East China School District News
Together We Can!
Contact Information
Email: info@ecsd.us
Website: www.ecsd.us
Location: 1585 Meisner Road, East China, MI, USA
Phone: 810-676-1000
Facebook: facebook.com/EastChinaSchools
For the week of Monday, June 10, 2019
From the Desk of Superintendent Suzanne Cybulla
Upcoming Events at East China Schools
- June 11 Half Day for HS/MS students
- June 12 Half Day for all students
- June 13 Half Day for all students - Last day for students
- June 24 Board of Education meeting 6 pm
- August 21 Pine River & Gearing Host Eddy Welcome Events 4 pm
- August 22 5th Grade Academy Open House @ SCMS 6 pm
- August 27 All School Open House @ Pine River 4 pm
- August 28 All School Open House @ Gearing 4 pm
A message from the Superintendent
As we come to the last days of the 2018-19 school year and look ahead to the 2019-20 school year, many changes are on the horizon for the East China School District. The difficult decision was made to close Eddy Elementary after years of declining enrollment and a move to right-size our district. Consolidating Eddy Elementary will provide our district the much needed savings to close the budget deficit for school year 2019-20. This closure will also allow us to provide additional educational resources for the students as they consolidate into our other buildings including a more centralized support staff and improved opportunities for teachers to collaborate.
To help ease the transition St. Clair Middle School hosted a 5th grade Welcome Event for Eddy, Gearing and Pine River students on June 6th. This was an opportunity for students to tour the building, meet the principal and assistant principal and ask questions about their new school. There are pictures of this event included below.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NA35sumi2oMc9j6D9
SCMS will also be hosting a 5th Grade Academy Open House on August 22nd at 6 pm.
Gearing Elementary and Pine River Elementary are welcoming Eddy students to their schools during an Open House on August 21st at 4 pm. This will be a great opportunity for new students to tour the building, meet the principal and meet the teaching staff. This welcome event is in addition to the Open Houses that will be held at Pine River Elementary on August 27th at 4 pm and Gearing Elementary on August 28th at 4 pm.
The last few days of school are full of activities, field days and last assignments and they go by so quickly. Take time to savor the moments.
Suzanne
Board Member Focus
After graduating from Central Michigan University in 1972 with a Bachelors degree in Education, I interviewed for a teaching position at SCHS. Unfortunately, I did not get the position. The weekend of Labor Day, I received a call from the principal at Holy Cross High School (now Cardinal Mooney) looking for a business teacher. I accepted the position and taught there for six years. I also met my husband two weeks after coming to Marine City and was married the following year.
I have two children—Michael and Kristyn and five wonderful grandchildren. In 1980, I was hired by the East China School District and taught numerous business classes until I retired in 2012. I was involved in numerous activities and organizations during my tenure at MCHS. Three of those 32 years were divided between Marine City and St. Clair high schools. In 1995, I decided to return to college to earn my Masters degree in Teaching. During my tenure at East China School District, I worked with outstanding colleagues and administrators. The highlight was working with the students and watching their growth in my classroom. I enjoyed working with the students outside the classroom as well —whether it was organizing prom, graduation, the all-night party, or watching them perform in the school plays, concerts, or sporting events.
In 2014, I decided to run for school board. I felt with my knowledge of the district, that I could hopefully make a difference. This district shaped not only my professional life, but my personal life as well. As a member of the board, I will continue to advocate for our students.
Congratulations 2019 Graduates
MCHS's CYD Scholarship Recipient
Click on the link below to read the full story of MCHS graduate Brittany Simpson.
We Say Farewell to Theo V Eddy Elementary
Welcome Events Planned
Welcome events for former Eddy students coming to Gearing and Pine River Elementary Schools will be held on August 21st at 4:00 p.m. at each of these schools. In addition, an all school Open House is scheduled for August 27, 2019 at Pine River Elementary and August 28, 2019 at Gearing Elementary, both events will begin at 4:00 p.m.
ST. Clair Middle School News
The 5th graders from Eddy, Gearing, and Pine River Elementary Schools will attend St. Clair Middle School starting with the 2019-20 school year. These students will be in a separate, dedicated wing of the middle school. They will have their own lunch and recess schedule independent of the 6-8 graders. They will continue to operate on an “elementary” schedule with self-contained classrooms. The playground structure at Eddy will be moved to the middle school to provide the 5th graders with free play during recess time. Age appropriate books and reading materials from the elementary media centers will also be relocated to the middle school for use by the 5th graders.
5th grade students will be provided with the opportunity to participate in the Positivity Project at the middle school. The Positivity Project supports social/emotional learning, confidence building, leadership development, and positive peer relationships.
On June 6th St. Clair Middle School welcomed the incoming 5th graders from Eddy, Gearing, and Pine River Elementary Schools. An orientation was held for students and parents to tour the building, meet the administrators, and ask questions about the transition. The link to the photos is below.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NA35sumi2oMc9j6D9
The orientation event will be followed by a 5th Grade Academy Open House which will be held on August 22, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.
8th Grade Students Experience SC4
All 8th grade students at St. Clair Middle School got to experience college life on the campus of St. Clair County Community College on May 16th. Chaperoned by teachers and parents, the students got a tour of the campus, met instructors, were informed on degrees and occupations, and got information about what college life is all about. This half day field trip, called Design4theFuture, was made possible by our local St. Clair County Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) and was a wonderful experience for our students.
Positivity Project Assembly
Huge kudos once again to 8th grade students Madeline Card, Katelynn Jalosky, and Emily Domagalski for leading our assembly. The choir did and amazing job singing, all three grade level bands played, our Green Team animal got his name, the 6th grade won our yearly school spirit race, and we had an amazing guest speaker from the US Marine Corp. All the focus was around taking initiative courage, and stepping up as a leader. These are character strengths are all built within The Positivty Project and it was a great message for our students.