Family check-ins, food support, & e-learning update

Dear East Prairie families,

We hope that this communication finds you and your family healthy, safe, and in place with what you need.  As you well know, we are in uncharted territory as a society and this rapidly evolving situation offers no clear paths forward.  Ensuring the health and wellbeing of every member of our East Prairie community remains our unwavering priority. Please know that our team is diligently working to communicate as effectively and transparently as possible, while also planning for all future possibilities.  As such we wanted to share the following next steps and information with you.

Over the coming days, our teachers will be reaching out to all families.  The aim of these calls is to check-in, connect, and further communicate. We want to make sure that we are doing everything possible to support every family to the fullest extent possible.  We will also be inquiring about the following family specific information:

- Does your family need any food or grocery items?

- Would you be interested in pick-up/drop-off meal options after spring break?  How many children under the age of 18 would be needing meals?

- Does your family have an Internet connection?

- Does your child have a device they can use during the day to access online learning opportunities?

- What is the best way for us to contact you moving forward?  (email, phone, etc.)

We know that during this trying time, there are hundreds of questions that everyone must have - Is the school safe?  When are we coming back? What are we doing with the kids? - we want to take the time to respond to and answer as many of these wonderings from families as we can.  Please use this Google form link to share your questions, asking anything that is on your mind.  We will be sure to respond to these questions and follow-up as soon as possible.

We are currently finalizing our plans for e-learning and extended learning at home should we not be able to come back to school in the next few weeks.  While this is still an uncertainty for all schools, we want to be as proactive in planning as possible. You will be receiving additional information over spring break as to what you and your child can expect.  Our team is working hard to ensure a model that is impacting and equitable for all students and families.

In addition to the Evanston and Niles Township Food Pantry options already shared, East Prairie is working to coordinate meals for our families after spring break.  Our teachers will be gathering information from those wanting to participate. We are still figuring out our pick-up/delivery model.  You can also reach out to info@eps73.net to participate.  This email address has been set-up to help support any other needs that your family may have.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out with anything that we can do to support your family.

We know this is A LOT of new information.  In order to effectively communicate we are trying to keep things streamlined so that you are not overly inundated with emails.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is something that any member of our EPS team can do to support you and your family during this time.  We hope that you and your family have everything you need and are able to enjoy the time together. Thank you for your kindness, flexibility, and compassion as we work together to support our kids, one another, and our entire East Prairie community!

In partnership,

The East Prairie Team