Eagleside Elementary
Weekly Update- January 23, 2022
Hello Eagleside Families!
Thanks for another great week! As we move towards the end of January, and into February, it looks like winter might actually decide to pay us a visit. Please help ensure your child(ren) are dressed appropriately for the weather; we do try to have outdoor recess whenever possible, and even in colder temperatures, we try to get the children outside for just a few minutes of fresh air. Also please have your child(ren) stop by the lost and found coat rack; we have lots of nice jackets and coats that need to find their way back to their original owners.
In an effort to try to better meet the needs of our community, we are going to offer our PTO/SAAC meeting twice on one day at two different times; we would love to have parents attend if at all possible; your participation, voice, and support are important. Please see below for more information.
We have a health update from Nurse Kim, and there have been some changes to our COVID testing practices, so please be sure to read through her letter. As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We hope you have a fantastic week!
Anne Warren
Principal
Hours
Students may arrive between 7:10-7:25 am. Tardy bell rings at 7:30 am.
Dismissal bell is at 2:25 pm.
Coming up at Eagleside
Mon. Jan 24-
After-school enrichment
Band
Wed. Jan. 26-
Choir 2:30
After-school enrichment-2:30
Mon. Jan. 31-
After-school enrichment
Band
PTO/SAAC--Eagleside Library 2:45 pm
PTO/SAAC--Eagleside Library 6:00 pm
Parent-Teacher Organization and School Advisory/Accountability Committee (PTO/SAAC)
At Eagleside we are fortunate to have strong community support and an active PTO. Additionally, we offer our community the opportunity to come in, learn about what we are working on at Eagleside (our focus, goals, mission/vision), and provide input on what we are doing well, areas we can continue to improve upon, and things you'd like to see take place for our students.
We would like to invite you to join us for our January meeting where we will be talking about our current PTO fundraising status, discuss how we might best utilize the funds to benefit our students, and our upcoming PTO-sponsored events. Additionally we will be taking a look at what our big goals are at Eagleside this year, discussing priorities for our district budget, and getting general input from our parents. In an effort to best meet scheduling and childcare needs, we are offering a meeting in the library right after school at 2:45 pm on Monday, January 31, and then again at 6:00 pm that evening. We hope that you will be able to join us for one of those times!
New COVID Testing Practice
From the Nurse’s Desk
Eagleside families –
Recently the district sent out new practices around COVID exclusion and return to school. These new practices are based on the recommendations put out by the CDC, CDPHE and El Paso County Public Health as well as district data from cases, testing, and spread in schools. In an attempt to help keep our kids in school, there are some changes in length of time out when excluded and in the expectations for when they are allowed to return. These new practices can be a bit confusing and are based on a series of events that must occur before safe return is possible. Please know that your nurse will work with you and your family to ensure return as quickly and safely as possible. This does mean that every situation must be looked at individually and not ever scenario will be identical. For this reason, it is imperative that you notify the nurse as soon as possible if there is an exposure either in your household or from the community so exclusion and return can be completed as safely and expediently as possible.The first goal of these new practices is to continue to prevent spread within the school and allow for in person learning, which is so important for our community. To this end, the practices focus on prevention of disease spread within school.
- Strongly encouraging all staff and students to wear a mask (whether vaccinated or not),
- Masks are required on Fort Carson per a 2021 Department of Defense memo. This includes FFC8 schools located on Fort Carson. Masks are not required at FFC8 schools located in Fountain.
- Masks are also required for all students and staff on school buses, per federal mandate.
- Masks may be required as an expectation for return to in person learning after an exposure or positive test as well, which will be situation dependent
- making rapid and PCR testing available to all students and staff. This service will be dependent on equipment (test) availability. At this time family members will not be rapid tested due to a shortage of testing kits but there are PCR tests available. An appointment must be made with the nurse if testing is desired.
- encouraging social distancing and cohorting where possible throughout the school day and during after school activities
- practicing and allowing time for proper hand hygiene frequently throughout the day and making hand sanitizer readily available
- utilizing isolation and exclusion for illness guidance per the EPCPH, CDPHE and CDC
- frequent sanitizing of all indoor spaces.
The time frame of exclusion for exposure and illness is very situation dependent. Length of exposure, symptom severity and improvement, and other criteria will be taken into careful consideration when developing a student’s exclusion and return plan. Though the same practices will be followed for each case, there are many variables that must be taken into consideration to ensure safety, so though two situations may seem from the surface to be the same, the exclusion times may be different based on the details of each situation. Due to these specifics, a plan for return must be created with the nurse. If a student returns before all criteria have been met, or if they are unable to fulfill the requirements for return (mask wearing, testing, etc.) parents will be contacted to pick their student up and additional exclusion days may be required.
The hope is that the exclusion times will be reduced from what has been required in the past and the shortest possible time frame will be assessed in each situation, however, there may be situations where 15-20 day exclusions may be required due to specifics within that situation.
In all exclusions school work will be made available to the student, and students and families will have access to the teachers during their posted office hours throughout the entire period.
Please contact the school nurse or administration if you have questions regarding these new practices. Thank you for working with us to keep all our students and staff safe and healthy.
PTO Corner
We are excited to announce that we will offering another Scholastic Book Fair in February. The theme will be the winter Olympics; please be on the lookout for more information to come!
We will be sending order forms home for our Eagleside wear. This year we will be working to offer two different shirt designs with a t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, and hoodie option. If you would like to order for multiple children in your house, you will be able to do this on one order form. Be watching for these to be coming home with your child(ren) soon!
Meet Our Mild/Moderate Needs Special Education Team!
Mrs. Kayleigh Thornton
This is my 8th year teaching at Eagleside. In my time at Eagleside, I have spent 4 years as an Autism teacher and am currently in my 4th year as a mild-moderate teacher. I have my master's in Special Education and I am currently working towards obtaining my Educational Administrators license. Outside of school, I spend time with my husband CJ and our two kids--our oldest is in kindergarten at Eagleside and our youngest is in Pre-K. We enjoy traveling, skiing, soccer, and golfing. Eagleside is Rising Strong!
Mrs. Maggie Coad
Hi there, my name is Maggie Coad and I am a mild to moderate needs special education teacher here at Eagleside. I have worked in every grade from kindergarten to seniors in high school. I started out as a paraprofessional and switched to teaching 3 years ago, and I absolutely love it! I'm originally from Chicago and moved here almost two years ago. In my spare time, I love to read, cook with my husband, play with my puppies, and crochet. One day, I would really love to become a professor and shape new teachers minds. :)
Mrs. Brittany Preston
Hi Everyone. My name is Brittany Preston. This is my 7th year in special education. Prior to being a special education teacher, I was an aide for 2 years, which gave me valuable experience and perked my interest in the field. I was born and raised in Illinois. My family and I moved to Colorado 2.5 years ago and are enjoying all of the outdoor activities and scenery that this state has to offer. In my free time, I love to read and watch TV (when time allows.) I have a 6 year old son named Jackson, a 3 year old son named Everett, and our third baby boy on the way (due in March.) I am blessed to be part of Eagleside and work beside such talented, supportive, and caring staff. As Mrs. Warren says, “Let’s continue to rise strong.”
Drop off/Pick up Safety--Crosswalks
Absence Reporting
COVID Information/Health
As we are in the midst of cold/flu season, and acknowledging that COVID is still a factor, please help support our efforts for a safe and healthy learning environment. If your child is feeling ill, please don't hesitate to reach out and contact Nurse Kim if you have any questions. Remember that we do offer rapid testing for COVID for students and families; you simply need to call and make an appointment. Please keep us notified if anyone in your household has been exposed to a positive case, has been tested for COVID, or if there is a confirmed case. Thank you for your support!
Enrollment Reminder
Playground
Clothing/Winter Gear
Please help ensure your child arrives to school with appropriate clothing each day, to include hats, gloves, and heavy jackets. We do go outside for recess, even in cold weather, and it is important that our students be adequately prepared. Thank you for your support with this!
**LOST and FOUND: We have a very large number of jackets, coats, hats, etc. in our lost and found. Please be sure to remind your child to check the lost and found as they go into the cafeteria for lunch, or feel free to stop by the front office to see if any of our homeless items belong to your child(ren). Due to the large number, we will not be able to house them all year, and we will look to donate any remaining/unclaimed items later this month.