Gretchko Newsletter
November 17, 2023
Principal's Update
Hello Team WB!
I don't even know where to begin this week; it's been an absolute blast! To help our students celebrate World Kindness Day on Monday of this week, we participated in a whole-school activity. Student and adults were invited to write one way they showed kindness on a heart. Hearts were then collected and assembled by several of our rockstar Gretchko staff, and the Kindness Rainbow you see in the photo above s on display in the hallway for all students to see.
Below, you'll see photos from our Mad Science assemblies today. Mad Science brought in a program called "Up, Up, and Away," which uses fun science experiments to teach students all about air. Electric Emily--the presenter--taught kiddos all about hot air rising, vacuum pressure, how air and fire interact, and how high and low pressure impact wind. It was so fun to watch the students' absolute joy. A huge thank you to PTO for supporting this assembly!
I am also very excited to share that we are almost done with our 30 Read Alouds to Thanksgiving challenge. As of today, I counted the total number of Read Alouds across the building since the first week of October, and we have collectively done 836 read alouds as a school community. We hope you have been joining us from home as well. Today, again thanks to PTO, we sent each student home with a reading highlighter as a reward for their commitment to reading aloud at school and at home.
Next week, we only have 2 days of school, with November 22-24 being no school days for Thanksgiving. I would like to take this opportunity to share how grateful we are for all of our Gretchko families and your support. We truly could not do it without you. A special thank you to everyone who gives their time to volunteer, whether from home or in the building. We hope all of our families have a wonderful break.
Warmly,
Jen Teal
Featured Book
Bowwow Powwow by Brenda Child
When Uncle and Windy Girl and Itchy Boy attend a powwow, Windy watches the dancers in their jingle dresses and listens to the singers. She eats tasty food and joins family and friends around the campfire. Later, Windy falls asleep under the stars. Now Uncle's stories inspire other visions in her head: a bowwow powwow, where all the dancers are dogs. In these magical scenes, Windy sees veterans in a Grand Entry, and a visiting drum group, and traditional dancers, grass dancers, and jingle-dress dancers–all with telltale ears and paws and tails. All celebrating in song and dance. All attesting to the wonder of the powwow.
Star Slip Winners
Congratulations to the following students whose names were drawn for the week of November 17. Eloise Lulgjura, Avery Warren, Kansas Powell, Jade Anderson, Leighton Collins, Nick Baker, Kade Daniels, Emery Marcozzi, Henry May, Benno Goeres, Teegan Pinter, Kenny Williams, Oliver Krull, Maya Mourtada, Maxwell Smith, and Alexandrea Karadolian.
ICenter News
We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming Scholastic Book Fair. This event is an opportunity for students of all ages to build their home libraries and further their love of reading. As always, all purchases benefit our school. Our Book Fair will take place from November 28 – December 7 in the Gretchko Makerspace. Students will shop during their iCenter time throughout the week.
Our Book Fair offers eWallet, a safe and secure alternative to cash. Simply create a free account to add funds and/or invite family and friends to contribute so your child can select their own books. Any unused funds can be spent at The Scholastic Store Online or to fund a future eWallet. As always, students may bring cash to shop, however the safest way to make sure money is not misplaced or lost on the bus, is to set up an eWallet for your child.
If you would rather shop from the comfort of your own home, then shop at our school’s Online Book Fair. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Your online orders will also benefit our school.
At this fair, we will be allowing parent volunteers to assist our young shoppers during their iCenter class times. Interested volunteers must complete a volunteer form and provide a copy of their driver’s license/ID to the school’s office staff. Once completed the paperwork is forwarded to HR for a background check, iCHAT, which is still required for all non-student volunteers. Visit our Book Fair homepage to get started with eWallet and online shopping. You can find our Book Fair Google Slide with all the links needed as well, and additionally the Parent Volunteer Signup.
We’re excited to celebrate our love of books together at the Gretchko Book Fair. I look forward to seeing your child there! Please see your child's shopping times below.
Thursday, December 7
Makeup shopping for anyone who was absent or forgot money on their shopping day.
Ruby Bridges Day
Schools across our nation celebrate Ruby Bridges on November 14th. In 1954 the US Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Brown v. the Board of Education ended racial segregation in public schools. In 1960 a federal court ordered Louisiana schools to desegregate. The school district created an entrance exam to see if African American students could handle being in an all-white school. Ruby passed the exam. The school district delayed their start and Ruby's first day of school was November 14, 1960. Ruby braved William Frantz Elementary School on her own. Now, schools across the nation celebrate Ruby and her bravery! At Gretchko, students read I Am Ruby, written by Ruby Bridges herself, made bravery bracelets, and participated in other activities focusing on the courage and kindness Ruby portrayed many years ago.
All are invited to the WBSD Redistricting Meeting
Gretchko Movie Night is Coming Soon
31aa Grant Spending Community Input Meeting
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:
Whole School Field Trip to WBHS
Monthly
- National Native American Heritage Month
- Movember
- Child Safety and Prevention Month
- Prematurity Awareness Month
- National Child Mental Health Month
- National Diabetes Awareness Month
- National Education/ Scholarship Month
- National Epilepsy Awareness Month
- National Family Caregivers Month
- National Family Literacy Month
Weekly:
- November 19-25 – International Restorative Justice Week
Daily in November
19 – International Men’s Day: a day uplifting the positive value men bring to the world, their families, and their respective communities
20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance
20 – World Children’s Day
23 – Thanksgiving
24 – Native American Heritage Day
27 – Jain New Year
26- Baha’i
28 – Giving Tuesday
29 – Women Wednesday
Art to Remember
An Introduction to Robotics
United We Walk Contest
November Lunch Menu
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.
Gretchko Calendar -Newly revised edition 11/5/23
November
11/22-11/26 - Thanksgiving Break
11/29 - Late Start (10:10)
December
12/1 - Movie Night 6:00 - 8:00
12//4 - Full school trip to WBHS "James and the Giant Peach"
12/13 - Late Start (10:10)
12/15 - Bagel Day and Crazy Hair Day
12/20 - Marco’s Pizza Night
12/23-1/7 - Winter Break
January
1/ 4 - Gretchko at Kalahari
1/ 8 - School Back in Session
1/10 - Late Start (10:10)
1/15 - MLK Jr. Day - No School
1/17 - Global Equity Team Meeting at 8:00 am
1/18 - Half Day (Dismissal 12:12)
1/19 - Half Day (Dismissal 12:12)
1/24 - Late Start (10:10)
1/26- Bagel and Tie Dye Day
1/31 - Marco’s Pizza Night
January
1/ 4 - Gretchko at Kalahari
1/ 8 - School Back in Session
1/10 - Late Start (10:10)
1/15 - MLK Jr. Day - No School
1/17 - Global Equity Team Meeting at 8:00 am
1/18 - Half Day (Dismissal 12:12)
1/19 - Half Day (Dismissal 12:12)
1/24 - Late Start (10:10)
1/26- Bagel and Tie Dye Day
1/31 - Marco’s Pizza Night
Technology Assistance Links
- Help with Canvas
- Help with Chromebook: www.wbsd.org/departments/technology
- Help with PowerSchool: www.wbsd.org/parents/powerschool
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.