Willoughby-Eastlake Community Update, January 2022

COMMUNITY UPDATE

Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools

INSIDE: • TREASURER UPDATE • W-E COMPUTER GRANT • REPORT CARD FAQs & MORE

January 2022

A Message From Your Superintendent We have entered the second half of the 2021-2022 school year and I would like to express my sincere thanks to our families, students and staff for your continued commitment to Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools. We have accomplished great things during the first half of the year and I look forward to many more accomplishments.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, we have been able to remain in person and the events enjoyed by our students and families have continued. Our schools have hosted in-person evenings for parents, sporting events, concerts and more. This has been made possible through the efforts of our staff and families. Seeing the results of this hard work is inspiring and uplifting.

We will continue to focus on the health and safety of our school community during the second half of the school year and we are committed to continuing our work with the Lake County General Health District to keep our doors open. As always, I will provide updates and share the most current information regarding multiple topics for you in my “Check-in with the Sup” videos.

If you have a question or want to know more about a topic please email me at steve.thompson@weschools.org Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay strong!

Steve Thompson Superintendent Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools steve.thompson@weschools.org (440) 975-3757

JANUARY 2022

www.weschools.org

TREASURER’S UPDATE Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools offers an excellent education and incredible opportunities for students and it is thanks to the members of the community that we are able to make this happen. We greatly appreciate the support and investment that the community has made in your schools and in the future of the students that enter classrooms each day.

In order to do our part, the district carefully considers each expenditure made during the year. Whenever possible, we work to provide superior services to your children while saving valuable tax dollars. We understand that it is our duty to spend your investment efficiently and responsibly.

During the first half of the school year, the Treasurer’s Office has been able to save significant amounts of money through strategic negotiations of contracts and refinancing debt that was incurred to repair and renovate buildings. In addition to these measures, we have transitioned to an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. This report will give the community a thorough picture of where the district allocates funds and how our spending compares to others in the state of Ohio.

It is the commitment of Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools to continue to engage in cost-saving measures while providing the very best education for our students.

Nick Ciarniello Treasurer/CFO Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools nick.ciarniello@weschools.org

Willoughby-Eastlake Community Update

COMMON QUESTIONS

& OTHER SCHOOL TOPICS

HOW DO I GET MY STUDENT’S REPORT CARD? 1. Report cards are accessible through the Parent Portal at www.weschools.org

2. Sign in using your PowerSchool login and password.

If you do not have a login, you can create an account.

3. Once logged in, click the “Report Card” button located on the side navigation bar.

4. Select the student’s name at the top (if you have more than one child) and the school year tab you wish to view. The report card will then come up.

5. To print, select the printer icon in the upper right hand corner.

Parents/Guardians can also view the following in PowerSchool: • Attendance History & Chronic Absenteeism • Email Notifications Preference • Teacher Comments • School Fee Balance • Student Schedule • Account Preferences (Login and Password change ability) • Graduation Pathways

COMPUTER SERVICES 1M+ GRANT AWARDED The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) is a 7.17 billion dollar federal program as a part of the American Rescue Plan to support remote learning and address the homework gap.

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Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools applied for this grant and was awarded $1,006,599.59 from this fund.

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This grant will be used to purchase over 2,800 Chromebooks and service for dozens of cellular hotspots.

A survey was distributed to families in August to request Chromebooks for their students who do not have sufficient access to a device for homework or remote learning. We are pleased to announce that these Chromebooks have been delivered to our buildings and they will be distributed to students who requested them. This process has begun in some buildings and will continue during the next month.

Contact your building's main office if you would like to complete the survey to request a device for your student.

JANUARY 2022

www.weschools.org

STUDENT ART AWARDS Congratulations Megan Snyder & Mia Brainard!

North High students Megan Snyder and Mia Brainard recently had their work accepted to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Show, a national juried art show, hosted by Cleveland Institute of Art. •

Megan received a Gold Key Award for her work entitled, Pen and Ink Surreal self portrait. For her artwork entitled Charcoal Self Portrait she received an Honorable Mention.

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Mia was awarded Honorable Mention for her artwork entitled The Old Red.

Congratulations girls and we wish you well as you prepare to graduate!

Charcoal Self Portrait Megan Snyder

The Old Red Mia Brainard

Pen & Ink Surreal Self Portrait Megan Snyder Willoughby-Eastlake Community Update

SCHOOL NEWS NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

Senior Signing Days Congratulations to Willoughby-Eastlake seniors for continuing their academic and athletic careers!

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Autumn Fester- Wilmington College, Softball Madie Cicero- Waynesburg University, Softball Juliana Augusta- Notre Dame College, Softball

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Delaney Matriano- The University of Notre Dame, Soccer

Trent Bucy- Baldwin Wallace, Baseball Cecelia Hamilton- Hiram College, Basketball Ryan Baer- University of Pittsburgh, Football Kaden Kocin- Notre Dame College, Soccer Lillie Washburn- Lake Erie College, Soccer

NCI-EASTLAKE

NCI students practicing for their clinicals JANUARY 2022

www.weschools.org

SCHOOL NEWS WILLOUGHBY MIDDLE SCHOOL

8th grade students present their PBL projects to other students.

WILLOWICK MIDDLE SCHOOL

Warrior Academy students working with electronics kits in the new WMS Makerspace.

EDISON ELEMENTARY A Willowick police officer checking in with students as he walks the building.

EASTLAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL Makers at work!

Congratulations to the Students of the Week for “Raising the Bar” and showing positive behavior.

Willoughby-Eastlake Community Update

SCHOOL NEWS GRANT ELEMENTARY

ROYALVIEW ELEMENTARY

Student’s from Mrs. Saluan’s class learn how to design projects for their new 3D printer during their Native American lesson. The top 3 designs were then printed!

3rd grade students took a virtual field trip to an Ohio pig farm.

LONGFELLOW ELEMENTARY

Students enjoying fun science activities!

5th grade solar system presentations look great!

JANUARY 2022

www.weschools.org

SCHOOL NEWS JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY

Teacher for a day - Superintendent Steve Thompson helps out as a substitute teacher at Jefferson due to staff shortages.

COMMUNITY CORNER Our district covers seven communities: Eastlake, Lakeline, Timberlake, Waite Hill, Willoughby, Willoughby Hills, and Willowick. Many of these communities have recreation departments and senior centers that offer multiple events, classes and activities for the students and their families. Check them out, show your support and get active!

CITY OF EASTLAKE

VILLAGE OF TIMBERLAKE

WAITE HILL

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Recreation Leagues

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Senior Center

Website

Website

WILLOUGHBY

WILLOUGHBY HILLS

WILLOWICK

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Recreation Department

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Recreation Department

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Recreation Department

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Senior Center

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Senior Center

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Senior Center

*Lakeline does not have a website Willoughby-Eastlake Community Update

JANUARY 2022

www.weschools.org

Willoughby-Eastlake Community Update

FAMILY LIAISONS How can they help my child?

Family Liaisons have been a school-based support in Willoughby-Eastlake for over 25 years. The position originated in response to the demands for increased resources with regard to student social-emotional needs. What started as a group of two Liaisons serving the district from one building, has evolved into Liaisons being housed at each elementary school, 2 middle schools, and the Willoughby campus of the Northern Career Institute. This has been in response to the expanded focus on how student emotional health and family well-being impacts student success.

Family Liaisons provide support services as a collaborative member of the educational team. This includes identifying students struggling with academic and/or social-emotional issues. They also initiate contact and collaborate with parents, school personnel and/or community resources to address student concerns. Family Liaisons assist students and their families in multiple capacities. They not only assist with student concerns but also help to mitigate obstacles to classroom instruction, student achievement and healthy student relationships. Some of these areas include discrimination, domestic violence, pregnancy, parenting, poverty, self-esteem, and substance abuse.

Family Liaisons meet with students individually, in groups and classroom lessons. These interventions help students improve personal skills such as accountability, interpersonal communication, responsible behavior, and self-confidence. Liaisons also assist with planning and implementation of programs to improve school success. Recognizing that basic needs need to be met first, they utilize the W-E Care Food Pantry to assist families with food, hygiene and taxable items. In addition to these items, the pantry also supplies families with clothing and school supplies.

If you feel that any of the above services can benefit your student or family, please contact your building principal for more information about Family Liaison support.

During the month of December, our Family Liaisons helped Willoughby-Eastlake students send inspiring messages to those serving in the military.

JANUARY 2022

www.weschools.org

Willoughby-Eastlake Community Update

Important Info & Updates Questions?

Email us anytime at PR@weschools.org

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2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

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DISTRICT MASTER CALENDAR—allows you to filter calendar events by school and dates, print, and export the calendar for transfer to electronic device.

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W-E TIP! Check your individual schools website for any additional events by the school or parent/ booster groups.

LOOKING FOR COVID UPDATES? If you are looking for updates regarding COVID: • •

Email COVIDHOTLINE@WESCHOOLS.ORG Visit the COVID tab on weschools.org

LOOKING FOR INFORMATION? Do you have a question about the Willoughby-Eastlake School District and not sure who to ask?

STEP 1: Go to the source of your question.

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Classroom Related—talk with the teacher • Building Related—contact the building administrator • W-E Website—our website has lots of great info Not sure? Contact the Board Office at (440) 946-5000 or email pr@weschools.org and someone will be happy to assist you.

CONNECT WITH US

Teach - Learn - Grow Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools - 35353 Curtis Blvd. - Eastlake OH 44095