Welcome to the middle school counseling page for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Notice the tabs for NEWS, ACADEMICS, COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS, TESTING, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. If you don’t find what you are searching for, please don’t hesitate to contact me. tricia.anderson@eastern.k12.in.us Middle school guidance counseling information will be e-mailed to parents in the form of electronic quarterly newsletters through Skyward. Please make sure we have your updated e-mail address in Skyward. For the most up-to-date guidance announcements, please access your child’s course in Canvas titled, “Guidance Class of 2029” or whichever graduating class to which your child belongs. Thank you, Tricia Anderson, EMS Counselor & School Testing Coordinator
Who: EMS students working with at least 2 EHS National Honor Society members What:Homework Help When: Every Wednesday starting September 4th from 3:15 – 4:00 (except October 9 due to Fall Break) Where: Library Community Room (or cafeteria on a few Wednesdays when the LCR is unavailable) Why: Because we want our middle school students to be successful! How: EMS students wanting help will report to the Library Community Room on Wednesdays. The middle school student will sign in and have questions ready for the high school helpers. Those middle school students being picked up by a parent should be picked up promptly at 4:00 at the library. Kokomo students who need a bus will be picked up at 4:10 at the MS/HS building. Kokomo students will be dropped off at 4:20 at the Goyer Road/Boulevard stop at Grace Community Foursquare Church. We also have in-district 4:00 late buses for students who live in Eastern school district. The library closes at 4:00 on Wednesdays! In addition to the extra resources listed below, don’t forget to check the Skyward Message Center for homework assignments or sign up for Remind if your child’s teachers communicate through Remind. Homework Hotline Watch this short, informative video regarding the AskRose tutoring service. This online/phone tutoring service is offered by college students from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute. These students will walk your child through math and science problems for free! Use the Rose-Hulman Homework Hotline as a resource for math and science homework help. It really works and the college students on the other end are very helpful. https://askrose.org/how-it-works/ Catch-up Cafe Catch-up Cafe is available to EMS students during the lunch/advisory hour. This is mostly an assigned resource focusing on those students with the highest need for work completion; however, parents can opt their child in if they feel it will help and if there is space. Catch-up Cafe offers a quiet place for students to eat lunch while working on missing assignments. Schoolhouse World The Indiana Department of Education partners with schoolhouse.world (https://schoolhouse.world/) to support students in grades 7 through 12 with free tutoring for math courses, SAT preparation, and AP courses. The nonprofit connects students with live, small-group tutoring through Zoom at no cost. To learn more about this resource, and to sign up for a tutoring session, visit www.schoolhouse.world (https://schoolhouse.world/). https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E7Qn7Dofcc8B_-WZTHQ2pYFEw6LW_m4NexoJfpblnQU/edit **Access your parent Skyward account for your child’s grades and homework. If you need your login information, please contact the middle school office at 628-5030** Parents can “pair up” with their child’s Canvas account and become an observer of that account. If you have wanted more access to your child’s Canvas account to monitor assignments, please do the following: – visit www.eastern.k12.in.us – school services tab – choose digital portal from the drop-down list – scroll down to Canvas Guide tab – Go to Canvas Parent FAQ’s – Go to 4th bulleted item titled “how parents sign up to view student account” – Follow the steps outlined *The process also involves your student because “pair with observer” happens through the student account. All steps are outlined in “how parents sign up to view student account.” Please contact Eastern’s technology team if you have any issues. Period 1 8:05 – 8:53 Period 2 8:57 – 9:45 Period 3 9:49 – 10:37 Advisory/Lunch 10:37 – 11:37 Period 4 11: 41 – 12:29 Period 5 12:33 – 1:21 Period 6 1:25 – 2:13 Period 7 2:17 – 3:10 Every EMS student has a “Guidance Course” in Canvas. This is where I will often add information regarding college and career readiness. You will find this information in the “announcements” for the course. Ask your child to show you the Canvas Guidance Course or sign up to be an observer of the course. Indiana Career Explorer and Learn More Indiana are a must for parents and students. These sites are specific to Indiana students and offer everything you need to know regarding high school graduation requirements, graduation pathways, four-year high school planning, scholarship opportunities, career assessments, career and college profiles, SAT/ACT testing tips, and so much more!! Students can also opt to keep an electronic version of the four-year plan and guidance portfolio on Indiana Career Explorer. For over 30 years, Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program has been helping students from low-income households go to college. The program pays for up to 4 years of full tuition at Indiana public colleges. It does not pay for room and board. The program also pays partial tuition at approved Indiana private colleges. The major change to the program centers around how families apply for the scholarship. For many years, parents have had to complete a 21st Century Scholars application before June 30th of their child’s 8th grade year. Now, 7th and 8th graders who are already receiving free/reduced lunch at school will be automatically enrolled in the 21st Century Scholars program. Indiana’s Center for Higher Education is in the process of auto-enrolling students in graduating classes 2027, 2028, and 2029. Indiana’s CHE will then mail notification letters to enrolled students and families throughout October. Once you receive this letter, please let me know if you have any questions. If your 7th or 8th grade student meets the income guidelines but does not participate in the free/reduced lunch program, traditional applications are still available for this purpose. Students will need to create a Scholar Track account and sign the 21st Century Scholars Pledge as well as complete certain requirements in high school to receive this scholarship money. 21st Century Scholars Pledge I pledge to graduate with a minimum of a Core 40 diploma from a state-accredited Indiana high school. I will complete the Scholar Success Program in high school and in college that helps me stay on track for college and career success. I will achieve a cumulative high school GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. I will not use illegal drugs or alcohol or commit a crime or delinquent act. I will apply for admission to an eligible Indiana college my senior year and apply on time for student financial aid. As a college student, I will complete at least 30 credit hours each year to stay on track toward earning my degree on time. I aim to succeed.
This school year, parents might notice hearing about ILEARN testing earlier than they normally would. In addition to taking the traditional summative ILEARN test in the spring, Eastern is one of many school corporations piloting the NEW ILEARN Checkpoints. This school year is the pilot year for schools to become familiar with the new format, and then the ILEARN Checkpoints become mandatory in the 25-26 school year. Your child will participate in 3 short Checkpoints throughout the year — Fall, Winter, Spring. Additionally, your child will take the summative ILEARN test that we’ve all become accustomed to in late April/early May. Before students can take Checkpoint 1, they also have to take the ILEARN Practice test, so that is happening quickly this year as well. Please take a look at this 5-minute video if you would like to know more about the changes for ILEARN testing. (You might need to create an Indiana Learning Lab account to view the video). *Please note that due to the Fall, Winter, Spring ILEARN Checkpoints, middle school students will no longer participate in Fall, Winter, Spring NWEA (MAP) testing*
Eastern Howard School Corporation partners with 4C Health for students and families who need resources regarding mental health support. If your child doesn’t qualify for school-based services, 4C will work with you to provide community-based services. School Based Skills Trainers are assigned to schools to support students who have emotional or behavioral difficulties that have a negative impact on academic and social performance in schools. Skills Trainers may provide psycho-educational group experiences and/or individual skill building sessions to assist students in learning new ways to cope with stressors or navigate social experiences. This is done with the support of curriculum that has shown to improve the lives of those we serve. These individuals are engaged in services within the school and in some cases, within the classroom. Skill Trainers connect with the rest of the treatment team to best address the needs of the client through coordination of services. A guest speaker from SCAN Indiana (Stop Child Abuse and Neglect) will be in EMS classrooms in early November teaching the Teen Safety Matters program. Your child will learn/review TSM’s 5 Safety Rules with regard to bullying, digital safety, abuse, and child exploitation. Please ask your children to share what they learn. Each student will receive 2 bookmarks — one to give to their “safe adult” and one to keep for themselves. Parents may opt their child out of this program if desired. To learn all about the Teen Safety Matters program and to access the parent opt-out form, please see the full parent letter at this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18q_PemT27GgdqPgKfl4X0xCjBnOkFEvCvLvGqekB9aU/editNews
WELCOME TO THE EMS GUIDANCE COUNSELOR’S PAGE!
Academics
Additional Homework Help Resources
How To “Pair Up” With Your Child’s Canvas Classes
EMS Middle School Bell Schedule
College & Career Readiness
Testing
Social Development
Teen Safety Matters
Your child learned Teen Safety Matters 5 Safety Rules
EMS School Counselor Page
Parents and Guardians,
If you missed the latest newsletter in your inbox, you can access the EMS Guidance Newsletter at this link for information regarding upcoming guidance events and important dates.
As always, please reach out with any questions.
Here is the link for the EMS 2025-2026 Course Descriptions & Scheduling Information. Your child will receive a Course Request Form in March (May for incoming 6th graders).