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Gretchko Newsletter
October 20, 2023
Principal's Update
Hello Team WB!
As you can see from the photo above, we were so excited to celebrate reaching our FunD Run goal with glow dance parties for every class on Thursday. Thank you to everyone who was able to donate and to our PTO for organizing this celebration! These funds will go right back into our classrooms and school through books, assemblies, field trips, and more!
This week, we celebrated Safe Schools Week. This included Positive Post-It Note Day, our students taking a safety pledge, and our first lockdown drill of the school year. Our students discussed and practiced safety at school, and we encourage you to follow-up at home with discussions of how your family can practice safety at home and in our community.
We are excited to share that we will be participating in the Lighthouse of Oakland County Thanksgiving Food Drive. Please see the flyer below for designated items for each class. As always, items are suggestions, but food items from anywhere on the list would be appreciated. We will be collecting food items beginning on Monday, October 23 through Friday, November 3. On November 3rd we will be having a full school pajama day ($1.00 donations accepted) along with our scheduled fall classroom parties. This special school-wide pajama day is to help celebrate the final day of our food drive and to raise funds for turkeys to be purchased by the Lighthouse of Oakland County.
Our November 3rd PTO-sponsored fall class parties will be here before we know it. We would love to have you join us. Times are as follows, with more information to follow from classroom teachers. As a reminder, no Halloween costumes are allowed for this event.
- 12:30-1:15 2nd grade
- 1:15-2:00 1st grade
- 2:15-3:00 Kindergarten
Wednesday, October 25 is our next late start. Classes will start 1 hour later at 10:10 a.m., with the building opening to students (other than Kids Klub) at 9:55 a.m. Busses will run as usual, just one hour later.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Warmly,
Jen Teal, Principal
Star Slip Winners
Icenter Update
Gretchko students explored the amazing possibilities that come with using technology during iCenter. They met Arms, one of the six Digital Citizen characters! Arms explores the meaning of media balance and why it's important to balance our time online so that we have time to do all that we love. Students learned from the Digital Citizens, who take a pledge to be safe, responsible, and respectful when traveling through the online world.
Spooktacular is One Week Away
October is AAC Awareness Month!
AAC stands for Augmentative or Alternative Communication. AAC is all of the ways that someone communicates besides talking. At Gretchko, we have core boards in our classrooms and on the playground. Core words are defined as the 50-100 words that make up the majority of everything we say. Core vocabulary is beneficial for all students. School staff will be modeling the use of core vocabulary throughout the building. Some students at Gretchko use speech-generating communication devices due to difficulty with verbal communication. Research shows that core vocabulary enhances expressive language, improves comprehension, motivates learners, and improves relationships.
Check out the Communication Bill of Rights.
Social Emotional Learning Tip for Home
How to Model Regulation as a Parent or Caregiver
Math Is Fun!
Our students use a math curriculum called Bridges. Each month, we will send you resources in our newsletter to let you know what unit the students are working on as well as to give you ideas on how to extend your child's math learning at home. For the month of September, the resources are as follows:
Lunch Menu
FREE Clothing
District Health Policies
It remains the District’s goal to keep our students and staff as healthy as possible. Please see the attached link for the sick policy.
Upcoming Celebrations
Italian American Heritage Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
LGBT History Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Polish American Heritage Month
Red Ribbon and Anti-Bullying Month
October 20 – Sikh Holy Day (birth of Guru Granth)
October 22 – International Stuttering Awareness Day
October 23-31 Red Ribbon Week Theme "Be Kind to your Mind"
October 25 – Birth of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
October 31 – Halloween
Trivia Night November 2, 2023
Gretchko Calendar -Newly revised edition 10/10/23
October
10/25 - Late Start (10:10)
- Marco’s Pizza Night
10/27- Bagel Day and Hat Day
-Spooktacular 5:00-7:00 pm
November
11/3 - Fall Parties (during school)
11/6 - Zap Zone Fundraiser night 5:00-8:00 pm
11/7 - No School
11/8 - Global Equity Team Meeting at 8:00 am
- PTO General Meeting at 7:00 pm
11/14 - Conferences
11/15 - Marco’s Pizza Night
11/17- Half Day of School (Dismissal 12:12)
- Bagel Day and Favorite Sports Team Day
11/22-11/26 - Thanksgiving Break
11/29 - Late Start (10:10)
December
12/1 - Movie Night 6:30
12/13 - Late Start (10:10)
12/15 - Bagel Day and Crazy Hair Day
12/20 - Marco’s Pizza Night
12/23-1/7 - Winter Break
January
1/ 4 - Gretchko at Kalahari
1/ 8 - School Back in Session
1/10 - Late Start (10:10)
1/15 - MLK Jr. Day - No School
1/17 - Global Equity Team Meeting at 8:00 am
1/18 - Half Day (Dismissal 12:12)
1/19 - Half Day (Dismissal 12:12)
1/24 - Late Start (10:10)
1/26- Bagel and Tie Dye Day
1/31 - Marco’s Pizza Night
Technology Assistance Links
- Help with Canvas
- Help with Chromebook: www.wbsd.org/departments/technology
- Help with PowerSchool: www.wbsd.org/parents/powerschool
Gretchko Spirit Wear Now Available Online!
Does your child (or you) need some more Gretchko spirit wear? Now you can order online at https://gretchko-pto.square.site/
Gretchko Contact Information
Website: https://www.wbsd.org/gretchko-elementary-school-home
Location: 5300 Greer Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone:
- Main Office Phone: (248)865-6570
- SAFELINE to report absences: (248) 865-6572. This is a 24 hour answering machine.