EECV Family Newsletter

A Message from the Principal

Hello EECV Families,

January brings colder temperatures and I wanted to remind you that when the temperature is over 32 degrees we may go outside for our daily motor time. We ask that you please dress your child in weather appropriate clothes each day including a hat or gloves/mittens if warranted. If your child is in need of a winter coat, hat, or gloves, please contact the school office. We have several coats and winter accessories that we are able to give to families if needed. Our supply is limited but please call if you are in need. Also, please check out our section from our School Nurse which reminds families about when to keep ill students home from school.

Coming back from an extended break is difficult for some students since their daily routine has changed. We understand and are expecting to reteach expectations and procedures to our students. Parents can help by reminding students of your home routine before school and preparing your child for their return to school. We are looking forward to seeing all of our students again soon!

As always, I want to thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. We hope to see you soon!

Also, please follow us if you are not already: Elyria Early Childhood Village;

https://www.facebook.com/EECVSchool/

Thank you for choosing EECV as a partner in your child's education!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Jackie Plantner, Principal

plantnerjacqueline@elyriaschools.org

Kate Petiya, Assistant Principal - petiyakatherine@elyriaschools.org

Myia Bruening, Secretary - brueningmyia@elyriaschools.org

Gissele Lugo, Secretary - lugogissele@elyriaschools.org

Jake Keith, School Nurse - keithjacob@elyriaschools.org

Monday, 12/22/25 through Friday, 1/2/26 - Student Winter Break, No School for Students, office closed 12/23/25 through 1/2/26
Wednesday, 1/7/26 - Storytime with the Elyria Public Library for Blue, Gold, Pink, Lilac, Gray, Green, Peach, Orchid, Rose, and Poppy Rooms
Monday, 1/12/26 - Bookmobile
Wednesday, 1/14/26 - Storytime with the Elyria Public Library for Yellow, Purple, Aqua, Coral, Orange, Silver, Sunflower, and Daisy Rooms
1/19/26 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day observed, No School
1/26/26 - Bookmobile
1/29/26 - EECV Family Night
1/30/26 - Professional Development Day for Staff, No School for Students

We will be holding a Family Night for our students and their families on Thursday, 1/29/26 from 6:00-7:00 PM at EECV.

EECV students and their families are invited to come to EECV and enjoy child friendly activities in our gym and hallways.

A flyer will be coming home with students the week before as well.

We hope to see all of our students and families here that night!

EECV will be celebrating friendship and Valentine's Day on Thursday, 2/12/26 this year since Valentine's Day is a Saturday and not all classroom's have class on Fridays. Students will be permitted to bring Valentine cards for their classmates on February 12th if they wish although this is not required.

Sometimes families also like to send in candy or a treat with the valentine. To be in line with our treat/celebration policy, these must be take home treats only. We encourage non-food items such as stickers, small containers of play-doh, temporary tattoos, crayons/coloring books, glow sticks, or small sealed bottles of bubbles. If you choose to send in a food item, only factory-sealed, individually packaged food treats that can easily be sent home with students will be accepted. Food treats will not be eaten at school but will be sent home with classmates.

We are looking forward to a fun day of activities!

From our school handbook:

We love to celebrate and recognize special occasions in our students’ lives. Sending in treats or items from home is not required or necessary; however, if you would like to send something in to celebrate an occasion, such as your child’s birthday, please keep the following in mind:

We have many students with allergies, so be sure to discuss treats with the classroom teacher first. All treats must be pre-approved by the classroom teacher. No food sent in for birthdays/celebrations will be consumed at school. It will be sent home in backpacks.
All food items sent in must be individually wrapped, factory packaged, and include a list of ingredients. Again, no food sent in for birthdays/celebrations will be consumed at school. It will be sent home in backpacks.
We encourage non-food items such as stickers, small containers of playdough or bubbles, temporary tattoos, glow sticks, or crayons and coloring books.
No balloons or large decorations will be permitted in the building.

Winter Wellness: Keeping Our Little Learners Healthy!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As the frost settles on the windows and we spend more time cozying up indoors, we want to ensure our preschoolers stay happy, healthy, and ready to play! Winter brings unique health challenges, but with a few simple habits, we can keep the "seasonal sniffles" at bay.

Key Healthy Habits for Home

The "Magic" Handwash: We are practicing thorough handwashing at school, especially before snacks and after nose-blowing. Encourage your child to scrub for 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice!) to effectively banish germs.
The "Vampire Sneeze": Help your little one practice coughing or sneezing into the crook of their elbow rather than their hands. This simple trick significantly reduces the spread of airborne droplets.
Hydration & Nutrition: Even when it’s cold, bodies need water! Pair water with "rainbow plates" full of Vitamin C-rich fruits like oranges and strawberries to boost their growing immune systems.
Restful Nights: Winter bugs are easier to fight off when well-rested. Aim for a consistent bedtime to ensure your child gets the 10–13 hours of sleep recommended for this age group.

When to Stay Home?

To keep our classroom a healthy environment for everyone, please keep your child home if they exhibit:

A fever of 100°F or higher.
Uncontrolled coughing or a significant sore throat.
Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours.

Note: Children should be fever/symptom-free (without the use of fever-reducing medication) for a full 24 hours before returning to school.

Outdoor Play Ready

We believe fresh air is vital, even in the winter! We will head outside unless temperatures drop below our safety threshold. Please ensure your child’s cubby is stocked with:

A heavy coat (labeled with their name).
Warm hat and mittens.
A spare set of dry socks/clothes.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our school community healthy and vibrant this season!

Warmly,

Nurse Jake

Be Respectful - Be kind and be a good friend.

Be Responsible - Follow school rules and be safe.

Be Ready to Learn - Be a good listener.

Preschool Snack

Kindergarten Breakfast

Kindergarten Lunch

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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.

The service is free and opting in is easy. Parents or guardians simply need to send a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to our district's short code number at 67587.

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Please call the office to report your child's absence at 284-8250 before 9:15 AM. 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 440-284-8250.