January 2025 EMSD Newsletter

• Our New Digital Backpack
• Medical Detectives at Glenview
• 2025-26 School District Calendar
• Hillcrest Partners Up with John Deere
• A New Therapy Dog at Bowlesburg and Glenview
• Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Updates To The Rooms App
• Parent University Offerings
• School Breakfast and Lunch Menus

• January/February Calendar of Events

Do you ever wonder where the flier about the community event went that your child brought home from school? Does your child sometimes leave information in the bottom of their locker? Now there's no need to track it down or ask why they didn't bring it home because all of our fliers and community events information will be posted in our new Digital Backpack. The new Digital Backpack creates a place for community events to be shared in one convenient place on our website. Click the image below or go to our website to check out all the fun things happening in and around our community!

This semester, our 8th graders transformed into real-life medical detectives with the direction of their teacher, Rachael Pauwels! They dissected sheep brains, learning about the intricate parts of the human brain. This hands-on experience is part of our new Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Medical Detectives course, where students apply scientific principles to solve medical mysteries. This class didn’t just focus on animal mysteries. Our 8th grade medical detectives also interviewed mock patients, including teachers and administrators! By using their knowledge of diseases and symptoms, they diagnosed conditions like strep throat, measles, Cholera, and Lyme disease. This engaging activity was not only fun but also introduced students to exciting careers in the medical field!

At the December Board of Education meeting, the East Moline School District formally adopted the school calendar for the 2025-26 school year. We try to align the major breaks with United Township High School to help families with planning. Our first day of school is on Thursday, August 14th and our last day of school will be Thursday, May 28th. You can click on the calendar picture below to get a printable document.

Important Dates for 2025-26:

• August 14: 1st Day of School
• October 6 - 13: Fall Break
• November 26 - 18: Thanksgiving Break
• December 22 - January 2: Holiday Break
• March 16 - 20: Spring Break
• May 28: Last Day of School

A unique partnership is blossoming at Hillcrest Elementary, bringing exciting new opportunities to students and staff. Hillcrest Elementary is a school full of caring educators that provides a supportive and loving environment for a diverse student body. Hillcrest Elementary faces specific challenges meeting the needs of such a diverse student body. But Hillcrest now has something many schools don’t have — the focused attention of a John Deere partnership.

John Deere Harvester Works was drawn to Hillcrest's commitment to fostering a love of learning despite facing significant socioeconomic challenges. The partnership will focus on providing STEM enrichment activities, mentoring opportunities, and resources to support the school. John Deere has invested time and money in schools through its Inspire program for more than a decade and has had a very successful partnership with Ridgewood Elementary for the last few years. John Deere employees work with each school to support their needs and offer opportunities for educational enrichment that might not be available otherwise.

According to Dr. Kristin Humphries, Superintendent of the East Moline School District, "We are excited for the opportunities that the John Deere Inspire Program will provide Hillcrest Elementary students. As community partners, we appreciate their support of our students because we know it will positively improve educational outcomes and enhance the work that goes on inside our classrooms." Cami Tapscott, principal of Hillcrest Elementary, added, "It shows our educators and families that John Deere sees us, cares about our success, and is invested in our future."

Hillcrest families should look for exciting information about the partnership this winter and spring as they build connections between staff, students and the employees at John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline.

Bowlesburg and Glenview have a new therapy dog! Maple, a Golden Retriever, is now on the job and actively working with some of our students. Ms. Reschke, one of our new occupational therapists, has a certified therapy dog and is now bringing Maple with her as she works with our students. Maple has made a big impact already and you can see the the difference with our students. Therapy dogs are more than just adorable, furry companions; they have a profound impact on the school environment. Their presence alone can reduce stress and anxiety, creating a calmer atmosphere conducive to learning.

Therapy dogs like Maple offer unconditional love and support, fostering emotional well-being and building confidence in students who may struggle with social-emotional challenges. Therapy dogs can help improve literacy skills by providing non-judgmental listeners for young readers, and their presence can even encourage positive social interactions. Beyond the academic and emotional benefits, therapy dogs bring a sense of joy and connection to the school community, reminding us all of the power of compassion and companionship. We are very excited to have Maple in our schools and look forward to seeing the impact she will make with our students!

Get ready for simplified navigation with our updated East Moline Schools Mobile App, launching soon!

Say goodbye to confusion and hello to seamless navigation at your fingertips! Whether you're exploring classes, events, or time-sensitive updates, the revamped app will make it easier than ever to stay connected and informed.

Download the East Moline Public Schools app from the iOS or Google Play Store. If you have already downloaded the app, stay tuned for more details and prepare to unlock a world of convenience right from your mobile device!

Check out the wide variety of offerings for the 2024-2025 school year from authors, speakers, and other experts by clicking the image below. These are learning opportunities for parents/guardians are sponsored by the Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) and offered virtually via Zoom.

Jan 06 - School Resumes

Jan 10 - End of 2nd qtr

Jan 20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)

Jan 30 - PM Parent Teacher Conferences

Jan 31 - AM Parent Teacher Conferences (No Student Attendance)