Ellicott Summer Update

Hello Ellicott Families!

We hope you're soaking up every bit of summer sunshine and making great memories with your families and friends! With August now in full swing, we wanted to check in and share a few important updates to help you plan for the weeks ahead. We’re getting excited to welcome our amazing students back for another great year at Ellicott!

As always, thank you for your partnership and support. We can't wait to see all those smiling faces back in our hallways soon. Until then, enjoy the last stretch of summer!

Mrs. Diana Nigro, Principal

Mrs. Alecia Brown, Assistant Principal

Class placements and transportation details will be available in the Parent Portal at 4:00 PM on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Be sure to log in to see your child’s teacher assignment and bus information.

As a reminder, our teachers and building team take great care in creating balanced classrooms that reflect the strengths and needs of all students. Each classroom provides a unique and exciting learning opportunity, which is essential for student growth. In addition to teacher and staff input, we also thoughtfully considered all information shared through the parent/guardian input forms to place students in settings where they will be successful, supported, and appropriately challenged.

Please note: We do not accept specific teacher requests, and once placements are posted on the portal they are considered final, and no changes will be made. Thank you for your understanding as we work to create balanced, thoughtful class lists for all students.

This year, New York State has adopted a new Distraction-Free Policy to help students stay focused and safe during the school day. Please read the attached PDF below for important details about how this will be implemented at Ellicott, and see the full Board of Education policy for complete guidelines.

• Personal internet-connected devices must be off and stored during the school day, unless approved for educational or medical reasons.

• No internet, messaging, or app use on personal devices during school hours.

• Devices causing distractions may be held until the end of the day.

• Families can help by reviewing the policy with children, keeping devices at home when possible, and calling the main office if you need to reach your child.

• Lockers and storage spaces are shared and not secured.

A PDF of the elementary letter is attached below, or click here to view the full Board of Education policy.

We know that the back-to-school season can bring a mix of emotions, especially for our students. Because of this, last year we shifted from an Information Night to an Open House style which is designed to ease those first-day jitters and replace them with excitement and confidence.

Rather than a traditional “sit and get” presentation, our Open House focuses on students. It’s a chance for them to meet their teacher, explore their classroom, see familiar and new faces, and start picturing themselves back in their school routine, in a welcoming, low-pressure environment.

Teachers will still communicate important classroom expectations and procedures, but that information will be shared in a more family-friendly format at the event and throughout the beginning of the school year. If you have any specific questions regarding curriculum, routines and structures of the day, please reach out to the classroom teacher.

Our goal? To create a positive, energetic start to the year, where kids walk out feeling ready and reassured, not overwhelmed. Because at the end of the day, it’s all about the kids!

Mrs. Melissa Odrzywolski, our school nurse, will be available during Open House until 6:00 PM. If your child requires medication at school, please bring all medications, doctor’s notes, and required forms with you.

Important: Medications must be dropped off by an adult. They cannot be sent in with your child once school begins.

If you have any questions, please call Mrs. Odrzywolski at 716-209-6276 or via email at modrzywolski@opschools.org. Thank you for helping us ensure a safe and smooth start to the year!

Get ready for the new school year with our pre-boxed school supply kits. Each grade-level kit comes with all the essential supplies, making back-to-school shopping quick and stress-free. No store trips, no searching, just everything your student needs in one box.

Click the link below to learn more and place your order.

Please note, a few items such as a backpack will need to be purchased separately. These items are detailed on the site after clicking your desired grade level.

Looking to keep your child engaged in reading over the summer? Our elementary librarians have put together a fun and helpful Summer Reading Guide filled with great book suggestions for all ages.

Check out the Elementary Library Summer Reading Guide —your one-stop-shop for top picks!

Want even more? Explore our full grade-level reading lists and resources here:
👉 Ellicott Library Summer Reading 2025

Happy reading! 😀