Roosevelt Elementary School

One of the things I have loved most about the beginning of this school year is hearing our students talk about our House System. They are so excited about it!

Over the past few weeks, students have stopped me in the hallways and asked, “What house are you in?” When I tell them they will have to wait and see, they immediately say, “I hope you are in ___!” and name their house. Their faces light up as they explain their house and what it means to them. It has been so wonderful to see their excitement and pride!

Our House System is about more than friendly competition. It is about building connections, creating a sense of belonging, and making sure every student feels welcomed and an important part of our Roosevelt family.

Our House Kickoff Assembly is this Friday, September 4, and I cannot wait to reveal my house! I am especially excited to welcome our kindergarteners and new students into their houses and watch them meet their new housemates.

One Family. Five Houses. One Roosevelt.

I am so excited for all that this year will bring!

Go Roosevelt Rangers!

Ms. Hadeel Nimeh

Principal, Roosevelt Elementary School

• August 31 - Grades 1-5 Benchmarking Begins

• August 20 - end date TBD (sale extended) - Roosevelt PTA Spiritwear Sale (see more information below)

• September 4 – House Spirit Day & Kickoff Assembly/Wheel Spin 2:15 pm (more information below)

• September 7 - Labor Day (No School)

• September 8 - Kindergarten Benchmarking Begins

• September 8 - School Picture Day (more information below)

• September 8 – PTA Meeting 6:30 pm - Roosevelt Cafe

• September 8-18 - Grades 3-5 SSIS

• September 18 - House Spirit Day

• September 21- Hike and Bike Week

• September 21st-October 2nd- Pocket Change for PTA

• September 30- Sollevare Meet and Greet (more information to come)

Picture Day is Tuesday, September 8!

You can download the attached flyer for all of the details or click the link below to order your child's pictures online.

Online Ordering: https://ripchostudio.orderphotos.online/ordering/with?key=G46T2TJ8

Please view the letter attached for information on our new enrichment support for grades 3-5. A warm welcome to Kendall Tener, Roosevelt's new enrichment teacher!

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.

Roosevelt PTA membership is open for 2026–27! Every family is invited to join, and it’s one of the easiest ways to support Roosevelt and show your student this school community matters. Membership helps fund events like the Read-A-Thon, Staff Appreciation, and Book Fair. Joining takes about two minutes and doesn’t require any ongoing time commitment (though we’d always love the extra hands). Sign up before our first meeting on September 8th and you’re entered to win free spirit wear. Join at https://lkwdroosevelt.givebacks.com/shop/items/744255

The PTA has organized a Roosevelt Elementary Fall 2026 Spiritwear Fundraiser. Please see the attached flyer and click the link to purchase your spiritwear!

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.

Families should plan to arrive as close to 8:45 a.m. as possible so students have time to settle in and connect with their teacher and classmates before learning begins. Students arriving after 8:55 a.m. must report to the office for a tardy slip.

• 8:30–8:45 am – Breakfast (enter via cafeteria door #8, breakfast only, no gym waiting period)
• 8:45–8:55 am – Arrival through main doors; students go straight to classrooms
• 8:50 am – Announcements
• 8:55 am – Tardy bell
• 3:15 pm – Dismissal

Every adult is expected to follow the Roosevelt Elementary drop-off and pick-up plan. Please do not use neighborhood streets for drop-off and pickup to avoid the driver line. This creates unnecessary safety and traffic concerns. Please review pedestrian and bicycle safety with your child(ren), and share the arrival and dismissal procedures with any additional caregivers who are designated to pick up your child from school.

• To align with the other Lakewood elementaries, there is no early supervised arrival in the gym. With the exception of breakfast students, students should not arrive before 8:45 am. Breakfast students enter 8:30–8:45 am through cafeteria door #8; all others arrive at 8:45 am through the main doors.

• If you have any changes, please notify your child’s teacher of changes before the day starts. For day-of changes, call the office by 2:30 pm. Car riders wait in the gym until called, and cars should use provided green tags for identification. Walkers exit from the south side of the building. All students must depart school grounds unless in a school activity or under parent/guardian supervision.
• Our south-facing doors are only intended for students who walk home from school. Do not park and walk up to the doors. Adding additional traffic and parked cars on Bayes and neighboring streets creates unnecessary congestion and an extremely unsafe situation for our families and neighbors. It also blocks residents from accessing their driveways.

If you drive your child to school, please review the following:

• Please do not use neighborhood streets for drop-off and pickup to avoid the driver line.
• Please watch for students walking and biking when entering and exiting school property.
• Please pull all the way up to the end of the parking lot when dropping off/picking up your child and avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting in the car line.
• Please read and follow "do not enter" signs around the building during specified hours.

Whenever possible, families are encouraged to walk, bike, or carpool with their neighbors. Schoolpool is an excellent way to connect with other families to walk, bike, or carpool together.

• Walking and biking help students start the day alert and ready to learn.

• SchoolPool connects families for "walking school buses", bike trains, and carpools.

• Learn more here: Schoolpool webpage

• Families who participate in before- and after-care programs can still participate! You can coordinate walking, biking, or carpooling with other families utilizing these services — and it may even make drop-offs and pick-ups easier.

If your student is able, using active transportation such as walking or biking is a great alternative to tackling the car line and it benefits both your student and the environment!

The Safer Ohio School Tip Line is a free safety resource available to all Ohio schools. The tip line is an anonymous reporting system that accepts both calls and texts 24 hours a day. Calls or texts to 844-SaferOH (844-723-3764) are answered by analysts within Ohio Homeland Security. We encourage everyone in our community to use this tip line if they hear or see something suspicious or unusual. #SpeakUpSaveLives

If your child needs medication administered during the school day (including EpiPens or inhalers), a parent should plan to bring in the medication (with a prescription container) and a completed authorization form on the first day of school. The form can be found on the Lakewood City Schools website. Click on “Forms” and select the appropriate form (for prescribed medication, EpiPen, and/or inhaler). For further information, please visit the district website, Click on “Departments” and select “Health Services” or contact our school office.

For more information on smartwatches, dress code, scooters, etc. please refer to the 2026-27 Roosevelt Family Handbook linked here which can also be found on the school website.

• 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.

Parents/guardians can now pay school fees via the Infinite Campus parent portal. See the following link for directions on making a payment: Fee payment instructions. Those who do not wish to pay fees online may submit their payment to their school office. If you have questions about fees, please contact the office.

Please follow this link to learn about the slight change in meal prices, details on free/reduced meals, and depositing money into your students' meal account for the 2026-27 school year.

If your family could benefit from meal support, please know these local resources are available to you. Each program is here to help our Lakewood residents access healthy meals and groceries.

Lakewood Community Services Center provides home food delivery to Lakewood residents on a bi-monthly basis. Lakewood residents can register for this free service. Click here.

Community Meals are provided through a network of volunteers with local churches and schools. The Community Meal calendar can be viewed here.

The Root Cafe has a free (self serve) community refrigerator and pantry during its operating hours. Click here for more information.

Greater Cleveland Food Bank - Community Resource Center

United Way 2-1-1 - Dial 2-1-1 to find local food pantries and other resources or use their online chat option.

Additional Food Pantries - use this link to find a list of food offerings throughout Cuyahoga County.

Donna Schaefer, our Family Resource Coordinator, is here to help families with community or school based support (financial or otherwise). Please feel free to reach out to her at 216-529-4224 or donna.schaefer@lakewoodcityschools.org.

Water bottles to be used throughout the day at school are for water only. Thank you.

As outlined in the school handbook, we do not provide supervision of students prior to 8:45am and after 3:15pm. Please remind your child that he/she is expected to go directly home after school. Students are not permitted on the playground before or after school from 3:15-4:00pm without adult supervision. The playground is closed when it is being used by YMCA after care from 4:00-5:00pm. Children having difficulty with appropriate behavior before or after school may result in school discipline.

Student personal cell phones/watches/electronic devices shall be turned off and put away in backpacks while on school property. If a caretaker needs to contact a child, please contact the school office at 216-529-4224. Thank you.

Returning families must update permissions and contact information for the 2026-27 school year through the Infinite Campus parent portal. You should have received an email Aug. 1 with the necessary info to make your student updates. Need help logging in? Click here.

School and district updates will continue to be sent regularly via email. If you do not have internet access and need a hard copy of school communications, or a translated version, please let your student’s teacher know, and we will be sure to provide what you need.

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/

Website: www.lakewoodcityschools.org/10/Home
Location: 14237 Athens Avenue
Phone: (216)529-4224

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we begin this exciting school year. I look forward to working together to make it a wonderful year for our students!

Please reach out anytime with questions, ideas, or concerns. I can be reached at 216-529-4224 or by email at hadeel.nimeh@lakewoodcityschools.org