March 14 - Last Day to Order a Yearbook (see below)
March 18 - VIRTUAL Parent Teacher Conferences 5:00-7:00 pm
March 19 - PTA Meeting 6:00 pm (DATE CHANGE)
March 20 - Crazy Sock Day for Down Syndrome Awareness
March 21-28 - No School - Spring Break
March 31 - No School - Teacher PD Day
April 1 - Classes Resume
April 7 - Mileage Club Starts
April 11 - Popcorn Day
April 15 - PTA Meeting 6:00 pm
April 25 - Popcorn Day
May 23 - No School - Teacher PD Day
May 26 - No School - Memorial Day
June 6 - Last Half Day of School - Dismissal at 12:10
The Principal's Pen
Thank you to all of you who were able to make it to conferences this week. The partnership between home and school is vital to a successful year for your child.
Third and fourth graders will be gearing up to take the state standardized test called the M-STEP. The M-STEP assesses students on their proficiency in math and literacy. Earlier this year I shared our school improvement goals around M-STEP results but here they are again for you:
Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, we will increase overall reading and math achievement by strengthening universal understanding of good core instruction, resulting in students having an increase in overall reading and math proficiency on M-STEP by 10% by the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
During the 2022-2023 school year will increase in overall reading and math proficiency by 4% from the 2021-2022 school year M-STEP results. Third grade compares grade-level results; Fourth grade compares cohort results.
During the 2023-2024 school year we will increase in overall reading and math proficiency by 7% from the 2021-2022 school year M-STEP results (a 3% increase from the previous year). Third grade compares grade-level results; Fourth grade compares cohort results.
During the 2024-2025 school year we will increase in overall reading and math proficiency by 10% from the 2021-2022 school year M-STEP results (a 3% increase from the previous year). Third grade compares grade-level results; Fourth grade compares cohort results.
We met the 2022-23, and the 23-24 goals and I am optimistic that we are right on target to meet the 2024-25 goals.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Your last chance for a conference with your child's teacher is on:
Tuesday, March 18 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm
THESE CONFERENCES ARE VIRTUAL
Here is the link, or you can click on Parent Teacher
We are excited to bring back Mileage Club this spring starting April 7!
Physical activity is an important part of childhood development, which is why MSU Health Care Sports Medicine is sponsoring the Fitness Finders Mileage Club®. This running and walking program is designed to help kids get fit and discover that fitness can be fun. Mileage Club® is an opportunity for children to participate in noncompetitive physical activity. The program will run 3 days each week during the lunchtime recess.
No one needs special equipment or shoes to participate. Each child is free to run or walk as little or as much as they like within the designated time. Participants will earn rewards - Toe Tokens® - for their achievements. This is all free and sponsored by Willow Ridge PTA.
We are confident that your child will enjoy Mileage Club®! Please click the link below to volunteer. We cannot do this without you!
Our March PTA meeting is on Wednesday, March 19th at 6:00 pm in the Willow Ridge Art room.
We are looking for volunteers for Maker Space. Please see the link below to sign up. We need to fill the spots after spring break or we will not be offer this fun opportunity for students.
During Maker Space, the kids make creations out of assorted materials. They use paper plates, cotton balls, cardboard, glue, beads, cups, straws, pipe cleaners, paper, and much more!
Yearbook Order
Yearbook orders are being placed online with Geskus Photography. Please use the link below to place your order. Yearbooks were not included 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. The deadline to order is today - 3/14/25!
I have been noticing many books coming back with what looks like water damage. Please help your students remember to keep library books away from shoes, boots and water bottles when transporting to and from school. I will work on reminders here at school, as well.
Library reminder emails are sent the evening before your child’s library day. These emails should include an image of the book cover to help you locate and return library materials. Getting an email does not mean your library materials are overdue; these are just meant to be a reminder that library day is approaching and help remember which materials are checked out.
Even though we aren’t having a spring book fair this year, you can still support the Willow Ridge Library by shopping our year round Literati Online Store.
to shop, and our library receives 10% back in rewards which can be used to purchase books and kits which will benefit our whole school.
Library Schedule:
Monday - BK and Kindergarten
Tuesday - First and Second grades
Wednesday - Third Grade
Thursday - Fourth Grade
~ Mrs Garnaat
Morning Drop Off Line
A couple of drop off notes:
Do not turn left into the parking lot when coming south on Nixon. Please follow the traffic pattern shown below to get in the loop.
The only exception to this is for employees who have a laminated sign in their window. Please allow these staff members to turn into the parking lot. Thank you for your cooperation!!
Spare Clothes in Lockers
While our office is under construction for the remainder of the school year, there will not be any extra clothing to offer in case of accidents. Please send in clothes (socks, underwear, pants and shirt) to keep in their lockers. Thank you for your support and patience as we all navigate through this construction phase to make our school even better!!
Possession of Cell Phones, Smart Watches, and Other Electronic/Recording Communication Devices
The use of cell phones, smart watches, or any other ECD are prohibited to be used during the school day. It is recognized that some students may need access to these devices for transportation purposes after school and are therefore permitted after dismissal. During school, however, cell phones, smart watches, and other ECDs shall be turned off and stored away out of sight. If you are concerned that an electronic device might be stolen, broken or inappropriately used, please do not allow your student to bring it to school.
Attendance / Absence Policy Update
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 new 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. The approval is good for one calendar year. After that year is up, you will need to reapply.
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, stickers, etc.
Absent Students
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.
Illness Reminders
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.
Delta Township District Library
Wireless Emergency Alert & Statewide Tornado Drill, Mar 19
ALERT! This is a reminder. GLPS Supervisor of Student Safety Chris Chester is reminding you that on Wednesday. March 19, 2025, there will be a wireless emergency alert test and a statewide tornado drill that GLPS is participating in. ALERT! This is a reminder.
BE PREPARED, part of Severe Weather Week, Mar 17-23
The Michigan Department of Education wants to provide students the opportunity to say positive things about their teachers, so they know they’re appreciated. We’ll feature the videos on MDE platforms during May for Teacher Appreciation Month! Help students submit their videos to us!
