Principal's Welcome Back Letter
2025–2026 School Year

Dear EMS Families,

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year at Enumclaw Middle School! I hope this message finds you enjoying a wonderful summer filled with rest, laughter, and time with loved ones. My family kicked off the summer with a mountain biking trip to Whistler. Only 2 injuries to report, one massive bruise on my upper leg and my youngest with 8 stitches in his shin. Great memories were made! We have also spent a lot of time in the sun more locally and enjoyed this incredible weather! I hope you have as well. As we prepare to open our doors once again, I want to extend a warm welcome to our returning students and families—and an extra special greeting to those who are new to our school community. We’re so glad you’re here!

At Enumclaw Middle School, we believe that every student can learn and grow when they feel respected, connected, and supported, rooted in our core values: Respectful, Responsible, and Resilient. These guiding principles will shape everything we do—from how we interact in the classroom, to how we support one another in the hallways, on the field, and beyond. This year, our focus will be on peer to peer relationships, encouraging students to think about how they talk to each other and lift people up around them. We look forward to putting this into actionable steps for students! Our leadership students have already helped us create our motto for the year, “Many voices, ONE pack!”

We hope you have a great rest of your summer and look forward to seeing you at the end of August!

Continue reading for key information!

Lindsay Richter

EMS Principal

“Many voices, ONE pack!”

NEEDED: ALL parents and guardians, let us know if you would be willing to volunteer to help students with their lockers for the 7th and 8th grade session from 9-11. We would love your help! Please email Kelly Rettinhouse @ Kelly_rettinhouse@enumclaw.wednet.edu if you would like to volunteer OR want to know more about what this would entail.

School Supply List for 2025-2026

If you have students in other Enumclaw schools, you can check for their supply lists at the District site here: https://www.enumclaw.wednet.edu/page/school-supplies

We will be continuing the no  cell phones or personal earbuds/headphones during instructional periods throughout the school day.  

ESD Board Policy 3245: Students and Telecommunication Devices

ESD Board Policy Procedure 3245P

EMS recognizes the importance of communication and collaboration and provides devices for students to be productive in the classroom. To keep the focus on academics and to reduce unnecessary distractions, the school enforces the following:

• Cell phones/ wireless earbuds/ smart watches are not allowed from 8:00 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.

• Cell phones/ wireless earbuds/ smart watches stay in the student's locker.

• Cell phones/ wireless earbuds/ smart watches are allowed before school and after 2:30 p.m.       

• If a student needs to make a call, they can do so at the office.

• If parents need to get a message to their student, they can call the school office, and our staff will deliver the message to the student. 

Cell Phone Procedures (Starting September 13th):

1st Violation: Staff warning. The staff member will remind the student of the policy, have the student put the phone in their locker - SEND STUDENT TO LOCKER WITH A PASS 

2nd Violation: Send the student to the office to turn the phone into the office. Issue a phone violation referral to the student. Admin will follow up with the student and review the phone expectations at school. The student’s parent or guardian will be contacted and informed of the phone violation. Students may pick up the phone from the office at the end of the school day.

3rd Violation: Send the student to the office to turn the phone into the office. Issue a phone violation referral to the student. Admin will follow up with the student and review the phone expectations at school. A guardian must pick up the phone from the office at the end of the school day.

Subsequent Violations:  Send the student to the office to turn the phone into the office. Issue a phone violation referral to the student. Admin will follow up with the student and review the phone expectations at school. A guardian must pick up the phone from the office at the end of the school day .The student will be required to leave their phone in the office before school starts, to be picked up at the end of the day.

Students can bring binders, pencil pouches, and chromebooks in their cases to class. Bags, backpacks, satchels, grocery bags, lunchboxes,  small lululemon type bags etc will be left in lockers. Classroom space is tight and we have lockers and plenty of passing time to get to and from classes. This practice also eliminates a lot of potential distractions often found in bags.

Food and drink are allowed in the cafeteria ONLY. If students bring a morning drink or breakfast to school, they can either consume them outside as they socialize with friends or go to the cafeteria. Students cannot leave opened beverages in lockers.

• All Sports and Club Registrations are available online through the InTouch online portal. One location for signing up athletics along with the ability to make payments for students’ fees and fines.

• The online registration for Season 1 sports (Baseball, Fastpitch and Track) opens on  Friday, Aug. 1st. Click here for the online payment and registration portal: https://www.enumclaw.wednet.edu/page/online-payments

• There are changes this year for the fees due to the high enrollment of student participation which requires more refs, coaches, etc.

• If your student is planning on playing a Season 1 sport (Baseball, Fastpitch and Track) which will start September 3rd, you will need to have a current physical on file that is current through the end of the season, which is scheduled to end October 22nd. Physicals are good for 2 years. Please check your records to see if you need an updated physical.

Bus Notes

If your student is riding home with someone else on the bus, we don’t write them bus passes. Students need to come to school with a note from home signed by the parent, and take it to the attendance office. The attendance secretary will time stamp the note and the parent note is the bus pass.

see handbook for full dress code guidelines; below are the frequently asked questions. 

Shirts should cover areas from one armpit across to the other armpit with straps and cover the waist. Shorts should be 3 to 4 inches in length completely covering the buttocks when standing, sitting, bending and walking. All under garments should be covered so spaghetti strap tops don’t work; however, the thicker strapped tank tops do!

• No clothing that promotes alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, illegal activities, pornography, sexual innuendo, violence, violent language or images, or display profanity. 

• No clothing that displays a representation of hate or hate speech.

Please be responsible by throwing away gum and wrappers in the garbage. At the end of last year, we saw a rise in the amount of gum found around the building; we want to continue to allow gum as a welcomed privilege. Gum needs to be  either in your mouth or the garbage. To keep this privilege, we need to do better.

Please note that money can be deposited in your student’s account throughout the year from 7:40—8:05 AM in the kitchen. Cash or check only. The cafeteria does not accept credit or debit cards. Credit or debit cards may be used online by clicking on the Family Access link.

No refunds were issued for money left in lunch accounts at the close of the last school year. Instead, any money a student has left in their account will follow the student through the Enumclaw School District. The balance will be available for the child to use on the 1st day of school.

Free and Reduced Meal Applications will be accepted during our Timberwolf Day. This application needs to be completed EVERY YEAR! By filling out the application AND Consent to Share form, you may qualify for other district discounts. The application will be processed as soon as possible so students can be assured of getting breakfast and lunch on the first day of school. If applications are turned in after Timberwolf Day, approval may take 2—5 days to process. Click here to start the online process. Please remember to also check the ‘Consent to Share” option to qualify for additional benefits.

Prices for the 2025-2026 School Year are:

• Breakfast $2.50

• Lunch $4.25 

• Milk $0.65

MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL:
ALL medications (including over the counter and vitamins/supplements) have to be:
~ Kept in the school health room and dispensed by the school nurse.
~ Brought in by a parent/guardian or a designated adult.
~ With a doctor’s order and signed for in the health room. Counted by a parent and the nurse.

Please DO NOT send any medication of any amount to school with your student. Please communicate your concerns to the school nurse via email, phone or personal visit. We stand ready to accommodate in any way possible, including obtaining faxed authorizations for medications from your HCP, to care for our students to ensure a safe and healthy school experience.

Students with inhalers and Epi-Pens may be authorized to carry their medication for self administration at school with Doctor’s order, School Nurse permission and authorization.

7th Grade T-dap Immunization Requirement
A student 11 years or older will need his/her TDAP immunization before school starts. This is required by state law for all 7th grade students. All immunization exemptions will be required to have a physician’s signature. This includes personal, medical or religious reasons. Certificates of Exemption can be obtained in the Health Room or Attendance Office.

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year from the PE/Total Wellness Team! 

We are excited to have your student in our classes this semester and we are looking forward to a great year. These first few days, we will spend a lot of time getting our students set up for success with locks, lockers, uniforms, google classroom, overall routines, procedures and expectations. 

PLEASE NOTE - we will be continuing the policy, with no alternative PE uniforms. Students must wear school issued uniforms. 

Here are some general reminders:

• All students must have a school PE uniform (shorts and shirt). They can be purchased during Timberwolf Day, or On-line through the Intouch portal or through the main office. If there is a financial concern contact the main office or your assigned PE teacher. 

• Students can also purchase a PE sweatshirt and/or sweatpants which can be used as part of their uniform. (Optional) 

• Students will receive their purchased PE uniforms in their PE/Total Wellness classes during the first week of school.

• Teachers are always available to assist with lost locks or locker room assistance.

• If your child has a morning PE class, you may want to consider having them bring an extra pair of socks and/or shoes as the grass may be wet in the mornings. It could get cold too!

We will be reviewing this and more information with students the first week of school. Looking forward to meeting you all! 

Thank you,

The PE/Total Wellness Department

If you are like me, and love to know dates ahead of time, see below; however, remember, weather or school closures may change events. More details to come as events get closer.

Tuesday, August 19: Timberwolf Day

Wednesday, August 27: First Day of School

September 1: NO SCHOOL: Labor Day

September 3 Season #1 Sports Begin (Girls and Boys Track, Baseball, Fastpitch)

September 8 Music Rental Night 5-7 @EHS

Saturday, September 13: 8:30 AM-12:00 PM: Beautify Enumclaw-Community Projects around Enumclaw

September 18 Open House

September 22-26 Spirit Week #1

October 10 NO SCHOOL: Teacher Inservice

October 17 Picture Makeup Day

October 22 Season # 1 Sports LAST Day

October 27 EMS Food Drive Starts

October 27 Season #2 Sports Begin (Wrestling, Boys Soccer, Girls Basketball)

November 7 ASSEMBLY: Veterans Day

November 10 NO SCHOOL: Teacher Inservice

November 11 NO SCHOOL: Veterans Day

Nov 20,21,24,25 Conferences (½ days): School out at 11:15 for conferences

November 26 ½ Day, school out at 11:15

November 27-28 NO SCHOOL: Thanksgiving Break

December 11 Winter Music Concert 6:30 pm (EMS)

December 12 ASSEMBLY: Winter Music @ EMS

December 15-19 Spirit Week #2

December 18 Season #2 Sports LAST DAY

December 19 ASSEMBLY: Spirit #2

Dec 22-Jan 2 NO SCHOOL: WINTER BREAK

January 12 Season #3 Sports Begin Boys Basketball, Girls Soccer

January 16 ASSEMBLY: MLK

January 19 NO SCHOOL: MLK Day

January 23 End Semester 1

February 16-20 NO SCHOOL: Mid-Winter Break

March 2-6 Spirit Week # 3

March 18 Season #4 FOOTBALL Begins

March 20 Snow Make Up Day

March 23 Season #4 XC & VB Begins

April 13-17 NO SCHOOL: Spring Break

April 23 5th Grade Family Night

May 4-8 Spirit Week #4

May 11, 18, 25 TESTING: SBA 

May 20  Season #4 Sports LAST DAY

May 22  Snow Make up Day

May 26 NO SCHOOL: Memorial Day

June 4 Spring Music Concert @ 6:30 (EMS)

June 5  ASSEMBLY: Spring Concert

June 6: Music Wild Wave Field Trip

June 9 8th Grade Exit Interviews

June 9 WOLF DEN: 8th Grade Group Photo

June 11 8th Grade Promotion

June 12 Locker Clean Out

June 12 8th Grade Dance

June 15 Field Day

June 16 LAST DAY ½ Day school out at 11:15

Enumclaw School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, the use of a trained dog guide or service animal, age, and honorably discharged veteran or military status. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: