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Northrop Newsletter
September 2023
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!
At Meet Your Teacher Night, PTO hosted a prize wheel in the commons. One of the prizes was "Lunch with Mrs. Dodez" and I enjoyed spending time with those students who won! (see pictures below).
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:
- Sign the attendance pledge - students will receive a certificate for signing the pledge and committing to coming to school each day. ALL students will also receive a Stay In The Game T-shirt!
- 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
- 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!
We understand that illnesses occur and unexpected circumstances arise, so we aren't looking for perfection! Our goal is simply to improve attendance overall so that all of our learners can "stay in the game" here at Northrop!
Mrs. Dodez
Arrival and Dismissal - IMPORTANT
Please take a few minutes to read this carefully. Following these procedures ensures a safe arrival and dismissal for all of our students!
Student Fees
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.
Upcoming Dates
9/1 - Community Spirit Night; Kindergarten students walk the track; see flyer below
9/4 - No School - Labor Day
9/6 - Northrop PTO Dine to Donate at Culver's 4-8pm
9/14 - Akron Children's Health Clinic at Northrop - 3:00-6:00pm
9/14 - PTO meeting, 7pm - Northrop Commons
9/15 - Akron Children's Health Clinic at Northrop - 9:00-12:00
9/21 - Homecoming Parade - 6:30 starting at Garfield Elementary
9/29 - NO SCHOOL for elementary students, teacher work day
10/3 - Fall Picture Day (more information to come)
COVID FAQs
Covid- Frequently Asked Questions
Do kids have to stay home if someone in the family has COVID? In general kids can come to school as long as they are feeling well unless they have tested positive for COVID. If a student tests positive for COVID, they have to stay home 5 days from symptom onset (symptom onset is day 0). On Day 6, as long as the student is feeling well, and has been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, they may return to school.
Are masks required days 6-10?
No, they are recommended and encouraged. Per the CDC, individuals should wear a well-fitting mask if they have symptoms of COVID-19, if they had a positive SARS-CoV-2 test in the past 10 days, or if they had recent exposure to someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
School Safety
We continue to be committed to safety at school. Exterior doors remain locked at all times as do classroom doors when students are in the building. Anyone coming to sign a student out must wait in the vestibule and must show an I.D. Only adults who are added as a student contact are permitted to pick up a student.
Additionally, we practice school safety drills a few times throughout the school year. This includes fire and tornado drills, as well as ALICE drills. We will have our first ALICE drill of the year soon and this can sometimes prompt questions at home after the drill. Here is a great resource to help understand and talk to your child about ALICE drills and school safety in general. Our classroom teachers also do a wonderful job helping students understand their role and the need to practice without bringing worries to the situation. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Electronic Devices - Student Discipline Code
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!
Birthday Treats
Food Service Information
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.
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.
PBIS and the 3Rs
Medina City Schools has worked to implement consistent expectations across all buildings. The 3Rs (Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Ready) help each building to develop clearly defined expectations that are consistent across all classrooms and settings in the building. More information will be shared about this in the future, but we wanted to make sure you're aware of our building expectations.
Counselor Corner
General Northrop Information
School Day
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
Connect with us!
Principal - Amanda Dodez, dodeza@medinabees.org
School Psychologist - Bryan Thompson, thompsob@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
- Elaine Klafczynski - klafczynskie@medinabees.org
PTO News and Info
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. Click here for volunteer opportunities. Join us at the next PTO meeting on Thursday, September 14th at 7pm here in the Northrop commons.