October
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October 29: Picture Make-Up Day (8:30-10:30am)
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October 30: HallowEgan
November
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November 5: PTA General Meeting 8:45am in the library.
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November 5: Highway to High School 7-9pm in the library.
- November 6: Private High School Presentation - During Lunch (Students Only)
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November 11: Holiday - No School
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November 18: Turkey Trot
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November 23-27: Thanksgiving Break
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Dear Egan Families,
It's hard to believe we've officially reached the end of our first quarter! As we head into Quarter 2, this is a great opportunity for students to reflect on what's going well, where they may need a little extra support, and what habits they can strengthen moving forward. Whether it's staying on top of homework, developing stronger study skills, getting to class on time, or attending school regularly, small changes in daily routines can make a big difference.
Quarter 1 Report Cards – Available October 30
Quarter 1 report cards will be available to view in PowerSchool on October 30. I encourage you to take a few minutes to review your student's progress together. Celebrate their successes, recognize their effort, and talk about one or two goals for the next quarter.
Remember, a report card is a snapshot of learning, not the final word on the school year. Look beyond the overall marks and take time to review assignment completion, teacher feedback, and learning behaviors. Our Learning Behaviors and Content Mastery rubrics are also helpful resources for understanding your student's progress.
A Quarter 2 Reset: Attendance and Being On Time
As we begin a new quarter, I also want to encourage families to revisit the importance of regular attendance and arriving to class on time. Every school day matters, not only academically but also in helping students stay connected to their teachers, classmates, and school community.
We understand that students get sick and sometimes need to miss school. However, when a student misses 10% or more of school days, whether excused or unexcused, they are considered chronically absent under California's attendance reporting guidelines.
If you receive an attendance letter, please know that it is intended to keep you informed and open the door for us to work together if additional support is needed. Our goal is always to partner with families to help students be successful.
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Halloween at Egan – Friday, October 30
We're looking forward to a little Halloween fun next week. Our Leadership class has planned some festive lunchtime activities for students to enjoy.
While we love seeing our students show their creativity and school spirit, it is still a regular instructional day. A few reminders to help keep the day safe and enjoyable:
- No costume masks during school hours.
- Costumes should be school-appropriate and free of blood or gore.
- No weapons or weapon-like costume props are permitted on campus.
Thank you for helping us keep the celebration fun, safe, and focused on learning!
As we close out our first quarter, I want to thank you for your continued partnership. Junior high is a time of tremendous growth, and our students are learning not only academic content but also the habits, independence, and responsibility that will serve them well beyond Egan.
Here's to a great start to Quarter 2!
Be Here. Be You. Belong.
Warmly,
Mrs. Taormina
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October and November are conference months in LASD. Conferences look a little different at the junior high level than they do in elementary school. With many of our teachers supporting more than 160 students, conferences are invitation-based and focused on students who may benefit from additional academic or organizational support.
If a teacher feels a conference would be helpful, they will reach out to you directly to schedule a time. If your student is doing well and on track, you may not receive a conference invitation, and that's perfectly okay!
Conferences typically last about 15 minutes and may be held in person or virtually. We also encourage students to attend alongside their parents. At this age, it's important that students begin taking ownership of their learning and participate in conversations about their progress.
Of course, you never need to wait for a conference invitation to connect with a teacher. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out directly. For students with IEPs, if your concerns require a discussion with the full IEP team, please contact your student's case manager.
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📸 PICTURE MAKE-UP DAY
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29
8:30–10:30 AM
Make-up pictures will be available ONLY for:
- Newly registered students
- Students who missed the original Picture Day
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Students who plan to purchase photos (retakes are for purchased photos only)
⚠️ PLEASE NOTE
ID cards will NOT be reprinted.
New students and students who missed the original Picture Day will receive a special call slip from the office when it is time to have their picture taken.
📧 NEED A RETAKE?
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Your donation to LAEF helps fund these teachers, instructional programs, and materials for Egan students this school year:
Wide variety of electives: Anne Spector, Chia-Ling Chiang, Lidia Ingah, Janine Wulfsohn, Patricia Hsuan, Patty Clavijo, Tom Kesselring, Diane Shepherd, Peter Swenson, Gen Patino
Library Specialists: Nancy Morimoto, Katarina Johnson
Computer Science Support (District-wide): Grace Choi, Sheena Vaidyanathan
Mental Health Counselors & Social and Emotional Learning: Hilary Grabner
Classroom supplies, equipment, and technology
Teacher professional development
If you haven't had a chance to give this school year, donate to LAEF today. Donations of any amount are welcome and appreciated! And be sure to apply for a corporate match if available to you. |
A big thank you to our Egan Staff Appreciation team, Melina Carey and Kay Nicholson for organizing lunch for our teachers and staff on campus during Yosemite week last week AND along with Shushma Reddy, organizing another regularly scheduled staff lunch again yesterday. |
LASD is excited to celebrate the creativity of students across the district at the 2026 LASD Student Art Showcase on Wednesday, November 18, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Covington Elementary.
Students are invited to submit any piece of artwork they are proud of. There is no theme, and participation is completely voluntary.
- Registration opens: Thursday, October 8
- Registration closes: Wednesday, November 11
- Art Showcase: Wednesday, November 18, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Families will register their student individually using a Google form. All artwork must be turned in to the Egan front office by November 11 for inclusion in the showcase.
We would love to see our Egan artists represented and celebrated alongside students from across LASD!
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Parents (or community members) are needed to help volunteer with the set up and clean, please consider helping out. Sign up to volunteer HERE!
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Our November PTA general meeting is coming up on Thursday, November 5 at 8:45 AM in the Library. Agenda will be sent out as we get closer but set your reminders and hope to see you all there. |
Wondering what to expect as your child transitions from middle school to high school? We invite all 8th grade parents to join us for Highway to High School, an informative evening designed to help parents navigate the journey ahead!
We'll cover high school graduation and college admission requirements, course planning, extracurricular opportunities, and resources available to students at LAHS at the beginning. Then you will hear firsthand experiences and practical advice from a panel of 7-9 parents who have been through it. There will also be opportunity to ask questions at the end.
Whether you're excited, overwhelmed, or simply curious, come get your questions answered and feel more prepared for the road ahead!
Date/Time: 7:00-9:00 pm, Thursday, Nov 5, 2026
Location: Egan Library
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The annual Egan Turkey Trot is coming up on November 18 at 2:00 PM on the Egan blacktop and parent volunteers are needed to help with special donut distribution after the event.
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Planning to apply to private high schools for the 2027–2028 school year?
Ms. Taormina and Ms. Sugey are here to help you navigate the application process. Please review the following steps and deadlines carefully to ensure you have the support and information you need.
Before Applying
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Research schools: Make a list of the private high schools you plan to apply to. We recommend that your parents/guardians create a Ravenna account, as many private schools use this platform for applications and school research.
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Request teacher recommendations: Some schools require recommendations from your 8th-grade English and math teachers, while others allow recommendations from any 7th- or 8th-grade teacher. You must speak with each teacher directly to ask if they are willing to write a recommendation. Please do not assume they are available to do so.
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Complete the questionnaire and schedule a meeting: Once you have finalized your school list and confirmed which teachers will write your recommendations, complete the Getting to Know You Questionnaire. You must be logged in to your LASD K–8 account to access the form. Then, schedule a meeting with Ms. Taormina through Ms. Sugey in the front office by December 6, 2026.
While Applying
- Submit all teacher recommendation requests directly to the individual teachers. Teacher email addresses are available in the Egan Staff Directory.
- Please remember that teachers receive many recommendation requests and may not complete them until after winter break.
After Applying
- Egan will send transcripts to private high schools after first-semester grades are issued in mid-January.
- Please wait until one week after first-semester grades are issued before contacting Ms. Sugey about transcripts.
- Bring your completed transcript release form to Ms. Sugey in the front office. Egan staff will submit the transcripts to the schools.
Important Reminders
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December 6 deadline: Egan cannot guarantee that private high schools will receive all required materials by their deadlines if you do not contact and meet with Ms. Taormina and/or Ms. Sugey by December 6.
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Additional information: Review the 2026–2027 High School Transition Slideshow for more details, including information about specific schools.
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Questions? Please see Ms. Taormina or Ms. Sugey. We are happy to help!
We encourage families to begin planning early and stay in communication with Egan throughout the application process.
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What is AMC 8? The AMC 8 is a 40 minute, 25 question math contest that covers middle school math and is held annually.
Who can participate? To participate in the AMC 8, a student must be in grade 8 or below and also under 14.5 years of age on the day of the competition.
Why should I participate? You will develop your creative problem solving skills and engage with interesting and challenging problems. Students who excel may qualify for prestigious invitational competitions.
How do I register? Your parent or guardian must register in two places. First, they must fill out an Egan Google Form at https://tinyurl.com/EganAMC8Reg2027. After submitting this form, your parent or guardian will be prompted in the Google Form to use a link to register directly with the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) for the AMC 8.
By when do I need to register? The deadline to register for AMC 8 is January 15, 2027. For students with 504s or IEPs, the deadline to ask for student accommodations via the Egan Google Form is also January 15, 2027.
Still have Questions? First view the Egan information slides at https://tinyurl.com/EganAMC8 and visit the AMC website https://maa.org/amcreg/. If you still have questions, you can contact Mr. Pasturel at ppasturel@lasdschools.org.
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Happy October! As autumn arrives (hopefully bringing some cooler weather) and our students settle into their routines, this month brings us National Bullying Prevention Month.
Middle school represents a key developmental period where social dynamics and online interactions rapidly shift. National Bullying Prevention Month gives us a focused opportunity to teach empathy, empower students to stand up for one another, and ensure every child feels safe, included, and supported at school.
Our Wellness Center is open and we love seeing students come in and engage in our activities. If your child feels like they don’t know quite where to go or who to sit with at lunch, we’d love to see them in the Wellness Center.
We warmly invite parents to reach out anytime with questions or if you feel your child could benefit from a check-in. We are here to partner with you!
-Egan Counseling Team
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View the schedules for the remainder of the year:
Questions?
Please contact Egan’s Athletic Directors:
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Please let the office know by 9am each day your student will be out by one of the following methods:
- Email eganattendance@lasdschools.org
- Complete the Absence/Appointment Reporting Form
- Call the attendance line at 650-917-2255
- Notifications will be sent out via ParentSquare at 10:15am instead of School Messenger beginning September 14, 2026. You will receive a notification if your student was marked absent and we have not heard from parents regarding the reason.
- For last minute appointments, call the office at 650-917-2200 so we can send a dismissal pass to their class. (A parent or someone on your student's emergency contacts list must pick up your student.)
- Please review this document for additional information
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- Each student may utilize a maximum of 15 ISP days per school year.
- Please notify the office of the dates of absence 2 weeks prior to leaving. We request advance notice so teachers can prepare materials.
- All Independent Study Plans are subject to principal approval.
- Work must be completed during the absence and turned in to school on the student's first day back to class.
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