Happy New Year and Welcome Back!!

I would like to extend best wishes to all for a happy and healthy new year. It’s a pleasure to see all of the children, teachers and staff back at school after a long, well deserved break. We hope everyone had a fun and relaxing winter break. We are ready to get back to learning! This semester will include many important learning milestones for students, as well as numerous fun events at the school.

In February, we will be hosting our annual Pastries with Parents event. In March some of our 3rd grade students will be participating in Spring Sing. Spring will also welcome Spring Break and state testing. Keep watching the JSE Weekly Newsletter for details.

Just a reminder, the weather (and the temperature) are always changing here in East Tennessee, and children need to be dressed appropriately to come to school and to play at recess time. Coats, hats, mittens or gloves, and boots are a must on cold days! Please help us by putting your student's name on all clothing, hats, school supplies, and water bottles.

We are excited to kick on this semester and we are looking forward to a fantastic 2022 at JSE!!

Mrs. Easterly

Adventure Club currently has openings for k-3 students. Application forms are available in the front office or Adventure Club. Please contact Misty Cable, adventure club director with any questions.

misty.cable@maryville-schools.org or 865-681-8210

The Tennessee General Assembly recently passed new legislation during a special session regarding how schools and government agencies handle COVID. Guidance from the Tennessee Department of Health stemming from the new legislation is as follows:

• Government agencies in Tennessee may not require isolation of cases or quarantine of contacts. We can recommend/suggest/encourage/educate only.
• Schools may not exclude kids specifically due to a COVID diagnosis/test result. However, they can continue existing policies to keep symptomatic ill children out of school. Public Health cannot be part of enforcing that policy.

• We will end issuing quarantine letters for household contacts and close contacts. When families contact the clinic to notify of a student's close contact or household contact, the school nurse will share that the TDH recommends but does not require quarantine. MCS will continue to honor parent/guardian choice for household contacts and close contacts.
• We will not automatically issue 10-day isolation for positive cases. The school nurse will share the TDH guidance to isolate, but not require it. MCS will continue to provide medical excuses for positive cases whose parent/guardian elects to follow 10-day isolation.
• Students and staff exhibiting symptoms will continue to be excluded from school just as we would for the flu. Refer to our procedures for Illness for additional guidance. LINK HERE