Please see the August Upcoming Dates and Deadlines section at the top of this page. 

Please see the August Upcoming Dates and Deadlines section at the top of this page. 

March 30: Incoming seventh-grade parent meeting. Watch Recording

April 13: Incoming fifth-grade parent meeting. Watch Recording

April 20: Incoming eighth-grade parent meeting. Watch Recording

April 21: Incoming sixth-grade parent meeting. Watch Recording

2023-24 Academic Calendar

ESD+ offers before and after school interest-based programs such as film, fishing, French, youth and government and more, for middle school students. These programs are led by middle school faculty and meet weekly throughout the school year.

ESD+ Extended Day provides a monitored time and space, before and after school, for middle school students to engage in a variety of activities such as working on homework with classmates, playing games, meeting with teachers, bonding with classmates, and more. This program is offered free of charge.

Registration for programs and extended day opens August 14-31 at esdallas.org/esdplus.

More ESD+ Information

Please reference the uniform email from Jonathan Chein sent on July 6.

Navy polos with and without the ESD monogram can be purchased from Dennis/Mills. The Eagles Nest will have navy monogrammed polos available for purchase beginning August 14 on a first-come, first-served basis. Stock will be limited. 

The ESD monogram is not required on polos. Plain navy polos can be purchased from any vendor as long as they adhere to uniform guidelines.

UNIFORMS

Mills Uniform Company is the official uniform supplier for ESD. Uniforms can be purchased directly from Mills or through the ESD uniform resale shop.

You may also purchase uniform pieces, with the exception of plaid items, at other retailers as long as they match the stated guidelines. 

P.E. uniforms and spirit wear can be purchased at the Eagles Nest Campus Store.

Uniform updates for 2023-24 can be found in the above drop-down.

SHOES 

Examples of approved vs. unapproved shoes for both formal and everyday use: 

P.E. UNIFORMS AND SPIRIT WEAR

The Eagles Nest campus store has gone virtual! Get your P.E. and spirit wear essentials like shirts, outerwear, embroidered bows, hats, and a little bit of everything else. A limited selection of spirit wear items can also be found in the Resale Shop. Check us out on Instagram @eaglesnestesd for information on hours, sales, and new items!

Eagles Nest Campus Store

Textbooks

Textbook ordering is through MBS Direct and opens on July 1. Free shipping is typically offered the first week in August. Please allow up to 2 weeks for shipping and make sure to place your orders by August 9 so they arrive by the first day of school.

No schedule is needed to purchase books. All students take the same core subjects in each middle school grade. 

TEXTBOOK ORDERS

School Supplies

Supplies are included in tuition and issued to students during orientation. If additional supplies are needed for a specific course, teachers will contact parents. All students are encouraged to have a backpack and reusable water bottle.

Details Here

Recommendations for the 2024-25 school year for middle and upper school will be finalized in September 2023 and will be shared by October 15, 2023. The following modifications are currently under consideration: 

• Performance (athletic) style skirt in the ESD plaid
• Tech fabric shorts and pants options
• ESD Crest patch for blazers
• Brown or black dress shoes or Sperrys to be worn with pants in upper school on formal uniform days 
• ESD branded and team/activity branded quarter and full zip navy jackets for indoor wear on non-formal dress days.

Mills Uniforms is now part of Dennis Uniforms based in Fort Worth. This merger has resulted in a wider array of fabrics and styles. Not only will Dennis/Mills offer more comfortable fabrics for the oxfords and pants, they will be producing the ESD plaid in a lighter, softer material for the lower school jumpers and for an updated skirt style option to potentially replace the current skirt in 2024-25.

2023-24 Academic Calendar

GRADES 5-6
School Hours 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

GRADES 7-8
School Hours 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. for Athletics

CARPOOL INFORMATION COMING SOON.

Supervised after-school care is available for grades 5-8 until 6:00 p.m. at no cost. 

ESD+ After School Care

CELL PHONE POLICY

The middle school years are a critical developmental stage for students, and interacting with one another, face to face, is an essential part of that development. Students in grades five through seven are not permitted to have cell phones or smart watches on campus. This policy covers phones, smart watches, and other portable or wearable devices. Use of these devices is an eighth grade privilege and, as such, can be revoked in cases of non-compliance with these guidelines:

• Eighth grade students are permitted to bring these devices to school, but may not be used from the time they arrive on campus until 3:25 p.m.

• Eighth grade students’ cell phones or smart watches must be TURNED OFF and placed in lockers during the entire day.

• Cell phones are NOT permitted in locker rooms for any purpose.

• Should a student fail to follow these guidelines, the device may be picked up by a parent in the Middle School Office.

If a student needs to contact his or her parents, he or she may do so in the Middle School Office on a school phone. If a parent needs to contact a child, he or she may contact the Middle School Office at (214) 358-5847.
 

CHROMEBOOK POLICY

• All middle school students use school-managed Chromebooks. Having a single platform environment allows teachers to use the device as a learning tool, and having managed Chromebooks allows the School to push out applications that all students need to use. These are the only devices permitted on campus during the academic day except by written permission from the Division Head.

• Upon entering middle school at ESD, each student will be issued a school-managed Chromebook with the cost included in tuition. This includes a case and a four year warranty with accidental damage protection. In cases of intentional damage, a replacement will be issued and the cost will be charged to the student’s incidental account in the Eagles Nest.

• If a student’s Chromebook is malfunctioning, they should visit the Gill Library. A librarian will help diagnose the issue, coordinate repair, and issue a loaner if necessary. Disciplinary consequences may apply to students who routinely check out a Chromebook or charger because they forgot theirs at home.

• Chromebooks should arrive at school fully charged each day.

• Students are expected to have their own set of headphones each day. With that in mind, part of being in a community is being present, and, as such, use of headphones, including AirPods, should only be used under the direction of a teacher. They should not be worn in the Schoolhouse Commons or other community places.

• In and out of the classroom, students must use their electronic devices in keeping with the RUP and the Code of Conduct. Students are encouraged not to leave these devices unattended on campus at any time because they may become lost or stolen. Students should put their names on these devices and keep the provided case on the Chromebook at all times. The School retains the right to search electronic devices when necessary if there is sufficient suspicion that said device contains inappropriate or illegal material.

The middle school handbook is available in your Veracross Parent Portal. 

Head of Middle School - Jonathan Chein
cheinj@esdallas.org 

Assistant Head of Middle School - Allison Darnell
darnella@esdallas.org

Administrative Assistant to Head of Middle School/Registrar - Kristi Rayburn
rayburnk@esdallas.org 

Attendance Notifications/Carpool Changes - Veracross
Veracross Parent Portal

Nurse - Marcia Biggs, RN
biggsm@esdallas.org

Emotional Wellness Counselors:
Maricela Aquino, LMSW (Grades 5-7)
aquinom@esdallas.org
Mary Ellen Davison (Grades 8-9)
davisonm@esdallas.org

Social Emotional Learning Coordinator - Becca Gwinn
gwinnr@esdallas.org

Learning Specialist - Adam Jones
jonesa@esdallas.org

Fifth Grade Dean - Susan Wiles
wiless@esdallas.org

Sixth Grade Dean - Jane DeGrenier
degrenierj@esdallas.org

Seventh Grade Dean - Sarah Havins
nutterc@esdallas.org

Eighth Grade Dean - Scott Goetsch
goetschs@esdallas.org

• On the first, second, and fifth Monday of the month, you will receive an email with the subject line "ESD News You Can Use." It will be sent from Jackie Robertson. 

• On the third Monday of the month, you will receive an email with the subject line "ESD Dates You Can Use." It will be sent from Julie Clardy, Director of Communications.

• On the fourth Monday of the month, you may receive an email from your student's advisor.

• Grade Rep emails are sent mid-month.

If you are not receiving these emails and have checked your spam filter, please contact our support team at parentsupport@esdallas.org.

MAY 22, 2023 is the deadline to submit the lifetime immunization record. (New families only)

AUGUST 1, 2023 is the deadline to submit all supplemental medical forms including annual physicals. Please have your physician complete the Annual Physical Form. All students must have a new physical every year. 

All medical records and forms must be submitted through Magnus Health through the Veracross parent portal. Login to Veracross, scroll down to the Resources section, and click Student Health Forms (Magnus). We cannot accept forms sent directly to the school. 

Veracross Parent Portal Login to Access Magnus Health

Magnus Health is the provider of our secure web-based electronic medical record system and your child’s health records will be initiated online. This information is HIPAA and FERPA protected and is unique to each student.

Tuition and billing information can be accessed from your Veracross parent portal.

ESD uses the Veracross system for our Parent Portal. Below you will find step-by-step guides to help you best utilize this resource.
 

Navigating Your Parent Portal (General)

How to View Student Schedules and Advisory

How to Add Veracross to Your Smartphone Home Screen

You can access school, student-specific, and household-specific calendars on our website and in your Veracross Parent Portal. See below for guides on how to best access these tools.

How to Add School Calendars to Your Phone

Subscribe to Your Household Calendar: Apple

Subscribe to Your Household Calendar: Google

Training documents are available in your Veracross parent portal, on the Help Desk landing page shown below. If you have additional questions that are not answered in the training material, please email parentsupport@esdallas.org.