East Elementary

A huge thanks to our PTO and the many volunteers who made our North Pole event a huge success. You all go above and beyond to make our school a better place. We truly appreciate your hard word and dedication.

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

• Just a reminder for parent drop off - make sure the crosswalk is clear at all times. When you are given the go ahead to pull forward, the first car will pull to the stop and the second car will stop behind the crosswalk. If you park in the parking lot and walk your child up to the crosswalk, please wait with them until they are given the go ahead to cross.

• We continue to get faster and faster at parent pick up! If you pick up using the two lanes out front, please be in line no later than 3:15.

• Take a moment to wash your child's backpack, coat, lunch box, etc. before heading back to school.

• We will be outside for recess as much as possible during the winter months. Children tend to warm up fast on the playground and then shed all of their gear. Please label all of your child's clothing items, like hats, gloves, coats, etc. Also, please stop by and check our lost and found!

• If you change your child’s normal mode of transportation for the day, please let the office know before 2:00 PM by calling the school or emailing your child's teacher and our school office: skelly@jr2mail.org, cwills@jr2mail.org, or rshumock@jr2mail.org

• As we start to think about second semester, it's a good idea to send in a restock of supplies for your child. Pencils, erasers, and dry erase markers are typically needed. Some students are also in need of new headphones or earbuds. If you are unsure, please contact your child's teacher.

Now is the time to order a yearbook! Deadline to order is January 10 and there are two ways to get yours! For $16, order online at https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/2565944/East-Elementary-School/, and type East Elementary in Jackson Missouri. You can also order using the paper order form here.

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

“Is success about learning - or proving you’re smart?”

That’s the question Dr. Carol S. Dweck sets out to answer in her research into mindsets. What she has found is that people who believe a person’s intelligence and abilities are fixed traits have what is referred to as a “fixed mindset”, and those who believe that intelligence and abilities can be expanded on and developed through hard work and continuous learning have what is called a “growth mindset”. Click this link to watch a short video that describes the impact each of the mindsets can have on student achievement.

Having watched the video several years ago and then reading Dr. Dweck’s book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, I recognize that when I was growing up, I very much had a fixed mindset. It affected my approach to everything - school, sports, and extracurricular activities such as learning to play the piano. The thought of appearing less than “the best” kept me from pushing myself to reach my full potential in all of those areas because of my fear of making a mistake, which in my mind was “failing”.

Now, one of my favorite things to say to students is, “I love mistakes. They give us the best chance to learn!” There’s also a poster in my classroom I point to all the time that says “Life is about making mistakes…and learning from them.” And I truly believe those things to be true because I have experienced first-hand what can happen when you embrace that attitude.

You can help foster a growth mindset in your student by recognizing his/her effort, asking her what he/she learned from her mistake and encouraging her to try again, and reminding him/her to add “yet” anytime they say “I can’t do it.” That 3 letter word is pretty powerful!

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

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

Our December Winners for Got Caught Reading are:

Olivia Dillingham - Kindergarten

Daisy Bailey - 1st Grade

Judah Wayland - 2nd Grade

Harper Dillingham - 3rd Grade

Liam Jordan - 4th Grade

Power Packs is a program provided to many families each week. The packs include food items to help give students and their family nutritious, 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

East families, if you would like to help our library grow by joining the Birthday Book Club, you can find more information here: bit.ly/eastbbc

December Birthday Book Club Members

Kason Ngo

Kendall Hartwell

Emma Greaser

Laney Hardesty

Maliah Zimmerman

Zoey Nguyen

Ella Thompson

Dylan Hartwell

Briar Turner

Charlie Koehler

Aubree Statler

Jack Wood

Weston Sturms

Camden Sturms

June Birthday Book Club Members

Isaac Mahnken

Jonathan Rainey

Ana Wihelm

Kenzie Clark

Eleanor Jones

Hadley Ventura

True Patterson-Nagel

Ben McCall

Riley Greaser

Owen Obergoenner

Courtney Grieshop

Byron Sumner

Collin Maxwell

Madyson Blessing

January 1 - Happy New Year!

January 2-3 - No Classes - Staff Work Days

January 6 - Students Return

January 10 - Yearbook Orders Due

January 13 - 2nd Quarter Grades on Parent Portal

January 20 - No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Email: eweadon@jackson.k12.mo.us
Website: www.jacksonr2schools.com/East-Elementary-school/
Location: 455 North Lacey Street, Jackson, MO, USA
Phone: 573-243-5271
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EastElementaryJR2/