Jefferson Journal

Dear Families,

We are well into our first quarter and things are moving right along! This week, we completed our annual Safety Week in conjunction with Eastlake Middle School and the Eastlake Police Department. Our drills went smoothly, and this hands-on practice helps ensure our students and staff know exactly how to stay safe in various scenarios.

Looking ahead, we have several important events on the horizon. Parent-Teacher Conferences are right around the corner, so please contact your child’s teacher directly to set up a meeting time to discuss their progress. Picture Day is also coming up so get those smiles ready and read below for ordering information. Finally, our classroom parties are always a highlight for our students, but we can't do them without you. Details about the parties and when you can sign up to volunteer are also in this newsletter.

Thank you for your ongoing support and for partnering with us to make this school year wonderful for our students!

Warmly,

Mrs. Platt and 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

• Mrs. Candace Platt, Principal
• Mr. David Eberly, Assistant Principal
• Mrs. Lori Dugger, Principal's Secretary
• Mrs. Lori Miller, Administrative Secretary
• Mrs. Jacque Sparent, Family Liaison
• Ms. Katie Klemencic, School Nurse

• 10/5- Ohio State Spirit Day
• 10/6- Scouting America Lunch Presentations
• 10/6- Classroom Party Volunteer Sign-Ups will be Email Blasted at 6 PM
• 10/12- Circus Spirit Day
• 10/13- Picture Day
• 10/14- Together WE Talk- 6 PM at BOE
• 10/15- Rangers Spirit Day- Beat South!
• 10/21-10/28- 3rd Grade Fall OST Window
• 10/22- Title I Parent Night
• 10/28- Conference Night- 3:15-7:15 PM
• 10/30- Halloween Parade & Classroom Parties

Anyone who sent it money on 10/2 will get popcorn on 10/14. The email blast incorrectly mentioned 10/7 as the next date. We now have the correct information- so sorry for all of the confusion!

We have three holiday parties throughout the school year. Halloween (10/30), Winter Holiday (12/16), and Valentine's Day (2/11). Classroom parties can be busy so we could use some help! We need three volunteers per classroom. One brings the non-food goody, bag, one brings a game or activity for the party, and one brings napkins. Our PTO provides a snack for the parties and works with our nurse to ensure that allergy and dietary restrictions are able to be met for each student. No outside food, drink, or candies are permitted.

• Classroom parties are an exciting time for students and we appreciate our volunteers!
• All classroom party volunteers will sign up using Sign-Up Genius again this school year.
• On Tuesday, 10/6, at 6 PM, I will blast out the Sign-Ups for the Halloween Parties (10/30), Holiday Parties (12/16), and Valentine's Day Parties (2/11).
• We have limited spots for volunteers. To allow opportunities for more parents to attend, only one adult per child can sign up for one party for the school year. If you, or another adult in your child's family, sign up for more than one party, your additional sign-ups will be removed to make room for other volunteers.
• You must stay in the classroom you signed up for, not go from room to room. Additional adults or children are not permitted at the parties.
• If we end up having spots unclaimed, we will open the Sign-Ups again for any volunteers.
• Thank you for your help in making these parties memorable and fun for our students!

• On Friday, October 30, 2026 students will participate in a costume parade around the school and our class Halloween parties will follow. Parents will not be permitted at the parade and only the adults who signed up as a classroom volunteer are permitted at the parties.

• Students will not wear their costumes to school. They will bring their costumes to school and change into them before the parade and parties begin.

• Students must be able to change into their costumes themselves and appropriate shoes must be worn.

• Students must be able to use the restroom independently while wearing the costume.

• No face paint or costume masks are permitted.

• Costumes must not be too scary or inappropriate for the school environment.

• All props should remain at home. No wands, weapons, swords, etc.

• Halloween Spirit Wear is an option if preferred or if you are unable to find a costume that meets the requirements.

Great News! Your child can get dental care at our school.

Best of all, in most cases there is no cost to you if your child is insured with Medicaid or CHIP! Private insurance and affordable self-pay options are also available.

Easy & Convenient

Having your child seen by the in-school dentist saves you valuable time. Top quality care is provided by local, licensed dentists right in the familiar surroundings of your child’s school. Dental care includes a complete exam, x-rays, cleaning, fluoride and sealants when needed. Restorative care, such as fillings, may also be provided.

Keep Your Child Healthy

By having your child see the in-school dentist, you can help reduce the risk of:

• Early Tooth Loss caused by dental decay
• Gum Disease
• Heart Disease
• Impaired speech development

Taking care of your child’s teeth is an important part of keeping them healthy!

The Mobile Dentist is coming to TJ on 11/12. Sign up here: https://www.myschooldentist.com/Default.aspx

As cold and cough season continues, we want to make sure our students stay comfortable and focused in class! Parents and guardians may send cough drops and throat lozenges to the school clinic for their child’s personal use during the school day.

📋 Guidelines for Sending Cough Drops to School

To keep all students safe and ensure proper administration, please follow these simple steps:

1. Original Packaging Required: Cough drops and throat lozenges must be brought to school in their original, unopened packaging. Loose or repackaged items cannot be accepted.

2. Medication Form Required: Every student receiving cough drops or lozenges at school must have a completed medication form on file with the clinic.

📄 Download the Form

Please print and complete the required form prior to sending in any medications or cough drops:

• 📥 Medication Administration Form

Once completed, please drop off the form and original packaging at the school clinic or send them directly in your child’s folder marked for the clinic.

Thank you for helping us keep our students healthy and comfortable this season!

• As the weather changes, cold, cough, and allergy season is officially upon us. We want to work together to keep our school community healthy, active, and learning all season long!

• 🛡️ Daily Tips to Keep Students Healthy

  • Wash Hands Frequently: Encourage your child to scrub with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after blowing their nose.

  • Practice Good Cough & Sneeze Hygiene: Remind students to cover their mouths using the crook of their elbow rather than their hands.

  • Stay Hydrated & Rested: A solid night’s sleep and plenty of water help keep young immune systems strong.

  • Know When to Stay Home: If your child has a fever, vomiting, or severe illness symptoms, please keep them home until they are symptom- and fever-free without medication for 24 hours.

Picture Day information was sent home with your child last month. Please review the flyer for how to order pictures. Our picture day is October 13th.

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.

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 last week's winner: Miss Sawaya's Class!

The Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools Board of Education has placed a proposed 0.75%

earned income tax on the November 3, 2026, ballot. The outcome will determine whether the

district continues operating two comprehensive high schools or transitions to one.

The proposed 0.75% earned income tax would generate about $14 million a year on a

continuing basis, with roughly $9.6 million for operations and $4.4 million dedicated to

permanent improvements such as buildings, technology, security, and buses. A resident with

$50,000 in active income would pay approximately $375 per year.

An earned income tax is applied to the active income of district residents and does not apply to

passive income, such as Social Security benefits, pensions, capital gains, interest, dividends, or

other investment income.

If the proposed tax is approved, under the district's current plan:

● North and South would continue operating as two comprehensive high schools.

● Other reductions would happen on a more measured timeline.

● We would have more time to evaluate enrollment, building use, and long-term facility needs.

What happens if the earned income tax levy fails? Beginning in the 28-29 school year, the Board would need to implement the following cost-savings measures:

● Reduction in district staffing to match new footprint

● Consolidation to one high school and one middle school

Full details are available at www.weschools.org/futurereadyfinances.

• 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 related arts classes. Unauthorized use of these items will result in the above stated processes for cell phones and smart watches.

• 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.

• 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”.

• 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.

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 meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 3:30 PM at Jefferson Elementary. Our next PTO meeting will be Tuesday, 10/20. 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!

Please sign your child up for our next PTO Meeting HERE.

Contact: jefferson.pto01@gmail.com