EJES News
September 14, 2018
#bestyearever
I sent out a letter to parents and included a paragraph on the morning drop off procedures. Angie, Sara and Gabby have been working very hard assuring that parents are not in the hallway and parents are following the procedure. Please be sure to do your part if you encounter a parent, especially if it is one of your parents, not following the proper drop off procedures.
The paragraph read:
I have talked with some of you about the morning drop off procedure. After reflecting on these conversations, I think it is helpful for me to share my reasons for the morning procedure with all of you. I feel it is important that we make a conscious effort and work together. I have made some adjustments to the procedure but want to keep our goal in mind. 100% safety, 100% of the time.
Please know the front office staff is following directives given by me. I have asked them to explain this process to everyone to avoid confusion. If you have a concern about the morning and/or pick up procedures, please contact me directly to discuss. The staff is simply following the directives given by me.
I know some of you are upset with the protocol that we are enforcing. The truth is I take my job very seriously and feel my very number one responsibility in my role as the principal is to assure the safety of ALL 539 children in this school and you have trusted me with this responsibility.
We have a new beautiful secure entrance to the school and we are still "tweaking" our procedures with students in mind. We have the BEST school in Michigan! I understand that some of you feel, for many different reasons, that you need to walk with your child to class. I understand there are different circumstances that may cause this to be the case. I am asking if this is the case, for whatever reason, you follow our exact protocol. I ask that you do this because the truth is we are protecting 539 precious little people.
Our Safety Procedures are as Follows: Please be Reminded of our THREE DROP OFF ZONES.
- ZONE ONE is in the 5th Street Parking Lot. The 5th street parking lot is a NO PARKING ZONE. This is a place where you will be greeted by an East Jordan Elementary Staff Member. Simply pull up to the secure spot and drop your child off. Pull forward as far as possible. This will ensure a better, smoother traffic flow. Please try and utilize the entire line/space. We ask that students only exit vehicles on the right. Also, please do not allow students to exit from the middle lane. This is a huge safety concern. Drop off on Williams Street is not permitted. This is our bus loading zone.
- ZONE TWO is on Garfield Street at the playground entrance. ZONE TWO DROP OFF should only be made from parked cars in parking spaces on Garfield Street and students should go directly to the playground.
- ZONE THREE is the main entrance on Garfield Street. This is also the main entrance for Preschool students. Parents dropping at this entrance should say goodbye in the secure main lobby.
- ZONE THREE EXCEPTION is the main entrance on Garfield Street. If your child needs to be escorted to his/her classroom, YOU MUST sign in at the office and receive a visitors badge. This is the ONLY entrance parents are permitted to enter.
If your child is eating breakfast, they should enter the doors on William Street. There is an East Jordan Elementary Staff Member present greeting and supporting students as needed. This is also where the students riding the bus enter the building.
Thank you for your understanding in this very important safety protocol.
Constitution Day
Tina McDuffie will sing the National Anthem tomorrow on the morning announcements and has put together a short script to highlight this day. Don't forget to wear Red, White, and Blue!
NWEA Testing Window
NWEA Testing Window is open for the next two weeks. Based on the number of Chromebooks assigned to each grade level we will not be assigning specific test days. Angie Nachazel will help with scheduling of the computer labs for grades k-1.
Makeup Testing is scheduled for October 1-5.
WIN Schedule/Spanish/Library/Grade Level Team Meetings
This year library and Spanish will take place one day per week during your grade level's WIN time. I will be connecting with you this week to inform you on your scheduled day. During this time students will go to Spanish/Library and teachers will attend Grade Level Team Meetings or be completing an Observational Round.
Common Planning
Homecoming Spirit Week- September 24, 2018!
Tuesday: Young Vs Old
Wednesday: College Day
Thursday: Dress Your Best Day, Picture Day!
Friday: Red and Black Day
Just a reminder we will have a tailgate-themed lunch at school on Friday and our District Wide Pep Assembly will be held at Boswell Stadium, pending weather. I will send details about the assembly in next week's update.
Jeans
Music Room Change
Starting next week, music class will be located in Room B1, which is located in the 3rd-grade wing.
Observations
Important Reminders
- Each grade level should be on the exact same schedule.
- Staff meetings run from 3:15-4:15.
- You are required to identify a common planning time one day per week during your planning time. Meeting notes /minutes should be sent to me weekly.
- If you see an email from myself or Matt Stevenson, please read ASAP. We send important information that cannot be overlooked.
- Our email protocol for parents/staff is 24 hours. Staff should aim to reply within 24 hours.
Instructional Coaches for the 2018-2019 School Year
I am excited to announce that Gwen Catt, Tina McDuffie, Marie Haley and Laura Reid to our coaching lineup.
Picture Day
All Staff Picture
Grants Opportunitites
Great Lakes Energy also has a grant opportunity as well. The information can be found at https://www.gtlakes.com/classroomgrants/.