Ralph E. Waite Elementary School

Dear Waite Families:

I hope everyone has enjoyed a fun and relaxing summer with family and friends! I look forward to talking with your children about all of their summer adventures when they return to school next week.

We are so excited to welcome our students back to school for the 2024-2025 school year! We look forward to an exciting year of learning, fun and friends!

At Waite, we are committed to growing enthusiastic readers and writers, as well as critical thinkers and problem solvers. We believe deeper learning occurs through purposeful integration of rigorous academic content with skills, mindsets and experiences that cultivate our Portrait of a Bee competencies.

Our staff is committed to helping our students develop a positive growth mindset and recognize that their unique gifts and talents can and will make positive contributions to the world around them.

I look forward to a great school year! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at mattiem@medinabees.org or 330-636-4500.

Mr. Mattie

Principal

No school for K-5 students only on the following dates (grades 6-12 still in session):

Friday, September 27

Monday, November 11

Monday, February 24

Class Assignments: Class assignments will be finalized tomorrow morning (8/14). Teachers will then send an "official" welcome email to families tomorrow Wednesday, August 14 by 4:00PM.

In order to receive your child's finalized class placement, families must first complete updates in Final Forms. If Final Forms are not updated, families will receive their child's class placement at Meet the Teacher Night on Thursday, August 15. Chromebook stations will be available that evening for families who still need to complete Final Forms.

Note: Chromebook insurance opt out is included in Final Forms.

CLICK Here for Final Forms Link.

Meet the Teacher Night: Thursday, August 15.

5:30-6:15 Last names A-L

6:15-7:00 Last names M-Z

Medication Drop-Off: Thursday, August 15 (5:30-7:00) during Meet the Teacher.

The Medina City Schools Foundation will be present at Meet the Teacher on Tuesday evening. Be sure to stop by their table to say hello. Kids First Medina will also be in attendance. Also, the Waite Cafeteria Manager, Mrs. Lally, will be in the kitchen and available to speak with any parents who have questions regarding lunch or allergy concerns.

First Day of School! Monday, August 19 - (Grades 1-5 - all students attend)

Kindergarten Staggered Start:

8/19-8/20: Last names A-L only attend

8/21-8/22: Last names M-Z only attend

8/23: All kindergarten students attend

Community Spirit Night and Kindergarten Parade!

5:30 PM-7:00 PM at Ken Dukes Stadium.

We look forward to welcoming the Class of 2037!

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.

• Students will sit/stand in the designated alphabetical zones on the sidewalk

• A-L will sit closest to the front of the crosswalk

• M-Z will sit on the end of the line past the crosswalk

• 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, you may pull around to exit (P.M. Dismissal ONLY) only once you have passed the crosswalk.
  

• 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.

2024-2025 School Fees:

• Grades K-2: $36.00

• Grade 3-5: $44.00

School Fees are due Sept. 15 and can be paid using https://www.payschoolscentral.com/

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.

Lunch

Elementary $3.25

Milk $0.50

Breakfast

Students $2.50

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 2024-2025 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