Leighton Update
May 17, 2026
Dear Leighton Families,
We know May is a jam-packed month, and the past couple of weeks have certainly met that description! Our school has been extremely busy, beginning with two amazing student performances: our Leighton Talent Show led by Dr. Iriarte where our students showcased some incredible performances, and our final band concert of the year led by Mr. Perez and Mr. Smith. We are sincerely proud of our students, performers and musicians!
Additionally, we were honored to welcome Mayor Benjamin, who presented to each of our 3rd-grade classes and helped students make real-world connections to their recent inquiry units on the important roles and functions of local government. This past week also featured our annual Exceptional Greenmen event; the entire student body rallied together to support our athletes with an enthusiastic "snap out," cheering them on as they headed to Veterans Stadium. There was tremendous support, fun, and energy throughout the entire day.
We also want to extend a huge thank you to our incredible AEPTO for running the awesome BOGO Book Fair this past week—we always appreciate their continuous dedication and support for our students! In the classrooms, students have been finishing their spring diagnostics in math and reading, which will be fully completed by the end of this week. Looking ahead to the coming week, we will begin our student-led Alex's Lemonade Stand fundraiser, and we are thrilled to welcome our rising 3rd graders (current 2nd graders) to Leighton for the very first time! Please reference the below dates for the remaining activities.
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!
Spencer Warders
Principal, Leighton Elementary
Exceptional Greenmen!
We want to send a huge thank you to Mrs. Blakey, Mrs. VanReapenbusch, and the entire adult team at Leighton, as well as Mr. Maglionico and Mr. Torres, for facilitating such a wonderful experience for our students during the Exceptional Greenmen event. Their hard work and dedication truly made the day unforgettable, and our entire school community could not be prouder of our amazing athletes!
Harmon Role Model Visit Leighton
We were also thrilled to recently welcome the Harmon Role Models, who visited all of our 5th-grade classrooms to share what a typical day in the life of a 6th grader looks like. This visit provided a wonderful opportunity for our 5th graders to ask the Harmon students questions that were on their minds regarding middle school academics, classes, schedules, and extracurricular activities. It was a fantastic way to help our oldest students feel excited, confident, and prepared as they look forward to their transition to middle school next year!
Mayor Benjamin Visits Leighton
We were honored to welcome Mayor Benjamin, who presented to each of our 3rd-grade classes and helped students make real-world connections to their recent inquiry units on local government. She shared firsthand accounts of the essential, day-to-day tasks that the Aurora government completes to keep our community safe, clean, and thriving. Additionally, Mayor Benjamin gave the students a closer look at the role of the executive branch at the local level, explaining how her responsibilities as mayor focus on enforcing laws, managing city departments, and leading our community forward. It was an invaluable experience that brought their classroom lessons to life!
The Essential Plan
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.
*Video #1 - Introduction to The Essential Plan
*Video #2 - The Heart of the Plan: A New 1-3 Elementary
*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
Important Upcoming Dates
May 20: LES Orchestra Concert at HS - 4th at 6:30 and 5th at 7:30
May 26: LES Field Day
May 27: LES Field Day Rain Date
May 28: 5th grade Clap Out 1:15
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.
ASF
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!
AEPTO
Community Announcements
Reporting A Student Absence
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.
Leighton Elementary
Jeff Morris - Assistant Principal
Halston Pratt - Building Secretary
hgarzapratt@aurora-schools.org
Mariah George - Attendance Secretary
Email: swarders@aurora-schools.org
Website: aurora-schools.org
Location: 121 Aurora Hudson Road, Aurora, OH, USA
Phone: (330)562-2209