Northrop Newsletter

Hello, Northrop families!

The holiday season is upon us and there's lots of excitement in the building! We have fun spirit

days planned that all students have the option to participate in if you choose! See graphic below

for the schedule.

We will have our Northrop Giving Tree set up when we return from Thanksgiving break. Students will bring home a 1/2 sheet "permission", so if you'd like to help a Northrop family with a gift this season, please return that permission letting us know that your student can take a tag from the tree. Thank you for considering!

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

degrees or above and the playground is not too wet. 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.

We will also have classroom parties prior to winter break. Your student's classroom teacher will

reach out with more information and only pre-approved volunteers will be permitted into the

classroom for the parties.

Classroom parties should be fun but simple. We're suggesting a small snack (all snacks MUST be

store bought), a simple craft, and a game or other activity. For a list of allergen-friendly snacks,

please visit the snack safely website by clicking here.

Thank you so much for your help and support in making our building a GREAT place for all!

Mrs. Dodez

12/4 - PTO cookies & ornaments with Santa and Holiday shop (see below for details)

12/9 - Eliza Northrop Singers Choir Concert - 7:00pm - Northrop Commons

12/11 - PTO meeting - 6:00 - commons or virtual

12/16 - 5th grade to PAC to see Encore concert

12/16 - Board of Education Meeting - 6:00

12/17 - December Celebration Cafe

12/18 - EARLY RELEASE

12/19 - 1/4 - NO SCHOOL - WINTER BREAK

1/5 - School resumes

PTO will once again host cookies & ornaments with Santa on Thursday, December 4th. See flyers below for specific times. If you need financial assistance for an ornament, please be sure to reach out to Mrs. Dodez at dodeza@medinabees.org; we want everyone at Northrop to come and enjoy Cookies with Santa!

On Friday, November 14th, our 5th graders experienced an extended day trip to Camp Nuhop. The day was filled with outdoor fun, including a nature hike, axe throwing, and the giant swing or high ropes course. We had amazing weather and LOTS of fun!

Mrs. Dawn Cline, Northrop Paraprofessional, was awarded with the Going the Extra Mile Award on November 13th. Staff members nominate fellow staff members they feel have gone above and beyond taking into consideration the criteria of an exemplary work ethic, is a great role model, goes the "extra mile" serving on committees, assisting others, improving the culture within their building/department, spreading kindness, doing good deeds, and demonstrates pride and enthusiasm in the workplace. These awards are sponsored by the Medina City Schools Foundation.

Our PTO is truly amazing! This year's Read-A-Thon was once again filled with so much fun and encouraged our students to enjoy reading! In addition to daily classroom prizes, all students enjoyed the Planetarium visit and our first Northrop Masked Reader assembly. A huge thank you to our PTO Read-A-Thon committee and volunteers!

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 November, students learned about hidden rules, expected/unexpected behaviors, and flexible and stuck thinking. 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, December 11th 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

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, December 5, 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, December 5, 2025, to your teacher.

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

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