Happy Thanksgiving!

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, 

brings peace for today, 

and creates a vision for tomorrow."

 -  Melody Beattie

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we wanted to pause for a moment of sincere gratitude.  At East Prairie, thankfulness is a part of our daily commitment, and we have so much to celebrate!  The opportunity to gather as a community each day, dedicated to our children’s learning and well-being, is both a profound joy and a distinct privilege.

Our deepest gratitude extends to every one of our students, teachers, support staff, families, and community partners.  The work we undertake together is a true partnership, dedicated to ensuring our children realize the brightest of futures and, in turn, shaping a better, more inclusive world for all of us to share.

Our hearts are full of gratitude for the opportunity to dedicate ourselves to this important work, and for the amazing people who make up our community.  On behalf of our staff, we wish you and your family a restful, joyous, and Happy Thanksgiving!

The Arts at East Prairie

The arts are critical to a well-rounded education at East Prairie!  By fostering creativity, critical thinking, and confidence, these programs help our students thrive.  Check out this brief video spotlight showcasing the extraordinary experiences of the arts at EPS!

Community Collaboration Meeting Follow-up

Thank you for the strong showing of support at Monday’s community collaboration meeting.  Our time together centered on uniting our families to serve the broader community and exploring ways to boost our available resources.  Here is a link to the slides, as well as an overview of the connections, ideas, and resources shared:

• East Prairie

• Reviewed all support systems (including safety plans and resources) and communication tools (common language) for both students and staff.

• Reviewed the approach to incorporating current events into our social-emotional learning curriculum.

• Shared our existing and expanded community partnerships (LAN41 network, ELL Parent Center, counseling and behavioral health centers, etc.)

• Shared EPS Reporting Form and Safe2Help online tools.

• The Panther Pantry is an onsite resource providing free food, clothing, and school supplies to ALL our families.  We offer pick-up and delivery options—please visit the office or contact a staff member to access the support you need.

• We are ready to assist you!  To access the resources and support your family needs, please reach out to any trusted member of our school community, and they will ensure you are connected.

• Niles Township Government Social Services Department

• Here is a video overview of the financial assistance, food pantry, respite center, referral, and non-financial assistance resources supported by the Niles Township Government.

• Here is a link to the Niles Township Linktree to get involved and help in a variety of ways (supporting food needs, essential supplies, the community garden, etc.).

• Our East Prairie team is here to help you make connections, complete paperwork, and support in any way that we can.

• PTA

• Shared the following resources and plans.  Copies of each are attached in today's message to families in both English and Spanish.

• Know Your Rights When Interacting with Immigration Officers

• Safety Planning for Families

• Support for Parents + Caregivers: Talking with Children About Immigration Enforcement

• Here is a link to sign up with the PTA if you are interested in volunteering as a school patrol to help support the safe arrival/dismissal of our students and families within the neighborhood.

• Please reach out to a trusted community member or our staff if we can help coordinate a trusted adult to walk your child(ren) to and/or from school.

We remain dedicated to listening, learning, and gathering ongoing input on opportunities to enhance partnerships that best serve our families.  Our commitment is to always ensure this school remains a safe, welcoming, and protective environment for every student, family, and staff member.  We are a place of unconditional support and care for everyone in our community.  

Please never hesitate to reach out to any member of your child’s team if there is anything that we can do to support their safety, learning, and well-being.  We promise to continuously learn, grow, and improve to meet the needs of our community.  Collective care is the true strength of our community.  Know that we remain ready to support your child and family through every opportunity and every challenge.

One School, One Readaloud

 This year, we're excited to continue our cherished tradition of an all-school read-aloud.  All Panthers will unite through a powerful story that supports our Social and Emotional Learning curriculum, strengthening our community and fostering a love of reading.

We are excited to begin Unit 3: I can act in a responsible manner, which focuses on how our individual choices shape our shared community.  We will use the engaging picture book, What if Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick, as our anchor text to explore this essential topic across all grade levels.  This simple yet powerful story clearly illustrates the cause and effect of our actions, teaching our youngest learners basic rules and routines while prompting older students to delve into deeper concepts of personal accountability and civic responsibility.  Whether discussing cleaning up a mess or analyzing the ethics of communal responsibility, the goal of this unit is to foster students who think beyond themselves and actively participate as thoughtful, responsible members of our school and neighborhood.

Ready to explore the book?  Here is a video read-aloud link for you!  Additionally, if you'd like a physical copy, please feel free to borrow one from our main office.

Veterans Day

 Thank you to United States Marine Corps veteran Mikhail Dasovich for his service and for sharing his experiences and insights with our students.

Community Collaboration + Care

As our community's needs continue to evolve and change rapidly, we are committed to meeting every challenge fully. With that goal in mind, we are pleased to announce the expansion of our support network.  Our school is deepening its partnership with Niles Township Government and our EPS PTA to enhance the resources available to our students, families, and staff.  This collaboration ensures we can provide even broader support across our entire community.

East Prairie parents/guardians are invited to a special collaborative meeting next Monday, November 17th, from 6:00 to 7:00PM in the Community Room.  Our administrative team, along with our partners from Niles Township Government and the EPS PTA, will share details about our expanded support network.  We are dedicating time to listen, learn, and gather input on opportunities for enhanced partnerships that will best serve our families.  Please use the district office doors (off the main circle drive) to enter. We look forward to working with you.

Our commitment is simple: we will always ensure this school remains a safe, welcoming, and protective environment for every student, family, and staff member.  We are a place of unconditional support and care for everyone in our community.  Please never hesitate to reach out to any member of your child’s team if there is anything that we can do to support their safety, learning, and well-being.  We promise to continuously adapt our plans to meet your evolving needs.

Collective care is the true strength of our community.  Know that we stand ready to support your child and family through every opportunity and every challenge.

East Prairie Recognition

 East Prairie has again been recognized as a top school!  U.S. News and World Report recognized us as both a best elementary and middle school.  We should all feel tremendous pride in the extraordinary dedication and positive impact that defines our school.  This is a shared achievement.