Summer Time!
The End of the 2019-2020 School Year at East High School
A Message to our Greyhound Family
Today is officially the last day of school for the 2019-2020 school year. What a year it has been!
This is not how any of us would like to have spent our last day. Our hallways are quiet, classrooms are dark, and the parking lot is empty. It’s impossible to find the words to express how much we have missed our students and colleagues this spring. We appreciate and empathize with the additional stress and work distance learning has placed on every member of your family.
Our students are always our top priority. They are the reason we are here. In times of crisis we rally around them and focus on supporting them as young people, not just as students. Currently, so much is happening in the world that is heartbreaking and worrisome. The death of George Floyd, and the protests that continue to follow, have focused a necessary spotlight on racism and inequity in our country and across all of our systems. We want to remind our students, especially our students of color, that you are valued in our school family. We need to look harder, talk more, and confront racism in all of its forms, to be the school you need us to be. As students we encourage you to listen, learn, reflect, and talk about your experiences, thoughts, fears, and ideas. Continue to support each other and be a source of strength for your friends.
Our teachers and staff feel the impact of distance from our students now more than ever. We are deeply missing the opportunity to have critical discussions in person during this time. We don't want you to feel that now that school is done you're on your own. Please don't hesitate to reach out to a principal or school counselor during the summer months if your student or family needs help. We'll keep an eye on our email and voicemail and reach out to support you in any way we can. Those teachers you have special connections with value those connections as much as you do and would love to hear from you over the summer, too.
There are also many community groups and organizations finding ways to support our students during this time, as well. We'll try to share resources as we hear of them, including an opportunity shared by the Duluth NAACP linked at the bottom of this newsletter.
We missed out on a lot of things this spring. Classroom discussions, science experiments and exploration, games, meets, contests, tournaments, plays, speeches, concerts, art work, dances, assemblies, and commencement are many of the things that make high school special. Remember during these difficult and trying times that we are, and always will be, together as a school community. We'll face whatever comes next together. We'll keep working together to make our school, community, and the world a better place for everyone. Greyhound Strong!
See you soon,
Mrs. Seboe
What About Next Year?
Decisions about how we will return to school next year will be made by the Governor and Department of Education by early August. As we head into the summer months and face an unknown fall, there are some things I want you to know.
First, no matter what school looks like in the fall, the things we value most about school are constant. We will work hard to build relationships with our students first, whether in person or virtually. Everything else we try to do and teach relies on those relationships and it will be more important than ever to focus on that before anything else.
Each year teachers also spend time getting to know where their students are academically. We know that this will be critical for next year and want to assure you we will meet them where their needs are. All of our students missed in-depth instruction this spring. Our distance learning plans were emergency plans and our goal was to guarantee access to as many students as possible. We know that if distance learning should continue, it will need to look and feel different in order to deliver engaging and robust instruction, not just maintain skills and knowledge. We will continue to work to ensure every student has access to what they need to succeed.
We will do our best to keep you informed as decisions are made. While we hope to have a full return in August, we will be pre-planning for a variety of modifications.
Click the link to for details and locations.
Report Cards and Course Verification
YOU HAVE UNTIL JUNE 19 TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR COUNSELOR TO MAKE A CHANGE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2020!
DIPLOMA TIME!
On Tuesday, June 9 from 8:00-3:30 you can come to the main doors at East to pick up your diploma and additional materials. If you are unable to pick it up, we will mail it out the following day. If you're worried about the diploma getting bent in the mail, please try to make arrangements for pick up. The following items will be in the packet:
1. Your official diploma
2. The Commencement Program
3. Your 5x7 cap and gown photo (if you came in to have one taken)
4. The Honors Program for those students who are listed in it
5. Honor Medals for our 4.0 students
6. Information about how to request transcripts
7. Your 19-20 Report Card
8. Information about fees: missing books, missing or damaged chromebooks, lunch fees
Educational Programs/Athletics/Enrichment
Tentatively:
June 15: Summer KeyZone School Age Childcare & Enrichment begins
June 15: Summer School 9-12 begins
June 15: Some MSHSL Activities will slowly scale up based on MDH and MSHSL guidance and local ability to clean facilities and maintain safety.
Duluth Community Education - online courses only
Drivers Education will offer behind the wheel following safety guidelines
Each program will send out information with specific details and steps taken that ensure the safety of staff and students.
After considering the challenges regarding COVID-19 response and the multitude of variables related to safety and financial efficiency, EXCEL will not be offered this summer.
Duluth East High School
Email: darcy.motschenbacher@isd709.org
Website: https://www.isd709.org/duluth-east
Location: 301 North 40th Avenue East, Duluth, MN, USA
Phone: 21-336-8845
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dulutheasthighschool