McGrath Elementary
October 2024
Principal's Corner
It's hard to believe we are already a month into the school year. Mrs. Kato and I are enjoying getting to know all the staff, students, and families at McGrath. We had a great turn out at Open House in August and we were thrilled to see so many people participate in the Homecoming Parade last week.
October is going to be another busy month. Please take a peek at the upcoming events and activities happening at McGrath.
We are looking forward to a fantastic 2024-2025 school year!
Amanda Pawlik
Assistant Principal
π Upcoming Events
October 2nd: Picture Day and Count Day
October 4th: Walk-A-Thon
9:00-9:20 Young 5s/Kindergarten (red)
9:20-9:40 1st Grade (orange)
9:40-10:00 2nd Grade (yellow)
10:00-10:20 3rd Grade (green)
10:20-10:40 4th Grade (blue)
10:40-11:00 5th Grade (purple)
Half Day (dismissal at 12:17)
October 9th: Bob-kitten Cheer Clinic (See flyer below)
October 15th: Genesee County Mental Health Symposium (See flyer)
October 21st: PTO Meeting 4pm
October 24th: Half Day (dismissal at 12:17)
October 25th: No School
End of Marking Period 1
October 28th: Anderson and McGrath Harvest Fest (more information coming soon)
π₯ Update from the Nurse
Current Guidance from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on when to keep students home from school.
Many illnesses do not require exclusion. However, children may be excluded if the illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in school activities or if there is risk of spread of harmful disease to others. These criteria also apply to when staff should be excluded. Criteria include:
- Severely ill β lethargic, difficulty breathing, or rapidly spreading rash
- Fever 101F or greater AND behavior change or other signs of illness
- Staff can use their best judgement if the child does not have a fever of 101F or greater, but still appears significantly ill with symptoms such as glassy eyes and lethargy
- The child should not return until there is no fever for 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications
- Diarrhea β 2 or more loose watery stools
- The child should have no loose stools for 24 hours prior to returning to school unless health care provider determines itβs not infectious.
- Vomiting β vomited 2 or more times
- The child should have no vomiting episodes for 24 hours prior to returning unless health care provider has determined the vomiting is not due to an infectious condition.
- Abdominal pain β abdominal pain that continues for more than 2 hours or intermittent pain associated with fever or other symptoms
- Rash β rash AND a fever or change in behavior
- Respiratory symptoms - Worsening or not improving, and not explained by another cause (e.g., allergies)
- Skin Sore β weeping sores on an exposed area that cannot be covered with a waterproof dressing
- Communicable Diseases β chart for exclusion/return included in guideline
- When NOT to exclude a student from school β examples on Pg 15 of guideline
Resource
Medication at School
Our goal is your childβs safety and your help is needed to achieve this goal! Students are not to carry medication without orders per district policy.
All medication authorizations must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. The order is good for one school year unless shorter time frame ordered by physician. Authorization forms must be completed for both prescription and non-prescription medications.
- Each medication needs its own authorization
- Refill of the medication is the responsibility of the parent/guardian
- Expired medication will not be administered
- Action plans for health conditions such as Diabetes, Seizures, and Allergies must be completed every school year
- Unused medication will be discarded unless picked up by the parent/guardian on or before the last day of school
- FOOD ALLERGIES: Dietary restriction form is available on the Food Services department webpage, foods can be substituted with a form on file, including gluten free options!
Additional information and forms can be found on the Grand Blanc Community Schools web-site, Health Resources.
π‘Other Information
Genesee County Broadband Initiative
The Genesee County Broadband Initiative is an effort to bring high-speed, reliable internet access to every corner of Genesee County. Genesee County leaders believe that quality, high-speed internet is essential to growth in our community. They have partnered with Merit Network to conduct a countywide survey to gather resident input on the current state of internet access and to identify the necessary actions to address the barriers that are preventing residents from participating in online education, telehealth and economic opportunities.
Your response is critical and this survey should take an average of five minutes to complete.Take this survey linked HERE.
ππ½ Important Reminders
ARRIVAL
Students that arrive by car and want breakfast, will be allowed to go straight into the cafeteria breakfast line at 8:25. Car drop off students that do not want breakfast can get dropped off at 8:30 and wait by the doors. Parents please do not drop off your students until you see adults outside and you have pulled up to the building. It is unsafe for students to be dropped off further back in the line and walking through traffic to get to the building.
DISMISSAL
Our dismissal procedure is the same as it was last year. Our car pick-up line is long. Please be display your car tag and be mindful not to block the driveways of the houses nearby.
ATTENDANCE HOTLINES
If your student is absent or going to be absent from school, please call our attendance hotline to notify us about the absence/reason. McGrath Attendance Hotline - 810-591-5838
Free breakfast and lunch for ALL students is back this year. The flyer is below. To complete the application, please go to this LINK to access your Meal Magic Family Portal.
Principal: Betsy Kato
Assistant Principal: Amanda Pawlik
Website: gbcs.org
Location: 5288 Todd Street, Grand Blanc, MI
Phone: (810) 591-5827