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.

September 5, 2025

Dear Holbrook Families,

CKLA Curriculum
I am excited to share that we have implemented Amplify CKLA as our new English Language Arts curriculum. This program is based on the science of reading and is designed to build both reading and comprehension skills through a phonics-based approach while enhancing knowledge in science, social studies, and the arts.

What It Is:
*Focus: Students learn to read while simultaneously reading to learn.
*Method: A multi-sensory approach to phonics paired with rich, content-specific texts builds background knowledge.
*Structure for K-2: Daily lessons include one focused on foundational skills (like phonics) and another on language comprehension.
*Structure for 3-5: Integrated reading, writing, speaking, listening, and vocabulary skills are taught in a single block of time.
*Goal: To develop confident, knowledgeable, and proficient readers.

How Parents Can Help:
*Read Together: Spend at least 15 minutes each day reading with your child.
*Ask Questions: Discuss what your child is learning by asking what stood out to them or what they found interesting.

Your support in these areas will greatly enhance your child’s learning experience. Thank you for being such a vital part of our school community!

Building Procedures
During the first two weeks, students have focused on learning and building essential routines and procedures. These include classroom routines, hallway expectations, proper use of the cafeteria, bathroom procedures, recess expectations, and how to enter and exit the school. We will continue to re-teach and reinforce these procedures to enhance our time on learning throughout the year.

I appreciate your partnership in helping our students succeed!

Safe Drop-off and Pick-up
When dropping off and picking up your child, families have two preferred and safe options; use the loop or park in the lot and walk up via the crosswalk. Families are not to park in Jones St. and cross the road to pick-up students. Signage at the bus loop sidewalk and Green St bus entrance is to prompt families to walk around the building and down Jones St. for drop-off and pick-up. Holbrook has worked with our safety department and transportation to ensure all students are safe during drop-off and pick-up. Please be mindful of the flow of traffic. Holbrook encourages the use of our drop-off and pick-up lanes to ensure a smooth and safe process.

Thank you for your collaboration. 

Kat Farr, Principal

September’s School Counseling Lesson: Meet the Counselor
Beginning in the month of September I will be scheduling monthly school counseling lessons with each BK-4th grade classroom. The lesson for the month of September will be a "Meet the Counselor" lesson. This lesson introduces students to the role of the school counselor and will highlight how I am here to help and support them here at school.

What Does a School Counselor Do?
School counselors work alongside teachers and parents to help students develop socially and emotionally, and to help remove any barriers there are to learning.

What Services Do School Counselors Provide?
*Classroom lessons focusing on social skills, how to take care of strong feelings, problem solving, kindness and compassion, etc.
*Small group counseling
*Short-term individual counseling
*Consultation with parents and teachers
*Community resource referrals (including longer- term therapy services)

How Can I Support Parents?
*Helping to handle social or emotional concerns you have about your child
*Family difficulties or concerns that affect your child at school
*Referrals for community resources
*Helping your child to be on time to school every day
*Discussing concerns about your child’s academic achievement
*Improving parent-child communication

I am excited and honored to serve you and your child! Please contact me if you would like to speak with me about your child. You can book a phone appointment with me at my booking page here: Mrs. Conner’s Booking Page. You can reach me in my office at (517) 925-5526, or you can email me at connern@glcomets.net.

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.

Daily Choice » Soybutter & Jelly Sandwich with Cheese Cubes & CheezIts
Mon., Sept. 8 » Pizza Bites Crunchers
Tue., Sept. 9 » Chicken Drumstick & Biscuit
Wed., Sept. 10 » Grilled Cheese
Thu., Sept. 11 » Waffles & Sausage
Fri., Sept. 12 » Cheeseburger

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.

Students began checking out books from the library this week!   Please remind your child to bring their library books back to school on or before their classroom's library day so they can check out new books!  If they have not finished reading their library book by their library day, they still need to bring it with them during their library time to renew it!

The next PTO meeting of this school year, will be held on Thursday, October 2, 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) ... 10/2, 11/6, 12/4, 1/8, 2/5, 3/5, 4/9, 5/7, 6/4.

First Popcorn Friday will be September 19th, 2025, they will be the third Friday of the month. More info to come soon.  Sign up to volunteer to help with popcorn here! https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0F4AABAD2BA7FAC34-58219042-popcorn

Our Pop for kids fundraiser has taken off and students have hit the ground running! Thanks to those who have already set up their donation sites and started collecting funds!  Congrats to Mrs. Browning's, Ms. Marlatt's and Mrs. Haney's classrooms for being the top collectors in the first three days!!

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.