Jefferson Journal

Photos show principals sitting in front of a Jefferson Elementary sign

Hello Ranger Families,

As we move into the end of February, we are excited to launch our new "One School, One Theme" initiative: Rangers are Resilient. Throughout the building, our students will be diving into stories centered on perseverance—discussing exactly what characters do to keep moving forward when things get tough. We are challenging our Rangers to take those lessons to heart in their own daily learning.

In the spirit of that "never give up" attitude, we are kicking off our Read-A-Thon running from February 24th through March 6th! This is a great way for students to practice resilience with their reading goals at home. Whether a book is a quick favorite or a bit of a challenge, the goal is to keep moving and keep practicing.

We also invite you to join us on March 5th from 3-6 PM for our Rangers are Resilient Family Night! While March 5th is also a conference night, our Family Night is an open-house style event for all families to drop in. We will have a wide range of hands-on reading and math activities, along with plenty of free goodies for everyone to enjoy.

Check the details below for more information on the Read-A-Thon and the specific times for our March 5th festivities. We can't wait to see you there!

Warmly,

Mrs. Platt & Mr. Eberly

35980 Lakeshore Blvd. Eastlake, OH 44095

Office Email: tj.office@weschools.org

Main Office Line: 440-942-7244

Attendance Line: 855-612-7207 (24 Hours)

Transportation Department: 440-975-3736

School Website

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YMCA Child Care Information

Mrs. Candace Platt, Principal
Mr. David Eberly, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Lori Dugger, Principal's Secretary
Mrs. Wendy Flick, Administrative Secretary
Mrs. Jacque Sparent, Family Liaison
Ms. Katie Klemencic, School Nurse
Ms. Priscilla Drewery, Health Aide

2/19- Skating Party- 6-8:30 PM
2/20- Sweetheart Dance- 6:30-8:30 PM
2/23- No School for Students- Professional Development Day
2/24- 3rd Grade Music Program- 7 PM at Jefferson Elementary
2/24- One School, One Theme: Rangers are Resilient! Kicks Off
2/24-3/6- Read-A-Thon Fundraiser- More details to come!
2/26- Texas Roadhouse Dine to Donate Night
3/5- Conferences 3-6 PM
3/5- Rangers Are Resilient Family Night- 3-6 PM at Jefferson Elementary

Photo shows details for upcoming Skating Party on 2/19 from 6-8:30 PM at United Skates of America in Wickliffe. Price is $5 and rental skate is $6..

The Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools 2025-2026 Calendar Highlights infographic provides a comprehensive overview of important dates for the school year. School Year Basics The first day of school varies by grade level, starting with Grades 6th–12th and a staggered start for Grades 1st–5th (A-L) on August 21. The staggered start continues for Grades 1st–5th (M-Z) on August 22, with all students in those grades attending by August 25. Kindergarten has a staggered start on August 25 (A-L) and August 26 (M-Z), with all Kindergarten students attending by August 27. Preschool begins on August 26, and the last day of school for all students is May 28. Major Breaks and Quarter Ends Thanksgiving Break is scheduled for November 27–28. Winter Break runs from December 22 through January 2. Spring Break takes place from March 23 to March 27. The end of each quarter falls on October 17, December 19, March 20, and May 28. Graduation and Closings South High School Graduation is on May 26 at 6:30 p.m., while North High School Graduation is on May 28 at 6:30 p.m.. District Holidays include Labor Day (Sept 1), NEOEA Day (Oct 10), MLK Day (Jan 19), Presidents Day (Feb 16), Good Friday (April 3), and Memorial Day (May 25). No classes will be held on Professional Development Days—August 19 & 20, October 17, November 4, February 23, and March 20—or on Teacher Comp Days scheduled for December 1 and April 6.

WE District Calendar

Read + Raise with our Read-A-Thon Fundraiser

Our school Read-A-Thon begins on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 and is sure to be a fun and exciting event.
We understand that your time is valuable. We also know that providing the best education for your child is important. That's why we are encouraging everyone to activate their student's Read-A-Thon account as soon as possible. The instructions are straightforward, making it quick and hassle-free, and it should take less than 5 minutes of your time.
This account will serve as a hub for recording and monitoring your child's progress as a Reader in the event, and for you to share their Read-A-Thon message with friends and family. Use the link below to activate your student's Reader account:
https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/XcAQBp/1?utm=email
Thank you so much for your participation and support. Together, we can make this Read-A-Thon an amazing experience for our young readers!

This year we are going to be celebrating One School, One Theme: Rangers are Resilient! From 2/24-3/6, our students will be exploring what it means to bounce back, stay strong, and grow through challenges.

You're Invited! We are looking for family members to visit our library as Guest Readers. We’ll provide a great book focused on resilience for you to read aloud, and we invite you to briefly share a "real-life" moment where you had to be resilient, too. Your stories help bring this important lesson to life!

Details:

What: Read a provided book and share a personal connection.
Theme: Resilience (Overcoming obstacles and persistence).
When: Please select a time slot below that works for you: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904094EAFAA2CA7FA7-62066500-guest

Please reach out to candace.platt@weschools.org with any questions. Thank you for your participation!

In the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools district students who are 5 years old on or before August 24, 2025 are eligible for kindergarten. Online kindergarten registration will begin February 15, 2026.

General Illness Guidelines Fever: Keep your child home if their temperature reaches 100°F or higher. They are cleared to return once they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. Vomiting: If a child vomits two or more times in a single day, they should stay home. They may return to school 24 hours after the very last time they vomited. Diarrhea: Children with two or more loose stools in one day must stay home; they can return 24 hours after the final episode has passed. Specific Conditions Head Lice: If live lice are discovered, the child should stay home. They are permitted to return to class immediately after their first treatment, even if nits (eggs) are still present. Pink Eye: If a child has eye redness accompanied by drainage or crusting, they should remain home. They can return after 24 hours of treatment (if prescribed), though a doctor’s note is required for reentry. Hand, Foot & Mouth: Keep your child home if they have a fever or open, painful sores. They may return once they have been fever-free for 24 hours and any remaining sores can be effectively covered. Important Reminders Beyond these specific symptoms, the school advises keeping your child home if they simply feel too sick to participate in class activities. Always notify the school if your child is diagnosed with a contagious illness. If you are ever unsure about a specific situation, please feel free to contact the school clinic for guidance.

Learning, eating, playing at recess, and using the restroom can be messy for students of all ages. Please keep a spare change of clothes in your student's book bag.

An image of a winter coat, winter hat, mittens, and boots

In Ohio, we know that the weather can change at a moment's notice! Please be sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the changing temperature. We go outside for arrival, dismissal, and recess any time that the wind chill is 20 degrees or above. Winter coats, hats, gloves, and boots are recommended. If you are in need of assistance providing winter weather gear for your child or children, please fill out THIS form and we will try to help.

Party with the Principals

In January we were focusing on the "E" in our PRIDE Promise which is "Excellence". Students who exemplified this characteristic were invited to a Party with the Principals at the beginning of January. We had snacks, games, and play time on the playground to recognize these students. In February, we are focusing on "Prepared" and "Respectful" and will celebrate with those students at the beginning of March.

Congratulations to the following students for showing "Excellence":

Kindergarten:Robby Baranowski, Hercules Wood, Zora Seybert, Jade Tominec
1st Grade:
Veronica Vahcic, Franklin Kallock, Summer Gray, Natalie Harden, Mila Elfers, Eliot Johnson
2nd Grade: Deni Skakic, Mila Carrion, Parker Piggins
3rd Grade: Melisa Valyte, Nevaeh Rummel, Thea Chester, Zayden Hardman
4th Grade: May Bayer, Aleana Brown, Eli Moss, Elivia Cantrell
5th Grade: Olivia Conti, Stella Veres, Paisley Kostelnik

A photo of an assistant principal and all of the students who were chosen for this Party with the Principal reward.

Attendance Award

Attendance Matters! Every week we award the homeroom with the best attendance from the week before with our attendance trophy! They get to have it (and bragging rights!) for the week until they pass it to the next winners. Any homeroom that wins three times in a grading period will get a special prize.

Congratulations to our winners: Ms. Bratt's Class and Mrs. Conley's Class multiple times!

Positive Shout-Outs

Students are nominated by our staff members for showing PRIDE and kindness and recognized weekly. Keep up the great work!

Three students showing their Positive Shout Out Certificates

When significant and hazardous wintry weather is possible, schools may close for the safety of our students. Closings will be announced on district social media accounts, website pop-up alert, School Messenger alert via phone call, text and email as well as broadcast on channels 3, 5, 19 and 8. When school is cancelled due to the weather, athletic events and practices are cancelled as well.

We have a limited number of new Jefferson Rangers t-shirts left. Click the button below to order and we will send them home with your student immediately. Please be sure to type the student’s first and last name when ordering.

Click Here to Buy a T-Shirt

Welcome to the 2025-26 school year! We have a lot of fun things planned this year, but first get to know the PTO!

President: Diana Warner
Vice President: Marcia Gamiere
Secretary: Katie Pavlick
Treasurer: Melissa Grinstead

Contact: jefferson.pto01@gmail.com

PTO Meetings

We have a very active PTO and we are always looking for more people to get involved to help create fun, engaging, and memorable experiences for our students and families! You are already a member of the PTO by having a child attend our school. There are no membership fees and requirements- plan to attend a meeting!

PTO typically meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 3:10 PM at Jefferson Elementary. Your child can stay after school to have a snack and do a fun activity with one of our staff members while you attend our meeting! The meetings are typically under an hour each time. You can come to a meeting or two or attend every one throughout the year. We cannot wait to meet you!

If you would like your child to stay after school so you can attend our next meeting, please fill out the form below. Thank you!

An image of the coupon needed to show Texas Roadhouse in Willoughby in order for the school to get 10% back. The event takes place on 2/26/26 from 4-9 PM. Dine in or Take Out.

The February school calendar includes several events and school closures throughout the month. Here are the scheduled activities written out by date: Wednesday, February 11: There is a PTO Meeting starting at 3:10 PM. Friday, February 13: The school will hold Valentine's Day Class Parties. Monday, February 16: There is no school in observance of Presidents Day. Thursday, February 19: An United Skates Skating Party is scheduled. Friday, February 20: The school is hosting a Sweetheart Dance. Monday, February 23: There is no school due to a Professional Development Day. Wednesday, February 25: There is a popcorn event indicated by a popcorn icon and a 50¢ price tag. Thursday, February 26: A Texas Roadhouse event will take place from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

The March PTO calendar. Wednesday, March 11: The school will have Specialty Popcorn available for 50¢. Friday, March 13: Students will attend the Fun Believable Science Show. Tuesday, March 17: A PTO Meeting is scheduled for 3:10 PM on St. Patrick's Day. Thursday, March 19: There is a Crumbl Cookies event from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Friday, March 20: There is no school due to a Professional Development Day. Monday, March 23 through Friday, March 27: The school will be closed for Spring Break.

Volunteer to Help with Popcorn

Join the PTO Mailing List

Check Out the PTO Facebook Page

Jefferson PTO Website

The flyer for the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools Fresh Produce Market announces a free event open to the community for the 2025-2026 season. The market is open from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM, or until all food has been distributed, at two rotating locations: North High School located at 34041 Stevens Blvd. in Eastlake, and South High School located at 4900 Shankland Rd. in Willoughby. The scheduled distribution dates and locations are as follows: Thursday, February 5th at South High School. Thursday, March 5th at North High School. Thursday, April 2nd at South High School. Thursday, May 7th at North High School. Thursday, June 4th at South High School. Thursday, July 2nd at North High School. Thursday, August 6th at South High School. Thursday, September 3rd at North High School. The event is supported by several sponsors, including Meijer, Giant Eagle, Lowe’s, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Heinen’s, and Laketran.

Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools Free Produce Market will be held for community members at North High School, 24041 Stevens Boulevard, Eastlake, Thursday, March 5, 2026 from 10 am - 12 pm or until all food is distributed.

Birthdays/Invitations

Students may not pass out birthday invitations. If the family is having a party and wants to invite the entire class, the parent may contact the teacher and request for the teacher to pass the invitations out to all students in the class. NO FOOD BIRTHDAY TREATS MAY BE SENT IN TO SCHOOL THROUGH THE STUDENT OR DROPPED OFF IN THE OFFICE. We will contact the family to pick these up. Thank you for your cooperation!

Lunch

Outside Food Deliveries are Prohibited (Uber Eats, GrubHub, etc). If a student forgets a lunch, and the family can’t drop one off prior to the student lunch period, we will provide them with a school lunch.

Student Cell Phones, Smart Watches, and Earbuds

Student cell phones must be turned off and stored in student backpacks. Students may not have their cell phones in their pockets (pants, sweatshirts, jackets etc). Some bus drivers allow kids to use their phones on the bus, but they should not be walking in or out of school with them in their hands/pockets.
Offense #1 - Staff Member reminds the student to turn the phone off and put it in their backpack (notify classroom teacher for tracking purposes).
- Classroom teacher discretion whether to notify parents or not.
Offense #2 - Staff Member takes the student’s phone and keeps it in their possession (or gives it to the classroom teacher to keep in their possession) until the end of the school day.
- Classroom teacher will notify parents of the 2nd offense and warn about the consequences of a third offense.
Offense #3 - Staff Member notifies the classroom teacher and brings the student’s cell phone to the office.

Principal or Assistant Principal calls home and informs parents that the phone will remain in the office until picked up by the parent.

Smart watches may only be used to tell time. If students are using them for communication or gaming purposes, they will follow the same rules above stated for cell phones.
Students are not allowed to have their personal headphones (airpods, earbuds) during class time (unless approved by teacher for use), recess, or during ENCORE classes. Unauthorized use of these items will result in the above stated processes for cell phones and smart watches.

Student Toys/Balls/Electronics

Students should not bring their own toys, balls, or electronics to school and may not bring them out to recess. If they do bring them to school (for before/after school use), this is at their own risk, and they need to be kept in the student’s backpack. The school is NOT responsible for lost or stolen items.

Student Hoodies/Hats

Students may wear hoodies inside the school, but they must keep their hoods down at all times. Having hoods up makes it difficult to identify students and their actions, and often leads to academic disengagement. Hats are not permitted inside the school unless it is a designated “hat day”.

Jefferson Journal