Allyson Smith, Principal at Wacousta Elementary
April 17, 2026
Important Upcoming Dates
Week of April 27: MSTEP Testing
May 1: Wacousta Family Fun Night 6-8 p.m.
Week of May 4: Spring NWEA Testing
May 5: PTIA Meeting 6 p.m.
May 12-13: DIBELS Testing
May 15: Fine Arts Night 6-8 p.m.
May 22: No School - Teacher Professional Development
May 25: No School - Memorial Day Recognition
June 2: Field Day
June 2: PTIA Meeting 6 p.m.
June 5: Last Day - 1/2 Day - Dismissal at 12:10 p.m.
End of Year Grade Level Upcoming Events: Please check HERE
Highlights and Happenings from Ms. Smith
We had a wonderful opportunity this week to welcome teachers from Ionia Schools into our classrooms to observe our literacy instruction in action. It was a proud moment for our school, as we were able to showcase the incredible strides we’ve made in transitioning from a balanced literacy approach to a science-based approach to reading. Our students continue to exceed expectations with the complexity of texts they are reading and the quality of writing they are producing. It was energizing to share our growth and celebrate this important work alongside our colleagues.
3rd and 4th Grade MSTEP Testing
MSTEP testing begins the week of April 27. Check out this MSTEP Parent Guide and Video from the State to learn more.
Small group testing is considered a universal accommodation for MSTEP. Therefore, students, even those without special education or 504 accommodations, may be pulled into a small group to create the most supportive testing environment. If you have specific questions about this, please reach out to your classroom teacher.
Here are a few tips to help your child feel ready and successful:
1. Be in attendance and arrive on time to start the school day on testing days. Students arriving late are not able to go to their class until the testing session is finished. They will start or continue testing on the next scheduled testing day with their class or during a make-up testing session.
2. Help your child get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast to support physical and mental engagement during testing.
3. Help your child prepare for testing by taking practice tests at home. Practice test information is shared below.
4. Encourage your child to do his/her best.
MSTEP Practice Test: https://wbte.drcedirect.com/MI/portals/mi (must use the Google Chrome browser):
◾ Select the MSTEP Online Tools Training button.
◾Click on the Sample Item Sets
◾Select Grade 3rd or 4th Grade
◾Complete both the English Language Arts and Mathematics mini-assessments
◾Be sure to try out the testing tools located at the top of each passage/problem and question screen. These are useful tools to assist with taking the test.
Wacousta Family Fun Night - Friday, May 1, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Get ready for one of the most exciting nights of the year - Family Fun Night! Join us for an evening filled with games, laughter, and great food from two popular food trucks. It’s the perfect chance to relax, have fun with your kids, and connect with other families in our school community. You won’t want to miss this fun-filled night. We hope to see you there! Here is a link to the updated flyer.
International Night
Grand Ledge Public Schools is excited to host International Night on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Beagle Middle School. This free, family-friendly event will celebrate cultures from around the world with interactive displays, food, performances, and a fashion show. All families and community members are welcome to attend. You can watch the event live, as it’s happening, by visiting: https://www.youtube.com/@GLPScomets . We look forward to celebrating our community’s rich cultural diversity together!
Yearbooks
There is still time to order a yearbook! The personal webcode lookup tool can be found here: https://www.geskusphoto.com/lookup
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!
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 district website for enrollment information.
Information regarding Kindergarten Launch can be found HERE.
Currently enrolled families: If you need to make updates to your current information, address, phone number, email, or 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.
Wacousta Spirit Wear
Looking for some Wacousta Spirit Wear? Check out our Wacousta Spirit Wear page for some new gear!
April Lunch Menu
The March school lunch menu can be viewed 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
