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.

January 10, 2025

Happy New Year! 
The start of a new year is also a great time to review some of our routines, procedures and guidelines. Teachers and staff have spent time this week with your student(s) reviewing daily procedures and expectations to help our building run smoothly.  Below are a few important items to review with families to assist in the ease of our day from beginning to end. 

School Hours
Our doors open at 8:40 am for breakfast for all students (breakfast is free). Those not eating breakfast may enter at 8:50 am. School begins promptly at 8:55 am. 

Our school day ends at 3:55 pm. The buses leave at 4:00 pm. If you have a change in your regular schedule, please let the office know by 3:00 pm so a note will be delivered to your student. 

Drop Off & Pick Up
When dropping off your child, families have two preferred and safe options; use the loop or park in the lot and walk up via the crosswalk. If using the loop, please make sure your student is able to exit/enter the vehicle themselves with their belongings. Students should exit/enter the vehicle on the right, closest to the sidewalk. Once your child has exited/entered the vehicle, use the left lane in the loop to exit the line. This will keep traffic moving and reduce delays and long lines. If your child requires assistance, please park and walk them to the crosswalk where our crossing guard will assist them in safely making it to the building. Lastly, when turning out of our parking lot, we require all vehicles to make a right hand turn out of the driveway during both pick up and drop off. This ensures the safety of all our staff, students and families dropping off and picking up their student(s). 

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 the District Volunteer Application to complete the process.

Drills at Holbrook
Safety is a top priority at Holbrook Elementary, and to ensure the well-being of all our students and staff, we will continue conducting regular safety drills throughout the year. These drills are designed to ensure swift, coordinated responses in the event of an emergency. We may also have the support of local emergency responders during these drills to provide expert guidance and enhance our preparedness. Discussing and practicing drills such as fire drills and severe weather drills at home is a great way to help your child understand these procedures.

Kat Farr, Principal

Supporting Kids With Anger
Anger is a normal emotion that exists on a spectrum, from mild irritation to intense rage. Everyone will experience anger at some point, including children, and the goal isn’t to eliminate anger but rather to help children cope with it in healthy ways.

Developmentally
Here’s a quick guide to what you can typically expect at different ages:

Preschoolers (3-5 years old):
Preschoolers might still have tantrums but should start using words to express their anger. They’re beginning to learn how to communicate and regulate themselves but may still struggle with intense emotion.

School-Aged Children (6-12 years old):
Children in this age group should be better able to express their anger verbally and use problem-solving skills. They may still struggle with intense emotions but should continue making progress in their ability to communicate about, and cope with, angry feelings.

How To Help
To help your child manage their anger effectively, consider the following:

Identifying Anger Triggers: help your child recognize situations that tend to trigger angry feelings. Look for common themes, like environmental factors or emotional stressors, and consider tracking anger incidents to get a better picture of your child’s anger map.

Understanding Angry Feelings in the Body: Help your child learn to notice physical signs of anger. You might ask them, “When you start to feel angry, do you notice anything happening in your body? Maybe your heart races or your muscles tighten?” Teach them to use these physical signs as a signal to use anger coping skills.

Teaching Coping Skills: Talk with your child about pushing pause when they encounter an anger trigger or notice angry feelings in their body. Practice coping strategies, such as deep breathing or tensing and releasing muscles, so that your child can learn to calm their brain and body in order to deal with their anger in a healthy way.

Extras
Books for Caregiver:  The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene

Books to Read With Your Child:
Way Past Mad by Hallee Adelman
Hello Anger by Jessica Sinarski
Sam’s Pet Temper by Sangeeta Bhadra

Daily Choice » Soybutter & Jelly Sandwich with cheese cubes and Cheez-Its
Mon., Jan 13 » Pizza Bites Crunchers
Tue., Jan 14 » Chicken Drumstick & Biscuit
Wed., Jan 15 » Beef & Cheese Soft Taco
Thu., Jan 16 » Waffles & Sausage
Fri., Jan 17 » Popcorn Chicken

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.

Happy New Year!  This week we reviewed the library rules and expectations.  Starting next week, students will be required to bring every book they have checked out back to school on their library day.  If they are finished with their book(s), they can be returned to their classroom collection box; if they are not finished with their book(s), they will need to bring them with them to the library to renew the checkout for another week. If students do not bring in both books, they will not be allowed to check out any additional books for that week.

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 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.

Updating Student Contact Information
Click this link to update your address, name, phone number, email, emergency contacts, medical updates.  To change an address we need two proofs of residency. These are the only forms that we can accept.
*Property Tax Statement (the taxes you pay on your home twice a year)
*Lease/Rental Agreement (with your name, the address, and the signature pages sign by both the lessee and lessor)
*Utility Bill
*Mortgage/Home Closing Documents
*Cable/Internet Bill
*Home/Renter's Insurance

Driver's licenses and voter registration cards are NOT acceptable for this purpose.

You can email the documents to hirschmana@glcomets.net or edgettt@glcomets.net.  If you have questions please contact our office at 517-925-5480.