Family Newsletter

Hello Lakers!

Nine days until school starts for the 2024-2025 school year! We are just buzzing with excitement as we finalize our plans to welcome students and families back to the building. Next week, we invite you to join us for Popsicles With the Principal on Wednesday, August 21 from 4-6pm. Our teachers and staff can't wait to see you.

Tonight, you should have received an email from your child's/children's classroom teacher(s). You can also find your child's teacher listed in PowerSchool starting next week.

I also want to be sure you all take a few moments to complete the Education and Nutrition Benefits Application. Simply filling out the form, even if you do think you qualify for assistance, is tied to lots of supplemental programs that have the potential to offer additional support for reduced priced sports, ACT, SAT, college application and AP exam waivers. This information is also critical in determining the amount of money our schools receive from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs.

See below for important back-to-school details as we get ready to Set Sail for a great year together.

As always, please reach out to us with any questions as we near the start of our school year.

Warmly,

Jen Teal, Principal

Don't forget to mark your calendar for this kick-off event! Students in all grades are invited to join me and many of our staff members at Gretchko to launch our school year together. Students will receive their teacher placement in advance of the event and can meet their classmates, see their classrooms, visit with our staff, enjoy a sweet treat from PTO, and more. Our amazing office team (Mrs. Kitty and Mrs. Sue) will be there to answer questions you may have, and we will provide a back-to-school packet with lots of important information. Additionally, if you purchase school supplies, you are welcome to drop them off on this date to lighten your load a bit on the first day of school. If you cannot attend, don't worry! The welcome packet will go home with students on the first day of school!

Each new school year brings with it some staff changes. While there has been lots of shuffling with the redistricting and move to K-5 schools, we also have some faces who are brand new to WB Schools! Please join us in making them feel welcome!

This summer, we have welcomed Mr. J'Sean Powell and Mr. Mae Shaun Dennard as our new second shift custodians. They join the wonderful Ms. Enetra Myers, Gretchko's lead custodian.

We are excited to have hired Mrs. Megan Stutesman to become Gretchko's next art teacher. Megan taught K-5 art in the Oxford School District and is excited to bring her experience to West Bloomfield.

We are welcoming Mrs. Andrea Sucher as our new Level room teacher. Mrs. Sucher taught in Florida and has extensive experience in ABA therapy. Ms. Rachel Hirsch, our Level room teacher of the last two years, will be moving into our Resource Room this year.

Ms. Emma Lohmeier is joining Gretchko's 4th grade team. Ms. Lohmeier comes to us from the Waterford School District and is excited to be joining the Gretchko family.

We strongly encourage students to take the bus if they qualify for busing. It gives your student a chance to experience some independence on their way to and from school, it spares you from waiting in the car line, and overall it provides more consistency in students getting to school on time.

If your child will be utilizing school bus transportation this year, please consult the school district website for safety rules and bus tracker info (www.wbsd.org).

Dear Parents of West Bloomfield School District Students,

If your child is a student (3 to 26 years of age) in the West Bloomfield Schools, s/he can also participate in the 2024-25 Fueling Kids’ Futures–One Meal at a Time (previously known as Blessings in a Backpack) program. This program sends six non-perishable meals home each Friday of the school year. Its goal is to make sure that no child goes hungry on the weekend. Run by volunteers, there is NO cost to you.

To enroll in this program, please fill out the form below and return it to your school office or email it to katherinesheiko@hotmail.com. This registers your child/ren in the Fueling Kids’ Futures–One Meal at a Time program and alerts us to any allergies they might have. The first backpack of food will be distributed to your child at his/her local school the first week of October.

****************************************************************************************************

_____ Yes, I would like my child/children to participate in the 2024-2025 Fueling Kid’s Futures–One Meal at a Time program.

Child’s Name_____________________________ Grade ______ Teacher __________School__________

Child’s Name____________________________ Grade_______Teacher________ School___________

Allergies_____________________________________________________________________

Parent’s Name______________________________________________________________

Parent’s Email address ______________________________________________________________

If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Sheiko at katherinesheiko@hotmail.com or at

248 521 0074.

Regards,

Katherine Sheiko, Chairperson

Fueling Kids’ Futures–One Meal at a Time

West Bloomfield/Keego Harbor

We can't wait to see you all next week for Popsicles with the Principal!

The PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) is a volunteer organization that works to support all students by providing a communication link between families, teachers and administrators. The PTO also provides curricular materials, enrichment programs and community service projects through various fundraisers. We have ways you can already start supporting Gretchko (info in image attached):

1. Kroger rewards
2. Mabel's Labels
3. Box Tops

We also have new spirit wear available for purchase to show our Lakers Spirit:

Gretchko spirit wear, West Bloomfield, MI, Lakers | 1st Place Spiritwear

Kicking off the year strong with our first Blizzard Day on September 6, PTO Meeting after Curriculum night on September 12 and Bagel Day September 13 and we can use your help. Please check the sign ups to volunteer:

• Gretchko: Fund Run 2024 (signupgenius.com)
• Gretchko PTO: Bagel Sales (signupgenius.com)
• Gretchko PTO: Blizzard Delivery (signupgenius.com)

You can register and start fundraising for the Fund Run as soon as you receive your teacher assignments: Login | FundHub (getmovinfundhub.com)

It is going to be a great year! Stay up to date at all times by following our Gretchko PTO 24/25 Private Facebook Group!

( https://facebook.com/groups/gretchkopto/ ) and subscribe to our linktree Gretchko Elementary PTO | Facebook | Linktree

BUSES

• Students are dropped off and picked up at the East/Front loop.

WALKERS/BIKERS

• Students who walk or bike to school will enter through the front, main doors of the building. Please do not let your walker use the breezeway doors, as this is where the car line drops off.

CAR RIDERS

**There is no stopping or parking in front of the school. If you drive your child to school, you must join the car line unless you arrive tardy past the start of the school day.**

Morning Drop-Off

• If you are driving your child to school, please follow the designated GREEN arrow traffic pattern in the map above. Remain in your car during this process and allow our staff to assist your child. Make sure your child is ready to get out of the car when you get to that drop-off point.

• Car line is staffed from 8:55 am to 9:09 am. If you arrive at school by car at or after 9:09, you must park in a designated parking spot at the front of the building and walk your student to the main office lobby to sign them in there.

Afternoon Pick-Up

• You will follow the same procedures above if you are picking your child up from school in the afternoon. Car line is staffed in the afternoon from 4:02 pm to 4:17 p.m. Thank you for timely pick-up of your children after school.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR CAR DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP

Adults Should:

• Drive slowly and carefully.
• Remain in their vehicle.
• Pull all the way forward in the loop (adult staff will be present to direct you).
• Observe our staff for further direction/instructions.
• To avoid a waiting-to-turn-left line-up along Greer Road, pass the school on Greer, turn left in the subdivision just past the school, pull into the right hand turn lane and follow into the school entrance.
  

Car Loop Students Should:

• Be ready to get out of your vehicle when you arrive at the exit area. (including shoes, coats, hats as weather cools).
• Be on the right side of the car, ready to exit.
• Say good-bye before their expected exit from the car.
• Be positioned so the child does not have to climb over others in the car.
• Have car doors unlocked and student ready to go.
• If your child is not ready to exit, please pull all the way forward so others may exit their vehicles.

PRESCHOOL

• When preschool begins, preschool students will use the southeast parking lot as noted in the map above and the bus loop to drop off and pick up their students.

Order your pictures HERE!

School Name: Gretchko Elementary School

Picture Day Date: Thursday, September 5

Picture Day ID: EVT7G4QWN

ALLERGIES/ASTHMA/MEDICAL CONDITIONS – The office must have a complete, signed West Bloomfield School District Medical Action Plan to be able to carry out any medication distribution. Each medication requires a separate form. Each year we need an updated plan for students needing medication. If your child requires medication the first day of school you must contact the office before school to verify paperwork and deliver the medication to the office. Further questions, please contact the school office at 248-865-6570.

ATTENDANCE – West Bloomfield School District expects students to be in school and on time for school on a daily basis. Absent and tardy students will be recorded daily and parents will be notified.

• If your child will not be in school or will be late to school, you must call the 24-hour answering machine at 248-865-6572. Leave your student’s name, teacher’s name and reason for absence. For the safety of our students, please do your best to remember to call before the start of school (even if you are only going to be “a little” late).
• To excuse a health-related absence from the county-counted total, please provide the main office with a note from the medical facility your child visited.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS – Gretchko School celebrates student birthdays in a fun, activity-based manner. We do not celebrate birthdays with food-based treats. Please contact your student’s teacher for suggested birthday celebration activities at school.

HALF DAYS – throughout the school year we will participate in professional development days. School will be dismissed at 12:12 p.m. Busses will be available as normal at the end of the school day.

DROP OFF AND PICK UP – Any changes in a child’s routine transportation “the day of” must be written and received by the school. We cannot accept any transportation changes after 3:00 p.m. Please do not EMAIL OR LEAVE VOICE MAIL MESSAGES regarding student transportation on the day of the change. Teachers may not receive the message in time regarding the change.

RECESS –Students go outside daily. Please dress students accordingly, including closed-toe shoes. Lunchtime recess is approximately 20 minutes.

SPECIAL CLASSES – Students participate in art, physical education, music, and icenter classes regularly. Please have students wear tennis shoes on gym days.

We are all interested in a very basic issue: Student Safety. The provision of a safe environment in which your students can learn is, and will continue to be, our first priority. We work to provide quality programs for our children to help drive home the meaning of the words respect, responsibility, caring, citizenship, trustworthiness, and fairness. As adults, we can also remind ourselves that our adult behavior and treatment of each other and young people provides the most visible model for the behavior of our students. For the good of all students, caregivers and staff members, please review and follow this partial list of general safety procedures in place at Gretchko.

• All doors will be locked after the school day has begun.

• All adults entering the building are required to sign in at the front lobby.

• All volunteers will submit and be approved through i Chat documentation.

• Late students, visitors and volunteers will buzz at the front WEST door, wait for the door to be unlocked then enter the building through the main office.

• Adults will wear a visitor’s sticker until they leave the building.

• Adults must sign students out from the office when leaving the building.

• Student transportation changes should be written out and recorded in the office.

• Students will not be dismissed from the classroom door.

• Students boarding busses will be escorted outside by adult staff.

• Students riding with parents/caregivers will be escorted from the cars by adult staff during designated drop-off and pick-up times.

• Resident students pre-arranged to walk to and from school will be signed out in the front lobby at the end of the day.

The welcome atmosphere felt at Gretchko would not be complete without the participation of our parents and their families. We count on your support throughout all of our educational efforts. We are hoping to see you at as many school activities as possible.

August Cultural Celebrations

• August 7 – Purple Heart Day

• August 9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

• August 13 – Left-Handers Day

• August 17 – Marcus Garvey Day (Jamaican)

• August 19 – World Humanitarian Day

• August 21 – Senior Citizens Day

• August 26 – Women’s Equality Day

• August 26 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)

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.

Phone:

• Main Office Phone: (248)865-6570
• SAFELINE to report absences: (248) 865-6572. This is a 24 hour answering machine.