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.

February 28, 2025

March is Reading Month, and we are excited to announce that each student will have the opportunity to read "The Wild Robot" alongside our school community! We encourage families to join in this adventure by reading together each day throughout the month. To enhance the experience, special reading activities will be planned, fostering a love for literature and making reading a fun and engaging part of our daily routine. Let's make this a memorable month by celebrating the joy of reading together!

Kat Farr, Principal

Supporting Kids With Self-Esteem
Self-esteem refers to how a person feels about themself and their abilities. Children with high self-esteem are more likely than other children to be confident, resilient, and assertive. Healthy self-esteem in children is strongly linked to academic achievement, peer acceptance, and a supportive relationship with caregivers. Signs of low self-esteem in children include negative self-talk (“I can’t do anything right!”), reluctance to try new things or take on challenges, sensitivity to criticism, and social withdrawal. Vulnerable times for drops in children’s self-esteem include transitions, such as moving to a new grade or school, developmental changes, such as the onset of puberty, and social challenges, such as peer conflict and bullying.

Caregivers can support healthy self-esteem in their children in a number of ways!

Critical Thinking
Kids are often bombarded by messages from peers, media, and social media about who they should be. These messages can sometimes be unhelpful, making kids feel like they don’t measure up. Encourage your child to think critically about messages they receive from others by asking questions like “Is this true or realistic?” and “Does the person sending this message have my best interest at heart?”

Provide Opportunity
Create opportunities for feelings of competence by giving your child challenging but achievable tasks and encouraging activities that help them develop new skills, such as playing a new sport or learning an instrument.

Independence
Encourage independence and responsibility by allowing your child to make age-appropriate choices and supporting them in solving problems on their own.

Praise
When offering praise, be specific. It’s also most helpful when praise is focused more on their effort and/or character vs. the outcome (“Great job creating that beautiful painting!” vs. “I’m so proud of how you kept trying, even when it was hard”).

How to Cope
Help your child cope with mistakes by normalizing them as an important part of life. Encourage your child to develop strategies for bouncing back from a mistake, such as asking for help, practicing, and planning what to do next time. Remind them that mistakes don’t define who they are and that they can learn to talk kindly to themselves when things go wrong.

Books to Read With Your Child
Better Than You by Trudy Ludwig
When I Feel Good About Myself by Cornelia Maude Spelman
I Am Me: A Book of Authenticity by Susan Verde and Peter Reynolds
Rock What Ya Got by Samantha Berger

Spring conferences will be in person on Tuesday, March 11th (5-8pm) and Thursday, March 13th (5-8pm) and virtually Tuesday, March 18th (5-7pm). To schedule a conference for your student(s), click on the picture above or go directly to:  http://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Holbrook_Elementary

Daily Choice » Soft Pretzel with Yogurt & String Cheese
Mon., Mar 3 » Chicken Tenders
Tue., Mar 4 » Cheese Calzone
Wed., Mar 5 » French Toast Sticks & Sausage
Thu., Mar 6 » Beef & Cheese Soft Taco
Fri., Mar 7 » 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.

Please join us for our Spring Book Fair!

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

FAMILY SHOPPING HOURS will be:
Monday, March 10th, 4pm - 6pm
Tuesday, March 11th, 5pm - 8pm (during conferences)
Wednesday, March 12th, 4pm - 6pm
Thursday, March 13th, 5pm  - 8pm (during conferences)
Friday, March 14th, 8am - 1pm

Please plan to come and enjoy the Book Fair and help our library grow with the profits we earn from the Fair.  

Thank you for your support!

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.