Family Newsletter

Happy Sunny Friday, Lakers!

This has been a beautiful week with lots of time outside. The students are enjoying the warmer weather and the lack of snow on the playground, as you can see in the photos!

We're hoping for some help with our arrival and dismissal procedures. Thank you for attention to these procedures to help us run smoothly!

• Arrival Reminders
• If you drive your student to school in the morning, you must join car line. Please do not double park in front of the school to walk your student in.
• If you do happen to run late (past 9:10), please park in a designated parking spot and walk your student in. You will sign them in tardy in the foyer.
• Dismissal Reminders
• Due to the many moving parts at the end of the school day, we are not able to accomodate same-day dismissal plan changes called in after 3:00pm and cannot accommodate early pick-ups after 3:30pm.

We hope your kiddos enjoyed our One District, One Book activity yesterday. Schools across the district all enjoyed reading Have You Filled a Bucket Today by Carol McCloud. Ask your children what the book was all about and how they have been "bucket fillers" this week.

Next week, we are looking forward to a visit from Supe's Animals, sponsored by PTO. This organization rescues animals who have been kept as pets and are no longer being appropriately cared for. Students have a chance to see some unique animals and learn about the habitats and care they need and the native environments they thrive in. Students who are not comfortable seeing some or all of the animals have the option to watch from outside the presentation space.

We hope you enjoy a wonderful weekend,

Jen Teal

Principal

Amira's Picture Day

Just the thought of Eid makes Amira warm and tingly inside. From wearing new clothes to handing out goody bags at the mosque, Amira can't wait for the festivities to begin. But when a flier on the fridge catches her eye, Amira's stomach goes cold. Not only is it Eid, it's also school picture day. If she's not in her class picture, how will her classmates remember her? Won't her teacher wonder where she is?

This year's Pine Tree FEATURED AUTHOR is Jarrett Lerner!! We are so excited to welcome Jarrett to Gretchko on THURSDAY, APRIL 10th! Gretchko students will read many of his books during their iCenter classes prior to his visit. Gretchko has partnered with Schuler Books to host a fundraiser the week of March 16-22. Students can purchase a SIGNED COPY of Jarrett's books using the link in the attached flyer during that week. Students will receive their purchased books the week Jarrett visits our school.

Oliver Krull read the 100 BOOKS IN KINDERGARTEN! His favorite category was the Funny Stories and he enjoyed I Want My Hat Back the most! Congratulations, Oliver! Thank you to the WBTPL for supporting our youngest readers with this phenomenal reading program.

Yaaaa-hooo! Alfredo Martinez has read the 100 MORE BOOKS TO READ IN KINDERGARTEN!! Alfredo has read a total of 200 books from our amazing WBTPL 100 Books program. Some of his favorite titles on the 100 More list are Cloudette and Where Are My Books? Way to go, Alfredo!! We are very proud of you.

In honor of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st, Gretchko Lakers are invited to come to school wearing mismatched, bright, and colorful socks. Students can also bring $1 to donate to the Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan.

We are about to begin teaching sex education with the resource The Puberty Workshop in our 4th, 5th and 6th grade class taught by your child’s classroom teacher. This program of instruction was approved by the West Bloomfield School District Board of Education. As a parent, you have several rights:

• You must be notified prior to instruction on sex education and/or HIV/STI prevention.

• You may preview the curriculum and materials by: Attending the optional Reproductive Health Preview meeting scheduled for April 9th at 6:30 pm via Zoom with Amy Quinn, Elementary Curriculum Consultant and SEAB co-facilitator. Please confirm here if you are coming to this optional video preview session.

• Those who do not wish their child to participate must fill out the 2025 Updated WBSD Sex Education Exemption Form

We are looking for fathers and father figures to volunteer in March! Please consider volunteering an hour of your time (or more) if you can!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E094DA4AF2EA2FA7-55232268-march

We are excited to announce that we have secured Supe's Exotic Jungle to present their rescued animals to the kids the week before Spring break!

Looking to be more involved? We are searching for PTO Board Members and Chairs for the 2025-26 School year, please email us for more info pto.gretchko@gmail.com

Important Dates to Note:

4-4- Blizzard Day

4-11- Bagel Day

4-16- 7pm PTO Meeting with Elections

4-25- Spring Dance- Let's Glow Gretchko 6:30-8:30pm

4-30- Marco's Pizza Night

Ongoing Fundraisers: Box Tops, Kroger Rewards and Mabel's Labels:

Volunteers needed:

The teachers' rescue team, aka Buoy Crew, needs your help! Join the fun, sign up for a shift, and give some love back to those amazing educators who adore our mini-mes, K-2 mornings, 3-5 afternoons - simple, yet epic!

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0D4FA4A922A6FDC70-51534931-buoy

We are always here for you via ( https://facebook.com/groups/gretchkopto/ ) and subscribe to our linktree Gretchko Elementary PTO | Facebook | Linktree or email pto.gretchko@gmail.com

Sincerely,

Your Gretchko PTO

Rockin’ Readers

March 11

Main Library – Youth Activity Center

4600 Walnut Lake Road

Does your child need help with reading skills such as comprehension, fluency, vocabulary and writing? Join us as we partner with West Bloomfield School District teachers to encourage reading and writing skills in a fun and interactive way.

For Grades K-5. Registration Required

Click here to register

Build Your Own Eco System (Grades 3 - 5)

Thursday, March 26 from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Main Library - Youth Activity Center
Investigate and explore ecosystems by learning about the processes of various types of precipitation and how its movement of water to soil helps the life cycle of plants and animals. Students will also build an ecosystem to take home.

For Grades 3-5. Registration Required

Click here to register: https://westbloomfield.librarycalendar.com/event/build-your-own-ecosystem-intermediate-8628

Oakland Early College Info Night Webinar

3/18/2025, 7 p.m., Webinar - email morron.borders@wbsd.org for the link

At Oakland Early College, we do school dfferently; through our partnership with Oakland Community College, we provide an early middle college experience where OEC students are simultaneously enrolled in high school and college classes at no cost to families. All students in 9th through 11th grade whose families reside in Oakland County can apply. Here, students earn transferable college credits, up to an associate's degree, that will follow them to a four year university. There is also an option to earn a work certificate through one of OCC’s many programs. All students are supported by our tenets of college, culture, community, and connection in a small and diverse school community while they progress through our five year high school program. Learn more at our webinar March 18.

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.