Leighton Update

Dear Leighton Families,

We have reached the final month of the academic year, and while the finish line is in sight, we have an incredible lineup of events to celebrate our students' growth and the dedicated staff who make it all possible.

This upcoming week is National Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week, a special time for us to express our deepest gratitude to every member of the Leighton team. We are so fortunate to have individuals like Mr. Dan and our custodial crew, who keep our building safe and pristine; Mrs. Andexler and the kitchen staff, who ensure our students are well-fed and ready to learn; and our diligent secretaries, who greet every child with a smile and keep our daily operations running smoothly. Of course, we also celebrate our teachers, school counselors, and paraprofessionals, whose passion and tireless work meet the unique needs of every student, every day. We are especially grateful to the PTO for planning a wonderful week of surprises for our staff as you can see the schedule of events planned below.

As we transition into these final weeks, our calendar is filled with milestone events for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Please keep the following end-of-year highlights in mind or marked on your calendars:

May 6 (Wed): Mayor Benjamin Visit – Our 3rd graders will meet the Mayor throughout the afternoon.

May 8 (Fri): LES Variety Show – 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM. Come see our students' talents!

May 11–15: LES BOGO Book Fair – Running all week (see links below).

May 12 (Tue): LES Band Concert – 7:00 PM. A showcase of our band students' hard work.

May 13 (Wed): 5th Grade Harmon Orientation – 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM.

May 18 (Mon): Alex’s Lemonade Stand – 5th Grade fundraising kickoff.

May 18 (Mon): Rising 3rd Grader Orientation – 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM.

May 18-22: 3rd Grade Lunch on the Lawn 11:00 - 11:45

Mon, May 18: Mastri/Parker
Tue, May 19: Bindus/McNally
Wed, May 20: Leone/Yusko
Thu, May 21: Goldhamer/Yeager
Fri, May 22: Grabfelder/Heffernan

May 19 (Tue): Senior Walk down Memory Lane – A special tradition for graduating seniors.

May 20 (Wed): LES Orchestra Concert – Join us for an evening of music!

May 26 (Tue): Field Day – Theme: Beach Luau! (Final Forms for Volunteers sent by Mrs. Scaffide)

May 27 (Wed): 5th grade Rockets Wednesday – from 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM,

May 28 (Thu): 5th Grade Clap Out – Approximately 1:15 PM. Join us in celebrating our 5th graders' last day!

I am sincerely looking forward to the month ahead and especially showing gratitude to our amazing Leighton Staff this week! As I had the pleasure of meeting many of our incoming 3rd grade parents this week at the orientation; we see that May is full of events focused on welcoming students to Leighton and celebrating other students' last weeks here. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can assist in anyway.

Spencer Warders

Principal, Leighton Elementary

Our Leighton Legends are students who have done a tremendous job demonstrating our three PBIS expected behaviors of Being Respectful, Being Responsible and Being a Problem Solver.

The Leighton Legends for the month of APRIL are:

3rd Graders: Aislin Slonaker, Caleb Nixon, Drazen Smolick, Dylan Kowaleski, Stella Liotta and Victor Dipple

4th Graders: Alyza George, Toby Horvat, Allie Keckan, Paisley Lipinski, Kiaan Thorave and Brandon Cashmere

5th Graders: Laney Calapa, Keith Parks, Isaac Watkins and Genevieve Jones

Outstanding job!

Friday, May 1, is National School Lunch Hero Day, an opportunity to recognize the dedicated professionals who ensure our students are well-nourished and ready to learn every day. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a phenomenal kitchen team at Leighton, including Karen Andexler, Nicole Funk-Rogers, Amanda Freshwater, and Carla Hoover. These individuals work tirelessly behind the scenes, managing a vital part of our daily operations with expertise and a consistently positive attitude. Their hard work and dedication make a complex job look seamless, and our school community is truly lucky to have them. Please join us in the coming week to thank these "Lunch Heroes" for their vital contributions to our students' well-being and success.

Throughout the second semester, Leighton students have been actively engaged in our Game Club, a program dedicated to fostering both social and cognitive development through play. Under the guidance of advisors Mrs. McNally and Mrs. Bindus, participants explore a curated selection of non-traditional games designed to challenge their perspectives and expand their skills, such as:

Strategic Thinking: Analyzing complex scenarios and planning multiple steps ahead.

Collaborative Problem Solving: Working through challenges in a team-based setting.

Social Intelligence: Practicing sportsmanship, patience, and cooperative play.

Attention 4th-grade families: please check your email for a message from Final Forms regarding next year’s music selection. The included Google Form will guide you and your child through the process of choosing an instrument or ensemble. To ensure we have everything ready for the new school year, please submit your choices by Friday, May 1st. We can’t wait to see our students begin their musical journeys!

It is hard to believe that we are already planning for the final days of the school year! We are excited to share the link for our PTO-created 'Class of 2033' Clap Out shirts—they look fantastic. If you would like to order a shirt, please complete the order form by May 7th, making sure to indicate your child's homeroom teacher.

If you have any questions regarding the shirts or the ordering process, please reach out to our Leighton PTO VP, Kelly Shoffstall, at LeightonVP@auroraelementarypto.org or our building secretary, Halston Garza-Pratt, at hgarzapratt@aurora-schools.org.

5th Grade Clap Out Shirt Order Link

In a wonderful display of leadership and kindness, 5th graders Addie Crawford, Clara Smith, Jenna Dobnikar, and Kara Garber recently spearheaded a series of creative fundraisers—from lemonade stands to selling homemade cake pops. Their goal? To gift a "Buddy Bench" to our younger "Greenmen" at Miller Elementary.

The Buddy Bench serves as a welcoming spot for any student looking for a friend to play with, providing a gentle way to ask others to join in. We are incredibly proud of these Leighton students for their initiative; Miller Elementary is already enjoying this new addition to their playground!

Please take a moment to again reference the Ohio State Test assessment schedule. If you know your child will be absent for these dates, please contact our school counselor, Mrs. Wadkins, at nwadkins@aurora-schools.org.

Math OST Part 1 and 2

May 5: 3rd (Homerooms Grabfelder, Yusko, Parker, Yaeger and Bindus), 4th and 5th grades

May 6: 3rd (Homerooms Grabfelder, Yusko, Parker, Yaeger and Bindus), 4th and 5th grades

To prepare for the future Aurora City Schools’ facility needs, the district has been examining facility master plan options. Over the next 12 weeks, our Superintendent, Dr. Paul Milcetich, will be providing videos and facts about the Aurora City Schools Essential Plan, which will be a bond issue planned for the November ballot. Below are links for the current videos and website resources available to stay informed on this important plan.

*The Essential Plan Website

*Video #1 - Introduction to The Essential Plan

*Video #2 - The Heart of the Plan: A New 1-3 Elementary

*Video #3 - Triage Items

*Video #4 - The New Grade Configuration: PreK-5

*Video #5 - The Basics of a School Bond

*Video #7 - Safety and Security in the New Elementary Design

*Video #8 - The New Transportation Facility

*Video #9 - The Ripple Effect

*Video #10- State Partnership

May 1: No School

May 2: LES AOA Solo Competition At Leighton 9:00 AM

May 11-15 BOGO Book Fair

May 12: LES Band Concert at HS 7:00 pm

May 13: 5th to 6th Parent Orientation at Harmon 7:00 pm

May 20 LES Orchestra Concert at HS 4th 4:30 5th 5:30

May 26: LES Field Day

May 27: LES Field Day Rain Date

May 28: 5th grade Clap Out 1:15

Click Here For Leighton 25-26 Important Dates Calendar

Click Here For Leighton's Lunch Menu

You can track your child's lunch account by setting up your profile. You may also send in cash or a check written out to the Aurora City Schools.

Click Here To Add Money To Your Child's Lunch Account

Leighton Amphitheater Renovation

The Aurora Schools Foundation is excited to share that construction is officially underway on the Leighton Amphitheater renovation, marking an exciting step toward a revitalized space for students and the community.

With completion expected in Fall 2026, this multi-stage project is made possible thanks to the generous support of community partners, including Rotary Club of Aurora, AEPTO, Aurora City School District, V Financial Partners, and JJ’s Beautification Service, LLC.

Stay tuned for updates as progress continues!

https://auroraschoolsfoundation.org

Click here to purchase gift cards for cashless shopping

Change In Transportation Form

Click For Leighton Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

When reporting your child's absence, please call 330-562-2209 and select option 1. You will be prompted to leave a message with the name of your child and the reason for the absence. If you need to talk to our attendance secretary, Mrs. Mariah George, please select 0 and you will be connected during normal school hours.