East China School District News

December 18 - PLC Delayed Start

December 20 - Half Day All Students

December 23 - January 3 - Christmas Recess - No School

January 6 - Classes Resume

January 8 - PLC Delayed Start

January 20 - No School (Professional Development Day)

January 22 - PLC Delayed Start

January 24 - Half Day All Students - End of Marking Period

The holiday season serves as a natural reminder to pause, reflect, and reset. It’s a season for looking inward, recognizing the good in ourselves, and finding gratitude for the many blessings in our lives. But it is also a time to celebrate the warmth and generosity we share with one another as a community.

This month, our schools have been filled with festive celebrations. From band and choir concerts to special performances in memory of a beloved teacher, our students and staff have embraced the spirit of giving, coming together to create moments of joy. Across our district, gift and food drives, giving trees, and countless acts of kindness have taken place—often without fanfare but always with deep love and a genuine desire to help. These efforts show the strength of our commitment to supporting one another.

It’s in these moments that the bedrock of our community is forged. The care and compassion we show for one another, especially during this time of year, is what makes our district and our towns so special. Together, we create an environment where our students not only thrive academically but also grow into thoughtful, compassionate individuals.

As we close out the year and prepare for the well-deserved holiday break, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of you—students, staff, families, and community members. Your unwavering support and kindness are the heart of our school district, and I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of this community.

On behalf of all of us in the district, I wish you and your loved ones a joyful, peaceful, and restful Christmas season. May the coming year bring continued success, happiness, and unity to our community.

With warmest wishes,

Suzanne Cybulla

Superintendent, East China Schools

St. Clair Middle School is in its second year of implementing ELA and math intervention. These two positions work closely with the dedicated teachers in the ELA and Math department at SCMS to help make a positive impact on student learning by providing targeted support to those who need extra time and help. The interventionists use a combination of “push-in” and “pull-out” strategies to address individual learning needs effectively.

In the push-in model, the interventionists join regular classrooms to work with students during lessons. They collaborate with teachers to support small groups or individual students, ensuring that learners can keep pace with the curriculum while receiving the personalized attention they need. For students who require more focused intervention, the pull-out approach allows them to step out of their regular class for a short period to work intensively in a smaller setting. These sessions are tailored to specific skill gaps, whether it’s mastering fractions in math or improving reading fluency and comprehension in ELA.

By providing this flexible, student-centered support, the interventionists ensure that every student at SCMS has the opportunity to grow academically and work towards mastery. This blend of in-class and specialized instruction demonstrates SCMS’s commitment to meeting students where they are and helping them thrive.

At the start of the second card marking, SCMS launched Saints Culture, a collaborative
initiative between our PTO and school staff aimed at fostering a fun, positive, and
supportive environment for all. Rooted in the principles of the Positivity Project, this
program emphasizes character development and celebrates students who exemplify
positive traits through the Culture Cash Student Recognition Program.

Staff members recognize students by awarding Culture Cash for actions such as showing
respect, making responsible choices, performing acts of kindness, or contributing to a
positive school culture. Students can redeem their Culture Cash for treats, trinkets,
classroom incentives, and monthly prize drawings.
Through Saints Culture, staff and students work together to inspire positivity, build
character, and celebrate the amazing qualities that make our school community shine.

By making Saints Culture a cornerstone of our school’s identity, we are creating an
environment where positivity and character thrive!

Thank You, Lori Hannon, Art Teacher at St. Clair Middle School, for the wonderful selection of art! The drawings of the Halloween characters are amazing.

Each school will have a chance for an Art Wall at Central Office with it changing out each month.

Superintendent Suzanne Cybulla can be reached at scybulla@ecsd.us or by calling the East China School District at 810.676.1018.

Email: info@ecsd.us
Website: www.eastchinaschools.org
Phone: 810-676-1000
Facebook: facebook.com/EastChinaSchools