Eagle Elementary
Friday, August 27, 2021
Filling The Fountain
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Harvesting Crops
Dear Eagle Families
It is hard to believe that we are finishing up our fourth week of school and by next week's end, we will have nearly a full five weeks under out belt before Labor Day weekend!
Curriculum "Night" - Yesterday, our team shared their pre-recorded "Curriculum Night" presentations with you in order to communicate and share insight to the inner workings of your child's classroom. Although we are all disappointed by not having the opportunity to collectively gather and interact, I hope the messages were able to inform and give you a glimpse to the work occurring in Eagle.
I'm thankful that we had the opportunity to interact and meet in person at the start of school for the Back-to-School/Meet and Greet Night in late July. The unfortunate spike in CoVID-19 cases around the county and state (more than 5,000 just yesterday, for example) forced us to proactively avoid a second round of adult-to-adult spread that could jeopardize our staffing to keep school opening. Your child’s teacher serves the learning needs of your most prized young family members, and linkage with that classroom teacher should not be felt in deficit because of last week’s alteration of the Curriculum Night event. Please reach out as you see fit. If you cannot wait until our fall parent conference meetings, schedule something in advance of it. Teachers are among the busiest professionals anywhere, and they will be at the ready for parent conferences in a couple of months. But they are always keen to speak with you, jump on a ZOOM/TEAMS call, or visit briefly with you.
I'm providing the link to yesterday's message I sent with presentations from some of our other Team Eagle members.
A couple other items to note:
Jog-a-thon (JAT) is September 22! We are excited for the return of this event on September 22nd. Details will unfold to families in early September.
Have a great weekend!
Andrew
School Pictures - September 8
https://cp-school-portraits.hhimagehost.com/V2/Home/LoginConsumer?EK=170729
COVID Policy for the 2021-22 school year:
Cripe Photography has instituted a "No Contact" policy for school photos. Our photographers will not be in contact with the students, therefore will not be fixing hair, collars or other clothing. Photographers will try their best to have the student fix what is needed.
If you have any questions or concerns please fill out our Customer Service Contact Form
Upcoming Events and Important Information
September 6 - Labor Day - No School
September 8 - School Picture Day
September 9 - Camp Tecumseh 4th grade field trip, Jog A Thon Kick off at Lunch for Pre K- 3rd (4th will be another date)
September 15 -Papa John's Dining Night, Use Code ISE004
September 22 - Jog-a-thon
October 5 - End of Quarter 1
October 11-15 - Fall Break
October 26 - Regular school day w/ Family/student conferences (PM)
October 27 - E-Day & Family/Student Conferences
November 11 - Veterans Day
November 24-26 - Thanksgiving Break
December 17 - End of Quarter 2/Semester 1
December 20-31 - Winter Break
January 17 - MLK Jr Day - No School
February 21-25 - Mid Winter Break - No School
FAQ
Q: How are you addressing CoVID mitigation in the school this year? Do you think kids should wear masks? Why aren’t all adults required to wear masks?
A: The ZCS Board of Trustees decided that all individuals under the age of 12 will be masked until further notice. As a district, we strongly recommend those 12 and older who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask. This is a fluid situation, so guidance is subject to change if circumstances change. The School Board and our district leadership team will keep the community informed should there be a change to our current guidelines. in the meantime, increased ventilation/filtration, cleaning, hand washing, etc... will continue as practiced last school year.
Q: With elementary aged students wearing masks, is contact tracing still occurring?
A: Yes, contact tracing will still occur when applicable. Decisions for quarantine and isolation come from our State and Local Health Departments. We, as an organization, are legally bound by the State to conduct close contact tracing as defined by the health departments. The criteria set forth by the health departments also applies to organizations other than schools as well.
Q: What is the criteria for contact tracing?
A: Contact tracing occurs for those individuals within 6’ for at least 15 minutes (per day) of a C-19 positive person. If close contacts have prior C-19 Diagnosis, consultation will be made with Boone County Health Department to determine if quarantine is warranted. Currently, individuals who have been positive within the past 90 days do not need to quarantine as long as they are asymptomatic.
A contact-traced individual without proof of vaccination or prior C19 diagnosis will quarantine for 14 days.
However, the contact-traced individual may get a C-19 (PCR) test on day 5 or after exposure for an earlier return.
- If the test is negative, the individual may return on Day 8 if symptom free.
- If positive, a 10 day isolation begins from the date of testing or onset of symptoms.
Q: If the school quarantines my child due to close contact to another student or staff member that has tested positive, does that mean they have or will contract CoVID?
A: To be quarantined does not mean the individual has COVID. Rather, it means they were exposed and should take precautionary measures to help prevent potential spread. By not doing so, we run the risk of even more positive cases throughout the school and our community at large.
Q: What about symptoms? What symptoms must we watch and keep our child from school?
A: Every morning, families should take note of if their child is showing symptoms of illness. We know this can be complicated, frustrating, and inconvenient as we strive to keep our learning environments as healthy as possible. Fevers, sore throats, new onset of intense headache, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, coughing or shortness of breath, or new loss of taste or smell are the common symptoms and students will be required (per health department mandates) to quarantine for ten days from the start of symptoms. Student may return to school/activities sooner with a physician document stating they may return OR a negative PCR CoVID test. (This is regardless of vaccination status)
Q: If one child is home with symptoms, must my other children stay home as well?
A: Siblings of ill students will need to be picked up if at school. Siblings will need to follow quarantine guidelines.
Q: Why masks?
A: I recognize there is a debate over this. I hear it daily, and our Board of Trustees determines whether masks are in place or not.
We do know that masks do not guarantee that an individual won’t be exposed, but health departments, CDC, and majority of health organizations do report that it helps reduce exposure and assists with reducing spread. Our ZCS Board of Trustees enacted this cautionary measure to assist us in exposing less students, families, and staff to help prevent us from needing to close school doors due to viral spread.
More information regarding COVID protocols is located here on the ZCS website.
Counselor's Corner
The Second Step program teaches skills in the following four areas:
1. Skills for Learning: Students gain skills to help themselves learn, including how
to focus their attention, listen carefully, use self-talk to stay on task, and be
assertive when asking for help with schoolwork.
2. Empathy: Students learn to identify and understand their own and others’
feelings. Students also learn how to take another’s perspective and how to
show compassion.
3. Emotion Management: Students learn specific skills for calming down when
experiencing strong feelings, such as anxiety or anger.
4. Problem Solving: Students learn a process for solving problems with others in a
positive way.
Second Step Lessons often include Home Links which are simple, fun activities for you and your child to complete together. They are a great way for you to understand what your child is learning and for your child to share what he or she has learned during the Second Step lesson at school.
This week’s Lessons are as follows:
Kindy Lesson #3 Following Directions - Home Links:
1st Grade Lesson #3 Following Directions - Home Links:
2nd Grade Lesson #3 Using Self-Talk - Home Links:
3rd Grade Lesson #3 Being Assertive - Home Links:
4th Grade Lesson #3 Being Assertive - Home Links:
An Update from The Eagle PTO:
September 15 -Papa John's Dining Night, Use Code ISE004
Thank you to El Toro for their generous donation of over $250 from our dining night last Tuesday, and a big thanks to all of the Eagle families who gave them a busy night.
The student directory will be available soon. The system may be down temporarily for the update. You will receive an email with login information when it is complete. If you originally chose not to be included in the directory when registering your child for school but have changed your mind, please email andreakpayne@sbcglobal.net.
The Eagle Express Mail Service is returning this school year! For new families to Eagle or those not familiar with this program, Eagle Elementary has an in-house mail system staffed by our 2nd grade students. Students, parents, even grandparents can write letters to be delivered to other students. Letters will be sorted and delivered to the classroom mailboxes every other Friday beginning September 10. Each year we organize a stamp contest where every student has the opportunity to submit an entry form. Students should have received their entry form earlier this week and entries are due by Wednesday September 1st. The winning design will be the new stamp for the Eagle Express this school year. Be on the lookout!
Kroger is generous with community donations to our school! Please sign up to have your Kroger card associated with our school; you only have to sign up once to have your shopping benefit Eagle Elementary.
https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards
Follow our PTO Facebook page for helpful information and reminders! Please sign up for the PTO Remind texts to stay in-the-know on events for your kiddos and our dining nights. Your participation makes it all work; thank you!
Text @eaglepto to 81010
VOLUNTEER PROCEDURES
We will be welcoming instruction-based visitors/volunteers to our campus per the Eagle Start Guide. In addition to our background check requirements, guests to campus will also be required to complete a C-19 Waiver. Access to campus is subject to change. Note that at this time, we will not have lunchtime visitors or classroom party volunteers.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ALL GUEST TO THE BUILDING
During the school day, all visitors must enter via the front door and sign-in at the front office. Visitors need to be prepared to present a government issued photo ID which will be scanned against the National Sex Offender Registry. All visitors will be issued a visitor badge/tag to be worn inside the building at all times.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR VOLUNTEERS
During the school day, all volunteers are expected to sign in at the front office. Prior to the volunteer opportunity, all volunteers must sign a Non-disclosure Acknowledgement Form and have successfully completed a Full Criminal History Background Check. Necessary background check paperwork is available on the ZCS website at the Volunteers/BRAVO link and should be submitted at least 10 days prior to the intended volunteer date. Volunteers must also view the state mandated confidentiality/bullying video, provided on the Volunteer/BRAVO website. The volunteer will pay the fee* for the full background check which will expire after 5 years. The link to apply for the full background check can be accessed on the Volunteers/BRAVO link on the ZCS main webpage. For more information, contact the Volunteer/BRAVO Coordinator.
COVID WAVIER
The linked document is the Covid Volunteer Waiver, which is new this year. This form must be filled out by every guest who enters our building. This is NOT a one-time form as it must be filled out every time a guest visits our school. You may print and bring this to the office with you or complete a copy when you arrive.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
See the link to learn more about local events:
GROW/ Child Care Options
Bridge and Early Start Spanish are optional, fee based programs that “bridge” the time between the 7:50-8:00 arrival time for 1st-4th grade students, and the start of the instructional day for Kindergarten students, which is 8:50-9:00.
Before and After-School Care (BAC) is available for all Eagle students. Before school care begins at 6:45am and After school extends childcare from 2:30 to 6:00pm.
Eagle Rec offers fee based programs in a variety of interest areas, which typically start after school has already begun.
Contact Us!
Email: eagleoffice@zcs.k12.in.us
Website: https://eag.zcs.k12.in.us/
Location: 350 North 6th Street, Zionsville, IN, USA
Phone: 317-873-1234