Learning at Home
Tips and tricks from Elyria City School District
Dear Families,
It hardly seems like any time has passed at all since we said goodbye to the 2020-21 school year. Yet here we are...up to our elbows planning for a new school year and a brand new beginning!
The first day of school is Tuesday, September 7.
To kick-start the year, Elyria Schools is hosting numerous summer camps in August.
Sign-ups took place in June but there are still spots open for the wildly popular Camp Invention, suitable for students entering grades 1 through 6.
Camp Invention isn't new to Elyria Schools but every summer the program comes back bigger and better.
The name says it all. Camp Invention is invention education.
Students in the program roll up their sleeves and spend five full days working together with their same-age classmates, tackling tasks that have them thinking outside-the-box, designing, building and showcasing their work.
The STEAM-based projects are led by teachers in the Elyria Schools so the work aligns with classroom topics and activities.
The Camp Invention program is through the National Inventors Hall of Fame. It's available to students of Elyria Schools at no cost.
Camp Invention is taking place at Elyria High School, Monday, Aug. 2, through Friday, Aug. 6, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day.
There's still time to register for Camp Invention but seats are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
We hope to see you there!
Eastern Heights is the largest of the new schools and will serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
What remains of the original Eastern Heights structure will be taken down by demolition crews the first week of August.
The final new facility--Westwood Campus in Elyria Township--is nearing completion, as well, and is expected to open in mid December.
Westwood Campus is a K--8 facility with a bit of uniqueness to it. The new school mirrors other new schools in exterior and interior design but it will include a walkway to the existing Westwood Middle School. The walkway will take students to a beautiful fine arts and creative space that houses the gymnasium, art and music classrooms and makerspaces.
Until the new Westwood Campus opens, students in kindergarten through fourth grade whose addresses are within the new Westwood Campus boundaries will temporarily attend school in the former Crestwood Elementary building at 42331 Griswold Road.
An interactive map on the district's website makes it possible to search home addresses and where they fall within each school's boundaries.
To see the progress of the new Eastern Heights and Westwood Campuses check out our latest video on Pioneer TV YouTube.
Back to school
It seems hard to believe but the new schools of Northwood Campus, Ely Elementary and Hamilton Elementary will open for their second year of service already this fall.
The new schools offer all the latest teaching and learning wizardry in spaces that are bright, bold and inspiring.
We will host open houses at the beginning of the school year and at this time, the open houses are planned to be in-person for students and parents.
Of course we're monitoring developments with COVID-19 and working closely with Lorain County Public Health on our return-to-school plans, and we will update parents as we learn more.
The open house schedule (subject to change) is:
- Elyria Early Childhood Village, 42101 Griswold Road, Sept. 2, 5:30-7 p.m.
- Ely Elementary, 312 Gulf Road, Sept. 2, 6-7 p.m.
- Hamilton Elementary, 1215 Middle Ave., Sept. 9, 6-7 p.m.
- Eastern Heights Elementary, 528 Garford Ave., Sept. 2, 5-6 p.m.
- Northwood Elementary, 570 N. Abbe Road, Sept. 2, 5-6 p.m.
- Westwood Elementary (former Crestwood Elementary School location), 42331 Griswold Road, Sept. 2, 6-7 p.m.
- Eastern Heights Middle, 528 Garford Ave., Sept. 16, 6-7 p.m.
- Northwood Middle, 570 N. Abbe Road, Sept. 2, 6-7 p.m.
- Westwood Middle (current Westwood Middle School location), 42350 Adelbert St.,
Sept. 2, 5-6 p.m. - Elyria High School, 601 Middle Ave., Sept. 15, 6-7:15 p.m.
School supply lists are available here.
Safe Return to School
Last June, school districts were asked to provide the state with their plans for a safe return to school this fall. The plans also detail strategies for making up for lost instruction during the pandemic.
You'll find Elyria's plan here.
This week the superintendents of Lorain County will meet with Lorain County Public Health Director Dave Covell for a COVID-19 update. We'll continue working closely with the health department as we move forward with our plan to return to school in September.
As new information becomes available, we'll provide updates through the Learning at Home newsletter and on the district's website.
This fall we are planning a full return to in-person learning, Monday through Friday. You'll find our 2021-2022 school calendar here.
At this time, face masks are optional. As the CDC and local health authorities provide more guidance, we'll review this and provide updates as necessary.
We will continue distancing as possible in the classrooms and gathering spaces, and reinforcing good hand hygiene and cleanliness at school.
Please continue to monitor your child's health at home. If a child is experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, or any symptoms of illness please keep them home from school and report the absence to the school's main office.
We expect to receive more health guidance pertaining to schools in the coming weeks.
As always, safety is our first concern. Please be assured we will keep you informed and updated as we learn more.
We are excited to welcome your students back on September 7 and are looking forward to a great new school year! Please contact us anytime at 440-284-8000 or ask@elyriaschools.org.
Ann Schloss
Superintendent
Say yes to texts!
The Elyria Schools Communications Office is rolling out a new tool for instant notifications such as phone calls and text messages. The system is called SchoolMessenger by Intrado, a long-established school communications company.
If you already receive robo calls from Elyria Schools, you won't notice a change other than a few nuances in how the message sounds upon delivery.
Robo text messages are another matter, however. In order to receive text messages from Elyria Schools through the new system, parents or guardians must "opt in," agreeing to receive texts.
Opting in is a quick, simple process.
The service is free and interested parents and 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.”
Through SchoolMessenger, the district is also redesigning its website. Look for the new look in August!
In preparing for the new school year, please ensure that your contact information is up-to-date with Elyria Schools. An address or phone number change that happens during the school year can be passed on directly to the main office of your student's home school.
Elyria City School District
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