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.

December 5, 2025

Recess During the Winter
The cold and snow has arrived for the season! We love watching students use their creativity to build snowmen and forts during recess. To keep everyone warm and safe, here are a few important reminders:
*Outside recess will occur as long as the temperature or windchill is above 0 degrees.
*Students are required to wear a coat unless the temperature is above 40 degrees; we encourage coats when temperatures are below 60 degrees.
*If the playground is icy, we may block off those areas or have students play only on the blacktop.
*During slushy conditions or heavy snow, students without snowboots will be asked to stay on blacktop-only areas to reduce wet socks and shoes.
*If a student forgets snow gear, the school has some items students may borrow and return. If your family needs assistance securing snowgear, we are happy to help.

Families in need of support may reach out to Ms. Farr, Mrs. Huard, or Mrs. Conner for assistance. Thank you for helping us keep recess safe and enjoyable for all students.

Engaging in Reading and Math Practice at Home
Cold winter days are a great time to brush up on reading and math skills. Here are some fun, low‑stress ideas you can try:
*Read together: Set aside 10–20 minutes each day for a cozy shared reading time. Ask a few simple questions afterward—Who was your favorite character? What happened first? What was the character feeling when ______ happened? How do you know?—to build comprehension.
*Play word games (e.g., I Spy, rhyming rounds, or simple crosswords)
*Visit the Grand Ledge Public Library for new books and story programs
*Play a board game: Choose a game that uses counting, money, or strategy to practice math skills naturally. Keep it light and positive so practice feels like play.
*Discuss real-world reading and math at the grocery store or other community locations
*Encourage math talk with prompts like, “How did you figure that out?” or “Can you show me another way to do that?”

We appreciate your partnership and the time you give your child to learn each day.

Kat Farr, Principal

December School Counseling Lesson: Respecting Similarities & Differences
This month’s school counseling lesson focuses on similarities and differences and understanding perspectives. In early childhood, children begin to recognize that people can feel and think different things about the same situation. This skill is an important part of social perspective taking. Perspective taking is a critical skill for working in groups, making friends and successfully resolving interpersonal conflicts.

To help reinforce this skill at home, have your child anticipate when others might have different feelings from theirs. Notice when your child recognizes when others have the same or different feelings, and reinforce their ability to do so.

Model acknowledging same and different feelings.

Remind your child that it is natural for others to have different feelings about the same situation.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
To access local resources visit the Tri-County Community Health Guide.
To access social-emotional learning resources for home, visit Holbrook’s school counseling website.
To book a phone appointment with Mrs. Conner, visit Mrs. Conner’s booking page.

The next PTO meeting of this school year will be held, Thursday, December 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, unless otherwise scheduled ... 1/8, 2/5, 3/12, 4/9, 5/7, 6/4.

Stay Connected with Holbrook PTO!
Please like and follow the Holbrook Elementary PTO Facebook page for PTO updates and volunteer opportunities. 

Fall Conferences
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who donated snacks, drinks, and utensils for our Fall Conference! Your generosity helped us fuel and appreciate our amazing staff during this busy time. The PTO is so grateful for your continued support and for making Holbrook such a wonderful school community!

Help Fuel Our Students! 
We’ve updated our Holbrook Elementary Snack Wish List and could really use your support! Every donation helps keep our students energized, focused, and ready to learn. Let’s come together to make sure every child has access to nutritious snacks! Your generosity truly makes a difference!  https://a.co/4Hv8Pq4

Grand Ledge Light Parade
Join us for Grand Ledge’s magical Light Parade on Friday December 5th and warm up with a cup of hot cocoa from Kona Ice! 
Kona Ice will be parked at Grand Ledge First Methodist Church parking lot from 5–9 PM (photo below).  Thanks to your support as a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Holbrook PTO, our students and staff! 

Holiday Treats for Our Holbrook Staff! 
Help the PTO spread some sweet cheer this season! The Holbrook PTO is assembling Holiday Treat Trays to show our incredible teachers and staff just how much they’re appreciated and we’d love your help!  We’re looking for:  Treat donations – homemade, store-bought, or from your favorite bakery AND Volunteers – to help assemble and organize the treats.  Drop-off Details:
Please bring your goodies to the school office by Thursday, December 18th or Friday, December 19th by 8:55 AM.  
Sign up here:  Holbrook PTO: Holiday Treats.  Thank you for helping us sweeten the season! 

Polar Pals Volunteer Opportunity! 
Please consider joining us on December 11th and 12th to help student shop for their own low-cost gifts to give to their family and friends. Don't miss out on this chance to create magical holiday memories at Holbrook! Sign up here to volunteer: Holbrook PTO: Polar Pals Holiday Shop 2025 Note all volunteers must have a completed background check. 

Santa is Coming to Holbrook!
Skip the long line at the mall this year and join the Holbrook PTO for Photos with Santa the evening of December 11th! Thanks to local photographer Tina Myers, all funds raised will go directly to the PTO to continue our support of students, teachers, and staff at Holbrook. Book your 5-minute appointment time here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/photos-with-santa-13

Daily Choice » Soft Pretzel with Yogurt and String Cheese
Mon., Dec. 8 » Popcorn Chicken
Tue., Dec. 9 » Personal Cheese Pizza
Wed., Dec. 10 » Mac & Cheese
Thu., Dec. 11 » French Toast Sticks & Sausage
Fri., Dec. 12 » Chicken Sandwich

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.

Christmas time is right around the corner and the Grand Ledge Shopping Tour committee is looking for our help! The Shopping Tour is an organization here in the GL area that helps provide clothes and a toy for needy children in grades K-4 at Christmas time. Each child is assigned a chaperone for an evening in December and the child and chaperone shop together for clothes for the student. After shopping they go to dinner at a local church and visit with Santa. The dinner food is donated by lots of local restaurants. The toys are donated by school families.

That is where they need our help! If your family would like to donate some toys please send the unwrapped toys to Holbrook on or before Tuesday, December 9. If you would like more information please call the school at 517-925-5480. Thank you!

THANK YOU so much to everyone that visited the Fall Book Fair in person and online.  The book fair is a great fundraiser for the library, and with the purchases everyone made, it was a huge success!  A special thanks to those of you that purchased books from the teacher and library wish lists.  With the proceeds from the Book Fair, we look forward to filling the library with the books your children love to read!

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.

Update Contact Information
Do you need to update contact information (email, address, name, emergency contacts, etc. for you, your child, or people associated with your child? Please visit www.glcomets.net/ourschools/holbrook-elementary.

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.