Friday, January 7, 2022
COMING UP
Return To In-Person Instruction Begins January 10th
The MMSD Board of Education held a special meeting this week with district leadership to discuss our plans moving forward. As a result of this collaborative work, including our ongoing review of local health metrics and trends, and receiving guidance from our medical advisors relative to ensuring safety and sustainability, we will return to in-person learning on Monday, January 10, at all grade levels.

Please see this East update from Interim Principal Smith.

Some of the district's work during the past week has included:
  • Meeting and collaborating with our medical advisory team;
  • Planning, staffing, and hosting several vaccine and booster clinics as well as COVID-19 testing sites;
  • Acquiring a sustainable supply of PPE, rapid antigen tests, and PCR tests;
  • Modifying our contact tracing strategy due to anticipated significant increases in cases, while utilizing available staff;
  • Refining social-emotional learning lessons for families who request extra support.

By partnering with us in keeping our schools safe, there are several important ways students and families can help which include:
  • Students getting tested for COVID-19 prior to their return on Monday. MMSD is offering free tests at several school sites throughout the weekend
  • Reviewing district safety mitigation strategies prior to their return
  • Extending grace and support to our staff members who are supporting safety protocol adherence
  • Proper masking and hand washing
  • Ensuring students stays home, and get tested, when sick or showing symptoms
  • Completing COVID-19 screeners each day if applicable and following screener guidance
  • Adhering to physical distancing of three feet for students (six feet when eating) when possible
  • Students receiving COVID-19 vaccinations or boosters

We will continue to keep you informed as we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.
MMSD COVID Clinic Testing Sites
East is a MMSD COVID Clinic Testing Site and is open Monday-Friday from 7:30am-4:30pm.

Additionally some MMSD COVID Clinic Testing sites (including East) will be open this weekend, Saturday, January 8th and Sunday, January 9th from 8:00am-5:00pm. Sites include:
VanHise/Hamilton
East
LaFollette
Memorial
Blackhawk/Gompers
Holtzman Building

Please plan accordingly for wait times up to 60 minutes. To expedite the process, please pre-register each individual being tested.
Parent Engagement Opportunities
PARENT GROUP MEETINGS
Meet with the principal and other staff to share important information and partner in our efforts to provide students with the best educational experience possible at East.

East High Purgolder United Parent Group
Staff Contact: Interim Principal Mikki Smith
Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 19th, 2022 from 6:30-7:30pm via Zoom

Asian Parent Group
Staff Contact: Hmong Bilingual Resource Specialist Ge Vang
Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 12th, 2022 from 6:30-7:30pm via Zoom

African-American Parent Group
Staff Contact: Multicultural Services Coordinator Sean Gray
Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 25th, 2022 from 6:30-7:30pm via Zoom

Latino Parent Group
Staff Contact: Spanish Bilingual Resource Specialist Silvia Gomez 
Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022 from 6:00-8:00pm
Bridge Week
The unique circumstances presented by the COVID Pandemic has given the district the opportunity to re-think some of our traditional structures such as Final Exam Week. As a result, like last year, we are implementing a shift in our finals week to allow for greater flexibility for teachers and staff to address the individual needs of students in ways a traditional finals week does not. There will not be a finals exam week. The last week of the semester, January 17th-21st, 2022 will be a “Bridge” week between the end of Semester 1 and Semester 2. *Subject to change based on current community health conditions
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