Gretchko Newsletter
September 23, 2022
NO SCHOOL - - -FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 AND MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
PRINCIPAL'S UPDATE
Dear Team WB!
Well, the fall weather waited to arrive this year, and it worked out well for our annual FunD Run last Friday, which was an absolute blast! It was so much fun to see our students getting outside for some exercise and school spirit. My only sad realization is that many of your kiddos are flat-out faster than I am!
Thank you to our PTO for volunteering and thank you to all of our families who were able to come cheer our students on. We are now collecting the fundraising money from this event, which is our PTO's primary fundraiser for the school year and supports the purchase of classroom materials, assemblies, student experiences, and more. Please return your FunD Run donations via cash or check made out to Gretchko PTO and read below for information on exciting prizes!
On Thursday, September 29th, I'd like to invite you to join me for our first Gretchko Global Equity Team meeting. ALL ARE WELCOME. We'll be meeting from 8:00-8:50am in the Gretchko i-Center. To learn more, click here.
Next Friday, September 30th, we have our annual Meet the Families event right here at Gretchko. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to get to know other Gretchko families and give your children time to play together out on the playground while you chat with old and new friends. I look forward to seeing you there between 4:30-6:30pm on Friday, September 30th.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Jen Teal, Principal
FEATURED BOOK
I Promise by LeBron James
Remember to click the title for the read aloud!
I Promise is a lively and inspiring picture book that reminds us that tomorrow’s success starts with the promises we make to ourselves and our community today.
WB Library Announces Summer Readers
Congratulations to our Top 5 Summer Readers!
Kudos to all of the WBSD students that participated in the West Bloomfield Public Library Summer Reading Program. Students logged the time that they spent reading over the summer from
June 11 - September 2.
Gretchko School's top readers this year are--
Mila Davis, Grayson Davis, Terry Bergstrom, John Paul Radbata, & Neil Ramesh
BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK
The goal is to make sure that no child goes hungry on the weekend. Run by volunteers, there is NO cost to families.This program sends six non-perishable meals home each Friday of the school year.
Please see the application here.
For more information visit: https://www.blessingsinabackpackmi.org/west-bloomfield-keego-harbor/
Community Education Offerings
Fall Offerings
Check out WBSD Community Education After the Bell and Saturday classes here. Current offerings: Sunset Theatre "SING!", Wave Soccer, Drawing with Young Rembrandts, Karate with True Martial Arts, Dodgeball with Teacher/Coach RJ Degrendel, Wrestling with Teacher/Coach Tom DeGrand and back by popular demand Saturday Youth Basketball with Teacher/Coach Jeremy Denha.
STUDENT ART COMPETITION
Hot Works Fine Art Show & Craft Shows are juried by art professionals and brings local and national professional artists to sell art in all discipline including paintings, sculpture, clay, glass, fiber, jewelry, wood and more. All art is original and personally handmade by the artist who is present at the show. There is something for everyone, in all price ranges.
As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, a Youth Art Competition is integrated within a 10x20 space at each of Hot Works Fine Art Shows listed below:
Orchard Lake Fine Art Show, West Bloomfield, MI:
___ July 29 & 30, 2023 – Grades K-8/Ages 5-13
Competition Details:
- All students in grades K-8/6-12 or ages 5-13/9-19 (depending on the show) are encouraged to enter his/her original and personally handmade art that will be publicly displayed in the art show the entire weekend.
- $250 Youth Art Competition Awards Presented Each Show – judging is based on originality, technique, execution:
- $100 “Best of Youth Art”
- $50 “Youth Art Awards of Excellence” (Three winners)
- Each winner also receives a beautiful two-foot-long ribbon.
This unique and one-of-a-kind program exposes students to the rules and entrepreneurship opportunity of doing art shows for a living. The program brings families to the art show and exposes them to great art.
Click here for the Youth Art Application. The application fee is $3, maximum two entries per student
Patty Narozny
Executive Producer, Hot Works Fine Art & Craft Shows
Founder, Institute for the Arts & Education, Inc.
941-755-3088
Special Bonus -Goldfish Swim registration
When registering, please use the code GRETCHKO and the Goldfish Swim Company will donate $25.00 to the Gretchko PTO.
Math Rocks--September Resources
Please take a look at the links below to find a brief and informative resource that will give you insight into your child's learning with our math curriculum, Bridges.
Still looking for several Emergency Sheets
Please don't forget to update your student's emergency information. We are sending a second request home for the student Emergency Sheets still missing from our files. If you receive an emergency sheet this week please correct and return the form to school as soon as possible. Thank you for your prompt response.
West Bloomfield Public Libary
Book Lists
· History in the Making – Hispanic American History (Kids)
· Hispanic Heritage Month (Teen)
Summer Reading Survey
As the library wraps up its annual Summer Reading Program, staff are looking for feedback to help improve the program in future years. Take the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/wb_sr22. Please respond by Thursday, September 22 to ensure your feedback is heard.
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month
Celebrate with us by designing a bookmark showing why you love your library! Residents of all ages are welcome to register for a bookmark design kit. Completed bookmark designs must be submitted by September 30 for consideration. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place designs, and the 1st place winner’s design will be reprinted and distributed by the library.
Fall Youth Programs Begin Next Week!
Register now to save your spot for next week’s sessions of Move and Groove (ages birth-5 years), Positively Preschool (ages 3-5), & Terrific Tots (ages 1-3). Multiple sessions of Move & Groove and Terrific Tots will be offered at the Main Library & Westacres Branch. A Drop-In Afternoon Craft will also be available at the Westacres Branch for ages 3-10 on Monday, September 19 from 3-5 p.m.
Important COVID-19 Updates and Sick Policy
1. It remains District policy that if your child is sick, please report their absence to the Safeline number (248-865-6572) and keep them home until their symptoms have improved. The District's sick policy can be found HERE.
2. Please note there is no longer a COVID-19 Dashboard on our website. WBSD is in frequent contact with and follows the guidance of the Oakland County Health Department. If you would like more information about this guidance, please visit: https://www.oakgov.com/covid
3. A distinction will no longer be made between potential exposures and “close contacts.” Families will receive a letter if a student is exposed to someone with COVID-19.
4. ALL Covid-19 updates can be found on this page: https://www.wbsd.org/parents/covid-19
BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATE FORUM
If you missed the Board of Education Candidate Forum this week at West Bloomfield High School, click here to view the recording. Community members had the opportunity to pose questions to the candidates. The Candidate Forum was conducted by the League of Women Voters and students from Oakland Early College
SHUTTLES AVAILABE TO EASE CAR LOOP LINE
WBSD offers parents and guardians the opportunity to have their students ride a shuttle bus at a couple of locations to allow parents to pick up their students in a shorter time. Gretchko has a shuttle that drops students off/picks up at Bethany Baptist Church located on Hiller Road. A second shuttle is dropping off at Spirit of Grace Church on Orchard Lake Road near Middlebelt. If you are interested in having your student ride either of these shuttles, PLEASE CLICK HERE. You will need to fill out the form digitally and email to greg.campbell@wbsd.org or hand deliver to the Transportation Department at 3340 Orchard Lake Road. Students will be assigned a seat on the bus based on order received and space availability.
STUDENT SAFETY procedures in place at Gretchko
Please review and follow this partial list of general safety procedures in place at Gretchko.
All doors will be locked after the school day has begun.
All adults entering the building are required to sign in at the front lobby.
All volunteers will submit and be approved through i Chat documentation.
Late students, visitors and volunteers will buzz at the front WEST door, wait for the door to be unlocked then enter the building.
Adults will wear a visitor’s sticker until they leave the building.
Adults must sign students out from the office when leaving the building. (This includes the end of the school day).
Student transportation changes should be written out and recorded in the office.
Students will not be dismissed from the classroom door.
Students boarding busses will be escorted outside by adult staff.
Students riding with parents/caregivers will be escorted from the cars by adult staff during designated drop-off and pick-up times.
Resident students pre-arranged to walk to and from school will be signed out in the front lobby at the end of the day.
The welcome atmosphere felt at Gretchko would not be complete without the participation of our parents and their families. We count on their support throughout all of our educational efforts. We are hoping to see you at as many school activities as possible.
STAY CONNECTED!
In order to stay up to date on all events, resources, and programs, please access the district website, www.wbsd.org. Join in the conversations by connecting with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
At this point in time, new students and students that have moved or changed their information, may not be receiving direct emails. We are in the process of updating all the information and expect to have the additions and changes recorded shortly. In the meantime, we are sending this newsletter to provide information we have that you may have missed.
GRETCHKO CALENDAR
23rd- No School
26th- No School
28th- Marco’s Pizza Fundraiser Day
30th- Bagel Day - $1
30th- Gretchko Spirit Day
30th- Meet the Families
October
5th- No School
20th- Gretchko PTO General Meeting 7:00 pm
26th- Marco’s Pizza Fundraiser Day
28th- Bagel Day - $1
21st- Spooktacular - 5:00 - 7:00 pm (costumes welcome)
28th- Fall Classroom Parties - afternoon, Spirit Day (Orange and Black)
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.