Edgewood Middle School

Students in Ms. King's class are ready for brain dissections!

Students in our Quest of the Month Book Club read a book with hispanic representation in October and made papel picado at our meeting in the library today! The most popular book was a graphic novel called Invisible!

8th grade band members attending our annual "8th Grade Band night" with the high school marching band at the recent Varsity Home Game.

Congratulations to these 7th Grade Math Enrichment students for exceeding their challenge goals and earning a popcorn and UNO party.

EMS will be collecting items to donate to the area in North Carolina that was hit terribly by the recent hurricane, Helene. We are collecting items such as: toothbrushes, tooth paste, laundry detergent, antibacterial soap, sanitizer, flashlights, batteries, first aid items, paper towels, shampoo, conditioner, baby wipes, trash bags, and gloves. Please bring all items to the school by Wednesday, October 9th and place them in the large bins in the front lobby. Thanks for your support!

Maliah, an 8th grader at EMS, is now officially a published poet! One of her poems was selected for the 2024 volume of Young American Poetry Digest!!

Are you a creative 7th or 8th grade student? Consider joining art club!! See Ms. Paulson for applications and details!

Mrs. Salyers and Mrs. Wiggins’ Community Services Edges made “Kindness Starts With Me” wall to celebrate.

In honor of September 11th and Constitution Day, 7th grade Social Studies classes created flag ribbons to hang up at EMS.

These 7th grade kiddos in Mrs. Roberts' Science Class are exploring factors of surface currents and deep ocean currents in their Duck Race experiment.

2023-2024 Yearbooks Available in Ms. Paulson's Room. Visit Ms. Pauson during your Edge period with $48 cash or check to purchase one. Make sure you write your name in your book once purchased!

Seventh graders in Mrs. Roberts' science class are learning about the water cycle. Students created their own water cycle in a bag to demonstrate the continuous process that takes place.

Mrs. Spinelli's class helped our EMS custodian Jamie Berry for their Life Skills class! Great job Alvin, Ariel, Carmen, Waylon, and Brantlee!!

Mrs. Blair's 8th grade art classes headed outside last week to draw elements of nature around our school!

The EMS Yearbook Staff needs your help! We are on the hunt for students that are walking,"The EMS Way". We want your photos featured in our yearbook! Please see the attached scavenger hunt for details!

EMS 6th grader Gabe Crawford looking sharp for picture day and helping Mr. Philpot monitor the hallways! Great job Gabe!!

Greetings EMS parents/guardians. First up, I am happy to report that the first day of school was absolutely wonderful yesterday! Students seemed happy and excited to be back in the building. It takes a few weeks for students to settle into their routines, especially the 6th graders, but overall, I am optimistic about our school year! I do need your help, however. This school year, we are opening and starting school 10 minutes later than last year. Our student start time is 7:20 am. Students should not be dropped off any earlier than 6:50 am and those early drop offs must occur in the rear (auditorium) drop off area. The main front drop off area does not open until 7:00 am. Please do not arrive on school grounds until 6:50 am. This will ensure that the drop off lines are open and moving and not backing up traffic onto Busenbark and SR 73. Please share this information with all drivers that transport your child. Thank you, EMS staff!

First day of school at EMS is tomorrow, Thursday, August 15! There is no staggered start at EMS. All students should report. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. First period begins at 7:20 a.m. Please review the drop off map if you are going to be bringing your student to school (or share with those that will be dropping them).

Greetings EMS parents/guardians! Attached is the fee schedule for the 2024-25 school year. Any student who owes delinquent fees, fines and charges will be subject to the following restrictions: • Transcripts and school credits will be withheld until student fees are paid in full. • Participation in non-curricular field trips/activities (8th grade DC trip, Cougar Pride quarterly incentives, etc..) will be prohibited until student fees are paid in full. • Students will not be permitted to participate in any extracurricular activity until all fees, past and present, are paid in full . These fees must be paid before the first contest or performance. All fees may be paid with cash, check, money order or credit card when paying through PaySchoolsCentral. School Meals Program Below you will find meal prices for the year. Students may pay with cash or money may be added to their account through PaySchools Central. Applications for free and reduced lunch can be found on the district website or picked up in the main office. Please see the food services section of the district website for more details: click here Only those families who complete the applications will be eligible for free and reduced lunch. For the 2024-2025 school year meal prices are as follows: Breakfast - $1.85 Lunch - $3.60 Milk - $0.60 Transportation For bus routes and schedules, click here, or visit the transportation page on the website. BUS SAFETY All school rules apply on the school bus. Directions from the bus driver must be followed promptly and respectfully. Students with medical needs should provide the driver with a note providing any information that would be relevant to the driver. Drivers will report student misconduct to the Principal. ENTERING THE BUS • Students are to arrive at the stop before the bus is scheduled to arrive • Students are to wait in a location clear of traffic • Students are to stand clear of where the bus stops • School rules are in effect at the bus stops • Students are to go directly to an available seat or assigned seat • Students are to remain seated keeping aisles and exits clear EXITING THE BUS • After exiting the bus, immediately step away at least ten (10) feet • Stop movement, look at the bus driver’s face • Do not move toward the bus to cross the road until the driver signals • Stop at the left headlight of the bus and look before crossing the street PROHIBITED BEHAVIORS • Students may not eat or drink while on the bus • Students may not use profane language on the bus • Students may not use tobacco or alcohol products on the bus • Students may not put their head or arms outside the bus windows • Students may not throw or pass items on, from or into the bus • Students may not enter or exit at someone else’s stop unless they have written approval from their parents and the school administration • Students may not ride a bus which they were not assigned unless they have written approval from their parents and the school administration Students not following bus rules or behaving in a manner which distracts the driver or does anything to create an unsafe condition will be removed from the bus and transportation to and from school will become the responsibility of the family. Respectfully, Curtis Philpot, Principal Edgewood Middle School curtis.philpot@edgewoodschools.net

Greetings EMS parents/guardians! As we embark on a new school year, I wanted to take a moment and provide you with some important information to share with your student on how to be successful at EMS. While I will be meeting with each class separately to review school rules and expectations, here are a few tips you can share with your student as they prepare for the new year! Come to school each day and try your hardest! Attendance and effort are the two single biggest factors in determining a student's success or their challenges. Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, and Be Kind! These are the core beliefs at EMS! We understand that every student is different and each of these attributes might present differently from one student to the next, but know that any action whether intentional or not, which contradicts these core beliefs will not be tolerated. Come to school prepared to learn! Bring necessary materials to class, leave unnecessary materials at home or in your locker (cell phones, earbuds, etc..). Be familiar with the classroom expectation and be prepared to follow them! Stay away from drama. Keep your focus on your studies, your friends, and your activities. DO NOT get caught up in the drama cycle. If you are hanging around others who want to talk about others, make fun of others, start trouble with others, or put their nose into other people's business, etc... Do yourself a favor and remove yourself from this person or group and stay away. In life, you reap what you sow....if you give away kindness and respect, you will get kindness and respect in return. This applies at school and on social media outside of school. Please choose kindness! Take pride in your school! Edgewood Middle School is your home for nearly 8 hours a day. Thousands of students and staff members have gone to school or worked in this building since 1970! As a member of the class of 1984, I cherish the memories of this school building and my time at Edgewood. Please show the respect to the building that it deserves! Many of your siblings, parents, grandparents, great grandparents, uncles, aunts, and neighbors attended this school and this building is a special place to them. My sincere hope is that you will have a great experience at EMS and you too will join the thousands and thousands of students with fond memories of this school. With that said, please treat the building with respect and encourage those around you to do the same. My gratitude goes to the custodial and maintenance staff for keeping this building in such great shape and expect our students to demonstrate their gratitude by being respectful to the building and not tolerating those that are not! I am very excited to start the new school year and hope that your students are excited as well. EMS is a great place to go to school and our staff is working hard every day to make it better. While the focus the past few years has been on culture and climate, this year's focus will be on teaching and learning. Students are aware of the expectations of EMS and now it is time to roll up our sleeves and get to work to improve our academic achievement! Students will be expected to come to class prepared and to participate fully in the curriculum!   Disruptive or disengaged behaviors will not be tolerated! Thank you for taking the time to read this message and please share with your students. I look forward to getting to know you and your students and look forward to a great school year at EMS! Sincerely, Curtis Philpot, Principal Edgewood Middle School curtis.philpot@edgewoodschools.net (513)867-3450