for making Evans a great place to be everyday!

Respectfully,

Kimberly Martin-Boyd

Principal

Elevate & Celebrate

Let's share positive praise for the Evans staff this year by completing the Elevate & Celebrate Form. I will then anonymously share the praise each week in my staff notes! Keep the positive energy flowing.

#BetheGood #EagleNation

Cell Phone Policy

Silent & Away means the ringer is on silent, and cell phones are completely out of sight. It should never be in the student's hands during the school day. Please note, Smart Watches and Wireless Headphones should also not be used during the school day. Thank you for helping our students follow the schoolwide expectations!

Dress Code

Most students comply with the dress code; however, we still need specific assistance with making sure that clothing adequately covers the body and is not torn or altered in a way that is explicit or suggestive. Shirts, blouses, and tops that are not tucked in must be long enough to cover the midsection when the student is in a standing or sitting position. All tops should have straps, and undergarments should not be seen. Pants or shorts must be worn at the waist and should be at a school-appropriate length. Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times. Slippers and shoes with wheels are not permitted. Finally, sunglasses should not be worn in the building.

Locks

Reminder - all students need TWO locks, one for their hallway and one for their PE locker. Locks are sold in the office for $18 for two locks with the same combination. Payment is accepted in cash or check. All lockers without locks on them after Labor Day will be zip tied and the student will need to show the office staff their lock to get the tie cut off.

High School Football Games

High school football games are great events for junior high and elementary students to attend to start seeing what high school life is like. Junior high and elementary students coming to a football game at either NCHS or West must be accompanied by an adult (18 or older). Junior high or elementary students without an adult will not be allowed to purchase a ticket to enter the stadium. We also ask that students not bring bags, sports balls, or other toys to the game.

Angie Codron, Principal of Normal West
Adam Zbrozek, Principal of Normal Community

Student IDs

Students have been given TWO SCHOOL IDs. The Bus ID is attached to a bungee cord and intended to be clipped to their backpack. They must scan on and off the bus every time they ride. The School ID was given to them attached to an Evans Lanyard. They should be wearing this visible around their neck every day they are in the building and/or at a school event (it is required to enter athletic events). Please help your student remember to wear their ID. If they lose their ID, they should visit Student Services to request a replacement. The first replacement is free, and each subsequent replacement is $3 and will be charged to your Infinite Campus Account. Students may replace their lanyard with a different one, provided it is school-appropriate.

Safety @ Evans

During Advisory and in classes, students review Evans Safety Procedures at the beginning of the year. In Unit 5, we use the above terminology, which is part of the Standard Response Protocol. Here is our plan:

Hold - This is when an incident occurs inside the school, such as a medical emergency, that requires the hallways to remain clear. Students and staff stay within their classrooms until given the all-clear to move about the building as usual.
Secure - This occurs when a hazard or unsafe condition is present in the immediate vicinity of the school. All exterior doors remain locked and closed. No one enters or leaves during this time, but inside, business is as usual.
Lockdown - This occurs when there is an active threat inside the building, requiring students to be in a secure location within the school
Evacuate - This may be necessary in the event of a fire or other unsafe situations suspected in the building, and it is essential to evacuate all people from the building.
Shelter - This allows us to relocate to safe areas within the building in the event of severe weather or a tornado.

EJHS Athletics Updates

Evans PTO

All parents and family members are welcome to join our PTO or volunteer for various activities throughout the year. Our next meeting is on September 9th at 6 p.m. at Evans!

Student Drop-Off & Pick-Up

Drop-off and pick-up are located in the back of the school. Parents should pull around and join the car line; you should not park. Pull as far forward as you can (to the end of the sidewalk and as close as possible to the car in front of you) and then have your child exit or enter your vehicle. This allows for multiple students to exit/enter cars at the same time. Again, please don't park in the front or back parking lot and exit your vehicle. Students will also not be able to cross the bus lane or parent pick-up/drop-off lane to come to your car; you must travel through the line in your vehicle. Doors will open at 8:25 a.m. and students may enter the building. Sixth graders will go to the cafeteria, while seventh and eighth graders will go to the gym. They will then be dismissed to their lockers and then to advisory. Please arrive promptly after school and follow the established procedures. Thank you!

Evans Talent Show

It's time for the long-awaited, first-ever EVANS TALENT SHOW! If you can sing, dance, juggle, make people laugh, do magic, stand on your head, or have any other unique talent - don't miss tryouts and the chance to be in the first-ever EVANS TALENT SHOW!!! Tryouts will be after school on Thursday, September 4th, or Friday, September 5th, in the cafe until 5:30. Get an audition form in the main office or from Ms. Jessee or Ms. Wehmeyer! The talent show will take place on Friday, September 26th and is a fundraiser for PBIS.

Verkada Vistor Management System

Unit 5 uses the Verkada visitor management system at all our district schools. This system is designed to enhance the safety and security of our students, staff, and visitors. Upon entering a school, visitors and volunteers will proceed to the front office, where they will present their photo ID for scanning by the Verkada system. The system tracks the arrival and departure of visitors, while also strengthening student safety by checking all visitors against a registered sex offender database.

The visitor's full name and date of birth are searched on sex offender registries. Additionally, the name is reviewed on our district's banned person list. Within seconds, the system will share the results with school staff and will print an ID badge for entry. If someone doesn’t have an ID, they will be checked in manually by office staff, who will also verify other forms of identification. It is important to note that this is only in use when a visitor enters the school during the day. It will not be used for after-school activities or when a parent is just coming to pick up a child.

We believe that the implementation of Verkada will greatly contribute to a safer and more secure environment for everyone in our school community. We are committed to providing a secure learning space and appreciate your support as we integrate this new system. If you have any questions or concerns about Verkada, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Thank you for your continued partnership in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students.

Student Attendance

The easiest way to ensure your students' success at Evans is to get them to school EVERY DAY! We do realize that occasionally student do become ill - if your student does please call our attendance line prior to 8:45 a.m. on the day of the absence. That number is 309-557-4455. Students are responsible for making up missed work when they return to school.

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Unit 5 Calendar 2025-2026