Eagle Family Weekly News
We have officially completed our first three weeks of school!
Our students are settling into the routines and expectations of school, and I am incredibly proud of the ways our Eagles are SOARING in their behavior expectations.
For the sake of transparency and partnership, I want to share some important information with you.
East Lake is a special place. We work incredibly hard to ensure our students grow academically, and we are intentional about meeting students where they are and providing the support they need to be successful.
At the same time, learning cannot happen effectively when individual behaviors disrupt the learning environment. Every student deserves a classroom where they feel safe, supported, respected, and ready to learn. We will continue to be diligent in maintaining learning environments that are safe, supportive, and secure for every Eagle.
📊 Our Office Referrals
To date, our two most common office referral concerns have been:
1. Inappropriate Physical Contact Between Students
2. Physical Violence Against School Personnel
Neither of these behaviors will be tolerated at East Lake Elementary.
We also recognize that our students are still learning how to navigate big emotions. Anger, frustration, disappointment, and feeling overwhelmed are all normal parts of growing and learning. Our responsibility as adults is to help students understand that while the feeling is okay, not every response to that feeling is okay.
Please take a few minutes to talk with your student about making safe and respectful choices—even when they are angry, frustrated, or upset. Help them think about what they can do when emotions become big: take a break, use their words, ask for help, take a breath, or seek out a trusted adult.
At East Lake, we will continue to teach, model, reinforce, and support these skills. We will also respond appropriately when behaviors compromise the safety or learning of others.
Big emotions are a normal part of life. Unsafe choices are not okay.
Together, we can help our Eagles learn to manage those emotions, make responsible choices, and SOAR. Thank you for your partnership to ensure all students thrive.
*Note: you may click on the image to view the HCS Code of Conduct to learn more about behavior expectations and consequences if violations do occur.
UPDATE: PTO Executive Board
You guys are amazing! We have parents who have stepped up to serve in Executive Officer positions!
PTO will not be dissolved this year due to lack of a board! YAY!!! Thank you for ALL that have returned forms to volunteer within our school community too! Stay tuned for more information soon!
I found this letter online and thought it was 100% accurate...we need our PTO to ensure East Lake continues to be the best place to learn and lead. Thank you for recognizing the value and importance of this good work!
Georgia Pacific
A huge shout-out to our friends at Georgia-Pacific’s McDonough facility (1400 Highway 42 S)
for their incredible generosity and willingness to share school supplies with our staff! 💙
Their team recently participated in an employee challenge, and our students are the true beneficiaries of their efforts. Our teachers had the opportunity to come in and “shop” for classroom items they still needed—and there was so much excitement and pure joy as they talked about upcoming projects and all the ways these supplies would be put to good use. 📚✏️
We also want to celebrate the work happening right here in our community. The Georgia-Pacific McDonough facility manufactures recycled mailers for customers such as Amazon, turning their work into products that reach households across the country.
Even better, this partnership is just getting started! The Georgia-Pacific team plans to continue supporting our school through opportunities such as Career Day, giving our students the chance to learn more about careers and the people who make a difference in our community.
Thank you, Georgia-Pacific, for investing in our teachers, supporting our students, and being such a wonderful community partner! We are grateful for your generosity and excited about what we can accomplish together!
Woodmen Life McDonough ⭐ Chapter 1863
A special thank-you to our friends at WoodmenLife McDonough for making sure our staff has a welcoming space to meet, collaborate, and relax! This is definitely an upgrade from the furniture that had been repurposed for the space.
And they didn’t stop there! They also made sure we have coffee and snacks on hand for those days when we need a little extra umph to power through. ☕🍪
WoodmenLife offers a variety of insurance products designed to meet the needs of individuals, families, and corporations, making a positive impact both through the services they provide and the communities they serve.
We are grateful for community partners who invest in our staff and help make East Lake a place where every student matters and every moment counts!
Thank you, WoodmenLife McDonough, for supporting our staff and being a valued partner in our school community!
Science Fair Interest Meeting for 3rd - 5th Grade Students
Parents,
This meeting is for you! We will share the guidelines, expectations for partnership, and school supports if you want your child to participate in the Science Fair. We hope you can join us!
Thank you,
Ms. Konken
Please note: students may not attend the meeting without an adult present. This is not a "drop and go" event.
Back to School Bash: September 3
Our 4th annual Back to School Bash is Game On and we are pumped! Please join us for a glow dance party, inflatables, games, food trucks, and more!
We will have food for purchase and spirit wear that can be ordered!
Parents must attend AND remain with their student. This is not a "drop and go" event.
Asynchronous Learning Day: September 4
First Responders Breakfast: September 11 🚑🚓🚒
We love our community heroes! If you serve as a policeman, fireman, or EMT worker, please join us on September 11 for special recognition.
*To ensure proper space and supplies, this event is not open to the families of our community heroes. We will post lots of pictures, we promise!
RSVP by scanning QR code or clicking the image
September 19 🫶 Do Good Day
Do Good Day is more than a day of service—it's an opportunity to love our neighbors, strengthen our community, and remind families that they are seen, valued, and cared for. Together, volunteers from across Henry County will unite with the City of McDonough, local churches, businesses, civic organizations, and community partners to serve side by side.
Throughout the morning, volunteers will assist homeowners with beautification projects that bring renewed hope and pride to the neighborhood, such as exterior house painting and junk and debris removal.
Every painted home, every helping hand, and every conversation has the power to make a meaningful impact. What may seem like a simple act of service can restore hope, build relationships, and demonstrate the strength of a community that cares for one another.
Whether you're an individual, a family, a church group, a business, or an organization, there is a place for you to serve. No special skills are required—just a willing heart and a desire to make a difference.
Together, we can transform more than homes—we can strengthen our community one act of kindness at a time.
We invite you to join us on Sept. 19 and be part of something truly special. Let's come together, serve with compassion, and show the Blacksville community that they are loved.
For more information, email angela@sccview.net.
Book Fair: August 27 - September 3
The Book Fair is here!
- Students may shop at the book fair beginning August 27 through September 3.
- We will have late night family shopping on August 27 from 3:00 - 7:00pm.
- Grandparents get a 10% discount at the book fair during the grandparent breakfast.
- We will also be open during our Back to School Bash on September 3.
- eWallet setup and online shopping can be done at the following link:
We are still in need of some volunteers. Please use this link to sign up. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0845A5A729A7FF2-57911731-book
Know the Code: HCS Code of Conduct
It is important for families review these behavior expectations with your student and to familiarize yourself with potential consequences if behavior violations occur.
Attendance Matters
School attendance really does matter! Please check out the details of our attendance updates, expectations, and "next steps" if concerns arise.
Backpack Food Program
We have community partners that donate food bags for students to take home on Fridays. Bags are given out discreetly to students. If you have a need and would like your child to receive a bag once the program begins (usually late August), please contact Ms. Rivers or Ms. Perro.
Help Our 5th Graders
As part of our 4H work, 5th grade is collecting silver poptabs for a good cause (The Ronald McDonald House)! There is a class competition at the 4H level, but all donations from other grade levels will be split between the 5 classes to turn in. It's a win-win, really! East Lake loves to be the best in all things...so if you can help us out, we'd be most grateful!
Morning Arrival Procedures
Our first few weeks of school always come with a little traffic learning curve as we work together to establish our routines. This year, we have an increased number of car riders, so we want to make sure everyone is clear on our morning arrival procedures.
This week, our students were in by 7:35 am, so we were able to take attendance as normal! 🎉
🚗 A Few Important Reminders
We have three options for student arrival in the morning:
🚌 BUS LANE — STUDENT DROP-OFF | 7:15–7:30 AM ONLY
The bus lane may be used for parent student drop-off between 7:15 and 7:30 AM only. After 7:30, please use one of the designated car-rider options below.
🔵 RIGHT-HAND LANE — STUDENT DROP-OFF
This lane is for families who are dropping students off at the front of the building at the curb.
🟢 MIDDLE LANE — PARK & WALK
This lane is for parents who prefer to park and walk their student to the curb/front entrance
.
🚨 PLEASE REMEMBER:
NO STUDENT DROP-OFF MAY OCCUR IN ANY LANE EXCEPT A DESIGNATED FRONT-CURB DROP-OFF AREA.
For the safety of our students, students may not exit the vehicle and walk to the curb from the middle or far parking areas without an adult escort.
Be patient. Be alert. Be safe. We are getting there! 🦅
A Friendly Reminder from Your Clinic Aide, Ms. Patel 💗
Students may not carry medication in their backpacks, pockets, or otherwise.
If your child needs medication during the day, they must have a form on file AND all meds must be stored in the clinic. An adult must report to the front office with the medication.
If you have questions, please contact Ms. Patel by calling our front office or by sending her an email: alpa.patel@henry.k12.ga.us.
🚌 If your child rides the bus...join REMIND!
As a service to our families, Ms. Varian has created a Bus Remind to provide you with the pertinent details regarding bus transportation that is specific to your child's route.
We encourage you to sign up for the Remind group for your child’s bus only. We will use this platform to share important transportation updates, changes, and information as it becomes available.
Thank you for partnering with us to help keep our families informed and our students’ transportation experience running smoothly! 🦅
Reading Matters! NEW Books are Available!
Your child has access to hundreds of eBooks and audiobooks through the Sora app! Sora is available on your student's Launchpad and can also be downloaded from app stores on other devices, making it easy to read anytime, anywhere. We're excited to celebrate that Henry County students have reached an incredible milestone of ONE MILLION Sora checkouts! Thank you for helping make reading a daily habit.
What can reading 20 minutes each day do for your child?
The Power of 20 Minutes
Word exposure: You read 1.8 million words a year.
Book count: You finish about 30 books a year (10 to 15 pages a day).
Better focus: Sitting down for 20 minutes trains your brain to pay attention.
Lower stress: Reading helps your body and mind relax.