August 19, 2024

August 19, 2024

Dear EPE Community, 

EPE is a positive, purposeful, productive community for all.

Contact a teacher through the website

School Vision and Theme

The start of the school year is officially 1 week away but teachers are already here preparing for our students. We are very excited for the 2024-25 school year to begin. Here are a few basic updates for all of you regarding this week and in the near future. 

  1. I am sending this email from my CPS Gmail account but will not normally do this. If you have not done so already, please join our email list here through our website. This is the main way that I contact families with updates. I do NOT use Aspen because only one contact is able to receive an email when it is used. 
  1. There is a glitch with Aspen that we are trying to figure out. All students were assigned to teachers and that should be visible through the portal but it is not. The fabulous Amber is on top of this and working with Central Office to get it resolved. We know that you and your children want to know who their teacher(s) are and we will share when this is available. 
  1. Here are a few updates regarding teachers:
    1. Right now, it looks like there will be only 1 kindergarten class. This required us to rethink our plans and it may be a blessing in disguise. Ms. Bridges will be the main kindergarten teachers while Ms. Gallo will be providing additional support to those students who need it in grades K – 3rd. Although we would have loved to have 2 classes, we are happy with our alternative plan. 
    2. There have been a few moves in other areas.
      1. Ms Bendig is our new K-2 cluster teacher while Ms. Baughmann has switched roles as our full-time case manager, replacing Ms. Gotha. 
      2. Ms. Palermson, who has worked with our middle school students for the past two years, is switching to 5th grade as one of their special education teachers. 
      3. Ms. Riordan is moving back to 1st grade after teaching 2nd grade for a year. 
      4. Ms. Sciencksi will be the special education teacher for kindergarten while Ms. Noonan will now be part of the 1st grade team as that grade level’s special education teacher. 
      5. Mr. C is moving up to Middle School as one of their special education teachers
  1. Schedule for this week:
    1. Tuesday, August 20th at 5:30 – Kindergarten “A day in the life of…” Parent Only Meeting → this is your chance to meet Ms. Bridges, learn about what is happening this year, ask questions, drop off school supplies, and go for a school tour (if you wish). 
  1. Thursday, August 22nd: Supply Drop-off/Curriculum Night
    1. 5:30: Supply drop off begins
    2. 6, 6:20, & 6:40: Teacher Curriculum Presentations in classrooms 

**All Middle School teachers will be presenting in the MPR from 6 – 6:40

**The enrichment team will leave information out on table by the MPR about their classes including sexual health. 

  1. In the back area of the school, you can pay your school fees (or do online now!), sign up for before/aftercare, sign up for PTA/Moms’ Club/Dads’ Club, learn more about the band, and much more!
  1. Things to check out → we have done a lot of work around the school campus. Be sure to check out…
    1. Flag pole on Olcott. This was thanks to the PTA and we could not be happier with it!
    2. Sidewalks by the learning garden fixed. Drainage should be much better in this area so, hopefully, it is safer when it comes to ice this winter
    3. Trees trimmed. The trees in the front of the building were trimmed so it looks less overrun and is prettier to look out the windows! 
    4. Walls painted in the MS wing! Check out what a group of 8th graders did. It looks amazing! 
  1. Drop off procedures → Let this be the first time that I remind you: DO NOT PARK IN THE DROP OFF LANE…or in front of someone’s driveway, or blocking an alleyway!! Get in the drop off lane, pull all the way up, and carefully pull out so you don’t hit a student! Done! 
  1. School forms – EPE will use Docusign again for all school forms. There is NO need to print out forms and fill them out by hand. This will automatically be sent to the main contact of your child in Aspen. Keep a lookout for it in the next week or two!

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