Waite Elementary Parent Newsletter
January, 2024
Happy New Year!
Dear Waite Families:
I hope everyone enjoyed a beautiful holiday season and meaningful time with family and friends. Waite was a very festive place leading up to the holiday break! It was fun to see how excited the kids were in anticipation of the holidays and the winter break. The holiday spirit days were a big hit and many students enjoyed adventures with our school Elf on the Shelf, R.E.W. (Ralph E. Waite) and wrote many gratitude messages to show appreciation for the Waite staff. Thanks also to all of the families who came out for the PTO Ornament Night! It was a very exciting month of learning and fun at Waite Elementary School.
Waite Talent Show video submissions are due to Mrs. Hoffman no later than Tuesday, April 2 (see information below).
There will be no school this Friday, January 12 due to a staff professional day. There is also no school next Monday, January 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Saturday, January 20 is the annual Medina City Schools Pancake Breakfast and Spotlight on Students. I hope your family will join us.
Medical Reminder:
A reminder that medications for students must be dropped off in the office in advance and medication paperwork must be completed. Parents are not permitted to send medications with their children to school or drop off medication during the school day (without completing the required paperwork).
Also, please send medical protocol paperwork in the case of a concussion to the main office so this information can be disseminated to appropriate staff.
March Operating Levy:
We have much to be grateful for at Waite Elementary School. The robust programs and rich learning experiences we are able to provide our students is in large part due to the investment made by our Waite community. The Board of Education has made the decision to place a 7.5-mill continuous operating levy on the March 19, 2024 ballot, which will generate approximately $14 million annually.
Continuous levies offer financial stability since they don't require frequent renewals. This stability can be crucial for planning and implementing long-term educational initiatives. A continuous levy provides predictability: consistent resources, programing, high quality educators, and necessary infrastructure and technology updates.
The cost to taxpayers would be $263 per $100,000 of auditor-assessed value per year ($22 per month per $100,000 of auditor-assessed value or $5.06 per week per $100,000 of auditor-assessed value). This is the first time since 2013 the District has asked for new money.
This is an operating levy which means it will support daily operations to maintain the current high quality education provided to Waite students. If the levy does not pass, the Waite learning community will be faced with reductions to our current educational opportunities for students. In fact, the District will still be making $8 to $10 million in permanent cuts over four years beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, even if the levy does pass. This is due to the loss of collection dollars due to the failure of the operating levy in November. If the levy does not pass in March, further reductions will be required.
Education is about building connection through relationship. The relationships fostered with caring teachers and support staff are priceless in the formation of a child during these critical years of school. It is also the strong relationship cultivated between the school and its community that make these experiences possible at school for students.
The coming months will be a critical time for our community to reflect on the rich learning opportunities we currently have in place for our Waite students and work collectively to invest in and sustain these learning conditions into the future.
There will be a community meeting regarding the levy held at Waite in early February. More information to come.
Get the Facts Levy Information
Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Mr. Mattie
Waite, Principal
Mark your Calendars!
Upcoming Important Dates!
1/4/24: Welcome Back!
1/12/24: No School/Staff InService Day
1/14/24: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
1/17/24: Grade 3 Make Your Smile Presentation
1/19/24: 3rd Grade Fall Ohio State Tests Family Reports Sent Home
1/20/24: Pancake Breakfast/Spotlight on Students
1/31/24: Leader of the Month Awards
*PTO Family Night (Date TBD. More information to come)
December Special Events
Toys for Tots Collection
PTO Holiday Shop
Grade 1 Performance
Picture Retake Day
Spirit Week – Each grade level chose a spirit day
Grade 5 Field Trip to the PAC for ENCORE Performance
Rew, the Waite Christmas Elf, came to help us show our gratitude
Classroom Holiday Parties
Early Release
Leader of the Month
Story Time with Mr. Mattie
Writing Messages of Gratitude to R.E.W the Elf!
Staff Winter Breakfast
Upcoming Events
Medina City Schools will host its annual Community Pancake Breakfast and "Spotlight on Students" on Saturday, January 20, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. in the main cafeteria at Medina High School, 777 E. Union Street. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased online now by visiting www.medinabees.org. Tickets may also be purchased in person at Medina Buehler's locations from January 4 through January 20, 2024. Senior citizens, 60 and over, are free of charge. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, syrup, milk, juice, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
As part of this annual event, student artwork will be displayed, and various student performances will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Performing Arts Center on the main and lobby stages and run through noon. The current schedule of events is below and may be subject to change.
10:30AM-11:00AM - Waite Elementary Glee Club & Steel Pan Ensemble
Net proceeds from ticket sales to this event will go to the Medina City Schools Foundation to support the services and programs they provide to Medina City Schools' students and staff, including support of the Joyce B. Ebner Tutoring Center located at Medina High School.
About the Medina City Schools Foundation: The Medina City Schools Foundation was established in 1984 to support and enhance learning opportunities for the students in the Medina City School District. The Foundation is an independent organization comprised of committed community members who support programs that benefit our students in collaboration with the teachers and staff of the Medina City Schools. The Foundation is a private organization, not directly affiliated with the school board or the school administration. It is incorporated under Ohio laws as a non-profit organization. It is funded by various members of the Medina area through the generous individual support and community support of our annual fundraising activities.
Yearbook Cover Competition
We need a cover for the Ralph E. Waite Elementary yearbook and need your artistic help!
Yearbook cover designs must be on 8.5 x 11 plain white copy paper (no notebook or construction paper allowed). Please leave about a ¼ inch margin around the entire page so nothing is cut off when it’s scanned.
Be creative and check your spelling!
Student Recognition
December Buckeye Leader of the Month
Evie Kirby
Reagan McNulty
Carter Whited
Micah Willets
Grace Yoo
Christopher Brendel
Benny Cunningham
Priscilla Warner
Xavier Cooke
Serenity Warner
Claire Vaccarelli
Charlotte Horak
Nick Meyer
James Chimenti
Madeleine Haynes
Gavin Jules
Sydney Koppes
Kaelyn Spilker
Mackenzie Duff
Beau Gigante
Grayson Fuller
Logan Charles
Michael Carlson
Joslynn Zeager
Dylan Sturm
Nick Carlson
Oliver Sherer
YaYa Song
Magic Gives Back Assembly
January is School Board Appreciation Month!
Thank you to our school board for supporting student success!