Family Newsletter

Blizzard Orders for Sept 6 close TONIGHT at midnight. Online only: https://gretchko-pto.square.site/s/shop

Hello Laker Nation!

This has been a truly spectacular first week of school! With our students back in the building, Gretchko is buzzing with activity. Our upper elementary students have been setting a fantastic example for all of our younger student, and it is such a joy having their energy in our space. Our little Lakers are eager and already sailing smoothly. I have been especially impressed by the kindness students are showing one another as we grow together into our learning community for the 2024-2025 school year.

Aside from a hiccup on Monday in terms of bus dismissal, our arrival and departure procedures have been running very smoothly. Thank you so much for following our car line protocols, driving carefully through the parking lot, and being patient with us and one another. It truly makes a difference! As a reminder, there is no parking in front of the building, even if you are tardy. Please park in a designated parking lot and space and then walk up to deliver or pick up your student. Additionally, we cannot accommodate early pick-ups after 3:30pm due to dismissal procedure business. Thank you for your understanding!

You will see below this year's first Featured Book. I share these out each week and invite you to watch the read aloud with or without your kiddo(s). The students see the book the following week and have a chance to discuss it as a class.

Remember that we have NO SCHOOL Friday, August 30th and Monday, September 2nd due to the Labor Day holiday. We'll see students on Tuesday!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Jen Teal, Principal

That's Not My Name by Anoosha Syed

Mirha is so excited for her first day of school! She can't wait to learn, play, and make new friends. But when her classmates mispronounce her name, she goes home wondering if she should find a new one. Maybe then she'd be able to find a monogrammed keychain at the gas station or order a hot chocolate at the cafe more easily. Mama helps Mirha to see how special her name is, and she returns to school the next day determined to help her classmates say it correctly--even if it takes a hundred tries.

Here at Gretchko, we love recognizing students who are following our classroom social contracts and demonstrating responsibility, respect, safety, and kindness. Starting next week, we will be on the look out to "catch" kids being great Lakers! When we do, we'll give them a Rockin' Croc slip. Half goes home so you can celebrate them as well, and the other half gets entered into our Friday drawing for a small prize and a picture in the newsletter. We can't wait to show off our phenomenal Lakers!

Order your pictures HERE!

School Name: Gretchko Elementary School

Picture Day Date: Thursday, September 5

Picture Day ID: EVT7G4QWN

Join us for Community Movie Night 6 p.m., Friday, 9/6, WBHS football field. $3 cash/person supports the school activity fund, and concessions profits will benefit the athletic department. Bring a blanket or a chair and watch Lyle with our Laker Nation in our largest outdoor classroom (thank you for the bond that made our scoreboard possible).

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.

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.

WBSD Community Education offers an array of enrichment and recreation classes. For more information and online registration, click here. Use the search feature to type in the program.
Stay tuned for Math Pentathlon, FIRST Lego League info, and more!

Fall elementary programming at Gretchko includes:

• Sunset Theatre on Mondays starting 9/23 for 1st-5th
• Soccer on Tuesdays starting 9/24 for 3rd-5th
• Karate on Wednesdays starting 11/13 for 1st-5th

Elementary School Menus

• Breakfast Menu August - September 2024
• Lunch Menu August - September 2024

Middle School Menus

• Breakfast Menu August - September 2024
• Lunch Menu August - September 2024

High School Menus

• Breakfast Menu August - September 2024
• Lunch Menu August - September 2024

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

Welcome back!!!! We hope everyone had a fantastic first week!

• Our first blizzard day is next Friday, September 6th for orders placed by August 29. If you are available to help pass them out- sign up here: Gretchko PTO: Blizzard Delivery (signupgenius.com)
• Our first bagel day is September 12th ($2 cash only or purchase your bagel punch card for the year): https://checkout.square.site/merchant/E6NTJPQMMNACZ/checkout/G3VOYRJQQ4G6MARI5SCR5FGI
• Always looking for helpers with bagel day: Gretchko PTO: Bagel Sales (signupgenius.com)
• The 12th is also our first PTO meeting of the year at 8pm following Curriculum night

Be sure to register for the Fund Run to start raising money and earning prizes. Login | FundHub (getmovinfundhub.com) School Identifier: 66900a26aa43e and if you are available to help on September 27th, you can sign up here: Gretchko: Fund Run 2024 (signupgenius.com)

New spirit wear available for purchase to show your Lakers Spirit: Gretchko spirit wear, West Bloomfield, MI, Lakers | 1st Place Spiritwear

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

Thank you,

Lindsay, Tiffany, Katie, Cassie and Allison

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.