Emerson Elementary Newsletter

Welcome to September! We hope all of our students are settling in and having a fantastic start to the new school year. We are so excited for everything ahead and look forward to a wonderful year of learning, growth, and community together.

Please read below for important school and district updates, as well as upcoming events you won't want to miss!

Welcome to a new school year! One of the most important factors in student success is simply being in school each day. Students who attend regularly build stronger academic skills, develop positive relationships, and feel more connected to their school community.

The State of Ohio has changed its perspective on student absence. Previously, the state placed an emphasis on excused or unexcused absences. Now, the state is focusing on how often students are absent for any reason. One of the most important factors in student success is simply being in school each day. Students who attend regularly build stronger academic skills, develop positive relationships, and feel more connected to their school community. Let’s work together to make attendance a priority from day one.

Just a reminder that all seven elementary schools teach and reinforce the same behavior expectations: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible. The goal is for all in our community to be able to name these tenets and grow into being able to describe what they look and sound like in different settings at school. The matrix of these expectations can be found in our family handbook. We appreciate your reinforcement of these expectations as well.

We are so excited to engage our community in the House System again this year! Our team of House Leads meets on Thursday to plan out our House events for the year, including when our kindergarteners will learn which House has chosen them!

New to Emerson? Watch the video below to learn more about the house system.

This month's social emotional learning theme is Awareness of Self & Others. Students will learn and practice recognizing their own emotions, thoughts, and values - and others', too. They will understand how these influence both their behavior and decision-making. This self-knowledge will help them identify their strengths and areas for growth.

• Link for K-2 Parent Resources
• Link for 3-5 Parent Resources

All student personal cell phones/electronic devices/smartwatches shall be turned off and put away in his/her backpack while on school property. In the occasional instance in which a caregiver needs to contact a child, or vice versa, the school office phone must be used. Student email, cell phones, electronic devices, and smartwatches should not be used to communicate with families during the school day.

Contents of cell phones or electronic devices may be searched if there is suspicion that it may have been used in an activity prohibited by the Code of Conduct. If illegal activity is suspected, the device will be turned over to the Lakewood Schools Security Office and/or the Lakewood Police Department. The district, the school and its staff are not responsible for devices that are damaged, lost, or stolen when brought to school or after being confiscated for violation of this policy.

Walking and biking help students start the day alert and ready to learn and fosters independence. Please help us ensure everyone's safety by watching for students walking and biking, keeping sidewalks and crosswalks clear, and if driving, following the school traffic procedures. A few things to remember:

• Use extra caution when turning at intersections and driveways near schools. Students walking and biking may be less visible than vehicles.
• Students biking on sidewalks must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing
• Help keep students safe by slowing down

Mark your calendars for Hike and Bike week, September 21-25th! Be on the look out for directions on how to get a sign for your yard to help promote active transportation in Lakewood!

Click here to access the Lakewood Hike & Bike program site.

• Breakfast and lunch will continue to be available to all students.
• The state of Ohio will be covering the full cost of meals for any students who have been approved to receive school meals at a reduced rate for the 2026-2027 school year
• Families must complete a free and reduced-price meal application in order to qualify for free meals.
• Families are able to submit their free and reduced-price meal application, and/or add money to student accounts through Infinite Campus.

• The district has switched from PaySchools Central to Infinite Campus for management of meal applications and point of sale. You can load funds onto your student(s) account and apply for Free and Reduced Price meals through Infinite Campus. You can access these tools through the District Nutrition Services Page linked here or directly through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

• Due to rising costs associated with producing school meals, the price of student breakfasts will increase $0.25 for all age groups. Additionally, the price of student lunches will rise $0.50 for all age groups. See the updated pricing on theDistrict Nutrition Services Page linked here .

Should you choose to send a treat for a special occasion, families must schedule it with the classroom teacher ahead of time, and drop the treat off at the office. The teacher may set aside a few minutes for the treat, or they may send it home. For the health and safety of our students, treats must follow these guidelines:

• The treat must be small, individually wrapped, and store bought. This allows us to avoid concerns over food allergies because the ingredients are listed on the package.

• Treats should not require utensils, paper products, or need refrigeration. Treats that need to be cut into pieces are not acceptable. Families should consider sending a favor or small trinket instead of food.

• Please save decorative items (balloons, flowers, etc) for your home.

• We reserve the right to refuse a treat that does not follow these guidelines.

Should you have specific concerns about your child’s allergies, please consult the health information section and/or the school health aide.

- Thurs, September 3 - PTO Parent Social (flyer attached)

- Sun, September 6 - Emerson Merch Sale Orders Due (flyer attached)

- Mon, September 14 - PTO Meeting

- Thurs, September 17 - Dine to Donate at Cilantro's (flyer attached)

- Sun, September 27 - Fun Run (flyer attached)

- Fri, Oct. 23 - Fall Fest

- Mon, Oct 26 - Wed, Oct 28 - Fall Book Fair

Welcome back Rangers! The Lakewood Performing Arts Boosters (formerly Lakewood Music Boosters) is an organization of parents, teachers, alumni and community members who support the 70+ music and performing arts groups enriching the education of Lakewood’s children. Our mission is to support district music initiatives from elementary through high school, award scholarships for private music lessons, camps, volunteer for events/concerts and so much more! Whether you are a current family member, alumni or community member, we would love to have you as a part of boosters! Check out the flyer for more information, QR code or link to join today!

https://lakewoodmusicboosters.com/membership/

The Lakewood Community Recreation & Education Department is pleased to share that the new Fall 2026 booklet is now available at https://recreation.lakewoodcityschools.org/. Registration for Lakewood residents opens on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. with non-resident registration beginning on September 8th.

The fall booklet is full of adult and youth programs, athletics and aquatic opportunities for the whole community. Don't delay and get yourself or your child registered starting on Tuesday!

As part of the Board of Education’s legal settlement regarding the District’s previously approved plan to repurpose Lincoln Elementary School as an early learning center and redraw elementary school attendance boundaries, the Board spent its two August meetings hearing about updated enrollment and building utilization data as well as details on benefits of an early learning center. Superintendent Niedzwiecki and other District leaders shared the latest information and updates with the Board, which also heard public comment on the topic.

The Board's decision to settle this matter reflects its commitment to acting in the best interests of the District and being responsible stewards of taxpayer resources. Resolving this litigation allows the District to avoid the significant costs, uncertainty, and time associated with continued legal proceedings. As part of the settlement, the Board of Education does not admit to any wrongdoing.

Upcoming Special Board Meeting & Next Steps

• When: Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 7:00 p.m.

• Where: Taft Center for Innovation

• What: Superintendent Niedzwiecki will present final recommendations, followed by Board discussion and a vote.

Pending the vote's outcome, the District will share an updated timeline and next steps with families, staff, and the community.