December 5, 2025
Important Upcoming Dates
December 11-12: Holiday Shop
December 22 - January 2: Winter Break - No School
January 5: Staff Professional Development - No School
January 6: School Resumes
January 9: Snack Shop
Highlights and Happenings from Ms. Smith
As we enter the month of December, we look forward to enjoying the fun of old and new winter traditions in our school community. In the weeks ahead, students will have the opportunity to participate in our Spirit Week activities, classroom winter celebrations, and our annual all-school sing-along, among other things. These activities provide wonderful opportunities for students and families to come together, build memories, and enjoy the sense of connection that makes Wacousta so special.
Spirit Week
Spirit Week will take place the week of December 15. You’ll find the details on how your student can participate in the fun HERE.
Helpful Tips for Winter from our Occupational Therapist, Sylvia McBride
With winter now here, we’ve noticed that some students are having difficulty tying their shoes and zipping their jackets. To support them, we wanted to share a few simple strategies and resources that may be helpful at home.
One common challenge we see with zippers is that students often hold the coat on the same side as the zipper pull (usually out of habit), rather than holding the opposite side to keep it steady.
To help with both shoe tying and zipping skills, we’ve created a short slide deck with videos demonstrating easy, kid-friendly methods. These techniques can make a big difference in building independence and confidence.
As a fun example, one first-grade class I work with practices, “Home Run Derby,” where students recite important personal information like their birthdate, address, and a parent’s phone number and then practice tying their shoes. Little routines like this can turn practice into a fun challenge.
We hope these resources are helpful as we work together to build these important self-help skills. If you have any questions or would like additional support, please feel free to reach out.
Pancake Breakfast
The Grand Ledge Softball Team is hosting a Pancake Breakfast this weekend. Don’t miss out on a great meal and an opportunity to support our Comets.
Holiday Parties - December 18
Parties: Class parties will take place from 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. Check with your classroom teacher regarding volunteer opportunities.
Sing-along: Our all school sing-along will begin at 3:00 p.m. Families are invited to join us in the gym. We will open the doors to parents and begin calling classrooms to the gym at 2:45 p.m.
Dismissal: If you plan to take your child home after the sing-along, you must indicate with the office that they will be parent pick-up before Tuesday, December 16th, at 4:00 p.m. Students identified as pick-up will be dismissed from their classrooms following the conclusion of the sing-along.
From the PTIA
Holiday Shop will take place on December 11th and 12th. We will need lots of volunteers to help make this happen. If you are interested in volunteering, please click here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050449A4AF29A0FE3-59890831-holiday. Thank you for considering!
Community Survey - From Dr. Barnes on November 7
An important part of our learning process is also gathering data. We examine academic data, like tests and grades; behavior data, like attendance and discipline instances; and survey data. Through our partnership with an organization called Boldly Moving Education Ahead (BMEA), our district leadership team is sending surveys to staff to better understand climate and culture. In addition, we would like some feedback from you! Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey about how our schools support you and your family. The data we gather from you will help our leadership team better meet your family’s needs around relationships, communication, and support. Thank you for taking the time to tell us how we are doing!
Wacousta Art Studio News
Check out what’s happening at each grade level in our Wacousta Art Studio News Letter. Here is the link: VISUAL ART NOV/DEC NEWSLETTER
November’s Lunch Menu
Check out the December 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.
Holiday Support Needs
Information for family support during the holidays can be found in the Community Information section of the district news, linked below.
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
