East Early Childhood Center

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas with family and friends, and we wish you all a Happy New Year! As we prepare for a great start to 2025, please check out the following:

• We have a new system for signing kiddos in after 8:00 and 12:00 if they are coming in late. We need to make sure that all students are accounted for. Please remember if your child is coming in late this may interfere with your child's ability to receive breakfast and lunch. Please arrive on time. Just a reminder students coming in late will be marked Tardy each time they arrive late to their classrooms. This is effecting their attendance in class. Thank you for your help with this matter!

• Just a reminder for parent drop off and pick up-make sure the bus lane is clear at all times. Please walk your child to the teachers at the door to ensure they get in the door safely!

• Take a moment to wash your child's backpack, coat, lunch box, etc. to start the new year off right!

• We will head outside to recess as much as possible during the winter months. Children tend to warm up fast on some days on the playground and then shed all of their gear. Please label all of your child's clothing items, like hats, gloves, coats, etc.
  

• If you change your child’s normal mode of transportation for the day, please let the office know before 10:00 for AM students and 2:00 for PM students by calling the school office at 573-243-5347.

• As we start to think about second semester, it's a good idea to send in a restock of supplies for your child. Please ask your child's teacher if any additional supplies are needed.

• Please be sure to send coats, hats, gloves with your child. We will be going out to recess everyday as long as the "real feel" is 32 or higher. Please label all of the items hats, gloves, coats, etc.

Staying Healthy Reminders:

• It is very important to remind your child/children to wash their hands frequently and cough into their elbows.

• Make sure your child/children are getting plenty of sleep and staying hydrated with water (don’t forget to wash your child’s water bottle daily with hot water and soap).

• MOST IMPORTANTLY: Since we have been on break and are returning to school, please remember to keep your child home until they are a full 24 hours free of vomiting, diarrhea, and/or fever. For fever, they need to be 24 hours free of fever without the use of medication like tylenol/motrin.

Thank you for your attention to this matter! We want everyone to stay healthy, and we don't want to spread ANY sickness!

Thanks Everyone!

Nurse Tosha Borgfield, BSN, RN - tborgfield@jr2mail.org

Nurse Theresa Stearns, RN - tstearns@jr2mail.org

Please check out these items from our Lost and Found at school or email your child's teacher to see if we have a missing item. We will continue to bring these items out at certain days for everyone to view at arrival, dismissal, and party days. We'd love to get these coats and jackets back to the students they belong to!

Little Indians and Extended Day Payment Policy:

• Fees are charged on a monthly basis with no part-time rates available.

• Tuition is due on the 1st of the month.

• Payment deadline is the 10th of each month.

• Charges for the upcoming month will be posted on EZ ChildTrack. We don't mail paper invoices.

• Any status changes or dropping from the program must be done two weeks in advance and completed through the Extended Day Program Coordinator (program Director). Parents will be responsible for payment for the two-week notification.

If the district does not receive payment for the month, the child will be dismissed from the program(s) on the 10th of the following month.

Don't forget to check your EZ Child Track for fees for the following programs... Little Indians and Extended Day, and After School Kid's Club! It's easy to forget to make these payments. They are due by the 1st of the month, and a late fee is charged after the 10th. Thank you for keeping up to date with payments!

Balances for Lunch and Breakfast will be posted on your child's Infinite Campus account.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU! We are excited about the new equipment and activities that have been taking place due to our successful fundraising this fall! Stay tuned for pictures of these items in our next newsletter!

We are putting the finishing touches on our last and most anticipated Fundraising event in Early Childhood. We are looking forward to spending time with our families on Thursday, March 13th in the evening! More information will be out in the February Newsletter. We know we are planning for the following events to take place during this fundraiser...

-An Online Auction

-Adult Night Out BINGO Opportunity (Age 18+)

--Food will be available to purchase

if you are willing to assist with items for our online auction or would like to sponsor a game of BINGO we'd LOVE any extra help we can get! Please reach out and let us know! Thank you!

Come and find out more at our next PTO Meeting on Tuesday, January 14th @ 5:30!

We just purchased the following items for our school...

1) An adapted swing for our playground

2) A trio ensemble of musical instruments for our playground

3) Mallets for our musical equipment on our small playground

4) Two additional rugs for classrooms that have this need

5) Sponsoring a special day for our staff in December

6) Adding some pampering supplies to the staff restroom

As you know, the Jackson R-2 School District has begun utilizing a weapons detection system for various events. This safety screening technology will add an extra layer of support for the safety and security of students, staff, and all who attend events. The program will expand over time throughout the JR2 District over the next few months as training for staff continues.

To prepare ahead of the use of the system in our schools, families are encouraged to help reduce the number of “false alerts” on everyday items, while none are prohibited, using these guidelines will ensure a quick entry for all. The following items (and possibly others not listed) could alert the system:

1. Metal eyeglasses cases

2. Metal tins or containers

3. Laptops or items with metal hinges

4. Metal water bottles or containers

If you enter a building where the weapons detection system is utilized, you will walk through an open gate system that uses sensor technology to detect weapons. The system can identify dangerous items in bags, pockets, or on a person. If the system is alerted you may have to go through a secondary screening. Trained staff members and a school resource officer will be present to assist or answer any questions. Please note, that medical-grade metal devices will not set off the system or interfere with screening.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work together to add another layer of security for the safety of students, staff, and the community.

The Jackson R-2 Leadership Team

On January 11, the SEMO Redhawks women's and men's basketball teams take on Morehead State at the Show Me Center. A few of our students will be announcing the lineup! For a free kid's ticket, scan the code below!

• 1:30 PM Women's Basketball vs. Morehead State
• 3:45 PM Men's Basketball vs Morehead State

Power Packs is a program provided to many families each week that include food items that help give students and their family nutritious and kid-friendly foods to help get them through the weekend. Some food items include cereal, canned soups, oatmeal, macaroni and cheese, and other similar items. By clicking this link, filling out the information requested, and submitting the form - your child can begin receiving these packs each Friday. For further questions, contact Morgan Hoffman, school social worker at 573-243-5271.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4PpsBDs1bjBtBUKR3V1SYpQWbfSfWnh5lroSTOF-9ooA0jQ/viewform

Our Pre Kindergarten Graduation for students that will be going to Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year is planned for May 15th from 6:30-8:00 in the Jackson High School Event Center. More information to follow closer to May.

December 23 - January 3 Winter Break (NO SCHOOL)

January 1-Happy New Year!

January6- School Resumes

January 14-PTO Meeting @ 5:30

January 20-Martin Luther King Jr. Day (NO SCHOOL)

Email: buchtman@jr2mail.org
Location: 455 North Lacey Street, Jackson, MO, USA
Phone: 573-243-5347
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069484596673&scrlybrkr=e64db0a4