Allyson Smith, Principal at Wacousta Elementary
October 16, 2026
Important Upcoming Dates
October 26 & 27: Hearing & Vision Screenings
October 30: Halloween Parade, 3:00 pm
November 1: Daylight Saving Time Begins - Set Clocks back 1 hour
November 10: Parent-Teacher Conferences - in person, 5:00-8:00 pm
November 11: Veterans Day
November 12: Parent-Teacher Conferences - in person, 5:00 - 8:00 pm
November 13: ½ day of school, dismissal at 12:10 pm
November 13: Parent-Teacher Conferences - virtual, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
November 20: Snack Shop
November 25-27: Thanksgiving Break - No School
November 30: Staff Professional Development - No School
Highlights and Happenings from Ms. Smith
This month, our school-wide social-emotional focus is on emotional regulation. We are learning to recognize our emotions and what to do when those feelings get big. All of our classrooms are reading The Color Monster by Anna Llenas to help students identify and talk about different emotions. Feeling frustrated, worried, excited, or angry is a normal part of being human. What matters is learning how to respond to those feelings in ways that help us move forward. Throughout the month, we're recognizing students who can identify a big emotion, use a strategy to manage it, and return to learning. These are skills that take practice at every age, and we're proud of our Comets as they learn more about themselves and how to navigate challenging moments.
Last week, our staff spent time together during professional development working toward some of our larger goals as a school. Our school improvement committees focused on reading, math, and school culture (specifically, safety and belonging). We also spent time learning about trauma and how we can build resilience in our students. Understanding what children may carry with them into the classroom helps us respond with greater awareness and provide the support students need to navigate challenges.
I'm grateful to our community for supporting our staff with the time to learn and plan for the months ahead. I also hope you enjoyed a long weekend of rest and relaxation.
Halloween at Wacousta
Halloween is right around the corner, and we are excited to celebrate together!
Costumes: Costumes should be school-friendly - not too scary, no weapons or blood of any kind, and no full-face makeup. Costumes should be easy for students to put on and take off independently, as it will be difficult for staff to assist every student. We also ask that costumes can fit over school clothes so students can easily change in the classroom.
Parties: Class parties will take place from 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. on Friday, October 30th. Your child’s teacher will share specific details about activities, volunteers, and treats for their classroom celebration. To ensure that classrooms have enough space for games and activities, and to help our front office staff check in visitors smoothly and safely, volunteer spots will be limited to four per classroom. All volunteers must have completed the “Volunteer Application” process in order to work with students. The application can be found on the district website under the “Family & Student Resources” tab.
Parade: Our all-school parade will begin at 3:00 p.m. Families are invited to join us outside to watch. In the case of inclement weather, the parade will take place in the gym. Only students and staff will be allowed to enter the building after the parade.
Parking: Please park in the old school lot by the gym entrance.
Dismissal: If you plan to take your child home after the parade, you must indicate with the office that they will be parent pick-up by 2:00 pm. Students identified as pick-up will be dismissed from their classrooms at normal release time to go to parent pick-up.
In an effort to make pick-up go smoothly, please do not park in the pick-up line and get out of your car to get your student. Staff will bring your student to your vehicle. Please be sure to place your student(s) name(s) on an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper in your car window.
We’re looking forward to a fun and festive afternoon with our students and families!
Counselor’s Connection
Over the past few weeks, our classroom counseling lessons focused on recognizing body signals, understanding both the body and the brain, and taking care of ourselves and others. Here is a quick look at what your children learned:
Flipping-a-Lid (4th grade): Students learned the different parts of the brain using the hand model of the brain (prefrontal cortex/“Wise Owl,” amygdala/“Guard Dog,” and hippocampus/ “Memory Saver Elephant”) and how each part responds when we perceive danger. The “Wise Owl” flies away - “flipping their lid” - leaving the Guard Dog in charge of a fight-flight-freeze response.
Respect and Responsibility(3rd grade): Respect means caring for others’ thoughts, feelings, and beliefs and treating others how we and they want to be treated. We learned about how showing respect and taking responsibility benefits our classroom, schools, and community.
Problem-Solving (1st and 2nd): Students learned and practiced problem solving with peers using “Talk-it-out” (“I feel… When you… Could you please…?”) and a sincere three-part apology (“I’m sorry for… Next time I will… How can I make it better?”)
Calm, Alert, and Ready to Learn (BK/K): Students learned to identify comfortable feelings like happy, proud, and excited. They explore the internal body signals that accompany these feelings, learning how a calm body signals to the brain that they are focused and ready to learn.
Counselor’s Tip for Parents: Problem Solve at Home
Coach “Talk-It-Out” for conflicts: Act as a coach during sibling arguments or playdate disagreements. Keep a sticky note on the fridge with the prompts: “I feel… when you…could you please…?” and walk your child through the steps to talk-it-out. Follow it up by holding them accountable to use a sincere three-part apology: “I’m sorry for…next time I will… How can I make it better?” to actively repair the relationship.
Connect body sensations to emotions: Children do not always have the immediate words to define their feelings. Help them build emotional intelligence by narrating what you physically see happening during positive, comfortable moments. You might say “Look at how relaxed your muscles are and how slow and big your breathing is. Your body is doing a wonderful job signaling to your brain that you are calm, safe, and ready to learn!” This builds self-awareness so they can identify both comfortable and uncomfortable body signals in the future.
GLEAP - Christmas Food Baskets
The Grand Ledge Emergency Assistance Program (GLEAP) is currently taking applications for its annual Christmas Food Basket program for families who live in the Grand Ledge School District. Please click on the link below for the application. Once completed, please return it to your child’s classroom teacher or submit it to the office. GLEAP Christmas Food Basket
Lunch Helpers
We still have plenty of opportunities available for lunchtime help. If you haven’t had a chance to sign up as a lunch volunteer, please click on the link below; we’d love to have you! Lunch Time Help
Volunteering & Chaperoning
Anyone hoping to volunteer for Grand Ledge Public Schools is required to complete the Volunteer Registration Form and be approved prior to serving as a volunteer. All volunteers must check in at the office to receive a BADGE prior to proceeding to any other area on school property. Please visit the district website and complete the District Volunteer Application to complete the process. Please note: the background check takes a week to process, so submit your application in advance based on your volunteer plans.
Cell Phones and Watches
The use of cell phones, smart watches, or any other ECD are prohibited to be used during the school day. It is recognized that some students may need access to these devices for transportation purposes after school and are therefore permitted after dismissal. During school, however, cell phones, smartwatches, and other ECDs shall be turned off and stored away out of sight. If you are concerned that an electronic device might be stolen, broken, or inappropriately used, please do not allow your student to bring it to school.
Wacousta Spirit Wear
Looking for some Wacousta Spirit Wear? Check out our Wacousta Spirit Wear page for some new gear!
October Lunch Menu
Please check out the monthly lunch menu at grandledge.nutrislice.com. The website includes breakfast and lunch menus for all district buildings. You can check for nutritional information, filter allergens, and translate the menu into 50+ languages! We currently provide free breakfast and lunch.
Upcoming Events, District News, & Community Information
To 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
