Flight of a Lifetime

It's a hop-hop-hopping time of year in the Elyria Schools as we gear up for the many activities and programs of spring. One of our favorite functions each year is the Special Olympics Craft and Vendor Fair at Elyria High School! It's an event truly designed for fun, family and friendship. Nearly 100 vendors will be there to showcase their crafts, homemade goodies and products. If you're looking for unique stuffers for Easter baskets--this is the place! You'll want to bring the kids, too, for the fair's annual Easter Egg Hunt, with more than 6,000 filled eggs and pictures with the Easter Bunny! There will also be musical entertainment and delicious concession treats to eat. All proceeds benefit the Elyria Special Olympics.
The Spring Craft and Vendor Fair is Saturday, March 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Elyria High School. Get caught up on all the details with our guests, Shari Goodsite and Andy Menner of the Elyria Special Olympics Committee.

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Imagine waking up one day in someone else's shoes, literally! That's what happens when characters "Ellie" and "Katherine" swap bodies in the madcap tale  of "Freaky Friday One-Act Edition." And this is the oh-so-fun musical Northwood Middle School Drama Club is bringing to Elyria's Performing Arts Center stage in March. We caught up with a handful of actors and backstage experts of the cast and crew to learn all the details of the hilarious performance. Take a listen on this episode of Petey Podcast!

It's a great day to be a Pioneer! Thanks for listening. Find Elyria Schools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!

Take a listen and you'll quickly learn why students of Eastern Heights Elementary were selected by Disney Musicals in Schools and Cleveland's Playhouse Square to bring a Disney classic to life:  "101 Dalmations!" These young actors demonstrate their paw-some talent as they easily slip right into character on this episode of Petey Podcast. This is the first-ever on-stage production of Eastern Heights Elementary School because the school hasn't had an existing drama club--until now, that is! Eastern Heights is the only school in Lorain County, Ohio,--and one of only a handful of schools in Northeastern Ohio--to become a 2023-2024 recipient of the Disney Musicals in Schools program. This remarkable project is a collaboration with Cleveland Playhouse Square to create sustainable theater programs in schools. In March, the "101 Dalmations" crew will showcase their talents on stage at Playhouse Square, and again with a full production in April at the Elyria High School Performing Arts Center. You're in for a treat with this show--woof, woof!

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The  Veterans Service Commission of Lorain County provides millions of dollars in assistance each and every year to ensure that veterans have basic needs met, such as transportation to medical appointments, financial assistance where eligible and legal assistance, including wills and assisting with guardianship matters, among many other things. It's also their mission to promote patriotism and to restore and commission veteran memorials in Lorain County. Their services are wide-ranging and life-changing. On Petey Podcast to tell us all about it, we recently welcomed Director Jacob Smith and Deputy Director Larry Amato. If you're a veteran or a family member of a veteran, don't miss this episode!  

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The Ohio Task Force on Internet Crimes Against Children came to Elyria High School to talk with parents about this critical matter. EHS Associate Principal Patrick Griffis joined us on Petey Podcast to hit the high points from this incredibly important presentation. Internet crimes against children are on the rise but there are ways to fight back. Tune in to this important discussion on Petey Podcast, and watch the video on Elyria Schools PioneerTV.

It's a great day to be a Pioneer! Thanks for listening. Find Elyria Schools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!

Nothing much going on here but some holiday chit chat with Petey Podcast hosts, Amy and Marty! We're recapping some of the end-of-year holiday fun that's been boosting spirits here in the district as we round out the first half of the school year and look to put a bow on 2023. 

From all of us in the Elyria Schools--Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a most jubilant New Year! 

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After nearly nine years as a member of the Elyria Board of Education, President Greg Elek is stepping down at the end of this year after deciding not to seek re-election last November. Greg has been a key leader in decisions that have changed the face of the school district and of the community--most notably the building of all new schools and a new stadium in Elyria. We caught up with Greg on Petey Podcast to chat about his time on the Board and some of his most memorable moments. 

Thank you, Greg, for your dedicated service to Elyria Schools and to the community of Elyria. You will be missed!

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When you're offered a chance of a lifetime, you take it. Head Custodian Terry Lewis knew many years ago that he wanted to make a direct impact in the lives of veterans. For years Terry has been a trusty associate in the long-standing annual Veterans Day planning and preparation activities of Northwood Campus (and Windsor Elementary before then.). Terry is charged with ensuring the facility is ready to go for welcoming and recognizing the hundreds of veterans who participate in the formalities of this special day. Doing so, however, has inspired him to want to more. Windsor--and now Northwood--began fundraising for Honor Flights many years ago. The Honor Flights program ensures that Veterans of combat have the opportunity to visit the war memorials of Washington D.C. at no cost. Honor Flight Guardians are volunteers who fly with the veterans to assist with all their needs during their flights to and from Washington D.C., and throughout their day of travel. Terry was selected in October to take this unforgettable journey with a Vietnam Veteran. Terry joined us in studio to share this experience. Also a guest, Mary Karlovec--Teacher and organizer of Northwood's annual Veterans Day Celebration and Parade--with all the details of this year's event.

Northwood's Annual Veterans Day Car Parade: Friday, Nov. 10, 9:45-10:15 a.m. (Vehicles must enter the campus from Rosealee Dr. to line up for the parade.)

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Morning talk radio host Bruce VanDyke of AM 930 WEOL talks with Elyria Schools staffer Terry Lewis about his unforgettable trip as an Honor Flight Guardian. Terry is a Head Custodian at Northwood Campus, where he works with Teacher Mary Karlovec--both are very involved in the school's annual tribute to veterans on Veterans Day. Take a listen as Terry describes his incredible journey and Mary shares how Elyria Schools came to be involved in sponsorship of the Honor Flight program. Mary also gives us the scoop on what Northwood has planned for this year's Veterans Day Parade.

It's a great day to be a Pioneer! Thanks for listening. Find Elyria Schools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!

The Eastern Heights Middle School Drama Club has grown by leaps and bounds since it launched just four years ago.  The club takes on multiple productions a year, kicking off each new season with a fantastic musical. This year is no exception! The cast and crew are ready to welcome audiences this weekend to their fun-filled production of  "Junie B. Jones, Jr.," the lovable tale of a first grader--Junie B. Jones--who's trying to find her way through a brand new year of school. The play is loaded with entertaining music that will make you bounce in your seat--it's a perfect night out for the family. We caught up with a few members of the cast and crew and Club Advisor Charlene Hartley on this episode of Petey Podcast. Take a listen!

"Junie B. Jones, Jr." premieres this weekend at the Elyria High School Performing Arts Center, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20 & 21, 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at the door or online at https://www.elyriaschools.org/performing_arts_center/purchase_event_tickets

It's a great day to be a Pioneer! Thanks for listening. Find Elyria Schools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!