Gretchko Newsletter
January 27, 2023
Principal's Update
Hello Team WB!
Snow, snow, and more snow! As you can see from the pictures above, our Gretchko stars have been so excited to have snow to play in, on, around, and with! And with snow comes WINTERFEST. Monday and Tuesday, each class will get to go outside to enjoy some sledding on the small hill on Gretchko's property. We are still looking for lots more donated sleds...if you can lend us your saucer for Monday/Tuesday, please drop that off Monday morning at the front of the building (don't forget to label it with your child's name). We also kindly request that younger siblings not participate in the sledding for safety and time for each class. Thank you!
West Bloomfield School District is in the process of planning for next school year and need to verify your student's attendance at our schools. We ask that you complete the student survey for your family utilizing the link found here by February 1st.
Also coming soon are our Valentines parties, which will be on Monday February 13, 2023. Room parents are busy coordinating activities, and the PTO will supply the classroom craft. Your teacher will be sending an RSVP form for adults who would like to attend; you do NOT need to have an ichat to attend but you must RSVP and bring your ID. The classroom party times are listed below:
- 12:45-1:30 2nd Grade
- 1:45-2:30 1st Grade
- 2:45-3:30 Kindergarten
Have a wonderful weekend,
Jen Teal, Principal
Featured Book
Parker Looks Up by Parker and Jessica Curry
When Parker Curry came face-to-face with Amy Sherald’s transcendent portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama at the National Portrait Gallery, she didn’t just see the First Lady of the United States. She saw a queen—one with dynamic self-assurance, regality, beauty, and truth who captured this young girl’s imagination. When a nearby museum-goer snapped a photo of a mesmerized Parker, it became an internet sensation. Inspired by this visit, Parker, and her mother, Jessica Curry, tell the story of a young girl and her family, whose trip to a museum becomes an extraordinary moment, in a moving picture book.
Congratulations Star Slip Winners
Congratulations! . Keep up the good work Gretchko Stars!
Winterfest 2023
Winterfest is coming to Gretchko on Monday, January 30th AND Tuesday, January 31st!
Parents/Guardians are welcome to visit our Gretchko Stars outside on the snow hill while they have a blast sledding! Teachers sent out their classroom sledding time yesterday, so please connect with them if you are not sure what your child's time slot is.
We are in need of saucer style sleds to borrow for Monday and Tuesday! If you are able to help, please label the saucer with your child's name to be dropped off at the front of Gretchko during student morning drop off on Monday (1/30). Pick up of sleds will be Tuesday (1/31) at afternoon student pick up. Any remaining sleds can be picked up on Thursday (2/2).
Second, we are in need of volunteers to help guide students at the top of the hill and to catch students at the bottom of the hill. If you will be there on Monday and/or Tuesday, please consider joining in to help!
After each class has their turn to sled, students (only) will return to the classroom to enjoy hot chocolate, marshmallows and pretzels provided by the PTO.
Winterfest Sledding Schedule
Monday, January 30
9:30-10:15 -Williams & Sizemore
10:30-11:15 -Preschool
12:45-1:30 Wild & Jamison
1:45 - 2:30 Thompson & Miller
2:45 - 3:30 Pace & Ayar
Tuesday, January 31
9:30-10:15 -CostelloMerg & Barker
10:30-11:15 Preschool
12:45-1:30 Smith & Risden
1:45 - 2:30 Geottes/Kirk & Finn
2:45 - 3:30 -Cohen & Tracz
2023-2024 Survey for Returning Students
We are in the process of planning for our student needs for their 2023-2024 school year. Please complete THIS FORM no later than February 1, 2023.
Please complete one form per child.
This form will not serve as an in-district transfer request. Please go to the West Bloomfield School District website in mid-February to submit an online request for an in-district transfer.
Report Card Information
Congratulations Lawrence Karmo - for reading the 100 books for kindergarten
Pine Cone Reading Program
The Pine Cone Reading Program is a District-wide reading incentive program in partnership with the West Bloomfield Township Public Library, for students enrolled in first and second grade. This dynamic program features a variety of books carefully selected by your WB teacher librarians. The list encompasses a large variety of genres, diverse topics, reading levels, and high interest subject matter. We are so thankful to the WBTPL for supplying all of these new and exciting titles for our iCenter collections. After Pine Cone is over, only a few copies of each title will stay in our iCenter while the extras will be donated to your classroom libraries! Yaaa-hooo! The purpose of this program is to expose our readers to titles and genres they may not read, in hopes they find a new book or series they enjoy.
Our Pine Cone program will run from February 6th through April 6th, 2023. A Pine Cone poster will be sent home the week of February 6th to keep track of the books they have read. Students should hang up their poster at home to keep track of the books they read AT HOME. Students will make a goal to read a certain number of books and then color in a Pine Cone for each book they have completed. Then they can complete a small book review for their favorite book in each category (also on the same poster). Once the poster is complete, students can turn it in for a small prize and a ticket to be entered into a raffle to meet our featured author at a private event at the West Bloomfield Township Library.
Thank you for your support and encouraging your students to meet their personal Pine Cone goal!
iCenter Request
Too many books cluttering up your reader's bookshelf? Do you have books your child has outgrown and just don't want to throw them away? Donate them to the Gretchko iCenter. Mrs. Hammerick will add books to our growing book collection! Thank you so much for helping us grow our library!
WBSD Bridges Math Overviews for February
Join Us For Casino Night!
Global Equity Team
The MLK Peace Parade was thanks to the work of our G.E.T. planning in the month of December. This group of staff, family members, and kids too(!) come together each month. New members ALWAYS welcome!
Our next Global Equity Team meeting will be February 9th at 6:30pm on Zoom: https://wbsd-org.zoom.us/j/86252963878. We hope you will consider joining us!
World Celebrations This Month
If you celebrate something this month and do not see it listed below, please email Jen Teal to add it to our list!
February is Black History Month
- Jan 30-Feb 1 Feast of Ba’outha (Chaldean Holiday)
- Feb 1: National Freedom Day (signing of the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery in 1865)
- Feb 14: Valentine’s Day
- Feb 15: Parinirvana (Buddhist Holiday)
- Feb 18: Maha Shivaratri (Hindu Celebration)
- Feb 21: Mardi Gras
- Feb 21: International Mother Language Day
- Feb 22: Ash Wednesday/Beginning of Lent (Christian Holiday)
Families of English Language Learners: K-5 Informational Parent Meeting
WBHS Fundraiser
Mental Health Resources
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.
Community Resources
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.
Gretchko Spirit Wear Now Available Online!
Does your child (or you) need some more Gretchko spirit wear? Now you can order online at https://gretchko-pto.square.site/ or see the QR code here:
Gretchko Calendar
January 27 - Kindergarten Yoga Day
January 30 - Winterfest - Session 1
January 31 - Winterfest - Session 2
January 31 - Pine Cone Kick off ASSEMBLY
February 1 - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
February 8 - PTO meeting 7:00 p.m.
February 9 - Gretchko Global Equity Team Meeting @6:30pm
February 13 - Valentines Day Parties
February 20 - NO SCHOOL - Break
February 21 - NO SCOOL - Break
February 22 - Marco's Pizza Day
February 24 - Bagel Day
Gretchko Contact Information
Location: 5300 Greer Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone:
- Main Office Phone: (248)865-6570
- SAFELINE to report absences: (248) 865-6572. This is a 24 hour answering machine.