Allyson Smith, Principal at Wacousta Elementary
October 30, 2026
Important Upcoming Dates
November 1: Daylight Saving Time Begins - Turn 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
Wacousta was filled with plenty of Halloween magic this week! From creative crafts and spooky snacks to amazing costumes and classroom celebrations, we had so much fun celebrating together. The Halloween parade was a highlight, and seeing our students proudly show off their costumes made it even more special. Thank you to all the families who came out to watch the parade, to volunteer in classrooms, and to be part of the festivities.
Please keep all the delicious candy and treats students receive over the weekend at home, and continue to fill their snacks and lunches with healthy foods that fuel their bodies for learning at school.
If you are looking for a resource to contribute small amounts of extra candy to, our STEAM teacher is in need of donations for a class project. You or your students can pass along Gummy Bears, Jelly Beans, Star Bursts, or Hershey chocolate bars. Please drop them off in the office by Friday, November 6th. Thank you in advance for your consideration!
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 talk about how we can continue supporting their learning, both academically and socially-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.
Book Fair - FALL in Love with Reading
Our FALL Book Fair is right around the corner, and you’re invited to come and Celebrate Reading!
The Book Fair brings a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level that kids want to read. It gives students an opportunity to choose their own books and to add books to their library at home.
Students will have an opportunity to preview books and make purchases at school starting from Monday, November 9, through Friday, November 13, and during Parent/Teacher Conferences.
We will also have on display, in the Media Centre, our teachers' Classroom Book Wishes section. The books will have been chosen by your student(s) teacher and are at an appropriate reading level and of interest to their classes. We hope you will consider donating a book to your child’s classroom.
Thank you for choosing the school Book Fair. Together, we’ll inspire a love of reading that will last a lifetime! Profits from the Book Fair are used to add books and supplies to our school Media Center.
If you have any questions, please call Mrs. Patrick at 517-925-5940. Thank you for your support!
The Book Fair will be open to “EVERYONE “ during the following hours:
⚜ Monday, November 9 - Friday, November 13, 2026 during regular School Hours
⚜ Tuesday, November 10 and Thursday, November 12, 5-8 pm. During Parent - Teacher Conference
PTIA Fundraiser - Charleston Wrap
Thursday started our fundraiser! We are officially kicking off our fundraiser with Charleston Wrap® – and we need YOUR help!
This fundraiser is crucial in helping us raise money to fulfill teacher requests and support upcoming field trips. Packets went home with your student today. Students are able to register right away. The fundraiser runs through December 4th.
Students are able to earn prizes when people visit their link and also when items are sold. Prizes will be delivered to classrooms on Fridays.
Counselor’s Connection
Here is a quick look at the social-emotional skills our students have been practicing in school counseling lessons over the last couple of weeks:
⏺ Managing Worry (4th): Students learned to recognize the feeling of worry in their thought patterns (i.e. “what if…?”) and with their body signals (i.e. tight muscles). They learned strategies to take care of worried feelings as they arise.
⏺ Perspective taking (3rd): Students explored the concept that their own point of view might differ from someone else’s. We practiced building empathy by considering the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of others.
⏺ Solution Wheel Review (1st and 2nd): We completed our unit on problem solving! Students reviewed conflict resolution options (ignore, walk away, talk-it-out, apologize, etc.) and practiced using the solution wheel to choose the best strategy for different real-life scenarios.
⏺ Navigating Uncomfortable Feelings (Kindergarten): Students learned to identify “uncomfortable” emotions like sadness, worry, and anger. We introduced the hand model of the brain to help them understand how they react to big uncomfortable feelings. The Guard Dog alerts us to danger and causes uncomfortable body feelings (i.e. fast heartbeat, quick breathing, butterflies in stomach) and the Wise Owl is the thinking brain that makes calm, safe, and smart choices.
Counselor’s Tip for Parents:
Connect body sensations to emotions (part II): When you notice uncomfortable feelings in your child, ask them, "What clues is your body giving you right now?" (e.g., tight muscles, racing heart, or butterflies). Recognizing physical signals helps bring our “Wise Owl”/"thinking brain" back online.
Choose the Tool: Ask, "what's one tool or solution we can try right now?" Whether it's taking deep breaths to calm a "Guard Dog" brain, reframing a worry thought, or picking a solution from a solution wheel (here’s one you can use at home). Practicing choices at home builds lifelong resilience!
Kelsey Burzynski, MEd, EdS, NCC
Wacousta Elementary School Counselor
Office Phone: 517-925-5972
Wacousta Counseling Website
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 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
Attendance and Truancy: Reminders
We are starting to see an increase in student absences, and therefore want 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 help 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 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.
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!
November 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
