Westwood Elementary Newsletter

As we approach the end of another school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on all that our students have accomplished and to thank you for being such an important part of our school community.

This year has been filled with growth, curiosity, and resilience. Our students have worked hard, supported one another, and continued to shine in so many ways—both inside and outside the classroom. From academic achievements to acts of kindness, we are incredibly proud of each and every one of them. None of this would be possible without your partnership. Your support at home, your encouragement, and your involvement in school activities have made a meaningful difference in your child’s success and in the strength of our school community.

As we head into the final weeks, we look forward to celebrating our students’ accomplishments and creating lasting memories together. We encourage you to stay connected for updates on end-of-year events and activities. Final report cards will be sent via school Messenger on June 4th. Please keep your eye open for this email.

Safety is always a priority, and I want to remind you of 2 ongoing concerns. This information is for car rider drop-off and pickup. School hours are 9:10am-3:10pm and doors do not open until 8:55am.

- Please do not drop off students early -

Students must stay in the car with you until 8:55am when staff opens the building doors. Staff opens the doors at 8:55 and until then they must remain in the car with you. We cannot have unsupervised students waiting alone outside of the building.

Also- please make sure you are only doing so in the designated pickup and drop off area where staff are located. We do this to ensure your student is safe and supervised by an adult, thank you for your cooperation. The visitor loop, which states "no student drop-off" is not a drop off area. You can see more details below in the drop off and pickup procedures, or feel free to ask if you have any questions,

Please continue to talk with your student about the "3 Bees"- consistent language and expectations can help make the day go smoother- both at school and at home! We appreciate all you do to help your child be successful at school.

Please follow us if you are not already: Westwood Elementary-Elyria City Schools;

https://www.facebook.com/westwoodelementaryecsd

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we are making this a successful and memorable school year for all students. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

Your Partner in Education,
Ms. Stacey Gatten
Principal

1- Outback Ray Assemblies

4- Teacher and Staff Appreciation week

5- TechE Club @ 8:00am

5- PTO @ 3:30pm

6/8- Mobile Dentist

6- School Nurse Day

13- Marcos Pizza Night

14- 1st grade field trip

15- 4th grade farewell (pre-purchased tickets only- no sales at the door)

19- Final TechE Club @ 8:00am

19- Student Council @ 8:15am

20- Flower Walk

21- 2nd grade field trip

22- Last day of Boys and Girls Club

22- Kindergarten Celebration 1:15 PM

25- Memorial Day- no school

26- Field Day

27- End of quarter four, Final Day for Students.

Attendance Matters in May!

As we enter May and the final stretch of the school year, it is more important than ever for students to be at school every day and on time. Each school day in May is filled with important learning, end-of-year activities, and opportunities for students to show what they’ve learned. Staying consistent with attendance helps students finish the year strong, feel confident, and be fully prepared for the next grade level.

We are proud to partner with the Cleveland Browns and the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network to promote the importance of showing up each day ready to learn. Through this partnership, we continue to celebrate students who demonstrate strong attendance and positive habits.

As the school year wraps up and schedules get busy, here are some helpful reminders to keep attendance strong through the end of the year:

May tips for finishing the year on time and strong:

• Keep morning routines consistent, even during busy end-of-year events
• Prioritize school days when planning appointments or activities
• Encourage your child to stay focused and finish the year strong
• Make sure students get plenty of rest each night
• Continue preparing backpacks and materials the night before
• Talk with your child about the importance of finishing what they started
• Celebrate your child’s effort and growth this school year
• Stay connected with the school for important end-of-year updates

Thank you for your continued partnership throughout the school year. Together, we can help every student finish strong, celebrate their growth, and Stay in the Game!

Bee Buck Showcase – Save & Win Big!

March and April we showcased being on time and ready to learn through a March Madness Attendance Challenge. Homerooms that were on time and ready to learn competed to win in our Westwood March Madness Bracket. We are excited to announce that Mrs. Collin's class won the tournament! They received a pizza party and movie for all their hard work.

Now, we’re excited to introduce our Bee Buck Showcase, where students can save up their Bee Bucks for a chance to win great prizes! The more Bee Bucks students earn by showing positive behavior and strong attendance, the more opportunities they’ll have to participate and win. Students have the opportunity to purchase an Ice Cream and Recess Party with their Bee Bucks plus other great prizes!

PBIS Request for Assistance

Please complete the following PBIS Request for Assistance if you wish to talk about additional supports for your student.

Dear Families,

Happy May! It’s hard to believe another school year is coming to an end!

May brings our annual Flower Walk funded by the Elyria City Schools Endowment Fund. Our students and staff will continue the tradition of spreading kindness inside and outside of our campus by working together to deliver flowers. Keep an eye out for pictures shared on social media of the fun and smiles that day brings!

Our fourth graders will also have one final lesson this year about their transition to middle school. Each student has had the opportunity to complete a form to discuss their feelings and any questions they may have about the transition. Mrs. McCarthy and Mrs. Kalamasz will visit our fourth-grade classrooms to talk with our students and introduce them to some friendly faces they will see in the fall.

Thank you for another awesome year at Westwood Elementary with your students. I look forward to seeing all of you in the fall!

Resources for Families:

Lorain Co. Community Action Agency Resource Directory.pdf

• A list of all community resources available for families organized by need (food, transportation, energy services, etc.)

https://www.applewoodcenters.org/MRSS

• Applewood is the MRSS Provider in Lorain County and Medina County
• For 24/7 help with mental health emergencies, please call 988.
• MRSS is a short-term, intensive community-based support program that can include: safety assessments, de-escalation, skill building and linkage to ongoing support. It is FREE to families in Lorain and Medina counties with children ages 2-20. The program's goal is to keep kids in their homes and with their families, and to ensure families are connected to appropriate and adequate resources.

https://www.uwloraincounty.org/

• Free service with links to assistance with food, utilities, abuse prevention, parent resources, housing, employment, medical assistance, mental health, etc.
• Can be reached by dialing 211.

Sincerely,

Stacey Yee

Westwood Elementary School Counselor

To ensure drop-off and pickup run smooth and effective:

· You may ONLY enter at 42101 Griswold to enter the car line. Adelbert entrance is only for Preschool. Please do not cut through- this creates additional traffic for EECV, and we want ALL students to be safe. Also please only drop off and pick up in the designated area, do not use the visitor parking for drop off as it it not an area that is supervised by staff.

· Please do not plan to arrive earlier than 8:55 for Elementary School drop off in the morning. If Elementary students arrive early you will need to keep your student(s) in the vehicle with you until staff comes out to unload students at 8:55am.

· Please do not plan to arrive earlier than 3:00pm for Elementary pickup in the afternoon.

· Once in the lot, please pull up to the car in front of you, as this will allow more cars to enter the lot, and keep cars off the street.

· Please be ready and prepared so that we can keep cars moving efficiently in the lot.

· Follow all directions from staff, they are there to help.

· Please drive safe and slow- this is a school zone and we need to keep all students and staff safe.

· You will exit at Griswold also.

We appreciate your help in keeping our students safe.

School hours are 9:10am-3:10pm.

Doors do not open until 8:55- please do not drop off early or allow students to walk early.

If you are dropping off, please hold your child in the car with you until 8:55am.

Please call the office to report your child(ren)’s absence at 284-8002 before 9:30AM. 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 440-284-8002

Our school address is: Westwood Campus, 42350 Adelbert St, Elyria, OH 44035

Our phone number will stay the same: 284-8002

Families may bring in prepackaged treats (with ingredients listed by the company that packaged it) BUT we are really encouraging non-food items. We have to be very careful of food allergies, to keep all students safe. Birthday treats ARE not required or encouraged, but okay, if you choose.

Birthday/Holiday treat ideas include:

Pencils, bookmarks, fidgets, pop-its, bracelets, crayons, squishes, pencil toppers or erasers, glow sticks, play dough, slinkies, stickers, prepackaged snack with ingredients listed (from the company that produces it).

Stay Connected: Opt In to Receive District Text Messages

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.

To begin receiving text messages from Elyria Schools, parents and guardians must opt in. The service is free and signing up is simple:

Text “Y” or “Yes” to 67587

That’s it! You’ll start receiving important updates and reminders via text.

Need to stop messages later? Just reply with “Stop” to any of our messages.

Please note: our texting feature and robocall system are tied directly to the contact information on file for your student. It’s essential to keep your phone numbers and email addresses up-to-date with your child’s school to ensure you continue receiving calls and texts.

Don't miss out on timely updates—opt in today!

Hello Families,

The mobile dentist will be visiting May 6th, 7th, and 8th. If you still would like to sign up, please visit: https://www.myschooldentist.com/

If your student will need medication for the next school year, forms can be found on the school’s website - departments - student services - student health and wellness - documents. You can also contact the clinic, and forms can be sent home with your student or emailed.

Students that are not up to date on their immunizations will be excluded from school starting September 18th, 2026.

Have a safe, enjoyable summer break!

Amanda McCall RN, BSN

Westwood Campus

440-284-8153

Hoodies, and similar tops or jackets with hoods, are "fan favorites" when it comes to school attire. We like them, too, but not when they are worn up and over the head during the school day.

The district's Student Code of Conduct provides direction on headgear, stating that it may not be worn over a person's head or scalp (excluding headgear that's worn for religious or medical reasons.) Hoods can make it difficult to identify an individual in an emergency, and they can also be a distraction in class. Please remind students that hoods may not be worn up during the school day.

The Student Code of Conduct also offers guidance on attire. Clothing must be school appropriate and may not present a health or safety hazard or disrupt the educational environment. Pants and tops must fit properly and be in good repair; crop tops are not permitted.

Additionally, footwear must be school appropriate--slippers and slipper socks are not permitted. Blankets also may not be worn in school.

Students may bring their cell phones to school but they must be turned off and put away during the day. An updated Ohio state law now prohibits students from using cell phones during instructional time throughout the school day. While Elyria Schools already has a policy in place that restricts cell phone use during learning time, this new law now requires that the policy be enforced in all schools.

As a result, students may not use their cell phones during the instructional day, unless part of a teacher-directed lesson. Phones must be powered off and stowed in a locker or backpack during school hours.

More details will be shared as the school year begins, but we’re asking for families’ attention and support in helping students understand and follow these rules. Our goal is to maintain a focused and respectful learning environment for all students.

While we’ll always start with reminders and redirection, continued disregard of the policy will lead to appropriate consequences in line with our student code of conduct. According to the law, exceptions can be made for medically documented situations, emergencies, or instructional needs that the classroom teacher considers essential.

Thank you for your partnership in preparing students for this important change and helping ensure a successful start to the year.

If you need to reach your student during the school day, please contact the main office and our staff will convey a message or assist you in reaching your student.

Website: https://www.elyriaschools.org/domain/30
Location: 42350 Adelbert St, Elyria, OH 44035, USA
Phone: 440-284-8002