Allyson Smith, Principal at Wacousta Elementary
January 16, 2026
Important Upcoming Dates
January 19: No Students - MLK Day - preserved as a day of service & reflection
February 3: PTIA Meeting 6:00 p.m.
February 6: Snack Shop
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
Highlights and Happenings from Ms. Smith
This week, Grand Ledge proudly hosted the Future of Learning Council conference, welcoming educators and school leaders from across the state to collaborate, learn, and think together about the future of education. It was energizing to see our schools serve as a hub for innovation and professional learning.
We were also honored to hear from State Superintendent Glen Maleyko, who shared his priorities for Michigan schools. It was affirming to see how closely those priorities align with the work already underway in Grand Ledge, and in many ways, how our district is helping lead the way. I am incredibly proud to be a Comet and grateful to work in a forward-thinking district that continually puts students, learning, and community at the center of everything we do.
Specials Spotlight
Check out what is happening in art: Wacousta Art January 2026 Newsletter
Calling all 4th Graders to Battle of the Books!
Delta Township District Library and Grand Ledge Area District Library are excited to present Battle of the Books 2026. Our 18th annual program will include engaging reads, fun activities, and friendly competition. Participants will form teams and read books from our 2026 battle booklist, then compete in trivia battles that test their book knowledge. The program is for kids in fourth grade and up, teens, and adults. Families are encouraged to participate together. All participants will be rewarded. Top teams will win gift cards. The library will be presenting the program to 4th grade students on January 21. We hope to put a Wacousta team together!
Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run will be coming to Wacousta this spring! This program will enable our 3rd and 4th grade girls to build life skills while working towards the ultimate goal of running a 5K in mid-May. More information on registering students will be coming in January. For right now, we are recruiting coaches. All coaches need to be 18, complete a coach application, consent to and complete a background check, complete an in-person coach training on January 31 or February 7, and commit to attending 2 ninety-minute practices a week. Practices will be held right after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting February 24th, for 10 weeks. If you're interested and would like more information, please contact our head coach, Mrs. Ries, at riess@glcomets.net.
2026-2027 School Year
I know it is hard to think about next year already, but the Board of Education approved the school calendar for next school year. Here is the 2026-2027 GLPS District Calendar! It is a 2-page pdf. The first page provides a visual overview, and the second page lists the specifics. We hope this is helpful in your planning.
January’s Lunch Menu
Check out the January 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
