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

Do you know of a family who could use extra resources this holiday season. Help spread the word about the GL Shopping Tour! We are currently registering GL students in K-4th grade who are in need of school clothes and supplies.

www.GLComets.net/Shoppingtour

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

November 8, 2024

Drop-off & Pick-up Loop
We hope this message finds you well! We want to take a moment to remind everyone about the importance of using the pick-up and drop-off loop effectively during school hours, especially as the weather gets colder and rainy or snowy days occur more regularly. The designated loop is designed to ensure a quick and smooth process for all families, allowing students to safely enter and exit the school grounds.

Please note that stopping and parking on streets marked with signs is not permitted. This regulation is in place for the safety of our students and families, as it helps maintain clear pathways for traffic and ensures that all children can arrive at school and return home safely. 

If you have any concerns or questions regarding the pick-up and drop-off procedures, please do not hesitate to reach out to the principal. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to keeping our school community safe.

Thank you for your understanding and support!

Conferences
We would like to remind you to sign up for in-person or virtual conferences with your child's general education, special areas or support teachers. These conferences are a valuable opportunity to discuss your child's progress, address any questions or concerns, and collaborate on strategies for continued success. Please click the link above for sign-up and additional details. We look forward to connecting with you and working together to support your child's learning journey!

Kat Farr, Principal

Supporting Kids With Coping Skills
Emotional regulation can be challenging for children because their prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, isn’t fully developed. They rely more on the amygdala, the brain’s emotional center, often resulting in impulsive, emotion-driven reactions. Helping children to learn to name their emotions, identify how emotions feel in their body, and teaching coping skills are important pieces to teaching this skill. When a child is already upset, it’s very hard for them to learn new coping skills or problem-solving strategies. Teach and practice these skills during times of calm, and then make a plan about when your child might use them. Ex. “What can you do when you’re angry at your little brother?”

Coping Skills to Teach, Model, and Practice With Your Child:
*Name it to tame it: The simple act of identifying and naming feelings can help us feel a little better. Help your child with this by using phrases like, “I see you’re upset right now. Are you feeling worried? Or frustrated?” Model this for your child by naming your own emotions out loud from time to time. You can also help your child to understand clues in their body about feelings. For example, butterflies in the stomach or a face feeling hot.
*Positive self talk: Help your child develop a habit of positive self-talk with affirmations like “I can handle this” or “I am in control of my emotions.” Teach your child to question and reframe unhelpful thoughts. For example, if they say “I can’t do this” encourage them to change it “This is hard, but I can try my best.”
*Star breathing: Practice taking slow, deep breaths by using the finger of one hand to trace up (inhale) and down (exhale) the fingers on the other hand.
*Safe Place: Teach your child to imagine they are in a safe, peaceful place. Prompt them to identify what they would see, hear, taste, smell, and touch while they’re there. Encourage them to imagine they’re in this place when they’re upset.

Books to Read With Your Child:
Listening to My Body by Gabi Garcia
The Color Monster by Anna Llenas
What Does It Mean to Be Present by Rana DiOrio
Charlotte and the Quiet Place by Deborah Sosin

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.

Daily Choice » Cereal Fun Lunch (Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal, String Cheese, Strawberry Yogurt, Goldfish Crackers)
Mon., Nov 11 » French Toast Sticks & Syrup
Tue., Nov 12 » Galaxy Cheese Pizza
Wed., Nov 13 » Chicken Patty Sandwich
Thu., Nov 14 » Macaroni & Cheese with Breadstick
Fri., Nov 15 » NO LUNCH - Half Day of School

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.

FALL BOOK FAIR!!

We invite you to visit our Scholastic Book Fair during conferences and check out hundreds of fun, engaging, affordable books for the whole family to enjoy.

Book Fair Family Shopping hours will be:
Monday, Nov. 18th, 4-6 pm
Tuesday, Nov. 19th, 5-8 pm
Wednesday, Nov. 20th, 4-5 pm
Thursday, Nov. 21st, 5-8 pm
Friday, Nov. 22nd, 9 am - 12 noon

Plan to come and enjoy the Book Fair and get a great start on holiday shopping while helping our library grow with the profits we receive from the Fair.  

Thank you for your support for our school!

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.