Gretchko Newsletter
September 29, 2023
Principal's Update
Hello Team WB!
Despite the rain, we've had a "sunny" week at Gretchko. The week culminated in our first bagel day! On our monthly bagel days, you can send your child in with $2 cash or purchase a bagel punch card, new this year. See below for more information.
With October right on our heels, please put our Spooktacular event on your family calendar. This is a terrific evening event to bring our families together! This year's Spooktacular will be on October 27th from 5-7pm. This is one of many amazing ways the PTO supports us at Gretchko. Please remember to pay your scholastic dues and to donate now that FunD Run is done, which are the PTO's primary fundraising events.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Warmly,
Jen Teal, Principal
Star Slip Winners
Reese Schlenker, Cillian Fialon, Mason Ajo, Mia Kanarskaya-Noskov, Dylan Buxton, Jade Zietlow, Jade Crowe, Parker Weekes, Bella Tyson, Lucas Caruso, Vera Munson, Armani Daniels, Kennedy Markarian, Dominik Arman, Nicholas Thiry, and Scarlett Zietlow!
Music Notes
During the first quarter we are focusing on keeping a steady beat and learning about rhythm. We introduce and experience various activities to help practice and develop an understanding of these concepts. We also have a lot of fun. Shine bright Gretchko Stars!
Attached are some photos from various classes
Elementary Progress Reports: September 30th!
We are proud of the connection between teachers and families at Gretchko! One additional way we will be communicating with families this year is through a progress report that is visible in Power School half way through each quarter. This will be in addition to the quarterly report card. Parents/Guardians are invited to check in on their child's progress by viewing the progress report that will be available beginning September 30, 2023. Please note that the progress report will only show your child's progress on a few select standards. Additional standards will be marked at the quarter card marking.
See the slideshow here for directions, which includes a video on slide 1 of the full process.
How to Find Student Emails and Passwords
While K-2 students may not be using their WBSD email accounts just yet, this information is shared to help you in the event you need to use it to login to one of our educational apps.
Need help finding your student's WBSD email and password to login to various educational platforms? Simply login to PowerSchool and then see the circled area below in the picture. The "Google Account UN" is the student's email address, and the "Google Account PW" is the password for that email account.
Fund Run Update
Attendance
West Bloomfield School District expects students to be in school and on time for school on a daily basis. Our school day starts at 9:10am and ends at 4:02pm. 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.
- 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.
- Students arriving after 10:15 a.m. will be marked absent for the full morning. If a student is picked up before 3:00 p.m. they will be marked absent for the full afternoon.
District Health Policies
It remains the District’s goal to keep our students and staff as healthy as possible. Please see the attached link for the sick policy.
We continue to follow Oakland County Health recommendations as it pertains to Covid which include:
Masks are optional. Individuals may choose to wear or not to wear a mask.
Positive/Probable cases - the health department recommends you isolate according to these guidelines:
- Students, teachers, and staff who test positive for COVID-19 and/or display COVID-19 symptoms should isolate regardless of vaccination status.
- If asymptomatic, monitor for symptoms for days 0-10, AND
Isolate at home for days 0-5 (day “0” is the day symptoms begin or the day test was taken for those without symptoms), AND
If symptoms have improved or no symptoms develop, return to school. A mask is recommended for days 6 -10.
Regardless of vaccination status, if exposed to an individual with COVID-19, the county health department recommends:
- SCHOOL EXPOSURES
- Close contact monitors symptoms for 10 days.
- Consider wearing a mask for 10 days following exposure.
- Test if symptoms develop.
- PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD EXPOSURES*
- Monitor symptoms for 10 days.
- Wear a mask around others for 10 days following exposure.
- Test 3-7 days after exposure or if symptoms develop.
- Avoid unmasked activities or activities with higher risk of exposing vulnerable individuals.
- *Personal/Household contacts include individuals you share living spaces with, including bedrooms, bathrooms, living room, and kitchens. It also includes those who live together, sleep over, carpool or have direct exposure to respiratory secretions from a positive individual (e.g. kissing, sharing drinks, changing diapers, etc.).
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our district nurse. To review the message sent to WBSD Families, click here.
Robin Rees, WBSD School Nurse
Upcoming Celebrations
Filipino American History Month
Italian American Heritage Month
LGBT History Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Polish American Heritage Month
Red Ribbon and Anti-Bullying Month
9/29-10/6: Sukkot
10/9: Indigenous Peoples Day / National Native American Day
10/10: World Mental Health Day
10/15-24: Navaratri
10/17: Spirit Day - wear purple to support LGBTQ+ youth & speak out against bullying
10/31: Halloween
Global Equity Team (G.E.T.)
G.E.T. exists to build a community that supports a restorative culture through relationships and educational equity for all. The three main focus points of the Global Equity Team are student outreach, culture and climate, and training and development.
Who will we be as a team?
We are students, caregivers, staff; and anyone who is part of the West Bloomfield community! Anyone who is passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion, and social-emotional health and well-being can join our G.E.T. Each building has two slots for partnership at this time.
What kind of work might G.E.T. be involved in?
Continued learning around equity topics
Shared articles, learning, and discussion around various topics relevant to our school and district
Examining school materials with an equity lens
Development of language protocols on school documents
Reviewing and updating school policies and practices through an equity lens
Sharing classroom practices that lift up equity work
Discussion of concerns that arise around equity within a building
Elevating student's voice
Our next meeting will be held on Oct 18, 2023.
Passive Fundraising for our PTO
District Wide Free Meal Information
For the 2023-24 school year, the State of Michigan created the Michigan School Meals Program allowing all students to receive one free breakfast and lunch meal daily at school, no matter their free/reduced meal status. However, filling out a free/reduced meal form is very important to families who are eligible and for the District to receive funding.
Family Benefits for Qualifying for Free/Reduced Meals
When families qualify for free/reduced price meals, students may be eligible for the following benefits:
Reduced Summer School fees
Reduced field trip fees with request
Reduced SAT, ACT and AP testing fees
Reduced college application fees
Potential additional benefits for Bridge Cards/P-EBT
Potential support for household cable/internet
Potential programs that provide holiday support
West Bloomfield School District Benefits for Qualifying Free/Reduced Meal Families
Did you know the federal government uses the number of free/reduced meal eligible students to determine how much money the district receives in grant funding?
West Bloomfield School District becomes eligible for Federal funds (Title I) when qualifying families fill out their free/reduced meal applications. If families do not fill out their forms, the District is at risk of losing funding for staff who provide critical services to our students.
Visit the application page to view the complete the application today!
À La Carte Items
Students are welcome to bring meals from home and purchase à la carte items as needed (including milk, second meals, bottled beverages and snack items).
Math Is Fun!
Our students use a math curriculum called Bridges. Each month, we will send you resources in our newsletter to let you know what unit the students are working on as well as to give you ideas on how to extend your child's math learning at home. For the month of September, the resources are as follows:
Coat Drive
Trivia Night November 2, 2023
Gretchko Calendar
September
9/25 - No School
9/27 - Marco’s Pizza Night
9/29- Bagel Day and Gretchko Spirit Wear Day
October
10/4 -Oakland County - Student Count Day
10/10 - PTO General Meeting at 7:00
10/11 - Late Start (School begins at 10:10)
10/23-26 - Vision Screening at Gretchko
10/25 - Late Start ( school begins a 10:10)
- Marco’s Pizza Night
10/27- Spooktacular 5:00 - 7:00 pm
10/27- Bagel Day and Hat Day
November
11/3- Fall Parties (during school)
11/7 - No School
11/8 - PTO General Meeting at 7:00 pm
11/13 - 11/16 - Marco’s Pizza Box Week
11/14 - Conferences
11/17- Half Day of School (Dismissal 12:12)
- Bagel Day and Favorite Sports Team Day
11/22-11/26 - Thanksgiving Break
11/ 27,28,30 - Hearing screening
11/29 - Late Start (school begins at10:10)
December
12/1 - Hearing screening
12/13 - Late Start (School begins at 10:10)
12/15 - Bagel Day and Crazy Hair Day
12/20 - Marco’s Pizza Night
12/23-1/7 - Winter Break No School
*All dates are subject to change*
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/
Gretchko Contact Information
Website: https://www.wbsd.org/gretchko-elementary-school-home
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.