East Hill Update

Masks

I am happy to report that for the most part students are wearing their masks appropriately. We do, however, have some students that are having difficulty keeping their mask on and their nose covered. In order for us to keep students safe, keep the building open, and keep your child(ren) in school, it is imperative that students wear their mask correctly. Your support in this would be greatly appreciated. In addition, while West Genesee does allow students to wear gaiter masks (some districts do not), I would ask, if at all possible, that your child wear a regular mask. We are finding that most of the gaiters are too big for the students. Because of their large size, students pull them up over their head and ears, often making it difficult to hear, and we have a few students that actually end up chewing on the mask. If you have the choice of sending your child to school with a regular mask, it would be helpful and appreciated. We also have disposable masks available at school. Finally, masks should be washed on a daily basis to keep them clean and free of germs (and unpleasant odors). Thank you!

Pumpkins and Pictures and Books, Oh My!

East Hill Remote Students - This is just a reminder that pickup of the pumpkins and students photos is this Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 - 4:00 for remote students. East Hill's remote kindergarteners can also pick up their school supplies on Thursday from 3:00 - 4:00. Books that were ordered from Mrs. Holzwarth can also be picked up on these two days. Check out Mrs. Holzwarth's site if you have not done so already!

Creativity

Creativity is this week's character strength focus. Creativity means you come up with new and original ideas to think about and do things. I am looking forward to seeing how creative students can be when decorating their pumpkins this week! For more information on creativity, click here. 

Fall Frenzy

See below for pictures from the first two days of Fall Frenzy. As a reminder, tomorrow is Wacky Wednesday (be creative!), Thursday is Sports Day, and Friday is Wear your Orange and Black. Please do not send students in with costumes on Friday. Thank you for your cooperation.

Community Giving

Each year the PTA, with a great deal of support from our East Hill Community, helps to put together Thanksgiving meals for East Hill families and also organizes a Community Giving campaign to help out families who could use some additional support with holiday gift purchases. If you could use a little extra help at Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, please let me know. We would love to provide a helping hand!

Enjoy the rest of the week! Have a Happy Halloween and don't forget to set your clocks back!

- Lisa

East Hill Weekly Update

School Photos

As many of you are aware, school pictures came in yesterday. There were several errors in the photos, especially on the class photo pages. We are working with Lifetouch to have them reprinted. Remote students can pick up their pictures when they come for their pumpkins (see PTA information below).

Unity Day

Unity Day is tomorrow, Wednesday, October 21st. Make it ORANGE!! Here's a brief note from the WG Counselors: If you care about safe and supportive schools and communities, make your color ORANGE on Unity Day. On this day everyone can come together - in schools, communities, and online - and send one large ORANGE message of support, hope, and unity to show that we are united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

Food Sense Program

The Food Bank of CNY offers monthly boxes of food for families. Families can pre-order and use cash or EBT. The pickup spot is the Senior Center in Camillus. To schedule an appointment for pickup, call 315-672-5820. 

Fall Frenzy

Next week is East Hill's Fall Frenzy. Show your fall spirit next week as follows:

Monday - Wear your Blue and Gold

Tuesday - Pajama Day

Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday

Thursday - Sports Day

Friday - Wear your Orange and Black

PTA

Thank you to the PTA for purchasing pie pumpkins for every East Hill student to decorate next week. Remote students can pick up their pumpkin between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 10/28 or Thursday, 10/29. Don't forget that the Virtual Book Fair runs through this Thursday, 10/22 (here is the link), and Spirit Wear is on sale now through 10/30 (here is the link). Also, keep an eye out for emails from the WG District Council for recordings of stories during PARP from guest readers! Here was last night's in case you missed it. 

I Forgive You!

Forgiveness is the character strength focus for this week. Forgiveness is the ability to move past being injured, and allow yourself to reconcile with the person who hurt you. Forgiveness can often be seen as a selfless act, but it also carries many benefits for those who practice it. Admittedly, it is not one of my top strengths but I am working on it! For more information on forgiveness, click here. 

Remote Student Supply Pickup

Kindergarten students can pick up their next unit materials at East Hill next Thursday, October 29th, from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Please contact the office if that time does not work for you (315-487-4648). Second, Third, and Fourth grade students can pick up the materials and books for the next units between 12:00 and 3:00 on Monday, November 23rd. First grade students will be hearing about a supply pickup from your teachers soon.

Chromebooks

Periodically, our teachers may send your child home with their Chromebook and chargers to complete an assignment. Please help us by making sure they take care of the Chromebook, do the assignment, and return it to school the next day with the charger. Thank you!

Enjoy the rest of the week!

- Lisa

  

East Hill Mid-October Update

Scholastic Virtual Book Fair

The PTA's annual book fair will be virtual this year. You should have received information last week about ordering. Here is the link. The Fair will run through 10/22. Thank you for your support! The Book Fair coincides with PARP (Pick a Reading Partner) which takes place over the next two weeks. Look for the electronics blackout calendar that will be coming home at the end of the week.

Walk for Peace

The Central New York Social Justice League will be holding a Walk for Peace on Saturday, October 17th from 12:30 - 3:30. All persons interested in promoting and learning about how to advocate for social justice and building peace in our communities are welcome to attend. The location has changed to the Camillus Municipal Building. For more information, and to register for the event, click here!

Questions About Remote Learning

I have had a few parents ask if their child can switch to remote learning when they are out sick or when they return from a state that requires quarantining upon return. Unfortunately, the answer is no. Our remote teachers have a full class of students and are likely not on the same exact pacing as the child's in-school teacher. Some requests for work during a child's absence can be accommodated, however providing the missed assignments does not replace the instruction and experiences that occur during the absence. Each child is unique, so the teacher will know which lessons and activities need to be made up upon the student's return. Also, please note that if a family knowingly goes to a state that is on "the list", the child's absences upon return will be considered unexcused. Thank you for your understanding, and please let me know if you have any questions.

Spirit Wear

The PTA's Spirit Wear sale began yesterday and will run through October 30th. Here is the link to order online!

Teacher Workshop Day

As a reminder, this Friday, October 16th, is a half-day. Buses will be dismissed at 11:00 with parent pickup to follow.

Arrival and Dismissal

Arrival and dismissal continue to run very smoothly! Thank you to everyone for following the rules. Just a couple of reminders:

• Pull all of the way up
• Make sure you don't pull in front of others when pulling away from the curb, and
• Please drive slowly down Parsons and Blackmore as we have a lot of walkers

Thank you for your continued cooperation! Here are a few pictures I saw in the hallway this morning.

Enjoy the rest of the week!

- Lisa

Happy October!

Say Cheese!

Today is school picture day. Please make sure your child brings in their order form if you did not order online. The make-up day is scheduled for Friday, 11/20. Remote student pictures begin at 3:00 p.m.; it's best to not arrive early. Thank you.

Walk For Peace

The Central New York Social Justice League will be holding a Walk for Peace on Saturday, October 17th from 12:30 - 3:30. All persons interested in promoting and learning about how to advocate for social justice and building peace in our communities are welcome to attend.

Physical Education

PE looks very different this year. As we do not have use of the gym, Ms. O'Keefe and Ms. Clarke plan to take students out as much as possible. Therefore, please make sure your child dresses for the weather on PE days. At times, students are taken on scavenger hunts and nature walks near the school and in the surrounding neighborhood. If you prefer your child not leave school grounds during PE, please let me know and we will make other accommodations for your child on those days. Thank you!

PTA Appreciation

A huge thank you goes out to the East Hill PTA for all they have done for our staff this year. On Friday they put out signs of appreciation and treated the staff to quite a breakfast! They also had students color pictures for National Custodian Day which also took place last Friday. The appreciation shown to our staff by the PTA is very much appreciated!!

PTA Meeting

Speaking of the PTA, the PTA will be holding their first meeting on Tuesday, 10/13, at 6:30 via Zoom. Please consider attending. RSVP to wgehpta@westgenesee.org. 

Calming Stations

In a previous blog I mentioned that students at each grade level are learning about how their brains work. They have learned a variety of different ways to calm themselves. Pictured below are some of the calming tools that Mrs. Rose, our school counselor, worked with the students to create during calming stations. Students created calming jars, drew pictures of their happy places, and practiced flower breathing.

Open-Mindedness

This week we are learning about the character strength of open-mindedness, which is the willingness to actively search for evidence that goes against one's favored beliefs, plans or goals. Open-minded individuals are able to weigh all evidence fairly, when it is available. For more about open-mindedness, click here. 

Teacher Workshop Day

This is just a reminder that Friday, 10/16 will be a half-day due to a teacher workshop day. Buses will begin dismissing at 11:00 with parent pickup beginning at 11:15. 

Fall Frenzy

We will be holding a "Fall Frenzy" spirit week the week of October 26th rather than having Halloween parties on October 30th. Students will not be wearing costumes or parading, but we will have fall-themed activities for them to do. Stay tuned for more information!

Notes from the WGCSD Nurses

If you didn't happen to see the notes from the nurses that were sent out yesterday, here they are. You will find a link to the COVID-19 Toolkit recently put out by the NYS Department of Health. Included are details for what to do when your child is showing symptoms of COVID-19 and what is needed for your child to return to school. 

Have a great rest of the week!

- Lisa