East High Street Family Flyer
Week of October 25th and November 1st
From the Principal's Desk...
Good Afternoon, East High Families!
We have a lot of great things happening this week at East High! Please review the information below and reach out if you have any questions.
Kari Bittinger, East High Street Principal
kari_bittinger@etownschools.org
717-361-0099
Upcoming Important Dates
- AM Kindergarten hours - 8:50 AM to 10:25 AM
- PM Kindergarten hours - 10:55 AM to 12:35 PM
- Grades 1-2 hours - 8:50 AM to 12:35 PM
Walkathon on Monday, October 25th!
In looking at the weather forecast for the week (which does not look great!) we are moving forward with the Walkathon on Monday, October 25th. This is a school only event. Only those individuals who volunteered for this event may attend.
Please make sure your child(ren) are dressed for the outdoor weather and are wearing sneakers to school!
Red Ribbon Week - October 25-29th
Dress Up Guidelines for Friday, 10/29/21:
1. Students/Staff cannot cover their head or face and must wear their approved face mask/shield
2. No violent accessories are allowed.
3. The costume must be school appropriate
4. The costume cannot disrupt learning.
Security Drills Planned K-12
One of our top priorities at the Elizabethtown Area School District continues to be your child’s safety. Section 1517 of the Pennsylvania School Code requires every School District to conduct a School Security Drill within the first 90 days of the school year.
We conduct multiple, age-appropriate drills (i.e. fire, severe weather, security) to better prepare your child so she/he will be confident in knowing how to respond in the event of a real emergency. Through age-appropriate training and practicing for many different types of emergencies, your child will be as prepared as possible for any situation that may arise during the school day.
During the week of October 25th through 29th, we will be conducting age-appropriate Security Drills in each of our facilities. However, these safety drills will not have a large impact on our school day.
We wanted to make you, as parents/guardians, aware of these upcoming drills as students may wish to discuss this with you.
For security purposes, we will not disclose the date/time/location of the drills other than to say they will occur the week of October 25th through 29th. We simply want you to be aware in the event your child comes home from school that day and shares information about the drill. In the event of a real emergency, we will be sure to share all applicable and appropriate information with parents/guardians in as timely of a manner as possible.
Again, the safety of our students is our top priority. Please review the importance of safety and security drills with your child at home. If you have any questions or concerns about our safety preparations, feel free to contact Rich Toth, Safety and Security Coordinator via email at richard_toth@etownschools.org.
First Grade Zones of Regulation Information
Second Grade Zones of Regulation Information
Book Fair - Week of November 1st!
Please review the schedule below for the day your child's classroom will be attending the book fair.
Because of the success of past book fairs, every child will receive a free book during the fall book fair!
If you would like your student to be able to make a purchase at the book fair, payment can be accepted in the following ways. Please keep in mind that sales tax will be added to all purchases.
1. Send in cash in an envelope marked with the student’s name.
2. Send in a check made out to “East High PTO.”
3. Create a Scholastic eWallet online.
From the PTO...
If you are attending in person, please be aware you must wear a face covering when in the building. If you cannot attend in person or are not comfortable wearing a mask, please attend virtually. The Zoom link, agenda and minutes will be shared via School Messenger and Seesaw on Wednesday, 11/3.
Survey to Opt Out Your Child from District Transportation
We need your help! With the historic and ongoing bus driver shortage across the country, including here at Elizabethtown, we are seeking to improve route efficiencies to reduce how many students are on a bus and travel time for students. As such, we are surveying our families as to their ongoing transportation needs. Please complete this survey by the end of October.
Our goal is to identify students that EASD has assigned to a bus that do not intend to ride the bus. In doing so, we will be better positioned to reduce unnecessary stops and seat assignments. Therefore, we respectfully ask parents or guardians that DO NOT expect to have their student(s) use district transportation during the 2021-2022 school year to complete the form below. This information is critical as we try to work through this bus rider shortage.
We recognize that situations may change, so if you "opt-out" of transportation at this time and later have a need for transportation, you simply need to contact transportation@etownschools.org and give us a few days to make sure a seat and stop are ready for your student(s). Please complete a separate survey for each student.
Home Testing Option (Rapid Antigen Test) for Asymptomatic Close Contacts only!
Several constituents had reached out to District Administration regarding the high costs of Covid Tests at regional facilities for asymptomatic students who have been placed in quarantine as close contacts. The constituents requested that the District review the alternative option of "over the counter" take-home tests for students to be able to return to school in a more efficient /cost-effective manner. The health services team met with our school physician on the effectiveness of the Home Testing Option (Rapid Antigen Test) and how the District would verify results to enable students who are asymptomatic AND yield a negative test to return to school. We are pleased to announce that effective Monday, September 27, 2021, the District will begin accepting the results of an over-the-counter at-home test (Rapid Antigen Test) for asymptomatic close contacts only. To exercise this option, a photograph, which includes the student's name, date of the test, and the visual result, would need to be uploaded via email/text to the specific building nurse or the appropriate District designated Covid Point of Contact (POC). Please feel free to reach out directly to these individuals if you are interested in this option.
Bainbridge, East High Street, Mill Road & Rheems Elementary Schools
Nurse: 717-537-8594
Covid POC: 717-537-8379
Does your child need an individual counseling session with the School Counselor?
Is your child...
very sad, confused, angry, or worried.
experiencing severe behavior changes.
having difficulty dealing with family changes or situations.
stating something is bothering him/her to the point of distraction or intense anxiety
dealing with a loss of a family member or friend
experiencing stressors at home that are affecting school performance or self-concept
If you would like to notify the School Counselor, Mrs. Engebretson, that you think an individual appointment is needed, click on the link below. Once your child has been seen by the School Counselor, she will contact you to follow up about future support options.
This form SHOULD NOT be used for concerns about abuse, self harm, or suicide ideation. For those situations call any of the following:
Safe to Say: 1-844-723-2729; www.safe2saypa.org; use the Safe2Say mobile app
Police: 911
Crisis Intervention: 717-394-2631
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255, https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741, https://www.crisistextline.org/
Upcoming Spirit Days
Do you have questions about Leader in Me? Please visit the site below for more information about the program!
You can also visit East High's Leadership Day website from the 2020-2021 school year for more information on how Leader in Me is used in our school! Click on the link below for more information.
East High Street Procedures for the 2021-2022 school year!
Please contact the office if you have any questions.
Changes in transportation or schedule
Please note: If you have a transportation change after 9:00 AM, please only call the main office and DO NOT email the teacher or the attendance email. We cannot guarantee the email will be received throughout the day.
We send children home the way they are assigned so any changes in transportation need to be communicated in a timely manner.
Reporting your Child Absent
- Call the East High office (717-361-0099) and press option 7. Please state your name, your child’s name, teacher’s name and reason for absence.
- Email the attendance email and provide your name, your child’s name, teacher’s name and reason for absence.
- East High Families: EH_Attendance@etownschools.org
Educational Trips for the 2021-2022 School Year
Information about the Form:
- The completed form must be received in the building principal's office at least five (5) days in advance of the tour or trip.
- Check the status of your request on EASD's online Community Portal on the attendance link. You are able to check future absences.
- Forms that are received with less than 5 days notice may be coded as illegal absences
Parent/Guardian Technology Center
EASD students use electronic devices to access online resources for classroom instruction. Students in grades K-2 use iPads and Chromebooks while students in grades 3-12 use Chromebooks. Upon registering in the district, student technology accounts are created automatically so they are able to log in to district devices and access online instructional resources. Please read the information in the Technology Center to learn more about the student devices, technology accounts and troubleshooting measures.
Parents are encouraged to create their own technology accounts in our school systems to access their student's demographic information, digital report cards, and daily classroom instruction and grades.
For more specific information, such as where to find your student's Schoology Parent Access code please email techsupport@etownschools.org.