Allyson Smith, Principal at Wacousta Elementary
March 20, 2026
Important Upcoming Dates
March 27 - April 3: Spring Break
April 6: No Students - Staff Professional Development
April 7: School Resumes
April 7: PTIA Meeting 6 pm
April 10: Snack Shop 9-11 am
Week of April 27: MSTEP Testing
Week of May 4: Spring NWEA Testing
May 12-13: DIBELS Testing
Highlights and Happenings from Ms. Smith
Our students had a great week at Wacousta! We mixed some fun classroom traditions with new learning experiences. Students had fun celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with activities like searching for gold coins at the end of the rainbow and talking about the concept of luck. Excitement continues to build as our March Madness Book Bracket narrows down to the final selections. Students are eager to see which book will come out on top.
We participated in the Michigan statewide tornado drill on Wednesday, and our students did an outstanding job following procedures and practicing how to respond to a weather emergency. We are so proud of them!
We were also happy to host district Instructional Rounds on Thursday. We welcomed administrators from across the district into our classrooms to celebrate the strong instruction and student learning taking place each day. Administrators were so impressed with the high level of student engagement - we are so proud of our Wacousta students!
My girls and I are signed up for the Comet Chase! We plan to run the 1-mile youth run. It would be fun to have a Wacousta team to run together. Register before April 4, before prices increase!
Specials Spotlights
STEAM: STEAM learning is an educational approach combining Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics to foster inquiry, critical thinking, and creativity. By integrating arts into STEAM, it encourages hands-on, project-based learning, enabling students to solve real-world problems through innovation, collaboration, and experimentation. Click Here to see what’s happening for students in our STEAM classes at Wacousta.
ART: Elementary art engages students in hands-on creation, exposure, and response to visual art and artistic expression. The Wacousta Elementary arts program allows our students to become more aware of the role of the arts in the world around them. Please click the March edition of the Wacousta Art Studio News to learn how our students are growing in their art experiences.
National Teacher Appreciation Week: May 4-8, 2026
The Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) Office of Educator Excellence wishes to celebrate teachers across Michigan for the entire month of May.
MDE invites parents/guardians to submit 15-30 second videos of their students recognizing and thanking a specific teacher for their impact. Cell phones easily capture the videos. Please follow the directions on the flyer. Videos and parental consent must be submitted via the Teacher Appreciation Video Project Google Form. Videos are currently being accepted until April 15, 2026.
Submitted videos may be posted on the Teacher Appreciation Month webpage and MDE’s YouTube channel. Additionally, the Office of Educator Excellence’s Facebook (@MIeducator) and X (formerly Twitter) will promote the videos throughout the month of May.
If your child has great things to say about a teacher, use the instructions found on MDE’s website to submit a video today!
GLHS Choirs Fundraiser
The GLHS Choirs are excited to present everyone's favorite fundraiser: Designer Purse Bingo! This event will take place on Friday, May 1st, 2026 at Grand Ledge High School. If you're interested in joining us, please click THIS LINK to purchase your tickets! If you have any questions or issues, please contact Zach Everly at: everlyz@glcomets.net.
March is Reading Month
March is Reading Month, and we are excited to celebrate the joy and importance of reading all month long! This is a special time dedicated to building a love of books, strengthening literacy skills, and helping students see themselves as confident, capable readers. We have many fun activities planned, including a schoolwide Book Bracket, themed spirit days, and special Mystery Readers who will be visiting classrooms. Here is a link to all things March Book Madness.
Families can support Reading Month at home by setting aside time each day for reading, asking your child about what they’re reading at school, visiting the local library, or even reading together as a family. When students see that reading is valued both at school and at home, their confidence and motivation soar. We can’t wait to celebrate a month full of stories and learning together! Check out March is Reading Month at the local library HERE.
Enrollment for the 2026-2027 School Year
Enrollment for next year has begun. If you know a new family or an incoming kindergartener, please tell them to check the website for enrollment information.
Currently enrolled families: If you need to make updates to your current information, address, phone number, email, emergency contacts, please go to the district website at www.glcomets.net, choose the “Our Schools” tab, select Wacousta. Once there you’ll find an Update Contact Information banner. Click on the banner to be taken to our Express Update Gateway to make your changes.
Save the date: Wacousta Family Fun Night - Friday, May 1
Click HERE for more detail.
International Night
Join us for a night of celebrating cultures from around the world! See flyer HERE for more details.
Developing Opportunities, Building Partnerships with GLADL
Grand Ledge Area District Library (GLADL) is excited to be partnering with GLPS to bring library services back to Wacousta by adding a library space in the old Wacousta Elementary School. The opportunities in this shared space for programs, services, and access to reading collections are exceptional and we look forward to getting community input as we move forward.
GLADL values the input from the community in regards to what they would like to see included in the new branch. Please take a moment to answer our survey to let them know your thoughts!
Grand Ledge Education Foundation
The Grand Ledge Education Foundation is competing in Consumers Credit Union’s March Feel Good Bracket for a chance to win up to $5,200 to support Unified Champions, a program that promotes inclusion by bringing students with and without disabilities together through sports and leadership opportunities. Community voting will help determine the winner. Families are encouraged to follow the Grand Ledge Education Foundation on Facebook to find voting links, updates, and reminders throughout the competition. Let’s rally together and support this incredible program in our schools! Voting goes live on Monday, March 9, at noon!
Wacousta Spirit Wear
Looking for some Wacousta Spirit Wear? Check out our Wacousta Spirit Wear page for some new gear!
March Lunch Menu
Check out the March 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.
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
