November 11 - Parent Teacher Conferences 5:00-8:00 pm (In Person)
November 13 - Parent Teacher Conferences 5:00-8:00 pm (In Person)
November 14 - Half Day for Students - Dismissal at 12:10 pm
November 14 - Parent Teacher Conferences 1:00-3:00 pm (Virtual)
November 18 - PTA Meeting 6:00 pm
November 26-28 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
December 1 - No School - Staff PD Day
The Principal's Pen
As the weather is moving further into cooler temperatures, please be sure to send your child to school with a jacket. We have students wear jackets to recess unless the temperature outside is 50 degrees or warmer. This time of year we have a wide variety of temperatures during the day and want to ensure that students are appropriately dressed. If your child needs a jacket, please reach out to our counselor, Ms. Reik.
The PTA is currently running our Fun Run fundraiser for the school. Please help us out by registering your child for the fundraiser. All of the funds raised help to support your child's experience here at Willow Ridge.
There have been parents/grandparents loitering by the playground fence in the morning after their child is dropped off. Due to perceived safety concerns, please do not do that. Once your child is dropped off at school, please continue on with your day. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
Picture Retakes
Picture packets came home last week. You must return the picture packet you received if you want your child's picture retaken. Picture retake day is October 24. Picture packets should be brought to school on retake day. If your child did not have pictures taken in September, please request an order form from the office.
PTA News
The Fun Run is going great! Thanks to everyone that has registered and donated so far. Get your child registered today. We only have 34% of students registered. Our school will be raising money to help our PTA continue to make Willow Ridge the best school we can be. The PTA uses our funds to help support assemblies, classroom supplies, staff appreciation, school t-shirts, fun events, and more. Sign up your student today, share their personalized webpage through Facebook or email. Thanks for your support!! Our goal this year is $20,000! We have already raised $9,960.00!
The Fun Run event date will be October 24th at Willow Ridge. The times for each grade level will be posted closer to this date. The kids can walk, run, or dance! Parents can join in as well!
Individual Rewards
Register - School Sticker
$50 raised - Mini pop it
$150 raised - Silly String Party
School Rewards
$5,000 - Popsicles at the fun run
$10,000 - Bubbles and music at drop off
$15,000 - Pajama Day
Scholastic Book Fair update:
We are just over three weeks away from our Scholastic Book Fair! The book fair will be open in the library from November 10 - 14 and online from November 10 - 23.
Students will shop during their regular library time (some schedules may be adjusted; this will be communicated to you by your classroom teacher). Make up times will be available on Friday, November 14 for students who miss their scheduled time. Families can shop our evening hours during conferences on Tuesday, November 11 and Thursday, November 13 from 5-8pm.
Beginning on Monday, October 20, you can visit our Scholastic Book Fair homepage to preview the fair, create an e-wallet for your child to shop without cash, or donate to Share the Fair. Share the Fair donations are used to help provide books to students who might otherwise be unable to shop the book fair. Check out our home page at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/willowridgeelemschool
Thursday: Sweet, Weidenbach, Rozycki, Oetting, Nelson
Friday: Ford
“Reading is a passport to countless adventures.”
Mary Pope Osborne, author of The Magic Treehouse series
~ Mrs Garnaat
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 you arrive after
8:55, you 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!
Oct. is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Nov. 2 » Standard Time begins; Daylight Savings Time ends
Nov. 3-7 » National School Psychologist Week
Nov. 4 » Election Day
Nov. 5 » Guru Nanak Dev Sahib’s Birthday Festival
Nov. 5 » National Redhead Day
Nov. 11 » Veterans Day
Nov. 13 » World Kindness Day
Nov. 15 » America Recycles Day
Nov. 17-21 » American Education Week
Nov. 17-21 » Geography Awareness Week
Nov. 19 » Education Support Professionals Day
Nov. 20 » Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution
Nov. 20 » Parental Involvement Day
Nov. 21 » Substitute Educators Day
Nov. 23-29 » National Family Week
Nov. 26 » Sojourner Truth Day
Nov. 27 » Thanksgiving Day
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.
District's Attendance Policy
Grand Ledge Public Schools wants to support every student, and regular attendance plays a big role in your child’s learning. We closely monitor explained and unexplained absences to keep records accurate and to offer help when needed. Here is a one-page summary of the district-wide, consistent attendance policy.
How absences are counted • Documented (AD): A note from a doctor or other professional covers only the dates on the note. • Explained (AE): You call or send a note, but there is no professional note. • Unexplained (AU): No call or note.
Important thresholds • After six full-day undocumented absences in a year, the school will send a truancy letter. • After ten full-day undocumented absences in a year, a mandatory meeting with a school official will be required. • School-related activities such as field trips or athletics do not count toward truancy.
Families can check PowerSchool to review attendance. If you have professional documentation, send it to the school so we can correct the record. If your family needs assistance with attendance or other things, please contact your child’s school to talk to a counselor, dean of students, or the administration. The Tri-County Community Health Guide has additional information to support families, and anyone can call 211 when they are unsure where to turn when looking for assistance with a problem.
Keep Everyone Healthy!
Please use the Symptom Screener daily. Children and staff should stay home when appropriate to keep everyone healthy.
The Grand Ledge Emergency Assistance Program (GLEAP) is currently accepting paper applications for its annual Christmas Food Basket program for families residing in the Grand Ledge School District. Donors in the community (individuals and groups) have volunteered to help provide a food basket during the Christmas season for families in need. If this would be helpful for your family, please apply by October 28. You may pick up a paper application in the school’s main office or print one from this link. You may return the completed application to the school’s main office or mail it to the address on the application. Assistance is not guaranteed and will be given based on the donations received by GLEAP. You will be notified of eligibility by Dec. 10th by email or text.
