Hello Laker Nation!
We made it through a fun-filled week, and we are grateful that so many of our Gretchko families were able to join us in and around the building. Our costume parade was a great hit, and our fall parties were full of giggles, games, and fun. A big thank you to our Gretchko staff, head room parents, and PTO for stepping up to make this week special!
Next week, students have NO SCHOOL on Tuesday, November 5th due to election day. Don't forget to vote! There is also a Gretchko Family Zap Zone night on Monday, November 4th. Check out details in the PTO updates below.
Just around the corner, we have our fall parent-teacher conferences coming up. Teachers will be sharing out a sign-up with you next week with time slots for late afternoon/evening on November 19th and the afternoon (1:00-4:00pm) of November 22nd. This is an important opportunity to chat one-on-one with your child's teacher to find out how they are doing as well as how you can best partner with us for your child's continued success. We hope all of our families will be able to attend, and we are offering in-person AND virtual options to accomodate your needs.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Jen Teal
Principal
Featured Book
Indigenous women have long cared for the land and water, which in turn sustains all life on Earth—honoring their ancestors and providing for generations to come. Yet there was a time when their voices and teachings were nearly drowned out, leaving entire communities and environments in danger and without clean water. But then came Anishinaabe elder Grandma Josephine and her great-niece, Autumn Peltier. Featuring a foreword from water advocate and Indigenous Rights Activist Autumn Peltier herself, this stunning picture book encourages young readers to walk in the footsteps of the water warriors before them.
Congratulations to Sophia Alexiev for being nominated and selected as our October Laker Leader of the Month! Mrs. Finn nominated Sophia saying, "Sophia works well with all the littles and will go out of her way to help them. Sophia will join our morning circle and she is the one to call on the kids for their good things. The 2nd graders love to be called on by 'Ms. Sophia!' She is quick to remember any new jobs and adapts well when something changes, such as our new dismissal routine, when I am absent, or if it is a rainy day. To make sure she doesn't lose any of the kindergarteners that she picks up from Ms. Tracz's room, I've even seen Sophia count them! On rainy days, Sophia has been quick to play games with the 2nd graders and kindergarteners to distract them as they waited for their name to be called." Great job Sophia!
Here at Gretchko, we love recognizing students who are following our classroom social contracts and demonstrating responsibility, respect, safety, and kindness. This week, we have been on the lookout for students who are setting a great example and we have been handing out many Rockin' Croc tickets. A copy of the ticket goes home so you can celebrate with your student as well, and the other half is entered into our Friday drawing. This week's winners are: Lena Parr, Elias Reamer, Mila Alexiev, Chase Sawica, Naomie Desjardins, Violet Stollman, Dylan Kozemchick, Victoria Karadolian, Carter Kimball, Londyn Shepherd, Alethea Robinson, Jose Contreras-Martinez, Walter Desjardins, Ea’Sence Stroman, Quinnley Bowler, and Nicholas Korchash.
Welcome to PE class!
This week we jump started our Kids in Charge program! The purpose of Kids in Charge in Physical Education is to learn about ways we can take care of ourselves and be healthy. One way that we can help students learn to be healthy is by teaching them to make healthy decisions that aren't necessarily in the realm of exercise. These are choices about things students could potentially see around them and choices about how to cope with tough things in life. Some of the topics covered within the Kids in Charge program include making healthy and positive choices relating to the dangers of drinking, smoking, and drugs. Students also learn positive ways to cope with stress, how to say "no" in tough situations, and how to prevent bullying!
Next week we start our Throwing and Catching Unit! Students will learn the steps to a proper throw and helpful cues relating to catching.
Thanks for reading,
Zachary Cohen
PE Teacher
Watch Dog Sign Up
Please consider joining our Watch D.O.G.S. Male parent volunteer group. We really appreciated our volunteers! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E094DA4AF2EA2FA7-51620729-november#/
Wednesday and At-Home Volunteer Opportunity
If you have time to spare on a Wednesday during the school day OR at home throughout the week, sign up HERE.
We're a team of parent volunteers who are ready to tackle the time consuming jobs that bog down our wonderful teachers! From copies to display boards to anything in between, we're here to fill in the gaps! We'll have 3 groups, 9-12 for our K-2 teachers, 1-4 for our 3-5 teachers & a special 'take home team' who will be managing projects from the comfort of home for anyone who can't make it in during the school day!
Multiple positions are available working with students of all ages from preschool through post-secondary.
- Competitive pay and excellent benefits
- Four-day per week and five-day per week positions available
- Additional pay if you have a degree (associate's degree or higher)
Support children who need caring adults!
Contact:
Eric Whitney at West Bloomfield School District
5810 Commerce Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48324
Phone: (248) 865-6426
Facts about the Library Millage
If approved by voters, library millage funds would be used for:
- replacement of aging building components
- updates to IT Infrastructure, including 24/7 holds pickup lockers
- improvements to programming areas, including the Meeting Room and outdoor spaces
- expanded digital collections (eBooks, eAudiobooks, etc.)
Learn more at wblib.org/millage.
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.