Overlook Grizzly Tracks

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Special Persons Lunch and Book Fair this week! It was such a wonderful few days filled with smiles, laughter, and special memories. One of my favorite things about Overlook is the incredible sense of community, and I absolutely love seeing our families come together to support our students! As we continue through October, we have even more excitement ahead with our Fall Holiday Parade and Classroom Parties right around the corner! We look forward to celebrating the season and making more wonderful memories with our Grizzlies!

Friday, October 30th!

The parade will begin promptly at 2:20 PM, with students lining up at 2:15 PM. Families are welcome to come watch the parade from outside the building!

Please review the attached document for important information regarding costumes, the parade route, classroom parties, and our visitor/volunteer guidelines.

We are looking forward to a fun fall celebration with our Overlook Grizzlies!

Walking trips to Wadsworth High School and Wadsworth Intermediate School will take place for our Overlook students to provide opportunities to participate in various fine arts performances. Parents will be notified in advance of any planned trips to Wadsworth High School or the Intermediate School. In the event of inclement weather, the students may be transported by bus. Below are the scheduled dates and trips. Please complete the permission slip below prior to your child's walking field trip. We will need one completed for each child.

Permission Slip

2nd grade: October 21st - Wizard of Oz

3rd grade: February 3rd - WMS play - The Day the Internet Died

4th grade: May 7th - WHS Spring Band Concert

1st grade: May 13th - WHS Show Choir Performance

Picture Retake Day is Monday, November 2nd, at Overlook Elementary School. Specific ordering details will be sent home.

On Tuesday, October 20th, our third-grade students will be taking the ELA Ohio State Test (OST). Please help your child feel prepared and ready to do their best by ensuring they get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast before arriving at school. We encourage students to come to school feeling confident and ready to show all they have learned! Thank you for your support!

October 20th

• 3rd Grade OST Testing

October 21st

• Conference Night - 4:30-8:00
• 2nd Grade Walking Field Trip - The Wizard of Oz Musical at WIS
• Unity Day- Wear Orange!

October 23rd

• Bus Evacuation Drills
• PTO Spirit Sales

October 26th-31st

• Red Ribbon Week

October 30th

• Fall Class Celebrations and Parade

October 31st

• City of Wadsworth Trick-or-Treat (6:00-8:00) - Not affiliated with Wadsworth City Schools

November 2nd

• Picture Retake day

November 5th

• No School for Students- Conferences 11:30-7:00

November 6th

• 3rd Grade Walking Field Trip - Downtown Wadsworth

November 11th

• Veterans Day Assembly - 2:00 pm

November 17th

• 1st Trimester Ends

November 20th

• 1st Trimester Grades Entered

November 25th

• 3rd and 4th Grade Turkey Trot

November 26th-30th

• Thanksgiving Break

December 1st

• 1st Trimester Report Cards Published

December 9th-11th

• PTO Santa Shop

December 11th

• High School Show Choir Performance at Overlook - 1:45

December 15th

• Middle School Show Choir Performance at Overlook - 1:00

December 17th

• Preschool Holiday Parties

December 18th

• K-4 - Classroom Holiday Parties

December 19th-January 3rd

• Winter Break - No School

December 28th

• PTO Monster Hockey Game

January 4th

• No School - Records Day

January 5th

• Students return to school

January 21st

• Huddle

February 3rd

• 3rd Grade Walking Field Trip WIS - Middle School Play called, The Day the Internet Died

February 18th

• Huddle

February 25th

• Breakfast with Books @ Wadsworth Public Library (more information to come)

February 26th

• Breakfast with Books @ Wadsworth Public Library (more information to come)

March 18th

• Huddle

April 15th

• Huddle

May 7th

• 4th Grade Walking Field Trip to WIS - WHS Spring Band Concert

May 13th

• 1st Grade Walking Field Trip - Show Choir Performance

PTO has a lot of fun events coming up. Be sure to join the PTO or follow them on Facebook to hear more information and news!

https://linktr.ee/overlookelempto

Linktree to all of the information in one area.

Holiday Class Parties

Class Parties will be on October 30th. Be on the lookout from your child's room parents as they start planning parties and may be requesting additional help/donations.

Spirit Sales

The next Spirit Sale will be Friday, October 23rd.

Overlook Spiritwear Sale

Show off your Grizzly pride! Overlook PTO is partnering with A1 Sports to offer an online shop filled with fun Overlook clothing and gear!

This is the perfect opportunity to stock up on Grizzly gear or get a head start on your Christmas shopping! 🎄🎁

Check out the flyer below for more information, and click the link to start shopping!

https://overlook2026.itemorder.com/shop/sale/

Turkey Trot

On November 25th, 3rd and 4th grade students will walk to the High School Track to participate in a Turkey Trot! More information to come soon!

Monster Game Family Night Out

Overlook Family Night at the Monsters Hockey Game!

Join us for a fun-filled Overlook Family Night as the Cleveland Monsters take on the Charlotte Checkers on Monday, December 28th, at 6:30 p.m. at Rocket Arena! Tickets are $21 plus a service fee. Overlook families will also have the exciting opportunity to enter a raffle for two special fan experiences, including holding the American flag on the ice during the National Anthem or sitting on the players’ bench! Tickets must be purchased by December 14th to enter the raffle. Please see the attached flyer for ticket purchasing information and details on how to enter the raffle. We hope to see our Grizzly families there for a great night of hockey!

We are so proud of these students for being chosen to represent Overlook as leaders in our building! We can’t wait to see them lead by example, share their ideas, and make a positive impact on our school community!

Our secretary, Mrs. Jira, is the contact person for calling off your student and any change of dismissal plans throughout the day. Please call the attendance line at 330-335-1424 and leave a message with any changes BEFORE school starts. If you need to make changes after 9:00 am, please call the main line at 330-335-1420. We recommend you let Mrs. Jira and your child's teacher know when your student will be absent, leaving early, or arriving late. Letting us know when your child will leave early allows us to be prepared for when you arrive. We ask that all end-of-the-day dismissal plans be made by 2:45 p.m. Thank you for your efforts!

**REMINDER- Mrs. Duerr must approve all vacations AHEAD OF TIME. Please send her an email requesting excused absences. hduerr@wadsworthschools.org

Our school works with the organization called Feeding Medina County to provide food/snacks for students in need. Students who participate in the Weekenders program pick up a small bag of food once per week. This will happen all year, beginning in mid-September. If you would like your child(ren) to participate in this program, please email Mrs. Laino with your student's name.

October is National Bullying Prevention month. It is a month long event to prevent childhood bullying and promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Each class received a classroom guidance lesson from our Character Strong curriculum about bullying prevention.

Students learned what bullying is, found out how to get help, and learned how to make school a safe place for everyone. Prevention starts with intentionally teaching kindness, compassion, and connection. Lessons that nurture empathy, strengthen connections, and promote a culture in which every student feels recognized and valued. By guiding students to understand the impact of their words and actions, we can shift the focus from bullying to belonging—creating school environments where all students can flourish. Together, we have the power to lead with compassion and prevent harm.

Bullying is hurtful and repeated:

● Is unwanted physical or emotional pain

● Involves an imbalance of power

● Can happen online (cyberbullying)

We defined hurt:

• In our body- physical pain, may frown, may cry

• In our heart- feel sad, lonely, frustrated, or scared, may cry, may need alone time

Unity Day is Wednesday October 21st. We are asking our Overlook Grizzlies to wear orange on this day. Orange symbolizes safety and visibility. We went to send a positive message that all are welcome at Overlook. Overlook is a place of inclusion, acceptance, and kindness. We want each student to feel safe, loved and supported. On the 21st lets stand together as one commUNITY against bullying.

🦸 Move It Monday

💥 Make Healthy Choices

😴 Sleep Like a Superhero

🍬 Candy Safety

Hello Preschool Families!

What a wonderful month we’ve had in preschool! The children have been busy exploring, learning, and growing every day.

Things you can do to support growth at home:

• Read together daily, even for 5–10 minutes.
• Practice simple routines (zipping, buttoning) to boost independence.
• Talk about feelings and model using words like “happy,” “sad,” and “frustrated.”
• Remember that boundaries help children learn regulation strategies.

Reminders:

• Please label all belongings (coats, water bottles, backpacks).
• Send seasonal extra clothes to keep in your child’s cubby.
• If your child is absent, call or message the office so we can mark attendance.

Thank you for your support and for sharing your wonderful children with us.

To reach the main office, please call (330) 335-1420

April Jira, Overlook Secretary

Contact Information:

Ashley Ruedisueli - aruedisueli@wadsworthschools.org

Haley Duerr - hduerr@wadsworthschools.org

We are so proud of our PBIS winners from the past two weeks!

Kindergarten- Maddox G., Kingston T., Caden L., Pratyush R.

First- Brooklyn C., Santino T., Julia N., Kendall P.

Second- Finley Z., Lincoln K., Elizabeth A., Lauren H.

Third- Charles T., Rory M., Logan P., Jenna V., Amelia W.

Fourth- Fiona M., Bennett Z., Kendra B., Jada B.

Each month, one student is recognized as our Board of Education Student of the Month for being a great leader and a positive example at Overlook! For the month of October I am proud to recognize Mackley Gander! Congratulations, Mackley!

Join us as we come together to honor the brave men and women who have served our country. Our Veterans Day Assembly will take place on Wednesday, November 11th. The doors will open at 1:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 2:00 p.m.

Under the direction of our wonderful music teacher, Mr. Yoder, students have been working hard to learn songs and prepare a heartfelt program to celebrate the heroes among us. Families and Veterans are invited to attend this special event as we show our gratitude and pride for those who have served. All are welcome to attend.

• • Looking for more family fun? Check out the information below regarding Wadsworth Middle School’s production of The Wizard of Oz!
    • 10/22 Show: https://events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/wadsworth/L2VtYmVkL2V2ZW50LzI2NA=
    • 10/23 Show: https://events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/wadsworth/L2VtYmVkL2V2ZW50LzI2Ng==
      
    • 10/24 Show: https://events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/wadsworth/L2VtYmVkL2V2ZW50LzI2Nw==
      
    • Tickets are now available for purchase! You will need to use the access code WIZARD26 to purchase your tickets since these will not be available to the public until October 5th. You will need to put the "password" in at the bottom of the screen before you can add tickets (the password is the access code).
    • Tickets are $11+ a processing fee for both children, students, and adults. Senior citizens may purchase discounted tickets at the door (while supplies lasts).
    • If you have questions, please email Mrs. Patterson at lpatterson@wadsworthschools.org

What is Grizzly Time—a dedicated block in the school day designed to meet students where they are and help them reach their full potential. It is an intentional period focused on intervention, reinforcement, and extension. Whether a student needs extra help in a specific area, additional practice to solidify their understanding, or enrichment opportunities to go beyond the standard curriculum, this time allows our staff to provide personalized support in a flexible and focused environment.

The Overlook team is passionate about student success and is committed to creating meaningful, targeted learning experiences that align with each student’s needs. Whether it’s reteaching a challenging concept, providing guided practice, or diving deeper into advanced topics, your child will be supported by educators who know them and want the best for them.

Thank you for being our partners in education!

When dropping off or picking up, patience is essential to keeping our students safe. We have been getting students in and out of the car so quickly! Thank you for your support in making this run so smoothly!

Reminders:

• Kdg.-4th grade students can be dropped off at 8:45 and need to be in class by 9:05.

• Preschool students should be dropped off after 8:55 a.m. If you are early, you may be asked to park and wait.

• For our Kdg.-4th student's PM pick-up, please do not arrive before 3:30. If you come early, you may be asked to find a parking spot or take a loop around. (The right lane that leads to the curb is for Pre-school pick up only until 3:30.) There are no pre school classes on Fridays.

We greatly appreciate our volunteers every year. Below is an explanation to the volunteer process. You may sign up to volunteer by clicking here or please call the Main Office at (330) 335-1420 if you would like a paper copy.

Our volunteer program consists of two tiers, each with specific requirements:

• Tier 1 Volunteers: These volunteers do not have unsupervised interactions with students, and as such they do not require board approval or a background check. The only requirement for a Tier 1 volunteer is a signed “Volunteer Release Form.”

• Tier 2 Volunteers: These Volunteers have unsupervised interaction with students and therefore require additional measures, including a background check.

The following steps are necessary to complete the volunteer process for our 2026-2027 calendar school year:

• First, let Mrs. Jira know that you would like to be added to the list of volunteers.

• Fingerprinting / Background Check (Tier II Volunteers Only): If you are interested in becoming a Tier 2 volunteer, this step is essential. Fingerprinting can be completed at the Assistant Superintendent’s office at the Board of Administration located at Wadsworth High School Room #1214, 625 Broad St., Wadsworth, OH. No appointment is required. Please note that there is a $50.00 fee for fingerprinting payable at the time of service (exact cash or check only).

• Volunteer Release Form: The fingerprints/background check is still valid for the 2026-2027 school year; you only need to sign and return an updated “Volunteer Release Form”. This will allow us to provide you with a current-year sticker for your volunteer badge.

• Badge Sticker: If your Volunteer Release Form and background check are up to date, you will need to secure the 26-27 school year sticker (attached) to the bottom of your volunteer ID badge. This step ensures that your badge is current. If you do not have your WCS Volunteer badge, please be aware that a new one can be printed free of charge at the Board of Administration office.

Please take the necessary steps to complete the volunteer process as soon as possible, to ensure that you are eligible to volunteer for events during the school year. Your involvement is essential to the success of our students, and we look forward to having you as part of our team.

Thank you for your commitment to Overlook and for helping create a supportive and enriching environment for our students.

Here is what the student handbook says:

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS:

In compliance with our District Health and Wellness policy and allergies, food treats are not permitted. Stickers, pencils, erasers or other non-edible treats are welcome to be distributed instead.

We appreciate your help in following this policy.

Board policy 8390

Animals permitted in schools and elsewhere on District property shall be limited to those necessary to support specific curriculum-related projects and activities, those that provide assistance to a student or staff member due to a disability (e.g., seizure disorder), or those that serve as service animals as required by Federal and State law.

If you'd like to stay informed about upcoming events, helpful resources, and tips about what's happening at Overlook, we invite you to follow us on Instagram:

• @ovprincipal
• @ovcounselorscorner
• @overlookpto