East Elementary Newsletter
September 2025
This year at East, we will bring our commitments to life as we move our school toward its mission and vision of ensuring high levels of learning for all students. In collaborative grade level teams, teachers will continue to plan, teach/assess, study the results, and then act. Four questions will guide our work to ensure high levels of learning for all: What do we expect all students to know and do? How will we know if they have learned it? How will we respond when they do not learn? How will we respond when they already know it? These questions are very important as we work to guarantee every student has mastered the essential standards for their grade level.
Mission: At East Elementary we work together to create a supportive environment for high levels of learning for all.
Vision: At East Elementary, we envision a school that is focused on learning, collaboration, and results.
- Learning: Students take charge of their learning by setting goals so they understand the purpose of what they are learning.
- Collaboration: Collaboration is data driven with the purpose of assisting teammates to achieve whole team growth.
- Results: Students and staff are supported in the work they are doing to achieve common goals, strive for continuous improvement, and sustain the results that have already been achieved.
Commitments:
We will respect, support, and trust one another while holding each other accountable to achieve common goals.
In our collaborative work, we will actively contribute with a positive mindset while keeping a focus on student achievement.
We will prepare and implement high quality, engaging instruction that allows for teacher autonomy.
We will utilize research based strategies to guide instruction and adjust to meet the needs of all students.
We will utilize our data to determine the effectiveness of our instruction and guide future decisions.
We will help students set goals based on their data and acknowledge success.
We will hold all students to high expectations for academics and behavior.
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email or call. Here's to a great year!
- Please call by 2:20 to change preferred pick up. This includes changing from After School Kids Club (ASKC) to car rider.
- If your child is in ASKC, we will ask you to park and walk up to the door to get your child.
- Make sure you have your photo ID ready. (Please let babysitters and grandparents know too.)
- All 3rd and 4th grade, along with younger siblings, are picked up in the back (4th East entrance). After 3:20, that entrance closes for buses, so please use the front two lanes.
- Our pick up crew is getting faster and faster. Please arrive no later than 3:20 to get your child.
Board Game Club
for 1st Grade
Board Game Club
for 2nd Grade
Piano Club
for 2nd Grade
Pet Club
for 2nd and 3rd Grade
STEM Club
for 2nd and 3rd Grade
Spirit Singers
for 3rd and 4th Grade
Lego Robotics
for 4th Grade
closed for the year
Craft Club
for 4th Grade
closed for the year
My name is Amy Edwards (aka Ms. Amy) and I am the new counselor at East Elementary. I am excited to be working with your children. We started out the year going over what a counselor does and getting to know each other. This week the older grades brought in items to share with me and the class to help me learn more about them. I think everyone enjoyed this activity. I am working hard on trying to learn their names; with around 430 students this can be a difficult process. The students are being extra patient with me which I really appreciate!
Tuesday, September 2nd is Green Bear presentations. Parents are invited to attend the presentation with your student if you wish. If you would like to attend, please email me at aedwards@jr2mail.org, and I will send you the time your child is scheduled to attend. If you do not wish for your child to attend, please email by September 1st.
Besides teaching SEL classes, I also want to be available to assist if your child is experiencing difficulty. I talked with the students about how they can arrange a meeting with me. I have self-referral forms outside my door, parents may email me and request it or the student may ask his or her teacher to get in touch with me. Feel free to email or call me if you have any questions or concerns about your student or if I can help you in any way. My email is aedwards@jr2mail.org or call 573-243-5271 ext 4532. I am looking forward to a great year at East!
Amy Edwards, MA, LPC
We will be celebrating grandparents the week of September 8-12. Please complete this form if your child will have a guest(s) attend on their day. Days will be based on your child's last name.
- Monday - Student last name A - C
- Tuesday - Student last name D - H
- Wednesday - Student last name I - M
- Thursday - Student last name N - Sm
- Friday - Student last name Sn - Z
Mrs. Leesa, our kitchen manager, has planned the following menu:
- Monday, September 8
-Scrambled Eggs w/ Hash Brown, Warm Biscuit
-Pancake w/ Sausage Link & Syrup
-Fruit Parfait w/ Granola
- Tuesday, September 9
-Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake w/ Fruit yogurt Parfait
-Belgian Waffle Sticks w/ Syrup
-Sausage & Egg Biscuit or Bagel
Wednesday, September 10
-French Toast w/ Sausage Link & Syrup
-Biscuit w/ Sausage Gravy
-Bacon Egg Croissant
Thursday, September 11
-Banana Split Parfait w/ Tiger Bites
-Glazed or Iced Donut
-Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Burrito w/ Salsa
Friday, September 12
-Iced Cinnamon Roll
-Biscuit w/ Sausage Gravy
-Cookies & Cream Yogurt Parfait w/ Tiger Bites
If grandparents would like a tray, the cost will be $2.50 (please bring exact change or pay with a check). Doors for this event will open at 7:15 AM. The event will end at 8:00 AM. We hope to see you there!
UPCOMING MEETING: This month, PTO meetings get started. On Tuesday, September 9, we will meet in the library at 5:30 PM. These meetings are a great place to meet So-And-So's mom, learn about the school as a whole, voice an idea, ask a question, etc. Doors will open at 5:15 for a few minutes of socializing before we formally kick-off at 5:30 PM. Last year, our largest number of attendees was 36, but we would love to beat that record! Childcare will be provided.
SAVE the DATE:
- Scooters Coffee Give Back Day to East Elementary is September 16!
- The East PTO Auction is October 16. See details below!
Scooter's Giveback 9/16
Fresh Cafe Giveback 9/24
PTO Auction 10/16
Parents! Check out these handwriting resources put together by our very own JR2 kindergarten teachers. They were created for kindergarten teachers and parents, but also work for anyone searching for ways to practice at home and those wanting to see examples and non examples of systematic handwriting practice.
Music Concerts
Craft Fair
Fall Conferences
I hope you have enjoyed getting to see your child's art on Artsonia, because I sure have enjoyed helping them make it!!! I post a photo of all of their finished artwork so you get to see it as soon as they make it. As a bonus you can buy items with their adorable masterpieces on them (coffee mugs, ornaments, coasters, greeting cards, etc.)! If you are looking forward to the holiday season, be sure to keep this program in mind for one of a kind personalized gifts! Our school gets 20% back from what you spend on the website and last year alone we raised over $1000! Thank you so much for your support and for sharing your little artist with me!
Mrs. Lacey Job, Art Teacher
We would like to introduce our nursing staff here at East Elementary:
Tosha Borgfield, BSN, RN: This is Tosha’s 25th year as a school nurse and 6th year as the district’s lead nurse. Tosha is also a part of the coaching staff for the High School Varsity Dance Teams as well as the Varsity Competition Cheer Team. She has 3 children (Ava, Grant, and Grady) and will is married to Brad Borgfield. Tosha’s office is on the main level and she tends to the K-4th grade students and then to the PK students as needed.
Theresa Stearns, RN: This is Theresa’s second year as a school nurse (she previously worked in the NICU at St. Francis). Theresa had taken the place of Angie Boss and is in the early childhood area. She will also be working with the K-4 students! She has 4 children (Wyatt, Charlotte, Elsie, and Weston). She is married to Tyler Stearns.
When emailing nurses please include both Tosha Borgfield (tborgfield@jr2mail.org) and Theresa Stearns (tstearns@jr2mail.org). There may be times that only one nurse is covering all of Early Childhood and K-4.
Reminders and Important Dates:
- Keep your child home if they have symptoms of illness. This is the best way to STOP THE SPREAD! If your child has a fever 100.1 or higher keep them home. They need to be fever free for at least 24 hours without medication. If your child is vomiting or has diarrhea they need to be at home for at least 24 hours after the last episode. If you have questions of when to keep your child home you can call the nurses at 573-243-5271, We are available M-F 8:00-3:00pm.
- Interested in getting your child a Flu Shot while they are at school for 2025/26? The Cape Girardeau Health Department will be at East Elementary on Thursday, Sept. 25th for anyone that wants their child to get the flu shot. Consents will go out a couple of weeks before CCHD is here. Please note: Flu shots will ONLY be given if you complete a consent form!
- Dental Screenings and Varnish will be Friday, October 17th!! EVERY student will be SCREENED for tooth decay and major concerns. If your child has a dental concern that needs to be followed up by a dentist it will be indicated on the letter that goes home with them. Please note: ONLY the students that have a consent for fluoride varnish will receive fluoride varnish. The consent in the fall covers the 1st and 2nd applications. If your child is absent for the first varnish application they will not be able to get the application in the spring. It is recommended that all children get varnish applied to their teeth twice a year to help prevent tooth decay. This is a free service for your child. Consents for the varnish will go home approximately 1- 2 weeks before Oct. 17th.
Here is to the start of a healthy year at East Elementary!
Thank you for taking the time to read,
Nurse Tosha Borgfield, BSN-RN and Nurse Theresa Stearns, RN
September 1 - No School - Labor Day
September 2 - Green Bear Presentations
September 8-12 - Grandparents Day Breakfast Week
September 9 - PTO Meeting 5:30 pm
September 11 - Patriot Day (flags to be flown at half-staff)
September 16 - Scooters Coffee Giveback Day for East Elementary
September 25 - Student Flu Shots
September 29 - No Classes - Professional Development Day for Staff
EAST ELEMENTARY
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/