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 17 - PTA Meeting 6 pm
March 27-April 3 - Spring Break
April 6 - Teacher PD Day - No Students
April 7 - Classes Resume
April 10 - Popcorn Day
April 21 - PTA Meeting 6 pm
May 22 - Teacher PD Day - No Students
May 25 - No School - Memorial Day
June 5 - Last Day of School (Half Day) - Dismissal at 12:10
The Principal's Pen
I want to thank those parents who attended conferences this week. It is so important to make the time to connect with your child's teacher.
A huge thank you to our PTA for providing dinner for teachers before conferences on Tuesday night. Thank you to all parents who donated something to the wonderful spread!
The Art & Science Fair was amazing! There were so many fabulous projects made by our students on display during both conference nights. Thank you to Mrs. Snyder and Mrs. Wight for creating this opportunity for students to showcase their talents and hard work.
And finally, thank you for supporting our Scholastic Discovery Fair. The version of the Book Fair was well attended and the students were able to not only purchase books but also science and art materials, activity kits, projects and supplies. Thank you Mrs. Garnaat for bringing this Discovery Fair to Willow Ridge!
Yearbook Order
Yearbook orders are being placed online with Geskus Photography. Please use the link below to place your order. Yearbooks were notincluded in the fall picture package. So if your child wants a yearbook, you must order now! The yearbooks will be printed and delivered to the school. They will be sent home with students who ordered them at the end of the school year.
We have four more Popcorn Fridays left this year and we
need volunteers to help pop, bag and deliver to classrooms.
If you are available on March 13, April 10, April 24 or May 8,
please click the popcorn graphic to sign up!
Please make sure you have completed the volunteer registration and have been approved to volunteer at the school.
Mileage Club
It's almost that time for Mileage Club again! We need lots of volunteers! Please consider helping out and passing this sign up on to any grandparents or other family members or neighbors who may be interested in helping out Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:45am-1:20pm from April 10-May 20.
***Everyone that signs up must have an approved background check through the Raptor System***
Thank you to everyone who supported the Scholastic Discovery Fair by volunteering, donating, shopping and purchasing items from teacher wish lists. Every purchase made at our book fairs directly supports the library which benefits all students and staff. All donations are used to help purchase books for students who might otherwise not be able to do so. Fulfilling teacher wish lists helps grow classroom libraries and enrich classroom instruction. Funds raised for the library are used to purchase new books, book repair supplies, and activities to be used in the library. Thanks to you, we are able to do all of those things!
If your student missed the fair, or their favorite items were sold out, you can still shop our fair online at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/willowridgeelemschool. Online shopping is open until March15, 2026.
We are back to regular operations next week. Please return any library books that were checked out prior to the book fair. A reminder email will be sent this weekend. I’m looking forward to seeing all classes each week between now and spring break!
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
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.
Prevention Network and the Partnership to End Addiction are hosting The Prevention Playbook for Parents . . .
Raising teens isn’t easy. Let’s talk about it. Parents and caregivers of pre-teens and teens are invited to a conversation on raising strong, healthy kids in today’s challenging world—with special guest State Representative Stephanie A. Young. This is a FREE community event.
Event Details: Space is limited
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Cost: FREE
Location: Cooper Moon, 1247 Center Street, Lansing, MI 48906
Whether you’re parenting pre-teens or teens, this event offers real-world guidance you can use right away—just in time for Parenting Awareness Month.
St. Patrick's Day Parade AND Fire Station Open House
The team at Impression 5 has been hard at work prepping for this year's Summer L.A.B.S. program! The Summer L.A.B.S. program offers children hands-on experiences exploring scientific concepts through interactive experimentation, challenges, artistic expression, and play. These unique programs are designed to pique your child’s interest in the world around them, encourage curiosity and creativity, and celebrate new discoveries each day! The Summer L.A.B.S. program offers exciting sessions for ages 5 to 14. 5-year-olds who plan to attend Summer L.A.B.S. must have completed kindergarten by their first program date.
Registration for Summer L.A.B.S. will open to Members only on Tuesday, March 3, at 9 a.m.Not-yet Member registration will be available the following week starting March 10.
Science Center Members, please be sure your membership is up to date through the summer months to receive your special member pricing on Summer L.A.B.S. registration.
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.
TEACHER APPRECIATION MONTH is just around the corner. To honor our hardworking educators, submit a short video! MDE is seeking student- and family-created teacher appreciation videos to feature during Teacher Appreciation Month in May. Get creative! Videos can be a student speaking, the family sharing, or a drawing with voice-over. Find instructions on our Teacher Appreciation Month webpage.
March 2026 - Food Resources
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.
