Good afternoon Falcon Families! What an important and busy time for our Falcons. We are into the second week of Quarter 2 and your student should be practicing:

• Engage in class: Participate in discussions and ask questions when you don't understand something. 
• Study with a group: Collaborating with peers can help you see things from a new perspective. 
• Ask for help: Don't hesitate to ask teachers or others for assistance when you're struggling. 
• Take care of yourself: Ensure you get enough sleep, eat healthy meals, and stay positive to maintain your energy and focus. 

These are just a few of the ways your student can improve their academic performance. 
  Report Cards for Q1 are now available for view in Skyward. If you would like to request a printed copy, please email me and one will be given to your student: Rebecca.watson@ocps.net 
 ATTENTION!! Student id’s are required to be displayed while on campus. Please clip your student id to your backpack at all times. If you lost your id, please go to the media center before or after school to get a new one. Replacement id’s are $5. 
 
 
Juniors and Seniors who still need concordant scores for graduation will receive an email early in the week with their testing location and time for the ACT NCR (Non-College Reporting). Please check your email!! The test is Tuesday, October 28. You must be on time to school!

 We are ending Teen Driver Safety Week and I want to give you a few statistics:

• Traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for teens (15-18 years old) in the United States.
• In 2023, a total of 2,611 people were killed in traffic crashes that involved a teen (15-18 years old) driver, and 822 of those killed were the teen driver.
• Of the 2,611 people killed in crashes involving a teen (15-18 years old) driver, 604 were the passengers of a teen driver.
  • 377 (62%) of those fatalities were other teens riding with a teen driver.  
  • Of those teen passengers killed while riding with another teen driver, 67% were male and 33% were female.
• In 2023 there were 87,074 teen (15-18 years old) drivers injured in traffic crashes.

While these facts can seem disturbing, there is something we can do about it! 
You can’t predict a crash, but you can control how you drive: 
 ✔️ Buckle up
 ✔️ Put your phone down 
 ✔️ Limit passengers
 ✔️ Don’t speed
These are just a few ways to improve teen driving safety. For more information visit: https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/safety-topics/teen-driver-safety

 Attention Falcons, get ready to show your school spirit and take a stand against drugs during Red Ribbon Week next week! 
Monday- Wear RED and pledge to stay away from drugs!
Tuesday- Team up against drugs! Wear any TEAM JERSEY
Wednesday- Get comfy without drugs! Wear your pj’s.
Thursday- Match with your friends for TWIN day!
Friday- Scare away drugs! Wear your Halloween costume (no masks or toy weapons allowed)
Information regarding Dual Enrollment at The University of Florida is attached. Please note requirements and deadlines!

 Congratulations to our Girls Varsity Bowling Team on the 4th straight District Championship!! Congratulations to Coach Tagye and Coach Belcher for all of your guidance. These girls are ready to go to states this week!
 
  
 
Walk For Freedom Central Florida- End Human Trafficking and Online Child Exploitation
A team from East River will be participating in this walk. Please consider joining us. There is no fee to register and participate, but donations are accepted. Please email Mrs. Watson is you are planning to attend: Rebecca.watson@ocps.net. For more information, please visit their website: https://walkforfreedomcentralflorida.org/
 
 
 
Attached is the October Senior newsletter from Mrs. Adkison with important information, dates, and deadlines!
 
Senior ads for the yearbook are officially on sale! Ads can be ordered at www.yearbookordercenter.com . The final date to order ads is December 5, 2025. Don’t delay!
 
 Updated reminders for parents and students about our parking lot:

• If you need to pick up your student between 7:30 am-2:20 pm, you must park and walk in the front office. Please do not park in the fire lane. We had an incident last week and called EMS. The firetruck could not get through due to vehicles blocking the fire lane and had to enter from the far end of the courtyard. 
• Parking near the front office is marked for mobility, reserved- for parents of Little Falcons and pick-up outside of the regular hours. Please park there when coming inside the front office. 
• Please do not line up for afternoon dismissal prior to 1:45 pm. It causes traffic congestion, and we already have enough of that.
• I recommend dropping your student off early, courtyard doors open at 6:45 to avoid morning traffic.
• I recommend coming about 2:30 pm if you are picking up in the afternoon if you want to avoid the rush of traffic and buses leaving the property.

Thank you for helping us keep our students and faculty safe by adhering to speed limits of 10 mph and following all traffic cones, barricades, and signs in the parking lot. 

  Our SOAR store for positive student behaviors opens this week! Please consider donating to help us reward our students. Ask you student how many positive SOAR points they have.
 Link to our SOAR store donations needed on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/YLZ3GF3D7XXN?ref_=wl_share
 
  Please see the Athletic newsletter for this week:
 
 Attention Seniors! You need to be following the Class of 26 Instagram page and checking your school email for important dates and reminders, as well as the ERHS College and Career page. You don’t want to miss the deadline for being included in the yearbook! 
 erhs_classof26 
 eastriverhs_collegeandcareer 
 eastriverhs_ocps
 
Participate in Red Ribbon week this week and make your commitment to be DRUG FREE!!
  
 Please email me with any questions or concerns at rebeccca.watson@ocps.net It is my privilege to serve at East River.
 Be safe and kind!
 Becky Watson
 Principal, East River High School