Northrop Newsletter

We have had a great couple of weeks welcoming our students back! Students are working hard to

learn new routines in their classrooms and find ways each day to practice being respectful,

responsible, and ready!

We work hard to help students enjoy school and we want them to see Northrop as a place they

WANT to come to each day! In addition to the work we already do to help foster classroom

relationships and build that love for learning, we are once again taking part in the Cleveland Browns

Stay In The Game attendance campaign.

Research shows that consistent attendance at school is a critical factor for student success and

we want students to be in school as much as possible this year! The Cleveland Browns

Foundation, the Ohio Department of Education and Harvard University's Proving Ground have all

partnered to create the Stay In The Game Network. This network helps local schools with the goal

of student success, which begins with engaged learners who attend school every day. Our Northrop

initiative has just a few simple steps:

1. Sign the attendance pledge - students will receive a certificate for signing the pledge and

committing to coming to school each day.

2. Participate in school-wide spirit days - these include stay in the game shirt days as well as

other fun spirit days in the coming months

3. Win prizes for regular attendance - from class attendance competitions to target attendance

days, students can be entered into raffles to win prizes just by coming to school on time!

We understand that illnesses occur and unexpected circumstances arise...our goal is simply to

improve attendance overall so that all of our learners can "stay in the game" here at Northrop!

Mrs. Dodez

Please take a few minutes to read this carefully. Following these procedures ensures a safe arrival and dismissal for all of our students!

For 2026-2027 bus route information, click here for the Here Comes the Bus App. For questions, please call 330.636.4360

9/4 - Spring 2025 OST Family Reports sent home (4th & 5th grade only)

9/7 - NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)

9/10 - PTO meeting - 6pm, Northrop Commons or virtual

9/11 - Patriot Day

9/14 - PJ Day to kick off student sleep awareness week

9/14 - KidScripts writing rallies (grades 4 & 5)

9/15 - 3rd grade Fire House Safety visit

9/15 - Board of Education meeting

9/16 - K-3 Bus safety training

9/18 - Stay In The Game spirit day! Wear your Browns gear and come to school on time!

9/18 - Community Spirit Night (see flyer below for more info)

9/21 - 5th grade to Camp Nuhop

9/22 - PTO Culver's Night with staff celebrity servers

9/22 - MCS Parent Safety Night at Medina High School - 6pm

9/23 - Fall Picture Day (more info to come as it gets closer)

9/24 - EARLY RELEASE (dismissal at 2:20)

9/25 - NO SCHOOL (K-5 staff work day)

As we begin the 2026-2027 school year, the safety and security of our students and staff remain among our highest priorities. We continually review our safety practices in partnership with local law enforcement and first responders to ensure our schools are prepared to respond effectively in the event of an emergency. Although this is a lengthy communication, we want to update you on our new safety protocols, inform you about a safety parent night that is coming up to help share these procedures, and let you know about a new website we have created to better communicate during an emergency.

This year, we want families to become familiar with the standardized safety terminology that students and staff will use during different situations, which is called Standard Response Protocol (SRP). This protocol uses the terminology below:

HOLD – Used when hallways and common areas need to remain clear, such as during a medical situation or an issue in a hallway. Students and staff remain in their classrooms or areas (cafeteria) while normal activities may continue inside those rooms.

SECURE – Used when there is a potential concern outside or near the school. Everyone is brought inside the building, and no one is permitted to enter or leave until the situation is resolved.

LOCKDOWN – Used when there is an identified threat at the school. Hallways are cleared, classroom doors are locked, and students and staff remain quiet and out of sight until the building is determined to be safe or evacuation is possible.

EVACUATE – Used when students and staff need to leave the building and move to a safe location. Families will receive specific information directly from the District if student pickup or reunification is necessary.

SHELTER – Used when students and staff need to take protective action because of a specific hazard. In Ohio schools, this includes sheltering during tornado situations.

Our students and staff will practice and become familiar with these procedures so they know how to respond calmly and appropriately when directed.

A Parent Safety Night will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Medina High School in the middle stage auditorium from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. District administration and local safety officers will conduct this session to help families understand these protocols.

What Families Should Do During an Emergency

Families also play an important role in helping us maintain a safe and coordinated response. During an emergency, we ask that you:

• Do not come to your child's school unless instructed to do so. Keeping roads, parking lots, and entrances clear allows police, fire, and emergency personnel to respond quickly during emergencies.

• Avoid calling the school whenever possible. Keeping phone lines available for emergency communications is critical.

• Do not call your child's cell phone during a lockdown. A ringing or vibrating phone could create an additional safety concern.

• Listen to the entire automated message and carefully follow any instructions provided.

• Watch your phone, email, the District website, and official District social media accounts for updates.

• Rely on official information from Medina City Schools and public safety officials rather than information circulating through unofficial sources such as social media.

During an emergency, families will be kept informed through email, text messages, automated phone calls, social media, and the District website. Our Safety & Security webpage will serve as the central source for the most current information we are able to share.

It is also important that every family review the contact information listed in FinalForms at the beginning of the school year and make sure phone numbers, email addresses, and emergency contacts are current. Accurate information helps us reach you quickly when it matters most.

See Something? Say Something.

The Safe School Helpline® provides students, families, staff, and community members with a confidential way to report concerns about unsafe or potentially disruptive activities. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Call: 1-800-418-6423, ext. 359

Text: TIPS to 614-426-0240

Online: SafeSchoolHelpline.com
Mobile App: Available through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store

Keeping our schools safe is a shared responsibility. Medina City Schools works closely with the Medina City Police Department, Montville Township Police Department, Medina Township Police Department, and Medina Fire Department to support prevention, preparedness, and a coordinated response when emergencies occur.

We encourage all families to review the information on our Safety & Security webpage and talk with their children about the importance of following the directions of teachers, staff members, and first responders during an emergency.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our students, staff, and schools safe.

Student fees can now be paid via the link below. Logins have not changed, but you'll need to add

your student(s) and will need their 6 digit district ID number, which is located on Final Forms.

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 student about this expectation so that

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

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, September 10th at 6:00pm here in the Northrop commons or virtually. To receive the virtual link, please email PTO!

Office Hours: 8:00-4:00

Student Hours: 8:45-3:30

Tardy Bell: 8:55

Visit us on the web!

Principal - Amanda Dodez, dodeza@medinabees.org

School Psychologist - Chelsea Bartman, bartmanc@medinabees.org

School Counselor - Stacey Wielgus, wielguss@medinabees.org

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

Northrop Office - (330)636-4600

• Kaitlin Greiner - greinerk@medinabees.org
• Mary Jarstfer - jarstfem@medinabees.org