East End Elementary

We’ve made it to the final week before a well-deserved Thanksgiving Break! This is a wonderful time to pause, recharge, and enjoy special moments with family and friends. Our students and staff have worked hard this fall, and we’re so proud of the progress, effort, and heart we see each day at East End Elementary.

As we wrap up this week, we want to remind everyone of our Capturing Kids’ Hearts word of the month , Teamwork. Teamwork means working together, supporting one another, and showing kindness and respect in all we do. When we model teamwork at home and school, our students learn that we are all part of one big EEE TEAM.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for being an important part of our team. We’re grateful for each of you and wish your family a safe, happy, and restful Thanksgiving!

You Belong Here!!

Tamara Strawn, Ed.S.

Principal

Nov. 24-28th-THANKSgiving Break

Dec. 4th-2nd Grade Family Night (More information to come)

Dec. 5th-2nd Quarter Behavior Bash

Dec. 13th-Christmas Lights Drive-Thru at EEE/EEI

Dec. 18th-Class Christmas Parties (More information to come)

Dec. 22-Jan. 5th-CHRISTmas Break

At East End Elementary, we know that being present at school each day is one of the biggest factors in a child’s success. Consistent attendance helps students build strong routines, stay connected with their classmates, and make steady progress in learning.

We understand that absences happen due to illness or family emergencies , but it’s very important to stay in communication with us any time your child is absent. Please call or send a note so we can keep accurate records and offer support when needed.

As a reminder, our district attendance policy (starting on page 72) requires us to follow up on excessive absences or tardies, and cases that don’t meet policy expectations may be referred to truancy.

Our goal is not to punish , it’s to partner with families to help every child reach their full potential. Thank you for working with us to make sure our Yellowjackets are at school, on time, and ready to learn every day!

Our Capturing Kids' Hearts program is all about building strong, positive relationships, creating a safe and supportive environment, and showing genuine care and respect. The meaning behind sharing good things each day is to build a positive and supportive school culture where students feel valued and connected. By sharing good things, whether they are personal achievements, positive experiences, or acts of kindness, students and staff can celebrate moments of joy and success. Try good things in the mornings or afternoon with your child.

A social contract is an agreement, in individual classrooms and staff meeting rooms, about how everyone in that room agrees to work together and treat each other. It’s posted in each classroom where everyone can see it and refer back to it. The social contract is about making sure students and staff work together, respect each other, and treats everyone the way they would like to be treated.

The Launch each day serves as a powerful way to end the day with intentionality, setting a positive tone and fostering a strong sense of connection. Daily launches build community, reinforces social-emotional learning, motivates students, and creates a positive, structured environment in which both students and teachers can thrive. Try a launch each morning with your child on their way to school.

• Want to eat lunch with your child? We have a limited number of seats, so you are required to call the office to reserve a specific date and spot. 501.888.4262
• Please try and send all lunch and snacks with your student in the morning rather than bring to the office for us to deliver.

• You MUST have your student car tag in order to pick up your child. (Handbook-pg.68)
• You can purchase ONE additional car tag in the office for $1.00.
• Parents must stay in their vehicle in the carline. We have staff to assist students. When stopped, students should open their car door and have all items ready to get out in the morning. If you have a child safety lock on your door, please ask for help opening the door.
• When staff start to close the morning gate at 8am, we will not re-open it. You must check your student in the front office after 8am.
• For the morning carline, students should be ready to get out of the vehicle at every orange cone.
• For the afternoon carline, we encourage you to work on your child buckling themselves. If they cannot, please pull up to the front parking lot after they get into your vehicle to buckle them. This helps our carline work more efficiently.
• If at all possible, please have your student's car seat on the passenger side. It is safer for staff and students if all students enter and exit the vehicle from the passenger side.

• Students at EEE show the HEART of the YellowJacket
• Honest, Effort, Accountable, Respect, Teamwork
• Students can earn Jacket Bucks
• Behavior Bash after each 9 weeks. Criteria to go: No MAJOR Behavior Referrals and 80% on class behavior log
• POSITIVE Office Referrals=Phone call home & Celebrated on grade-level Caught Being Kind Wall

Students know how to show the HEART of a YellowJacket in all areas of the building. Click the video below for activity behavior expectations.

Students know how to show the HEART of a YellowJacket in all areas of the building. Click the video below for restroom behavior

Arkansas law (Act 930 of 2017) requires the administration of a developmentally appropriate measurement or assessment for kindergarten through grade two (K-2) in literacy and mathematics. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, ATLAS, or Arkansas Teaching and Learning Assessment System, will be administered. The ATLAS K-2 assessment is intended to be administered three times during the school year so that educators can make data-driven instructional decisions. This will help inform teachers of students that require remediation, intervention and/or enrichment. Each test is an adaptive type test, and students are not expected to know all of the test items.

• Students with engaged parents are more likely to earn higher grades and test scores—regardless of family income or background. (Henderson & Mapp, 2002)

• When parents are involved, students are more likely to attend school regularly and have better behavior. (National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education)

• Reading together at home just 20 minutes a day exposes children to about 1.8 million words a year, dramatically boosting literacy skills. (Nagy & Herman)

UAMS Health Six Bridges Clinic is an adolescent and young adult substance use treatment clinic.

• Six Bridges Clinic offers outpatient substance use treatment for Arkansans ages 12-21.

• Treatment is individualized to meet the needs of the adolescent and may include individual, group, and family therapies; medication; ongoing recovery support services.

• The clinic accepts self-referrals and/or a provider may send us a referral.

• Simply complete this online referral form OR call 501-526-8487 to schedule an appointment.

AR ConnectNow is a 24/7-accessible virtual therapy clinic for all ages. Call 800-482-9921 to schedule.

• Access short-term virtual therapy services anywhere in the state for help managing stress, depression, anxiety, grief, and more.

• AR ConnectNow has transitioned from a free service to a fee-for-service model. The UAMS Office of Financial Clearance is available to assist patients who are uninsured or underinsured.

• Although AR ConnectNow’s therapy is no longer free, the virtual clinic still offers free resource coordination to help Arkansans meet their basic needs (and sometimes more specific needs).

• The AR ConnectNow website was recently redesigned and expanded to include mental health education and tools for building healthy coping skills.

• Find more tips on Instagram: @UAMS_ARConnectNow

Please feel free to contact East End Elementary administration for any reason. We are here to partner with you to ensure safety and success for your child. You may call the office at 501.888.4264 or by the emails listed below. Thank you for choosing to share your child with EEE!

Tamara Strawn, Principal

tamarastrawn@sheridanschools.org

Alan Braden, Assistant Principal

alanbraden@sheridanschools.org

Christy Whitley, Counselor

christywhitley@sheridanschools.org