The Primary Connection

Wow, what an incredible first week of Kindergarten and first grade it has been! Watching our little ones embark on this new educational journey has been nothing short of heartwarming and exciting.

Our Kindergarteners have impressed us with their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. They are quickly adapting to their new routines and classroom environment, demonstrating remarkable growth in just one short week. It's clear that they are eager to soak up all the knowledge and experiences this year has in store for them.

As for our first graders, they've returned with a renewed sense of confidence and maturity. It's truly remarkable to see how much they've grown since their Kindergarten days.

I owe a huge thanks to our dedicated teachers and staff who have worked tirelessly to create a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment for our children. Their passion and commitment are the driving forces behind this successful first week.

Let's carry this positive momentum forward as we embark on an exciting year of growth, learning, and fun. Here's to many more weeks filled with discovery and laughter as our students continue to shine in Kindergarten and first grade. Together, we're building the foundation for a bright future!

Mrs. Spaulding

Principal

September 14th - Picture Day

September 15th - PTO Fundraiser Kick-off

September 25th - Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 PM

September 30th - Title I Information Meeting, 9:00 AM

October 3rd - PTO Meeting, 4:00 PM

Safety is a top priority in Edwardsburg Public Schools, and conducting regular safety drills is essential to ensure the well-being of students and staff in various emergency situations. These specific drills are required to be conducted and reported annually to the local emergency manager.

In Michigan, we are requited to do the following drills, the number of times we do them are included in parantheses:

• Fire Drill (5) - Fire drills are required on a regular basis to ensure that students and staff know how to evacuate the building quickly and safely in the event of a fire. Drills are held at various times in the day to ensure the students know how to evacuate from different locations in the building.
• Lockdown Drill (3) - Lockdown drills prepare students and staff for responding to threats inside or near the school, such as an intruder. There are typically two types of lockdowns: "soft" lockdowns, where students remain in their classrooms with the doors locked, and "hard" lockdowns, where students hide out of sight. The procedures can vary based on the specific threat.
• Tornado Drill (2) - In regions prone to tornadoes or severe weather may conduct tornado drills. These drills teach students and staff how to seek shelter in designated areas of the school, away from windows and doors.

At the Primary, we do our best to prepare out students for all of the above situations. Safety drills are important for preparing children for emergencies, but they can be intimidating or frightening. As a parent, you can assist us by explaining the different types of drills that we have and that we do them in order to make sure we can keep them safe.

I will repeat this numerous times throughout the school year, please label your child's personal items. This includes coats, sweaters, water bottles, lunch boxes, etc. I already have a small collection of items that have been "lost" within the building.

Thank you for your continued patience as we teach our students how to traverse arrival and dismissal. I know it takes an extended period of time to get all of the students out to the cones and loaded into the cars in the afternoon. I promise, it does get faster once the Kindergarten students fully understand the procedure.

If you are interested in volunteering in our dismissal line, please complete a volunteer form and contact the office to find out how you can assist us.

The EPS Transportation department has a great responsibility ensuring the safety of children who ride our buses. Last minute changes to a student’s transportation schedule increases the chance that a child may not end up going to the proper and intended location. Last minute changes are highly discouraged!

Any change to a child’s normal dismissal routine add a great deal of responsibility to the office staff, teachers, and drivers and result in unnecessary interruptions to classroom instruction. Please send a note to your child’s teacher or call the school office before 2:30 p.m. when a change is necessary. Change requests after 2:30 p.m. may not be honored. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Your child is allowed to bring birthday treats to school as a part of celebrating their big day. It is preferred that all treats are store bought. Please make arrangements with your child's classroom teacher if you want to send a treat for the children to have. Your child's teacher will be able to tell you if there are any allergies in the classroom.

As we work to ensure a safe and healthy school community, we ask that visitors please remain in the vestibule between the two sets of doors at our main entrance and use the buzzer/intercom system to communicate with the front office for assistance.

All volunteers must have a background check completed annually. If you would like to volunteer, please complete the attached volunteer form and submit it along with a picture of your driver's license or state ID.

Please understand that we do not have volunteers in the classrooms during the first few weeks of September. Our teachers need this time with their students to establish classroom routines and expectations. Volunteer schedules will come directly from the Teacher. Our teachers will reach out when they are ready for assistance in the classroom.

If your child requires medication during the school day, a written order from a physician, as well as a parent signature, is required in order for school staff to administer it. Since district policy prohibits students from carrying medications, all medication must be dropped off by an adult. Please make a point to drop off all student medications and accompanying paperwork before September 1. Doing this prior to the first day of school will help relieve congestion at the front door and ensure our health aides are prepared for your child’s needs. If you have other questions, please feel free to email our district nurse, Michaela Settle at msettle@goeddies.com or our building health aide, Kellie Moser at kmoser@goeddies.com.

I love animals, but not all of our students do! According to our district policy, pets and animals are not allowed on Edwardsburg Schools property during the school day or at events (including weekends) without express written permission or the pet is a support animal. Thank you for your understanding.

Edwardsburg Primary is home to our district's Kindergarten and 1st Grade Students. Located in the village of Edwardsburg, Michigan, we offer classes that are traditional, gender specific, looping and multi-age. There is something for everyone at Edwardsburg Primary.

Office Hours: 7:45 - 4:15PM

(Regular office hours begin September 5, 2023)

Email: tspaulding@goeddies.com
Website: www.edwardsburgpublicschools.org
Location: 69100 Section Street, Edwardsburg, MI, USA
Phone: 269-663-1037
Facebook: facebook.com/edwardsburgpublicschools