August Updates - 8/11/2025

August Updates- 8/11/2025

Hello Wacousta Families!
I hope you’re enjoying a summer filled with fun, rest, and family time! While there are still a few weeks left to soak up the sunshine, here at Wacousta, we are already beginning to prepare for an exciting school year ahead. Classrooms are being cleaned and spruced up, new materials are arriving, and we’re welcoming some wonderful new staff members to our team. 

I’ll be sending a full back-to-school update as we get closer to the first day of school, but for now, I wanted to check in, say hello, and let you know how excited we are to see all of our Comets back soon!

Important Dates
August 18, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.      Kindergarten Launch
August 18, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.      Kindergarten Parent Meeting (If you attended the spring K meeting, you do NOT need to
                                                          attend again in August)
August 19, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.      Kindergarten Launch
August 21, 4:30 - 6:00 p.m        Kindergarten Open House
August 21, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.       New Family (Grades 1-4) Open House
August 21, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.       Elementary Open House
August 26, 8:40 a.m.                   First Day of School (Early Dismissal 2:50 p.m.)
August 29 - September 1            No School - Labor Day Weekend
September 9th - 9:00 a.m.       Picture Day

Morning Drop Off and End of Day Pick Up Times
School begins at 8:55 a.m. The building will open at 8:40 a.m. Due to staffing and supervision logistics, students cannot be released from buses (office entrance) or parent drop off (gym entrance) locations before 8:40 a.m. End of day classroom dismissal for students going to parent pick up (gym door entrance) will start at 3:50 p.m. Arrival and dismissal procedures will be forthcoming, but we wanted to make sure everyone had these times well in advance for planning purposes.

New Staff Members
Our new fourth grade team!
Rose Babicz:  Ms. Babicz completed her internship at Wacousta Elementary School last year, and we are happy to have been able to keep her in the family. A graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Education, she holds a teaching major in Special Education–Learning Disabilities with an Elementary Education endorsement for grades 3–6. She has experience adapting instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and facilitating small group and whole group lessons in reading and math. She is dedicated to fostering social-emotional growth by leading daily morning meetings, implementing effective classroom management strategies, and maintaining strong communication with families to support student success.

Lily O’Brien:  Mrs. O’Brien completed her degree in Elementary Education at Ferris State University’s College of Education in May of 2025. She also completed her student teaching at Wacousta Elementary School, in fourth grade, where she gained valuable experience in lesson planning, classroom management, and differentiating instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners. She was one of our pilot teachers for our new reading adoption, so we will look to learn from her and her experiences with our new curriculum. Mrs. O’Brien is passionate about fostering a positive and inclusive classroom environment. She enjoys building strong relationships with students and creating engaging learning experiences that promote curiosity, critical thinking, and academic growth.

Britni Morgan: Mrs. Morgan earned her Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development from The University of Texas at Austin and holds an Early Childhood–6th Grade ESL Generalist certification. She most recently taught fourth grade at Rowe Lane Elementary in Texas. Mrs. Morgan is skilled in fostering collaboration, integrating project-based learning, and leading daily social-emotional learning activities. She is committed to creating a supportive, inclusive, and high-achieving classroom environment. Be sure to welcome Mrs. Morgan to Michigan!

Second Grade
Julie Gill: Mrs. Gill lives in St. Johns with her husband of 32 years. Together they’ve raised four amazing children. They are thrilled to be expecting their first grandchild this December! She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Cornerstone University and later completed her Master’s degree through Grand Canyon University. This year marks her 20th year in education. Throughout her career, she has enjoyed roles as an instructional coach and classroom teacher, having taught first, second, and fourth grades. She is incredibly excited to join the Wacousta teaching staff and looks forward to being part of such a wonderful school community.

Teacher Assistant
Shelby Thelen: Ms. Thelen comes to Wacousta from St. Johns Public Schools where she worked as a paraprofessional in a special education classroom. She brings valuable experience supporting students with emotional impairments and is known for her strong relationships with students and her willingness to jump in wherever help is needed. Ms. Thelen has a genuine love for working with kids and is a wonderful addition to our school community.

Physical Education Teacher
While not new to Wacousta, Ryan Dinsmore will be our new physical education teacher. We are excited to have him in this new role!

Teacher Assignments
Teacher assignments will be available in PowerSchool beginning August 21, at 3:00 p.m. The Wacousta team has put great care and thought into creating well-balanced classrooms that support the academic and social needs of all students. Many factors are considered when placing students. Our goal is always to create the best possible learning environment for each child. We appreciate your trust and support as we prepare for a great year ahead.

School Supplies
If you're starting your back-to-school shopping, you can find everything your child will need for the year on our website. Please know that we will ensure all students have the supplies they need to fully participate in all classroom activities, but teachers do appreciate your support. 

We’re so grateful for your partnership and can’t wait to welcome our students back soon. Keep an eye out for more updates as we get closer to the first day of school. There is so much to look forward to! Until then, enjoy the sunshine.

Allyson Smith
Principal, Wacousta Elementary School

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