Congratulations Graduates!East Jackson ~ Class of 2015

Greetings East Jackson! Our plans for continued success are coming together for the start of the school year this fall! Join us as we grow and learn together as a community. New for 2015/16:

•East Jackson Elementary opens on the first day of school, September 8, 2015 o Tours will be held August 10, 12 and 13. o Unified K-6 schedule for consistent programming such as Nurtured Heart Approach. o All students will have Art, Physical Education and Music each week. o Safe and comfortable learning environment.

•Transportation hub o Memorial Elementary will be a community bus stop for East Jackson Elementary. o Parents meet the bus at Memorial and EJ buses will take students the rest of the way.

•More one-to-one technology than ever o 24 classroom teachers have been trained to use iPads and Chromebooks to accelerate learning for all students o Middle school computing classes to prepare students for modern learning programs o WAY – East Jackson provides an alternative high school setting that is based on both on-line learning and in class mentoring

•Expanded child care options o 4 year old preschool is new to EJ this year. Phoenix Childcare is our partner to provide Great Start Readiness Program opportunities for our families o K-6 before and after school care is offered at Memorial school from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

As you can see from this list, and the many other great developments in East Jackson, we are a district who is growing right along with your student each year. I am excited for your student to start school this year! Together WE Thrive!

The Trojan PressSummer 2015/Back to School

SuperintendentPatrick Little

East JacksonClass of 2015

Senior Class Favorites

Class Colors Teal and Black

Class Candy Sour Patch Kids

Class Flower Lily

Class Song “See You Again” (by Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth)

Class Quote“Teamwork makes the dream work.”

Senior Class Officers

President: Allison BoudreauVice President: Emily AllenSecretary: Sydney SprungerTreasurer: Hayley CooperRepresentatives: Kassidy Blough Cassie Dillon

Skyler Nicole AdamsHaley M AkersEmily Elizabeth Allen+%Lani A Balansag+%Tyler G BannermanAmber N BeebeTyler Lee Beebe+Tyler J BerryKassidy Lynn Blough^+%Allison Genae Boudreau^+%John-Michael BrewerDaniel W BryantCody Dennis ChapmanKile Reece ClarkCarlee Michelle ClemonsHayley Jordon Cooper+%Tesa L CovelKyle Joseph CumminsKacie Lyn DavisCassandra Dillon^+*Austin Michael FowlerRyne D FreeJessica R FullerAustin Liu GalvinMarissa M HallTyler C HerveyEmily Dawn HooverTravis Clarence LaGowBrandon L LapeerJennifer Danielle LaRocqueKayla Marrie LewisMorgan E Mathews^+%Isabel K McLeanVictoria Casey McLean

Kelsie M MeadBreanna L MedleyKasey Donell Mishaw%Mitchell Ray Mullins+%Shianne Marie MyersGriffin A MyranJoshua Michael NelsonReggie D O'DellAlizae L OvertonOlivia Renelle OvertonAshlee Lindell PadgettMarcus C ParkerCherokee C PayneKeenan A Post%Katelyn Marie RogersTyler SaucedaAustin Travis ShankKyle S SiskAnthony Michael Somervill^+Sydney Young Sprunger^#%*Taylor L StephensonKatelin Marie StewartBlaine Michael Stowe^+%Savannah V Swiatlowski^+%Leslie J Urbanek%Jordyn Alexis VanSyckleAlexandra WagnerDylan J WagnerGabrielle Shirley WhiteakerDominique Alexis Whitehead+Heavyn Leigh WolletJoshua A WrightKyle Eric Wymer^+%Madison A Zegarlowicz^#%

^Top Ten +Academic with Honors #With Honors %National Honor Society *Technical Honor Society

East Jackson Secondary School

Brent ColeEJSS Principal

Important Dates For East Jackson Secondary Students:

September 2, 2015 Grades 7-12 Open House 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

7th Grade Orientation 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (Auditorium)9th Grade Orientation 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (Auditorium)

September 8, 2015 - First Day of School!

Summer has moved along quickly and the beginning of another school year is just around the corner. It seemed not that long ago we had the pleasure of saying goodbye to our senior class of 2015. This wonderful ceremony took place on May 22nd and it was great to see all the parents and family members in attendance. With the seniors departing and moving on, we begin the planning and preparation for the 2015-16 school year.

As we prepare for the 2015-16 school year, I would like to share with you some of the great educational initiatives we are continuing and developing here in the Secondary building. As a district we have made a commitment to increase technology resources for our staff and students. This technology integration has been embraced by our staff; as a result we will have 10 classrooms with 1:1 technology available next year. We are excited for these learning opportunities for our students as we continue to lead the way in Jackson County.

Also supporting our educational initiatives was adding two math support classes at the 7th and 8th grade levels last year. These classes supported 10-15 students that had been identified as needing re-teaching and remediating supports. Hav-ing these classes allowed students to receive the additional time and instruction to improve their overall math perfor-mance. Students were able to demonstrate significant math growth through these classes, which will better prepare them for success in high school.

We are also continuing to offer high school credit for 8th grade students through our Digital Tech class. This will also better prepare them for success as we continue our technology integration within our classrooms. We are excited at the opportunities we are creating for our students as we continue to expand learning opportunities for our students going forward.

As we begin another school year, I want to thank the following for their years of service to the district. Ms. Joy Rosynek, Mr. Mark Raczkowski and Mr. Kevin Herendeen, whom have retired and will be missed next year. In their place we would like to welcome Ms. Caitlin Christenson (English), Mrs. Laura Punches (Social Studies) and Mr. Andrew Nei-dlinger (Assistant Principal/AD). We are fortunate to have them filling in those positions next year.

I look forward to continuing the great work we are doing for our students. As always, my door is open and I encourage you to stop in or call with any questions or concerns. This is a community school, which means we need to educate as a community. If you are interested in being a part of that community, please contact me. We would certainly welcome your interest and participation in our school. Below are important dates beginning our 2015-2016 school year. If for some reason you cannot attend our orientations or open house, please stop in and see me. I would be glad to spend the time to make sure your student has a solid foundation for next year.

I wish you all a great and rewarding school year!!

Visit us on our website! http://eastjacksonsecondaryschool.weebly.com/

MISSION - EAST JACKSON SECONDARY SCHOOL

The mission of this school is to assist all students in reaching their fullest potential, to foster asense of responsibility, to encourage respect and sensitivity toward others, while providing a safe,

supportive organized environment for teaching and learning.

Together WE Thrive!

2nd Semester 2014/20157th Grade

Jeremiah AllenGavin BellAlexis Brzezinski*Alexis Chown*Connor CulpepperJenakah EarleyEryn Edwards*Houston ElmoJosiah Freeman*Jacob HoltKeegan Jones*Kaci KarrickJustin MansonMakenzie Miller*Gaelen MooreEmma NegronReagan Rudd*Dominic Sauceda*Hayley Silveus-BadilloKole Sova*Hanah StewartLivi TalmageIsaiah TobiasAndrew TrepkaMackenzie WalravenNatalie Williams

8th Grade

Alexander Allen*Andrew BerlinTamatha BrownShea-Leigh CarrisSkiy Diamond*Nathaniel GibsonHaleigh HemryKyle Higgs*Joshua HowardAustin JacksonAlexandra KilpatrickDanielle KissPaige LeachLucas MainoLailah MaullTess McCrumKendra MooreBrianna Murphy*Jamie Pequet*Hannah Saunders*Shaylynn SegerMeaghan ShewJadon SignorIsaac SlateJeremy SteelmanMackenzie SumnerJared Swiontek*

9th Grade

Samantha AndrusDara ApplebaumMichaela Campbell*Alexus CarpenterKatie DavisMadison FischerShelby Golba*Zaire Ingram*Emmeline JohnsonHailey Kissella*Brianna LechleitnerAlessandra MirelesHailey PrattJulia ScottAudrey SeymourZoe Swiatlowski*Kelsey VromanBrooke Wollet

10th Grade

Rhianna DaisherBaileigh ElliottTyler HowardAllyson IdeKyle KerleyAshley MillerChloe MillerScott PassowJoshua PequetMorgan Sprunger*Owen Talmage

11th Grade

Jonathan HaytonVictoria MajchrowskiLilli MillerAndrew Muto*Greta Myran*Ankur Patel*Alexander StairsHannah TalmageAnna Tankersley*Michaela Wagner

12th Grade

Skyler AdamsHayley AkersEmily AllenLani BalansagAmber BeebeTyler BeebeKassidy Blough*Allison BoudreauDaniel BryantCody ChapmanHayley CooperCassandra DillonJessica FullerTravis LaGowBrandon LaPeerJennifer LaRocqueKayla LewisMorgan MathewsKelsie MeadMitchell MullinsJoshua NelsonMarcus ParkerKeenan PostKaitlyn RogersSydney SprungerTaylor StephensonSavannah Swiatlowski*Leslie UrbanekDominique WhiteheadHeavyn WolletKyle WymerMadison Zegarlowicz*

*Denotes All A’s

JV Baseball

Varsity Baseball Varsity Softball

JV Softball

Middle School Girls Track Varsity Track

Middle School Boys Track

SPRING

SPORTS

Jill Arcaro East Jackson Elementary School

Assistant Principal

Mrs. Arcaro was a 5th grade teacher at Vandercook Lake Schools for the last 15 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and her graduate degree in education from Spring Arbor University.

Her office is located in the East Jackson Elementary building. She is looking forward to working with the students as they make the exciting transition to the new elementary!

Andrew Neidlinger East Jackson Secondary School

Assistant Principal/Athletic Director

Mr. Neidlinger joins us from Lakeview High School in Chicago, IL where he was a teacher, coach, and administrator. He has received his undergraduate degree from Albion College, where he also played basketball. Mr. Neidlinger earned his Master’s Degree in educational leadership from American College of Education in Chicago.His office is located in the Secondary building. He is very excited to meet students, parents and community members!

Welcome back, Laura Punches, as High School Social Studies teacher and Cross Country coach!

We would also like to welcome Caitlin Christenson, High School English teacher, and Dawn Ferris, Elementary Secretary to the East Jackson Family!

We are looking forward to a GREAT year!

2015/2016 School Meal Prices Breakfast Lunch

High School $1.50 $2.50 Middle School $1.25 $2.50Elementary $1.25 $2.25

East Jackson Community Schools is no longer eligible for school-wide free lunch as was previously offered at Memorial School. Students who qualify individually will still be eligible for free and reduced lunch.

First Day of SchoolSeptember 8, 2015We are excited to welcome you to

EJE!

East Jackson ElementarySchool Day Hours - 8:30 a.m. - 3:43 p.m.

Greetings from East Jackson Elementary!

We are excited to be moving into our newly renovated school at 4340 Walz Rd. and the many related changes this move brings. Students from kindergarten through 6th grade will be attending school at this location. Mrs. Jill Arcaro has joined us as the assistant principal along with Mrs. Dawn Ferris as a building secretary. We are excited to have them on our team.

As you can imagine, staff members have been incredibly busy packing, moving items, unpacking and getting our building and grounds ready for the 2015-2016 school year. I would like to thank everyone for all of their hard work related to this exciting transition (which began over a year ago with the approval of the bond). Thank you!

Another kindergarten round-up will be held on Wednesday, August 19th. Please call the school to establish an appoint-ment at 517-764-1810. Kindergarten Orientation will be Tuesday, 9/1, from 6:00-7:00 PM for all incoming kindergarten students and their parents/guardians.

Our Open House for grades 1st -6th will be held Wednesday, 9/2, from 6:00-7:30 PM. This event will provide a great op-portunity for you to explore and become familiar with the building, meet our staff members and also get to know some other East Jackson families. We hope you can join us.

The East Jackson Elementary School students will be attending classes from 8:30 AM – 3:43 PM. To accommodate the number of students and to provide a safe and comfortable environment, there will be three lunch periods (with 2-3 grades at a time) and two afternoon recesses (with 3 grades at a time). Buses will unload at the north end of the building and all student drop-off and pick-up will be in the front of the school. There are separate driveways for each purpose. Please watch the website for more specific information about the process.

As we begin our new school year, please visit our website for a variety of information. If you are currently an EJ resident and moved out of district over the summer, please be sure to complete a Schools of Choice Application for each of your stu-dents. This application is available at any school office and is on our website. A list of suggested school supplies, our monthly newsletters, calendar, student/parent handbook and menus are also posted. The website also includes links to staff e-mail addresses along with a link to Power School, which allows students and parents to be informed of the grades being earned. Please plan to visit the website at: www.eastjacksonschools.org on a regular basis to keep up with the current EJE news.

We have an organization of parents, teachers and community members for our elementary building. The East Jackson Elementary PTCO organizes many enjoyable events throughout the school year which are made possible through our fall fundraiser. We encourage you to become an active participant of this valuable organization. Notices of the PTCO monthly meetings (held in our new community room at EJE) will be posted.

Student success is best achieved when parents and the school staff work together as a team. We encourage you to stay involved and informed as the school year progresses. If you have any input, questions or concerns during the school year (especially with so many changes this year), then please feel free to contact us. Again, the school office phone number is 517-764-1810. We look forward to working with you and your student(s) during the upcoming 2015-2016 school year.

Go Trojans!

Heather JacobsEast Jackson Elementary Principal

March was reading month at Bertha Robinson Elementary

and this year’s theme was “Books Can Take You Places.”

Local children’s author, DL Price, spent two mornings with

us discussing how she wrote her series for older children

called The Trahe Chronicles. We also had 20 seniors from

East Jackson High School spend an afternoon with students

where they shared some of their favorite story books. Other

activities planned were door decorating in celebration of

books and reading, the Scholastic Book Fair, surprise “DEAR

Time” announced by Ms. Jacobs, and a bike giveaway. March

doesn’t need to be the only time to read! Please continue to

encourage your child to read at home and take them to the

library on a regular basis.

Books Can Take You Places!!!

Music Programs at East Jackson ElementaryEach spring we feature all elementary students on stage to showcase their musical talent and to present the many things we have learned throughout the year. The themes this year taught the students about their history, their government, their country, and about other countries around the world. This included how they relate to others in their family, at the school, in their neighborhoods, in their community, and in their world.

The students sang and played recorders, xylophones, Orff percussion instruments, hand drums and band instru-ments during these performances. This represented the hard work each of the students had put in during their music classes in order to master the songs and instruments for these performances. Bravo students! To see pictures and watch videos from these events, visit the East Jackson Community Schools Music Department website: ejaxmusic.weebly.com

We look forward to seeing the students’ new musical accomplishments next year.

A Look to the Fall

•6th Grade Band moves into the East Jackson Elementary with a new format. •Middle School bands will also introduce a new structure and a new schedule. •The Trojan Marching Band will spend a week in August at Albion College and will take to the field with a new fall show entitled “Sweet Home Chicago.” •Plans are underway for the High School Choir to join several other local schools for a large combined concert in October or November.

Sixth grade students enjoy learning through a variety of

hands-on experiences; some are even edible. Starbursts

are used to show how rocks form through heat and pres-

sure, apples to show the layers of the Earth, and trail mix

to show the difference between a compound and mix-

ture. Students used slinkys to demonstrate waves and

water bottles for tornadoes.

Technology also plays a key role. Students use Google

Slides to explain key terms and have animated pictures to

illustrate their understanding. Piktochart and Prezi are

websites students use for reports and presentations. Stu-

dents were also given the option to create a song, puppet

show, or poster to demonstrate their understanding.

Hands On Science!

Our fifth grade scientist had the opportunity to let their knowledge shine using edible manipulatives. After learn-ing about comets and the different phases of the moon, students created edible models. These models showed proper placement and relation to sun. The generosity of our Trojan families helped to make this fun learning ex-perience possible!

Who Knew Science Could Be Fun AND Edible?

The 4th graders ended the school year with a focus on plants, their needs, and their role in the ecosystems. With the help of a Donorschoose.org funded project, students were able to plant their own flowers and watch as they grew. They also experimented with bean seeds to see how plants grow from seeds and what is most important for their survival. Students were excited to see our bean stalks growing each day. They even anticipated a visit from “Jack” because a few bean seeds thrived so greatly and the stalks grew so tall! Fourth graders learned the impor-tant role that plants play for humans and other animals and had fun with some hands-on learning too!

4th Graders Develop Green Thumbs

Elementary Transportation Hub Information The bus will arrive at the gazebo at approximately 7:58 a.m. for pick up and will return at approximately 3:55 p.m. for drop off after school. It is advisable to be 5-10 minutes early for both drop off and pick up. Rules:

1. East Jackson Community Schools will transport students to East Jackson Elementary if students are present at or before the posted pick up and drop off times. 2. Students must wait in parent/guardian vehicles or at the gazebo with a parent present until the bus comes to a complete stop. Students must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.

3. Students may not get off the bus without a responsible adult or designated teenaged student present. If a designated person is not present, the student will not be allowed off the bus, and can be picked up at the bus garage after 5:00 p.m. 4. Students may only enter the building at Memorial School if they are enrolled in Before/After care programs. East Jackson Community Schools is offering this service as a convenience to our families. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity!

The Hub is located at

Memorial School

345 N. Dettman

Jackson MI 49202

Pick up and drop off will

be at the gazebo.

Transportation News

DON’T MISS THE BUS!!

Please be sure students are at their designated stop at least 5-10 minutes before the scheduled time of arrival.

Buses will be unable to wait for late students. Thank you for your assistance in getting a

all students to school on time!

Communication is the best tool to discourage bullying.

Please report any and all bullying that may be occurring while on the bus.

East Jackson Secondary School 2015/2016 Bus Routes

Please feel free to contact Mrs. DuBois at the Transportation Office with any questions or concerns.

Phone: (517) 764-2090 EXT. 5 Email: linda.dubois@eastjacksonschools.org

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Transportation News East Jackson Elementary School 2015/2016 Bus Routes

Don’t miss the Transportation Hub for

East Jackson Elementary!

Bus 27B will arrive at the Memorial gazebo at

7:58 a.m.

Please arrive at least 5-10minutes early so youdon’t miss the bus!!!

Non- Profit Organization U.S Postage Paid Jackson, MI 49202 Permit #41

East Jackson Community Schools 1404 N. Sutton RdJackson, MI 49202

http://eastjacksonschools.org