Woods Lake Family Weekly

Vision: Woods Lake Elementary: A Magnet Center of the Arts will educate every child, every opportunity, every time!

Mission: Woods Lake Elementary: A Magnet Center of the Arts, is a place where academics and the arts create opportunies in a safe, collaborative environment.

Dear Woods Lake Families,

Spring is approaching, and it has been refreshing to see the sunshine. We have an exciting week ahead:

Western Michigan University students from the Dance Project will work with our Dance Company Program and later put on a dance performance for the whole school. Thank you, Mrs. Norton, for helping to make this happen.
Rep. Julie Roberts will spend time with Mrs. Gougam's homeroom students in honor of March Is Reading Month.
Dr. Slade, our district superintendent, will visit all third-grade classrooms to lead a math activity.
Our first-grade classes will take a trip to the Public Library in downtown Kalamazoo this Tuesday.

A few schedule reminders:

Thursday is a half day for students.
Friday there is no school.
We will welcome students back on Monday, April 6, 2026. Happy Spring Break!

Our teachers are looking forward to meeting with you for Parent‑Teacher Spring Conferences:

Tuesday: 4:00–8:00 PM
Thursday: 12:00–8:00 PM

Thank you for your partnership and support. We’re excited to share the progress our students have made so far.

Warmly,

Ms. Prather
Interim Principal
Woods Lake Elementary

M-STEP Testing Window: Week of April 13–27

We are excited to share that our third, fourth, and fifth grade students will participate in M-STEP (Michigan Student Test for Educational Progress) during the weeks of April 13–27. This important assessment helps us understand student progress in English Language Arts and Mathematics and informs our instructional planning. Our fifth grade students will assess in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.

Your support is crucial to our students' success. We strongly encourage regular attendance during this testing window, as missing even one day can impact your child's testing experience. If you have questions about the testing schedule or your child's participation, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher. Your child's teacher will be sending home a letter with the specific testing schedule this week.

We also invite families to get involved by providing testing snacks to support our students during this busy time! Third, fourth, and fifth grade parents: please contact your child's teacher directly if you'd like to contribute snacks. Parents of students in other grade levels: we'd love your support too—simply reach out to our front office to coordinate. Finally, we want to remind all students that M-STEP is an opportunity to show what they've learned. There's no need to stress—encourage your child to take deep breaths, do their personal best, and trust in the hard work they've done throughout the year. We're proud of each and every one of them!

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Supporting Our Students' Success

Regular school attendance is one of the most important factors in student success. When students are present and engaged in the classroom every day, they build stronger foundational skills, maintain connections with their peers and teachers, and develop positive learning habits that last a lifetime. We ask that you partner with us by ensuring your child attends school regularly unless they are ill. Consistent attendance helps students stay on track academically and emotionally, and it strengthens our entire school community. If your child is absent, please call our office to report an unexcused absence so we can keep accurate records and support your family.

Our school is committed to reducing chronic absenteeism—last year we were 34.9%—with a goal of decreasing it by 5% this year. Students who miss 18 or more days of school are considered chronically absent, which significantly impacts their learning and progress. We will continue to reach out to families who have not called to inform us of unexcused absences, and we encourage you to work with us proactively.

Together, we can ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive. If you're facing barriers to attendance—such as transportation challenges, health concerns, or other obstacles—please contact us. Our team is here to help find solutions and support your family in getting your child to school consistently.