Dear EGRMS Families,

Please click on the East logo for this week's personal video message from Mr. Dykhouse.

Sincerely,
Jeff Dykhouse
Principal

COVID-19- Update 

To keep you informed and be as transparent as possible, the district developed two EGRPS COVID-19 summary tables that list weekly and cumulative positive cases.  The summaries can be found here.  These tables are updated weekly.  Please reach out to Jeff Dykhouse if you have any additional questions.

If your family travelled outside of the State of Michigan during winter break, please consider the following guidelines from the Kent County Health Department: 
 

There are no current restrictions for students who travel domestically or internationally. However, it would be advisable that anyone travelling to areas of the United States or the world that have high rates of COVID-19 consider a 10-day quarantine upon return. Please use the link below for a map which is updated regularly to show COVID hotspots around the world. 
        • COVID Risk Levels Dashboard, Brown School of Public Health

NWEA MAP Testing

For the next two weeks, our students will be MAP testing on Tuesday and Thursday.  If your student is a virtual learner and you have yet to select a time and date for assessment, please fill-out this form. 

• This week we will be assessing reading during social studies classes.

• Next week, we will be assessing mathematics during science classes. 

• Copies of Study Lists are available in the office for those who would like to practice.
• Round 1 will take place during 5th hour on January 21st.
• If your student is fully virtual, a Zoom link was sent to students this morning.  Please ask your student to look for an email from Ms. Park.

A few things to remember for lunch:

• Previously ordered sack lunches will be served.  Please use this link to order both food & milk: online form 
• Students may request a lunch available for pick up on days not present for in-person learning.  Please use the online order form included above and make arrangements for pick up with Erin Nausieda via email: enausieda@egrps.org
• Traditional, hot lunch will not be served 
• Microwaves will NOT be available for student use
• Please view the announcement from the Department of Agriculture concerning EGRPS food service here.

Students are encouraged to bring water bottles as the office is not able to provide cups to students.   Drinking fountains are NOT accessible due to COVID protocol, however, the water bottle filling station is available for student use as it is a touch free system.  

Mask Update

Please encourage your student to be mindful of bringing a mask to school each day.  As we get further into the year, more and more students are forgetting and stopping by the office to request a new mask.  While we understand masks break, it is the expectation that each family will regularly provide masks for their children. 

Parents/guardians must conduct a daily health screener on each of their children prior to them attending school or a school-related event. The student screener is a simple checklist helping parents screen their child for COVID-19 symptoms and close contact. The form (which may be found here) also provides direction for next steps if symptoms or close contact concerns exist.

Thank you for keeping our school a safe place!

Students are issued “Way to Go” cards for demonstrating Respect, Responsibility or Personal Best by doing the right thing!  As students receive these cards, they are placed in the container located in the Main Office. Every Friday, names are drawn and announced during the afternoon announcements.  Each student selected, has the opportunity to pick a prize from the prize basket simply as a way to say “Thanks, we appreciate and recognize you!” 
 

This week's winners are:  

Chloe Diehm, 6th Grade
Ethan Pfeiffle, 7th Grade
Caleb Rapoport, 6th Grade

New, Improved Paraeducator Program Through Money Raised from One East 

Thanks to Foundation donors and last summer’s One East campaign, EGRPS is bringing back paraeducator support to our teachers, but in a new and improved delivery model. The restructured Elementary Intervention Paraeducator model will benefit students even more because it is focused solely on direct student instruction rather than general classroom support. The new model retains some of its K-1 focus, yet has the flexibility to meet specific math and literacy needs of students from kindergarten through fifth grade. Read all about it on the Foundation’s website.

• For more upcoming events, please be sure to check with your child and reference the MS Calendar which may be found here.
• EGRMS Daily Announcements may be found here.