Westwood Elementary Newsletter

As we welcome November, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for our wonderful students, dedicated staff, and supportive families. It is a joy to see our students learning, growing, building friendships, and demonstrating kindness each day. Thank you for being such an important part of our school community!

November is a wonderful time to reflect on gratitude, kindness, and the many things that make our school special. Throughout the month, we will continue to encourage students to show appreciation for others, make positive choices, and give their best effort in the classroom and beyond.

Learning and Growing Together

Our classrooms are filled with opportunities for students to strengthen their academic skills, develop independence, and celebrate their progress. Please continue to support learning at home by reading with your child, asking questions about their school day, practicing grade-level skills, and encouraging a positive attitude toward learning.

A Season of Gratitude and Kindness

As we approach Thanksgiving, we will remind students that gratitude can be shown in simple but meaningful ways—offering a helping hand, including a classmate, saying thank you, or sharing a kind word. These small actions help create a welcoming and caring school environment for everyone.

Important November Reminders

• Attendance: Every school day matters! Please make every effort to have your child at school on time and ready to learn.
• Family Communication: Be sure to check school messages, classroom updates, and your child's backpack for important announcements and upcoming events.
• Weather and Outdoor Recess: As temperatures begin to drop, please send your child to school with a coat and appropriate clothing for outdoor activities.
• Upcoming Dates: Please refer to the school calendar for important dates, special activities, and holiday break information.

To help keep families connected and informed, I will be sending out a monthly newsletter featuring important updates, upcoming events, and all the exciting things happening at Westwood Elementary. Please take a few moments to read it each month, as it will be filled with valuable information and reminders. Printed copies will also be available in the main office if needed.

Please make sure your email address is up to date in PowerSchool and that you check it regularly, as we frequently communicate with families electronically. Thank you for helping us stay connected!

One of the greatest predictors of student success is consistent attendance. Being at school every day and arriving on time helps students build strong academic skills, develop positive routines, and stay connected with their classmates and teachers. We ask for your partnership in making school attendance a priority by ensuring your child arrives on time each and every day, ready to learn.

We value our partnership with our families and encourage you to reach out anytime with questions or concerns. We are here to support your child and look forward to working together throughout the year.

If you drop off or pick up your student- please make sure you are only doing so in the designated pickup and drop off area where staff are located. We do this to ensure your student is safe and supervised by an adult, thank you for your cooperation. You can see more details below in the drop off and pickup procedures.

Please follow us if you are not already: Westwood Elementary-Elyria City Schools;

https://www.facebook.com/westwoodelementaryecsd

Your Partner in Education,
Mrs. Stacey Basinski
Principal

November:

9- World Kindness Week

10- Picture retake day

11- Veterans Day: wear red white and blue

11- Marco's Pizza Night

17- TechE Club afterschool until 4:15

23-27- Thanksgiving Break, no school

30- School resumes

Hello!

Our Bully Prevention Unit comes to an end with the month of November. We have spent the month talking about how we can Recognize, Report, and Refuse bullying as well as how to be a bystander who makes sure we are looking out for and including others.

We will begin our Emotion Management Unit in the month of November. Students will be learning to identify the emotions of others, what to do when they are feeling strong emotions, and how taking the perspective of others is important. There will be some videos, discussions, and activities that we do in the classrooms to help both ourselves and others.

We will be celebrating Kindness month as well during the entire month of November. Talking about Kindness will be weaved into our lessons this month. On Friday, November 13, we will be celebrating World Kindness Day! If you would like to, please have your student wear a shirt with a kind message to brighten someone else’s day.

Below are some resources to continue our conversation about emotions at home. Thank you!☺

Please feel free to reach out to me at any time either via phone (440-284-8002) or email (yeestacey@elyriaschools.org).

Stacey Yee

School Counselor

At Westwood Elementary, we are committed to creating a safe, positive, and supportive school where every student can learn and grow. Through our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, we teach, model, recognize, and reinforce positive behavior.

Our school-wide expectations are the 3 Bees:

🐝 Be Kind – Use kind words and actions.
🐝 Be Respectful – Respect people, property, and our school.
🐝 Be Responsible & Ready to Learn – Make good choices, follow directions, and be prepared to learn.

The 3 Bees apply everywhere at Westwood—in classrooms, hallways, the cafeteria, playground, buses, and school events.

🐝 How We Support Positive Behavior

Students are taught and reminded of expectations throughout the year. Staff recognize positive choices through Bee Bucks, classroom incentives, PBIS celebrations, attendance incentives, and special rewards.

When expectations are not met, staff focus first on reteaching and supporting students. Depending on the behavior, responses may include reminders, reflection, parent communication, loss of privileges, restorative practices, or administrative consequences.

🤝 Families Are Part of the Team!

Families can help by talking with children about the 3 Bees, celebrating positive choices, and partnering with school staff when concerns arise.

Together, we can help our Pioneers be kind, respectful, responsible, and ready to learn every day!

🐝 Stay in the Game & Attendance Matters!

Every day at school matters! Westwood Elementary is proud to partner with the Cleveland Browns and the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network to encourage students to make attendance a priority.

Being at school on time and ready to learn every day gives students the opportunity to learn, grow, build relationships, and be part of our school community. Throughout the year, we will celebrate students and classrooms who show strong attendance habits through special recognition and incentives.

Help your child Stay in the Game! Make attendance a family priority and help your Pioneer be Responsible & Ready to Learn each day! 🐝

This November, Westwood Elementary is proud to honor and thank the brave men and women who have served our country. We are grateful for the veterans in our school community and beyond who have sacrificed to protect our freedoms.

Students will have the opportunity to recognize a special veteran by completing the heart sent home with their family. We will also be creating a special video featuring students sharing messages of thanks to our veterans. The video will be shared on Westwood Elementary and district social media. Returning the completed heart gives permission for your child to be filmed and for the video to be shared.

In addition, our students will be making thank-you cards at school that will be delivered to local VFW halls on Veterans Day to share our appreciation with veterans in our community.

Please return completed hearts by Wednesday, November 4th.

On Wednesday, November 11th, we invite all students and staff to wear red, white, and blue as we come together to show our appreciation and honor those who have served.

Thank you for helping us teach our Pioneers the importance of gratitude, respect, and honoring our heroes!

To ensure drop-off and pickup run smooth and effective:

· You may ONLY enter at 42101 Griswold to enter the car line. Adelbert entrance is only for Preschool. Please do not cut through- this creates additional traffic for EECV, and we want ALL students to be safe. Also please only drop off and pick up in the designated area, do not use the visitor parking for drop off as it it not an area that is supervised by staff.

· Please do not plan to arrive earlier than 8:55 for Elementary School drop off in the morning. If Elementary students arrive early you will need to keep your student(s) in the vehicle with you until staff comes out to unload students at 8:55am.

· Please do not plan to arrive earlier than 3:00pm for Elementary pickup in the afternoon.

· Once in the lot, please pull up to the car in front of you, as this will allow more cars to enter the lot, and keep cars off the street.

· Please be ready and prepared so that we can keep cars moving efficiently in the lot.

· Follow all directions from staff, they are there to help.

· Please drive safe and slow- this is a school zone and we need to keep all students and staff safe.

· You will exit at Griswold also.

We appreciate your help in keeping our students safe.

School hours are 9:10am-3:10pm.

Doors do not open until 8:55- please do not drop off early or allow students to walk early.

If you are dropping off, please hold your child in the car with you until 8:55am.

Please call the office to report your child(ren)’s absence at 284-8002 before 9:30AM. Our phone has 24-hour voicemail so that you may call and leave a message anytime. Please leave a voicemail if no one answers the phone in the office; voicemails are frequently checked and the office will receive your message.

Please make sure you always have a photo ID with you, when you come to the school, this is for the safety of our students.

The Main Office of any school building is a hub of activity. Students and staff are always on the go, in and out of the space throughout the school day.

It’s an active place for regular check-ins and meetings with students, as well as staff conferences and daily interactions with school principals and counselors. The Main Office is also a confidential space at times for conversations and interactions between school personnel and students.

Parents and caregivers are part of the equation, too. For any number of reasons, parents may be asked to come to their child’s school during the day. When that happens, parents should follow the district’s visitor procedures by using the school’s main entrance buzzer and intercom system to gain entrance to the school, and then signing in at the front desk.

If parents/caregivers do not have a meeting at the school but still need to come to the school during the day to see their child or to speak to a staff member, call-ahead notice or an appointment is required.

This ensures parents will be seen in a timely manner and upholds the safety practices of the school. To contact the Main Office, please call 440-284-8002

Our school address is: Westwood Campus, 42350 Adelbert St, Elyria, OH 44035

Our phone number will stay the same: 284-8002

Families may bring in prepackaged treats (with ingredients listed by the company that packaged it) BUT we are really encouraging non-food items. We have to be very careful of food allergies, to keep all students safe. Birthday treats ARE not required or encouraged, but okay, if you choose.

Birthday/Holiday treat ideas include:

Pencils, bookmarks, fidgets, pop-its, bracelets, crayons, squishes, pencil toppers or erasers, glow sticks, play dough, slinkies, stickers, prepackaged snack with ingredients listed (from the company that produces it).

Stay Connected: Opt In to Receive District Text Messages

Have you opted in to receive text messages from Elyria Schools?

If you haven't already, please take a moment to sign up to receive automatic text messages from Elyria Schools. This is a valuable tool in an emergency or when there's important, time-sensitive information to share.

To begin receiving text messages from Elyria Schools, parents and guardians must opt in. The service is free and signing up is simple:

Text “Y” or “Yes” to 67587

That’s it! You’ll start receiving important updates and reminders via text.

Need to stop messages later? Just reply with “Stop” to any of our messages.

Please note: our texting feature and robocall system are tied directly to the contact information on file for your student. It’s essential to keep your phone numbers and email addresses up-to-date with your child’s school to ensure you continue receiving calls and texts.

Don't miss out on timely updates—opt in today!

Unfortunately, there has been a change to the exams through our partnership with Vision to Learn.

Please read the following message from the Vision to Learn representative:

“I am writing to share an update about a change in vision exam scheduling at your school. As a contractor for Ohio’s OhioSees program, Vision to Learn must align our services with the state’s priorities, which this school year emphasizes serving students in kindergarten through third grade.

To fulfill our contractual obligations to the State of Ohio, we must postpone exams for students in grades 4–12, including those already scheduled and those awaiting scheduling.

I sincerely apologize for this change and any inconvenience it may cause your students, families, and staff. We recognize the importance of these services and remain committed to serving your school.

Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership as we work to meet the state’s requirements this school year. We will share updates on scheduling for grades 4–12 as more information becomes available. As a nonprofit organization, Vision to Learn remains dedicated to helping students access vision care while fulfilling our contractual obligations to the State of Ohio. Thank you for your understanding, flexibility, and continued partnership.”

I will communicate if the opportunity presents itself this year for your child to have an exam through Vision to Learn. An opt-in is required for grades K-3 through the OhioSEEs program. If your child has received recent care from an eye doctor, and your child only needs a pair of eyeglasses, please provide a valid prescription (exam within 12 months) from your child’s eye doctor to the clinic. The next Vision to Learn exam date is November 30th.

If you have any questions , please feel free to reach out via phone: 440-284-8153 or email: mccallamanda@elyriaschools.org.

Amanda McCall RN, BSN

Westwood Campus

440-284-8153

Attendance Matters, Stay in the Game!

Westwood Pioneers are showing up and making a difference! We are excited to share that Westwood Elementary had an absentee rate of just 15%, compared to the district rate of 22%! Way to go, Pioneers!

Special shout out to our 3rd and 4th grade with an average Quarter 1 attendance rate of 89%, great job! Keep up the great work! Every day at school matters because being present means more opportunities to learn, grow, and stay connected with friends and teachers.

As we head into November, let's keep working together to Stay in the Game! Here are a few tips to help your child arrive at school on time and ready to learn:

• Plan Ahead: Pick out clothes, pack backpacks, and prepare lunches the night before.
• Set a Bedtime: Make sure your child gets plenty of rest so mornings are easier.
• Create a Morning Routine: Establish a consistent wake-up time and morning schedule.
• Leave a Little Early: Build in extra time for traffic, weather, and unexpected delays.
• Be Consistent: Make arriving at school on time a daily priority.

Remember, arriving on time helps students start their day feeling prepared and ready to learn. Thank you for partnering with us to make attendance a priority!

Show Up to Stay in the Game! Attendance Matters!

Hoodies, and similar tops or jackets with hoods, are "fan favorites" when it comes to school attire. We like them, too, but not when they are worn up and over the head during the school day.

The district's Student Code of Conduct provides direction on headgear, stating that it may not be worn over a person's head or scalp (excluding headgear that's worn for religious or medical reasons.) Hoods can make it difficult to identify an individual in an emergency, and they can also be a distraction in class. Please remind students that hoods may not be worn up during the school day.

The Student Code of Conduct also offers guidance on attire. Clothing must be school appropriate and may not present a health or safety hazard or disrupt the educational environment. Pants and tops must fit properly and be in good repair; crop tops are not permitted.

Additionally, footwear must be school appropriate--slippers and slipper socks are not permitted. Blankets also may not be worn in school.

Students may bring their cell phones to school but they must be turned off and put away during the day. An updated Ohio state law now prohibits students from using cell phones during instructional time throughout the school day. While Elyria Schools already has a policy in place that restricts cell phone use during learning time, this new law now requires that the policy be enforced in all schools.

As a result, students may not use their cell phones during the instructional day, unless part of a teacher-directed lesson. Phones must be powered off and stowed in a locker or backpack during school hours.

More details will be shared as the school year begins, but we’re asking for families’ attention and support in helping students understand and follow these rules. Our goal is to maintain a focused and respectful learning environment for all students.

While we’ll always start with reminders and redirection, continued disregard of the policy will lead to appropriate consequences in line with our student code of conduct. According to the law, exceptions can be made for medically documented situations, emergencies, or instructional needs that the classroom teacher considers essential.

Thank you for your partnership in preparing students for this important change and helping ensure a successful start to the year.

If you need to reach your student during the school day, please contact the main office and our staff will convey a message or assist you in reaching your student.

School pictures are scheduled for October 6th.

We’re proud to share that all K–12 students in Elyria Schools will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch every school day, thanks to our participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Lunch Program.

Through CEP, all students are automatically eligible—no forms required. This program ensures that every student has access to the nutritious, well-balanced meals offered daily in our school dining centers.

We’re committed to supporting the health and well-being of every child, and this is just one way we make that a priority.

Website: https://www.elyriaschools.org/domain/30
Location: 42350 Adelbert St, Elyria, OH 44035, USA
Phone: 440-284-8002