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
Just before winter break I had a chance to sit down with a handful of students from every grade-level to get their perspective on how things are at Willow Ridge. The questions spoke specifically to how they feel about school and what their perception is regarding the teaching and lessons. Here are the questions and responses from those students:
What are the 2 or 3 best things about your school? What do you like most?
Do you feel safe and comfortable at school? What helps you feel safe? If you have ever felt unsafe, why did you feel unsafe?
Feel safe because we do lock down and tornado drills, teachers help us feel safe, fences keep wild animals out, doors are locked, our friends and teachers help us feel safe, adults care and help us practice drills
How do you know the school rules and expectations? What happens if you don’t follow them?
I like to memorize the rules and I’d feel bad if I didn’t follow them, teachers tell us the rules, we practice the rules, you get in trouble if you don’t follow the rules, teachers correct us if we don’t follow the rules, remember the rules from last year - come to the office if you don’t follow the rules, phone call home, be sent to Mr. Gee or Ms. Patrick, we say the rules every morning, we need to be HEROes, if I get in trouble at school I’ll be in trouble with my mom and dad, teachers talk about rules a lot, If we don’t follow rules, someone could get hurt - physically or emotionally
Describe the student relationships in your school (how do students get along and work together, make friends, etc.)
Easy to make friends, kids will let you play with them, have things in common with new friends, kids are pretty kind overall, not as easy to make friends outside - but it is in the classroom, friends protect each other, not easy to make friends because I am shy, easy on the first day of school but I am shy
Can you describe your relationships with your teachers? How about other adults in the school? (principal, counselor, aides, secretaries, etc.)
Teacher is kind but has expectations, happy and kind, nice, kind and understand to students, teacher is kind but want us to follow directions, I just really like my teacher, my teacher is nice and helps us, all my teachers have been nice - we get class money to buy stuff, teachers are trustworthy and protect us if bad things are going to happen, adults might correct you, nice but also share their stuff with you, Mr. Gee is trustworthy and protects us, kind and I bond with Mrs. Joseph, nice and friendly
Do you think it is easy to learn at school? Why or why not?
Sometimes math is hard, learning is sometimes easy and sometimes hard - depends on circumstances, hard because it’s a new school for me, easy because teachers help us learn and show us
What type of teaching is most common in your class? (i.e., lecture/teacher presenting lessons, taking notes, group work, individual work, etc. )
Teacher talks to the whole class, teacher pulls out a small group, small groups, teacher talking and using iPads, teacher talks to us
How do your teachers tell you what you will learn or be able to do at the end of each new lesson? Is this posted in your class or stated by your teacher at the start of each lesson?
Puts it on the screen and project it to the board, tells us what we’re going to learn today, there’s a schedule
How does your TEACHER know you are learning or have learned what he/she is teaching? Can you give some examples? (looking for types of feedback, checks for understanding, formative assessment measures, etc.) How do your teachers let YOU know if you are learning or not?
Teacher tells us if we’re right or wrong, ending test, exit ticket, we go over it and she will check your paper, she tells us or gives an exit ticket, assessment at the end and asks us what the words mean
How do your teachers let you know if you are learning or not? How do you get help if you are struggling?
If we know it we will raise our hands, if not we won’t raise it, reflect on your own - 1-4 scale, cross off if it’s wrong and then we redo it, we just ask her and she’ll say yes or no, if teacher sees us not doing well, she’ll put us in a group, teacher might give your paper back with a star or circle things that are wrong
Is there anything I didn't ask you that you want to tell me?
Starting to get tired of 6-7, too much interrupting from other students, kids have more respect for classroom teachers than specials - kids talk too much, teacher goes to do something and the class starts talking and getting louder, my class talks a lot, class talks too much with a sub, my class listens more with a sub than with the teacher, teacher gets mad because my class talks too much, kids run down the hall, we need a cafeteria and gym
All-in-all the feedback from them was positive and they were a pleasure to chat with! Another survey of students will be given out sometime this spring. Stay tuned!
Willow Ridge PBIS H.E.R.O. Headquarters!
This week we recognized our January H.E.R.O.'s of the Month!
These students were recognized for being a HERO by exhibiting Honesty, Encouragement, Respect and Ownership
Nolan Kelley
Lucas Tosto
Barry Yang
Sawyer Bair
Trenton Cantu-Williams
Owen Lee
Isla Wood
Alexander Heinrich
Emma Helfer
Jeremiah French
Vahin Janga
Violet McAvoy
Daisy Decker
Hilal Himmat
Noah Westfall
Cecilia Boone
Hayden Buzun
Addie Lopez
Jace Adams
Hope Glashower
Merida Perry
Aleeya Dalagan
Rory Howard
Ella Nguyen
Vincent Frazzini William Pontius
Harper Hall
Cruz Mazuca
Korynn Watts
Aaliyah Brown
Maddox Dutton
Miles Oosterhoff
Arvin Ibrahim
Sawyer Maidrand
Ivy Vue
Peyton Hughes
Julian Hyslop
Riella Perez
Emma Mygrants
Madelyn Sowash
Alexander Torrey
Liv Kahl
Arlo Mecum
Elijah Sheerin
Bexley Bouwens
Analiyah Fischer
Ethan Herman
Harrison Winters
Liam Frazee-Landry
Addilyn Gilmour
Julian Lusk
Elizabeth Anderson
Abu Balavelu
Theo Barger
Landon Jenkot
Avery Pittsley
Jack Bort
Emily Wittenbach
Caroline Bowers
Sully Clarke
Violet Fredericks
Luke Flammer
Remy LaCross
Michael Organek
We have had great fun in the library this week! Every class had the opportunity to spend their library time building with boxes that had previously been decorated in STEAM class. Many forts, towers and houses were built with lots of teamwork and giggles. Some classes did check out books and some chose to spend their entire library time building. Next week we will have a traditional library week with a readaloud and book checkout for all classes.
Save the Date! The NEWScholastic 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.
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
PTA News
The Daddy Daughter Dance will take place on February 6th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Thank you to everyone who signed up to help before, during, and after. Even though all the slots are filled, more hands make light work and we can always use extra help if you have time to spare that night!
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 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!
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.
Michigan's Safe Storage Laws
GLPS shared information in the fall about Michigan's Safe Storage Laws, which is also available on the Student & School Safety page. Chris Chester, our district's Supervisor of Student Safety, encourages families to do their part to support safe schools and a safe community.
To help protect Michigan’s youth and prevent firearm-related unintentional injuries, Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 28.429, Section 9 of 1927 PA 372 requires firearm owners to securely store firearms wherever minors are present or likely to be present. In accordance with the “Safe Storage Laws,” MCL 28.429, MCL 380.1313a, and MCL 380.1313b, school districts are required to provide parents and caregivers with information on the safe storage of firearms. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services provided this information to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) for distribution. Specific resources required to be sent home to parents and caregivers include:
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.
