615 Jones St., Grand Ledge, MI  48837  |  Phone: 517-925-5480  |  Fax: 517-925-5483  |  Holbrook Website  | COVID Reporting

School hours are 8:55am-3:55pm.  Please do not drop students off before 8:40am.
Students must be picked up by 4pm.

August 28, 2025

Dear Holbrook Families,

Getting Back to School Routines
As we wrap up a fantastic first week of school, I want to extend my appreciation for your support and collaboration. It has been wonderful to see our students settling in so well and bringing enthusiasm to their learning. 

To ensure our students continue to thrive, here are some tips for establishing healthy back-to-school routines: 

Bedtime and Morning Routines
Ensuring a good night of rest and a predictable morning routine will help our students start their day on the right track. Encourage your student(s) to pack their backpack before going to bed and read each day. 

Breakfast and Lunch
A healthy breakfast is always a great start to the day. Michigan is running the free breakfast and lunch program, at least through September 30th, for all students again this year. If your student would like to eat breakfast at school, they may enter through the orange doors at 8:40am and join our staff in the cafeteria for a meal at no cost to you. 

Lunch Cost Information
GLPS will offer free meals to students at least through September 30, 2025, as part of the Michigan School Meals program, which was funded through the last state budget.  GLPS will have a better idea about the future of the Michigan School Meals program and whether free meals will be provided to students once the state government agrees on a new budget (for the state fiscal year 2026).  GLPS will communicate more about school meals as we learn more. 

In the meantime, you can DO YOUR PART, CHECK THE CHART – your family might qualify for education and meal benefits.  The Education & Meals Benefit Application helps our schools get state and federal funding for education programs.  This application must be completed annually in order to qualify for the education and meal benefits that help both your family and the school district.

Bus Passes
Students will be using bus passes again this year. Kindergarten students and anyone new to Holbrook has been given a bus pass, if they are riding a bus. If your student had a bus pass last year, that is still their active bus pass. If a replacement is needed, please contact the transportation dept. Families are able to track their student(s) on the StopFinder app. 

Pick-up/Drop-off
Thank you all for following our drop-off and pick-up procedures! Our lines are starting to move quicker. If cars are backed up into the street, please do not block residential driveways. Having your student use the passenger side door to exit/enter the vehicle aids in a smooth and safe transition on and off the sidewalk. For the safety of our students and families, we ask that you use the crosswalk and sidewalks to walk up to the building.  If you have a schedule change, please let the office know by 3:00pm. We will relay all messages received by 3:00pm to students prior to dismissal. 

Thank you for helping us create a healthy and productive environment for our students. I look forward to a successful 2025-2026 school year!

Kat Farr, Principal

Hello Holbrook families!

I wanted to create a space in our Holbrook newsletter each week to highlight some activities happening in school counseling, and also make this space helpful to our families as we begin the school year. In order to do so, I need your input. Please help me by completing a very short parent/guardian needs assessment survey which can be found here. Your answers will help me to know how I can best support you and your child this school year. 

This week I would like to share some resources with families. I have created a school counseling website for the purpose of sharing resources with Holbrook families specific to Social-Emotional Learning. You can find a link to my website here. You will find some great activities to do with your child at home along with local resources for parents.

If your family is in need of local resources for food, housing, healthcare, etc. please check out a list of resources here. 

If you or a loved one is in need of mental health resources, please find a listing of resources here.

Lastly, I wanted to share my calendar’s booking page link with Holbrook families. You can use this if you would like to set up a time on my calendar for me to call you directly or if you would like me to check in with your student. You can find my booking link here.

Click on the picture below to be directed to the Holbrook PTO Facebook page and the teacher wishlists that have been collected.

Daily Choice » Soft Pretzel with Yogurt and String Cheese
Mon., Sept. 1 » NO SCHOOL
Tue., Sept. 2 » French Bread Pizza
Wed., Sept. 3 » Mini French Toast & Sausage
Thu., Sept. 4 » Mini Turkey Corn Dogs
Fri., Sept. 5 » Beef & Cheese Soft Taco

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.

Welcome back!  I hope you had a wonderful and restful summer break!

Library will start up next week.  If your student still has a library book that was checked out last year, please be sure to send it back to school with them so they can continue to check out books from our library!

The first PTO meeting of this school year, will be held on Thursday, September 4, 2025. All meetings are held in the Holbrook Library at 6pm. There is a virtual option to attend posted on the PTO Facebook page the day of the meeting. Any staff member, parent, guardian, caregiver or grandparent of a student at Holbrook is automatically a member of the PTO at no cost or obligation. Even if you do not have a lot of time to volunteer, there are many ways to help contribute to the PTO.

PTO meetings will be on the first Thursday each month (except for January due to winter break and April due to spring break) ... 9/4, 10/2, 11/6, 12/4, 1/8, 2/5, 3/5, 4/9, 5/7, 6/4.

Please like and follow the Holbrook Elementary PTO Facebook page for PTO updates and volunteer opportunities .

Vacancies on the board for the 2025-2026 school year are Secretary, Treasurer and Events Coordinator. We will continue to accept nominations for the vacant positions and announce again at the September meeting to include any new Holbrook families, with voting to hopefully take place in October as necessary. If you are interested in any of these positions, please email Alysiah Mitchell-Wallace at amitchellwallace@gmail.com

First Popcorn Friday will be September 19th, 2025, they will be the third Friday of the month. More info to come soon. 

Be on the lookout for an email from Principal Farr about our upcoming fundraiser, Pop for Kids soon. The Best Day Ever will be October 1, 2025! More Info coming soon. 

Attendance Reporting
There are several ways to report an absence at Holbrook. When using any of the options below please include the following information; Child's full name, teacher and the reason for their absences. We keep track of all illness for the Barry-Eaton Health Department.  If your child is going to be tardy please let us know what their choice for lunch is before 9:15 am. Thank you!
1. The fastest way is using the online portal at ps.glcomets.net. Once you have logged in, select “Attendance Monitor” from the left navigation menu. Then, click “Report New Attendance.” After you have entered the date, reason, and explanation, click Submit. Please note: online attendance reporting is not available in the app; it is only available on the website.
2. Email hirschmana@glcomets.net or edgettt@glcomets.net.
3. Call the main office at 517-925-5480. Feel free to call anytime day or night and if you need to leave a voicemail message, please include your student's full name, teacher and the reason for the absence.

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 11th, for your student to receive the first bag on September 19th.

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 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.

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).

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.  If your student will be moving to a different school next year, be sure to select both their current school and the school they’ll be attending.  For example: If your child is currently in 4th grade at Holbrook and will attend Hayes next year, select Holbrook and Hayes on the application. This ensures you’ll be cleared to volunteer at both locations when needed. Applications are valid for one calendar year.