Welcome, ECFS families

July 2026

Dear Families of the Class of 2032,

Welcome back! I hope that you have had a wonderful summer thus far, filled with family time, relaxation, and fun. I’m very much looking forward to working with your children for a second year and continuing to find creative ways in which we can continue to grow as a community. 

For the new members of the community, I look forward to getting to know you all!  I hope you’ve already had a chance to connect with your buddy families. You’ll find this group of families and students always excited and eager to welcome new members to our community. 

Congratulations to both parents and students on completing the largest transition to middle school, 6th Grade! Now that students are familiar with the demands of middle school and have formed some new friendships, we excitedly move into the next chapter, the middle of middle school, 7th Grade. 7th Grade students experience a boost in classroom rigor, continued transitions with friends, coming of age celebrations, stronger independence and increased social awareness. This is an incredible time to build upon their newfound independence and help your child to advocate for themselves. You can do this by encouraging them to go directly to their advisor and teachers with their questions and concerns, or to set up meetings for review or discussion. I am always available to assist students who might feel a little nervous about stepping into this new level of independence. These are wonderful life skills that we want our students to gain and we want to nurture in them.  Their voice is even more important in our current world, as we understand the importance of speaking out against injustice and still try to navigate just being a 7th Grader. 

Returning to school may bring up a myriad of emotions, some old and some new.  You might be feeling excitement, anxiety, or even some relief in getting back to routines. My job, as always, is to support your child as they navigate this path of familiar and unfamiliar territory. The seventh grade team is excited to meet this incredible group of students, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s advisor and teachers to gain insight and assistance or to share any information that can help us support your child and make their year even more successful. The middle school team has been working hard, planning and preparing for a wonderful return to school, while keeping students' social-emotional learning and well-being at the core.

First Days of School

We begin at 8:30am on Thursday 9/10, welcoming students back and helping them get acquainted with a combination of orientation activities: meeting their advisor, learning their new schedule, reviewing the handbook, reconnecting with each other, and meeting their new teachers through an abbreviated class schedule for Thursday and Friday. Students will have an opportunity to start setting up their lockers on Thursday. Though they should bring some supplies (including their pencil case) on Thursday, students do not have to bring all of their books, binders, and supplies that first day; they will get instructions from their teachers about what they will need and can bring the rest on Friday. Tentative schedule here.

New Students

There will be an orientation for new families on Wednesday 9/9 at 8:30am. This will be an important time to connect with other new families, get to familiarize yourselves with the campus and a chance for us to meet. Students and families will also get their school ID’s. Stay tuned...more information will be sent to you shortly. 

Locks and Lockers

Fieldston Middle will be assigning lockers and will be providing a combination lock for every student. If there is another lock that might be easier for them to manage, they may bring in their own locks where the passcode can be shared with their advisor. Some find this lock to be a helpful alternative to a standard combination lock. Whatever lock you choose, please support your child by making sure they know how to use it prior to the first day of school. I’m including this video to help students review how to use a standard combination lock, which may take some practice. We are looking for your partnership in encouraging your child to get comfortable with their lock and use it daily to secure their belongings in their locker. There have been occasions where students with unlocked lockers have found items missing during the school day, and all students need to remember that locking their lockers is the best way to keep their belongings safe. This year, students will be asked to keep their bookbags in their lockers, so utilizing their lockers will be even more important. We will continue to support these habits at school as well. 

Supply List

Although you have already received this, I’m including the link for the 7th Grade school supply list here so it’s easily accessible.

Mark your calendars:
Open School Night: Wednesday 9/23
Green Chimneys Field Trip: Monday 9/28 and Wednesday 9/30

We will continue to create opportunities for team building and collaboration throughout the year. Our adventure is spread across two days —each day, ½ of the grade will stay in school and attend normal classes while the other ½ goes on the trip. We will have an exciting day of activities with Green Chimneys in Carmel, NY. On the trip, the 7th Graders will spend the day supporting each other, safely pushing themselves out of their comfort zones, making new friends, getting to know their advisors and teachers, and working together to overcome obstacles. Please complete the waiver on Magnus (required by Green Chimneys) by 9/18.     

Please know that our partnership is so important in helping your children navigate adolescence. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. I will be checking email every few days in July but will be checking more frequently by mid-August. You may reach me at eflores@ecfs.org or 718-329-7300 ext. 3634; however, email is always best. Please save my email address and number for future reference. Email is usually the quickest and best way to reach me, but I always welcome phone conversations. 

Warmly,

Elizabeth Flores
Dean, Class of 2032
6th grade Math teacher
7th grade advisor
she/her/ella pronouns (learn more about gender pronouns)