January Community Update

Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools

Community Update INSIDE: 

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• NEWS FROM THE ARTS • LUNCH WITH BLUE • PROJECT UPDATES January 2019

A Message From Your Superintendent The first half of the 2018 - 2019 school year has come to an end.

Thank you parents, students and staff for your continued dedication to academic success.

Our construction projects continue to be on time and on budget.

During the past two weeks, we have been moving from our temporary Board Office (inside of the School of Innovation) to the recently renovated office building on Curtis Boulevard in Eastlake.

schools and districts that earn straight A’s on each ValueAdded measure on the Ohio Report Card.

Finally, I would like to thank our community partners. Your collaboration with our schools gives our students opportunities that they would not have otherwise. It is a privilege to work with you and to serve the students of Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools.

Our district continues to place students first, ensure quality instruction and maximize time on task. It is with this laser focus that we strive to Improve Student Achievement.

I hope that you enjoy this month’s Community Update.

Steve Thompson Superintendent Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools (440) 975 - 3757

Our district has engaged in several exciting initiatives this year to include the naming of the new Eastlake police dog, the “letters to Santa” mailbox and Lunch with Blue. I am pleased to announce that we now have resource officers in our three middle schools and in our high schools as well.

During the past month, the three Willoughby-Eastlake middle schools were each awarded the 2018 Momentum Award from the Ohio Department of Education which honors

North High Student Volunteers Assisting a Local Family in Need

January 2019

Welcome Officer Axel Longfellow and Jefferson Students Name Officer Axel During the summer months, Officer Ward from the Eastlake Police Department, invited the students from Longfellow and Jefferson Elementary Schools to name the newest member of the department.

It was decided that each classroom in the two schools would host food drives for the Willoughby-Eastlake Food Pantry and the winners of the drives would have the ability to suggest names for the K9.

The students winning the drive from Thomas Jefferson were from : Mrs. Nally’s class, Mrs. Dworning’s class, and Mrs. Mosnik’s class and from Longfellow: Mrs. McAndrew’s class and Mr. Christner’s class. Together, students from these classrooms presented more than fifty names to the Eastlake Police Department for their latest addition.

“We were very excited to be a part of an activity connecting the community and our schools. Together we were able to work to name the new canine officer, Officer Axel. In addition to naming the police dog, the Willoughby-Eastlake Food Pantry received a substantial donation from the students of Jefferson and Longfellow.

It was an honor to assist the local police department to welcome Officer Axel to our community and to our schools,” Lisa George, Principal Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

Willoughby-Eastlake Community Update

A Message From Your Treasurer Funding the New Board Office State law designates how districts are able to distribute cash, what they are permitted to purchase, and the length of time they are permitted to maintain certain balances before they must spend those funds. In the case of the recent fire, the district made a commitment to ensuring the procurement of the highest possible insurance settlement.

Bill Parkinson Treasurer/CFO Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools

In June of 2017, an initial settlement offer was made for the replacement of the board office in the amount of $4,702,711.

Because it was believed this was not fair compensation,

the district hired the Alex N. Sill Company to assist with negotiations. With their assistance, a final cash settlement was made in January of 2018 in the amount of $8,700,011.

This money was used to purchase an existing building for $1.2 million, renovate the building, purchase all furnishings for the new space, and all excess “Although it was a lengthy process, it funds were was in the best interest of the district returned to and the taxpayers to carefully maneuver the general through each step of negotiations. Obfund for necestaining the maximum settlement possisary work throughout the ble and spending the funds obtained in district. a prudent manner guaranteed that the

district could replace the board office and its contents in a fiscally responsible manner,�

Bill Parkinson, Treasurer/CFO

Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools Board of Education

35353 Curtis Boulevard Eastlake, Ohio 44095

January 2019

Willoughby-Eastlake Board Office

On The Move 35353 Curtis Blvd.

Following the twelve-month renovation of the building located at 35353 Curtis Boulevard in Eastlake, Ohio, the district is currently relocating the administrative offices to their new home.

Willoughby-Eastlake School Board Meeting Room On March 14, 2017, the district administration building, on Ridge Road in Willoughby, was overtaken by a devasting fire and could not be salvaged. Once a settlement was reached with the district’s insurance company, the new building was purchased. Because the building had sat empty for several years, the purchase price was extremely low and extensive renovations were necessary.

“We were fortunate to have had the space to relocate our offices during the past twenty one months and now we are pleased that we will be able to return the space to the students and staff at the School of Innovation. Despite the necessary renovations to the new building, the district was able to obtain new offices at a cost saving measure.

I am grateful to everyone that assisted to turn a negative situation into a positive one and I look forward to occupying our new space,” Superintendent, Steve Thompson Willoughby-Eastlake Community Update

Willoughby-Eastlake Across the District

South High students hosted their annual blood drive for the American Red Cross.

NCI Eastlake students are Dressed for Success!

Students from NCI Willoughby participated in the Junior Achievement Stock Exchange Challenge and took 1st place!

The students in the Willoughby Middle School band entertained the residents of Breckenridge Village.

Willowick Middle School students held their first Gingerbread House Competition!

January 2019

Seventh graders at the School of Innovation designed and created vein finder prototypes.

The fifth grade band at Royalview had their first concert!

The Willoughby-Eastlake Preschool students had a visit from the high school students.

Grant Elementary students had a visit from the Willoughby Fire Department.

Edison students launched their “One School, One Book� adventure! They will be learning all about Humphrey!

The Rebels and the Rangers battled it out on the court.

Willoughby-Eastlake Staff members participated in professional development.

Willoughby-Eastlake Community Update

Project Updates The battle to stay ahead of the weather is playing a critical role in progress of construction.

At Longfellow Elementary, the site is completely enclosed and the majority of the remaining work will be completed inside of the structure.

Inside of Longfellow, the classrooms have been framed out and most of them have been drywalled. In parts of the building, the fire suppression systems are being installed and in some of the rooms the ceiling tiles and cabinetry are also being installed.

SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL At South High, the outer veneer has nearly been completed and during the past month, the curtainwall at the front of the building was installed.

LONGFELLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL At North High School, the building is now under roof and contractors are working to enclose the outer walls.

The floor in the auditorium at North High has been poured and during the past weeks, we have begun to see work on the student staircase/seating in the common area. Many of the classrooms at North have been framed in and the contractors are beginning to hang drywall.

Despite the delays caused by the initial problems with steel delivery, progress at North High is returning to the initial timeline.

January 2019

NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

South High at Union Village

Longfellow Classroom Area

North - Student Seating/ Stairs

South Classroom Hallway North High at Union Square

All current construction projects are being completed using funds from the bond issue passed in November 2015.

BONDS ARE FOR BUILDINGS

Willoughby-Eastlake Community Update

Lunch with Blue Starting in the month of December, Willoughby-Eastlake has invited our local law officers to visit any one of the District’s buildings for lunch with our students.

Lunch is being provided to the officers by Chartwells, the District’s nutrition provider.

Officer Petric - Eastlake Middle School

Stephanie Kemna, Director of Food Services stated, “Lunch with Blue has been a way for officers to become acquainted with students and increase visibility. It encourages an ongoing rapport with the young adults in the community. It is our pleasure to be a part of this wonderful endeavor.”

MOMENTUM AWARDS Ohio Department of Education The Momentum Award is presented by the State Board of Education and recognizes schools for exceeding expectations in student growth for the year.

This year, Eastlake Middle School, Willowick Middle School and Willoughby Middle School each earned straight A’s on all Value-Added measures on the report card.

Congratulations to our staff, parents and students for achieving this honor!

January 2019

Jefferson Students Launch Letters to Santa During the holiday season, students from the district, assisted by the City of Willoughby and the WilloughbyEastlake Fab Lab, designed and painted a mailbox for Santa’s letters. The mailbox was placed in downtown Willoughby.

NEWS FROM THE ARTS North High School

North High School Submissions

North High School art students recently participated in the Lake and Geauga Counties Student Art Awards Show and were the recipients of several awards! Congratulations students!

The students listed below from North, won the following awards: Sydney Barnhouse, Grade 12, 3 Gold Seals Leah Stone, Grade 12, 1 Gold Seal Matea Turkalj, Grade 12, 1 Gold Seal Julia Kerns, Grade 11, 1 Blue Ribbon, 1 Gold Seal Clara Maruna, Grade 10, 1 Gold Seal

Eastlake Middle School In addition to the students at North High, students from Eastlake Middle School also participated in the Lake and Geauga Counties Student Art Awards Show and won several awards! Congratulations students!

The students listed below from Eastlake Middle, won awards for their work: Lars McCafferty Blue and Judges Award for his Gelli Prints Emily Slechta Blue for her Handmade paper Camryn Chapman Blue for her Zentangle Stingray

Desaray Gus Gold for her Ceramic Monster Gold for her Self-Portrait Gracie Brunnett Gold for her Self-Portrait Maddie Kordos Gold for her Self-Portrait

Willoughby-Eastlake Community Update

How & When Will You Hear from Us? When Willoughby-Eastlake has news to send, we will follow the timeline below.

District families and the community will always be informed as soon as possible.

January 2019

Snow Day? How Does W-E Decide?

WHAT FACTORS DO WE CONSIDER? When inclement weather or loss of utilities impacts the District, we make the decision whether to close schools based upon a careful analysis of all relevant factors including: •

Amount of accumulated snow and ice

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Whether precipitation is expected to continue throughout the day

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Temperature and wind chill (minus 15 degrees or colder)

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Impact on our bus fleet

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Weather predictions from satellite systems, local radar, National Weather and NOAA Weather Radio

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The timing of the storm

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Building conditions such as whether there is electricity and/or heat, our ability to clear parking lots of snow and ice

PROCESS FOR CLOSING The determination as to whether school is closed begins at approximately 4:00 a.m.

The Operations Supervisor and the Department of Transportation evaluate the weather and road safety by driving various roads in the District. All individuals consult with District snow crews and form an assessment. The assessment is reported to the superintendent, along with reports from other area schools and any law enforcement officials they have contacted. The superintendent reviews all of the reports and generally makes the decision to close school between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m.

HOW ARE PARENTS/STUDENTS INFORMED? •

Twitter - follow @Thompson_WESup or @WESchools

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Phone Call*

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Email*

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Facebook * You must sign up with School Messenger to receive messages

AS ALWAYS….

If you believe it is not safe for your child to be in the weather, please call the school and report them as absent. Their absence will be excused if you have reported their absence for the day.

Willoughby-Eastlake Community Update

Important Updates You can us on YouTube...

W-Efind Schools The district often posts videos of our current events on YouTube. If you would like to view our latest construction update, you can find it here….. Click here >>>

OUR MISSION D A T E S

T O

R E M E M B E R

IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

February 1

Winter Ball, Longfellow Elementary School

February 8

Father/Daughter Dance, Grant Elementary School

February 22

Reverse Raffle, School of Innovation

This is not an inclusive list of all events during the upcoming month. For a more complete list, please check our district calendar or follow us on Facebook. Facebook is now being updated to include weekly events.

CONNECT WITH US

Teach - Learn - Grow Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools - 37047 Ridge Road - Willoughby, OH 44094