Jacksonwald

Exeter teams with local groups to help distribute 57 Thanksgiving boxes to those in need

thanksgiving boxes group photo
Members from Reformation Lutheran Church, along with ETSD employees, Ashley Rinehart (front row, left), who is a school social worker, and Courtnay Epler (front row, right), who is the district’s food services supervisor, distributed 57 Thanksgiving boxes to needy families in our community yesterday. Each box was filled with a turkey, pumpkin pie, paper products and other food, which was collected by members of the church, local Girl and Boy Scout troops and employees of Fairlane Gardens at Reading Nursing Home.
During this week of giving thanks, Mrs. Rinehart is grateful to the members of the community who give so generously to help others in need. Each year, she works with somewhere between 150-200 homeless students in Exeter who need help with basic necessities, such as food or clothing. In the last year, many of these services--which are overseen and run by outside organizations, such as the church or the Exeter Food Pantry--were centralized at the Exeter Township Administration Building due to its COVID-safe and convenient drive-up access for families in Exeter. Centralizing these services made Mrs. Rinehart’s job easier as she helps coordinate these basic necessities for homeless students, as well as provides them with help to find shelter or housing, rent and utility assistance and other needs as they get back on their feet. Mrs. Rinehart also works closely with the Exeter Community Education Foundation to be able to provide heaters, clothing, transportation, prescriptions and more to students in need.

If you’d be interested in supporting one of these worthwhile causes to help students in need in the district, please consider making a donation to the Student Outreach fund at the Exeter Community Education Foundation. You can learn more here: https://www.facebook.com/ExeterEducationFoundation

Exeter wins BCIAA’s Sportsmanship Award

tom legath holds BCIAA trophy photo

Athletic Director Tom Legath was presented with the Berks County Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Sportsmanship Award on Monday, which is voted on by a committee of athletic directors and coaches throughout Berks County. Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Minor made the announcement during this week's Board of School Director's meeting: “I am extremely proud of this trophy,” she said. “During a year that will likely go down in history… where the world struggled with civility and manners and courtesy, our students rose above all of that and time and again at home games and away games they demonstrated to coaches around the county and athletic directors around the county that our Exeter students are the best of the best when it comes to sportsmanship.” Congratulations to all of our coaches, athletes, parents and supporters for this distinguished honor!

Jacksonwald families donate coats, hats and gloves to new clothing bank

jacksonwald students collect coats for donation drive
Today, Jacksonwald APT Co-Secretary Amber Elliott, along with
Bella Elliott, Emma Elliott and Hudson Lutz, delivered the first round of donated winter coats, jackets, hats and gloves that the APT collected to the Exeter clothing closet, which is a central resource at the Administration Building for school counselors to pull items for students in need. Amber said that the response to the coat drive has been incredible so far as she thanked all of the Jacksonwald parents and students who had donated. "It was a huge collection and we are so grateful," she said.
She also mentioned that parents throughout the district could donate any gently used winter coats, jackets, hats or gloves by dropping off their items outside of the entrance to Jacksonwald. The donation box will be set up now through next Tuesday for their final collection of items for students in need.

School messages delivered YOUR way: Get ready for ParentSquare

photo of parentsquare logo

As part of Exeter's efforts to enhance communication, in the coming days you'll be receiving more information about a new communications system and app called ParentSquare, which will unify ALL of the messages you receive from your children's teachers, administrators and the district in one safe and secure place with options for you to select how and when you're notified. Parents will be able to keep track of news, activities and events from all of their children’s schools, allowing for easier communication, organization, involvement and awareness of what's happening in your kids' classrooms, clubs and activities and across the district.

With ParentSquare, parents can enjoy photos posted by teachers, fill out forms and permission slips, sign up for parent-teacher conferences and much more. School staff and parents can engage in both one-to-one and group messaging with real-time language translation. We also think that parents will enjoy the built-in calendar that allows parents to set up reminders and download events directly to their phones so that they never miss an important date or event!

With our launch set for Monday, November 15th, please stay tuned as we invite you to join us in the app or online in a few more days!

Quarantine Update for Students 5-11 Years Old

As you are likely aware, this week the CDC granted emergency use authorization of Pfizer's COVID vaccine to children 5-11 years old, which opened vaccine availability to all children attending elementary and middle school. Should you so choose to have your child vaccinated, the PA Department of Health will no longer require us to quarantine your child if he or she has been identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual at school. To be eligible for this exemption, your child must have received both doses of the vaccine with the last dose occurring at least 2 weeks prior to exposure.

If you would like to vaccinate your child, you may find a list of vaccine providers by visiting vaccines.gov, texting your zip code to 438829, calling 800-232-0233 or calling your child's pediatrician for further information and advice. Exeter will also host a vaccine clinic at the Lausch Administration Building in the near future--please stay tuned for dates and details.

Jacksonwald STARs eat lunch surrounded by firetrucks

STAR students at Jacksonwald received a super special treat this week as they ate lunch outside surrounded by firetrucks and firemen from the Exeter Township Fire Department! While eating, the firemen shared tips on fire safety and talked about some of the cool things their firetrucks have on board to help people during fires or emergencies. Our sincerest thanks to Sergeants Ed Weitzel and Brian Otto and firefighters/EMTs David Kemmerer, Brian Frey and Tyler Kline from the ETFD for your time and showing our students all of the great things you do to keep Exeter safe!