October 23, 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
A huge thank-you to our PTIA for organizing an incredible Trunk or Treat! Thank you to all the teachers and families who decorated trunks and to everyone who came out to join the fun. It was so much fun seeing all the creative trunks and costumes. I know events like this take a lot of work to plan and host, but our kids' smiles and laughter make it all worth it. Thank you PTIA!
Parent-Teacher Conferences - Registration
Parent-teacher conferences are a great opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher. It’s a time to celebrate their growth and discuss how we can continue supporting their learning academically, socially, and emotionally. We value the partnership we share with our families and encourage everyone to sign up for a conference! Please click HERE to sign up for a conference with your student(s) teacher(s). You’ll need to check your email after completing the first step to select a time slot and finalize registration.
Attendance and Truancy: Reminders
We are starting to see an increase in student absences, and therefore wanted to take a moment to remind everyone of the importance of being at school. While we understand that illnesses, family emergencies, and other unavoidable circumstances arise, regular attendance plays a vital role in a child's academic success, social development, and sense of belonging within our school community. By working together to prioritize consistent attendance whenever possible, we can help every student build the strong habits and foundation they need to thrive. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the district attendance policy found below, on the district website, and in the student handbook.
In order to be helpful and provide support for students and families, GLPS closely monitors explained and unexplained absences. We also work with families to ensure that as many absences as possible are documented, because undocumented absences can trigger truancy considerations.
Documented Absence (AD) - Absence that includes a note from a professional (ie: doctor, dentist, lawyer, etc.) to explain the absence. Absences are only considered documented for the days identified in the note. For example, if a doctor excuses a student for Monday and Tuesday, but the student is absent on Wednesday and Thursday as well, only Monday and Tuesday’s absences are considered documented. Any absence that does not include a note from a professional is considered undocumented.
Explained Absence (AE) - Undocumented absence in which a parent/guardian calls the office or sends a note to alert the school their child will not be in attendance but does not include a note from a professional (ie: doctor, dentist, lawyer, etc.). This is important because explained absences are necessary for schools to meet pupil accounting requirements.
Unexplained Absence (AU) - Undocumented absence in which a parent/guardian does not call the office to alert the school that their child will not be in attendance.
A student's school will send a letter after 6 full-day undocumented absences and after 10 full-day undocumented absences in a school year, providing you with notice of the absences and outlining steps to help your child attend school regularly.
A student's school will communicate with families if the student has undocumented absences on more than 10% of the first 30 days.
Ten (10) or more days of undocumented absences in a school year can be sent to court. However, GLPS will make every effort to work with you and your student before it gets to that point.
Please note that school related absences, such as field trips or athletic events, are not factored into any truancy related processes.
This is the district attendance policy as a standalone document. The district attendance policy is embedded in the board-approved student handbooks, which can be found here on our Family & Student Resources webpage. The standalone document was first shared by Superintendent Bill Barnes on September 13, 2024.
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. Please see this Parade Route Map for the parade route and the location for parents to enjoy watching the parade. 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 to 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!
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
