Hello, Eisenhower Families!

As October begins, we're reminded of the connections that make our Eisenhower community so special. This month brings us together in celebration, learning, and growth as we continue living out our guiding principles: We over me, Give total effort, and Enjoy the journey.

October holds particular significance as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. At Eisenhower, we believe that understanding and appreciating our diverse backgrounds strengthens our "We over me" commitment. When we learn from each other's traditions, stories, and perspectives, we build the connections that make our middle school community thrive.

Our students are embodying "Give total effort" in remarkable ways this fall - from tackling new academic challenges to building friendships across different backgrounds. We see them supporting classmates, celebrating each other's successes, and learning that their individual strengths contribute to our collective growth.

As we "Enjoy the journey" together this October, we're witnessing middle schoolers feeling connected to their school, their peers, and their own developing identities. These connections - between home and school, student and teacher, friend and friend - create the foundation for meaningful learning and personal growth.

Thank you for being such an important part of our Eisenhower family. Your partnership helps us create an environment where every student can contribute, and feel valued for who they are and what they bring to our community.

Here's to a wonderful October filled with connection, celebration, and continued growth!

Upcoming Important Dates

• School Closed Thursday, October 2nd~Yom Kippur & Monday, October 20th~Diwali

• Hispanic Hertiage Celebration - Wednesday, October 22nd~5:00pm-7:00pm

• School Picture ReTake - Thursday, October 30th

• Early Dismissal - Friday, October 31st~Students dismissed at 11:50am

• End of First Marking Period- Friday, October 31st

Don't forget, we have uniforms and ESTLA gear available for purchase if you need additional items.

Dr. Taylor, Principal

Mr. Rodriguez, Assistant Principal

REMINDERS:

• We are a uniform school! Please ensure students are in full uniform

• School doors Open at 8:00am

• Attendance-Families need to contact school when our student(s) will be absent or late. Send notes to the attendance email: eisenhowerattendance@nasd.k12.pa.us

• Cell Phones/Electronic Devices, Must be secured in a locker during the instructional day.

• Students are not permitted to bring laptops, Ipads, etc. to school since all have a Chromebook

Reminder: Families looking for help with their Infinite Campus Parent Portal account; please email nasddata@nasd.k12.pa.us(Send email with the guardian's full name, the guardian's date of birth, their student's name and student's date of birth).

Upcoming Events

Monday, November 3rd~Early Dismissal

Tuesday, November 4th~DISTRICT CLOSED-Election Day

Wednesday, November 19th~Early Dismissal

Third Annual Speak Up Event~ Thursday, November 20th~5:00pm-7:00pm

Tuesday, November 25th~Evening Family Conferences

Wednesday, November 26th~Morning Family conferences (No School for students)

Thursday, November 27th & Friday, November 28th~DISTRICT CLOSED-Thanksgiving Break

December 24th - January 2nd~DISTRICT CLOSED-Winter Break

School Uniforms

Eisenhower is a FULL uniform School. Our uniforms are light/navy or white collared (polo) or button down shirts, Blue or Khaki pants/skirt/skort/shorts. Jeans are NOT Allowed! Students should wear a belt if needed. Sneakers are best, but shoes MUST have a back and NO open toe shoes (NO slides, flip flops, slippers). Gym uniforms can be purchased via our website or link Uniform Link. Those students who do not purchase a gym uniform can wear blue shorts/sweatpants (not jeans) and a white or blue shirt to school on those days they have gym class. Please keep accessories to a minimum. During the colder months, students may wear a sweatshirt.

Uniformes escolares

Eisenhower es una escuela de uniforme COMPLETO. Nuestros uniformes son camisas de cuello (polo) o con cuello blanco / azul marino o claro, pantalones / falda / falda pantalón / shorts azules o caqui. ¡NO se permiten jeans (pantalones vaqueros)! Los estudiantes deben usar un cinturón si es necesario. Los zapatos deportivos son lo mejor, pero los zapatos DEBEN tener espalda y NO zapatos abiertos (NO chanclas, chanclas, pantuflas). Los uniformes de gimnasia se pueden comprar a través de nuestro sitio web/link https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/stores/getstoremain.  Aquellos estudiantes que no compren un uniforme de gimnasia pueden usar pantalones cortos / pantalones deportivos azules (no jeans) y una camisa blanca o azul a la escuela en esos días que tienen clase de gimnasia. Mantenga los accesorios al mínimo. Durante los meses más fríos, los estudiantes pueden usar una sudadera.

It has been a wonderful start to the school year! Students have been learning about all of the things that make Eisenhower students great! We have been working on our REACH principles: Respect, Excellence, Accountability, Citizenship, and Healthy Choices. These are the building blocks of what make a true Eisenhower student. Along with REACH, we are also focusing on the daily procedures including classroom and hallway procedures, and learning how to open and use a lockers. Students have done a great job adjusting to the big change of attending Middle School. Please take a moment to connect with your child and ask them about REACH, Wit and Wisdom, Envisions, Class Dojo, and all of the awesome things we get to do every day at Eisenhower.

6th graders have been working hard getting back into the school year. In ELA they are halfway through their first 19 chapter novel and have already written two essays. They are bringing their novels home to read for homework weekly. In Math they have completed Topic 1 along with taking their first assessment. Social Studies and Science are beginning to dive into some upcoming projects. The 6th grade team is really impressed with the effort from all students so far as we continue to build our relationships with all the students. We ask that they continue to come to school in uniform and prepared with their chromebooks and novels!

7th Grade is off to a great start! Students are jumping right into learning, and we’re excited to announce our partnership with the Elmwood Park Zoo for the 7th grade “Zoo on Wheels” experience. In math, students are preparing for their Chapter 1 assessment, while in ELA, they’re diving into Castle Diary. We can’t wait to share even more exciting learning ahead!

8th grade is planning a trip to "Fighter's Heaven", a preserved and restored training camp for boxer, Muhammad Ali. This team building trip will serve as a way to build unity and connections while being inspired by the legacy of a great man. We are excited to attend on October 23rd and 24th.

Music Update: Save the Date for the Eisenhower Winter Concert on Thursday, December 11th at 7pm in the Auditorium. We look forward to celebrating the joy of the season with you!

I. NJHS Invite: Our NJHS is excited to invite you to our annual Veteran's Day and First Responder Breakfast. The Breakfast will be held in the music room at Eisenhower on Tuesday, November 11th. Please use this link to respond by November 1st; INVITATION: Eisenhower Veterans and First Responder Breakfast

II. Speak Up Night: Mark your calendars for our Speak Up! Night on November 20th from 5pm-7pm. Students, staff, families, and communities are invited to share in open dialog and questions that are important to our students. Email Ms. Jones with questions; kjones@nasd.k12.pa.us

ELA & Social Studies Parent Updates

In ELA students are engaging with the Wit & Wisdom curriculum to strengthen their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

It is essential that each student brings their novel to class every day and also reads from it each evening at home. Consistent nightly reading ensures that students are prepared for class discussions, deepens comprehension, and builds strong literacy habits.

We encourage you to talk with your child each evening about what they learned in class. Ask them to share key ideas from their reading or Social Studies lessons, and have them write a brief reflection at home to reinforce their learning.

In addition, please ask your child how they performed on the STAR Assessment and what personal goal they have set based on their results. Partnering together in this way helps students take ownership of their progress and growth.

Thank you for supporting your child’s learning both at home and at school.

Ms. Shallow, Instructional Support Teacher~ELA/Social Studies, kshallow@nasd.k12.pa.us

How do I reach a school counselor?

We have two counselors at ESTLA. These individuals should be one of your first points of contact if you need guidance related to any issue or problem your student may be facing during the school year. We can usually resolve issues quickly when parents contact their child's counselor. If you need to speak to your child's counselor their contact information is found below.

5th & 6th grade School Counselor: Ms. Terraces, cterraces@nasd.k12.pa.us

7th & 8th grade School Counselor: Dr. Womack, lwomack@nasd.k12.pa.us

The beginning of a new school year can be filled with lots of emotions. Students can be filled with excitement, but also be unsure of the transition to a new grade. It may take time to get accustomed to a new schedule and routine. Take a moment at home and go over the highs and lows of the school day with your student. The whole family can even join in by sharing a high and low from their day!

Kayla Rice, LSW School-Based Counselor, krice@nasd.k12.pa.us

ADHD Parenting weblink; ADHD Science & Strategies

Additional Support Resources:

These community resources are available should you or your loved ones need assistance.

• Care Solace – 24/7 mental health and substance use support for students, and families. Visit Care Solace or call 888-515-0595.

• Montgomery County Alive Food Pantries – Local pantries providing food assistance. Visit Montgomery County Alive Food Pantries.

• Montgomery County Mobile Crisis – Immediate crisis support. Call 1-855-634-HOPE (1-855-634-4673) or visit MontcoPa Mobile Crisis.

• 211 Southeast PA – Connects families to housing, food, and utility assistance. Dial 211, text your zip code to 898-211, or visit PA 211.

• 988 National Crisis Hotline – 24/7 support for mental health crises or emotional distress. Call or text 988, or visit 988 Lifeline.

• Laurel House – Support for victims and survivors of domestic violence. Call the 24/7 Confidential Hotline at 1-800-642-3150, text “HOPE” to 85511, or visit Laurel House.

Thank you to all who have sent in student physical exams, dentals, and immunization updates. Please keep them coming in.

5th grade-We have started vision screening in the health office. Please check your email for messages regarding your child’s vision.

6th grade-Please remember to speak with your doctor about getting your vaccines for 7th grade.

~Nurse Melso, smelso@nasd.k12.pa.us

Healthy Teeth

For the second year, the Norristown Page Turners will be hosting a fun, engaging, and free after school book club beginning on October 13, 2025! The program will run on Mondays from 3-4pm at ESTLA. Snacks will be provided, along with a free copy of the selected text. Fifth and sixth graders of any reading level are invited to join. Students can visit Miss Goldstein in room 209 for a permission slip and with any questions!

During WIN (what I need), students have the opportunity to hone their reading skills. Based on assessments given in the first weeks of school, students who require extra support to reach grade level reading skills have been placed into targeted reading interventions. Wilson, SIPPS, and The Third Quest, offer small groups instruction with highly trained instructors to support student growth. Students will gain confidence as they practice phonics, decoding, encoding, and fluency. Letters were sent home with any participating students, but do not hesitate to reach out to their instructors with any questions or concerns. Ms. Goldstein, Reading Specialist. mgoldstein@nasd.k12.pa.us

At Eisenhower Middle School, our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework is centered on our REACH core values: Respect, Excellence, Accountability, Citizenship, and Healthy Choices. These expectations are consistently taught, modeled, and reinforced across all areas of the school—from classrooms and hallways to the cafeteria, buses, and extracurricular activities. By focusing on REACH, we help students build the skills and habits they need to thrive both inside and outside of school.

To ensure our PBIS systems remain strong and effective, Eisenhower staff engage in ongoing fidelity checks through the annual Self-Assessment Survey (SAS) and the Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI). These tools allow us to measure how well our practices are being implemented, celebrate areas of growth, and identify opportunities for continued improvement.

Eisenhower has demonstrated clear progress in PBIS implementation from the 2022-2023 school year, 2023–2024 school year to the 2024–2025 school year. This growth reflects the commitment of our staff, students, and families who work together to maintain a positive, supportive, and engaging learning environment for all.

Our TFI and SAS results below show significant improvement!

TFI Results:

• In 2022-2023 we scored a 53.33%

• In 2023-2024 we scored a 76.67%

• In 2024-2025 we scored a 86.67%

Future Initiatives

Looking ahead, Eisenhower will continue strengthening PBIS by:

• Expanding student recognition systems to include new incentives and celebrations.

• Increasing student voice by involving student representatives in PBIS planning.

• Providing more parent and family engagement opportunities connected to REACH values.

• Using data to target specific areas of need, such as attendance.

Together, these initiatives will help us sustain momentum and ensure every Eisenhower student experiences a positive school climate where they can learn and grow. ~Ms. Julia Wojcik, PBIS Coach, jwojcik@nasd.k12.pa.us

REACH Goal: Citizenship~ Students please be reminded to stay off properties that are not your personal yards, driveways, and porches. Remember you are representing Eisenhower and your families! Make us proud!

Student Council representatives were selected and had their first meeting for September. This year our goals for the student council are to allow student voices to be heard and build relationships between school and community. We will be partnering with the PBIS team members in our school to ensure students' voices are heard and we have some great ideas in the works that will greatly benefit our ESTLA students. We want to ensure that all students have a say in their academic and behavioral goals. Meetings will occur once a month along with various events that the student council will be running. We look forward to having a great year!

Mrs. Kennedy, sixth grade team leader and Student Council Facilitator, rkennedy@nasd.k12.pa.us

From 6-8pm on Friday,10/24/25, NAEF will be hosting its annual One Book One Norristown Arts and Literacy Festival at Blockson Middle School with our featured author candice iloh. We will have a live reading, Q&A with the author, and a book signing, as well as book giveaways and other fun attractions. This event is completely FREE!

One Book One Norristown

Dr. Monica D'Antonio (she/ella) Executive Director, Norristown Area Education Foundation (NAEF), mdantonio@nasd.k12.pa.us

Dear NASD Families and Community,

We are excited to launch “Here Today, Ready for Tomorrow!” — a new attendance campaign designed to encourage strong school habits right from the start of the year.

📅 The challenge runs through Wednesday October 15, 2025.

Students with perfect attendance for 30 days (no absences, no lateness, and no early dismissals — even if excused) will be entered into drawings for some amazing prizes!

🏆 Prizes include:

☀️ Extra recess time

📚 Homework passes

🎁 Gift cards

🚲 Bicycles

🎮 Nintendo Switch & gaming gift card

🛴 Electric scooter with helmet

🎧 Beats/headphones

💡 A utility bill paid (up to $200 as a parent gift card)

✨ And much more!

Not all prizes will be offered at every grade level. Students will be entered into drawings for the prizes designated for their school level (elementary, middle, or high school).

Dr. Taylor, Principal, ctaylor@nasd.k12.pa.us

Mr. Rodriguez, Assistant Principal, jrodriguez@nasd.k12.pa.us

Mr. Forbes, Lead Teacher, wforbes@nasd.k12.pa.us

Dr. Womack, 7th & 8th Grade Counselor, lwomack@nasd.k12.pa.us

Ms. Terraces, 5th & 6th Grade Counselor, cterraces@nasd.k12.pa.us

Ms. Thompson, School secretary, sthompson@nasd.k12.pa.us

Ms. Shallow, Instructional Support Teacher Reading, kshallow@nasd.k12.pa.us

Mr. Ryan, Instructional Support Teacher Math, jryan@nasd.k12.pa.us

Ms. Davala, Counselor/Social Worker, hdavala@nasd.k12.pa.us

Ms. Rice, Counselor/Social Worker, krice@nasd.k12.pa.us

Ms. Nogueda, Community Liaison, mnogueda@nasd.k12.pa.us

Mr. Fahler, Interim Lead Teacher, rfahler@nasd.k12.pa.us

Det. Sowell, Safety Resource Officer, ssowell@nasd.k12.pa.us

Mr. L. Blackman, Safety, lblackman@nasd.k12.pa.us

Nurse Melso, smelso@nasd.k12.pa.us

Mr. Simpson, 5th Grade Team Leader, tsimpson@nasd.k12.pa.us

Ms. Kennedy, 6th Grade Team Leader, rkennedy@nasd.k12.pa.us

Ms. Roberts, 7th Grade Team Leader, sroberts@nasd.k12.pa.us

Ms. Gaskin, 8th Grade Team Leader, vgaskin@nasd.k12.pa.us

Dr. Weikert, Special Area Team Leader, bweikert@nasd.k12.pa.us

Ms. Murphy, Team Independence Leader, smurphy@nasd.k12.pa.us

Ms. Dear, Learning Support Team Leader, ddear@nasd.k12.pa.us

Eisenhower Science & Technology Leadership Academy Office: 610-277-8720 Web: www.nasd.k12.pa.us

NASD has partnered with Care Solace to connect students, staff, and families with mental health and substance use support. Services are free, confidential, and available for all insurance types.

You can access Care Solace services in three ways:

1. Call 888-515-0595 at any time. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365. A dedicated Care Companion will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.

2. Search anonymously to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at caresolace.com/nasd

3. Contact your school health professional, and they will submit a referral on your behalf.

No matter what you're experiencing, there is hope and help. We are confident that our new partnership with Care Solace will help us build a healthier, more vibrant school community.

If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 or The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8. Care Solace is not an emergency response service or mental health services provider.

Looking for specific tools and information to support you and your family? This District page provides direct links to helpful resources, including PDFs and websites covering a variety of topics such as educational resources, mental health, parenting, immigration, emergency hotlines, and more.

Educational and Community Resources for Students and Families

FROM THE Office of Public Health Community Traffic Safety Program

As we begin our day/Before we end our day here’s a quick reminder about pedestrian safety—something that affects all of us. Whether you're walking to school, going home, heading to practice, or hanging outside with friends, staying alert can help prevent accidents.

Here are some safety reminders to keep in mind:

• Say focused. Avoid distractions like phones, earbuds, and texting while walking.

• Cross at crosswalks or intersections—not in the middle of the street or between parked cars.

• STOP and look LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, before crossing, and make eye contact with drivers to make sure they see you.

• Follow traffic signs and signals and listen to crossing guards and school staff.

• If there's no sidewalk, walk on the LEFT side of the street, facing traffic and as far away from the street as possible.

• Be a role model for younger students and teach them how to be safe walkers by following these safety tips.

Your safety matters—stay smart, stay aware, and help make our school and community safer for everyone.

Office of Public Health

Life360: The #1 family locator app

Infinite Campus

Norristown School District uses Infinite Campus for student management (grades, communication).

Logging On https://www.nasd.k12.pa.us/page/infinite-campus

You can access your parent account from the website or using the free apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

If you need assistance with your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account; please email nasddata@nasd.k12.pa.us~ send email with parent full name & date of birth, your student's name & student's date of birth.

ESTLA is located in the Municipality of Norristown. Originally opened as a high school in 1937, ESTLA remained a high school until 1980. In 1980, it was converted to a Junior High School and remained as such until 1983. In 1983 ESTLA operated as a middle school serving grades 6-8 students. Currently, Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy services grades 5-8 students.

Website: ESTLA Webpage Address: 1601 Markley Street, Norristown, PA, USA
Phone: 6102778720
Facebook: FACEBOOK Instagram: @estlaPantherst.