Easley Weekly Update
Everything You Need to Know for the coming week.
January 8, 2023
a note from the principal
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had an enjoyable winter intersession and is ready to get back in the swing of things!
After two years of restricted visitation, Durham Public Schools has updated our procedures for visiting elementary schools during operational hours. These changes have been made on you and your child’s behalf to ensure that safety, relationships, equity, independence, and instructional time remain our priorities. These changes across the district will begin this next week. Not much changes for our families as Easley as we have taken advantage of the flexibility the district has provided and have been allowing parents to visit and volunteer since the start of the school year. Below are a few reminders regarding visiting and volunteering at Easley:
Morning Arrival:
Parents are permitted to walk with their child to their classroom as needed; however, we highly encourage parents to utilize the carline for as the parking lot becomes very busy and congested when a lot of parents park and walk-in, slowing down the arrival process. If you plan on walking your child to class, please enter and exit the school through the main entrance and sign-in and out in the front office. This will allow monitoring of all parents entering the building and reporting to classrooms.
Volunteer Opportunities
Each teacher has numerous volunteer opportunities throughout the school year. All volunteers must be on the approved DPS volunteer list. Parents/guardians should reach out to teachers to inquire about specific volunteer opportunities. Below are a few examples of volunteer opportunities:
Reading buddies
Field trip chaperone
PTA events
Clerical work for teachers
Media Center support
As needed by the teacher
Lunch Visits
Parents may come and eat lunch with their child during the assigned lunch time. Please be sure to sign-in and out in the front office and meet your child in the cafeteria. We have designated tables for students to and parents to each lunch.
During the Instructional Day
In order to protect instructional time, we ask that parents not stop by for a visit during the instructional day, with the exception of a lunch visit. Teachers and students are busy with the instructional day and having visitors coming and going will be a distraction. There are other opportunities for families to visit and be an involved community member.
SIT Meeting
Our next School Improvement Team meeting is tomorrow, Monday, January 9th at 5:30 PM in the media center.
Growing Together/Redistricting: A Special Message from Your Easley SIT and PTA Leadership
Dear Easley parents,
As representatives of Easley’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and School Improvement Team (SIT), we have heard from many of you regarding questions about the Durham Public School District’s redistricting plan called Growing Together – which will be implemented in the 2024-2025 school year. The Easley base zone will be changing and some Easley families will be impacted.
Click here to find more information from the district about the plan.
Click here to check your future school boundaries by entering your address.
The district has been in the process of developing assignment rules for implementing the new boundaries in the 2024-2025 school year. As you may be aware, the district announced the proposed rules will be posted on the district website on January 9th, proposed to the School Board in a work session on January 12th and likely voted on by the School Board in a special meeting on January 19th. You can read the district’s message here.
We will be sending a survey to collect your questions after the district releases the proposed assignment rules on January 9th. The survey will go out on January 10th and will close on noon of January 12th in order for us to share feedback with the district and board ahead of the work session later that evening.
PTA and SIT will be hosting a community forum on January 18th at 6 pm at Easley. We have invited school board and district representatives to the meeting in hopes they can help answer your questions. We will provide you an update closer to the meeting on who will be attending. We will be working to get your questions from the survey answered at or ahead of the January 18th meeting.
Summary of Dates
January 9th - District posts proposed rules on website
January 10th – Survey goes to Easley parents with feedback due by noon on January 12th
January 12th – School Board reviews proposed rules during working session – Easley survey results will be shared with board and district representatives
January 18th – PTA and SIT host community forum about Growing Together at Easley at 6 pm
January 19th – School Board votes on proposed rules during a special meeting
Best wishes,
Erin Medlyn, Easley Elementary PTA Vice President
Sara Pacholke, Easley Elementary SIT Co-Chair
PTA Updates
Next meeting:
Our next PTA meeting is Monday, January 9th at 6:30 pm in Easley’s media center. You can also join via Zoom. The link will be in the email and posted on Bloomz.
January 23rd-26th: Easley Spirit Week at Elmo's
Elmo's Dinner (776 9th St in Durham) will be donating a portion of its profits to Easley for ALL meals eaten in house between 7 am and 3 pm January 23rd -26th. Make plans to stop by if you are able and encourage others to do so as well. Take out orders are not eligible for the donation to Easley.
Apex Remix:
Mark your calendars for our largest fundraiser of the year –Apex Remix on February 13th-24th. Students will raise money by securing pledges for performing fitness moves –while learning leadership lessons in the classroom. More information is coming soon.
Concessions at Duke Basketball:
Do you want to help support our school while bonding with other Easley families, teachers, and staff? We still have openings to work concessions at some upcoming Duke basketball games. Easley PTA receives a portion of the sales and parking is provided for volunteers. More information and a sign-up can be found here. If you have any questions please contact Sara Harrel at sara.harrel@gmail.com.
Lunch Information
Please click on this links below for more information about setting up a student account and/or applying for free or reduced lunch.
Setting up a student account and adding funds.
Free/reduced lunch application
Volunteer Opportunities
We are so excited to have volunteers back in the building! Your child's classroom teacher will inform you of volunteer opportunities. In order to serve as a volunteer you must complete the registration form and background check. Please view the links below for more information.
Volunteering in Durham Public Schools
School Nurse Contact Info
Hannah Donahue, 919-667-5544
2022-2023 PTA Meetings at 6:30 PM in the Media Center
December 5
January 9
February 6
March 6
April 3
May 1
June 5
Save the Date PTA Community Events
February 13- 24 - Apex Remix Fundraiser
April 21 - Spring family event
Easley Spirit Wear
Spirit wear Store. Get all your Easley gear here.
Meet the Easley Staff
Please click here to learn more about the Easley teachers and staff.
