Westwood Elementary Newsletter

Happy April! As we welcome the arrival of spring, our school is energized by the growth, positivity, and achievements we see every day in our classrooms and throughout our community. This is a busy and exciting time of year, filled with opportunities for learning, celebration, and connection. We hope that you have a restful and relaxing spring break, and that your students come back ready to have a successful end of the year.

April marks an important stretch in our academic calendar. Students are continuing to build on the skills they’ve developed throughout the year, and many grade levels are preparing for end-of-year assessments. We encourage all students to stay focused, ask questions, and give their best effort each day. Families can support by maintaining consistent routines and encouraging reading at home.

Math State testing will take place this month for Grade 3 and 4. Please ensure your child gets a good night’s sleep, eats a healthy breakfast, and arrives to school on time. We are confident in our students and know they will do their very best!

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

2- Last day of school before spring break

3- Spring Break begins

13- School resumes

14- PTO @ 3:30pm

21- 3rd Grade Math OST Part 1

22- 4th Grade Math OST Part 1

24- 3rd Grade Math OST Part 2

25- 4th Grade Math OST Part2

Attendance Matters in April!

As we head into April 2026, we are excited to keep building strong attendance habits together! Coming to school every day — and arriving on time — helps students stay connected to learning, build friendships, and feel confident in their daily routines. Consistent attendance also helps students develop responsibility and strong learning habits that support long-term success.

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, students continue to be recognized and celebrated for positive attendance and effort.

April brings even more exciting opportunities for students to stay motivated! Watch for attendance celebrations, student recognition opportunities, and fun surprises designed to encourage strong habits as we head into the final stretch of the school year. We are finishing up our March Madness Attendance challenge. Classes competed weekly to see how has the best attendance percentage from the week. The winning class will earn a class party!

As routines can shift with spring activities and changing weather, here are some helpful ideas to keep mornings running smoothly:

April tips for getting to school on time:

• Re-establish consistent wake-up and bedtime routines after spring break
• Refresh your morning routine if it’s starting to feel rushed
• Prepare a weekly plan on Sunday to stay organized
• Double-check backpacks each night for important papers or assignments
• Set a daily “ready to leave” time and stick to it
• Encourage independence with a simple morning checklist
• Keep shoes, jackets, and school items in one consistent location
• Build in extra time for busy spring mornings
• Use positive encouragement to keep students motivated
• Stay in communication with the school if challenges come up

Thank you for partnering with us this April to help students stay focused, build strong habits, and continue to Stay in the Game!

Bee Buck Showcase – Save & Win Big!

In March, many students earned the opportunity to attend our Bee Buck Breakfast by following our 3 Bees expectations — Be Kind, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible and Ready to Learn — and by coming to school ready each day. Students enjoyed a special breakfast with a friend, along with games and a movie. We are so proud of the positive choices our students are making!

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.

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,

We are halfway through our Child Protection Unit which is a series of lessons regarding Personal Safety, Touching Safety, and Assertiveness. During our lessons, students have been presented with developmentally appropriate songs, videos, and examples through our Second Step curriculum to guide our conversations. The goal of these lessons is to ensure the safety of our students.

To help guide any conversations that you would like to continue at home with your student along with a preview of the Never-Never Rules and Ways to Stay Safe, you can also go online to SecondStep.org and log in with the activation key for your student’s grade below:

Kindergarten: CPUK FAMI LYGK

1st Grade: CPU1 FAMI LYG1

2nd Grade: CPU2 FAMI LYG2

3rd Grade: CPU3 FAMI LYG3

4th Grade: CPU4 FAMI LYG4

If you have any questions about the Child Protection Unit or the Second Step program, please contact Mrs. Yee. If you do not want your student to participate in these lessons, please complete this Google form (link also below) > Westwood Elementary's Child Protection Unit Opt-Out Form

Our annual Flower Walk will be in May! We will talk about the importance of spreading kindness as we do just that in the surrounding community and across our campus.

Thank you for helping us to make our school a safe and supportive place where everyone can learn.

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!

The mobile dentist will be visiting Westwood Campus on May 6th, 7th, and 8th. Permission forms have been sent home with students. You can also sign up online at: www.MySchoolDentist.com.

April is recognized as Stress Awareness Month, a time to focus on understanding stress, its impact, and ways to manage it effectively. In today’s fast-paced world, stress has become a common part of daily life—but too much stress can take a serious toll on both mental and physical health.

Why Stress Awareness Is Important

Chronic stress doesn’t just affect how you feel emotionally—it can also impact your overall health. Ongoing stress may contribute to:

• Increased risk of heart problems
• Trouble sleeping and fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Anxiety and mood changes
• Weakened immune system

By raising awareness, we can reduce stigma, encourage open conversations, and support healthier coping strategies.

Recognizing the Signs of Stress

It’s important to know when stress is becoming too much. Common signs include:

• Feeling overwhelmed or irritable
• Frequent headaches or muscle tension
• Changes in appetite
• Low energy or burnout
• Difficulty sleeping

Simple Ways to Manage Stress

Taking small steps each day can make a big difference:

• Practice deep breathing or mindfulness
• Stay active with regular exercise
• Get enough rest each night
• Eat balanced, nutritious meals
• Take breaks and set healthy boundaries
• Reach out to friends, family, or support systems

Final Thoughts

Stress is a normal part of life—but managing it is essential for your well-being. This month, take time to check in with yourself and others. Even small changes can lead to a healthier, more balanced life.

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