March 6 - Half Day for Students - Dismissal at 12:10 pm
March 6 - Parent Teacher Conferences 1-3 pm VIRTUAL ONLY
March 17 - PTA Meeting 6 pm
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
The following is the progress the various grade-levels made with their fall-to-winter goals. Most grade-levels met their goals. Remember, these goals are used to help drive student achievement forward to help put us in a good place to meet our school improvement goals.
Kindergarten
SEL - By winter data analysis, begindergarten and kindergarten will have at least 71% of students rate themselves as good at learning new things as measured by the SEL screener - MET
Reading - By winter data analysis, at least 60% of students will at be at benchmark in the composite category as measured by DIBELS. - MET
Math - By winter data analysis, at least 75% of students will score proficient as measured by NWEA. - MET
First Grade
SEL - By winter data analysis, at least 85% of students will rate themselves that they believe they are good at learning new things as measured by the SEL screener. - CLOSE 82%
Reading - By winter data analysis, at least 78% of students will be at benchmark in the composite category as measured by DIBELS. - CLOSE 73%
Math - By winter data analysis, at least 75% of students will score proficient as measured by NWEA. - MET
Second Grade
SEL - By winter data analysis, at least 34% of students will meet the self-management target as measured by teacher input on the SEL survey. - MET
Reading - By winter data analysis, at least 81% of students will be at benchmark in the composite category as measured by DIBELS. - NOT MET 64%
Math - By winter data analysis, at least 70% of students will score proficient as measured by NWEA. - CLOSE 64%
Third Grade
SEL - By winter data analysis, at least 75% of students will rate themselves as good at learning new things as measured by the SEL screener. -MET
Reading - By winter data analysis, at least 58% of students will score proficient as measured by NWEA. - MET
Math - By winter data analysis, at least 56% of students will score proficient as measured by NWEA. - MET
Fourth Grade
SEL - By winter data analysis, at least 71% of students will rate themselves as good at self management as measured by the SEL screener. - MET
Reading - By winter data analysis, at least 65% of students will score proficient as measured by NWEA. - MET
Math - By winter data analysis, at least 62% of students will score proficient as measured by NWEA. - MET
Next week I will share each grade level's winter-to-spring goals. Stay tuned!
Spring Parent Teacher Conferences
It's time to sign up for Parent Teacher Conferences:
Tuesday, March 3 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm - IN PERSON
Thursday, March 5 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm - IN PERSON
Friday, March 6 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm - VIRTUAL
Here is the link, or you can click on Parent Teacher
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. Order Deadline is 3/10/26.
Next week, I will see Monday classes only, then the rest of the week will be devoted to setting up the book fair and hosting previews for classes. After Monday, no library books will be due until the week of March 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
Please join us on Tuesday, February 24
at 6 pm in the Media Center for
the next PTA meeting
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.
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.
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.
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.
