EPE Express
East Pennsboro Elementary School Newsletter
August - September 2020: BTS Edition!
We are just one week away from the start of the 2020-2021 school year! While things will look different in some aspects, we are ready to provide a safe while educationally and emotionally nurturing experience for your children. We have implemented the A/B day schedule as part of the district's Level II plan to ensure social distancing throughout our school building. We have placed social distancing marks throughout the school building in places such as the cafeteria, playground line up, and parent pick up loop hallway. Additionally, there are sanitizing stations in all hallways of the school building. Every classroom will be equipped with sanitizer and sanitizing wipes for staff and students to utilize throughout the school day as needed. These procedures, in conjunction with all staff and students wearing masks, allow us to confidently provide a safe place for your EPE students during the COVID Pandemic. Please do not hesitate to reach out to either myself or Mr. Etter, our new EPE Assistant Principal, should you have any questions. We look forward to working with you and your children this year!
Lastly, please take a few minutes to read through the procedures included in this edition of our newsletter. These procedures were developed over the summer months to ensure we are doing our best to provide a safe school experience for students and staff.
Respectfully,
Mr. T.
EPE Character Education and Positive Behavior Recognition
EPASD Core Values Chart
Core Values Bookmark
EPE Behavior Expectations
Caring Certificate
Perseverance Certificate
Growth Mindset Certificate
Elementary COVID-19 Procedures
EPASD Face Mask Guidelines
Seesaw
First Two Remote Days
To maximize instructional time and ensure all students have an adequate understanding of Seesaw, we will be taking the first week of school to teach students how to use the Seesaw platform. As such, those students working at home during remote learning days for August 24th (Group B remote day) and 25th (Group A) will engage in live Google Meets with specialists. Please see your child’s specific time and link below.
Monday August 24 - Group B online day
Grade K - 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM
https://meet.google.com/wtu-qweg-ckd
Grade 1 - 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
https://meet.google.com/yaa-dwnm-ech
Grade 2 - 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
https://meet.google.com/cmx-xqsq-vop
Grade 3- 12:45 PM to 1:15 PM
https://meet.google.com/amr-ppcx-waj
Grade 4- 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM
https://meet.google.com/zmq-mojm-cdt
Grade 5- 2:15 PM to 2:45 PM
https://meet.google.com/hxb-hazi-jcy
Tuesday, August 25 - Group A online day
Grade K - 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM
https://meet.google.com/zac-erts-tfw
Grade 1 - 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
https://meet.google.com/fuf-ebza-thp
Grade 2 - 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
https://meet.google.com/jrb-pbff-ouk
Grade 3- 12:45 PM to 1:15 PM
https://meet.google.com/qev-qbfh-wsx
Grade 4- 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM
https://meet.google.com/dvr-brip-cri
Grade 5- 2:15 PM to 2:45 PM
Attendance
Livestream - Important Information (Please read in its entirety)
All stakeholders participating in a model of instruction that is based on livestreaming lessons must understand the following parameters:
● Most, if not all teachers, providing livestream instruction will be simultaneously
providing face-to-face instruction to other students.
● The teacher will do his/her best to ensure that the student is able to see the essential
parts of each lesson, but can’t ensure that he/she will be visible 100% of the time.
● It must be understood that the teacher’s ability to answer livestream students’
questions or provide feedback will not occur as quickly as it would in a traditional
face-to-face learning environment.
● Teachers will provide materials for each lesson through Seesaw by 8:30 AM the day of instruction. At times, teachers may need to provide physical supplies/materials that will be picked up by parents the last Friday of every month. However, it is understood that at times, during any given lesson, a teacher may need to utilize different resources other than what he / she planned to use.
These resources may not be immediately available to livestream students:
● Some lessons involve the use of physical resources (Foss Kits Science Kits; Science Labs) that may not be available to livestream students.
● Some classes, such as health and PE, may need to be provided in an online format.
Other online lessons or learning activities will be provided through Seesaw.
● If a student is enrolled in livestream learning, he/she will remain in this mode of
learning until the end of the marking period. He/she is not permitted to keep
switching between livestream and face-to-face instruction.
● Parents / Guardians are expected to review District and Building level Student
Handbooks and Student Code of Conduct with their son(s) / daughter(s). Livestream
students will be held to all expectations outlined in handbooks and student code of
conduct. Handbook and Code of Conduct can be found on each school’s website.
● Lessons will take place at the typical times in a student’s regular schedule. Your child’s teacher will share via email links for the week of August 24, 2020 by August 21. Students will have to log on and participate in lessons at the same time each day. Teachers are not
expected to or required to record and post livestream lessons.
Technology Distribution and Supplies
COVID-19 Related Information
Volunteers: To help ensure student and staff safety and mitigate the spread of germs, volunteers will be prohibited from participating in activities within the school building.
Meetings: We continue to welcome open communication and encourage parent/teacher meetings. We ask that such meetings be conducted virtually, if possible. Otherwise, all meetings will occur in the school office.
Snacks: All snacks, inclusive of birthday treats, must be individually wrapped and cannot be shared with other students. (Acceptable items include individually packaged fruit snacks, granola bar, zip lock bag of carrots, etc). Birthday cakes and cupcakes cannot be brought into the building.
Field Trips: All off campus field trips are cancelled. Students will remain on school premises at all times.
Supplies: The district has purchased personal supplies for each student (pencil, pencil boxes, glue sticks, etc). We ask that all students bring a backpack and water bottle to school each day.
Masks: All students will be provided a button to wear throughout the day. The button will serve as a barcode for ordering lunch to be scanned at the point of sale and a place to drape the mask when students are eating lunch and/or sitting at a workstation 6 feet from peers.
Breakfast Cards: All breakfast students will be given a barcode to place on their backpack. The card should remain on your child’s backpack throughout the school year. The barcode will be scanned should your child eat breakfast at school.
Supporting Students
Parent Drop-off and Pick-up Loop
In the morning, your student must be in the building by 8:50 AM to be considered on time. If tardy, students will need to report to the main office for a tardy pass.
In the afternoon, we anticipate a higher demand due to COVID. Please be patient. What normally takes 15-20 minutes may take longer due to using social distance inside the building, and some students remaining in their classrooms until their parent pulls up to the portico.
In general, the first week of the afternoon pick up loop usually takes the longest as parents learn the drive up procedures.
Lastly, if you car does not have a name hanger, you will be required to pull over at the portico and report to the main office before we can release your child at the loop. This is done as an extra security precaution for you and your child. If you need a name hanger for your car mirror, please contact our secretary, Mrs. Wadlinger at pwadlinger@epasd.org. We can make sure your child has one for the first day!
EPASD Elementary PTO News
EPASD Elementary PTO
The PTO is excited to kick off the 20-21 School Year! Please stop by at the events listed below as we show our support for our teachers and staff! Please stay connected with us on our EPASD Elementary PTO FaceBook Page or send us a message at epasdelempto@outlook.com. We are looking forward to a great year!
CHALK the WALK
Stop by the school on Tuesday, August 18th and leave a happy note or sweet drawing to welcome our teachers back to school! Chalk will be available outside the building. Please remember to wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines. Suggested time slots are listed below. If you have students in various grades, select a time that works best for you.
K and 1st grade - 11:00am -12:00pm
2nd and 3rd grade - 1:00pm - 2:00pm
4th and 5th grade - 3:00pm - 4:00pm
STUDENT CAR PARADE
Teachers are busy preparing for the new school year this week! On Wednesday, August 19th and Thursday, August 20th drive through the car drop off line at 3:30 to surprise the teachers on their way out of the building! Bring them smiles and warm wishes! Make a sign or decorate your car with balloons or streamers! Show them your smiles and shout it out loud that we LOVE our Teachers!
We are PANTHER STRONG! Show your school spirit with some East Penn masks or t-shirts. Check out the Spirit wear items below and click the link to grab some new East Penn gear! https://epelementarypto.itemorder.com/sale
EPE Construction Photos
Large Group Instruction Alcove
Large Group Instruction (LGI)
Classroom Entry
Please see our Early August EPE Express to meet our new EPE Staff Members!
General EPE Information:
Change in Routine Procedures
The classroom teachers follow routine dismissal procedures daily. Changes in those routines
should be for urgent reasons and must be accompanied by a Change of Routine Notice or a
written parental notice requesting such a change. All student verbal requests for such changes will be denied without written notice or a phone call from a parent/guardian. Class Dojo messages, Remind messages, text messages, and emails will not be accepted during the school day of a change of routine. Please have these requests into the school ahead of time so we can ensure students are where they need to be for a safe and secure dismissal. The
Change of Routine Notice can be found at the following link:
Morning Drop Off
Afternoon Dismissal
During afternoon dismissal, it is important for your student to follow their routine on a daily basis. Whether your student rides the school bus or gets picked up in the parent pick up loop, please adhere to the following procedures for Afternoon Dismissal:
Parking in the main lot in the front of the building is prohibited for parent pick up.
Parking in the van cueing area on the East side of the building is prohibited for parent pick up.
Please utilize the parent pick up loop on the West side of the building. You must have a student name hangar for your car mirror for this process. The school office can provide this to you if requested.
As an alternate, you may park at the administration building lot and walk up the the EPE sidewalk to pick up your student.
Attendance
Important Dates
August 20 - EPE Kindergarten Meet and Greet - Group A and C attends from 1:00-1:30 PM. Group B attends from 1:50-2:20 PM
August 24 - First Day of School: Group A attends Monday and Wednesday. Group B Attends Tuesday and Thursday
September 1 - Back to School Night Kindergarten and Grade 5 - 5:30-7:30
September 4 and 7 - Labor Day Holiday - No School
September 14 - Back to School Night Grade 2 - 5:30-7:30
September 15 - Back to School Night Grade 3 - 5:30-7:30
September 16 - Back to School Night Grade 1 and Grade 4 - 5:30-7:30
For all Back to School Nights, Group A and C students attend from 5:30-6:15 PM. Group B students attend 6:30-7:15 PM.
All above dates are subject to change based on current federal, state, and district guidance regarding the COVID-19 epidemic.
About us
Email: rtysarczyk@epasd.org
Website: https://www.epasd.org/
Location: 840 Panther Parkway, East Pennsboro Township, PA, USA
Phone: 717-732-0441
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EastPennsboroElem/