Northrop Newsletter

Hello, Northrop families!

Fall is here and with it comes a very busy time of year! Please take a minute to read through this newsletter as there's a lot of important information in it. A few highlights:

• Unity Day will be Wednesday, October 22, 2025. We'd like to encourage everyone to wear ORANGE on that day to promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. We are Northrop Proud!

• Third graders ONLY will be taking their fall Ohio State ELA tests on October 21st and 22nd.

Our first Chat with the School Counselors is this month. We will meet at Fenn Elementary in the cafeteria 6-7PM on October 29th. If you're able to review any of the below resources before coming, great. If not, no worries - we'll still be glad to see you.

• Video Game Expert Explains It All - And How To Stop Fighting Over Gaming! // Scott Novis

• Teaching Kids Digital Citizenship

• Talking to Kids about Social Media

10/2 - PTO meeting

10/3 - PTO Fall Family Festival

10/6-10/9 - Homecoming Spirit Week (see picture below for specifics)

10/8 - Akron Children's Flu vaccine clinic at Northrop (see below for more info)

10/8 - Conferences - 3:45-8:45 (virtual)

10/9 - EARLY RELEASE; Homecoming Parade - 6:00pm - Garfield Elementary parking lot

10/10 - NO SCHOOL - Inservice day

10/13 - Mobile Dentist visits Northrop (see below for info)

10/14 - Board of Education Meeting - 6:00pm

10/16 - Conferences - 3:45-8:45 (virtual)

10/22 - Unity Day - wear orange to show kindness, acceptance, inclusion and prevent bullying

10/24 - Stay In The Game spirit day

10/30 - October Celebration Cafe

10/31 - Halloween parade and classroom celebrations (see below for additional info)

Students are welcome to wear their costumes to school on Friday 10/31. There should not be any fake weapons sent in with costumes. Please keep costumes simple as students will need to be able to sit at their desks and navigate the school day while wearing them. Please avoid face painting.

Our building parade will be held on Friday, October 31st and begins at 2:30 PM. Please remember that parking along the curbs is not permitted. You are welcome to park in an open parking space or use the lot in Reagan Park at the top of the bridge/path.

All parents are welcome to come for our quick Halloween parade that begins promptly at 2:30. The students (starting with 5th grade) will exit the front doors in a single file line and do a big “loop” around the front parking lot, head towards the flagpole, down the car rider sidewalk and in through the doors on the back of the building near the bridge to Reagan Park. Students will return to their classrooms after the parade to have a small treat and to enjoy a special activity with their classmates and teacher. Dismissal will be at the normal time.

*SINCE STUDENTS WILL PARADE THROUGH THE FRONT PARKING LOT, THE FRONT ENTRANCE WILL BE BLOCKED OFF AT ABOUT 2:15 PM.*

In an effort to keep all of our students safe, we ask that if the classroom teacher has asked you to send in snacks for a classroom celebration, please visit the Snack Safely website to get information on food allergens and options for keeping our students safe during their classroom parties. As a reminder, we do not allow edible birthday treats in classrooms anymore.

As part of our work to support students with their social and emotional development, we teach lessons daily that cover a variety of skills. These lessons give students words to describe their feelings and strategies to use when they're feeling upset. Not only does it help the individual students when needed, but it also builds the classroom community and helps everyone understand how to handle things when they don't go as expected.

During the month of September, students learned about Whole Body Listening and The Zones of Regulation. Click on the pictures below to see more!

Stacey Wielgus, M.A., LPSC

Eliza Northrop Elementary & Ralph E. Waite Elementary

wielguss@medinabees.org (330) 636-4607

I am at Northrop on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays each week.

As an elementary school counselor, I am committed to supporting the social and emotional needs of our students and the families of the students we serve. In addition, I am also committed to supporting our staff here at school to ensure that we are meeting the individual needs of each student during the school day. By addressing social and emotional needs as well as academics, we work together to increase learning and academic growth for each student here at Eliza Northrop and Waite Elementary Schools. As a school counselor, my typical services include small groups and/or individual meetings with students, as well as in the whole group, which is often in a classroom setting. I teach students new skills that can assist them with positive and appropriate emotional expression as well as in learning coping skills and the use of coping tools.

We have an amazing PTO here at Northrop Elementary! You can connect with them via email , or on their Facebook page. You can get involved in SO MANY WAYS. Join us at the next PTO meeting on Thursday, October 2nd at 6:00pm here in the Northrop commons or virtually:

To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/vfq-roue-yoc To join by phone instead, dial (US) +1 781-327-5828 and enter this PIN: 818 616 221#
If asked to enter a meeting code, it is: vfqroueyoc

Our 3rd graders enjoyed time learning with Medina Fire Department and the fire safety house. If you are in need of smoke detectors at your home, please contact the fire department and they can assist! Smoke detectors are a critical tool for fire safety in the home!

Akron Children's Hospital School Based Health Program will be hosting an Influenza (Flu)/ Childhood Vaccine Clinic on October 8, 2025. This clinic is for all students kindergarten through 12th grade. Immunizations will be given during the school day at your students' school. We ask you please make your child aware they are receiving immunizations at school and are able to cooperate with School Health staff.

If you are interested in participating in the clinic you need to scan the QR code to the right and sign your student up under School Health and follow the prompts to the appropriate district and building. Parents or Guardians who sign up online ALSO need to print the attached consent/parent letter form and turn it into the clinic no later than September 29, 2025. (If you are unable to print we can send a hard copy home upon request)

Vaccines are covered by most insurances, and at no cost for those who are uninsured. Participation is voluntary. Only students with a parent/guardian completed consent form can receive vaccination. Please make sure your insurance covers vaccinations given at school!

If you have additional questions, please contact the School Health Services at 330-543-7242 or Jaclyn Warner the District RN. We hope to see your child at the clinic!

On October 13th, Smile Programs Ohio, the Mobile Dentist, will be visiting Northrop. This is an opportunity for all students to get in-school dental care if interested. Students will bring home permission forms with additional info in backpacks today. You can also sign up online at www.MySchoolDentist.com. Please let me know if you have any questions as we are excited to offer this opportunity to our families!

Office Hours: 8:00-4:00

Student Hours: 8:45-3:30

Tardy Bell: 8:55

Visit us on the web at https://www.medinabees.org/Domain/11

Principal - Amanda Dodez, dodeza@medinabees.org

School Psychologist - Kelsey Klatka, klatkak@medinabees.org

School Counselor - Stacey Wielgus, wielguss@medinabees.org

Northrop Attendance Line/Clinic - (330)636-4604

Northrop Office - (330)636-4600

• Amy Brewer - brewera@medinabees.org
• Mary Jarstfer - jarstfem@medinabees.org