Notes from East Hill Elementary

This page provides thoughts and commentary from Susan Meskos, the Principal of East Hill Elementary School in the West Genesee Central School District.

Dear East Hill Families,

As the holiday season approaches, I want to take a moment to wish you and your loved ones a joyful and peaceful holiday break. This is a time to celebrate, reflect, and create special memories with family and friends. On behalf of all of us at East Hill Elementary, thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child’s education. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new year, refreshed and ready for the exciting learning opportunities ahead. Happy holidays and warm wishes for a fantastic start to the new year!

Sincerely,
Susan Meskos

• December 23 - January 3 - Holiday/Winter Recess
• January 9 - Grades 3 & 4 Field Trip to the Dome
• January 13 - PTA Meeting - 6pm

Frankie Mingolelli, Amelia O'Neal, Ellie Kirk, Tobias Bradshaw, Laila Lucio, Aria Morgan, Adam Ames, Nolan Wheeler, and Hudson Clark

Marking Period 1 report cards are available on SchoolTool. You can access your student’s MP1 report card through the WEBSITE on the SchoolTool Parent Portal.

As the colder weather sets in, it often brings with it an increase in seasonal illnesses. To help keep all students and staff healthy, we ask families to monitor for certain symptoms before sending children to school.

If your child displays any of the following, please keep them home:

• Fever of 100 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours
• Vomiting or Diarrhea in the past 24 hours
• Strep Throat. Your child should be on an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school
• Bad cold with congestion or bad cough, especially if it has kept your child awake at night; and/or the cough is continuous and consistent throughout the day.
• Pink eye. Your child should be on an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school.

If your child becomes ill at school and the nurse and/or teacher feel your child is too sick to benefit from school and is contagious to classmates and staff, you will be called to pick up your child.

The cooler weather is upon us! Please keep in mind that our students will continue to go outside for recess daily. If the temperature is 20 degrees Fahrenheit or above, recess can take place outside. If the temperature is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (this includes factoring in the WINDCHILL), recess will be indoors. Students should always have appropriate clothing for the weather each day: Coat, boots, snow pants, hat, and gloves.

Also, please remember to label your child's cold-weather clothing. You will be so glad you did!

Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 school year opened on December 4, 2024 and will go until March 28, 2025.

Registration information can be found on the Central Registration webpage. If you have any questions, email the Central Registrar at centralregistrar@westgenesee.org, or call Central Registration at (315) 487-4683.

When registering, parents/guardians should be prepared to upload the following:

• Two proofs of residency (i.e. mortgage or property statement or signed lease agreement, utility bill )

• proof of age

A physical examination and proof of immunizations are also required for entry into kindergarten and a dental certificate is requested for entry into kindergarten. These examinations should be done up to one year prior to the first day of school. Children who enter kindergarten this fall must be five years of age on or before December 1, 2025.

To access the most updated health requirements click here.

Announcements about school closings, delayed openings, or early dismissal will be posted on the News Headlines section of the District website home page. They will also be broadcast on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the following stations which you can access by clicking here.

Also, ParentSquare communications software allows us to send emails, texts, and make phone calls. (Phone calls will be used for emergency situations only.)

Parent/Guardians and staff will NOT need to sign-up to receive information from schools that you are registered for in Schooltool. (You will have the option to opt-out if you choose not to receive emails, texts, and/or phone calls. To receive texts, you also have to opt-in per the instructions in the Tips article below.)

We are pleased to announce that all students enrolled at West Genesee CSD will be able to continue to receive one FREE breakfast and one FREE lunch meal per day at school.

This initiative was implemented in December 2023 and was a result of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) expanding access to the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). CEP allows eligible schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs to offer school meals at no charge to all students.

Snacks and ice cream are an additional cost.

• Chips $1.00
• Cookie $1.25
• Ice Cream $1.50
• Rice Krispie Treat $1.25
• Fruit Roll Up $1.00
• Milk $.75

For any and all information pertaining to breakfast and/or lunch, including the process of MySchoolBucks please visit the district's food service website!