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Lander Friday Newsletter 10-16-2026

Posted Date: 10/16/26 (03:34 PM)
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Lander Friday Newsletter

10-16-2026

A cartoon leopard mascot wearing sunglasses and a 'LEOPARDS' t-shirt, striking a pose.

Message from Mr. Cramer:

Lander Families,

It’s hard to believe we’re already approaching the end of the first quarter! We are incredibly proud of the growth, learning, and accomplishments our Leopards have demonstrated so far this school year. Thank you to our Lander families for your ongoing partnership and support. By working together, we continue to create opportunities for every student to learn, grow, and thrive!

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences will take place on November 12th and 13th. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher, celebrate progress, and discuss ways to support continued growth. If you have not yet scheduled your conference, please do so as soon as possible. Be sure to refer to the ParentSquare post sent by Mr. Samber for your child’s class for scheduling information.

Fall Festival – October 30th
Our Fall Festival is just around the corner, and we are looking forward to celebrating with our students on October 30th! Weather permitting, we will hold our annual parade on the back playground. Families are welcome to join us and watch as our students parade in their costumes.

Please review the reminders and guidelines below as you prepare for the celebration:
  • Alternative Celebration: We will provide an alternative experience for families who do not wish for their child to participate in the Fall Festival. If your child will be participating in the alternative event, please notify their classroom teacher in advance.
  • Weather Updates: The parade will take place weather permitting. If inclement weather requires us to cancel the parade, we will send a communication to families by 10:00 AM on the morning of October 30th.
  • Family Attendance and Arrival: Families are welcome to attend the parade on the back playground but will not be permitted to enter the building following the parade. Please do not arrive before 1:10 PM, as students will still be outside for recess. Families will be asked to remain in their vehicles until 1:10 PM.

Fall Festival Volunteers: If you are volunteering for the Fall Festival, please be sure to have your ID scanned in the main office before the classroom celebration.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We appreciate all you do to make Lander such a wonderful place for our students to learn, grow, and celebrate together!

Warmly,
Shawn
 

Important Dates!

Oct 22:  Cleveland Cavaliers Spirit Day!
Oct 23: 1st Quarter Ends - No school for students; Teacher Work Day
Oct 23:  Cookie Dough Fundraiser Pick up 12:30-5:00pm (gym doors 12&13)
Week of Oct 26: 3rd grade Fall ELA State Testing. Teacher have communicated testing dates to families.
Oct 29:  PTG Trick or Treat Event in the gym 6-7pm (see flyer below)
Oct 30:  Fall Fun Fest Parade & Classroom Parties
Oct 31: School Fees Due (see details below)
Nov 2:  Lander Night at the Cavs game! See details below
Nov 4:  PTG meeting at 7pm in the library
Nov 6:  No school for students; Staff PD Day
Nov 12:  Parent-Teacher Conferences (3:00-9:00pm)
Nov 13:  No school for students; Parent-Teacher Conferences (8:00am-3:00pm)
Nov 25:  No school - Conference Comp Day
Nov 26-27:  No school - Thanksgiving Break
 

Fall Fun Fest & Costume Guidelines 10-30-26

An informational flyer titled "Fall Fun Fest Guidelines" with a festive orange and autumn leaf background.
 

Classroom Party Volunteer Info for Fall Fun Fest on 10-30

Sign up Here to Volunteer
We are excited to welcome parent volunteers to our Fall Fun Fest room parties! Volunteers will assist the children with snack distribution, games & cleanup.

The Fall Fun Fest is Friday October 30th, starting with our Annual Costume Parade at 1:15 pm on the Lander Playground. Finishing with a classroom party at 1:30pm. Please plan to be available 12:55-2:15pm (to allow for check in & cleanup).

Please note! All volunteers will need to visit the office prior to October 30th with their driver’s license/State ID in order to be cleared through Lander's Visitor Security System.

On the day of the party:
  • Parent volunteers will enter through the gym door at 12:50 pm to be checked in and receive your visitor badge. Please note that Kdg-1st parent volunteers will go to the classrooms upon arrival to help students get on their costumes and head to the playground after all students are in their costumes.
  • All other parents (2nd-5th) will go outside for the parade and then accompany their class into the building upon completion of the parade. Once they arrive back at the school, please follow them up to the classroom to assist with the party. 
  • All the materials for the party will already be distributed to each classroom so there will be no need for preparation.
  • Please check out at 2:00 pm through the main office doors. Parent volunteers will not be in the parade as the event is for students and staff only. 

A maximum of 5 volunteers are allowed per classroom. One guest per student, you must sign up for YOUR student's class. Spots will be filled on a first come first serve basis. 
Each guest can attend one party per school year, per student- attendance will be tracked to ensure equity among participants. 

Please contact Lydia Ford FORDL6@ccf.org or Brittany Smerke  brittanysmerke@gmail.com with any questions.

Thank you! 
 

Important Attendance Reminders:

An informational poster from Mayfield City Schools titled 'Every Day Counts', emphasizing the importance of consistent attendance.
 

Family GRIT Sharing Form

Families are encouraged to complete this form to share with our staff how their child has shown GRIT outside of school!

Complete G.R.I.T. Form Here
 

School Fees Now Available in Infinite Campus

Dear Parents/Guardians,

School fees have been loaded to student accounts and are now available for review and payment in Infinite Campus / Fees. Please log in at your earliest convenience to review your child's fees and submit payment online via credit card. (Mayfield is a cashless/checkless district, online payments only).  

All fees are due by October 31, 2026.

Fees are used for any and all consumable items (i.e., math workbooks, handwriting workbooks, ELA benchmark supplies, synergy supplies, IXL/Seesaw/Schoology subscriptions, etc). 

Please note that unpaid fees may impact a student's ability to participate in certain school activities, including field trips.

If you have any questions regarding your child's fees, please contact your child's school office for assistance.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
 

CLINIC NEWS

If your child will require medication during the school day or has a health condition that will require special care during the upcoming school year, click on this link: Student Health Services. Along the right side of the page will be forms to download and print for your student’s specific needs. After these forms have been completed by you and your healthcare provider, they can be returned to the school via fax at 440-995-7355 or you can email them to Kathy Schmidt at kschmidt@mayfieldschools.org.

Please have all forms and medications at the school by 8/24/2026 so that your child is all set for the first day of school.
Mayfield City Schools guidelines for preventing communicable disease spread.
 

FOOD SERVICE INFORMATION

Food Service Website
Free/Reduce Meal Benefits
 

October - Breakfast Menu

A school breakfast menu calendar for October 2026, detailing daily food options from Monday to Friday.

October - Lunch Menu

A school lunch menu calendar for October 2026, decorated with autumn leaves and jack-o'-lanterns.
 

Hazel Health

Poster promoting Hazel Health's online therapy program for students, featuring icons for expert support, proven results, and fast access.
 

Right at School - Before & After Care Info!

***RAS pick up and drop off door is #12 (near the gym)

Right at School Website
 

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation Website Info
Edulog Parent Portal Info
A QR code with a black and white pixelated pattern.

Edulog Bus App

Stay Informed with Our Bus Tracking App

You have access to a revolutionary smartphone app that helps to improve communication, school bus safety, and efficiency.

The Edulog Parent Portal app provides you with planned time and location information for your child's bus ride to and from school. On a daily basis, the app will show you the GPS location of the bus and send you a push notification when it is nearing your bus stop.

This app is free of charge for our parents, caregivers, and students. In addition to displaying the location of your bus and sending the notifications, you can also receive time-sensitive messages from our transportation department. You will also receive notification when a substitute bus is running your route due to maintenance, absences, etc.
 

Lander Night at the Cavs Game!

Promotional flyer for Lander Elementary Night at Rocket Arena featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers.
 

Trick or Treat Event - Hosted by PTG!

A Halloween event flyer for Trick or Treat on Jack-O-Lander Lane at Lander Elementary, featuring children in costumes.
Volunteer Sign Up Link
A brown Halloween flyer with the text 'FEED ME LOTS OF CANDY!!!' surrounded by illustrations of candy, lollipops, a black cat, and a monster pop.
 

Lander PTG Info

A flyer on a wooden background lists October PTG dates with pumpkins and autumn leaves.
A flyer for a fall fundraiser delivery day featuring two chocolate chip cookies at the top.
A thank you poster for the Lander Elementary PTGS Fall Fundraiser, surrounded by chocolate chip cookies.
Lander Parent Teacher Group 2026-2027 meeting schedule from September to May.
 

Info from Mayfield's District Parent Mentor

Community Resource Directory
 
Religious Exemption Day Form
 

Pics from around the building!

Three students smile at the camera while working at their desks in a bright classroom.
Three young students sit around a white hexagonal table in a brightly lit classroom, smiling at the camera.
Three children stand smiling in a classroom in front of a large screen displaying an autumn castle scene.
 

1st graders visited Playhouse to see The Ugly Duckling!

Three children sit in red velvet theater seats, smiling at the camera during a performance.
A smiling boy in a green shirt sits in a red theater seat.
 

Leopards Showing GRIT!

A young child smiles happily while holding up a round sticker that reads "Powered by GRIT Lander Elementary 2026-2027" in a classroom setting.
 

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES EFFECTIVE 9-8-26

A top-down diagram shows a parking lot traffic flow, including a designated drop-off zone, entrance, and exit paths.
  • Cars will pull in the Lander main driveway on the left side. Stay to the left at all times.
  • Cars will follow the Temple parking lot route and then continue, as shown, through the back parking lot to the drop off/pick up zones.
  • Students should enter/exit the car on the left side for both arrival and dismissal.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we attempt to 
expedite the car line process and reduce traffic congestion.

School arrival information for car riders and walkers, detailing drop-off times and procedures.
A flyer titled 'Dismissal' details procedures for car riders and walkers, with dismissal times from 2:20 to 2:30pm.
 

Stay Connected with Us!

Please feel free to reach out if you need anything:

Shawn Cramer, Principal scramer@mayfieldschools.org

Mike Samber, Assistant Principal msamber@mayfieldschools.org

Tara Kelley, School Counselor tkelley@mayfieldschools.org

Brittany German, School Psychologist bgerman@mayfieldschools.org

Nicky Digeronimo, School Secretary, NDiGERONIMO@mayfieldschools.org

Jamie Perry, School Secretary, jperry@mayfieldschools.org

Kathy Schmidt, Health Care Paraprofessional, kschmidt@mayfieldschools.org
A laptop surrounded by colorful social media icons and speech bubbles.
A school mural welcomes visitors with a jaguar wearing a cap.

Lander Elementary School

We are Lander Elementary School, home of the Lander Leopards! We serve approximately 500 students in grades K-5th from the Mayfield Heights Community. We consider ourselves a family and work to ensure that our students feel safe and welcome.
Phone: 440-995-7350
Instagram: @LanderElemMayfield



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