East Elementary Newsletter

We are thrilled to begin another exciting school year at Jackson R-2! Our team is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment where every child can thrive. Please take a moment to read through this newsletter for important information about the 2025–2026 school year at East. If you have any questions, feel free to call or email us—we’re here to help! We can’t wait to welcome our students back on Monday, August 18!

Erica Weadon, Principal, eweadon@jr2mail.org

James Brake, Assistant Principal, jbrake@jr2mail.org

Important Dates for the 2025-2026 School Year at East

Check out all of our important dates for the school year by clicking here. Lunch Bunch, concerts, and more!

Kamp Kindergarten is on August 4 from 6:00-7:30 PM and is for all incoming kindergarten students and their parents. There will be a parent informational meeting with the principal while your child participates in fun activities in a kindergarten classroom with East Elementary teachers and staff. You and your child will also tour the building, have a snack, and take a ride on the bus together. This will be a great opportunity for you and your child. We look forward to seeing you on August 4 at 6:00 PM!

Elementary School Student Parent Handbook

This handbook provides procedures and guidelines for day-to-day operation in Jackson R-2 elementary schools.

Our Open House will be on Tuesday, August 12 from 5:00-7:00 PM. Please park in either our front or back parking lots and enter through the main level. This year, we will have back-to-school photo opportunities! When you arrive, you will receive a checklist with the following items:

School pictures by Cheekwood Photography - gym (see flyer below)
Visit the classroom
Medical Questions/Concerns - nurse’s office
Bus Transportation Updates/Questions - cafe (get transportation card in the classroom)

After School Kids Club - café
PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) - café
Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts - café
Tour the building
Parent Technology Station for Online Enrollment, Free Reduced Lunch Applications, and buying iPad/Chromebook insurance - Library

Please make sure you have the following items taken care of before Open House.

Complete your child’s online registration.
Complete the online School Cafe Free/Reduced Lunch Application for your household even if you may not qualify. If you have trouble accessing your School Café account, please contact Ms. Pieper at (573) 243-9526, and she can reset your password.
Register for Chromebook/iPad insurance (more details below)

***We will have computers set up in the library for anyone who needs to complete these tasks during the event.

We are excited to see everyone!

Like our Facebook Page! East Elementary - Jackson R2

Like our Facebook page to stay connected to East Elementary. We post updates often along with upcoming events.

The new school year is almost here, and we’re excited to welcome everyone back!

DID YOU KNOW… that just like your kiddo’s teacher, the PTO spends time in the summer reflecting, brainstorming, and planning for a new school year? Well we really do.

We are always looking for new ways to perfect the old, completely new ideas, and new insights. We believe a combination of new and veteran parents are what our PTO is all about. Hopefully, YOU will participate this new school year! Make sure to stop by and visit the PTO station at Open House. We will be in the cafeteria. Hear about ways you can volunteer and complete the required paperwork. Also, be on the lookout for all PTO information in your child's classroom the same night! Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

Students entering Kindergarten through 12th grade for the 2025-2026 school year will, once again, receive a personal computing device. Please click the links below for further instructions and to purchase insurance for your student’s device. This optional insurance policy provides peace of mind. The replacement of each device can cost upwards of $300, and some common repairs, such as a cracked screen, can cost as much as $150.00.

If you have more than one student in grades K-12, you will have to register and purchase insurance for each student. There is a family cap of the cost of three students per family, so if you have more than three students, please contact Mr. Jason Bruns at jbruns@jr2mail.org or Mrs. Tara Wortmann at twortmann@jr2mail.org. They will ensure you will receive insurance coverage for the entire family for the cost of three insurance waivers ($75.00 total).

School Supply Lists Early Childhood through High School

Click here to view all Jackson R2 School District supply lists.

Thank you very much for being familiar with our drop off and pick up procedures. We ask that you remain in your vehicle at all times when driving through the lane. If your child needs assistance getting in or out of the vehicle, please park in the parking lot. If there are any changes to your child’s dismissal plan, call the office at (573) 243-5271 by 2:00 PM. If another adult (grandpa, aunt, etc.) drops off/picks up your children, please make them knowledgeable of our procedures.

Drop off time is from 7:15-7:50 AM, and certified staff members will be on duty. Students are dismissed to class at 7:50 AM.
Enter using the second entrance (see map below).
All K – 1st grade students should be dropped off in the lane closest to the building.
All 2nd – 4th grade students should be dropped off in the lane farthest from the building. If the 2nd-4th grader has a K-1st grade sibling, then they should be dropped off in the first lane.
Please have your child seated on the passenger side of your vehicle. It is much easier and quicker for them to get out on the side closest to the building.
Be sure to pull all the way forward when dropping your child off (there is a white line with the words STOP HERE to designate this area).
Never park in the lanes. This is against fire code. If you want to walk your child in the building you are required to park in the parking lot. Also, please avoid parking on the street.
The teachers on duty will direct traffic, so pay close attention to what they ask you to do.
If you see the sign “Late Arrivals” you will need to park your vehicle in the parking lot and walk your child in the building to sign them in.
Kindergarten and 3rd grade students will eat breakfast or go to the gym until 7:50 AM.
1st, 2nd, and 4th grade students will eat breakfast or go to their grade level common area/classroom until 7:50 AM.

Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grades

The dismissal bell will ring at 3:10 PM.
All K - 2nd grade students will be dismissed in front of the building.
Enter at the second entrance (see map below).
Make sure to have your photo ID ready.
All K – 1st grade students should be picked up in the lane closest to the building.
All 2nd grade students should be picked up in the lane farthest from the building.
Be sure to pull all the way forward when picking up your child (there is a white line with the words STOP HERE to designate this area) .
Our goal is to get vehicle traffic off of Lacey Street as quickly as possible. Many parents stand in the parking lot to pick their child up, which is okay, but our priority is to scan parents in vehicles first. Therefore, it will be quicker for parents to pick up students from the driving lanes.
Never park in the lanes. This is against fire code. If you want to get out of your vehicle for any reason you are required to park in the parking lot.

3rd and 4th Grades:

The dismissal bell will ring at 3:10 PM.
All 3rd - 4th grade students will be dismissed at the back of the building (and any k, 1st, and/or 2nd grade siblings)
Enter using the third entrance (see the attached map).
Have your photo ID ready.
Be sure to pull all the way forward when picking up your child (where the sidewalk begins).
Never park in the lane. This is against fire code. If you want to get out of your vehicle for any reason you are required to park in the parking lot.

Walkers/Bike Riders:

Students will be dismissed at 3:20 PM.
Students will be responsible for walking to our exit across from Diana Drive.
Students who are walking home or riding their bikes home are required to use the sidewalks.

Bus Riders K - 4th Grade:

Buses will arrive at East Elementary at approximately 3:25 PM.
It will take approximately 5-10 minutes to load the buses and for them to pull away from school.
Buses will use entrance/exit 3 (see map below).
Vehicle traffic should only use entrance/exit 3 to pick up 3rd-4th graders. All pick-up traffic should be out of this parking lot no later than 3:20 PM.

Support your schools at Jackson R-2 McTeacher’s Night on Thursday, August 28, from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. Stop by McDonald’s in Jackson and vote for your favorite teacher! The three teachers with the highest votes win a McFlurry party for their classroom! Proceeds raised from sales during that time go to the Jackson R-2 School District Foundation to support teachers and students.

Breakfast/Lunch Menus, Prices, & Nutrition Information

Hello Jackson R-2 Families,

We are excited to announce enrollment for our After School Kids' Club/JMS Club Program is now open! This program provides childcare for our preschool, elementary, and middle school students. We are so excited to be able to offer a safe, fun environment for your child to be during the after school hours!

Registration is open now through our new Kidlet app. Important: If your child was enrolled in the After School Kids' Club/JMS Club program in the 24-25 school year or summer programs, you MUST update your enrollment for the 25-26 school year.

Please use the link below to register your student in the 25-26 School year. All students must be registered if they they will be attending ASKC during the school year.

Please go to https://sites.google.com/jacksonindians.us/kidsclub/home
Select the "Enrollment" tab. When creating an account on Kidlet, please use this company code: JacksonR2
When registering, there are some questions that you are able to skip (medical information/immunizations - we have this info in our other school system so no need to repeat). If it is a required question, it will require you to answer before proceeding.

Childcare can only be scheduled up to 90 days in advance. For example, if you schedule childcare starting today, you can only book care from 7/9/2025 through 10/8/2025. Future dates after 10/8/25 will be available with time.

If you have any questions, please call 573-243-9576 or email egreenlee@jackson.k12.mo.us Thank you for trusting us with your children! Mandee

Click here to enroll in Jackson R-2 Kids' Club