05/31/2026
Hello Families!
It's the final week of the 2025-26 school year! 😲
Between the crazy week last week, the 8th Grade Celebration, and my daughter being bitten by a dog while on a walk Saturday (she's doing okay!), there won't be an official newsletter this week. Thanks for your understanding. Here are a few important highlights:
😁 8th Grade Celebration – It went really well and truly took a team effort! Thank you to our PAWS group for all they do to support our students. I am also incredibly grateful to the families who donated food, fire pits, and supplies. I hope your student had a wonderful time celebrating this milestone with friends and staff.
😁 GEAR UP Summer Opportunity – Students have an AMAZING opportunity this summer through our GEAR UP program. Please see the attached flyer and sign up if interested!
😁 SPLASHZONE is Thursday. Students have been provided all the information they need to participate.
😁 7th Grade Chromebooks – Chromebooks and chargers were collected on Friday. If a student is missing an item, the associated fine will be added to their account and will need to be resolved before the end of the school year.
😁 8th Grade Chromebooks – 8th graders will keep their Chromebooks as they transition to high school.
😁 End-of-Year Assembly – Our final assembly is Friday. We will be recognizing students in a variety of ways, and some families will be contacted in advance regarding awards so they may attend if they wish. Friday is also a half day, and students will be released at 11:50 a.m.
As I reflect on this school year, I am reminded that a school is much more than a building—it's the people who fill it. Every day, our students brought energy, personality, curiosity, and sometimes a little chaos into our hallways. They made us laugh, challenged us to think differently, and reminded us why middle school is such a special time in a young person's life.
One of the greatest privileges of working in a middle school is watching students grow so much in just one year. The 7th grader who walked through our doors in August is not the same student leaving for summer Friday. Our students have grown academically, socially, emotionally, and personally, and we are incredibly proud of the progress they have made.
Thank you for trusting us with your children during these important years. We know middle school comes with exciting successes, growing independence, occasional struggles, and plenty of memorable moments. It is a responsibility we never take lightly, and we are grateful for the partnership we share with our families.
I hope your summer is filled with family, fun, adventure, and time to recharge. To our 8th graders, thank you for the memories and the legacy you leave behind. We are excited to see what you accomplish in high school.
Thank you for a wonderful year.
🐯 Tiger Pride Always,
Tina Mullings
Principal
Ephrata Middle School