Ralph E. Waite Elementary School

Dear Waite Families:

We have had a strong start to the school year at Waite Elementary! Your children have done a great job with the transition.

Students are focused on academics with our focus on CKLA curriculum based on best practices in literacy instruction and deeper learning. Students have learned school expectations and are working toward a building-wide popsicle party later in September as we continue to reinforce PBIS expectations and "look for the good" when students are successful in meeting expectations throughout the building.

We also administered our first trimester school safety drill with Officer Pinkas. Safety is always the top priority and we take it seriously at Waite. Officer Pinkas provided a presentation at our PTO meeting last week to review safety procedures with parents. Our aim is to foster safe learning conditions where students can thrive in their learning.

Please read on for some important information.

Sincerely,

Mr. Mattie

Principal

9/1/25: No School, Labor Day and PTO Boyert’s Mum Fundraiser Begins (Ends 9/15/25)

9/2/25: STAR Testing Begins

9/3/25: K Safety Presentation

9/9/25: Choir Begins for Grades 4 and 5

9/10/25: Grade 5 KidScripts Writing Rally and PTO Meeting, 7:00pm

9/12/25: Community Spirit Night, 5:30pm

9/17/25: Grade 3 Fire Safety and Fall Picture Day

9/18/25: Author Visit Assembly

9/22/25: Grade 5 Field Trip, Camp Nuhop and Girls on the Run Begins

9/25/25: Early Release, Dismissal at 2:20 and Look Out for PTO Fundraiser Info Coming Home

9/26/25: NO SCHOOL, Staff InService Day

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

At the close of the 2024–2025 school year, Medina City Schools completed its three-year strategic plan. Now, the district is excited to begin work on its next strategic plan that will guide its direction for the next three to five years.

This new plan will ensure that Medina City Schools’ mission, vision, and goals continue to foster growth, innovation, and improvement while effectively serving students, families, and the broader community.

To support this important work, the district has partnered with The Impact Group, a strategic planning and communications firm with extensive experience in helping organizations create meaningful, actionable plans through collaboration and community input.

Community Voice at the Center:
Medina City Schools recognizes that successful planning begins with listening. That’s why input from parents, guardians, staff, students, and community members will play a vital role in shaping the district’s future. Community insights will help ensure the final plan reflects shared priorities and aspirations.

Opportunities to Get Involved:
Community members will have multiple ways to participate in the process:

• Focus Groups

• In-person sessions: Wednesday, September 24, or Thursday, October 2, from 5:30–7:00 PM at the Medina High School Media Center (777 E. Union Street).

• Virtual session: Thursday, September 25, from 5:30–7:00 PM via Zoom. To register, click here.

• Online Survey
  In early October, the district will launch a survey to collect feedback. This will allow participants to share their experiences, priorities, and hopes for the future of Medina City Schools.

The feedback gathered from focus groups, surveys, interviews, and research will guide the development of the next strategic goals.

Could you please share the information below with your staff, reminding them of the upcoming staff focus groups?

The district is preparing to develop its next strategic plan, which will guide our work over the next three to five years. Your voice matters. There are two opportunities specifically for staff to engage in the process.

• Tuesday, September 16 | 3:00–4:30 PM | Medina High School, Professional Development Center

• Thursday, September 18 | 4:00–5:30 PM | Garfield, Professional Development Center

In addition to the focus groups, a survey will be released in early October, providing an additional opportunity to share your valuable feedback. These sessions, along with the survey, will provide an opportunity for staff to share feedback and help identify the district’s priorities moving forward.

Find items that I've picked out specifically for our team.

There is also spirit wear available for your family and friends.

Check out the shop details below.

Community Spirit Night and Kindergarten Parade!

We had a great night at Ken Dukes Stadium and welcomed the Class of 2038 in the annual kindergarten parade!

Save time and preorder your photographs on the Ripcho Studio webpage before your Picture Day, by clicking on the "Order Online" button below.

Picture Day is Wednesday, September 17

Save time and preorder your student's photographs on the Ripcho Studio prepay site before Picture Day by clicking the "Order Online" button below.

Don't want to preorder online? You can also view and print the portrait package order form by clicking the "Portrait Packages" button below. Print the order form, fill out the requested information, and give the order form to the photographer on Picture Day with the full payment enclosed.

Parents who have multiple children must place a separate prepay order online for each child.

Online Order Form

You Access Key is:
XT5CN8TT

Portrait Packages

Questions? Please contact us at 800-686-7427, ext. 28
or e-mail us at customerservice@ripchostudio.com

Copyright © 2025 Ripcho Studio All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
7630 Lorain Ave
Cleveland, OH 44103

Waite School Counselors: Stacey Wielgus and Amanda Townsend. Please see contact information on the Waite website. If you have a question or need support for your children, please email both counselors and they will be in touch.

Students will arrive to school (bus, carline, walkers) by 8:45AM (arrival bell). They will be in their classrooms no later than 8:55AM (tardy bell).

Staff will be present at all locations and in the halls to welcome our students and help them navigate to their classroom.

Bus Riders

• Buses will arrive in the main entrance loop.

• Buses will stagger dismissal into the building.

• Grades K-4 will enter the main entrance doors and:

• Grade K will proceed left to K hall classroom

• Grades 1-2 will proceed straight through cafeteria to classroom

• Grades 3-4 will proceed right down main hall to classroom

• Grade 5 will enter the main entrance and proceed right to 5th grade hall locker

• Walkers will use the walking path only and remain at the end of the walking path until 8:45 a.m. At that time, Safety Patrol will signal for the students to cross, then enter the side entrance of the building.

• Car riders will use the carline and will enter through the side entrance of the building.

• Students are permitted to exit cars at the side entrance beginning at 8:45 a.m. when staff arrive and signal to exit the car. Students are not to be dropped off prior to 8:45 a.m. since there is no adult supervision until that time.

• Upon exiting cars and entering the side entrance:

• Grade K will sit on the floor inside the carline doors and they will be escorted to their classroom.

• Grades 1-4 will turn right and proceed to their classroom.

• Grade 5 will turn left, stay on the right side of the hall, and proceed to their classroom.

• Please pull all the way forward to the yellow cone (by the flagpole), and the entire curb-line of cars will exit at once. Once all curb-line cars are unloaded, follow the car in front of you in a line to exit. Please do not pull out of line. It is a serious safety concern.

• Students must exit only on the curb-side. Parents - please stay in your car.

• Please be sure your child is ready to exit the car as you enter the drop-off line.

• If you are dropping off your child after 8:55 a.m. or picking up your child early, you will need to park in the front lot, enter the main entrance vestibule, and sign your child in. Students will be buzzed in by the office staff.

• Please have an established plan in the morning with your child for dismissal.

• If there is an emergency where your child’s dismissal plan needs to change at the last minute, please call the Waite office BEFORE 3:00 p.m. to ensure your child receives the necessary information.

• Staggered classroom dismissal will take place between 3:20 - 3:23 p.m.

• Walkers and car riders will exit through the side entrance. Bus riders will exit through the front/main entrance.

• As you enter the carline to wait for student dismissal, PLEASE DO NOT PARK BY THE DOOR. PLEASE PULL ALL THE WAY FORWARD TO THE FLAGPOLE.

• Safety Patrol/Staff will escort walkers to the walking path.

• Staff will direct car riders to the car pick-up area on the sidewalk.

• Cars will continually be moved ahead (toward the flagpole) while you are waiting for your child.

• Mrs. Cavey will radio to an aide as you pull to the front of the line for your child to come to the vehicle. Once the car has safely stopped, your child will walk to the front of the line to enter your vehicle.

• Once your child is in the car, please wait for the cars ahead of you to move forward. Please do not pull around for safety purposes.
  

• Please have your last name written on a large paper and visibly displayed in the front window/dash of the vehicle.

• Parents - please stay in your car.

• When exiting the lot, please yield to the buses. Thank you!

• Students will be placed into “blocks” alphabetically by their last name. If there is a carpool of students, they will go to the “block” of the student’s parent/guardian who is picking them up.

In order to provide optimal safety during dismissal, parents are not permitted to park in the side or front lot and walk their children to their cars. All children must be picked up in the car line.

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.

If your child is going to be absent, please call the attendance line at 330-636-4504 before 9:00 am.

Please make every effort to have an established end of the day dismissal plan with your child. In the event of an emergency where dismissal plans have changed, please call the office prior to 3:00 to notify your child.

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!

2025-2026 School Fees:

• Grades K, 1, 2: $32.80

• Grade 3: $36.00

• Grades 4-5: 43.00

School Fees are due Sept. 15: PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR PAYMENT OPTIONS




Grades 2-5 Chromebook insurance is a $30 fee. Parent can opt out through Final Forms by Sept. 15.

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

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.

School Meal Prices:

Breakfast $2.75

Lunch $3.50

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.

Waite Elementary School is excited to participate in the 2025-2026 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.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Email: mattiem@medinabees.org
Website: medinabees.org
Location: 4765 Cobblestone Drive, Medina, OH, USA
Phone: 330-636-4500