Welcome Back Explorer Families,

It's that time:  Meet the Teacher is tomorrow.  Please read below about meet the teacher and our beginning of the year information.  Please do not hesitate to contact the school with any questions.  

 

Message from 7/5/2022

It is hard to believe that the new school year is here, but it is!  We welcome the 2022-2023 school year with optimism and excitement.  We are thrilled to have all of our students back for face to face instruction.  We have missed your smiling faces!  It is my hope that my welcome message and information will be just what you need to feel confident and ready to return back to school.  I want to acknowledge that there will be some students and families with anxiety about returning back to school.  If you have any specific questions, need information about practices and protocols, or have the need to speak with a counselor, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to assist you! 

 

To minimize the spread of COVID-19, our school follows all COVID-19 health measures required by the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Review our Safe Return To School Plan before the first day of school. Remember, all students must stay home when sick, wear a face covering in school and should  maintain as much physical distance as possible on campus. Please notify your student’s teacher or me as soon as possible if your student is diagnosed with COVID-19, so we can work with health officials for confidential contact tracing. Together, we can keep our students, staff, and community healthy in a safe and welcoming environment at school.

 

Our school theme is #LIFT and it is our desire to #LIFT each other up in this new school year--the best yet! As we move forward you will hear me refer to our theme in future communications, in school messenger phone calls, and in our community. 

 

Please read through the information below and feel free to reach out with any questions or needs.

 

Before and After School Care Program

EGES would like to offer a Before and After Care Program.  The program must meet enrollment requirements of at least 25 paid student registrations in order to open.  If you are interested in Before Care (7:00 a.m-8:45) and/or After Care (4:00-6:00 p.m.), please complete this form.  For specific questions about the program, please email Ms. Velez at cvelez@wcpss.net.

 

Rising Kindergarten Information

A special welcome to our newest Explorers!  Don’t worry Mom & Dad, we are experts at welcoming our Kindergarteners in and ensuring their transition to school is as successful as possible.  Do you need help enrolling your child in Kindergarten?  Contact Ms. Roger, our Student Information Manager at  trodger@wcpss.net for more information.  

Carpool

Carpool occurs in the lot accessed from WQRB Radio Station Road.  Cars should not pull into the Bus Loop, as this presents a safety hazard for cars and students.  Each student is required to have a carpool number.  Please complete this form to sign up for carpool.  You will receive a tag during the first few days of school.  

 

Bus Transportation

If you applied for a yellow bus transportation by the due date, please check your email for bus stop and pick up/drop off time information.  If you have not applied for yellow bus transportation, but need to, please visit the WCPSS Transportation page to do so.

 

Schedules

All homeroom teachers will share their daily classroom schedule with parents at Meet the Teacher.  

 

Power Schools Registration

Please click this link for directions to register for parent access to PowerSchool. This process will be available at the school for parents at Meet the Teacher in the Cafe.    This access allows parents to check grades, enter address changes, etc.  Need support with this process?  Please contact Ms. Rodger at trodger@wcpss.net.  Ms. Rodger is a Student Data Manager and she can assist you. 

 

Lunch

 Additionally, families should still complete the meal application form linked here. Lunch is no longer free for everyone, so please make sure you’ve submitted your application for free or reduced lunch or make sure your student has money in his/her account or brings a packed lunch.  

 

Does your child have allergies or special dietary needs? If your student has a food allergy and will be getting lunch from the cafeteria, please provide a doctor’s note to the office documenting this allergy for us to submit for a specialized meal. Students will eat in the cafeteria.  Please notify school administration, AP Anderson right away so we can be prepared at oanderson@wcpss.net.  

 

Technology

Every student who has not already been assigned a WCPSS Chromebook will receive a device within the first week of school.   Students should use their WCPSS device for school assignments and tasks.   Questions about devices?  Please contact AP Allain at aallain@wcpss.net. 

Sick Students

Any student who attends school and presents with a Covid-19 symptom will be sent home and required to quarantine or a negative Covid test.  Pick up should be timely and all students with symptoms should be picked up within the 30 minute allotted time window. These processes will be shared with the adult who picks up the child from school.  

 

Water Bottles

Drinking from the water fountain is not permitted.  EGES has new water bottle filling stations.  Students will be provided a school spirit water bottle!  Please label your child’s water bottle with their name.  Please ensure your child brings their water bottle daily.  

 

Meet the Teacher Options

We are offering staggered Meet the Teacher sessions.  Our Virtual Session is open to all student families on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 11:00  a.m. Virtual (presentation only posted at 11:00) and 5:30 p.m. Face to Face pm. The face to face option is staggered.  Students with last names A-L 5:30-6:00 and students with last names from M-Z attend from 6:00-6:30 p.m. Please attend based on your child’s last name.  

 

Join our PTA:  More information will be shared in the coming weeks regarding our 22-23 PTA.  Stay tuned!

 

School Administration Contact Information

School administration is here to help!  You may contact us at any time.   

 

Principal:  Dr. Carmen M. Graf  cgraf1@wcpss.net

Assistant Principal K-2:  Odessa Anderson oanderson@wcpss.net

Assistant Principal 3-5:  Austin Allain aallain@wcpss.net

 

Again, we can’t wait to see you and your child as we begin an #EPIC school year.  

 

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Graf