
Westwood Elementary Newsletter
FEBRUARY 2023
WWES Families,
February is upon us! This month has a lot of happenings- Black History Month, National Dentistry Month, Valentines Day, Chinese New Year, and Groundhog Day, to name a few. For those of you who enjoy football it is also Super bowl.
I’m sure, regardless of the groundhog, we have another couple of months of winter weather ahead of us. Our custodial staff works hard to keep our walkways clear of snow and ice. Please remind your student(s) of the importance of being careful when they are walking to and from the building. Please make sure your student is dressing for the weather. If there is a need for winter items, please contact our Community Engagement Liaison (CEL), Ashley Hayes @ 440-284-8226.
Looking ahead, we have Ohio State testing for 3rd and 4th grade at the end of March, and we have a Family Fun night in the works for Friday March 24th- more details to come.
Thank you for taking the time to read this digital newsletter! There is important information and dates included, to help you plan ahead.
We also will have printed copies of this newsletter in the main office, should you need one. Please make sure you have an email listed in PowerSchool that you check regularly- we frequently communicate electronically.
I’d like to remind parents to continue to check their child’s progress on PowerSchool. If you need your login or password information, please contact Mrs. Careyr in the front office. It’s important to continue to watch your child’s grades so you are aware of any areas to focus on at home or areas to celebrate with your child
Please follow us if you are not already: Westwood Elementary-Elyria City Schools; https://www.facebook.com/westwoodelementaryecsd/
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
Your Partner in Education,
Ms. Stacey Gatten
Principal
Happenings this Month
7- Parent Cafe (Contact Ashley Hayes with any questions 440-284-8226)
15- Interims go home
15- FREE Jim Basketball Jones event @ Northwood 6PM (more details below)
16- Conferences (by appointment only)
20- Presidents Day- No School
Get to know our SRO
What are your hobbies?
Working out, reading, mentoring youth groups & hanging out with friends.
How many years have you been in Law Enforcement?
9 years
What is your role as a SRO at Westwood Campus?
Making a connection with kids and staff. Ensuring safety for all.
Favorite thing you like about Westwood?
Getting to know the staff and sitting in on classes in all grade levels.
Jim Basketball Jones Family Assembly
More information about Jim and the assembly can be found here:
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2023, 06:00 PM
570 Abbe Road North Elyria, OH
Bus info
You can also find more information HERE.
Follow us on Facebook!
Westwood Elementary- Elyria City Schools.
Also follow Elyria City School District for district information.
Food Services
You may apply online
for free/reduced lunch. Please complete this form as soon as possible.
A breakfast will be available to all students at no cost this year
Firstview Bus information
You can sign up here:
https://www.elyriaschools.org/departments/operations/transportation
Building Information-
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
Information is Just a Text Away!
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.
News from the School Nurse
Dear Families,
February is National Dental Health Month!
Make dental health part of your daily routine and share these reminders with your whole family:
Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, especially after breakfast and before bedtime. Drinking water after eating also helps to clear your teeth of food particles.
Floss every day. An adult should help children under the age of eight to floss. Older children should be ready to floss on their own.
Limit the number of times you eat snacks, especially the sticky ones and long lasting ones.
Visit a dentist regularly for a routine check up and a cleaning.
Protect your teeth by wearing a mouthguard when playing sports.
Don’t forget to change your toothbrush regularly, and after an illness.
Sweet snack facts:
Eating a lot of snacks with sugar may cause cavities.
Every time you eat sugar, plaque in your mouth mixes with the sugar to make acid. The acid hurts the teeth and causes decay over time. This can be painful!
The school nurse can help you find a dental home for your family!
Please call or email me with questions at 440-284-8153, hessrose@elyriaschools.org
Thank you,
Rose Hess
School Nurse
Student Birthday Treats
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 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).
Drop off and pick up procedures
To ensure drop-off and pickup run smooth and effective:
· You may ONLY at 42101 Griswold to enter the car line. We will no longer be using Adelbert for drop off- Adelbert is only for Preschool now.
· 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.
Stay Connected
Website: https://www.elyriaschools.org/domain/30
Location: 42350 Adelbert St, Elyria, OH 44035, USA
Phone: 440-284-8002