The Northwood Elementary Connection

January 2022 Parent Newsletter

From the Desk of Principal Miranda Roscoe

From the Desk of Principal Miranda Roscoe

Hello Northwood Elementary families-


We have made it through the first half of the school year. Students at Northwood Elementary transitioned well from their week long Winter Break. The focus for the Positive Behavior Classroom Incentive and Competition for the month of January is lunchroom behavior. The classrooms that receives the most tally marks on their ice cream poster will receive ice cream treats at the end of the month. Last month’s focus was hallway behavior. There was actually a two way tie in grades K-2. Mrs. Eldemire/Gr. K and Mrs. Morgenstern/Gr. 2 classes earned twenty- four tally marks from staff for positive hallway behavior. Both classes received ice cream treats on December 20th. Ms. Phiel’s third grade class was the winning class for grades 3-4.


More about Arrival and Dismissal

This is a reminder that doors to the school open at 8:55. Students should not be dropped off before 8:45. Some students are dropped off as early as 8:25. There is no one available to supervise students prior to 8:45. Also, as temperatures decrease, please make sure students are dressed for winter weather with their winter coats, gloves and hats. Students will be allowed to wait inside at arrival and dismissal when temperatures are frigid. All parents that drive to campus for arrival/drop off and dismissal/pickup should enter the car rider line. Students will be inside during inclement weather and parents should expect that the dismissal process will take longer than usual.


Safety Patrol

Cars should come to a complete stop before getting to our crosswalks. Safety Patrol, and Adviser Grove need all cars to slow down and come to a complete stop during arrival and dismissal. Safety Patrol will cross all students and adults during arrival and dismissal at the front of the school. All Pedestrians should wait for Safety Patrol to go out with their flags to cross walkers.


Winter Benchmarking Assessments

Teachers are in the process of administering the STAR and MAP benchmarking assessments. These assessments will identify students reading and math levels. Both assessments are taken on the computer and provide teachers with valuable data used to help your child learn. Parents will soon have the opportunity to opt-in to receiving a Parent Report from STAR Renaissance detailing their child’s progress. This Parent report is only available for students who take the STAR benchmarking assessments.


Sincerely,

Miranda Roscoe

Principal Northwood Elementary

From the Desk of Principal Miranda Roscoe

Covid Update from School Nurse DiFranco

Happy New Year!! Welcome back! I hope and pray that everyone is healthy!

As we begin the new year at school, I wanted to send out information regarding new guidelines from the CDC and ODH in regards to quarantining persons who are close (direct) contacts of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 as well as isolation for those persons who have tested positive for COVID-19.


IF TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID


Whether you’ve been vaccinated or not, follow these steps:

  • Stay home for 5 days. Day 1 = the day after symptoms began OR the day after the positive test was taken.

  • If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are getting better after 5 days, then you can leave your house and wear a mask around others for 5 more days.

  • If you continue feeling sick or your symptoms get worse, stay home and call your healthcare provider.


DIRECT CONTACTS, REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS, MAY REMAIN IN THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT IF THEY DO THE FOLLOWING:


  • Wear a mask for 10 days after their last date of exposure

  • Self-monitor, or parent-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19

  • Isolate and get tested if they start to experience symptoms associated with COVID-19 (REGARDLESS OF SEVERITY)

  • Testing on day 5 after exposure is recommended



IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REMINDERS REGARDING

SCHOOL SCREENINGS


Childhood vision disorders are prevalent and are a significant public health problem. Early identification, diagnosis and correction of children’s vision disorders are essential parts of health programs.

The Ohio Department of Health sets the requirements for screenings of children each year. Below is a short summary of the students who are required to be screened for vision and hearing.

  • All students in grades KG, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th

  • All NEW students to the district (regardless of grade level) with no previous documented vision screening


In addition, the following children should be screened annually:

  • Children referred by a teacher or other school personnel

  • Children absent during the previous screening

  • Children whose parent/guardian request a vision screening


If a parent/guardian does not wish for his/her child’s vision/hearing to be screened, they may sign a letter of refusal. The letter of refusal must be completed for every required year of screening and be included in the child’s health record. Please request the letter from the nurse if you choose to not have your child screened.

We are currently in the process of completing screenings at the Northwood Campus. Screening are typically done at the beginning of the school year but due to challenges we have faced with the pandemic, we are not quite finished.


Please reach out to me if you have any questions about the above. Please also keep the school up to date with any important health concerns your child may have. We want to work together with you to keep your children safe and healthy while they are in our care.


Tara DiFranco RN

440-284-8169


difrancotara@elyriaschools.org

From the Desk of School Counselor Milesa Brunetti

We are starting Unit 2: Emotion Management in grades K-4. Students will learn how to identify emotions in themselves and others. They will learn strategies for managing their emotions.

The goals of the K-2 Emotion Management unit include students being able to:

· Name the emotion someone is feeling in a given situation

· Name at least one clue (looking at face or body, thinking about what’s going on) they used to identify the emotion someone is feeling in a given situation

· Suggest strategies to feel calm (such as slow breathing, slow counting, asking for help)

· Demonstrate slow breathing, slow counting, asking for help

The goals of the 3-4 Emotion Management unit include students being able to:

· Explain the purpose of emotions

· Identify differences between three levels of the same emotion

· Explain why it’s important to calm strong emotions

· Recall emotions have a purpose - emotions provide important information about what they may need

· Name and emotion-management strategy, including: taking a breath, slow breathing, and slow counting

Goals for Northwood Elementary School 2021-2022

Standards Alignment

By the end of the 2023/2024 school year 75% of teachers will design lessons that consider the point of view and interest of all students to enhance their learning.


Safe and Healthy Schools

By the end of the 2023/2024 school year, Elyria City Schools will improve 75% of students' sense of safety and feelings of belonging through health/wellness support, increased implicit bias awareness, and positive behavior programming as measured by a 30% decreased discipline referrals and 30% increased attendance.

Winners of the Marco’s Classroom Pizza Parties and PTA Fundraiser:

November- Mrs. Hammer/Second Grade

December- Ms. Zilch/Kindergarten

Second Harvest Food Pantry @ Ely Stadium 3:30-5:30

Food pantry dates:

2/7, 3/7, 4/4, 5/2/ 6/6 & 7/11

Elyria Schools Belief Statements

We believe…

  • Learners thrive when school is engaging and personally meaningful.
  • All Pioneers have a voice in decisions that affect them
  • Excellence is achieved through a detailed vision, commitment, and moral leadership
Northwood Elementary School

Northwood Elementary School

Northwood Elementary School

570 Abbe Road North, Elyria, OH, USA 440 284-8014