Ralph E. Waite Elementary School

It is hard to believe we only have nine (9) days of school remaining in the 2023-2024 school year! It has been a year of fostering curiosity, learning, and growth at Waite Elementary School. We have had a great school year as a learning community. May is an extremely busy month of field trips, musical performances, art shows, and student events and activities. We look forward to celebrating our graduating 5th grade class at their Farewell and Graduation ceremony on May 22.

A reminder that the last student day is Wednesday May, 22. Please read on for a lot of information regarding the end of the school year. I will continue to provide weekly updates and reminders as well.

This school year we have focused on cultivating deeper learning opportunities for our students aligned to the competencies in the Medina City School Portrait of a Bee. Students have worked in multi-grade level groups to explore a variety of "real world" learning opportunities. I am proud to highlight some of the amazing learning opportunities our students experienced this year.

Buddy Classrooms Deeper Learning:

Kindergarten and 3rd Grade:

Students worked collaboratively to create and design a unique donut that Circles on the Square will make and sell at their storefront. Consumers will be able to purchase the donuts and vote on their favorite one. The winning donut will then become an addition to the Circles on the Square menu (see the Waite Facebook page for many pictures of this project).

The Banana Split, is now available at Circles on the Square! You can vote for it on their Instagram page starting now and be sure to stop by and try it too! It looks amazing! Remember, the donut with the most votes will move onto the final showdown with the winners of the last two challenge weeks! The final winner will stay on their menu permanently. Circles on the Square has been such a wonderful partner for our buddy classroom project! Please consider supporting them through this project!

Vote Here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6q4A7Rs-kM/?igsh=MWV3MTNkbm41dDBmcw==

1st Grade and 4th Grade:

Students developed curiosity around the idea of mobile businesses. After hearing a presentation from a mobile business (Cheezy Weezy), students within each buddy classroom group decided on a business name/logo. Each student was then able to design a mobile business prototype on paper (what they want their trucks to look like). From there, students were able to vote on their favorite versions. This led into a discussion about foreshadowing potential problems with their businesses and the creation of a 3-D model from a blueprint.

2nd Grade and 5th Grade:

Students explored timelines (1400s-1900s) of influential people's accomplishments over the course of their lives. Students identified common interests then chose a person, with similar interests of theirs, from two different time periods using provided research links. Second graders individually researched the early stage of their person's life appropriate to grade level expectations (birthdate, birthplace, family members, early education, what was life like, challenges). Fifth graders individually researched the later stages of life and the time period itself to infer at a deeper level what their life and the world around them was like. Students will choose how to present their learning (ex. poster, living museum, trifold, slideshow) to an audience of peers and adults. Students will also provide peer feedback prior to teacher evaluation.

Have a wonderful end to the school year!

Sincerely,

Mr. Mattie

Waite, Principal

5/1/24: Fine Arts Festival

5/2/24: Poppy Day, Library Reading Assembly, PTO Meeting

5/3/24: Root Scheduling, Grade 5, 5th Grade Social

5/6/24 – 5/10/24: Bike to School Week and Staff Appreciation Week

5/7/24: Field Trip Grade K, Medina Square, Field Trip Room 103, Glee Club/Steel Pan Performance

5/9/24: Field Trip Grade 2, Magical Theatre, Field Trip Grade 4, Columbus

5/10/24: Grade 5 Music Performance

5/12/24: Happy Mother’s Day!

5/13/24: Field Trip Grade 1, Akron Zoo, Garafolo’s Poetry Café

5/14/24: Grade 2 Water Safety Presentation

5/15/24: Jim Jones PBIS Celebration Assembly, Field Trip Grade 5, Root MS, Kindergarten Screening

5/16/24: Waite Visit to Canavan (redistricted students), Blake Visit to Waite (redistricted students), Ice Cream Party

5/17/24: No School, Teacher Work Day

5/20/24: Field Day

5/21/24: Classroom Parties, Leader of the Month

5/22/24: Classroom Parties, Last Day of School for Students

Have a happy, healthy, fun, and safe summer!

K - yellow

1 - purple

2 - green

3 - red

4 - blue

5 - white

Helping Hands Preschool is currently accepting applications for peer models for the 2024-2025 school year. A peer model is a role model student, aged three to five, who demonstrates age-appropriate language, behavior, and social skills, and does not have special needs.

Helping Hands Preschool runs Monday through Thursday from August-May. We offer two half-day preschool programs each day. Our morning session runs from 9:00am to 11:40am, and our afternoon session runs from 12:40pm to 3:20pm. Tuition and transportation are the responsibility of the family.

For more information, please contact Helping Hands Preschool at (330) 636-4601.

To apply, please fill out the following form:

(Amended 3-6-2024)

Do kids/staff have to stay home if they test positive for COVID?

Staff and students who test positive for COVID AND have a fever or are not feeling well enough to attend school should stay home. If the student/staff member is feeling well and has been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, they may return to school even with a positive COVID test.

Do kids/staff have to stay home if someone in the family has COVID?

Students and staff can come to school as long as they are feeling well and have not tested positive for COVID and do not have active symptoms.

Are masks required?

No, they are recommended and encouraged. Per the CDC, individuals should wear a well-fitting mask if they have symptoms of COVID.

Congratulations, Wilson!

Nora White

Kenzy McCann

Kason Novotny

Madeline Freeland

Shannon Beltowski

Maggie Myeress

Avery Beshire

Blake Wellman

Lucy Stassinis

Emma Wade

Michael Mayer

Jaxon Pool

Addie Roush

Payton Weil

Harper Names

Jayden Sinko

Dominik West

Finley Sudduth

Andrew Reyes

Parker Larouere

Brooklyn Koskey

Meadow Lauth

Colton Anthony

Reese Surso

Email: mattiem@medinabees.org
Website: www.medinabees.org
Location: 4765 Cobblestone Dr, Medina, OH 44256
Phone: 330-636-4500