November 15 - Half Day for Students - Dismissal at 12:10 pm
November 19 - Parent Teacher Conferences 5:00-8:00 pm
November 21 - Parent Teacher Conferences 5:00-8:00 pm
November 27-29 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
December 2 - No School - Teacher PD Day
December 3 - Parent Teacher Conferences 5:00-7:00 pm
Dec. 23-Jan. 3 - No School - Winter Break
January 6 - No School - Teacher PD Day
The Principal's Pen
This week I had selected students to help me with the morning announcements. The students selected were among dozens of students who earned 10 HERO tickets and put those into a drawing as part of our PBIS incentives. The students that helped me were:
Nathan Richards, Chris Ptaszynski, Natalia Dungey, Reagan Bort, Ozias Jones, Kinsley Ybarra, Zach Moreno, Lincoln Checo, Madelyn Sowash, and Keegan Schutt. They did an excellent job!
Run Fun Run update:
Smith - $2,555, Bedard - $1,645, Patterson - $1,640, Ellis - $1,435, Grass - $1,365. Total raised so far is $22,580!
Halloween is next week. Classroom parties will be on October 31st and will be determined by your child's specific teacher, so be on the lookout for that information. We will have an all-school parade that same day around 3:00 that afternoon. Our intent is to parade outside around the building (weather permitting of course). If the weather is crummy, parents will be able to come to the gymnasium and we will parade through the inside of the building. We are timing the parade so that we will be done with it at the end of the school day. We ask that you do not plan on signing your child out after the parade, but rather take them home at the normal dismissal time.
To keep it fun for all, here are some guidelines that we would like you to consider when selecting an appropriate costume for the Halloween celebration.
Masks may be worn, but excessive make-up is discouraged due to the time and assistance needed to apply it
Costumes promoting violence, blood and gore, and indecency are not allowed. Specific examples are Zombie-like costumes.
Costumes depicting patriotism and/or patriotic characters are encouraged
Costumes promoting what children want to be when they grow up are encouraged
Be original, creative, and/or funny!
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences will be held:
Tuesday, November 19 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm - IN PERSON
Thursday, November 21 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm - IN PERSON
Tuesday, December 3 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm - VIRTUAL
The sign up email will go out on Monday at noon. Please sign up for an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher when you receive the email.
PTA News
The Fun Run is going great! Thanks to everyone that has registered and donated so far. Our school will be raising money to help our PTA continue to make Willow Ridge the best school we can be. The PTA uses our funds to help support assemblies, classroom supplies, staff appreciation, school t-shirts, fun events, and more. Sign up your student today, share their personalized webpage through Facebook or email. Everyone who registers gets a mini resin animal! Reach $50 get a smencil! Thanks for your support!! We have already raised $22,805!
Thanks to everyone who came out to cheer the kids on for the Fun Run last week. The kids had a great time!
Morning Drop Off Line
Counselor's Corner
We read many books about pumpkins this week. I told the students that I hoped it would remind me to buy some pumpkins for my front porch, and I had many offers of crocheted pumpkins, mini pumpkins, and pumpkin drawings. I also received suggestions to put it on my calendar or put a reminder in my phone! Our Willow Ridge HEROs are kind, generous problem solvers! They will be happy to know that I did remember to buy my pumpkins.
Last week, many of the fourth graders requested a spooky story time. As I told them when we were learning about choosing “just right books”, I don’t do the scary stuff! However, we did read Creepy Carrots! and Creepy Crayon! Displays of some of our mystery, suspense and thriller books were available for those interested in checking them out.
Save the Dates! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Willow Ridge from November 18- November 21. If you are interested in volunteering to help with set up, shopping times or pack up, email Mrs. Garnaat at garnaatd@glcomets.net Volunteer opportunities will be available during school hours and some evening hours during Parent Teacher Conferences.
Library reminders are being sent to the first email on file for each student with materials checked out, the evening before their library day.
When does your child’s class visit the library?
Begindergarten and Kindergarten - Monday
First and Second Grade - Tuesday
Third Grade - Wednesday
Fourth Grade - Thursday
~ Mrs. Garnaat
Safeties of the Week:
Tilde Jamesmantel
Zoe Vulgaris
Claire Ptaszynski
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.
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
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!
Oct. is National Bullying Prevention Month
Oct. is Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
Oct. is National Principals Month
Oct. is Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Oct. is National ADHD Awareness Month
Oct. is Crime Prevention Month
Oct. is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Oct. is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Oct. is Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Oct. 23-31 » Red Ribbon Week
Oct. 26 » Make a Difference Day
Oct. 27 » World Occupational Therapy Day
Oct. 31 » Halloween
Oct. 31 » Samhain
Nov. is National Native American Heritage Month
Nov. is National Youth Homeless Awareness Month
Nov. 1 » All Saints’ Day
Nov. 1 » Diwali
Nov. 1 - 2 » Day of the Dead
Nov. 2 » Birth of the Bab
Nov. 3 » Birth of Bahá'u'lláh
Nov. 3 » Standard Time begins; Daylight Savings Time ends
Nov. 5 » Election Day
Nov. 5 » National Redhead Day
Nov. 11 » Veterans Day
Nov. 18-22 » American Education Week
Nov. 13-17 » Geography Awareness Week
Nov. 13 » World Kindness Day
Nov. 15 » America Recycles Day
Nov. 15 » Guru Nanak Dev Sahib’s Birthday Festival
Nov. 20 » Education Support Professionals Day
Nov. 21 » National Parental Involvement Day
Nov. 22 » Substitute Educators Day
Nov. 20 » Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution
Nov. 28 » Thanksgiving Day
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.
Grand Ledge Area District Library (GLADL)
Delta Township District Library (DTDL)
Toy bins are in EACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL for the Grand Ledge Shopping Tour and other locations: Flour Child Bakery, Ledges chiropractic, 5th/3rd bank, A&W, Clinton Street Place Apartments, & Dart Bank All donations are for Grand Ledge Public Schools children (K-4th grades) that may otherwise not have presents. We appreciate your donations! Wondering what to donate? Here's some ideas: baby dolls, big trucks/cars, craft kits, puzzles, games, Lego sets, Nerf-like sporting items, stuffed animals, remote control cars, and personal items for kids in grades K-4 (jewelry, lotions, fingernail polish, etc.)
