East's Weekly Newsletter for Students, Families, and Staff
Friday, April 9th, 2021
Hybrid Schedule Begins April 20th
MMSD's Hybrid (in-person and virtual learning) Schedule will begin April 20th. All students will participate in synchronous learning (either virtually or in-person) on Tuesday-Friday mornings. Concurrent instruction will take place for each class; teachers will instruct students in-person and on Zoom at the same time, with use of webcams and supporting technology. Mondays will remain asynchronous. More information can be found at east.mmsd.org/schedule.
Note: Those who selected returning to in-person instruction will receive an email with their cohort assignment from the district enrollment office on Friday, April 9th
This Week's Tower TV Episode
  • Ashlie interviews Ms. Hutchins about healthy relationships
  • Noah takes us on a hike, TikTok style
  • Austin and Elam take us up in the air with pilot, senior Clifford Blackwell
  • Malik talks with seniors about some of their favorite sports memories at East
  • Areeya introduces the Asian Student Covid-19 Panel
  • There's a PSA about Student Congress's 'Cameras On' campaign with Farren
  • Ms. Wilcox joins Daniel for our Joke of the Month segment, and
  • Announcements, produced by Simon
Staff Appreciation Shoutout
Want to recognize an East High School staff for "Staff Appreciation Week" coming up May 3rd-7th? Submit a staff shoutout to be be shared in the Purgolder Press. Submissions are due by Wednesday, April 14th. 

You can also email staff directly with:
  • What you like most about them.
  • A memorable moment you have had with them
  • A poem
  • A video
  • A drawing or picture (and when/if you go back in person you can give it to them)

Let's tell and show our East staff how awesome they are!
Driver's Ed Information
Madison Metropolitan School District does not offer driving instruction. The following information may be helpful as students explore ways to obtain their training and license and can be found at east.mmsd.org/drivers-ed.

CESA#2
Provides a Department of Public Instruction (DPI) approved Driver Education Program to high schoolers throughout Wisconsin. Currently, classes are all being conducted online. Behind the Wheel sessions are continuing face to face.
More Information: cesa2.com

OFS Drive
A FREE driver’s license preparation program for youth 18-24.
Contact: Jasmine Banks at jbanks@operationfreshstart.org or (608) 244-4721

MSCR Summer Driver's Ed Program 
Online applications for the Dane County Driver Education Scholarship program through MSCR (linked below) must be completed by April 23rd, 2021 to be considered for the class. It is not first come first serve. Any application received by the deadline will be considered, however there is a selection process due to limited spots in the class. Classes are currently scheduled for in-person during the Summer of 2021.
Contact: East MSCR Rec Specialist, Mayder Lor at mlor@madison.k12.wi.us
Food Resources
Gift Cards
The Food for Thought Club has purchased $50 grocery store gift cards and given them to the school Social Workers. If you and your family need food assistance, please either contact a school Social Worker or one of your teachers to get a gift card. Below are the School Social Workers assigned to each of East's Small Learning Community Neighborhoods.
  • Pam Herman, Tenney and Olbrich Neighborhood School Social Worker
  • Jessie Cudney  Yahara and Warner Neighborhood School Social Worker

Free Food Sites

Mobile Food Pantry
Our Mobile Food Pantry at East is open on Thursdays from 3:30-4:30pm in the back parking lot near the field house entrance. Each household gets approximately 25 lbs of shelf-stable food, 10-20 lbs of dairy/produce, a gallon of milk, and 10 lbs of frozen meat in prepared boxes/bags. You will be asked to (pop) open your trunk or unlock it so we can load food directly into your trunk. If your trunk does not work or if food must go in the back seat of your vehicle, please pull your vehicle just beyond the pickup area and a volunteer will place the food beside your vehicle for you to load after the volunteer has walked away. We must follow social distancing at all times. We are unable to serve families before 3:30pm. We will close the pickup if we run out of food before the end of the pickup period and we will order more food to be delivered the next week. Please contact School Social Worker, Sara Lennertz, with any questions.

MMSD Food Program
During Virtual Learning, MMSD Food & Nutrition is offering once per week pickup of Market Box meals at 40 school sites. The pick up days and times for East High School (Door #4 by the Field House in the big parking lot off Fourth Street) is Mondays, 10:00am-1:00pm and Thursdays, 3:30-5:30pm, but any student/family can go to any of the MMSD sites.
Cast Your Vote For Project Teen Money Videos
The Project Teen Money Video Scholarship Contest is officially LIVE and "SAVE" video voting ends April 11th. Please watch, vote and share the videos, including our East students, ANa and Malik! The goal of this program is to share these talented student’s ideas on Saving, Spending and Giving to inspire other students to “own their money!” This week - vote on the SAVING videos, next week vote on the SPENDING videos and the week after, it's time to vote on the GIVING videos.
MSCR Outdoors Adventure Club
Interested in hiking, kayaking, or climbing? MSCR is offering more FREE outdoor adventure trips open to all MMSD high school students!

Wed 4/21 - hike at Owen Park
Tues 4/27 - high ropes course at Kennedy Elementary
Tues 5/4 - kayaking at Wingra Creek
Tues 5/18 - canoeing at Lottes Park (Monona)

Space is limited so register ASAP! Questions? Email Dane Gottschall.
Quick Links & Helpful Resources
MADISON EAST HIGH SCHOOL | east.mmsd.org