April is moving along quickly! I hope you all enjoyed the Eclipse! Big shout out to Chardon Family Eye Care for their very generous donation of Eclipse glasses for our entire school!
It's hard to believe that we have less than 35 school days left. Time does fly when you're having fun, while learning! We are planning the Spring Celebration of Learning as well as many other end of year events. Remember that if you are planning to volunteer for any events or trips, we ask that you be fingerprinted. Ohio State Testing is around the corner. I know students and teachers have been working hard to prepare. This month, we will practice an ALICE safety drill during the midday recess/lunch time, to ensure we know what to do in case of an emergency in settings other than the classroom. Tornado drills also begin this month. Thank you for your continued support from home in all that we do here at KES. We are grateful for our partnership!

Kirtland Elementary students are enjoying the fast-paced inclusive fun of Gaga Ball on their playground thanks to High School junior Walter Knoop’s recent Eagle Scout project, as a

member of Scout Troop 286. Gaga Ball is a fast-paced game of dodge-ball contained in a 20’

octagon - the trick being you slap the ball rather than throw it, and you are only “out” if the ball

hits you below the knee! All players have a chance at winning these quick games encouraging

many exciting rounds during a recess period.

Conceiving and leading a multi-generational community project Walter’s idea for the Gaga Ball

pit comes from years of playing this fun game at summer camp. Walter organized a team of 21

adults and kids to build the octagon on our elementary playground. These volunteers combined

to provide 74 hours of service on a recent sunny Sunday afternoon. All this was made possible

thanks to the financial support of the Kirtland Kiwanis and Barber Williams American Legion

Post 609, as well as an in-kind donation of lumber from the Chardon Home Depot.

Also, thank you to Mrs. G for teaching our students how to properly and safely play Gaga Ball so that the recess games are a success!

We are noticing some of the library shelves are missing books as the year moves along. Please help by looking for any KES books that may be at home longer than they should be, and send them back to school. We will print missing book notices later in April, but hope a quick check may help.

April 15 - Board of Education Meeting

April 16 - Student Council Meeting

April 24 - 5th grade Spring Choir Concert

April 26 and 27 - KHS Drama Performances

April 27 - PTA Auction

May 1 - 5th grade Band Concert

May 3 - No School

Looking ahead to mark your calendars:

KES Spring Testing Dates:

ELA - Grade 3 and 5 - April 17 & 18

ELA - Grade 4 - April 16 & 23

Math - Grade 3 and 5 - April 24 & 25

Math - Grade 4 - April 30 and May 1

Science - Grade 5 - May 1 and May 2

Spring Celebration of Learning - May 23 4:30-7:30pm

5th Grade Promotion Celebration - May 28 (Time TBD)

Thank you for all of the generous donations from our KES Families! Please kindly send in donations by April 30. Verify your donation sign-up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4DAEAE22A6F94-48423766-spring#/

If you have an incoming Kindergartener for the 24-25 school year, please complete this google form!

We will be sending instructions for registration and screening soon.

Our PTA is an extremely supportive organization that helps our students in grades K-12. I ask that you please consider supporting them in their upcoming Auction and/or their Moe’s fundraiser. The PTA auction is on Saturday, April 27th. You can purchase tickets, be a sponsor, and/or make a donation here: https://app.memberhub.gives/kirtlandptaspringauction-24 See the attachment for more details.

The Moe’s fundraiser has been made even easier to participate in this year. Use this link to order the meal kit which will be picked up at the school https://form.jotform.com/210756370455153. Orders must be placed by April 15th by 10:00 pm and can be picked up on Tuesday, April 16th between 5:30-6:00 pm at Kirtland Elementary School.

We are currently seeing an increase in illness within our community and schools such as Strep throat, Conjunctivitis or pink eye, and the influenza. Please help us to control the spread of illness by keeping your student home if they experience any of the following:

- fever (100.4 and above)

-Vomiting or diarrhea

-persistent cough

-redness, irritation, and discharge from the eye

-General illness symptoms that prevent your child from participating in routine classroom activities.

Your student may return to school when:

-Symptoms are improving and they are feeling well enough to participate in normal activities.

-Fever free for at least 24 hours without use of a fever-reducing medication

-At least 24 hours since the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea.

Please contact the clinic with any questions or concerns.

Be sure to check out the artsonia gift shop to purchase custom keepsakes as gifts, just in time for Mother's Day! Artsonia donates 20% of purchases to our school art program, so thank you for your support! Be sure to use code MDAY24 to save 15% off one item. Orders must be put in by May 5th.

Celebrate the birthday of someone special with fun yard signs! (includes a Birthday Hornet sign, Happy Birthday sign, and balloons sign) Junior After Prom committee will place the signs in your yard the evening before the requested date and pick-up the following evening.

$25 suggested donation

Cash OR check (made out to Kirtland Afterprom/junior class on memo) OR Venmo @Jackie-DaltonTurk

Contact Hettie Carestio at 440-725-9391 or [email protected]

Complete Google Form at https://forms.gle/F7aSFwVoFUJKB85Q7

• Please be sure to call the office to report absences. We are very concerned when students are absent, and want to be sure we know they are safe.
• Please be sure that your child knows how he/she is getting home each day. Be sure to indicate it on the calendar in the take-home folder as well.
• For dismissal changes, contact the KES office before 2:00 so that we can adjust our lists and let the teachers know.

The drop off and pickup line for car riders is growing. We are thankful to have parents who enjoy driving students to and from school, but we really need your help in order to ensure safety.

Please keep these things in mind:

• Stay in your car and move through the line.
• Pull all the way up to where the staff member is standing (near the high school).
• Adjust car seats/boosters so that your child can get in the car from the passenger side.
• Never allow your child to cross traffic when getting in or out of the car.

We are happy to help anyone who needs it! We just want to make sure that the line moves quickly and that everyone stays safe.

Thanks!

Strategic Plan