Northrop Newsletter

Dear Northrop Families,

I hope you're enjoying Spring Break, we look forward to having students back in the building on

Tuesday 4/7. We have a busy couple of months ahead, here are a few highlights:

3rd, 4th, & 5th grades - Spring Testing

This month, our fifth, fourth and third graders will be taking their Ohio State Tests. Please be

mindful of the dates as it's important that your child be on time, in attendance (with a fully charged Chromebook), and well-rested for these tests. It is also common that all grade levels may have slightly altered schedules (Encore, lunch/recess) on these dates to accommodate testing times.

5th grade testing dates: 4/8, 4/9 (ELA), 4/22 (Science), 4/28, 4/29 (Math)

4th grade testing dates: 4/13, 4/14 (ELA), 4/30, 5/1 (Math)

3rd grade testing dates: 4/15, 4/16 (ELA), 5/5, 5/6 (Math)

The Book Fair is Coming!

The book fair will be at Northrop from April 20-24. Students can shop during their

regularly scheduled library day/time (see schedule below). Families are invited to shop during the

art show on April 23rd from 5:30-7:30pm in the commons.

Mrs. Dodez

4/7 - School resumes

4/8 - PTO Dine to Donate - Aladdin's (see flyer below)

4/8 & 4/9 - OST testing - 5th grade ELA

4/9 - PTO meeting - Northrop commons or virtual - 6:00

4/13 & 4/14 - OST testing - 4th grade ELA

4/15 & 4/16 - OST testing - 3rd grade ELA

4/20 - 4/23 - Book Fair

4/21 - Board of Education meeting - Garfield PDC - 6:00

4/22 - OST testing - 5th grade science

4/23 - 3rd grade Arbor Day luncheon

4/23 - Art Show/Family night at Northrop - 5:30-7:30

4/24 - Stay In The Game spirit day

4/28 & 4/29 - OST testing - 5th grade math

4/30 - April Celebration Cafe

4/30 & 5/1 - OST testing - 4th grade math

5/5 & 5/6 - OST testing - 3rd grade math

Congratulations to the teachers, staff, students, and families at Eliza Northrop Elementary School!

Your school is being recognized as a Governor’s Science of Reading Champion Award School. This

designation celebrates your school’s proven commitment to providing every student with high-quality literacy instruction aligned to the Science of Reading. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce established a set of criteria that schools must meet to be considered for recognition. We are proud to announce that your school meets these criteria.

Literacy is a top education priority for the State of Ohio. Reading is the key to school. Reading is the

key to life. Through your school’s strong commitment to the Science of Reading, you are building a

strong foundation for your students’ future success – not only in the classroom, but also in post-

secondary education and as they enter the workforce. We applaud your school’s efforts to raise literary achievement and ensure all students have the best opportunities to become proficient readers.

Once again, congratulations on earning the Governor’s Science of Reading Champion Award designation and thank you for your continuous support of Ohio’s students.

This fall, our 5th grade students wrote stories in the hopes that the Magical Theatre in Barberton

would turn them into a script for a live performance. On March 11th, the whole school was

treated to two performances with scripts written by Cora MachLachlan-Gillard and Elynn Marthey. We also had several stories chosen as honorable mention. Congrats to all of our 5th grade authors and thank you to PTO for making this opportunity possible for our students!

Make plans to join us at Northrop on Thursday, April 23rd anytime from 5:30-7:30 for our annual art show and family night! Student artwork will be on display, there will be literacy activities available including the Medina Library summer reading program, and the Book Fair Family Night will be open in the commons. We look forward to seeing you then!

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 March, students reviewed conflict management skills and thought about friendship and test taking. We focused a lot on breathing and movement exercises to center ourselves as well as positive affirmations that we can use when needed! A few examples are 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, April 9th 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

Join us on Friday, May 8th for this year's Run.4.Fun 5k, 1 mile, and 1/2 mile kids run! All are welcome, and you don't have to be a runner to participate - we welcome all paces and abilities! This year, all participants will receive a free treat from The Dreamsicle Ice Cream Truck, which will be on-site for the evening, as well as a high-quality finisher's medal and additional post-race refreshments! All participants will also be entered into our raffle drawing for 3 pairs of free running shoes! Join us for an amazing evening of fun for the whole family! Register here: https://registration.midohiorm.com/events/2026-medina-city-schools-run4fun-111220251223

A peer model is a role model student, aged three to five, who demonstrates age-appropriate language, behavior, and social skills, and does not have special needs. Peers need to be toilet-trained by their first day of preschool.

The first step of the process is to complete and return a peer model application. All peer applications for the 2026-2027 school year will be completed electronically. After we receive the application, it will be reviewed and a Peer Screening will be scheduled for early April. Registration will take place until all openings are filled.

In late February/early March, you will receive a notification letter on whether your child has been accepted into the Helping Hands Preschool or has been placed on a wait list.

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