News from the Nest Monthly Community Update: December
We have had a tremendous first half of the school year already as the semester draws towards a close. As always, please reach out anytime if you or your child have any questions and know that I am grateful to call this place home. My email is gahall@easternlocal.net and my office number is 740-985-3329.
Guidance/School Counselor Info: Please make sure you reach out to Sara Will specifically at this time (swill@easternlocal.net). Mrs. Williams is currently out on maternity leave, but will return later on this school year. Current students wishing to schedule CCP courses for next semester need to be in regular communication with the guidance office to ensure schedule needs/deadlines are being met, and athletic eligibility is maintained if relevant. We had a terrific CCP Meeting on 11/20 regarding the CCP program along with our partner colleges. Please reach out to the guidance office if you were not able to attend that meeting or have any questions going forward. Please check ROOMs regularly for messages regarding trips, scholarships, and other pertinent information from our school counselor office.
Career Readiness and Strengthening: Eastern Local has worked hard to strengthen partnerships with other agencies, and with their generous help, we are creating a culture of STEM opportunities and events for all students in our district. We are very grateful for the Tech Mobile and the COSI STEM Collaborative events, as they were both great examples of a bridge between learning here at school and skilled career pathways in manufacturing, fabrication, and more. We currently have a new agreement with Vitruvian, which will provide Eastern students with a Pre-Apprenticeship Opportunity in 3D Construction using 3D Printing technology. The sophomore class got to visit a construction site in Chancey, and see the results of this equipment. Interested students are to contact me via email as soon as possible. This is of no cost, and provides in demand modern workforce skills.
With Eastern now a part of two pre-apprenticeship programs, a partner of the Washington State In-Cert Career Tech program, and working closely with the career technical programs at Meigs, finding your "E" has been fully integrated building wide. Anyone interested in coming in to speak with our students about career opportunities in the area can reach out to me via email or phone and we would be happy to have you help support our students. We are also thrilled to announce receiving support from the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio to expand student opportunities. Thanks to the foundation’s support, Science Olympiad, and our new Esports club were able to receive additional materials, including lab equipment, competition computers to increase esports participation, and a new Drones in School Program. All of these student opportunities are a direct tie to STEM experiences that students would otherwise not have access to, and tie directly into necessary skills for the modern workforce as well. Eastern Local Schools is deeply grateful to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio for believing in our students and investing in programs that broaden their educational experiences.
Communication: A major goal this year districtwide and for the high school building has been increased communication with students, parents, staff, and other stakeholders. ROOMs through the Eastern App has been a major success and has greatly improved teacher/staff communication across all grade levels. Many important details have been pushed out through ROOMs already including scholarship information, and career program opportunities. Please reach out if you need any support with using ROOMs through the Eastern App as all teachers and using this weekly and often even daily to keep families up to date with what is happening in the classroom.
With Tremendous Appreciation,
Garret Hall
List of Upcoming Events For Eastern Junior-Senior High School
12/5/25: Basketball Triple Header vs Waterford ( JV Boys, Varsity Girls, and Varsity Boys starting at 5pm)
Fall End of Course Testing: December 8th - 11th
12/11/25: Eastern Choir/Band Concert at 6pm in the HS Gym.
12/12/25: End of Quarter Games (Activity Schedule)
12/13/25: Eastern Drama Club presents “A Christmas Carol” at 7:30pm in Elementary on Stage (Doors Open at 7)
12/19/25: End of the 1st Semester/2nd Nine Weeks
12/20-1/4/26: Christmas Break
1/5/26: Return to School, New Semester Begins.
*Events are Subject to Change
This opportunity aligns directly with Eastern’s Find Your E vision—helping every student discover their path to becoming Enrolled, Enlisted, or Employed after graduation. Coding and robotics develop critical skills such as creativity, perseverance, teamwork, and technical literacy. Experiences like the Hour of Code expose students to real-world technologies and potential careers in engineering, advanced manufacturing, computer science, and STEM fields. By participating, Eastern students are taking meaningful steps toward identifying their future “E” and building the confidence needed to succeed beyond high school.
See the attached flyer for details.
Eastern Local Schools is proud to announce that generous grant support from the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is providing significant new opportunities for students across multiple academic and extracurricular programs. These investments will strengthen STEM education, expand competitive academic teams, and increase access to cutting-edge technology for students in grades 6–12.
Science Olympiad Teams Strengthened for 2026 Season
Thanks to the Foundation’s support, both the Middle School and High School Science Olympiad teams are preparing for a competitive 2026 season. Students will face more than 20 schools at the Southeast Regional Competition at Marietta College in March, with the top three teams in each division advancing to the State Competition in May.
Science Olympiad challenges students in 23 STEM-based events, and the grant has allowed Eastern Local to purchase building materials, laboratory equipment, safety tools, and academic resources—ensuring students have the materials they need to compete at a high level.
Esports Team Expands Student Participation
The Eastern Esports Team will use part of the funding to purchase additional gaming computers. Currently operating with six stations, the team can only support six players at a time. Adding computers will open the door for more students to participate, grow the team’s competitive presence, and engage more students in a fast-growing, technology-driven activity. These computers will also be available for instructional and academic use during the school day, maximizing the impact of the investment.
Drones in School Program Launches With New STEM Opportunities
Eastern Local Schools is also excited to launch a Drones in School team. Through this program, students will design, build, and fly FPV racing drones—gaining hands-on experience in engineering, physics, aerodynamics, problem-solving, and teamwork. This grant provides the resources needed to begin the program and offer students access to cutting-edge STEM experiences they would not otherwise have.
A Shared Commitment to Opportunity, Growth, and Student Success
Eastern Local Schools is deeply grateful to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio for believing in our students and investing in programs that broaden their educational experiences. Research and district data consistently show that Eastern students who participate in extracurricular activities—whether academic, athletic, or STEM-based—earn higher grades, maintain better attendance, and experience fewer behavior issues. These grants will enable more students to get involved, strengthening their engagement with school and providing positive pathways for growth.
These opportunities also support Eastern’s commitment to helping every student “Find Their E”—whether that means becoming Enrolled in higher education, Enlisted in military service, or Employed in a meaningful career after graduation. By expanding access to programs that build problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, technical skill, and perseverance, the Foundation’s investment directly supports our mission to expand after school opportunities and prepare our students for success beyond high school. Pictured are Eastern teachers and club leaders, as well as student ambassadors who were honored to thank the Foundation for their support at a recent reception.
