EECV Family Newsletter

Dear Families,

Happy October! I want to thank you for your continued support of out school. Our school year has started off strong and that is due to our parent partnerships. We appreciate you!

School safety is of the utmost importance to all schools in our district and EECV is no exception. We have been busy practicing drills and procedures with our students. Last week, we practiced evacuating our school in case of an emergency. Although it was a longer walk than our students were used to, they did an amazing job following directions and getting to the safe space quickly. Early in September, we also practiced intruder drills. Staff and students followed directions and were able to make their space safe and inaccessible quickly. Regular practice of safety drills occurs across all Elyria City Schools buildings and at all grade levels. Thank you to all of our students for their attention and cooperation as we practiced this week.

As a reminder, each month you will receive an email with a monthly newsletter that will feature news and important information about our school. This edition is dedicated to important information including school pictures, our fall activity day, and upcoming events. Please take time to read it through.

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

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

I continue to be awed by our students and all they are learning and accomplishing each day. It is a great day to be a Pioneer!

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

School Picture Days are coming!

Lifetouch Photography will be at EECV for school pictures on October 15th and October 16th. Picture package information has been sent home with pricing. Our classes are split between the two dates. Please see the information below to know which day your child will have their picture taken. There will be a retake date for any students absent on their assigned picture day.

Wednesday, October 15th

• Gray Room
• Yellow Room
• Coral Room
• Orange Room
• Pink Room
• Gold Room
• Sunflower Room
• Poppy Room
• Daisy Room
• Orchid Room

Thursday, October 16th

• Peach Room
• Lilac Room
• Silver Room
• Aqua Room
• Blue Room
• Green Room
• Purple Room
• Rose Room

EECV will be holding a Fall Fun Activities Day for our Early Childhood Village students on Thursday, October 30th.

Please note that this is not on Halloween. This will allow all students to participate on the same day since some EECV classes do not meet on Fridays.

Students will participate in Fall themed classroom and school wide activities on October 30th as part of their regular school day.

EECV will be providing our regular snack and meals for students this day. Sending in snacks or treats from home is not necessary, however if you choose to, please be sure they are individually wrapped, factory packaged, and include a list of ingredients. These treats will be sent home with students to eat at home. No treats will be eaten at school. Non-edible items are always preferred such as bubbles, stickers, glow bracelets, etc. Unfortunately, if the treats don't meet these guidelines they will not be distributed.

Students are welcome to wear costumes to school on this day, October 30th, but are not required to.

Please no “scary” costumes, masks, weapons, or inflatable costumes.

Also, students should be able to use the restroom while in costume if needed.

Friday, October 31st, will be a typical school day. No costumes should be worn. Thank you!

If you have any questions please ask your child’s teacher or call the EECV office at (440) 284-8250.

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.

Little Bodies, Big Needs: Why Nutrition Matters for Young Children

Dear Parents,

As your child begins their journey through preschool and kindergarten, one of the most powerful tools you can give them is good nutrition. These early years are a time of rapid growth—physically, mentally, and emotionally—and the foods your child eats play a crucial role in shaping their future health and development.

🌈 Why Nutrition Is So Important

Children need a variety of nutrients to:

• Build strong bones and muscles
• Support brain development and learning
• Maintain stable energy levels
• Regulate mood and behavior
• Prevent chronic diseases later in life

A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy provides the foundation for lifelong health.

🧠 Nutrition and Brain Power

Did you know that nutrients like iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and B vitamins are essential for your child’s brain development? These nutrients help improve memory, attention span, and problem-solving skills. Foods like leafy greens, eggs, fish, and fortified cereals are great sources.

💪 Building Healthy Habits Early

Children learn by watching you! When you model healthy eating habits, they’re more likely to adopt them. Here are some tips:

• Eat the rainbow: Serve colorful fruits and vegetables.
• Cook together: Let your child help prepare meals.
• Make it fun: Try new foods as a game or challenge.
• Avoid pressure: Encourage tasting without forcing them to clean their plate.

🥗 Smart Snacking & Mealtime Tips

• Offer regular meals and snacks every 3–4 hours.
• Keep healthy snacks like yogurt, fruit, and whole-grain crackers on hand.
• Limit sugary drinks—water and milk are best.
• Serve meals family-style to let kids choose what they want.

📚 Nutrition and Learning

Studies show that children who eat well perform better in school. Proper nutrition boosts concentration, memory, and emotional regulation—key ingredients for success in the classroom.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What You Can Do Today

• Plan meals together and talk about healthy choices.
• Visit the grocery store and let your child pick a new fruit or veggie.
• Use playful activities to introduce new tastes and textures.
• Check out resources like MyPlate.gov for age-specific guidance.

Let’s grow healthy together!
Your child’s future starts with what’s on their plate today.

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.

• Friday, 10/10/25 - NEOEA Day, No School for Students
• Wednesday, 10/15/25 - Picture Day #1
• Thursday, 10/16/25 - Picture Day #2
• Friday, 10/17/25 - Record's Day, No School for Students
• Thursday, 10/30/25 - EECV Fall Activities Day
• Tuesday, 11/4/25 - Staff Professional Development, No School for Students

If your child will be riding the school bus this year, you will be notified of the bus schedule by GG&C Transportation. If you have any questions regarding the bus number or times for drop off and pick up, please contact GG&C Transportation directly at 284-8030.

If you need to make any change to your child's bus pick up or drop off, call the EECV Main Office at 440-284-8250. Thank you!

• Morning Student Arrival begins at 8:55 AM
• Afternoon Student Arrival begins at 12:35 PM

Parents choosing to transport their child by car must enter and exit from the Adelbert St. entrance to the Westwood Campus ONLY. See pictures in a later section of this newsletter.

Parents must park and walk their child to their designated arrival door (see map below). At the door, parents will leave their child with an EECV staff member who will escort them to class. No parents will be allowed to escort their child to the classroom.

• Gray, Yellow, Aqua, Peach, Pink, Orange, and Blue Rooms – East entrances
• Gold, Purple, Green, Lilac, Silver, and Coral Rooms – West entrance

• Morning Student Dismissal is at 11:40 AM
• Afternoon Student Dismissal is at 3:10 PM

Parents choosing to transport their child by car must enter and exit from the Adelbert St. entrance to the Westwood campus ONLY.

Parents must park and walk to their child's designated dismissal door (see below). At the door parents wait for the child's teacher to dismiss the child to their parent or guardian. Identification will be checked until staff are able to identify the person picking up the child. Please remember to bring an ID with you each day.

• Gray, Yellow, Aqua, Peach, Pink, Orange, and Blue Rooms – East entrances
• Gold, Purple, Green, Lilac, Silver, and Coral Rooms – West entrance

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.

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.

Just as simple, you can opt out at any time by replying to one of our messages with “Stop.”

The text feature and the robocall system are tied directly a student's contact information that is on file with your child's school. Please make sure this information is kept up-to-date to ensure you continue receiving calls or texts from Elyria Schools.

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.

Learners thrive when school is engaging and personally meaningful.

All Pioneers have a voice in decisions that affect them.

Excellence is achieved through vision, commitment and moral leadership.

Elyria Early Childhood Village

Email: plantnerjacqueline@elyriaschools.org
Website: www.elyriaschools.org
Location: 42331 Griswold Road, Elyria, OH, USA
Phone: (440) 284-8250
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EECVSchool/