East Elementary Newsletter

For many, the #1 theme of November is being THANKFUL — and we couldn’t agree more! The PTO is all about supporting the amazing teachers and students at East, but we’re also incredibly grateful for YOU — our parents! Your support, time, and participation make all the difference.

Thanks to your generosity, our Online Auction last month raised $14,606 to benefit East Elementary students and classrooms!

We’ll keep doing our best to serve our school community, and we hope you’ll keep showing up and being part of the fun.

Next PTO Meeting: Tuesday, November 11th at 5:30 PM - Childcare provided!

Some kids dream of being YouTubers. Many students look up to YouTubers and TikTok stars. Help your child understand what’s private and what’s not by watching this video about YouTube. Talk about fame, privacy, and healthy boundaries online using these conversation starters. Learn more about TikTok here and explore these tips.

In case you missed it, check out these videos on how to keep your kid safe online, specifically with these games: Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite.

To view all videos and tips, please make sure to be logged in to Parent ProTech.

The Jackson R-2 School District provides Christmas presents for families in need through the annual Hope 4 Christmas program. Over 400 students in our schools benefit from this program that helps families provide items for Christmas. Each school building participates by collecting items as part of our community service mission. East Elementary will collect laundry items for this event. If you or your family can help by providing items such as laundry detergent or dryer sheets, please drop them off at school. Thank you for helping students in need have HOPE for Christmas!

The 3rd Grade Veterans Day Music Concert is November 6th at 6:00 pm. Please see details below.

• Doors open at 5:30. Please help your child arrive by no later than 5:40 pm in order to get lined up to walk onto the risers. We will be meeting in the 2nd grade commons area.
• All performers are invited to dress in their best red, white and blue or America-themed attire. When planning the wardrobe, please be mindful of a few things so students can be the most comfortable and safe as they perform the show they have worked very hard on.
• The gym can get very warm with all of our musicians and audience members in one space together.
• There will be some dance/movement involved in our performance so please be sure students wear shoes they can easily and safely move in, on and off the risers.

- Mrs. Sides

Please see details about upcoming Spirit Singers below.

Please see the updated call time for the Tidings & Traditions Concert. This is to accommodate practicing our mass choir pieces in the space at Connection Point.

Our Kindergarten and 2nd grade concerts are coming up soon! More information will be sent out closer to time.

2nd grade families - check out the Piano Club information. Only 10 spots are available.

Our October Winners for Got Caught Reading are:

K - Sutton Humphrey

1st - Weston Sturms

2nd - Avery Chaplin

3rd - Breyden Myer

4th - Aria Proffer-Klein

East families, if you would like to help our library grow by joining the Birthday Book Club, you can find more information here: bit.ly/eastbbc

October Birthday Book Club

Nolan Small

Charlotte Altenthal

Ava Seiler

Ellie Clair Nabors

Elliott Wison

Chase Foeste

Aria Mahnken

Ely Miller

Maren Rainey

November is here! You have all helped keep our school healthy by monitoring for illness at home and keeping your children home if they are sick. With November comes cold days and the need to bundle up more. Please send your child/children to school with coats and hats. We have a limited supply of extra coats and can’t promise to have one if your child forgets theirs. If your child's coat is missing, have them check the lost and found. Putting your child’s name in their coat can help keep it from getting lost.

The school nurse office is in need of boys and girls pants (active pants/leggings are great; please NO jeans)- size 6-8. If you have any you can donate we would appreciate it!!!

Don’t forget to clean those water bottles daily (hot water and soap) to prevent strep infection and continue to WASH YOUR HANDS (that is the BEST way to prevent infection)!!!

LICE!!!!! We wanted to make sure everyone was aware that IF you would receive a notice, the dreaded lice letter, in your child's backpack to please check their head. Furthermore, it is also a good idea to periodically check your child for head lice (the earlier lice is discovered the easier it is to get rid of!). What if your child has it? Please alert the nurses, Tosha and Theresa, so we can help! We want to prevent the spread of lice, and we can only do that if we are aware that your child has it. Click Here for JR2’s protocol on head lice.

Please continue to screen your child before school, and keep your child home if they are sick. Remember, our policy is 24 hours free of vomiting, diarrhea, and fever (without fever-reducing medication in 24 hours). Other symptoms need to be improved in 24 hours before your child can return. Please do not give Motrin/Tylenol to your child before school if they are not feeling well because it can mask a fever (the medication takes the fever away so it is unknown whether your child has a fever 4-6 hours after taking the medication). Jackson R2 considers a temperature of 100.1 or higher as a fever.

Tosha Borgfield, BSN, RN

tborgfield@jr2mail.org

Theresa Stearns, RN

tstearns@jr2mail.org

We are excited to host the annual Winter Kids Craft Fair for students at East Elementary. Students will be able to bring crafts created at home to sell at school on the morning of Friday, December 5, and Friday, December 12. Sales will run from 7:25 - 7:45, and students will need to be here at 7:15 am on those days to set up their booth.

We will host another sale in the spring (March24). That event will run with the same guidelines as this winter sale (ie: quarters only, must be student made, etc). You don't have to participate in this sale to be able to do the one in the spring. Students can sign up for both, either or neither sale. Sign ups for the spring sale will be sent home closer to the date. The spring craft fair runs at night during the parent teacher conferences and will take place at the same time as the art show this year.

This event is completely optional and is open to all students K-4 who attend East Elementary. All profits made will go entirely to the student who made the craft. If your child would like to participate in this, please fill out this form and return it to Mrs. Job by November 14, 2025. All students whose crafts are approved will have a ‘booth’ set up at all of the mornings that the sale will run.

As a reminder with the holidays coming up Artsonia is a great resource for handmade quality items made by your little artist! Your child's artwork on a tea-towel, coffee mug, set of stationary cards, Christmas ornament, etc. is perfect for anyone on your gift list! Be sure to check it out and remember East Elementary gets 20% of whatever you spend! Happy shopping and as always thank you so much for your support!

Happy Fall!

It’s been a wonderful month in counseling, and I feel like we’re really settling into a great rhythm. In the younger grades, we’ve been learning about healthy friendships, how to recognize conflict, and what to do or who to go to when it happens. In the older grades, our focus has been on bullying and the 3 R’s: Recognize, Report, and Refuse. I’ve truly appreciated the thoughtful participation and empathy students have shown during these conversations.

Please continue to talk with your children about building positive friendships and identifying safe adults they can turn to. Wishing everyone a wonderful November!

It's yearbook time, order yours today! There are two ways to order. CLICK HERE to order online or order using the paper order form here. Please print, complete, and return to school along with $16 (cash or check). The deadline to order is January 31.

After School Kids’ Club (ASKC):

Jackson R-2 School District offers After School Kids’ Club for JR2 students in preschool-6th grade. The program operates Monday–Friday after school until 5:45 PM, whenever school is in session. ASKC is a safe, fun, and engaging childcare program where students can work on homework (if needed) and play at stations that build social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills! Cost: $8 per day for the first child. $7 per day for each additional child.

Full Day Kids’ Club (FDKC):

Jackson R-2 School District offers Full Day Kids’ Club for JR2 students in preschool- 6th grade. The program operates most days when school is NOT in session. FDKC is a safe, fun, and engaging childcare program where students play at stations that build social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills!

The next FDKC program operates at South Elementary, Friday, October 31, 2025 and Monday, November 3, 2025, 7:30 am - 5:45 pm.

Cost: $30 per day for the first child. $25 per day for each additional child.

For more details or to schedule a day, visit:

Kids’ Club Website

Dates to remember:

Thanksgiving Break- FDKC November 24th, 25th, 26th at South Elementary 7:30 am - 5:45 pm.

Christmas Break-FDKC December 22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th at South Elementary 7:30 am - 5:45 pm.

November 2 - Daylight Saving Time Ends

November 3 - No Classes - Professional Development Day

November 4 - Election Day

November 5 - Picture Retake Day and Class Pictures

November 6 - 3rd Grade Music Concert 6:00 pm

November 7 - Veterans Day Student Assembly 9:00 am

November 11 - Veterans Day

November 11 - PTO Meeting 5:30 pm

November 17-21 - American Education Week

November 17 - Spirit Day - PJ Day

November 18 - Spirit Day - Hat Day

November 19 - Spirit Day - Tie-Dye or Bright Colors

November 20 - Spirit Day - Favorite Team Shirt/Jersey

November 21 - Spirit Day - Dress as your future self

November 21 - Substitute Teacher Appreciation Day

November 24-28 - No School - Thanksgiving Break

November 27 - Thanksgiving Day

Email: eweadon@jackson.k12.mo.us
Website: www.jacksonr2schools.com/East-Elementary-school/
Location: 455 North Lacey Street, Jackson, MO, USA
Phone: 573-243-5271
Facebook: facebook.com/EastElementaryJR2/