Hello Laker Nation!
This was a week full of all kinds of fun. In addition to all of our usual comings and goings, this week we also had Donuts with Dudes, our first blizzard day to support 5th grade camp, our first Rockin' Croc prize drawing, preschool open house, picture day, AND our head room parent meeting. Thank you to our PTO for their sponsorship and/or volunteer hours to support many of these events! Please particularly check out the article below on Donuts with Dudes, our launch event for the Watch D.O.G. program to bring our students' male role models into our school community to volunteer with our students.
All of our 5th grade Laker Leaders have been hard at work with their jobs these past two weeks, and we are so grateful for all they do to help our school day run smoothly! Thank you to Mr. Steinbrecher for teaching our 5th grade safeties all about how to properly raise and lower the flag. We also chose this quarter's two morning announcers, who will begin on Monday!
For those who are new to having a school-aged kiddo, sometimes it can be hard to get them to tell you about their day and all the things that happen while they are at school! One trick is to ask specific questions to engage them: What is the funniest thing that happened at school today? What's a good book you looked at or listened to today? Who was really kind today and what did they do to be kind? Where did you go first on the playground today?
Of particular note for next week is our Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 12. This adult-focused evening will allow you to hear all the important information about your child/children's classrooms. Note that we will have staggered time as notes below. Additionally, on Wednesday, I will share out a brief welcome video from me and our specials teachers. We look forward to seeing you there!
- 6:00-6:30pm: Kdg and 1st grade classroom presentations
- 6:40-7:10pm: 2nd and 3rd grade classroom presentations
- 7:20-7:50: 4th and 5th grade classroom presentations
- 8:00pm PTO Meeting in the iCenter
Have a wonderful weekend!
Jen Teal, Principal
Featured Book
The William Hoy Story: How a Deaf Baseball Player Changed the Game
All William Ellsworth Hoy wanted to do was play baseball. After losing out on a spot on the local deaf team, William practiced even harder―eventually earning a position on a professional team. But his struggle was far from over. In addition to the prejudice Hoy faced, he could not hear the umpires' calls. One day he asked the umpire to use hand signals: strike, ball, out. That day he not only got on base but also changed the way the game was played forever. William "Dummy" Hoy became one of the greatest and most beloved players of his time.
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 have been handing out Rockin' Croc tickets. Half goes home so you can celebrate them as well, and the other half gets entered into our Friday drawing. This week's winners are: Ari Croskey, Oliver Rosemeyer, Cruz Zuniga, Devan Nair, Vivian Kong, Angelique Council, Michael Morris, Kaley Wheeler, Corey Scott, Ella Katzaman, Damien Woolslayer, Judith Dickinson, Nathan Reamer, Anacelia Diaz-Saucedo, Leonie Boeker, and Mason Mosier.
Dear Families,
The preschool teachers at Gretchko would like to inform you about how we will be doing arrival and dismissal for this school year. The southeast parking lot (to the right of the bus loop) will be designated for preschool parking. Once this is filled, there will be overflow parking (to the left of the bus loop by the main entrance). Please park and walk your child up to their outside classroom door (directly by the bus loop). We appreciate your support and cooperation.
The preschool team,
Mrs. Farrell, Mrs. Gerchak, Mrs. Goyette, Mrs. Kelso, Ms. Morelli
Hello Gretchko Lakers,
- Our first blizzard day today (September 6), we hope your kids enjoyed their treat!
- Thursday 9/12 @8pm will be out first PTO meeting of the year in the iCenter
- Our first bagel day is next Friday, September 13th ($2 cash only). There is still time to purchase your bagel punch card for the year: https://checkout.square.site/merchant/E6NTJPQMMNACZ/checkout/G3VOYRJQQ4G6MARI5SCR5FGI
- Tuesday, the 17th of September is our first Rolladium Night of the year, come roll with us! It is a lot of fun and a great way to see friends outside of school : )
- 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
Your Gretchko PTO,
Lindsay, Tiffany, Katie, Cassie and Allison
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
September Cultural Celebrations
August 31 - Sept. 7 - Paryushana Parva (Jainism)
Sept. 7 - Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism)
Sept. 11 – Ethiopian New Year
Sept. 15 – Oct. 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month
Sept. 15 - 16 - Mawild-al-Nabi (Islam)
Sept. 16 - Mexican Independence Day
Sept. 23 - International Day of Sign
Sept. 27 - Meskel (Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox)
Sept. 27 - Native American Day
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.