Pleasant Lake Pleasantries
Week of August 23, 2021
Together We Learn, Together We Lead!
Dear Parents,
As we welcome back students this week, we thank you for your continued support of our district, especially during these uncertain times. You have emailed, called, and attended meetings, and we have listened to your important feedback.
We know that the 2021-2022 school year comes with its own challenges and we are preparing every step of the way. Being part of a very diverse community, there are many views about how to handle COVID-19 within our schools.
As of this morning, cases within the WLCSD borders remain at less than half of 1%. While we continue to prepare for a more traditional year of in-person learning than last year, there are some important caveats.
- We strongly recommend masks are worn indoors on all school premises.
- Rigorous sanitization of our school facilities will continue throughout this upcoming school year.
- Additional precautionary measures will be made available to all students, including allowing students to use dividers in classrooms and cafeterias.
- Parents and visitors will be permitted only within the vestibule area or the main office of schools. (Parents of kindergartners will be allowed to escort their children to their classrooms on the first day of school.)
- Masks are mandatory on all school buses. The WLCSD has been advised by our attorneys that we must comply with the full CDC mandate, which can be found here.
- Oakland County Health Department will investigate positive cases and then will determine if anyone is a close contact.
- Public reporting of COVID-19 cases by the WLCSD will continue and will be posted on our website.
- Those who test positive for COVID-19 will be isolated for a minimum of 10 calendar days based on the recommendations from the OCHD.
Additionally, the CDC encourages eligible community members to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Please consult with your doctor or, to find a location, visit vaccines.gov.
You may also reach out to our Community Relations department at info@wlcsd.org for further resources. As we recognize that you will have additional questions, please view the 2021-22 Academic Year FAQs here.
We remain dedicated to our very inclusive community, and we will continue to monitor and make necessary adjustments to these procedures throughout the upcoming school year. Our priority, at the core of what we do, remains our students.
We look forward to welcoming students back and to a wonderful school year.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Gutman
Superintendent of Schools
Walled Lake Consolidated School District
FAMILIES AWAITING ENROLLMENT CONFIRMATIONS
Dear WLCSD Community,
We thank you for your patience as we complete the enrollment process for the 2021-22 school year. At this time, we are working diligently to process every request and want to reassure families that students will be welcomed back to school on Wednesday, August 25, 2021.
For those families still awaiting their access to Skyward, details on schedules and bus routes, please note the following:
- If you have not done so, please submit all outstanding documents to our enrollment team as soon as possible, to enable us to complete the enrollment process and provide you with access to Skyward and other district systems. If you have questions, please contact the Enrollment Office at 248-956-2000.
- Please additionally provide details on any health or dietary restrictions to the school to the school’s principal or office staff.
- For students in need of transportation, please view the bus routes here or dial 248-956-5199.
Please note that you should receive a call and/or email welcoming your child to come to school on Wednesday.
For your child to be eligible to attend school on Wednesday we must have your child’s name, home address, and phone number.
Sincerely,
Enrollment Office Team
PLE Meet and Greet
A few important updates/reminders:
- Class placements are now available in Skyward Family Access. If you haven’t completed your back to school registration, you will not be able to access your child’s classroom placement.
- I know that there are many families who are waiting for their enrollments to be processed. In order to help expedite this process, please double check that you have submitted all necessary documents. Please understand that you will not be able to see your child’s classroom placement until your enrollment is complete. The Enrollment Department is working around the clock to process enrollments and you will be notified via email once your enrollment is finalized.
- A reminder that our 1st-5th Grade Meet and Greet is on Tuesday, August 24th from 3:00pm – 4:00pm and our Kindergarten Meet and Greet is on Monday, August 23rd from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Please read the important information below about the Meet and Greet:
- The Oakland County Health Department strongly recommends that ALL entering the building for our Meet and Greet event wear a mask. Thank you for doing your part to keep our community, staff and children safe.
- In an effort to minimize congestion in the classrooms during the Meet and Greet, we recommend the following:
- Last names A-L visit classrooms from 3:00-3:30 p.m. (Kindergarten 5:00-5:30 p.m.)
- Last names M-Z visit classrooms from 3:30 - 4:00 p.m. (Kindergarten 5:30-6:00 p.m.)
- If your child's classroom appears to be overly congested, please wait in the hallway.
- Also please attempt to minimize how many people come to the Meet and Greet. Please have siblings that do not attend Pleasant Lake Elementary remain home and consider coming with one parent if possible.
Thank you,
Nayal Maktari
1st Day of School-Wednesday, August 25th
We ask that parents and students practice walking to your child's classroom and take any pictures during their assigned Meet and Greet.
For the health and safety of our students, staff, and community, we respectfully ask that students walk to their classroom on their own starting on the first day of school.
We have many staff members that will be available to help students find their way to their classroom should they need support.
Thank you for your support!
NEW MEMBERS OF THE PLEASANT LAKE SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Mrs. Erin Rollo
Mrs. Kylie Moore
2021-2022 calendar
Please click on the tab below to view the 2021-2022 school calendar.
AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER CALENDAR
PLEASANT LAKE ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM NIGHT AND MEET AND GREET DATES
- Kindergarten Meet and Greet on Monday, August 23rd from 5:00-6:00 p.m. (A-L 5:00-5:30 p.m. and M-Z 5:30-6:00 p.m.)
- Grades 1-5 Meet and Greet on Tuesday, August 24th from 3:00-4:00 p.m. (A-L 3:00-3:30 p.m. and M-Z 3:30-4:00 p.m.)
- Kindergarten and 1st Grade Curriculum Night on Wednesday, September 1st (Kindergarten 6:00-6:45 p.m. and 1st grade 7:00-7:45 p.m.).
- PTA Sponsored Outdoor Movie Night on Friday, September 17th.
- 2nd and 3rd Grade Curriculum Night is on Tuesday, September 21st from 6:00-6:45 p.m.
- 4th and 5th Grade Curriculum Night is on Wednesday, September 22nd from 6:00-6:45 p.m.
NO SCHOOL
Friday, September 3rd
Monday, September 6th
Tuesday, September 7th
Thursday, September 16th
School Bell Schedule
Drop Off: 8:50 AM
School Begins: 8:55 AM (Tardy Bell)
Dismissal: 4:00 PM
Departure: 4:07 PM
Half-Day Dismissal: 12:25 PM
2021-2022 Back to School Family Access Packet
Walled Lake Schools has streamlined the annual registration/first-day packet process for ALL K-12 families. The District will be using the Family Access/Skyward system to automate the process for updating and completing documents such as the emergency card, Food Service application, FERPA form, fee payments, Code of Conduct, and other important annual school forms that require parent approval.
A Skyward Family Access parent account is required in order to complete the Online Back-to-School Packet process for all schools. (A parent account username is alphanumeric - SMITHMAD000; a student account username is the student's ID number - 1234567.)
To obtain a Family Access account, email familyaccess@wlcsd.org from your email account on file with the district or call 248-956-2190. Please include ALL of the following information in the body of your message. You will be contacted within 3 business days.
- Guardian Name
- Daytime phone number
- Guardian's email address currently on file with the district
- Your student name(s) and name of schools they attend in Walled Lake Schools
Click here for a video tutorial on how-to obtain a login.
Skyward Family Access is how parents access the Online Back-to-School Packet.
Student Classroom Placements will be available after 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 20h through Skyward Family Access.
**In order to view your child's classroom placement, you must have completed the Online Back-to-School Packet process.
Online Back-to-School Packet Tutorials
- Elementary PDF Tutorial
- Elementary Video Tutorial
- Middle School PDF Tutorial
- Middle School Video Tutorial
- High School PDF Tutorial
- High School Video Tutorial
Thank you for completing this important task as soon as possible.
Authorization to Administer Medicaton Form
HEALTH SCREENING BEFORE YOU COME TO SCHOOL
We continue to urge all families to check your child's health daily and make decisions that will help ensure we keep our students, staff, and community healthy and safe.
Daily Health Checks: Please check your child(ren) daily for ANY signs of illness before attending school. Check for the following symptoms:
- Fever/Chills
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
- Muscle of Body Aches
- Headache
- New loss of smell or taste
- Sore throat
- Congestion
- Runny Nose
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Diarrhea
If your child has any of these symptoms, please err on the side of caution and keep them home until they are feeling better! We appreciate your partnership as we continue to work together to keep our community healthy and safe!
Prime Time Care
Prime Time Care will be available for students both before and after school. Registration for Prime Time Care/Teen Club is now open. Due to technical difficulties, registration will not be online. Please use the forms located on our website, under "Resources".
Anchors Away Dismissal Process
The 2021-2022 Anchors Away registration forms are available by clicking on the link below or by visiting the For Parent Tab on our school website.
ANCHORS AWAY CAR PICKUP REGISTRATION FORM
The Anchors Away Dismissal Process will begin on the first day of school. All students who do not ride the bus EACH DAY must register for Anchors Away. Please remember that our school closes at 4:30 p.m so be sure to have a backup plan if you are unable to pickup your child by 4:15 p.m. I strongly recommend that you have several emergency contacts noted in Skyward Family Access that can pick up your child in your absence along with registering for Prime Time.
You cannot control if you get caught in traffic or have something else come up that will delay your drive but you can be proactive in having a backup plan in place if you are late to pick up your child(ren).
Please remember this is not an optional program. Due to building safety and security procedures parents are not allowed into the building at dismissal time. Last year’s registration form and car signs will not be used this school year. Parents must again register their child(ren) for Anchors Away this upcoming school year. Please discard last year’s car sign numbers.
Welcome Kindergarten Students!
Kindergarten Meet and Greet on Tuesday, August 23rd from 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (A-L 5:00-5:30 p.m. and M-Z 5:30-6:00 p.m.)
Please bring your child’s classroom supplies to the Meet and Greet. Remember that this day is for you and your child to visit your classroom. You will find out your child’s classroom placement through Skyward Family Access on Friday, August 20th after 4:00 p.m.
MORNING ARRIVAL TO SCHOOL (not including August 25th-27th)
Please note that you will not be able to walk your child to class. Please drop off your child in the car drop off area in the back of the building or have them take the school bus to school.
We will have adults to assist them to their classroom from the school bus loop and the car drop off line. Our school building has an experienced and caring staff to assist your child to safely get to their classroom.
Kindergarten Schedule and Testing the First Week of School
During the first week of school, your child will begin a required comprehensive assessment to determine social and academic skills. These investigations into each individual child’s attributes are best completed in smaller settings. We also know that these smaller settings will support the social-emotional wellness of our youngest learners as they adjust to these first days of school. In order for optimal execution of these state required assessments, we will be staggering our start by alphabet in our Kindergarten classrooms on August 25th, 26th, and 27th.
Students with last names beginning with A-L will attend in the a.m. School will start at 8:55 a.m. and these students will be dismissed from 12:00-12:09 p.m.
Students with last names beginning with M-Z will attend in the p.m. School will begin for these students at 1:00 p.m. and students will be dismissed from 4:00-4:05 p.m.
Kindergartners attending school in the afternoon (M-Z) can participate in the Anchors Away Dismissal Process but those attending in the morning (A-L) must be picked up from the Media Center or take the school bus home.
Kindergarten students will NOT have lunch the first three days of school but are asked to bring a snack.
We also ask that kindergartners wear their "Sharks in Training" t-shirts the first day of school. Your child will receive their t-shirt at the Kindergarten Meet and Greet.
The Transportation Department will be contacting ALL kindergarten families with bus information and all students will be safely transported to and from school by bus drivers.
Please note the following information from our transportation department:
- Bus transportation will be provided for those students who are eligible for bus transportation throughout the regular school year
- If your child is eligible for bus transportation, it is recommended that they start this routine on the first day of school. Parents are welcome to follow the bus to school to see your child off to their first day of school, but it is highly recommended that they ride the bus to and from school the first day if they will be riding daily during the school year.
- Students who are not eligible for bus transportation will need to be dropped off at school.
- Bus Routes will be posted on the school district website and found in your Skyward Family Access Account shortly.
- Bus Drivers will call ALL Kindergarten student's homes prior to the start of school.
- Bus drivers will go through their ENTIRE morning bus route checking off Kindergarten student names as they get on the bus.
- A-L Kindergarten students will board the bus at school and the drivers will once again check in each student to ensure they are on the proper bus.
- At the noon concurrent drop off/pick-up, drivers will go through their ENTIRE route, checking off the Kindergarten students going into school for the afternoon session, and checking off the morning Kindergartners ensuring there is a PARENT to greet every student.
- The afternoon drop off will also have 1st-5th grade students. Drivers will again check off their Kindergarten students ensuring there is a PARENT to greet every Kindergarten student.
Please call the main office at 248.956.2800 if you have any questions. Any questions regarding busing can be answered by calling our Transportation Department between 5:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at 248.956.3090.
Breakfast and Lunch
For the 2021-22 school year, breakfast and lunch is free for all students. If you would normally fill out a form to receive free or reduced lunch, we ask that you do so for accounting purposes. Forms are available on the district food service web page.
Students are also able to bring lunch from home. This year students will be able to bring a lunch box if that is preferred over a paper bag.
Children can grab their breakfast from the cafeteria upon entering school first thing in the morning.
Water Bottles
Please continue to send water bottles for your child on a daily basis until further notice. The bottle filling stations are available for students.
Peanut Free Practices, Snacks and Birthday Treats
Peanut Free Classrooms
Please be aware that we have students at Pleasant Lake Elementary that may have a life-threatening allergy to peanuts, tree nuts and other items. Some students may not eat, touch, or even inhale the aroma of peanuts or tree nuts without having life-threatening consequences. As a result, it is imperative that we all keep this in mind when planning for any food brought into school. This year, your child’s classroom may be designated as a nut free classroom. If your child's classroom is designated as a nut free classroom, please do not send in food items that contain peanuts, tree nuts, or nutmeg. ANY non-labeled foods (home baked items included) for class parties cannot be ingested, either. This also includes food that is manufactured in facilities that process peanuts/tree nuts. Many food items are safe for consumption, but may require a different brand if the product is manufactured in a facility that processes tree nuts. Your child's teacher will notify you if your child's classroom is a peanut free classroom, and will give you a suggested snack and party list of foods to help guide you with food choices. There are also peanut free tables designated in our cafeteria.
Birthday Treats
We ask that parents DO NOT send food items in for birthday treats. Other items such as pencils, erasers, stickers, a book for the class, etc. are other choices for birthdays. Treats are gone in a few minutes while the before mentioned items will be around to enjoy for a much longer time period. We are trying to stress the importance of healthy eating habits to our students and need your help.
Snacks and Water
Time will be allotted in your child's classroom for a snack each day. We encourage students to eat healthy snacks-preferably fruit, vegetables or a source of protein if possible. Parents and students should read labels carefully to avoid snacks that may have been manufactured in non-nut free environment or contain products that some students may be allergic to. To help with recycling, it would be best to have a reusable water bottle for your child to use for water if needed.
As always, the health, safety and well-being of each and every child at our school is of the utmost importance to all of us. Thank you for your continued support .
Community Education Fall 2021 Brochure is Here!
Good Afternoon Parents,
Community Education is looking forward to our fall programming which will begin about a month from now! We have some wonderful opportunities for our youth and adults to keep everyone active and involved.
Our Fall 2021 Community Education brochure is in an online format this season. To access our Youth Recreation and Enrichment and Adult Recreation and Enrichment classes, please CLICK HERE. Click on the highlighted links in the online brochure to be redirected to our webstore. Register TODAY to save your spot in class!
**Search Tip!** Visit our Class Listings page for ALL Community Education online flyers (After-School, Youth Rec/Enrichment, Adult Rec/Enrichment, and Sailfish Swim Club).
Visit us on Facebook and stay up-to-date with the happenings at Community Education. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 248-956-5003.
Thank you,
Sandy George
Recreation Coordinator
www.wlcsd.org/communityeducation
248-956-5003
Pleasant Lake Elementary
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Prime Time Care Hours
Monday - Friday
6:30 AM-6:00 PM
Main Office:
248-956-2800
Fax Number:
248-956-2805
Attendance Hotline:
248-956-2890
School Times:
Drop off: 8:50 AM
Late Bell: 8:55 AM
Dismissal: 4:00 PM
Departure: 4:07 PM
Email: NayalMaktari@wlcsd.org
Website: www.wlcsd.org/pleasantlake
Location: 4900 Halsted Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, United States
Phone: (248) 956-2800
Twitter: @PleasantLakeEl
PLE PTA Membership and News
Visit the Pleasant Lake Elementary PTA Website for more information on the PLE PTA, sign up for membership, and to learn about PTA events and how you can get involved.
Kroger Community Rewards Program
The PTA needs your help in providing our students and staff with as many resources as possible. One way the PTA helps is by contributing the funds earned through the Kroger Community Rewards program. If you shop at Kroger, we ask you to enroll your card to earn money for the PTA. This program does not take away your rewards earned toward gas or any other benefits. It is an additional way that Kroger gives back to the community. If you were enrolled in the past, please make sure to re-enroll and select Pleasant Lake Elementary PTA to earn the community rewards. You can follow the link provided here https://www.kroger.com/account/enrollCommunityRewardsNow
Also, if you have other family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) that shop at Kroger or Kroger affiliated stores encourage them to enroll their rewards card and select your student’s PTA for community rewards. Every little bit helps our students and staff.
Thank you,
Katarina Gasevski
PTA Co-V.P. and Scrips Coordinator
Voluntary School Accident Insurance
As a service to students and their families, our District is making available a student accident insurance plan for your child at a very nominal cost. The District offers this program because of trends in rising family health and dental insurance costs, increased deductibles, co-payments or lack of health or dental insurance coverage. Information can be found on the district website or by clicking HERE.
Absences and Notes to School
If you intend to keep your child home on a school day for any reason, please use our attendance hotline at 248-956-2890. You may leave a voicemail message 24 hours a day. If we do not receive a call from you, we will call you to make sure that your child is indeed absent.
The Transportation Department will not issue bus passes for after school study, play dates etc. Bus passes will be issued for shared custody, day care, babysitting, or other emergencies. The Transportation Department will also issue year-long passes for in-district transfer and school of choice students when there is room on the bus.
If your child's transportation/dismissal for the end of the day changes in any way, please send in a note at the beginning of the day to your child's teacher or the office. If this changes during the school day, please call our secretaries before 3:00 p.m. We will always make sure your child gets to the correct place at the end of the day, but we ask for your help with this by notifying us early in the day or with a note. Thank you!
Safety First at Pleasant Lake Elementary
- If your child needs to be picked up during the school day, he/she will only be released to a parent, custodial parent, person listed on the school emergency form or a person identified in a permission note from the parent. We will require a photo ID.
- Any legal documents containing custodial restrictions or court orders must be on file in our office.
- If you are visiting our school or dropping off a student, please park in our main parking and come to our main entrance doors to our office area to sign your child in. All doors are locked and will not be opened by staff members or students. This includes students who are tardy to school. Do not drop off students in the parking lot if they are tardy for school. Parents must come to the main office to sign tardy students in. When using the main entrance, please buzz in and the main office staff will open the door for you.
- Students will walk to their classrooms on their own each day and will be called down to the office if leaving early. Students will also be called down to the office for any forgotten items brought in to the office.
LAYA TASTE OF THE LAKES FUNDRAISER!
8 habits homework menu
This summer enjoy some time with your child(ren) by paricipating in the activities listed in the Leader in Me 8 Habits Homework Menu.
Teach The Leader in Me Habits At Home!
Enjoy!
Know What's Going On At Pleasant Lake Elementary!
SKYWARD FAMILY ACCESS
It is critical that parents keep an updated email address and let us know if it changes as soon as possible. Parents may update this information for us on Skyward Family Access. All teachers at Pleasant Lake utilize Skyward Family Access to communicate with parents. Report cards, lunch account information, progress reports, attendance and other important information will always be posted on Skyward Family Access. If you are a new family to Walled Lake Schools or have misplaced or lost your Family Access ID and password, please click HERE to get connected.
PLEASANT LAKE PLEASANTRIES AND SCHOOL WEBSITE
Our school newsletter will be sent electronically to parents once a month. An archive of newsletters is also posted to our school website under the For Parents tab. Our school website can be found HERE. Please visit this page often for information about our school. You will find links to important documents, websites from your child's classroom, PTA forms and information, and important updates and forms that you will need to access.
Please follow us on Twitter @PleasantLakeEl to be updated regularly on important events at our school and fun pictures of student events and learning!
REMIND 101
We also offer Remind 101 to all PLE parents. How does it work? If you would like to receive a quick text message on your cell phone or device, just sign up with us and you receive a quick text to remind you of important school events, deadlines, time frames, etc. at PLE. You can unsubscribe at any time.
To join, send a text to (586) 649-3482 and enter the message @mrmakt
You can opt-out of messages at anytime by replying, 'unsubscribe @mrmakt'.