Northrop Newsletter

Welcome back, Northrop families!

I hope that you all had a nice winter break and spent some time doing the things that you love! We

are excited to have the students coming back into the building and ready to jump right back into

our learning!

A few reminders:

We will continue to get some fresh air and utilize the playground as long as temperatures are 20

degrees or above. Please send your student to school with appropriate outdoor clothing, labeled

with their name. If you are in need of a coat, hat, gloves, etc., please email me at

dodeza@medinabees.org.

AM Arrival - the front lot is for BUS TRAFFIC ONLY from 8:25-8:45. Please do not pull into the front

lot to drop students off, this is a safety issue.

As a reminder, the Reagan Bridge is still closed during the winter.

2nd GRADE FAMILIES ONLY

Your child will participate in a whole-grade gifted screening assessment the week of January 12-

15. Attendance that week should be a priority. These tests help ensure equity in and access to

gifted identification opportunities for all students.

Thank you so much, please let me know if you have any questions!

Mrs. Dodez

Counselor Chats: January; Topic is Friendships

Date: Tuesday, January 27

Time: 6:00–7:00 PM

Location: Fenn Elementary Cafeteria

Topic: Friendships — helping children build healthy, kind, and resilient peer relationships

Podcast for this month’s topic: How to Help Kids Build Positive, Healthy Friendships | Thriving Kids Podcast
How to help kids navigate friendship, with Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD | Speaking of Psychology

RSVP: Please let us know you’re coming by completing this short form

12/19 - 1/2 - NO SCHOOL - WINTER BREAK

1/5 - School resumes

1/12 - Talent show forms due

1/13 - Board of Education meeting

1/15 - EARLY RELEASE

1/16 - No School (Professional Development Day)

1/19 - No School (MLK Jr. Day)

1/24 - MCS Community Pancake Breakfast

1/27 - Counselor Chat at Fenn

Medina City Schools will host its annual Community Pancake Breakfast & Spotlight on Students on Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Medina High School Main Cafeteria located at 777 E. Union Street. Enter through the Performing Arts Center entrance or through the B3 doors. Breakfast is $5 per person, and senior citizens 60+ eat free.

Tickets are now available online for $5 each (plus a small processing fee) and may also be purchased at both Medina Buehler’s locations beginning January 5 or at the door on the day of the event. To purchase tickets online, click here.

Student entertainment will take place from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Performing Arts Center, featuring performances by the Canavan Elementary Glee Club, Waite Elementary Choir, Northrop Elementary Choir, and student performers; Fenn Elementary Choir; the Medina High School Stardusters Jazz Ensemble; Encore Entertainment Company, and more.

Artwork from students across all grade levels will also be on display, offering a showcase of creativity. Any net proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Medina City Schools Foundation. Thank you to sponsors—Borden, Discount Drug Mart, and Huntington Bank — for their partnership and support, which make this event possible.

As in years past, if a student is performing in a student performance, the student and one parent can have breakfast at no cost.

Principal Paige took over Northrop on Tuesday 12/16 and brought some extra fun! Paige won this prize as being top reader in PTO's read-a-thon. Her activities for the day included morning announcements with a special shout out to her class, all school PJ and stuffed animal day, and a popcorn party for all! Way to go, Principal Paige!

As part of our partnership with the Cleveland Browns to improve attendance, a few Northrop staff members had the privilege to hold the American flag at the start of the game vs. Tennessee on 12/7. This year, the Browns have given us tickets for students, posters, fun branded items, and we have a Dillon Gabriel autographed football to raffle off. As we return in January, we encourage you to recommit to being at school on time each day (unless you're sick).

Our 17th annual Talent Show will be held on Sunday, February 22nd at the Middle Stage at Medina High School. Please consider joining the fun and sharing your special talents! Performances can be live in-person or pre-recorded and shown on the big screen during the show. Forms are due on January 12th and are available via the button below. We will also have hard copies in the building when we return from winter break!

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 December, students reviewed the size of the problem and learned about the tree of choices. You can see some visuals that we used below:

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, January 8th 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

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