School hours are 8:55am-3:55pm. Please do not drop students off before 8:40am. Students must be picked up by 4pm.
Message from the Principal
December 13, 2024
During Monday's Board of Education meeting, the GLPS Board approved our district's SMART goals as part of our strategic plan. Our district school improvement team (DSIT), including staff members from Holbrook, collaborated to create these ambitious objectives aimed at enhancing the educational experience for all students.
For Holbrook, the following SMART goals have been approved in the areas of academics, program and teacher development, and social-emotional health:
By the end of the 2024-2025 school year, Holbrook students will demonstrate a 5% growth in English Language Arts (ELA) as measured by Acadience for grades K-1 and NWEA for grades 2-5.
By the end of the 2024-2025 school year, at least 95% of Holbrook students will report feeling valued and connected to the adults in our school.
By the end of the 2024-2025 school year, teachers will participate in two instructional rounds during the year to increase collaboration around effective teaching strategies.
We achieve our goals by beginning with the importance of continuous improvement. Successful schools focus on clear and specific achievement goals, aiming to bridge achievement gaps, especially those related to poverty and minority status. These goals are often defined by performance on state assessments.
At Holbrook, we promote high performance through organized collaboration sessions, both by grade-level teams and professional learning communities. These teams analyze student data, typically through short-cycle or formative assessments, to: *Plan standards-based curriculum units *Teach those units simultaneously *Review the success of the units *Make adjustments when student performance falls short of expectations
This collaborative approach allows us to make instruction more transparent and develop a set of effective instructional strategies. Over time, all teachers are encouraged to utilize these strategies to enhance student learning, achievement and connection. Additionally, we would like to input from families to continue our growth. If you are willing, please complete our Family Climate Survey.
I am incredibly proud of our staff and their commitment to our students, and I am confident that we will continue to work together toward continuous school improvement.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Warm regards,
Kat Farr, Principal
Mrs. Morgan's Message
Tis the season for snowy weather and snow days! I love nothing more than curling up in front of a window with a warm blanket and a good book - watching the falling snow and reading! For me, there is no better way to spend an unexpected day off! It is also a great way to warm up and wind down after playing in the snow!
PTO Postings
Holbrook families, whether you enjoy baking or like to show your appreciation via store bought treats, we hope you will join us in showing some holiday love to the Holbrook staff this year! Please visit our Holbrook Elementary PTO Facebook page to sign up to provide some holiday baked goods for the Holbrook teachers and staff on December 17th.
The Polar Pals Holiday Shop was a huge hit with the kids. Their faces lit up while picking out gifts for their loved ones. The PTO would like to thank our amazing volunteers as well as all the teachers that took the time out of their day to make it special for their students!
The next PTO meeting will be held on Thursday, January 9th. All meetings are held in the Holbrook Library at 6 pm, and childcare is provided. 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.
Future Popcorn Friday Dates for 2025 are 01/10 02/07 03/14 04/04 05/02.
Coming soon: Penny wars January 13th - January 24th. (Prizes for Penny Wars Jan 31st) Glow dance Friday, February 28th
Lunch Menu
Daily Choice » Muffin Fun Lunch (blueberry muffin, yogurt, cheese stick & goldfish crackers) Mon., Dec 16 » Cheese Filled Bosco Bread Stick with Dipping Sauce Tue., Dec 17 » Cheeseburger & Scooby Doo Fruit Snacks Wed., Dec 18 » Chicken Nuggets Thu., Dec 19 » Confetti Pancakes & Chicken Sausage Patty Fri., Dec 20 » 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.
Upcoming 2024-25 Dates
Dec 17 » BK/K Field Trip to Sun Theater
Dec 23-Jan 6 » Winter Break
Jan 9 » PTO Meeting 6 pm
Jan 10 » Popcorn Friday
Jan 14 » 3rd Grade Field Trip - Capitol & Michigan Historical Museum
Jan 20 » NO School - MLK Day
Feb 6 » PTO Meeting 6 pm
Feb 7 » Popcorn Friday
Feb 14 » NO School - Teacher PD
Feb 17 » NO School - President's Day
Feb 24 » 4th Grade Field Trip - Capitol Building
Mar 6 » PTO Meeting 6 pm
Mar 7 » HALF Day of School
Mar 11, 13, 18 » Conferences
Mar 14 » Popcorn Friday
Mar 21-31 » Spring Break
Apr 3 » PTO Meeting 6 pm
Apr 4 » Popcorn Friday
May 1 » PTO Meeting 6 pm
May 2 » Popcorn Friday
May 14 » 4th Grade Field Trip - Wharton Center
May 23-26 » NO School - Memorial Day Weekend
Jun 5 » PTO Meeting 6 pm
Jun 6 » HALF Day of School - LAST DAY!
Important Information from the Office
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 atps.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 LedgeBlessings 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.
District & Community News
Dec. 15 » Bill of Rights Day
Dec. 20 » International Human Solidarity Day
Dec. 21 » First Day of Winter, Winter Solstice, Yule
Dec. 25 » Christmas
Dec. 25-Jan. 2 » Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)
Dec. 26 - Jan. 1 » Kwanzaa
Dec. 27 » International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
Dec. 31 » New Year’s Eve
Jan. 1 » New Year’s Day
Jan. 6 » Epiphany
Jan. 7 » Orthodox Christmas
Jan. 15 » Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan. 15 » Sankranti
Jan. 15-18 » Pongal
Jan. 21 » World Religion Day
Jan. 24 » International Day of Education
Jan. 27 » International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
Jan. 28 » Christa McAuliffe Day
Jan. 31 » International Day of the Zebra
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.
The Board of Education approved a letter of agreement between the school district and the teachers' union regarding the calendar for the next school year. Here is the 2025-2026 GLPS District Calendar. Our website now has two school calendars, one for this this year and one for the next year.
As required by state law, we are working closely with the Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD), and they recommended we provide all our school district families with some important information about pertussis / whooping cough so you can make informed decisions regarding your family’s health. The recommendation was made because multiple students in our school district have been officially tested and diagnosed with cases of pertussis / whooping cough (the increase in cases prompting this recommendation is currently limited to Hayes Intermediate School). District custodial staff continue to clean frequently, and the GLPS Health Team is coordinating with them to do additional, targeted deep cleanings.
Pertussis can be a very serious illness, especially in the very young who haven’t had the opportunity to be completely protected through immunization. Here is more information about pertussis:
The disease is caused by bacteria spread through sneezing and coughing. The time between exposure to the bacteria and disease symptoms is usually between 7-10 days, but in rare cases, it can take up to 3 weeks.
In the early stage of illness, pertussis can resemble a common cold. Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, mild dry cough, and low-grade fever. The disease is most contagious at this time.
After about 1 to 2 weeks, more serious “coughing spells” develop that can last for more than a minute and result in difficulty breathing. At the end of a coughing spell, the child may make a high-pitched “whooping” sound as they try to catch their breath. Sometimes the coughing will cause vomiting. Coughing in this latter stage of pertussis tends to be worse at night. Between spells, the child usually feels well.
Vaccinations against pertussis have made it a rare disease. The majority of children have been protected against it through their routine childhood immunizations. However, protection from the vaccine tends to fade over time. If your child is older than 10, you might ask your healthcare provider whether a booster vaccine is appropriate.
Please inform the school of any updates in your child’s immunization record.
Pertussis can be treated or even prevented with antibiotics if detected early or before the disease has started. If your child has been exposed or is not fully protected against pertussis, please contact your healthcare provider for medical guidance.
If your child does develop any of the symptoms described above, keep them at home (do not send them to school) and contact your healthcare provider immediately. Please also inform the school of any illness.
If you have any questions about this issue, please contact your family’s healthcare provider or the Grand Ledge Public Schools Health Team at (517) 925-5725 or health@glcomets.net. More information is also available from the Barry-Eaton District Health Department at 517-541-2641. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information here: cdc.gov/pertussis.
Sincerely, Grand Ledge Public Schools Health Team Cindy Brummette, BSN, RN – District Nurse Lanta Winn, MSN, RN – School Nurse Richada Brown, BA - Health Resource Advocate BEDHD
This year, we will communicate about school closings using our SchoolMessenger system and by placing a District Alert on our website's homepage: GLcomets.net. For school closings, we create an automated phone call, a text message, and an email that is sent using SchoolMessenger. We also post a District Alert on our website (see example below). Finally, we will reach out to local TV stations, but we encourage you to rely on the school district's communications – GLPS is the best source for closing information and details.
Please be sure your phone number and email address are accurately recorded in SchoolMessenger so you get communications about school closings. You can use the "SchoolMessenger Settings Guide" and follow the instructions to view the contact information in our system. If you want to get text messages from the schools, be sure to opt in by texting “Y” or “Yes” to 67587. If changes are needed to the contact information, legal parents and guardians can communicate with the main office of the school or use this Contact Information Update form.
If you have grandparents, daycare providers, etc., who need to be kept in the loop, please let them know they can sign up for school district communications about school closings, and more, by following the instructions at GLcomets.net/Connect.
An example of what the District Alert looks like on our website is below.
GLPS International Night is January 24, 2025, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Sign up to participate: share a cultural display or exhibit, to walk in the fasion show, or to do a cultural performance
Volunteers are needed to make International Night go well, so please sign up to volunteer.
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