I hope you're making the most of this beautiful fall weather; our first snow may arrive later this week! As we near the winter season, please remember to keep your child's emergency information updated and current with their school. This is essential for any weather-related closures or important announcements from our communication team. You can also stay connected with us daily through social media on Facebook, (Twitter) X, Instagram, and find our specialty programming on Elyria Schools PioneerTV YouTube, and Petey Podcast.

A big congratulations to the Elyria High School Drama Department for their performance of Agatha Christie’s "Murder on the Orient Express" -- The EHS Drama Club always impresses! Coming this weekend, the Eastern Heights Drama Club will take the stage at the Elyria Performing Arts Center (EPAC) to present "Annie Jr." Tickets for this and other events can be conveniently purchased online through the EPAC website.

The fall and winter seasons bring a wonderful array of programs to the EPAC. You'll find everything from holiday concerts featuring our youngest performers in kindergarten through fourth grade, to impressive band, choir and orchestra performances by our talented middle school students, as well as remarkable showcases of Elyria High School's fine arts program. Don't miss out on specialty events like the annual Holiday Spectacular by the EHS fine arts department. This event truly lives up to its name, offering an exceptional holiday experience filled with continuous performances that immerse the audience in a symphony of sensations. Mark your calendars for the Holiday Spectacular on December 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. in the EPAC.

Elyria Athletics has also kicked off a new sports season, offering plenty of chances to come out and cheer for your Pioneers during the winter months. You'll find the winter season sports schedules online at Elyria Athletics.

Thanks for reading this issue of Pioneer News!

Pictured, the cast of Elyria High School Drama Club's, "Murder on the Orient Express," which took place at the Performing Arts Center on Nov. 15-17.

12/2 E. Heights Elementary K/2/4 & Got Music, 7PM

12/3 Hamilton Elementary Concert, 7PM

12/4 Westwood Middle Music Mini Holiday Spectacular, 7PM

12/5 Elyria High Band Concert, 7PM

12/6 Northwood Middle Choirs Concert, 7PM

12/9 Northwood Elementary Grades 2 & 3 Concert, 6:30PM

12/10 Elyria High Combined Ensembles Concert, 7PM

12/13 Elyria High Holiday Spectacular Concert, 7PM

12/14 Elyria High, Holiday Spectacular Concert, 7PM

12/16 E. Heights Elementary K/2/4 & Got Music, 7PM

12/17 Westwood Elementary Concert, 7PM

12/18 Ely Grades 2 & 3 Concert, 6:30PM

Concert dates and times are subject to change. Please visit elyriaschools.org for the calendar of events.

Parents may have noticed a bump in their student meal account balance due to refunded meal charges that were processed through Payschools for families who paid full price for breakfast or lunch from August 19 to September 20 of this year, before the district's transition to free student meals through the CEP program.

Please note:

• Any negative balances or charges accumulated before August 19, 2024, were NOT refunded.

• Students can use their account balances for purchasing snacks or a la carte items in the school cafeteria.

The Elyria Foodservice team is thrilled to introduce a new chef in the central kitchen this year: Alex Hrvatin. A classically trained chef from New York, Chef Hrvatin brings a wealth of experience from coast to coast, including full scratch-made restaurants, farm-to-table dining, and culinary education. "I would love to make everything homemade. We're taking baby steps (toward incorporating scratch-made items when possible)," Hrvatin said.

For instance, in the kitchen at Elyria High School, dishes like homemade enchilada bake and cornbread demonstrate that it's not too challenging to incorporate homemade elements into existing menus. "It's a fantastic way to provide something a bit more homemade while still maintaining efficiency."

School foodservice is a new venture for Chef Hrvatin. "This has been a first for me, and there's been quite a bit of a learning curve," he said, "but I'm happy here; I'm part of a great team. The staff wants to serve the best product they can--they are all really here for the kids."

Take a listen to Hrvatin and Foodservice Director Lauryn Smith on a recent episode of Petey Podcast!

Pictured at right, Chef Alex Hrvatin and Elyria Schools Foodservice Director Lauryn Smith, appearing on Petey Podcast.

Colder weather has arrived! Here’s a friendly reminder for students: clothing should be school-appropriate and must not pose any health or safety risks, nor disrupt the learning environment. Ensure that pants and tops fit properly (crop tops are not allowed).

Furthermore, footwear must also be suitable for school—slippers and slipper socks are not permitted. Additionally, blankets cannot be used within the school.

Cell phones need to be turned off and stored away during the school day, unless they are being used as part of a lesson or with the teacher's permission.

The Student Code of Conduct provides guidance on student attire and other aspects of the school climate.

Carla Valles, paraprofessional at Northwood Elementary School, said that giving Elyria a chance was the best decision she's made.

"I very much get to be me, and I get to bring my skillsets and my talents to the table.

"If you're looking for a district that's going to open their arms to you, give you a chance to grow and listen to your voice, Elyria is it!"

Interested in being a Pioneer with the Elyria Schools? Check out our jobs at www.elyriaschools.org!

Parents and Elyria residents: Be on the look out for the upcoming issue of Pioneer Press heading to your mailbox soon! This eight-page paper is delivered to every home in Elyria and is packed with great stories about your schools. Many articles in this edition are complemented by fun videos that you can find on Elyria Schools PioneerTV on YouTube.

We'll publish another issue of Pioneer Press this spring. If you have suggestions for topics you'd like to see featured in Pioneer Press, or with any other of our communication platforms, feel free to reach out to the Communications Office at ask@elyriaschools.org. Enjoy reading!

Email: ask@elyriaschools.org
Website: www.elyriaschools.org
Location: 42101 Griswold Road, Elyria, OH, USA
Phone: 440-284-8000
Facebook: facebook.com/elyriacityschools
Twitter: @twitter_elyriaschools