Allyson Smith, Principal at Wacousta Elementary
February 13, 2026
Important Upcoming Dates
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
March 13: Snack Shop 9:00-11:00 am
March 27-April 3: Spring Break
April 6: No Students - Staff Professional Development
April 7: School Resumes
Parent Teacher Conferences - Registration
Parents, 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.
Highlights and Happenings from Ms. Smith
This week, our classrooms were filled with Valentine’s Day fun that included adorable crafts, silly games, and lots of heart-shaped candies. The celebrations are always something students look forward to, but what I love most is seeing the kindness they show each other every day. In the last few days, I witnessed a first grader helping a second grader carry his snow gear down the hall, a second grader walking a peer back to class, and a fourth grader consoling a classmate after a rough morning. It’s these small moments that make a big difference in our school each day. I spent some time this week asking students and teachers what they love most about Wacousta. Here are some of the things they shared.
Reasons We Love Wacousta Elementary
10. The students are O.P.E.N. Everyone is kind and welcoming.
9. The artwork is beautiful and creative. Our school is like an art museum.
8. Staff who manage to tie shoelaces, teach lessons, and find missing gloves all before lunch.
7. Friends are helpful at recess, in the cafeteria, in the hallways, and during.
6. Watching students grow in confidence (and inches!) throughout the year.
5. Families who support learning, send snacks, and rescue us when it’s spirit week and we forgot it was pajama day!
4. The sound of laughter coming from classrooms, that shows learning can be fun too!
3. Our facility dog, Sandee, who may or may not be the most popular staff member in the building.
2. The way older students help and encourage younger students - have you seen our school safeties walk the kindergartens out to the afternoon buses? It’s precious!
And the #1 reason we love Wacousta Elementary…
The incredible students and families who make Wacousta a strong community of learners!
Wacousta Spirit Wear
Looking for some Wacousta Spirit Wear? Check out our Wacousta Spirit Wear page for some new gear!
Grand Rapids Gold Basketball
Grand Rapids Gold basketball team will be hosting a special Wacousta Night! All Wacousta families are invited to attend and enjoy a game together. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a fun night of basketball. Please use this link to claim your tickets.
Handicap Parking Spaces
Please remember that our handicap parking spaces are reserved for families and visitors who need them due to a disability. We truly appreciate your cooperation in keeping these spots available for those who rely on them.
Attendance Reminders
In following standard practices across the district, we notify parents by letter when their student has reached the 6 and 10 whole-day thresholds of undocumented absences.
A documented absence consists of a physician's note of excusal. Physician excused absences do not count towards truancy days. Also note that only the dates listed in the excusal will be recorded as documented absences. Please always request a doctor’s note from your student’s physician that covers all the dates of the student’s illness related absence. File a copy of the physician’s note with our office staff so that we can update your student’s attendance record. Documented absences will be identified in your student’s attendance as AD - Absence Documented.
The district acknowledges that a student may be sick and may not need to be seen by a physician for an illness related absence. We respect that parents make choices based on the best health outcome for their student, as well as for the general student population. We also recognize that there may be life events impacting a student's attendance. In these instances when you call your student’s absence in with an explanation for the absence it will be identified as AE - Explained Absence in your student’s attendance record. AE dates will count towards truancy days, but the explanation provided by the parents for the absences will be highly considered before a 15-day truancy referral would take place. If you have any questions about our attendance policy, feel free to reach out to the front office.
Save the Date for the Comet Chase
The Grand Ledge Education Foundation Comet Chase 5K returns on Saturday, June 13, 2026, right here in Grand Ledge, Michigan, and it’s shaping up to be our biggest and best year yet!
Whether you run, jog, or walk, this event is for everyone. You don’t have to be a runner to be part of the fun — just bring your Comet pride and join the community celebration!
Why participate?
100% of proceeds support the Grand Ledge Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides extra funding for innovative classroom projects across Grand Ledge Public Schools.
Staff Participation and School Spirit Awards are back — rally your building teams and show your pride!
Every participant scores awesome shirts and finisher medals, plus age-group awards for our competitive racers.
Over the past two years, the Comet Chase has welcomed nearly 600 participants and grossed more than $20,000 for local classrooms. Let’s come together and make 2026 the most memorable year yet! Lace up, team up, and be part of something that truly makes a difference. Register now for Early Bird Pricing - rates increase April 4th!
Outdoor Recess Reminder
I want to take a moment to iterate our outdoor recess policy, which is briefly explained in the elementary handbook on page 2. Students will be going outside during the day unless it is raining or below zero degrees with the windchill. Please ensure your child has the appropriate winter attire to enjoy the season. The school does not have a plentiful supply of winter gear, so be sure your students are bringing those items to school. If you are a family in need of winter gear, please reach out to our counselor, Margo Hazelman.
February’s Lunch Menu
Check out the February 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
