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.

The colder temperatures have made their way to Elyria. 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.

Interims are able to be viewed in PowerSchool for the second quarter, please call the office with any questions. The quarter ends on January 13th, and it will be here quick due to winter break.

Please follow us if you are not already: Westwood Elementary-Elyria City Schools; https://www.facebook.com/westwoodelementaryecsd/

If you pre-purchased tickets for the Santa breakfast, I will see you on Saturday!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

Your Partner in Education,
Ms. Stacey Gatten
Principal

You can sign up here:

https://www.elyriaschools.org/departments/operations/transportation

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

Dear Families,

We have come to the time of year to expect cold and flu symptoms. Some of these are unavoidable but there are several things you can do at home to help prevent illness and keep everyone feeling healthy. Here are some tips to remember:

WASH, WASH, WASH YOUR HANDS! This is still the best defense against illness. Encourage your children to wash, especially before meals, using soap and warm water. To ensure they are taking enough time to adequately kill germs, have them sing the ABC song while scrubbing.

Get plenty of rest. School age children should get 9-11 hours of sleep each night. Grownups should try to get 8 hours.

Drink lots of fluids and eat a balanced diet - especially breakfast! I'm seeing a lot of children with stomachaches and headaches due to hunger.

Dress appropriately for cold weather. Please help your child choose warm, comfortable clothing for school each day, including socks. Make sure they are wearing a coat and you may want to consider a hat and gloves as well. Even in cool weather they need the exercise and fresh air.

Unfortunately, even with the best care, a virus can make us sick. Cold symptoms are best relieved with rest and fluids and may last as long as 10 days. If symptoms persist longer than this, the child should see a physician. Please keep in mind the guidelines below when deciding if your child should come to school. Any child with the following symptoms should stay home:

-A fever 100 degrees or higher. A child should not come back to school until the temperature is normal for 24 hours without medication.
-vomiting or diarrhea
-a frequent cough
-any rash accompanied by a fever
-ear pain and/or eye drainage
-sore throat with a fever and/or rash

Please call if you have any questions or would like to discuss your child's illness. If you have a change in address or phone number, remember to contact the school office. It is very important to be able to reach you in the event your child becomes ill at school. Have a safe and HEALTHY winter!

Please call or email me with questions at 440-284-8153, hessrose@elyriaschools.org

Thank you,

Rose Hess

School Nurse

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).