Allyson Smith, Principal at Wacousta Elementary
September 19, 2025
Important Upcoming Dates
October 1: Count Day - Unless ill, please make sure your student is in attendance!
October 2: Snack Shop
October 3: No Students - Staff Professional Development
October 7: PTIA Meeting at Wacousta 6:00 p.m.
October 10: Trunk or Treat 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
October 14: Picture Re-takes
Lock-Down Drill
Today, our students took part in a lockdown drill to practice our safety measures. This was only a drill. As a school, we are required to practice at least three of these each school year. At Wacousta, we work closely with our Student Safety Supervisor, Christopher Chester, to make sure our staff is trained and prepared with best practices to keep students safe.
You may want to consider checking in with your child about the drill. Let them know the school shared that a safety drill took place so they feel reassured that families and schools are working together. Some children may want to talk about it, while others may process it in quieter ways through play, through spending time with you, or not talking about it at all. All of these responses are normal.
If your child shares that they felt comfortable with the drill, remind them that the purpose of practicing is to be prepared and stay safe. If they express that it made them feel nervous, acknowledge those feelings and help them think of what makes them feel secure. It might be knowing their teacher is there, remembering the steps they took during the drill, or hearing about a time when you felt nervous and what helped you through it.
Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s sense of safety and well-being. Together, we can help students feel both secure and confident while they learn at school.
New Staff
We are excited to welcome Stacy Gyulveszi as our new paraprofessional! We have been waiting patiently to fill this position, and it was certainly worth the wait. Stacy is a dedicated and energetic professional eager to work alongside our Wacousta team to support the academic success of students. She most recently worked as a paraprofessional in the Waverly school district, and they were very sad to have lost her. Stacy is currently pursuing her master’s degree in education with an ASD endorsement from Western Michigan University. Please welcome Stacy to Wacousta!
A note from Parents and Teachers in Action (PTIA)
Trunk or Treat is back! The PTIA is excited to put on this event for a 3rd year! It will be held on October 10th from 5:30-7:00 p.m. This event is meant to be a time to bring our school community together. If you would like to sign up for a parking space, please click on this link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050449A4AF29A0FE3-58732397-trunk. There will be a $50 Amazon gift card awarded to the best-decorated car!
Snack Shop will be returning to Wacousta this school year. Every student will have an opportunity to visit the Snack Shop with their class. Each item will cost $1, and students can purchase up to 3 items. Please send your student(s) with exact change. If you are interested in volunteering to help at the Snack Shop, please click on the following link to sign up. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050449A4AF29A0FE3-58736870-wacousta
PTIA Fall Fundraiser
Our PTIA fundraiser is almost over! So far, we’ve raised an impressive $9,672 with 119 students registered to participate, with at least one student from every class. Current classroom leaders are: Miss Heiler’s K class with $1,050, Mrs. Parsons’ 1st grade with $957, Mrs. Dufresne's 2nd grade with $365, Mr. Sewick’s 3rd grade with $1090, and Mrs. O’Brien’s 4th grade with $750. Way to go, Comets!
How We Teach Literacy in GLPS
Grand Ledge Public Schools has added a new resource to our Academic Services webpage that explains recent changes to how we are teaching literacy. This page is designed to help caregivers better understand our approach, why we are making these shifts, and what it means for student learning. We encourage all families to view this resource here: How We Teach Literacy in GLPS.
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
