Westwood Elementary Newsletter

Happy November! As the weather gets colder, please make sure your student is dressed for the weather- and since it is Ohio that can mean rain, snow, or sun. I know its hard to plan, but be aware and make sure your student is prepared; especially since we like to have outdoor recess if the weather permits. If you need assistance with winter weather gear, please contact our main office and Mrs Hayes or Mrs Woody can assist you.

As the weather gets colder, we want to remind you that no students should be getting dropped off, or out of cars without their grown up until 8:55am. For students who are dropped off or picked up, please make sure to review the drop off/dismissal procedures below. We are having an increase of drop offs and pickups in the non-designated area and students are being let out of vehicles before the doors open- which is creating safety issues. Please know that we have specific procedures to keep students safe. Thank you for your support!

Please encourage your student to exemplify the "3 Bees"- ask your student about this, they will be happy to tell you all about them!

This newsletter contains important information, and I will send only one each month. Please take the time to read it each month- it is packed full of information. We also will have printed copies in the main office, should you need one. Please make sure you have an email listed in PowerSchool that you check regularly- we frequently communicate electronically.

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.

Regular attendance at the elementary school level is crucial to each student’s success, as it sets up a good pattern for your child’s entire school career. Please make sure your child is here every day that it is possible.

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

https://www.facebook.com/westwoodelementaryecsd

Your Partner in Education,
Ms. Stacey Gatten
Principal

November

3- Texas Roadhouse gift card sale begins (see flyer below)

4- PD Day, no school

4- Election Day

5-7 Mobile Dentist

11- Veteran's Day

11- PTO meeting @ 3:30 at Westwood Elementary (all are welcome)

12- Picture Retake day

14- Interim's sent home electronically

12- Marco's Pizza Night

26-28 Thanksgiving Break

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

Showing up to school every day is one of the most important ways students can build strong learning habits and stay on track academically, socially, and emotionally. When students are present, they participate in hands-on learning, build relationships with peers, and gain confidence in routines that help them grow. Even just a few absences throughout the year can add up, making it more difficult to keep up with classwork and progress through new skills at grade level.

We are proud to partner with the Cleveland Browns and the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network to encourage consistent attendance and highlight how important it is for student success. Together, we are working to motivate students, support families, and celebrate positive progress throughout the year.

Getting to school on time helps students transition calmly into the school day, boosts readiness to learn, and reduces stress. Here are some helpful tips to support strong attendance and smooth mornings at home:

Tips for getting to school on time:

• Lay out clothes, backpacks, and lunches the night before
• Establish a consistent bedtime routine for plenty of sleep
• Set an alarm to help mornings run smoothly
• Prep breakfast ahead of time or choose quick morning options
• Keep school items in the same spot every day
• Limit screen time in the morning to stay focused on getting ready
• Avoid scheduling appointments during school hours when possible

Thank you for helping us support your child’s success by making daily attendance a priority!

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!

Hello Westwood Families,

Reminder if you signed up for the mobile dentist, the visit dates are: Nov 5th, 6th, and 7th.

Hand hygiene is the process of cleaning your hands to remove dirt and germs in order to prevent the spread of infection and illness. It’s one of the most effective ways to stop the transmission of diseases.

Hand washing with Soap and Water - use when hands are visibly dirty or greasy, or after contact with bodily fluids.

• Wet hands with clean, running water.

• Apply soap and lather well.

• Scrub all surfaces — palms, backs of hands, between fingers, and under nails — for at least 20 seconds.

• Rinse thoroughly.

• Dry with a clean towel or air dry.

Hand Sanitizing with Alcohol-Based Rub

• Use when hands are not visibly soiled.

• Apply enough sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) to cover all hand surfaces.

• Rub hands together until dry, about 20 seconds.

When to Perform Hand Hygiene

• Before and after eating or preparing food

• After using the restroom

• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose

• Before and after caring for someone who is sick

• After touching animals or animal waste

• After handling garbage

• Before and after treating a wound or cut

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

Please take a moment to review these important facts regarding Issue 17 on the ballot November 4th. You are welcome to share this information with parents, neighbors and community members, as these are purely factual details about the issue.

Issue 17 marks the first time in over 15 years the district has asked voters to approve new operating funds.

What Is Issue 17?

• Issue 17 is a 10-year, 4.9-mill emergency levy.
• If approved, it would raise $6.4 million per year for district operations.
• The levy was approved for the ballot by the Board of Education on June 4, 2025.
  
  

Cost to Property Owners

• Property owners would pay about $14 per month for every $100,000 of county auditor appraised value.
  
  

How Would Funds Be Used?

If approved, the funds would help the district continue to cover:

• Teachers and support staff
• Technology and classroom tools
• Academic and career-tech programs
• Arts, music, and sports activities
• Clubs, honors, and enrichment programs
  
  

Why Is This on the Ballot Now?

• Ohio schools must publish financial forecasts twice a year.
• Elyria’s latest forecast shows reserves would be exhausted by 2029 without new funding.
• The district has not asked for new operating funds in more than 15 years.
  
  

What Happens If the Levy Fails?

If the levy does not pass:

• The district would need to cut at least $9 million from its budget.
• This could result in program cuts, fewer staff, larger class sizes and reduced transportation.
• The district would run out of reserves by 2029, based on current forecasts.
  
  

What Is an Emergency Levy? (with Recent Ohio Changes factored in)

• An emergency levy is a type of tax levy that allows a school district to raise a fixed dollar amount (rather than a rate) in each year it is in effect.
• Emergency levies can run for up to 10 years.
  
  

Recent Changes in Ohio Law (Effective for Future Ballots)

• In 2025, the Ohio Legislature overrode a veto to restrict certain types of levies, including: Fixed-sum emergency levies and Substitute emergency levies
• These restrictions do not apply to levies already certified for the November 2025 ballot; Issue 17 is unaffected by the change.
  
  

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will state funding increases cover the need?

• The increase is part of Ohio’s ongoing Fair School Funding Plan and has already been included in the district’s budget forecast.

Q: What about revenue from property tax reappraisals?

• The increase in property values was expected and already included in the district’s financial planning.
  
  

How Has Elyria City Schools Managed Its Budget?

• Elyria City Schools has taken steps to reduce spending over the years, including:
• Restructuring administrative positions
• Eliminating low-attendance programs
• Refinancing bonds, which saved taxpayers over $1 million
• Conducting transportation audits to improve efficiency
• ·The district has received:
• Over 20 consecutive clean audits from the Auditor of State
• The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association every year since 1998
  
  
• Even if Issue 17 is approved, the district plans to make $3 million in budget reductions to maintain long-term financial stability.

• If Issue 17 is not approved, the district would need to make $9 million in cuts. These deeper cuts would change the current programs, services, staffing, and student offerings across the district.

Student Performance and Programs

• ECS students typically outperform similar districts on standardized tests.
• The district offers:
• Over 200 academic, arts, and athletic programs at the high school level
• Programs that help students prepare for college and careers

Important Dates

• Early voting has begun. You can vote at the Lorain County Board of Elections, 1985 N. Ridge Road East, Lorain.
• Election Day: Tuesday, November 4, 2025

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.

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