Dear EGRMS Families,

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

Sincerely,
Jeff Dykhouse
Principal

Updates 

• We received inquiries regarding the Kent County Health Department’s (KCHD) change to the definition of close contact at the K-8th grade level. Attached is the communication from KCHD who locally governs and regulates the definition of close contact, the quarantine process and timeline, and the guidelines public schools must operate under with regard to COVID-19. Please note, the KCHD may change this definition at any time. 

• We received inquiries asking when the mask requirement will be reduced. While we are extremely pleased with the transmission rates being reduced, our state and local guidelines still require all students and staff to be masked in order for schools to provide in-person instruction. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to follow all health and safety guidelines for Kent County.

• 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.

• Please continue to complete the Student Screener at home each morning before sending your child(ren) to school. 

• Please encourage your student to be mindful of bringing a mask to school each day. 

• Please note that the CDC and the Kent County Health Department advises that anyone traveling to areas of the United States or the world that have high rates of COVID-19 consider a 10-day quarantine upon return. Information on travel can be found here and this is a link to a map which is updated regularly to show COVID hotspots.

   

Course requests for current 8th grade students (elective choices) must be submitted to the High School Counseling Office by Thursday, April 1st, no joke.

•  Please use this link to order both food & milk: online form 

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.  

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: 

Marianna Spitzley, 6th Grade
Rylan Rice, 6th Grade
Cameron Walker, 6th Grade

Registration for 2021-2022 Preschool and Child Care opened on March 1st, for current or previously enrolled families, and on, March 15th, for new families.  Below are links to a Virtual Open House video, the Child Care Informational Flyer and the Preschool Informational flyer. Information can also be found on the district website on the Enrollment page.

Virtual Open House video
Child Care Info Flyer
Preschool Info flyer

Nominate a Teacher for Excellence in Teaching and Nicholas Awards

Now is the time to nominate an outstanding teacher for one of our annual awards!

The East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching Award and the James and Georgia Nicholas Endowed for a Teacher of Math, Science, or Technology Award recognize and encourage superior professional effort to improve instruction and to cultivate the continuance of educational excellence in the East Grand Rapids Public Schools. 

Students, parents, alumni, community members and employees of the East Grand Rapids Public Schools can nominate a teacher. Any teacher with 3 years of experience in the district may be nominated for these awards. The deadline for nomination submission is April 30.

Nominate a teacher for the Excellence in Teaching Award

Nominate a teacher for the James and Georgia Nicholas Award for a teacher of math, science or technology

• 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.