Publication select ▼
EASTPOINTE — The 2022-23 school year for one Eastpointe Community Schools elementary school began with a donation from AT&T Michigan Pioneers.
On Aug. 31, Lori Doughty, AT&T Michigan external/regulatory affairs director, was at Pleasantview Elementary School to donate 50 backpacks filled with folders, paper, pencils and other essential school supplies.
The donations were part of AT&T’s Tools for Learning campaign. The plan is to donate 2,000 backpacks across the state this fall. The AT&T Michigan Pioneers are employees and retirees dedicated to community service.
Also in attendance during the presentation last Wednesday were Pleasantview Principal Falicia Moreland-Trice, Eastpointe Community Schools Superintendent Christina Gibson, Republican state Sen. Michael McDonald and his district director, Phil Rode.
Moreland-Trice said the backpacks would be given away to the first 50 students who attended the school’s Back To School Jam Sept. 7. School began Aug. 29 in the district. The Jam, to be held after the Eastsider went to press, was a chance to welcome families back to school and also give Moreland-Trice a chance to meet the school’s parents. Coming from another district, this is her first year as principal at Pleasantview, and she wants to build a partnership between the school and community.
During the first week of school, “I was able to meet students, and they were well prepared to come into the building,” she said. “I’m just looking forward to getting the kids into the swing now that we’ve been through the pandemic.”
Moreland-Trice wants to continue providing mentoring opportunities for students “to get them more excited about coming to school and be more involved in their academics.”
As for stepping into a new district with new staff members, “I didn’t feel new,” Moreland-Trice said. “They made me feel like I was part of the team.”
Although there were some issues with power outages in some schools, the new school year in the district is underway.
“We’re excited to start a new school year. We’ve got an amazing staff,” Gibson said. “We’ve got principals who are connected to our community. We’re working to help parents and students who want better for their kids.”
Gibson had a message for the students.
“We’re here to help you learn and to support you and to give you opportunities. What you put in is what you’ll get out. I can’t wait to see them grow and be part of our community and have a fun time learning together,” Gibson said.
At Eastpointe High School and at Eastpointe Middle School, officials are utilizing a hybrid model for the grades 6-12 students. The students are either on an “A” or “B” schedule. With the hybrid, Group A students attend schools in person on certain days, while Group B students conduct school at home virtually, and vice versa. The hybrid model was used in many districts statewide during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We see what’s happening in job markets where people are being able to work from home, and we need to train our children to be able to have those skills,” Gibson said. “If any family has any conditions that don’t support that, talk to the building principal. We’re making exceptions. We’re trying to train our children to be the workforce of tomorrow.
“It’s allowing us to teach children to be together in groups,” Gibson said. “Lots of kids lost those skills during the pandemic because they were at home. They didn’t have to socially engage with others.”
You May Also Be Interested In
