Bee Informed

The Bee Informed is a newsletter for Medina City Schools' parents, students and community members in an effort to keep the District informed of important information and events.

The Medina City Schools Foundation will host the Harlem Wizards on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at Medina High School in the gymnasium. Doors open at 6:00 PM. The game begins at 6:30 PM. Tickets are on sale now. Click here for more information or to purchase. Proceeds from this event benefit the Foundation and the programs and services they provide to our students and staff.

Over the past several months, feedback was collected from all of our stakeholders about the three proposed plans for redistricting and facilities: the Green Plan-Redrawing Boundaries, the Yellow Plan-Consolidation, and the Gray Plan-Grade Level Buildings. During the regular meeting of the Board of Education on September 19, 2022, the administration presented the results of the stakeholder feedback on each of the plans and recommended to the Board to move forward with the Yellow Plan based on all the information collected.

What does this mean for the District? Moving forward with the Yellow Plan will create long-term stability and more equity for students and resources. It consists of some redistricting at the elementary levels and consolidation at the middle-grade levels and will not impact the high school.

A.I. Root would be designated as the upper elementary school housing 5th and 6th-grade students. This would require some construction to expand the building to accommodate additional students.

Claggett Middle School would likely be rebuilt or potentially renovated and designated as the middle school housing 7th and 8th-grade students. We will be working with the OFCC (Ohio Facilities Construction Commission) and architects, Fanning Howey, to determine the best location for the proposed new building.

Elementary buildings would house K-4th grade students. The Helping Hands Preschool would either remain at Northrop Elementary based on available space or at a potential preschool center. With the Yellow Plan, some re-drawing of boundaries will need to occur at the elementary buildings to balance enrollment which may result in the closure of a building and its transition to an alternative use.

It is important to note that regardless of the community support of a bond issue that the district plans to place on the ballot in November 2023, the current boundaries will need to be redrawn in some capacity. It is also important to note that any changes will not occur, at the earliest, until the 2023-2024 school year.

As we move forward, the administration intends to continue collaborating with all stakeholders as we further envision what this plan will entail through additional community meetings beginning in the fall. You can find more detailed information from the presentation at the Board of Education Meeting approximately 38 minutes into the meeting.

The annual Medina City Schools' Community Spirit Night and tailgate party was held on Friday, September 9, at Ken Dukes Stadium. Medina's spirit and pride were evident with excited kindergarten students, their parents/guardians, and other Medina City Schools families and community members. There was plenty of fun for all to enjoy, provided by building PTOs, other parent organizations, and local business sponsors with games, prizes, face painting, and music from The Music Men. Families had the opportunity to pre-order meals to enjoy at the event.

One of the highlights of the evening was the introduction of the incoming kindergarten Class of 2035. The students and their families were invited to take a walk around the football field on the track sporting their first "official" Battling Bees t-shirts as they gathered in front of the home stands and were introduced to the community.

Thank you to our many sponsors of this event: Armstrong Cable, Centerpointe Chiropractic and Physical Therapy, Fechko Excavating, Jennifer Campanella, Realtor®, The Incorvaia Team, Keller Williams Greater Cleveland Southwest, MC Real Estate, Medina City Schools Foundation, Medina County Special Olympics, Serpentini Chevrolet Medina, and Trillium Creek Dermatology. We also thank the Medina Fire Department, Montville Police Department, the Medina County Sheriff's Office, the Girl Scouts, and other parent organizations for hosting activities and games for guests to enjoy.

Science Olympiad teams are forming now. For more information, see https://www.medinascienceolympiad.com/home. Contact info@medinascienceolympiad.com with questions or to join.

We are excited to be able to welcome our volunteers back into our school buildings this school year. If you are considering becoming a volunteer at any point during the year, including chaperoning or attending a field trip, please complete the volunteer application and background check. Click here to view the information on completing the necessary paperwork.

Be sure to check Flyer Central to see what's happening around our community from youth sports camps and programs to other community events.

On Sunday, September 18, thirty-three Medina High School Race for Grace Team members participated in the annual 5K run raising $825 for the Mary Grace Foundation. Exceptional participation by all who walked and ran. The Speediest Bee Award went to Alysia Rogers, sister of one of the staff participants, and MHS alumni came in first overall with a time of 17:17. Way to go, Bees!

Recently, Blake Elementary students and staff were presented with a book vending machine generously donated by their PTO. This exciting new way to grab a favorite book was celebrated with a ribbon cutting and one lucky student receiving the first book from the new machine.

Kristin Reffert, physical science teacher at Medina High School, was selected as one of 20 Ohio Education Champions that will be recognized as an Education Champion this week and throughout the school year by the Ohio Education Association. Here is a link to a short video about her story.

New this year in the Medina High School cafeteria, students and staff can purchase meals and ala carte items that are either gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegetarian (or a combination of the three). These items are available for all four lunch periods.

Some meal options include: "Santa Fe" style wrap with grilled chicken, black bean salsa on a corn tortilla, vegetarian wrap with tomato, peppers, lettuce, basil pesto sauce, and leaf lettuce wrap with turkey and cheese. Also offered are gluten-free crackers, muffins, and cookies.

Monday, October 17, 2022

Board of Education Regular Meeting

6:00 PM-Medina High School-Professional Development Center (location subject to change)

Monday, November 21, 2022

Board of Education Regular Meeting

6:00 PM-Medina High School-Professional Development Center (location subject to change)

Monday, December 19, 2022

Board of Education Regular Meeting

6:00 PM-Medina High School-Professional Development Center (location subject to change)

The Board of Education meetings are open to the public. Location may be subject to change. Meetings may also be viewed live on Medina City Schools' YouTube channel, MedinaTV Facebook page, and Armstrong channel 201.

Replays of the meeting will also be available on Medina City Schools' YouTube Channel and Armstrong Channel 201.

During the September 19, 2022, regular Board of Education meeting, Sierra Pischel was formally approved as an associate principal at Claggett Middle School.

Pischel comes to Medina from Akron Public Schools, where she was the Dean of Students. Prior to that, she taught at the LeBron James I Promise School, where her focus was on empowering students through hands-on instructional strategies. Pischel comes to the District with a strong project-based learning background and has tremendous experience to offer the students and staff at Claggett. In addition, she has worked with her staff to facilitate PBIS stategies.

Click here for the latest program in the Medina County Parks.

To purchase tickets online to upcoming sporting events, please click on the link to Hometown Ticketing.

Kids First Medina is offering a decorative license plate with the slogan "Proud to be a Medina Bee". They are $10.00 each with the proceeds going to support this organization. To order yours, click on this link.

Kids First Medina is a group of volunteers that help to provide a voice to community members, families, and students of Medina City Schools to help shape educational opportunities for our students.

Want Medina City Schools information right at your fingertips? Download the mobile app available on the Apple Store and Google Play.

Helping Hands Preschool, which is part of Medina City Schools and housed at Northrop Elementary, is accepting applications for typically developing peers.

The program provides high-quality learning experiences that are rooted in the Ohio Early Learning Content Standards in preparation for kindergarten. There are two sessions offered, Monday-Thursday. The morning session runs from 9:00 AM-11:40 AM and the afternoon session from 12:40 PM-3:20 PM.

To register typically developing peers, please call 330.636.4601 for directions to complete the online registration and screening information. For more information, please click here.

The Free Clinic of Medina County is offering FREE physicals through the free youth physical exam program. For more information, please see the flyer to the left.

Email: busbya@medinabees.org
Website: www.medinabees.org
Location: 739 Weymouth Road, Medina, OH, USA
Phone: 330.725.8831
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedinaCitySchools
Twitter: @MCScomm1