THE PRIDE PRESS
Essex Elementary School Newsletter
April 3, 2020
PRINCIPAL NEWS
Dear EES Families and Staff,
Over the past several weeks I have heard the ordeal we are all enduring described as, “the new normal”. I don’t subscribe to this thinking. I believe what we are living through is so far from normal that it leaves every one of us a little breathless and more than just a little off kilter. I also believe that while we are all struggling, this pandemic is hitting some families harder than others. People have lost loved ones, some have lost their jobs and others their savings. Parents who are not educators have suddenly been thrown--without training--into the role of teaching their children. Teachers, who thrive on the interpersonal contact and the relationships they have with their students are suddenly and painfully sidelined. And, like the parents and families they serve, they are also trying to figure out how to care for their own families and balance work and home. None of this is normal. These are extraordinary times.
I also know that the time will come when we do return to what is truly normal. We will come out on the other side of this thing, and we will greet that day together, with our relationships strengthened by the common challenges that we rose and faced together. This is my primary goal for our educational community. We all need to support and encourage each other as we face this truly defining moment in our lives.
We take care of ourselves
We take care of each other
We take care of our school
Three very simple rules that have perhaps never been more important.
I wish you all good health!
Peter
SCHOOL COUNSELORS
Dear Families,
We hope you are well and finding your groove at home with your family. We know this is a difficult time and the school counselors at EES are available to provide you and your children support remotely. If you feel that in any way you and your family are struggling with basic needs like technology, housing, food, childcare, general health and/or mental health we are here to support you. If you notice you or your child is struggling emotionally during this time and/or you would like to continue to have your child work on social skills remotely at home and aren’t sure how to support them, please also reach out to the counselor that supports your child’s classroom. Below are your school counselors posted office hours as we work remotely the rest of the year. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for any reason. Our website also has updated community resources that are currently available for all families.
Be well,
Brea, Kim and Sarah
Sarah Buhl: sbuhl@ewsd.org (Mon.-Fri.)
Office Hours 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Mon.-Fri.)
Supports: Acanfora, Clark, Day, Heppner, Robbins, Seligman, Spillane, Synnott, Tracy, Yandell
Brea Heaslip: bheaslip@ewsd.org (Mon., Tues., Thurs. AM)
Office Hours 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Mon., Tues., Thurs.)
Kim Horton: khorton@ewsd.org (Mon. AM, Thurs., Fri.)
Office Hours 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Mon. AM, Thurs., Fri)
Brea and Kim work together to support the following classrooms: Allardyce, Ayers, Badore, Epstein, Little, Meehan, Pariseau, Rotach, Rowley, Thayer, Waldo
CHILD NUTRITION NEWS
HEALTH OFFICE NEWS
EPI PENS and Inhalers
Due to the Governors “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, EPI PENs, Inhalers and other items that have been left at school may not be picked up at this time. A district building access task force is currently working on developing protocols and procedures for families to retrieve personal items from the building at a date sometime in the future. Please look for information from that group regarding what those processes will be.
If you have any questions/concerns you would like to discuss please email me and I will get right back to you.
Take care,
Kimberly Bullock, BSN, RN
EES Nurse
ART
Art Videos
LEARNING CENTER NEWS
Library Books
Visit our website (www.ewsd.org/eeslibrary).
Mrs. Doble and I miss everyone very much!!
ESSEX FREE LIBRARY
Essex Free Library is Closed
As a public health precaution, the Essex Free Library is closed until further notice. However, whilst the building is closed to the public, the following library services are still there for you!
TEMPORARY LIBRARY CARDS:
If you are a resident of Essex (Town or Village) and do not have a library card, please email us, or use the link above to request a temporary card. The temporary card will give you access to the Online Resources during our closure, and can be exchanged for a permanent card once we reopen and you are able to visit us in person.
ONLINE RESOURCES:
With your library card, you have access to a variety of e-books and audiobooks through Overdrive and RB Digital. Use the link above to be taken directly to our Online Resources page, where you can log into Overdrive, RB Digital and several other resources for online courses and language learning! If you have forgotten your password, or need help signing-in, please email the Library for assistance or check our Facebook page for tutorials.
HOW TO CONTACT US:
Exciting news! We have a new website! While we are closed, please refer to this new website, our Facebook page and Front Porch Forum posts for updates. Also, although we are not onsite to answer the telephone, we are checking our emails daily, so please feel free to write to us at the email address below.
Our NEW Website: www.essexvt.org Email: essexfreelibrary@essex.org
VIRTUAL PROGRAMS FOR KIDS Essex Free Library
So much is happening on our Facebook page!!
MONDAY VIRTUAL STORYTIME: Every Monday while the Library is closed, Jasmine will post a new Storytime video from her house! She will sing a few songs, read two books, and share a flannel board song or rhyme. New videos will be posted to the Essex Free Facebook page by 10:30am on Mondays. Ages: 0-5.
TUESDAY CYBER CRAFTERNOONS: Essex Free Library LOVES to get crafty. Check our Facebook page every Tuesday afternoon for a new craft idea, using materials that you are most likely to find around your house. Step-by-step instructions with pictures or video will be provided!
WEDNESDAY EARLY LITERACY TIPS: We in the Essex Free Children's Room miss seeing our youngest patrons at BOOKS & BABIES each week! And so, while the library is closed, we will post an "Early Literacy Tip" each Wednesday, especially for babies and their caregivers.
THURSDAY FACEBOOK LEGO CHALLENGE: Join us in tackling a LEGO CHALLENGE each Thursday afternoon. We will post a building challenge, along with a picture or video of our own Lego creation. We invite you to also share a picture of your lego-building results in the comments section of our Facebook post!
FRIDAY ONLINE MUSIC WITH CAITLIN: While we are closed, the very talented Caitlin will post a video song every Friday morning by 10:30am. Tune into our Facebook page to listen to her music and sing along!
ESSEX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
We take care of each other
We take care of our school
Email: dsturgess@ewsd.org
Website: https://www.ewsd.org/EES
Location: 1 Bixby Hill Road, Essex Junction, VT, USA
Phone: (802)-878-2584