615 Jones St., Grand Ledge, MI 48837 | Phone: 517-925-5480 | Fax: 517-925-5523 | COVID Line: 517-925-5725
School hours are 9am-3:55pm. Please do not drop students off before 8:40am. Students must be picked up by 4:05pm.
Message from the Principal
April 26, 2024
As we transition into the warmer months and longer days, it's the perfect time to highlight the importance of play and outdoor activity in our children's lives. While academics are undoubtedly crucial, it's equally important to recognize the significant role that play and outdoor exploration play in children's development.
Physical Health Benefits Outdoor play encourages children to engage in physical activity, promoting their overall health and well-being. Whether it's running, jumping, climbing, or playing sports, these activities help children develop motor skills, coordination, and strength. Additionally, exposure to natural sunlight supports the production of Vitamin D, essential for bone health and immune function.
Mental and Emotional Well-being Beyond physical health, play and outdoor activity contribute to children's mental and emotional well-being. Time spent outdoors allows children to decompress, reduce stress levels, and improve their mood. Natural settings offer opportunities for exploration, creativity, and imagination, fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them.
Social Development Play is a powerful tool for social development, enabling children to learn essential interpersonal skills such as cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution. Outdoor play encourages collaboration and teamwork, as children engage in imaginative play scenarios, build forts, or create obstacle courses together.
Cognitive Growth Outdoor play also stimulates cognitive growth and academic success. Nature provides a rich environment for learning, sparking children's curiosity and encouraging them to ask questions, make observations, and problem-solve. Outdoor exploration exposes children to diverse sensory experiences, enhancing their ability to focus, concentrate, and retain information.
Tips for Encouraging Outdoor Play Set Aside Unstructured Playtime: Allow children time for unstructured play outdoors, free from screens and structured activities.
Provide Outdoor Toys and Equipment: Keep outdoor toys such as balls, jump ropes, and sidewalk chalk readily available to encourage spontaneous outdoor play.
Explore Nature Together: Take family outings to local parks, nature trails, or community green spaces to explore and appreciate the natural world.
Embrace All Weather Conditions: Encourage outdoor play in all weather conditions, providing appropriate clothing and gear for each season.
Lead by Example: Demonstrate your own appreciation for outdoor activity by participating in outdoor adventures and exploration with your children.
Let's work together to prioritize play and outdoor activity in our children's daily lives. By embracing the outdoors, we can support their holistic development and lay the foundation for a lifetime of health, happiness, and learning.
Dr. Bill Albrecht, Principal
Holbrook staff and students have celebrated Autism Acceptance Month in April. Staff wore shirts each Tuesday to promote kindness and acceptance in our school community.
Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Conner
April’s School Counseling Lesson: Problem Solving Part 2 This month Holbrook students continued to practice solving problems. This lesson is important because using problem-solving steps helps children solve difficult problems like taking responsibility for hurtful actions. Students are learning that when they have a problem, using the problem-solving steps can help them remember what to do! The 4 steps that Holbrook students practiced:
S: Say the problem. T: Think of solutions. E: Explore consequences. P: Pick the best solution.
If you would like to support your child’s learning at home, try playing the step up game: Practice using the Problem-Solving Steps to solve a problem!
*Read the problem below. *Stand together in front of something you can step up onto, such as a stair step, stool, box, or crate. *Apply each of the Problem-Solving Steps to the problem. *Every time you finish a step, step up onto your object and then back down again. *Play the game again with a common problem in your home.
The Problem ... A mother and son do not agree on which TV show to watch next.
The Holbrook PTO board will have several positions [President, Vice President, Events Coordinator, Public Relations, Treasurer, and Secretary] available for the 2024-25 school year. Voting will take place at our May PTO meeting and positions will become effective July 1. If you are interested in learning more about our open positions please reach out to us on our Facebook page or you may reach out to Stephanie Purol at snpurol@gmail.com.
We only have ONE popcorn Fridays left this school year (I know I can't believe it) and we need your help in order to make them happen! • May 10. We have split the days into two separate shifts (8-10:30 & 10:30-1). Duties include: making popcorn, bagging, delivery to classrooms, and collecting the money from classrooms. Please if you are willing and able, sign up for a day to volunteer.
Our Holbrook Family Fun Night is going to be May 3! As always we need volunteers in order to host this event and to make it run smoothly! If you are able and willing please consider volunteering for this awesome night. Sign up here!
Our next Holbrook PTO meeting is Tuesday, May 7 (final meeting is 6/4). Our monthly meetings are always open to the public. These take place at 6pm at the Holbrook Elementary library and childcare is provided by the National Honors Society students. We will live stream the meeting so please be on the look out on our Facebook page if you'd like to attend virtually.
Please like and follow the HOLBROOK ELEMENTARY PTO page on Facebook for PTO updates and volunteer opportunities.
Thu., May 2 » Confetti Pancakes with Chicken Sausage Patty
Fri., May 3 » Beef Hotdog
Students who bring lunch from home may purchase milk for $0.50 if they choose.
Please note that students do not have access to a microwave for lunch.
Mrs. Morgan's Message ...
April 22nd was Earth Day. Earth Day is a day to raise awareness for the need to protect the Earth's environment and natural resources. There are many books that address Earth Day. Here are a few of my favorites:
Upcoming Dates
Apr 26 » BK/K Field Trip - MSU Butterfly Garden
May 1 » BK Wide Mouth Frog at HS
May 3 » PTO Family Fun Night
May 7 » PTO Meeting (Library)
May 8 » Bike & Roll to School Day
May 10 » Popcorn Friday
May 16 » BK/K Parent Info Meeting
May 20 » Half Day (dismissal 12:10)
May 22 » 4th Grade Field Trip - Wharton Center
May 22 » BK/K Parent Info Meeting
May 24 » K-M Field Trip to GL Library
May 27 » Memorial Day - NO School
May 29 » 4th Grade Field Trip - Grant Woods Park
May 30 » Browning/Gregory Q&U Wedding
May 31 » 1st Grade Field Trip - Boulder Ridge
Jun 3 » 4th Grade to Hayes
Jun 3 » K-G Field Trip to GL Library & Lickity Split
Jun 4 » PTO Meeting (Library)
Jun 7 » Field Day
Jun 11 » K/BK Celebrations (HS)
Jun 13 » All-School Picnic
Jun 14 » Half Day (last day of school)
NEW Sign-up for Family Fun Night Volunteering!
Important Information from the Office
Student Drop Off/Pick Up When dropping off your child in the drop off line, please make sure your student is able to exit the vehicle themselves with their belongings, otherwise please park and walk them to the crosswalk.
Late Arrivals If your student is going to be late and needs school lunch, you must call the office by 9:15am to order lunch for them.
Medication Drop Off If your student will require medication during the school day, you will need to provide the proper paperwork. All medications must be turned into the office by an adult. This includes over the counter medications, any ointments, and cough drops. Medical paperwork can be found on the district website under Parent Resources Medical Paperwork
Blessings in a Backpack If your student needs additional food at home, the Grand Ledge Blessings in a Backpack program is here. For over a decade, this program has provided bags of food for weekend meals at no cost to hundreds of students in the Grand Ledge area. For students attending school in-person, a bag of nourishing, kid-friendly food will be placed discretely in their backpack or locker at the end of each week during the school year (except during school breaks). Examples of some of the food items distributed are: macaroni and cheese, canned vegetables, soup, oatmeal, granola bars, fruit cups, and beef ravioli. If you would like your student to participate in the program, please fill out the permission form that went home or request one from the office. Return the form to the school office by Wednesday, September 13th, for your student to receive the first bag on September 21st.
Lost and Found The lost and found is located near the gym in playground vestibule. If your student is missing something, please have them check the lost and found. Labeling clothing/items will also help us to return things to students.
Need Shoes or Boots? The Old Newsboys Association of Greater Lansing is a nonprofit charitable organization whose sole purpose is to provide footwear to needy school children. This includes well fitting school shoes, warm boots and socks. For, assistance and to obtain a request for footwear form, please contact our office (hirschmana@glcomets.net).
Need Hats or Gloves? Please call the office (517-925-5480) and let us know. We have a supply of donated items that we'd love to get to your child if needed.
End of the Day Changes If you need to change end of the day plans for your student, please contact the office prior to 3pm so proper notes can be delivered to classrooms. Thank you so much!!
Illness Reminders We ask that your child be 24 hours free of fever (without fever reducing medications), vomiting or diarrhea before you send them back to school after they have been out sick. We appreciate your cooperation with this!
Covid Reporting To report a positive Covid case, please complete the Covid Reporting Form.
Change of Clothes Please send in a change of clothing with your student to be left in their locker. Students have spills during lunch or get muddy/wet on the playground. The office supply of clothing is very limited and students are often more comfortable in their own clothing.
Student Birthday Treat Policy Student birthday treat policy will be up to each individual classroom teacher. Communicate clearly and often with your student’s families regarding your specific policy so they know your expectations. Keep in mind that not all students celebrate birthdays, and not all birthdays are positive for students. Also be sure to be mindful of allergies. Food must be store bought & prepackaged. Encourage healthy snacks at all times.
Raptor Visitor Management System Starting Grand Ledge Public Schools will continue using the Raptor Visitor Management System to enhance the safety of our school buildings. The Raptor system will better allow us to screen school visitors, providing a safer environment for our students and staff. School visitors will be screened during the school day before being allowed to leave the main office and enter the school building. School visitors will be asked to present a valid, government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license), and it will be scanned or manually entered into the Raptor system. Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of the visit. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary to drop off an item in the main office or to pick up paperwork from there.
Volunteering & Chaperoning Persons wishing to volunteer for Grand Ledge Public Schools are required to complete the Volunteer Registration Form and be approved prior to serving as a volunteer. All volunteers MUST check in at the office to receive a BADGE prior to proceeding to any other area on school property. Please visit District Volunteer Application to complete the process.
District & Community News
Apr. is World Autism Month
Apr. is School Library Month
Apr. is National Poetry Month
Apr. 26 » National Arbor Day
Apr. 29 » International Dance Day
Apr. 29-30 » Passover, Concluding Days
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May is National Physical Fitness & Sports Month
May is Better Hearing & Speech Month
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Jewish American Heritage Month
May is NF (Neurofibromatosis) Awareness Month
May is Preservation Month
May is Military Appreciation Month
May 1 » Law Day
May 1 » Loyalty Day
May 1 » Beltane
May 1-7 » National Physical Education & Sport Week
May 3 » School Lunch Hero Day
May 3 » World Press Freedom Day
May 5 » Cinco de Mayo
May 5 » Orthodox Easter
May 5 » Kodomo no hi / Children's Day (Japan)
May 5-6 » Holocaust Remembrance Day
May 5-12 » National Music Week
May 6-10 » National Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6-12 » National Children’s Book Week
May 7 » National Teacher Day
May 8 » National School Nurse Day
May 8 » National Bike & Roll to School Day
May 8 » World Red Cross Day
May 9 » Ascension
May 10 » School Communicators Day
May 12 » Mother’s Day
May 18 » Armed Forces Day
May 19 » Pentecost
May 27 » Memorial Day
Is something missing? Please share with John Ellsworth, GLPS Director of Communications, any additional Recognitions & Acknowledgments you think we should include on this list or upcoming lists – email him at EllsworthJ@GLcomets.net.