12840 Nixon Road, Grand Ledge, MI 48837     

Phone: 517-925-5775   |   Fax: 517-925-5811   |   Attendance Line: 517-925-5812

Volume 30   |   Issue 21   |   February 6, 2026

In case you missed the earlier email and text, the Daddy Daughter Dance WILL go on as planned tonight.  The dance starts at 6:00 pm.  Volunteers should report as scheduled.

 

 

School Hours

8:55 am - 3:55 pm

 

Do not drop off

before 8:35 am

 

Pick up no later

than 4:05 pm

February 6 - Daddy Daughter Dance 6-8 pm

February 11 - Wear Purple for Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week

February 13 - No School - Staff PD Day

February 16 - No School - President's Day

February 20 - Popcorn Day

March 3 - Parent Teacher Conferences 5-8 pm

March 3 - Art & Science Fair Displays

March 5 - Parent Teacher Conferences 5-8 pm

March 5 - Art & Science Fair Displays

March 6 - Half Day for Students - Dismissal at 12:10 pm

March 6 - Parent Teacher Conferences 1-3 pm VIRTUAL ONLY

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

This week was School Counselors Appreciation Week.  Ms. Reik does a wonderful job as our school counselor and brings compassion, strong listening skills, and a steady guidance to every student who walks through our doors.  She creates a safe, inclusive space where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to succeed academically and socially.  We are so very grateful for Annie's commitment to helping our school community thrive!

Next week we are recognizing Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week.  For many years, Grand Ledge has participated in wearing purple for CHD Awareness and Ruby Jane Day.  Willow Ridge is planning on that again for Wednesday, February 11th to honor our 4th grade heart warrior, Ruby, who bravely face this disease, and for those heart angels who have lost their fight.  If your child would like to participate, they are welcome to do so.

This week you should've received your child's Winter DIBELS and NWEA assessment results.  At Grand Ledge Public Schools, we use several tools to better understand how our students are growing as readers and learners. Two important screeners we administer are NWEA MAP Growth and DIBELS 8th Edition.

 

NWEA MAP Growth is a computer-based assessment that helps us see how students are progressing in reading and math. It adjusts to each child’s learning level, giving teachers information about what students are ready to learn next.

DIBELS 8 (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) is a short, one-on-one assessment that measures foundational reading skills. It helps us identify students’ strengths as well as areas where they may need additional support.

 

These screeners are not “high-stakes tests.” Instead, they provide a snapshot of your child’s learning at a particular point in time. Teachers combine this information with classroom work, observations, and other assessments to guide instruction and ensure that every child gets the support they need to grow.

 

Please do not be discouraged if your child’s score isn’t what you expected or had hoped for.  We will spend a lot of time in class working on these skills.  As educators, we recognize that there is far more to your child than 2 scores and we will work each day to be sure your child is reaching their full potential by June.  

 

Thank you for partnering with us in supporting your child’s learning journey.

Monday, February 9 Lunch Choices

 

 

Due to today's snow day, Monday's lunch choices will be:

 

Beef and cheese soft taco 

 

OR

 

Soft pretzel with yogurt and string cheese

This week, all classes read “Show Up and Vote” by Ani DiFranco as part of our school wide book bracket.  This book tells the story of a young girl who learns about voting by accompanying her mother to the polling location.  Many students noted that they had gone with a family member to vote, or remembered voting in last year’s book brackets or to help make decisions for plans in their own classrooms or families.  Students enjoyed the lyrical quality of the text, as well.  

 

There are some slight changes to next week’s library schedule.  Classes who normally visit on Thursday afternoon or Friday afternoon will have their library time on Wednesday. All other times remain unchanged.  Reminder emails will be sent on Tuesday evening to all classes visiting on Wednesday.   

 

Save the Date!  The NEW Scholastic Discovery Fair is coming to the Willow Ridge Library March 2-6.  The Discovery Fair focuses on encouraging creativity and curiosity with a variety of non-fiction books as well as hands-on art and science materials.  You can preview the fair on our fair homepage at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/willowridgeelemschool. This is where you will be able to donate to Share the Fair or set up or add to an existing e-wallet, beginning February 9.  

Library schedule:

 

Monday: Barnes, Shier, Ellis, Meeder, Baker

Tuesday: Bedard, Terranova, Grass, Sampson, Toomey, Gribble

Wednesday: Walker, Smith, Austin, Patterson, Price, 

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

Art & Science Fair

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.

Attendance Policy - Undocumented Absences

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. 

  *  Lunch choice, if arriving later than 9:30

 

If you email the teacher, please copy douglasj@glcomets.net and leel@glcomets.net.

 

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!