Evans Jr. High School - Back to School 2024

Dear Eagle Nation Families,

I hope you had a wonderful summer. As we prepare for the upcoming school year, I am pleased to share the "Back to School" edition of News from the Nest, which contains essential information for families and students. Please take the time to read through all sections to ensure a positive start to the year.

This year, our school will focus on three key principles: Embrace, Engage, and Excel. I encourage all students to embrace their school, learning, and any changes they encounter. I also challenge students and families to engage with our school community and get involved. Your participation is invaluable, and we especially need parents to support our PTO. Lastly, I believe that students will excel academically and personally when they engage in their learning.

Just to remind you, our open house event, Nest Fest, will take place on Tuesday, August 13th, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. We invite you to join us with your families, enjoy the food trucks, tour the building, and walk through your students' schedules.

Enjoy the remaining summer days as we prepare for an exciting school year!

Kimberly Martin-Boyd, Principal

Student Schedule Information

Schedules will be available online via Infinite Campus beginning Friday, August 2nd, after 4 p.m. Please note that all schedules are subject to change; however, no team change requests will be accepted. Team letters can be viewed HERE!

For questions on Math Placement, please look at Unit 5 Math Placement Information; information on our everyday Advisory lessons can be found here.

If you notice an error on your schedule, you can use this form to let us know the issue before August 9th. Errors we need to know about include duplicate classes or missing classes (ex., the student is in the tutorial but should be in the choir).

Evans School Day

Our school hours are 8:45 to 3:45 on a regular school day. Students may enter the building at 8:25 a.m. Students riding the bus will enter the building through the front door; students brought to school by their parents should be dropped off BEHIND the building. Parents should pull all the way forward to the end of the sidewalk when dropping off or picking up; your student will walk down to meet you; it is important for traffic flow that you follow this direction. Parents should NOT exit their vehicle. Students should be picked up promptly after school, as our staff will not stay to supervise students whose families are late to pick them up. If you need before-school care, please fill out the form and pay the fee as soon as possible. (Form on our Evans Website)

Bus Route Information

Bus route information is available on your Infinite Campus Parent Portal . Once logged in to your parent portal, click on "More" on the left-hand side, then click "Transportation" from the drop-down menu in the center of the page. If you have any questions or concerns, please call 309-557-4287 (4BUS). We ask that you recheck this information, even if you have already, to ensure there have not been any changes.

Students MUST scan their ID when boarding and exiting the bus. Once on the bus, students should remain seated and hold conversations at a reasonable volume. Students should not throw items on or out of the bus.

Evans School Supply List

Student Attendance

The easiest way to ensure your students' success at Evans is to get them to school EVERY DAY! We realize that occasionally students 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.

PE Clothes - Order Now!

PE Clothes for the 24-25 school year are now available to purchase!! This order will be open from now until Aug 2.

Ordered clothes will be delivered to school near the beginning of the year.

Students are REQUIRED to have black shorts and a Grey shirt.

Students may use - OPTIONAL sweatpants and sweatshirts for those colder days.

Please reach out to Coach Curby at curbyd@unit5.org

https://www.selectspiritwear.com/v5store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=492

Medication at School

Medicine at School

Medicine at school must be administered by the EJHS nurse, Joely McCaw, unless a parent/guardian is willing to come to school to administer the medication. When bringing medicine to school for the nurse, please follow the following requirements...

must be in the original container, marked with the student's name
must be accompanied by the doctor-completed Medication Authorization Form (signed by the doctor and the parent/guardian). Each medication must have a form.
Inhalers and EpiPens may carried by the student (these are the ONLY medications that students may have with them), but the parent/guardian must initial the box on the Medication Authorization Form (an additional inhaler or EpiPen may be kept in the nurse's office as a backup, if desired)

Medications can be dropped off at any time between now and the beginning of school; families are encouraged to drop them off to school before the first day so medications are available for student use, if needed.

In addition to the guidelines above, controlled substance medications (ADHD medications) must be counted with the parent/nurse each time they are brought in throughout the entire school year. The count is documented on the back of the Medication Authorization Form with the date and signed by both the parent/nurse. An Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) may count medications with the parent in the nurse's absence. If parents are unable to bring controlled substances in due to work or other circumstances, they may be sent in with the student (this is discouraged unless absolutely necessary due to liability reasons). The student must bring the medication to the nurse upon arrival to school. The parent must place a slip of paper in the bottle with the medication count, to be verified by the nurse/UAP upon the student's arrival to school.

Dr. Burt - Assistant Principal

My name is Michael Burt, and I am incredibly excited to join the Evans administrative team and serve as the Assistant Principal. Prior to coming to Evans as an administrator, I taught science at Normal West and in the Chicago Public Schools. I earned Bachelor's degrees in chemistry and biochemistry from Knox College and a Master's degree in biochemistry from the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign. I also earned my doctorate in Teaching and Learning from Illinois State University.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends and take every opportunity to get outside as an avid hiker and backpacker. My wife, Hailey, is also an educator who supports teachers as an instructional coach at the Regional Office of Education #17. We have a son, Henry, who keeps us and our husky, Belle, on our toes.

I'm excited to support the Evans community and contribute to providing our students with a safe environment for them to grow, learn, and explore the world around them. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with you and your student(s) this school year!

Mr. Gliege - Associate Principal

Mr. Gliege grew up in the Chicago suburbs and graduated from Victor J. Andrew High School. He earned his bachelor's degree in Secondary Education English from ISU in 2004 and began his teaching career in Chicago Public Schools before moving to the Bloomington area in 2008 to teach at Normal West High School. At West, he was in the English classroom for ten years before accepting a position as the Assistant Principal for students with last names H-O, and served in that capacity for six years.

Mr. Gliege is married and has two fantastic kids who are involved in a multitude of activities from solving staged murder mysteries to playing soccer and the viola, and from pickleball/tennis to mastering various Roblox games. He also has one extremely furry child named Benny, who has an ongoing unofficial war against all of the squirrels in Mr. Gliege's neighborhood.

In his free time, Mr. Gliege enjoys reading, just about all sports, traveling, and trying new foods.

News from Family Coordinator

Welcome Evans Families!

I am Kelly Winter, your Family Support Coordinator. My job is to support the students and families of Evans. My goal is to knock down all barriers families may have to a successful school year and quality education. I serve as a bridge between home and school and foster positive school and home relationships. Basically, I got your back! If you have any questions about all things Evans please do not hesitate to reach out to me!

Important back to school info: Unit 5 partners with the Back 2 School Alliance to provide school supplies for qualifying students. Please contact me with any questions about the event.

winterk@unit5.org or call/text 309-989-2637

Go Eagles!

Eagles Athletics Updates

Baseball:

Tryouts will be held on Monday, August 5th from 9:00 to 11:15 a.m.., Tuesday, August 6th from 9:00 to 11:15 a.m., and Wednesday, August 7th, from 9:00 to 11:15 am.

-Please Bring your own water bottle and wear a shirt that has your last name on it.

Contact Coach Bob Scornavacco with any questions: scornavaccor@unit5.org

Golf:

Tryouts August 5 from 12-1 at Ironwood Country Club. All golfers who will be trying out must pay a $10 greens fee to Ironwood Golf Course (cash, check, or credit card).

Contact Coach Grace Hunley with any questions: hunleyg@unit5.org

Cross Country:

Cross Country practice begins on Monday, August 5th, 7:00-8:30 am at Underwood Park. Practices will be Monday-Friday at Underwood. Once school starts, practices will be after school, at the school, until 5:30 pm.
Runners should register on 8to18/snap mobile. And have an active physical on file with the office.
Unit 5 websites are currently under maintenance so for the latest updates join us on the Remind app by texting @evanscc22 to the phone number 81010.

Contact Coach Mark Esposito with any questions: esposim@unit5.org

*All students interested in trying out/participating in a sport must be registered on 8to18 and have an updated physical on file in the main office one day prior to tryouts.* Evans Registration

Advisory Update

Unit 5 middle schools have all expanded our advisory offerings to include 20 minutes daily for students to explore various topics, including but not limited to the social/emotional realm. We will be incorporating lessons from The Social Institute as a resource. Mrs. Boyd will soon share more information with families on how you can access resources to follow up with your students on advisory discussions. Look for that in the September "News from the Nest." We are excited for this opportunity for our students to connect with a caring adult to start their day.

Before School Supervision Program

EJHS will once again offer a before-school supervision program for students. Students will be supervised by a staff member in the school building. They may arrive as early as 7:25 a.m. and will be dismissed to "enter" the building with peers at 8:25 a.m. Families would be responsible for dropping their students off at the front doors of Evans each morning. They will enter through the main office.

The fee for the program is $85/quarter, and payment will need to be received before the start of the quarter. You pay regardless of attendance, so you will not receive a refund if a student stops coming or is sick. If there is not enough interest in this program, it is subject to cancellation. The deadline to enroll is Sunday, August 11th and superivision begins on the first day of school Thursday, August 15th. To enroll your student use this form.

Math Placements

Please refer to this Middle School Math Placement FAQ for more information on course placement is determined.

EJHS Student Policies: Please review with students PRIOR to the start of the school year!

Arrival & Dismissal

The building opens at 8:25 a.m.; they may either enter through the front doors (if they arrive on a bus) or the back door (J) if dropped off by parents. Parents should enter off 150, drive back around the back of the building, and loop around. Parents are NOT allowed to exit their vehicles before OR after school and should pull all the way forward to the end of the sidewalk, allowing for most students to unload/load at once. 6th graders will report to the cafeteria and 7th and 8th graders will report to the gym until dismissal to class. Students are not allowed to eat in the hallways or gym. If they want to get breakfast (all grades) should go to the cafeteria, items may not leave the cafe. Students should not bring outside food/beverages to school.

Cell Phone Policy

Unit 5 handbook states: Students are allowed to possess and use mobile devices prior to 8:45 a.m. and after 3:45 p.m. providing they do not cause a disruption. To clarify this - cell phones are to be "silent and away throughout the day", phones and wireless earbuds/headphones are not to be seen or used between 8:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. Only with staff permission may students use wired headphones/earbuds in the classroom, connecting to the student's chromebook. Smart watches are also not to be used for communication purposes during the school day.

If you need to contact your student do not text them - please call the EJHS main office at 309-557-4406. If your student needs to contact you they will be allowed to use the school phone as well. Please partner with us on communicating the expectation to your student.

Outside Food & Drink

Outside food and drinks are not allowed in the building, and students may not have food/drinks outside of the cafeteria. Please do not bring large bags of food to "share" they will be taken away. Students are allowed to have a water bottle filled with water only. Do not bring energy drinks, soda or coffee drinks to consume throughout the day.

Dress Code

Please help your student understand what is considered school-appropriate clothing - staff does not want to address dress code issues with students; it is uncomfortable for all involved. The Unit 5 Handbook outlines specific terms of what students cannot wear to school; please review:

Student dress (including accessories) may not advertise, promote, or picture alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, violent behavior, or other inappropriate images.
Student dress (including accessories) may not display lewd, vulgar, obscene, or offensive language or symbols, including gang symbols.
Coats and sunglasses may not be worn in the building during the school day.
No head coverings are allowed that obscure the view of the student's face. (No sweatshirt hoods are to be worn up at Evans).
Hairstyles, dresses, and accessories (scarfs/headbands) that pose a safety hazard are not permitted in the shop, laboratories, or during physical education.
Metal studs, chains longer than jewelry, and any other objects that may be used as weapons or that may be hazardous to persons or property are specifically prohibited.
Clothing which fails to adequately cover the body, or which is torn or altered in an explicit or suggestive manner, will not be permitted. Shirts, blouses and tops which are not tucked in must be long enough to cover the midsection when the student is in a standing or sitting position (this is a new addition). Pants or shorts must be worn at the waist.
Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times. Slippers and shoes with wheels are prohibited.
If there is any doubt about dress and appearance, the building administration will make the final decision.
A student whose dress causes a substantial disruption to the orderly process of school functions or endangers the health or safety of the student, other students, staff, or others may be subject to discipline.

Check out our Amazon Wish List if you are looking to make a donation to EJHS!

Donate without spending any extra money by scanning your Box Tops for Education by getting the app and selecting Evans Jr. High for your school!

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