Wattles Gazette

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year! I hope this message finds you well and that your family enjoyed a joyful and restful holiday season. As we step into this fresh chapter, it’s an ideal time to reflect, reset, and reestablish routines that will help our students thrive in the months ahead.

The return to school after the holidays can be both exciting and challenging for students. As they readjust to their academic schedules, reestablishing consistent routines at home can make a significant difference in their success and well-being. A few key habits to focus on include:

1. Prioritizing Sleep: Consistent bedtimes are essential for students’ physical health, emotional regulation, and academic performance. Research shows that children and teens need 8-10 hours of quality sleep each night to stay focused and engaged in the classroom. Please join us in encouraging a nightly routine that supports ample rest.

2. Preparing for School Days: Mornings are smoother when preparations are done the night before. Laying out clothes, packing lunches, and reviewing the next day’s schedule can reduce stress and set a positive tone for the day ahead.

3. Arrival Reminders: Just a reminder that students need to be in seat by 8:39 AM. Students arriving later than 8:39 AM will be marked tardy. ALL late arrivals MUST be walked into the school office by a parent even if you still see buses in the parking lot.

4. Enriching Learning Outside the Classroom: Learning extends beyond school hours, and enrichment activities can be a wonderful way to support your child’s interests and growth. Whether joining a sports team, taking music lessons, participating in STEM clubs, or engaging in volunteer work, these opportunities help build confidence, develop skills, and foster a sense of community.

Our teachers and staff are excited to welcome students back and to support them in achieving their academic and personal goals for the new year. As always, we value the partnership we share with you in nurturing and educating your children. If you have any questions or need assistance in exploring enrichment opportunities, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our school community. Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, discovery, and success for all our students.

Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy, and fulfilling New Year!

Your partner in education,

Amy Wallace

It's a slow start to the New Year! See below to mark your calendar for upcoming events!

• Monday, January 13 - Grade 5 Festival of Choirs 7:00 PM Athens High School
• Friday, January 17 - Talent Show Interest Due (see flyer below)
• Monday, January 20 - MLK, Jr. Day No School (see flyer below)
• Wednesday, January 22 - 1/2 Day of School
• Thursday, January 23 - 1/2 Day of School
• Friday, January 24 - End of Card Marking 1/2 Day of School
• Tuesday, February 4 - Virtual Parent Training 5:00-7:00 PM (see flyer below)
• Wednesday, February 12 - Talent Show Auditions 5:30-7:30 PM
• Monday, February 17 & Tuesday, February 18 - Mid-Winter Break: No School
• Wednesday, March 12 & Thursday, March 13 - Parent/Teacher Conferences: 1/2 Day of School
• Friday, March 14 - Teacher Professional Learning: No School
• Thursday, March 20 - Talent Show 6 PM
• Monday, March 24 - Monday, March 31 - Spring Break: No School
• Wednesday, April 9 - Kindergarten Information Night 6:30 PM Wattles (Parent Only Event)
• Friday, April 11 - International Fun Fair
• Friday, April 18 - Good Friday: No School
• Monday, May 26 - Memorial Day: No School
• Friday, May 30 - Field Day
• Wednesday, June 4 - Friday, June 6 - 1/2 Day of School
• Thursday, June 5 - 5th Grade Promotion

We are under construction! As we work toward preparing our building for new paint, bulletin boards are coming down, and some are shifting to new locations. Please bear with us.

Mrs. Gordon, literacy specialist, and her family, are collecting items for a local shelter. As the weather gets colder, the shelter has some specific needs. If you can donate any of the items below, please send them to school labeled "Mrs. Gordon."

Used or new gloves and hats (adult sizes)

Used or new hoodies, sweaters, jeans, sweatpants, or leggings (adult sizes)

Individually packaged food items for to-go bags: beef jerky, granola bars, trail mix, etc.

Please see the flyer below for specific information regarding outside recess during the cold winter months.

Are you looking for preschool? Please look at the flyer below for information. Please note that pre-kindergarten is free to TSD residents.

The Troy School District is beginning to identify eligible kindergarten students for the 2025-2026 school year. If you have a child who will be five years old ON or BEFORE September 1, 2025, or you know of a neighborhood child that you could refer, you and the perspective neighborhood family will need to contact the elementary building your student will be attending and add them to the school's incoming kindergarten list. To add your incoming kindergartner to the Wattles list, please call (248) 823-3400. Information and procedures for kindergarten enrollment will be sent via email after winter break.

Please click on the link for the TSD Inclusive Newsletter.

Thank you for filling the fridge for our wonderful Wattles' teachers! Click on the link below to donate.

Please consider joining the Wattles PTO! We need all parents to participate in some capacity. Use the QR code to sign up for specific events.

We are looking for help revising the PTO Bylaws. If you are interested, please contact PTO president, Becky Henry, at beckyhenryschool@gmail.com.

You have a unique opportunity to learn the why behind your child's behavior and proactive strategies to use daily with Brianna Custer, one of Troy's best behavior specialists. The link to the February meeting is below.

Want to connect with other Wattles' families? See the information below for step-by-step directions.

Consider signing your child up for this unique after-school class with our very own, Mrs. Angela Clemence to deepen their thinking.

Begins January 31st

Begins January 18th

Begins January 18th

Begins January 13th

Wildcats! Let's see your talent! See the flyer below for more information.

TSD students are invited to participate in the upcoming MLK Day Creative Contest! Reflect on a time when you made a positive difference in your community and consider how that experience impacted you and those around you. Share your reflection through a video, essay, poem, or a portfolio of visual artwork. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, January 1, at 11:59 p.m. For more information: https://www.troy.k12.mi.us/student-life/2025-mlk-day-student-contest-submission-form

Looking for work? Join the TSD team!

Phone Numbers

• Attendance Line: 248-823-3401
• Main Office: 248-823-3400

School Hours

• Full Days: 8:39 - 3:37
• Half Days: 8:39 - 12:29 (no lunch service)

School Address

3555 Ellenboro Avenue

Troy, MI 48083