March 6 - Half Day for Students - Dismissal at 12:10 pm
March 6 - Parent Teacher Conferences 1-3 pm VIRTUAL ONLY
March 17 - PTA Meeting 6 pm
March 13 - Popcorn Day
March 27-April 3 - Spring Break
April 6 - Teacher PD Day - No Students
April 7 - Classes Resume
The Principal's Pen
Thank you to those who helped to stand in awareness of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. According to the American Heart Association, twice as many children die from CHD than all childhood cancers combined. Which is why awareness is so vital. Due to medical advances in the last few decades, today there are an estimated 2-3 million children and adults living with congenital heart defects, but there are still too many who have died or will die from this disease. These children are in our schools, many facing medical issues that no one ever sees, as CHD is mostly an invisible disability. We stand in support of our 4th Grade heart warrior, Ruby, who bravely faces this disease, and for those heart angels who have lost their fight.
The staff and I have wrapped up our winter data analysis meetings. Next week I will share updates of the goals and the new ones we have set. But this week I will share the scores from NWEA and DIBELS.
For these assessments, we look for the percentage of students that are in the green and blue areas. Those are considered meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations.
Math
Reading
DIBELS
Art & Science Fair
This week, all classes read “The Shadow and the Ghost” , written and illustrated by Cat Min. This is a sweet book about an unlikely friendship. The author/illustrator often used the art to tell parts of the story and students liked having the opportunity to share what they saw happening on the pages.
Don’t forget to preview our upcoming Discovery Fair at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/willowridgeelemschool. This is also where you will be able to donate to Share the Fair or set up an e-wallet for easy, cash free shopping. If you have unspent e-wallet funds from previous book fairs, you can use them to fund a new e-wallet for the Discovery Fair!
The Discovery Fair is a STEAM focused book fair from Scholastic. It includes many non-fiction books, science and art materials, and some of our favorite picture books, chapter books and graphic novels. Shopping will take place for students during their scheduled library time the week of March 2. Parents and families may shop during the Parent Teacher Conferences on March 3rd and 5th from 5-8pm.
Next week, I will see Tuesday through Friday classes as we will be off on Monday. The following week, I will see Monday classes only on 2/23, and Tuesday through Friday will be spent setting up the Discovery Fair and offering preview times to classes. There will be no regular library the week of 3/2, but students will have the opportunity to shop the book fair during their library time.
Thursday: Sweet, Weidenbach, Rozycki, Oetting, Nelson
Friday: Ford
“You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.” ~ Dr. Seuss
~ Mrs Garnaat
Snow Day Menu Changes
In the event of a snow day, the menu for the day students return will be what was planned for the snow day. The scheduled menu will resume the day after we return. This is done to have the least amount of waste.
Attendance / Absence Policy
All absences from school conflict with the continuity of learning and need to be avoided when possible. Regular school attendance is necessary to academic success and continuous and consecutive attendance in school is required by State law; 10-undocumented absences limit per school year. The 10-absence limit per school year includes both Explained Absence (AE) and Unexplained Absence (AU).
In order to help provide supports for students and families, GLPS closely monitors explained and unexplained absences. We also work with families to ensure that as many absences as possible are documented, because undocumented absences can trigger truancy considerations.
Documented Absence (AD) - Absence that includes a note from a professional (ie. doctor, dentist, lawyer, etc.) to explain the absence. Absences are only considered documented for the days identified in the note. For example, if a doctor excuses a student for Monday and Tuesday, but the student is absent on Wednesday and Thursday as well, only Monday and Tuesday’s absences are considered documented. Any absence that does not include a note from a professional is considered undocumented.
Explained Absence (AE) - Undocumented absence in which a parent/guardian calls the office or sends a note to alert the school their child will not be in attendance, but does not include a note from a professional (ie. doctor, dentist, lawyer, etc.). This is important because explained absences are necessary for schools to meet pupil accounting requirements.
Unexplained Absence (AU) - Undocumented absence in which a parent/guardian does not call the office to alert the school their child will not be in attendance.
Attendance Policy - Undocumented Absences
A student's school will send a letter after 6 undocumented absences and after 10 undocumented absences in a school year, providing you with notice of the absences and outlining steps to help your child attend school regularly.
A student's school will communicate with families if the student has undocumented absences on more than 10% of the first 30 days.
Ten (10) or more days of undocumented absences in a school year can be sent to court. However, GLPS will make every effort to work with you and your student before it gets to that point.
Please note that school related absences, such as field trips or athletic events, are not factored into any truancy related processes.
Extra Clothes
PLEASE send your child to school with an extra set of clothes to keep in their locker for emergencies. This could mean they wet their pants, fell in the mud, spilled their lunch, etc. If they use those clothes, please send in another set to keep in their locker.
BREAKFAST IS ONLY SERVED UNTIL 8:55
If students arrive after
8:55, they will not be
able to get breakfast
Background Checks
If you are interested in working with students during the school day or chaperoning field trips, you need to complete the volunteer application here. This process will run a thorough criminal background check. Once approved, you will need to check in at the office using our Raptor system that will run your state issued ID and print you out a badge to wear. You will need to check in at the office and run your ID each time you volunteer.
Birthday Treats
Our classes do not have students bring in birthday treats. We have a number of food related allergies across the building so that is a practice we have not done for quite a number of years now. If your child wants to bring something for the class, it can be non-edible items like bookmarks, pencils, etc.
Absent Students
Illness Reminders
The office needs to be notified if your child will be absent or tardy. You can leave a voice message on the attendance line at 517-925-5812. In that message, please leave the following information:
* Student Name
* Teacher
* Reason for Absence (out of town, funeral, car trouble, sick, etc. If your child is sick, please leave the nature of the illness – fever, vomiting, pink eye, cough, respiratory trouble, head lice, etc.
PLEASE NOTE: Teachers can only mark students unexcused. The office has to change those to excused absences after you call in or bring your child to school. This can take some time to get all the absences updated. If your child is still marked unexcused after 11:00, please feel free to contact the office.
We ask that your child be 24 hours free of fever, vomiting or diarrhea before you send them back to school after they have been out sick. We appreciate your cooperation with this!
Is something missing? Please share with John Ellsworth, GLPS Director of Communications, any additional Recognitions & Acknowledgments you think we should include on this list or upcoming lists – email him at EllsworthJ@GLcomets.net.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced an art contest for the 2026 State of the State Address program cover and a new writing contest for the chance to be a part of the address. The contests are for grades K-12 students in Michigan.
Submissions for both the art and writing contest will be accepted exclusively in an online system and must be received by 11:59 p.m. onSunday, February 15, 2026.
Youth Mental Health Action Day 2026 – Student Tickets are FREE!
Please consider an opportunity for students in Michigan to participate in the “Youth Mental Health Action Day 2026: Piecing It Together – A Mosaic Made Strong with Every Voice" on Thursday, May 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This statewide event unites youth, families, and community partners for engaging activities, interactive sessions, and a resource fair dedicated to youth mental health. Students will acquire practical tools; connect with mental health professionals, policymakers, and legislators; and discover methods to take action within their schools and communities.
Youth Mental Health Action Day is organized by the Association for Children’s Mental Health, Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network, and Youth United.
Grand Ledge Emergency Assistance Program (GLEAP) - The GLEAP Food pantry serves the Grand Ledge School District. ID and proof of residency are required. Call ahead to place an order at least 1 hour before the pantry closes. Open Tuesday (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM) and Thursday (10:00 AM – 3:00 PM). 4980 Burt Ave. 517-627-4348
MI Capital Cares - Resource for finding the services and supports you need within your community. Select one of the service areas listed to search for the resources you need or call 2-1-1 at the toll free number 866-561-2500 for additional assistance.
Catholic Charities of Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties - This charity has an active community kitchen, food pantry, and bread rack. Hot breakfast (9:00 - 10:30 AM) and lunch (11:30 AM- 1:00 PM) provided Monday - Friday at the Cristo Rey Campus. Call for an appointment to access the food pantry, 517-372-4700.
Helping Hands Food Pantry Charlotte - Clients are subject to low-income guidelines and residency requirements and are required to sign a statement attesting to their need and the accuracy of the information. Open Tuesday (11:00 AM - 5:30 PM), Wednesday (10:00 AM - 4:30 PM), and Thursday (9:00 AM - 4:00 PM). 621 Jefferson St, Charlotte. 517-543-8737
The Salvation Army - This location has a food / personal needs pantry and hot meals available. The food pantry is open Monday thru Friday (9:00 AM -12:00 PM and 1:00 - 4:00 PM). Walk-In only. Hot meals are served Tuesday - Friday (12:00 -1:00 PM). 525 N. Pennsylvania Ave. 517-484-4424
517 Living - Provides a list of the greater Lansing food-focused non-profits.
