Preschool Screenings Available Through District #7
Scan the QR code below or use this link to request an appointment with the District #7 preschool office.
Letter to the District #7 Community
July 24, 2023
Dear District #7 family,
Over the past year, we have encountered incidents of harassment based on sexual orientation, gender, and race within our school community. This behavior is not only deeply hurtful and disrespectful, but it also undermines the inclusive and welcoming environment we strive to create for all students, teachers, and staff. It is crucial that we come together as a community to address this issue head-on and foster a culture of respect, understanding, and acceptance.
First and foremost, I want to express my empathy and support for any student who has been affected by these incidents. Discriminatory language should never be tolerated, and we are committed to ensuring that all students feel safe, valued, and supported within our district. To those who have experienced the pain caused by these slurs, I want to assure you that we take this matter seriously, and your voices will be heard.
To address this issue effectively, at this evening’s Board of Education meeting, the District’s Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), Dr. Cornelia Smith, and I will be presenting several initiatives which will outline action steps that the district will be taking to move toward increasing the sense of belonging in District #7 for ALL students. These steps will include:
- Incorporating a DEI representative at each school who will work in cooperation with Dr. Smith to assess building-level data and introduce action steps to increase belonging and inclusivity for all students and staff.
- Implementing a framework for addressing student behavior that actively promotes inclusivity. This will include mandatory reporting to parents of victims and parents of alleged perpetrators, and mandatory parent conferences when reports include hate speech or harassment due to sexism, genderism, or racism.
- Establishing student and staff groups that provide a safe space for those from underrepresented populations to connect and increase their sense of belonging.
- Offering additional avenues for reporting bullying, harassment, or intimidation of others.
District #7 thrives on the diversity of our community, and by working together, we can create a school environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and safe.
I encourage you to join me and the Board of Education in taking a stand against any form of discrimination and working towards a more inclusive future. Together, we can build a school community that embraces and celebrates our differences, fostering an environment where all students can thrive.
More information about District #7’s plans for addressing these issues can be heard at tonight’s Board of Education meeting or by watching the broadcast on the District #7 Facebook page.
Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our shared goal of creating an inclusive school community.
Sincerely,
Patrick Shelton, Ed.D.
Superintendent
2023-24 Back to School Information
July 20, 2023
Dear District #7 families,
Welcome to the 2023-24 school year! We are excited to welcome all our students back to school on Wednesday, August 16, 2023! Our staff has been busy preparing for another exciting year and to help our families prepare, we wanted to share some information. Please note that each school will also be sharing more specific information as well.
REGISTRATION REMINDER
If you have not yet registered your child(ren) for the 2023-24 school year, please do so as soon as possible. To be guaranteed bus transportation on the first day of school, students need to be registered by Tuesday, August 1, 2023.
For those families with students that were enrolled during the 2022-2023 school year, you will need to register via the link in the registration email sent by the district. If you do not have this email, please contact registration@ecusd7.org.
For those with students that were not enrolled during the 2022-23 school year, you must complete preregistration first. Once that is complete, you will receive an email with a registration link for that student after it has been approved (typically one business day). Preregistration: http://ecusd7.org/student-registration/
SCHOOL SUPPLY LISTS
All school supply lists for the 2023-24 school year have been posted to the District #7 website. These lists may be found on the respective school page or on the student registration page: http://ecusd7.org/district-information/registration/.
OPEN HOUSES
Open houses prior to the start of the 2023-24 school year will be as follows:
Monday, August 14, 2023
EHS (9th-12th): 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Middle School (6th-8th): 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Primary Schools (1st-2nd): 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Intermediate Schools (3rd-5th): 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION AND OPEN HOUSE
Kindergarten Orientation will be held on Monday, August 14, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at your child’s primary building, except for Hamel Elementary, which will be at 5 p.m. During this time, building principals will discuss the first days of school, show you our classrooms and facilities, and answer any questions you may have about the District #7 kindergarten experience. In addition, please mark your calendar for 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, for our Kindergarten Open House where teachers will be excited to meet students and parents!
MASCOT WELCOME
District #7 will hold a Mascot Welcome for students entering grades 3, 6, and 9 on Friday, August 11, 2023. Bus transportation will be provided, and more information will be coming from each school. This will be a structured time for these students to get to know their new school and campus.
WEDNESDAY EARLY RELEASE
A reminder that on Wednesdays during the 2023-24 school year, schools will once again be dismissed early (High School at 12:45 p.m., Middle Schools at 1:35 p.m., Intermediate Schools at 2:40 p.m. and Primary Schools at 2:50 p.m.) to allow for consistent staff collaboration in identifying priority standards, utilizing common formative assessments, and determining instructional needs for students. This time will allow our teachers to collaborate with one another, plan intentionally and grow professionally.
We hope you enjoy the remainder of your summer vacation. See you next month!
Sincerely,
Patrick Shelton, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Letter to Kindergarten Parents
Dear Kindergarten Families,
We are so thrilled to welcome your little ones to kindergarten! It’s an exciting time and we’re here to make the transition smooth and enjoyable for you and your child.
Here are a few suggestions on how you can support your child’s journey into kindergarten over the next few weeks:
- Independence: Encourage your child to practice dressing themselves, putting on their shoes and coats, and using the bathroom independently. Washing hands and face in the bathroom is a great skill to develop too!
- Gross motor skills: Let your child engage in games that promote gross motor skills, like tossing a ball, hopping, skipping, and running. Playtime is an excellent way for them to learn and grow!
- Sharing & caring: Help your child practice sharing toys and taking turns during playtime. Learning to be patient and kind is an important part of their social development.
- Fine Motor Skills: Let your child explore their creativity by drawing, coloring within the lines, and using scissors safely. These activities strengthen their fine motor skills and boost their imagination!
- Emotional Awareness: Talk to your child about recognizing when they need a break and how to express their feelings. We’ll also help them understand that it’s okay if things don’t always go as planned.
- Independence at school: Encourage your child to take care of their personal belongings, like backpacks and lunchboxes, to keep them safe. We’ll also teach them how to use technology responsibly.
- Buckle up! Practice having your child buckle and unbuckle themselves in the car. During drop-off in the morning, we’ll be there to assist them, but it’s great if they’re familiar with it too!
If you have any questions or need support during this exciting time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to work together as a team to ensure your child has a fantastic kindergarten experience!
Sincerely,
District #7 Kindergarten Principals and Teachers
2023-24 Start of School Year Dates
As the calendar flips to July and puts us closer to the start of the 2023-24 school year, we wanted to share some dates with you for the start of year:
Friday, August 11, 2023
Mascot Welcomes for 3rd, 6th, and 9th grades
3rd grade: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
6th grade: last names that begin with A-K is 8:30-11:00 a.m., while last names that begin with L-Z is 1:30-4:00 p.m.
9th grade: last names that begin with A-L is 8:30-11:00 a.m., while last names that begin with M-Z is 1:30-4:00 p.m.
Bus transportation will be provided, and more information will be coming from the building principals. This will be a structured time for these students to get to know their new school.
Monday, August 14, 2023
High School Open House (5:00 – 6:30 p.m.)
Middle School Open House (6:00 – 7:30 p.m.)
Kindergarten Orientation (6:30 p.m. for all schools except Hamel, which will be from 5:00-6:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Primary Open House (5:00-6:30 p.m.)
Intermediate Open House (6:00-7:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
First day of school!
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Kindergarten Open House (6:00 p.m.)
2023-24 STUDENT REGISTRATION
A reminder that if you have not yet registered your child(ren) for the 2023-24 school year to please do so!
For those families with students that were enrolled during the 22-23 school year, you will need to register via the link in the registration email sent by the district.
For those with students that will be attending the district that were not enrolled during the 2022-23 school year, you must complete preregistration first. Once that is complete, you will receive an email with a registration link for that student after it has been approved (typically one business day). Preregistration: http://ecusd7.org/student-registration/
If you need assistance with technology access or have questions regarding registration, please email registration@ecusd7.org.
Kid Zone Registration Opens July 10 at 8 a.m.
KID ZONE 2023-2024
REGISTRATION OPENS 7/10/23 AT 8:00AM!
Kid Zone offers before and after school care as a service to District 7 families with children in grades K-5. Little Kid Zone is offered to preschool-aged children enrolled in District 7 Preschool Academy.
Kid Zone is a multi-aged, large group, socially based program located in eight of District 7’s elementary buildings. Our goal is to provide a safe and fun program where children are free to explore their interests and develop friendships while respecting themselves and those around them. Kid Zone is a license‐exempt facility operated by District 7.
Parents may register their children for both before school and after school sessions, or for before school only or after school only sessions. Pricing is based upon a flat weekly rate regardless of numbers of days attended.
Board of Education Approves 2023-24 Student Handbook
The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education approved the 2023-24 District #7 Student Handbook on Monday night during its regular monthly meeting.
The handbook underwent a comprehensive review that included input from a parent-teacher advisory, the superintendent teacher advisory, district principals, student advisory, legal team, district leadership team and the Board of Education.
Three distinct changes to the revised handbook include attendance, dress code and code of conduct.
Attendance
- All district students will follow the 5-5-5 rule
- 5 excused days for medical appointment/illness without medical excuse
- 5 excused days for mental or behavioral health
- 5 excused days for family/personal business which requires the student to be out of town
Unexcused Absences
- 3 unexcused absences will result in a letter from the school
- 5 unexcused absences will result in a second letter from the school and may result in a meeting with school personnel
- 9 unexcused absences will result in a referral to the District #7 Truancy Officer or the ROE Truancy Officer
Dress Code
- The dress code will consist of three categories, including must wear, may wear and may not wear.
- Students must wear a shirt, pants, and shoes.
- Among the items students may wear are fitted clothing, pajama pants, and athletic attire.
- Students may not wear hats or head coverings of any kind, unless worn for religious, medical, or safety purposes and approved in advance.
- Among other items students may not wear include violent language or images, hate speech, profanity, images that creates a hostile or intimidating environment, clothing that reveals visible undergarments, and accessories that could be considered dangerous or could be used as a weapon.
Code of Conduct
- Expanded the definition so it involves any student participating in an extracurricular activity at the middle or high school level.
The 2023-24 student handbook may be viewed here and is for all District #7 students, pre-K through 12th grade.
During their meeting, the Board of Education also approved:
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Edwardsville and the District to continue the School Resource Officer program for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
- A MOU between the District and the Nature Preserve Foundation (Watershed Nature Center) to allow for the sharing of a district employed certified teacher with the Watershed Nature Center for the 2023-24 school year.
- A lease between the District and Plummer General, LLC, for office space, for 36 months. Central office staff will be moving from the Hadley House prior to October 1, 2023, due to construction at Lincoln Middle School as part of the bond referendum that will impede parking and district operations.
Lincoln Middle School and Bond Referendum Groundbreaking Ceremony Scheduled
A groundbreaking ceremony to kick-off construction at Lincoln Middle School as part of the 2023 bond referendum will be held at 3:30 p.m., on Monday, May 22, on the north side of Lincoln, just behind the Hadley House.
The construction is made possible by the bond referendum passed at the April 4, 2023, Consolidated General Election by the District #7 community. The bond proposal is a $100 million zero-tax-rate-increase bond issue, which will fund projects at every school in District #7, including addressing identified facility needs, essential safety and security upgrades and other identified critical maintenance needs, and provide an improved learning environment for District #7 students.
One of the identified projects of the bond referendum is a partial renovation and rebuild at Lincoln Middle School, which includes:
- Renovated gymnasiums relocated to the north side of the building
- A renovated theater
- New performing arts classrooms
- A new commons area
- New academic classrooms
- Added handicap accessibility
The construction will keep the original 1925 portion of the school building intact. Over the decades, Lincoln Middle School has undergone various additions, which has led to different floor levels that require steep stairs to get from one area of the building to another. The renovations and rebuilding will help improve the navigability of the school.
Other top priority projects with the bond referendum include:
- Secure double entries at all District #7 schools
- Remediation of asbestos and construction of new classrooms and gymnasium at Hamel Elementary School
- Repairs related to moisture infiltration and possible settlement at Midway Elementary School
- An addition of 7,000 square feet to the Commons at Edwardsville High School
District #7 Honors Employees at Awards Banquet
Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 honored several of its outstanding employees, recognized the contributions of those employees with 25 years of service, and bid farewell with a salute to its retirees on Thursday night during its District Awards Banquet.
The event was held at the SIUE Meridian Ballroom and included comments from Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton and Board of Education President Jill Bertels. Dr. Shelton and Dr. Adam Garrett, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel presented awards.
19 employees were recognized for 25 years, while 24 employees were honored for their upcoming retirement.
Honorees included teachers, principals, custodians, cooks, paraprofessionals, and so many others who help make District #7 an outstanding place for adults to work and students to learn.
Individual award winners included:
- Shelby Summer, EHS math teacher, selected as Rookie of the Year | VIDEO
- Ana Gill, Cassens secretary, selected as Educator of the Year (classified staff) | VIDEO
- Gretchen Hertz, Woodland 3rd grade teacher, selected as Educator of the Year (certified staff) | VIDEO
- Melissa Edwards, Nelson principal, selected as Administrator of the Year | VIDEO
25-Year Honorees
- Tracey Armon, Head Cook (Lincoln Middle School)
- Robert Canada, 5th Grade Teacher (Columbus Elementary)
- Stephen Chapman, Social Studies Teacher (Liberty Middle School)
- Alex Fox, Athletic Director (Edwardsville High School)
- Tara Fox, Director of Curriculum (Central Office)
- Tim Funkhouser, Health/PE Teacher (Edwardsville High School)
- Michelle Herman, Elementary Technology Specialist (Cassens Elementary)
- Jane Hicks, Social Science Teacher (Edwardsville High School)
- Emily Kobler, Special Education Teacher and Instructional Technology Coach (Liberty Middle School)
- Laura Laswell, Paraprofessional (Lincoln Middle School)
- Jennifer Mulvihill, Social Worker (Woodland Elementary)
- Colleen Ogden, Elementary Technology Specialist (Columbus Elementary)
- George Patrylak, Special Education Teacher (Edwardsville High School)
- Michael Rockwell, 4th Grade Teacher (Woodland Elementary)
- Marcy Savoie, Reading Specialist (Columbus Elementary)
- Sherri Schafer, Social Studies Teacher (Liberty Middle School)
- Dr. Cornelia Smith, Director of DEI and Elementary Education (Central Office)
- Traci Thompson, Language Arts Teacher (Lincoln Middle School)
- Dr. Andrew Williams, Assistant Principal (Woodland Elementary)
Retiree Honorees
- Sally Atwood, School Counselor (Edwardsville High School)
- David Boedeker, Science Teacher (Edwardsville High School)
- Nancy Gebhart, Media Secretary (Liberty Middle School)
- Donna Gray, Secretary (Cassens Elementary)
- Rebecca Green, Secretary (Edwardsville High School)
- Sue Grubaugh, Attendance Secretary (Edwardsville High School)
- Yvonne Hallemann, Elementary Physical Education Teacher
- Lynley Harrison, 2nd Grade Teacher (Leclaire Elementary)
- Rebecca Holle, Family and Consumer Science Teacher (Edwardsville High School)
- Annie Jones, Head Cook (Liberty Middle School)
- Theresea Laako, Business Teacher (Edwardsville High School)
- David Lewis, Social Worker (Edwardsville High School)
- Stacey Lipe, Math Intervention Specialist
- Diana Lockwood, Language Arts Teacher (Liberty Middle School)
- Mike McGarr, Math Teacher (Liberty Middle School)
- Donald Mendoza, Spanish Teacher (Edwardsville High School)
- Toni Peitzmeyer, Secretary (Leclaire Elementary)
- Melissa Potvin, Special Education Teacher (Nelson Elementary)
- Dr. Beth Renth, Principal (Worden Elementary)
- Mandie Schulte, Secretary (Success Academy)
- Ruth Shipley, Preschool Teacher (Goshen Elementary)
- Christopher Spencer, Custodian (Edwardsville High School)
- Patricia Steinbech, Paraprofessional (Cassens Elementary School)
- Darlene Wessel, Bookkeeper (Liberty Middle School)
Rookie of the Year Finalists (awarded to an individual in their first or second year in public education)
- Shelby Summer, Math Teacher (Edwardsville High School)
- Payton Carlton, Special Education Teacher (Woodland Elementary)
- Brendan Sulley, 4th Grade Teacher (Columbus Elementary)
2023 Rookie of the Year: Shelby Summer
2022-2023 Rookie of the Year: Shelby Summer
Educator of the Year Building Winners (Classified)
- Ana Gill, Secretary (Cassens Elementary)
- Brittany Burke, Food Service Secretary (Central Office)
- Mary Jean Breeden, Secretary (Columbus Elementary)
- Karen Govreau, Receptionist (Edwardsville High School)
- Beth Pollock, Secretary (Glen Carbon Elementary)
- Kristin Griffin, Paraprofessional (Goshen Elementary)
- Arthur Byrd, School Safety Officer (Hamel Elementary)
- Bionca McCarter, Paraprofessional (Leclaire Elementary)
- Nancy Gebhardt, Media Secretary (Liberty Middle School)
- Linda Davis, Evening Custodian (Lincoln Middle School/Central Office)
- Darren Brown, School Safety Officer (Midway Elementary)
- Scot Ambuel, School Safety Officer (Nelson elementary)
- Lisa Hale, Food Service (Woodland Elementary)
- Alana Henfling, Paraprofessional (Worden Elementary)
2023 Educator of the Year: Ana Gill
2022-2023 Educator of the Year – classified: Ana Gill
Educator of the Year Building Winners (Certified)
- Patty Odom, 4th Grade Teacher (Worden Elementary)
- Gretchen Hertz, 3rd Grade Teacher (Woodland Elementary)
- Cari Wencewicz, Reading Specialist (Nelson Elementary)
- Staci Kyro, 2nd Grade Teacher (Midway Elementary)
- Denise Downes, Social Worker (Lincoln Middle School)
- Jenny Guetterman, 6th Grade Teacher (Liberty Middle School)
- Lynley Harrison, 2nd Grade Teacher (Leclaire Elementary)
- Kelly Ackerman, Kindergarten Teacher (Hamel Elementary)
- Lynne Kusnerick, Nurse (Goshen Elementary)
- Tonya Holmes, 2nd Grade Teacher (Glen Carbon Elementary)
- Sairee Knabe, Social Science Teacher (Edwardsville High School)
- Rob Canada, 5th Grade Teacher (Columbus Elementary)
- Bethany Riechmann, Special Education (Cassens Elementary)
2023 Educator of the Year: Gretchen Hertz
2022-2023 Educator of the Year – certified: Gretchen Hertz
Administrator of the Year: Melissa Edwards, Principal, Nelson Elementary
2022-2023 Administrator of the Year: Melissa Edwards
2023 Summer Camps Through EHS
Summer is right around the corner, which means many of our athletic teams and extracurricular groups have announced their summer camps.
Please see the list below of camps offered at EHS and click on the respective link for more information.
Additionally, several other summer camps and events locally are being added to our Virtual Backpack daily. The Virtual Backpack assists our families in obtaining information pertaining to community resources, services and information as District #7 continues to work in a paperless format.
| CAMP | GRADE (entering 23-24 year) |
| Lady Tiger Basketball Camp – LINK | 2nd-9th |
| Edwardsville Volleyball Camp – LINK | 1st-9th |
| Edwardsville Boys Basketball Camp – LINK | 3rd-9th |
| Tiger Baseball Camp – LINK | 2nd-9th |
| Tiger Speed Camp – LINK | Ages 6-18 |
| Edwardsville Girls Field Hockey Camp – LINK | 4th-12th |
| EHS Boys Volleyball Summer Camp – LINK | 5th-9th |
| Edwardsville Middle School Boys Soccer Camp – LINK | 6th-8th |
| Edwardsville High School Boys Soccer Camp – LINK | 9th-12th |
| Tigers Tennis Camps – LINK | K-12th |
| EHS Softball Camp – LINK | 2nd-9th |
| Tiger Football Futures Camp – LINK | 7th-9th |
| EHS Summer Dance Clinic – LINK | K-6th |
| Choir Camp – LINK | 3rd-8th |
| Orchestra Camp – LINK |