Wednesday Word
Kettle Lake Elementary, 8451 Garbow Drive, Alto, MI
49302
Phone 616.868.6113 FAX 616.868.0021
“A Community of Learner’s...Where Learning is for Everyone”
September 9, 2015
www.calschools.org
School Starts @ 8:40 am, Dismisses @ 3:35 pm
WELCOME BACK!
LET’S MAKE
A DATE!
September 14th
1st PTO Meeting
7:00 pm Library
September 17th
Constitution Day
Activities
September 24th
Picture Day
September 25th
Walk-A-Thon for
Funds
October 1st
Cougar Kids Care
Club Mtg. (Library)
3:35-4:30 pm
October 9th
School Spirit Day
CHS Homecoming
And
“Enjoy the City”
Coupon Book
Kickoff
Backdoor School
Phone Number
891-6200
REMINDER:
Articles for Wed.
Word, Deadline
Mon. @ 4 pm
FROM YOUR PRINCIPAL:
Welcome to the 2015-16 School Year at
Kettle Lake Elementary School. We have had a
very smooth start to the school year. The teachers
were excited to meet their new students and the
students were thrilled to see their old friends and
start making new ones! On the afternoon of our
first day of school we held a Kettle Lake Family
Meeting to review building-wide expectations with students and do some goal setting.
The family meeting was followed by a surprise visit from Jim "Basketball" Jones sponsored by the Kettle Lake PTO. Basketball Jones used a mix of humor, music and
basketball tricks to share important life lessons with our students. The kids sang,
danced and had a great time interacting with our special guest.
Here are some important reminders as we start the new school year:
It is important that students get to school on time each day. The entry bell will ring at
8:35 a.m. to signal students to their classrooms. Instruction begins at 8:40 a.m. and a
tardy bell will ring at that time.
Safety is our number 1 priority at Kettle Lake Elementary. Currently, the
student drop off process in the morning involves a lot of vehicles and students. We are
asking for your cooperation and assistance in making this process as safe as possible
for our students. Safety cones will be set up each morning to guide parents through the
student drop off line. If you are going to get out of your vehicle with your child, please
pull into a parking space to do so. Otherwise, to help keep the drop off process moving,
please make sure your child is prepared to get out of your vehicle when you stop in
the drop off zone.
Points to remember:
· Cars need to pull as far forward as possible before dropping off their student.
· Students should exit the vehicle on the right side of the vehicle if possible.
·There is a designated walk way (currently defined by cones) for students to use to
pass between vehicles in the drop off zone.
·When pulling out onto Whitneyville Road after drop-off, it is recommended that you
turn right to avoid traffic backups on Garbow Drive.
We appreciate everyone's cooperation with these safety efforts. Thank you once
again for your commitment to Kettle Lake Elementary School and your continued
support of our students.
We are continuing to issue Cougar Cool Awards to students throughout the
school year to acknowledge their good choices, best efforts and their ability to live out
the Cougar Promise. Students will receive a wristband when they earn their first Cougar
Cool Award of the school year. This year's wristband says, "Every Day is a Great Day
at Kettle Lake!"
It's going to be another great year at Kettle Lake Elementary. Thanks for your
continued partnership with us as we work together to support student growth and
learning throughout the year! -Mr. M.
A note from the School Counselor:
I hope you have had a wonderful summer break!
My hope for this school year is that all students are able to experience success. If you ever feel
that your student has a need that I might be able to help with, please contact me! I am here to
help all students.
I cover all five elementary buildings, so email is the best way to get a hold of me. My email address is: [email protected]. For information on the types of counseling programs offered at
the elementary level, please visit my blog at: http://caledoniacounselorcorner.blogspot.com/.
You can also reach me by telephone by calling the school office and asking to be transferred to
my extension. Please keep in mind that due to the different buildings I serve, it usually takes a
week for me to return phone calls. Please contact the main office if there is an emergency.
Best Wishes and Happy New School Year!
Mrs. Lance, MA, LSC, LLPC
WATCH D.O.G.S. PROGRAM BACK AGAIN!!!
(Dads of Great Students)
Our WATCH D.O.G. program is kicking off Monday, September 28th. You can call the office 868-6113
anytime or stop by and sign up for a day.
For those of you who are new dads, the Watch D.O.G.S. Program allows you to help out in your child’s
classroom, on the playground, in the lunchroom, gym, art class, etc. for the day. Many of our dads
choose a date on or near their child’s birthday, or you may choose any day that works with your schedule.
Just a Reminder of the Rules:
---One Watch Dog PER FAMILY per year.
In order to have enough space for every family to have a date, we are limiting it to one Watch DOG
dad per family.
---Only one (1) Watchdog per day.
—-You must have a current “background check form” on file.
---When signing up, we need to know at least 2 days in advance to be a Watch D.O.G.
---Please follow the schedule you are given.
---Sign up calendar will be kept in the office. You may call to sign up @ 868-6113 or
email (Crystal) [email protected] or (Karen) [email protected] Thank you!
EMERGENCY INFORMATION CENSUS VERIFICATION FORMS
Family Emergency Information Sheets (Census Verification Forms) were mailed home with our
Open House Information. If you haven’t corrected, signed & returned it to school, please do so
ASAP. Thank you!
LUNCHTIME RECESS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FROM 12-1 PM
We are in need of one or two parent helpers daily to help supervise the playground during the
lunch times. If you could help from 12-1 pm, please call the office @ 868-6113 or email Crystal
@ [email protected]
LUNCHTIME VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN CAFETERIA:
We are in need of parent volunteers to help out in the cafeteria Monday through Friday from
11:15—12:45 pm.
Volunteers are needed to help students use the microwaves, open some of their lunch items,
maintain the salad bar and be table washers. Even if you could volunteer for one day a week,
that would be great. If this is something you could help with, please give the school office a call
at 868-6113 and ask for Mrs. Reigler.
NOTE: Please do NOT send food items that need to be prepared (i.e.: Mac ‘n’ Cheese) or canned
goods (i.e.: soups, ravioli, etc.). Unfortunately, we DO NOT have the personnel to help the students,
plus it ties up the microwave for 3-5 minutes. Thank you.
ATTENTION KINDERGARTEN PARENTS
If you have not sent us your child’s health records, birth certificate, immunizations, etc. to school, please
do so right away! Very soon we will be audited by the Kent County Health Department and if your child’s
health records and birth certificate are not on file, he/she will not be able to attend until we receive them.
To avoid this “harsh sentence”, please make sure that these forms are on file in our office. Thank you.
SMILE! PICTURE DAYS ARE COMING
On Thursday, September 24th all students will have their picture taken and have an opportunity to
purchase a picture packet from InterState Studios. Packet information will be going home soon.
Information packets will give you several options for payments if you want to. We are not doing
Spring Portraits, so this will be your only picture opportunity for this school year.
Questions? Email Inter-State at www.order.inter-state.com or call 868-6113.
Note: Picture retakes will be Wednesday, October 28th, for anyone who is absent September 24th.
Cub Scout News
CUB SCOUT PACK 3201
Kettle Lake has a recycling bin (Paper Gator) located in the parking lot. This bin is sponsored by the Cub Scouts of
Pack 3201. Ask your family, friends and neighbors to feed our PaperGator with recyclable paper to help keep our
earth green!
What can go in the PaperGator?
Newsprint, Catalogs & Magazines, Junk Mail, Phone Books, Office/School paper.
What can NOT go in the PaperGator? Plastic, Metal, Trash, Glass, Cardboard
Help us by dropping off your recyclable papers in the PaperGator today and every day!
COMMUNITY NEWS
AFTER SCHOOL BIBLE CLUB RETURNS TO KETTLE LAKE:
The “After School Bible Club: will meet every TUESDAY starting Tuesday, September 29th from 3:35—4:30 pm in
the Sensory Room. It will run from September 29th until December 8th, and then pick up again after our Christmas
vacation. It’s a FREE Bible Club after school sponsored by Kids Life Bible Clubs. If you’re interested, “sign-up” brochures
are available in the lobby by the office. Students should bring the “filled out” brochure with them to the 1st meeting.
Reminder: Make sure you send a note to the teacher each week if your student is staying after school for Bible Club.
ANNUAL CALEDONIA HARVEST FESTIVAL, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH
Join the Caledonia Area Chamber of Commerce for the Annual Caledonia Harvest Festival, Saturday, Sept. 26th, 10am to
2pm. Fun for the entire family including hayrides, free pumpkins, free dance classes, corn maze, vendor booths, kids
games, coloring contest and more. Located at 92nd and Dobber-Wenger (in front of the library). Bring the attached coloring
sheet to the Chamber booth for a chance to win a gift certificate to Celebration Cinema. Rain or shine come join the fun!