Hello Gretchko Lakers!
What a wonderful week of celebration we've had. Last Friday, it was so nice to see so many families at our fabulous Glow Party. A big shout out to PTO for sponsoring this inaugural event.
This week we have had several exciting activities. We were named as a Michigan Green School, our 4th graders got to engage in an "Instrument Petting Zoo," two 4th grade Gretchko students were honored as West Bloomfield Youth Assistance Award Winners, and kindergarteners kicked off their last-month-of-school A-Z count down with paper Airplanes for "A" and Bubbles for "B."
The end of the school year is packed with fun to come. See below for information about important upcoming events, including field day, Family RULER Night, kindergarten and 5th grade concerts, class parties, 5th grade promotion, and our Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast.
In case you have not heard, the Rolladium night previously scheduled for next week has been canceled due to damage the Rolladium sustained in our recent storms.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Jen Teal
Principal
Featured Book
When Goldie Simcha doesn’t joyfully throw open her door to welcome everyone into her apartment for a meal of her famouscholent, her neighbors wonder what could be wrong. Little Lali Omar knocks on the door to 5-A, only to learn that Goldie was feeling too sick on Friday to cook, and everyone knows you can’t make cholent in a hurry, right away, chik chak! But it just isn’t Shabbat without cholent. What can her neighbors do to save the day?
Congratulations to Kaley Wheeler for being nominated by Ms. Hirsch as April's Laker Leader of the Month. Here is what Ms. Hirsch had to say about Kaley.
"As the breezeway greeter, Kaley is the first smiling face that the students see at school each morning. She helps the students get their breakfast and find their way to class. She has befriended a 1st grade student and has been a great mentor. Kaley walks the student to class every morning, helps her unpack and begin her day. At the end of the day, Kaley helps with dismissal procedures. Kaley also planned a spirit week before winter break for the whole school to enjoy. Gretchko is a better place to learn and play with Kaley as a Laker Leader!" Keep being a leader, Kaley!
All four WBSD elementary schools have recently been recognized as "Green Schools" by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Environmental Education program. The Michigan Green Schools program aims to support and acknowledge the efforts of PreK-12 schools in promoting environmental stewardship and sustainability, including initiatives that protect the state's air, land, water and ecosystems.
As a school that earned this status, Gretchko was invited to bring its Green Team students down to the Detroit Zoo for a celebration. They had a wonderful time enjoying the animals as well as being recognized for their hard work.
A big shoutout to Teddy White for completing not only the 100 BOOKS TO READ IN KINDERGARTEN...but also the 100 MORE BOOKS too! Your dedication, curiosity, and love for learning truly shine through every page you turned. Thank you to the West Bloomfield Township Public Library for helping our readers explore new worlds, meet unforgettable characters, and grow their imagination one chapter at a time. Way to go, Teddy!!
Dear Gretchko Elementary Parents/Guardians,
We are only a few weeks away from Field Day! To ensure your child is prepared for a day full of
fun and physical activity, please be aware of the following details:
- Field Day will occur Thursday, May 22nd
- (K-2): 9:30am-11:30am: Metz, Tracz, Sizemore, Miller, Ross, Williams, Costello/Merglewski, Finn, and Risden
- (3-5): 1:30pm-3:30pm: Ayar, Geottes/Kirk, Donnay, Lohmeier, Pace, Wood, and Arnoldi
- Drinking water will be available as needed outside.
- Tennis shoes or closed-toed shoes are required!
- There will be water games. We encourage you to send a towel and extra clothes to school with your student.
- Please apply sunscreen in the morning, teachers/students cannot apply it.
If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions, please feel free to email Mr. Cohen at
zachary.cohen@wbsd.org or use the link below. Volunteers are highly appreciated and necessary for Field Day to occur. Volunteers who sign up will be contacted with more information prior to Field Day.
- Cell Phones: If you want your child to have a cell phone for before or after school purposes, they must have it powered off and in their backpack from 9:10-4:02. We also do not allow smart watches that have access to texting or internet. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure that students' focus is on learning throughout the day.
- Outside Food Deliveries: We are not able to accommodate food deliveries during the day. If you have restaurant/fast food that you would like to send with your child in their lunchbox, that is completely fine. Thank you for your understanding.
NOW ENROLLING!
Location: Doherty Elementary
Dates: June 23-August 8 (No camp July 3 and 4)
What are SUN Bucks? SUN Bucks is the new name for Summer EBT. Eligible families of school-age children will receive $120 per child for qualifying groceries.
Who Should Apply? Families that are not automatically enrolled should apply for SUN Bucks directly.
Note: Families will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks if they are already enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) benefits or meet the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals. In other words, keep an eye out for $120 per child at the beginning of summer!
Where to Find the Application - Apply for SUN Bucks
Deadlines: Apply by April 15, 2025, to be eligible for the first issuance of benefits in May. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until August 31, 2025.
WBSD has partnered with ParentGuidance.org to give parents free access to resources and helpful information. We have shared this information with our families. We hope that it will be useful for some of you as well!
ParentGuidance.org is an online service by licensed therapists that provides trusted and specialized courses, professional support, and a safe community for parents to learn how to support their children and get answers to mental health questions.
There are many community resources available to families in need. See the Oakland County Community Resource Guide, which includes resources about topics including Abuse & Protective Services; Food Pantries, Clothing & Household Support; Healthcare Services; Housing Assistance; and Parenting & Pregnancy Resources.
211 (United Way) offers resources/connections for family support as well. Parents/adults can call, text, or email. Here is the link to the 211 website, which is searchable by topic. Additionally, see these 211 flyers in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
Finally, here are some resources for Food Pantry/Supplies near WB/Oakland County.