Westwood Elementary Newsletter

We are moving into December and the chance of frigid weather gets more consistent. If your child needs a coat, hat or gloves, please complete the link below (WWES student winter coat request 24/25). You can also give Mrs. Hayes in the main office a call and she is happy to help (440-284-8002).

Make sure you check out the "Important Dates" below- there is a lot happening in December. Grades 2/3 Holiday concert, spirit days and spirit wear to name a few. Our final day with students is December 19th and we resume in January on the 6th.

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.

This newsletter contains important information, and I will send only one each month. Please take the time to read it each month- it is packed full of information. We also will have printed copies 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.

If you drop off or pick up your student- 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. You can see more details below in the drop off and pickup procedures.

Regular attendance at the elementary school level is crucial to each student’s success, as it sets up a good pattern for your child’s entire school career. Please make sure your child is here every day that it is possible.

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

https://www.facebook.com/westwoodelementaryecsd

Your Partner in Education,
Ms. Stacey Gatten
Principal

December

5- Spirit wear orders due

7- Santa Breakfast (tickets are not available at the door, prepay only)

11- Marco's Pizza Night

12- TechE Club 8:00am

13- Grade 4 to PAC @ 9:30 for music performance

16- Candy Cane Day- Wear red and/or white

17- Holiday/Festive wear

17- Student Council Meeting @ 8:15am

17- Grades 2 and 3 Music performance 7:00 (see details below)

18- Grinch Day- wear green

19- Polar Express Day- wear comfy clothes

19- End of Quarter 2

20- Records Day, no school, break begins

Westwood Elementary Holiday Concert (2nd and 3rd Grades)

Hello Westwood Elementary families! If we haven’t had the chance to meet yet, my name is Mr. Reitz and I am your child’s music teacher. Our holiday concert is coming up soon, so I wanted to send some information home. The concert will take place on Tuesday, December 17 at the Elyria High School Performing Arts Center. The concert begins at 7, but performing students should arrive between 6:30 and 6:45 to check in with their teacher and be placed onstage. Students who are walking to and/or home from the PAC should be accompanied by an adult. All 2nd and 3rd grade students will participate in the concert. Performers’ attire should be nice, but does not

have to be too fancy (think school picture day). Since this is the holiday concert, students are also welcome to wear holiday attire as long as it follows the school dress code. Your students have been working hard on learning their songs, and we can’t wait to show you the product of

all their hard work. We hope you’ll join us on December 17th!

Westwood Elementary Concierto Navideño (2 y 3 grados)

¡Hola familias de Westwood Si no tuvimos la oportunidad de conocernos, mi nombre es señor Reitz y soy el maestro de música de tu hijo/hija. Nuestro concierto navideño está viniendo pronto así que yo quería enviar un poco de información para casa. El concierto se va hacer el Martes diciembre 17 en el Elyria High School Performing Arts Center. El concierto va a empezar a las 7, pero los estudiantes que participen en el concierto deberían llegar entre las 6:30 y las 6:45

para chequear con su maestra y estar preparados en el escenario. Los estudiantes que están caminando hacia el PAC o caminando hacia casa deberían estar acompañados por un adulto.

Todos los estudiantes de 2 y 3 van a participar en el concierto. Los estudiantes participando en el concierto tienen que estar bien vestidos, pero nada muy elegante (como el día de la foto en la escuela). Como este es el concierto navideño los estudiantes pueden usar ropa navideña pero tiene que corresponder con el código de vestimenta escolar. Tus estudiantes han estado trabajando muy duro aprendiendo sus canciones, y no podemos esperar para enseñarles los resultados de todo su trabajo. ¡Esperemos que vayas a unirte con nosotros en diciembre 17!

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. Please ONLY drop off students on the drop off zone that has staff available- stop signs and non drop off zones are prohibited.

· 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

Hello Westwood families!

As winter season approaches, it is important to recognize how this time of year can impact our mental wellbeing. The days are short and with less sunlight and the approaching holiday season coming, it can bring up feelings of sadness, anxiety, and loneliness. Taking care of your own mental health is just as important, in order to be there for others. Here are some tips to take extra care of yourself and those around you.

Set boundaries: It’s OK to say, “no” or ask for help when feeling overwhelmed. It’s important to know your limits.

Seek support: Colleagues, friends, or professionals can be a great support to talk to when going through difficult situations.

Engage in activities that recharge you: Reading, meditating, physical activity, spending time outdoors, find activities that you enjoy.

When supporting other: Be aware of how reduced daylight may affect mood or energy levels. Encourage regular breaks and exposure to natural light when possible.

Create a safe space to talk: With holidays approaching, some people may feel more stressed or want to isolate themselves. Offer a listening ear without judgment.

Promote self-care: It can be helpful to remind those that you are supporting of the importance of small, daily activities that can have a positive impact on their mental wellbeing. Exercise, mindfulness, and proper rest are especially important during this time.

***Important clinic dates: Vision to Learn will be completing exams December 18th and 19th.

Please reach out with any questions,

Amanda McCall RN, BSN

Westwood Campus

mccallamanda@elyriaschools.org

440-284-8153

Hello! During the month of November, we began our Emotion Management unit. During this unit, students in Kindergarten through 4th grade are learning the importance of noticing someone’s face or body language to figure out what emotion they are feeling and practicing naming and regulating their emotions. Our 4th graders also will be working on seeing situations from another perspective, or “putting themselves in someone else’s shoes”.

We will be continuing this unit into December so that we can also cover “I messages”. These “I messages” will blend both categorizing emotions and problem solving as students use the following phrase:

“I feel _____________ when you _____________. Can you please _____________?”

It is the goal during our lessons and throughout each day that students begin using these phrases as they interact with others to improve their communication skills to use assertive language and reduce accusative language in order to start problem solving through small issues that they may have with peers.

Finally, we have been fortunate enough to have had two visits from Henry the therapy dog! These classroom visits will continue in December. Again, if you do not wish for your student to be in contact with Henry, please reach out to me at yeestacey@elyriaschools.org or (440) 284-8244.

As usual, see below for some additional information to continue the conversation about emotions at home. Thank you! Big Emotion Tips for Families

Thank you!

Stacey Yee

School Counselor

Westwood Elementary

yeestacey@elyriaschools.org

(440) 284-8244

See below for information from Food Services:

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).

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.

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 unless they are used as a part of a teacher-directed lesson in class. Same rules apply to Bluetooth headphones--they may not be worn during the school day.

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