For the 4th quarter, we ask that families stay in your selected learning model. Each time we have a number of students switch models, it requires a lot of time and energy to organize the shift. Spring in a middle school is often quite a busy time, so we hope to limit time spent on school model movement as we enter the home-stretch of the school year.
It feels great to have completed several successful weeks of in-person learning since our reopening. To review the impact that COVID continues to have across the community, you can visit our district website where we post information about recent quarantines. Check it out at:
https://www.durangoschools.org/
It is good news that across the nation COVID cases and hospitalizations are decreasing. However, it is important that we don’t let our guard down quite yet because we are still seeing active cases in schools that push cohorts into extended quarantine periods. It is also evident that as vaccination rates increase, we will see steady declines in cases. As a result, schools will experience a slow return to normal, not a sudden shift. I am keeping this in mind as we stage for next year. EMS will be creating two master schedules for the 2021/2022 school year: one that includes COVID precautions and one that allows for a return to normalcy as soon as possible.
The other good news is that spring is starting its slow emergence in the Animas Valley. The first crocuses are sprouting, the weather is warming, and we will take full advantage of the conditions to transition all breaks and meals outside.
On a final note, we are working to bring back our Zeros Aren’t Permitted program or ZAP program. This will look quite a bit different in our cohort model than in previous years, but the intent will be the same. If students are missing major assignments and receiving zeros in classes that are impacting their grades, we may pull them into a mandatory after-school program to provide tutoring and time to get them back on track. We will notify parents a few days in advance if we hope to keep your child an extra hour at the end of the day. However, we cannot provide a second bus transportation route, so we will need to rely on parents to pick up their children. We are still working out the details, but keep an eye out for communication about this possibility from your child’s team.
Thank you for your continued support,
Jeremy Voss
Escalante Middle School Principal
What’s happening at EMS? Friday Eagle Mailer! This is a new publication sent to EMS Eagles from Mr. Tidwell. Please contact him at [email protected] if you have anything to include in this weekly mailer or if your student is not receiving the email.
Happy Friday Eagles!
We're starting a new tradition of sending out a weekly informative mailer to everyone's email inboxes to let you know what's going on in and around our Escalante campus!
First off, I want to share three issues of our new photo newsletter that I've been sending out to staff each week. Since we can't exactly roam around the building and see all of the exciting things happening, I thought this would be a good way to share in the fun. Remind your teachers to take photos of anything happening in your classroom so we can include it!
Coach Duce would like to remind all of the basketball players that a 3-on-3 Tournament will be held on Wednesday, March 10th. See this link for more details.
We also have some amazing clubs gathering weekly!
Drama Club for 7/8th Grade - Tues 3:30 - 5:30 PM (email Mr. Jordan for more information)
Drama Club for 6th Grade - Thurs 3:30 - 5:30 PM (yell at Mr. Jordan for more information)
Chess Club - Tues 3:00 - 4:00 PM (telepathically contact Mr. Javier or Mr. Bastin for more information)
Knowledge Bowl for 7/8th Gr - Thurs 3:00 - 4:00 PM (send a telegram to Mr. Hise for more information)
Orchestra and Jazz Band members, remember you have before and after school practices! Orchestra meets Monday and Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 and afterschool on Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:00. It looks like Jazz Band also meets at the same times, but with an additional after school session on Fridays from 3:00 to 4:00; it must take a lot of practice to sound this good!
Did you know you can request library books to be delivered directly to your classroom? It's like Dominos, but less greasy. Just sign into Destiny using this link and place a hold on a book you would like to read and I'll get it to you as soon as possible. If you have any trouble using the system, feel free to send me and email at this address and I'll get you fixed up.
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