Wacousta Weekly Newsletter

February 6, 2026

Important Upcoming Dates
February 11: STUDENT COUNT DAY 
February 13: No Students – Staff Professional Development 
February 16: No Students – Presidents' Day
March 3: Parent Teacher Conferences 5:00 - 8:00 pm
March 5: Parent Teacher Conferences 5:00 - 8:00 pm
March 6: Half Day for Students - Dismissal at 12:10 pm
March 6: Parent Teacher Conferences 1:00 - 3:00 pm Virtual Only
March 13: Snack Shop 9:00-11:00 am

Highlights and Happenings from Ms. Smith
February is a time when we recognize and celebrate Black History Month. It is an opportunity to honor the achievements, voices, and contributions of Black leaders, innovators, educators, artists, and community members who have shaped our country and our world. In our school community, we are grateful for the many perspectives, experiences, and voices that make us stronger. We remain committed to helping our students learn about history in meaningful ways while continuing to build a culture of respect, inclusion, and belonging for all.

RAMPED UP
We are proud to share that Wacousta Elementary has been recognized by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) as a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) school. This national recognition highlights our commitment to providing a high-quality, comprehensive school counseling program that supports the academic, social, and emotional growth of all students.

The RAMP designation is awarded to schools whose counseling programs align with the ASCA National Model, which focuses on using data to ensure students receive the support they need to be successful. Since the program began, more than 1,500 schools nationwide have earned this distinction. Research continues to show that strong, fully implemented school counseling programs positively impact student achievement, behavior, and overall well-being.

We are incredibly proud of the work of our school counselor, Kelsey Burzynski, and grateful to be part of a school community that prioritizes supporting the whole child.

Valentine’s Day Celebrations
Valentine’s Day is almost here, and we are excited to celebrate with some fun, classroom-based activities! Each classroom will plan its own celebration, and your child’s teacher will share any specific details with you. Please watch for information coming home from your child’s classroom teacher.

Grand Rapids Gold Basketball
Grand Rapids Gold basketball team will be hosting a special Wacousta Night! All Wacousta families are invited to attend and enjoy a game together. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a fun night of basketball. Please use this link to claim your tickets.

Handicap Parking
Please remember that our handicap parking spaces are reserved for families and visitors who need them due to a disability. We truly appreciate your cooperation in keeping these spots available for those who rely on them.

Attendance Reminders
In following standard practices across the district, we notify parents by letter when their student has reached the 6 and 10 whole-day thresholds of undocumented absences. 

A documented absence consists of a physician's note of excusal. Physician excused absences do not count towards truancy days. Also note that only the dates listed in the excusal will be recorded as documented absences. Please always request a doctor’s note from your student’s physician that covers the dates of the student’s illness related absence. File a copy of the physician’s note with our office staff so that we can update your student’s attendance record. Documented absences will be identified in your student’s attendance as AD - Absence Documented.

The district acknowledges that a student may be sick and may not need to be seen by a physician for an illness related absence.  We respect that parents make choices based on the best health outcome for their student, as well as for the general student population. We also recognize that there may be life events impacting a student's attendance. In these instances when you call your student’s absence in with an explanation for the absence it will be identified as AE - Absence  Explained in your student’s attendance record.  AE dates will count towards truancy days, but the explanation provided by the parents for the absences will be highly considered before a 15-day truancy referral would take place. If you have any questions about our attendance policy, feel free to reach out to the front office. 

Save the Date for the Comet Chase
The Grand Ledge Education Foundation Comet Chase 5K returns on Saturday, June 13, 2026, right here in Grand Ledge, Michigan, and it’s shaping up to be our biggest and best year yet!  

Whether you run, jog, or walk, this event is for everyone. You don’t have to be a runner to be part of the fun — just bring your Comet pride and join the community celebration! 

Why participate?
100% of proceeds support the Grand Ledge Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides extra funding for innovative classroom projects across Grand Ledge Public Schools.

Staff Participation and School Spirit Awards are back — rally your building teams and show your pride!

Every participant scores awesome shirts and finisher medals, plus age-group awards for our competitive racers.

Over the past two years, the Comet Chase has welcomed nearly 600 participants and grossed more than $20,000 for local classrooms. Let’s come together and make 2026 the most memorable year yet!  Lace up, team up, and be part of something that truly makes a difference. Register now for Early Bird Pricing - rates increase April 4th!

Outdoor Recess Reminder
I want to take a moment and iterate our outdoor recess policy, which is briefly explained in the elementary handbook on page 2. Students will be going outside during the day unless it is raining or below zero degrees with the windchill.  Please ensure your child has the appropriate winter attire to enjoy the season. The school does not have a plentiful supply of winter gear, so be sure your students are bringing those items to school. If you are a family in need of winter gear, please reach out to our counselor, Margo Hazelman.

February’s Lunch Menu
Check out the February lunch menu at grandledge.nutrislice.com. This website is helpful to check the breakfast and lunch menus of any building in the district. You can check for nutritional information, filter allergens, and translate the menu into 50+ languages! It's a very helpful tool for parents and staff members.

Snow Day Menu Changes: In the event of a snow day, the menu for the day students return will be what was planned for the snow day. The scheduled menu will resume the day after we return. This is done to have the least amount of waste.

Upcoming Events, District News, & Community Information
Please review what the school district shares in newsletters about events, news, and information, please visit http://glcomets.net/Upcoming

Allyson Smith
Principal, Wacousta Elementary School

9325 Herbison Rd., Eagle, MI  48822 (517) 925-5940 FAX (517) 925-5970