Ralph E. Waite Elementary School

Dear Waite Families:

In the spirit of thanksgiving, I would like to thank all of our Waite families for your ongoing collaboration and commitment to the education of your children. It is a privilege working with your children each day. We have much to be grateful for at Waite Elementary.

A special thanks to all of the families who made a donation to the United Way October Food Drive! It was a huge success!

Highlights from October:

Field Trip, Jr. Hope Squad, High School

World Teachers’ Day

InView Testing

Conferences

PTO Meeting

Bus Safety Training, K-3

Homecoming Parade

Great Waite Pumpkin Challenge

Powderpuff Football

Field Trip, Grade 4, Severance Hall

Reptile Visit, Grade 3

PTO Fall Field Day

Fall OST, Grade 3

PTO Savers Fundraiser

Field Trip, Grade 1, Ramseyer

Book Fair Week

Canned Food Drive

Akron Children’s Hospital Donation Drive

Music Program, Grade 3

Halloween/Parties/Parade

Wishing all of your families a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Have a great month!

Sincerely,

Mr. Mattie

Principal

11/2/25: Daylight Savings Ends

11/3/25: Coats for Kids Week Begins

11/4/25: Election Day - Go Vote! and Scrabble Club Begins

11/5/25: PTO Dine to Donate, Culvers

11/7/25: End of Trimester 1

11/10/25: No School. Teacher work day.

11/11/25: Veterans Day (Thank you!) and Veterans Day Assembly

11/12/25: PTO Meeting, 7:00pm

11/13/25: Field Trip, Grade 3, Medina City

11/14/25: Report Cards/Invoices Come Home

11/1/25 - 11/12/25: Candy for a Cause - Treats for Troops 2025 Candy Collection

11/20/25: PTO Ornament Night

11/25/25: Early Release, Dismissal at 2:30

11/26/25: No School, Thanksgiving Break

11/27/25: No School, Thanksgiving Day

11/28/25: No School, Thanksgiving Break

COMING UP: Holiday Shop and Toys for Tots Start 12/1/25

There are four (4) teacher work days this school year when elementary students will not report to school. No school for K-5 students only on the following dates (grades 6-12 still in session):

• Friday, September 26
• Monday, November 10
• Monday, February 23
• Friday, May 22

A reminder that this Wednesday (11/5) is the next PTO Dine-to-Donate event at Culver’s.

Take a night off of cooking and join us next week at Culver’s on Medina Road from 4:00-8:00PM. A few surprise teachers and staff will be there to serve you!

The most solemn assembly of the school year. Veterans Day is always poignant at Waite. It is an amazing opportunity to honor and welcome our Waite family veterans and active military service members into the building for a special program in appreciation for their service to the United States of America.

This year, Waite Elementary has the opportunity to partner with Waite Funeral Homes as a collection site for their Candy for a Cause campaign. Waite Funeral Homes is an official drop-off site for Halloween candy to support the Soldiers’ Angels Treats for Troops program and will be sharing a collection bin right here at Waite Elementary.

The Treats for Troops program collects extra Halloween candy and ships it to deployed service members around the world for a sweet treat from home. “Angel” volunteers from the organization also distribute candy to veteran patients in VA Hospitals across the country.

Although this may seem like a small gesture, it’s a meaningful way to remind our men and women in the Armed Forces—and veterans of all eras—that we are thankful for their service and sacrifices. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about gratitude, giving, and sharing!

Collection Dates: November 1–12, 2025
Location: Waite Elementary Collection Bin
For more information, email kelly@waitefuneralhome.com.

4th grade enjoyed a special field trip to Severance Hall to see and hear the Cleveland Orchestra perform a program of music composed by American composers. Thanks to Mrs. Gabrielsen for organizing this amazing experience for our students!

Special thanks to our amazing PTO for helping to coordinate this event for students! It took many hours, but the kids love and appreciate the experience.

What a huge success! We surpassed our fundraising goal! Thanks to all of our Waite families for your generous donations of time and money to help PTO support our Waite students!

We are all different, but we all live and learn together.

"Being Normal means being different"

~Kristine Napper (A Kids Book about Disaability)

October

Rosie Gow

Aveyanna Diaz

Benjamin Naypauer

Josh Hughes

KJ Baca

Brynne Weil

Zayden Patterson

Eleanor Honigman

Ransom Sass

Reagan McNulty

Oliver Waite

Jobe Glass

Viktoria Farkas

Lilly Anderson

Brielle Fulker

Konnor Immel

Zander Sturm

Evie Fligor

Christopher Brendel

Lincoln Anderson

Adeline Krieger

Colton Beard

Tristan Spilker

Scarlett Sprague

Harper Waidley

Colin Cain

Silas Sedlak

Ev King

Addy Fritz

Harper Kissinger

Alex Rodeheaver

This November school counselors are excited to share with you an overview of the lessons your child will be engaged in. Lessons and resources are designed to promote personal development, enhance social-emotional skills, and support academic success. Please click on the link below for more information.

The next Counselor Chat is Nov. 19th 6-7 at Fenn Elementary. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend regardless of if you have attended before or had a chance to listen to the podcast beforehand. Please let us know if you plan to come on this link.

November Link: 11 minute podcast

School based health services (SBHC) are provided to students in person monthly on the 1st Thursday of every month and virtually EVERY SCHOOL DAY. The Nurse Practitioner can provide well visits, immunizations, sports physicals, sick visits and chronic disease (such as asthma) management. For virtual visit days she uses a special telehealth equipment called tytocare. This equipment allows her to do a more complete physical exam using attachments that let her assess the ears, throat and skin with a special camera. She can even listen to heart, lungs and belly sounds with a stethoscope attachment. The SBHC even have the ability to test patients for things such as strep throat or a urinary tract infection without them leaving the school building.

School Based Health Services Video

Students and families can refer themselves to the SBHC by calling to make an appointment or turning in a completed consent form to their nurses office. School nurses offices can directly refer students who may need or services. School staff can also refer students or families that may need assistance with care. Services are billed though medical insurance. Families without insurance will receive help in obtaining insurance and will not get billed for services rendered before they obtain of medical insurance.

See the forms below for further information regarding this optional service for students.

Please do not send your child to school if any of the following symptoms or conditions are present:

• Fever of 100 degrees or higher in the last 24 hours: Call your child’s healthcare provider for guidance on when to return to school. Students must be fever free without use of fever reducing medications (acetaminophen/ibuprofen).

• Vomiting: If your child has an episode during the previous day or night, they may not attend school. Call your child’s healthcare provider if vomiting continues for more than 48 hours, your child has a fever or his/her condition worsens.

• Diarrhea: If your child has two or more episodes during the previous evening or night, they may not attend school. Call your child’s healthcare provider if diarrhea continues for more than 48 hours, your child has a fever or his/her condition worsens.

• Rash: Call a health care provider for guidance if your child can remain in school.

• Bacterial infection: Your child may return to school after taking prescribed antibiotics for 24 hours or when the health care provider states.

•Cough/Colds can be contagious for at least 48 hours. Returning to school too soon may slow the recovery process and expose others unnecessarily to illness.

*If you are unsure about whether to send your child to school, please contact the school health clinic staff.

Annual Pancake Breakfast & Spotlight on Students

Saturday, January 24, 2026

8:00 AM-12:00 PM

Medina County Student Art Show

A Celebration of Student Art Month

March 1-March 31, 2026

Kick-off Event Friday, February 27, 2026-Time and Location TBD

2026 Run.4.Fun T-Shirt Design Contest

The Medina City Schools Foundation is excited to announce the 2026 Run.4.Fun T-Shirt Design Contest, open to all Medina City Schools students! This is your chance to show off your creativity and school spirit by designing the official logo for next year’s Run.4.Fun event.

Design Requirements:

Your artwork should reflect the spirit of our Medina community, Medina City Schools, or the joy of running. Here’s what you need to know before getting started:

• Deadline: Submit your design to your art teacher by Friday, November 14, 2025.

• Format: Designs must fill an 8½ x 11-inch paper.

• Colors: Use no more than three colors — no blended or shaded colors allowed.

• Original Work Only: No computer-generated, traced, or licensed characters will be accepted.

• Labeling: Clearly mark your submission with your full name, school, art teacher’s name, and grade level.

The winning design will be featured on the official Run.4.Fun T-shirt and used in Medina City Schools Foundation promotional materials.

Prizes:

The artist of the winning design will receive a $50 Target gift card and a plaque featuring their name and artwork—plus the pride of seeing their design worn by the entire community at the Run.4.Fun!

Deadline Reminder:

All entries must be submitted by Friday, November 14, 2025, to your teacher.

For more information, contact the Medina City Schools Foundation at: info@medinacityschoolsfoundation.org

We offer an online free and reduced-price meal application through PaySchools Central for families that believe they may qualify.

Remember, all students are able to enjoy breakfast at school every morning. Doors open at 8:35 AM for breakfast in the cafeteria.

PaySchools Central has provided How-To-Guides to set up your account and to complete an online free and reduced meal application. If you choose not to use the online application you can fill out the paper free and reduced meal application and return to the Food Service & Child Nutrition Department located at the Board of Education Office, 739 Weymouth Road.

The form can also be obtained and returned (completed) to any school office. You will be notified by email of your child's status. Until notification is received, you must provide your child with breakfast/lunch or money in their student accounts.

Also new this year, the signed Ohio Budget Bill included the provision for the State to cover the cost for reduced-price breakfasts and lunches for this school year. This means if you qualify for reduced-price meals, you do not have to pay the $0.30 for breakfast or the $0.40 for lunch.

Lunch

Elementary $3.50

Milk $0.50

Breakfast - (A reminder that we offer breakfast each day - open to all students)

Students $2.75

Milk $0.50

Payment of school meals can be made by cash or check at each individual school. For your convenience you may also pay online by ACH Check or Credit Card through PaySchools Central. You will be charged a small fee if you use PaySchools Central. Note: You cannot combine lunch payment with payment of school fees.

Absence/Tardy Procedure

If your child is going to be absent or tardy, please call the attendance line at 330-636-4504 before 9:00 am. Please do not email the teacher or secretary. Please remember to call the attendance line only.

If a student is returning to school from an appointment or arriving late to the building:

• The parent and student will enter the vestibule together.

• The parent signs the student in on the attendance log which will be located in the office vestibule.

• After signing the student in, ring the buzzer & the office staff will unlock the door for the student to enter the office.

If a student needs to leave school early:

• The parent will enter and remain in the office vestibule.

• The parent will speak through the intercom to provide the name of the student they are picking up. The parent/guardian will be required to show ID through the office window.

• The office staff will call the student down to the office.

• The parent will sign the student out on the attendance log.

• The parent waits in the vestibule for their student.

As cell phones and smart watches continue to grow in popularity, we like to remind parents of the expectations for these devices during the school day. From the student discipline code:

RULE 4 - ELECTRONIC DEVICES

● Electronic devices such as (laser pointers, video cameras, cameras, etc.) are prohibited in

school.

● Cell phones, smartwatches, electronic devices such as (Ipods, MP3 players, Ipads, Nooks,

Kindles, Gizmos, etc) and any video game devices must be turned off and in the student’s book bag during school hours.

Please make sure to have a conversation with your child about this expectation so that

everyone is on the same page in regards to these devices!

Weekender Bags

Waite Elementary School is excited to participate in the 2024-2025 Weekenders program! The Weekenders for Children program is made possible through a partnership with Feeding Medina County. The purpose of this program is to support elementary children who qualify by providing a bag of food to eat over the weekend. Weekender Bags will be given to your child to take home every week during the school year, except during breaks.

If you are interested in your child/children participating in the Weekenders program, please fill out this form as soon as possible. Please call the office with any questions. Thank you!

If you are interested in being an approved volunteer, please click HERE to complete the volunteer application process. All volunteers must have a background check on file and be approved by the Medina City Schools Board of Education.

As in years past, we will once again participate in the annual Parade of Lights on Saturday, November 22. Parade line-up begins at 4:30 pm at the Medina High School parking lot. The Parade leaves the Medina High School parking lot (off of Union Street) at 5:30 pm, hits the Square about 6:00 pm, and circles back to the Medina High School parking lot. The parade route is Union Street, Spring Grove, East Liberty Street, Court Street, Washington Street, Spring Grove Street, and Union Street, ending at the MHS lot. If you are interested in participating and riding the bus, please fill out this form by Monday, November 17.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Email: mattiem@medinabees.org
Website: www.medinabees.org
Location: 4765 Cobblestone Dr, Medina, OH 44256
Phone: 330-636-4500