Yake Gator Bites
Week of September 9, 2024!
Upcoming Dates of Note:
- September 19th - Watch D.O.G.S. Dads & Kids Pizza Night starting at 6:00 p.m. in our cafeteria
- September 22nd - Fall Festival from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on the Yake grounds
- September 23rd - 27th - Inclusion Week!
- September 25th - Our first PTO meeting of the year staring at 6:00 p.m.! - details coming soon!
- October 3rd - Picture Day!
Parents and visitors are asked to park in the Visitor's Parking lot, especially before 8:50 a.m. Staff members need to be able to park in order to get to their classrooms. Please assist us in keeping the spots in the staff parking lot open for staff, at least until 8:50 a.m. each morning.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Yake Elementary School PTO!
Gator Alley!
Gator Alley!
Check out our newly renovated Gator Alley! Big "Thank you!" to Mrs. O'Connor & Mrs. Guest for your work on this big undertaking. Our Gators will love it!
"Positively Rockin'"
The Worlds of Music Tours with Guy Louis returns to Yake Elementary School this year with his "Positively Rockin'" show on September 27th. Thank you to our PTO for bringing Mr. Louis back to Yake for a fun, character education show to help kick-off the new school year! Or a celebration of making it through the first month of school.
Attendance Counts!
This is a reminder about the importance to children attending school on time, for the full day, every day. At Yake Elementary School, we follow a rigorous curriculum which is reflected in our high performing school. Every day and every minute counts. As a reminder, we will be starting a rewards program that will include weekly raffles (perfect weekly attendance), monthly prizes (1 or fewer absences or tardies each month) and a family celebration BBR/Event for any Gator with over a 95% attendance rate (9 or fewer absences for the year). Please remember that our attendance incentives are for perfect attendance. Doctors appointments, dentist appointments, Friday sporting events, etc. even with excuses would result in a child missing out on the perfect attendance incentives.
We appreciate your help in getting Yake back to a 95%+ attendance rate for the 2024/25 school year. Let's keep those Gators growing and striving towards reaching their highest potential this year!
Please read the letter below for more information. Incentive reward information will be shared soon.
Watch D.O.G.S.!
Calling all Dads!
Mark your calendars to help us bring Watch D.O.G.S. back to Yake Elementary School!
Yake was the first school to establish a Watch D.O.G.S. program in Southeast Michigan when we got started on May 17, 2010.
Starting at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 19th. We will have our Dads & Kids Pizza Night. This introduction program is for all new “Dads” and veteran “DOGS” to learn more about the program and to sign up for the 2024.25 school year.
For more information about the Watch D.O.G.S. program, click here.
For a copy of the Dads & Kids Pizza Night flyer (to RSVP), click here.
To access the ICHAT (background check and volunteer waiver form) so that you can volunteer as a Watch D.O.G., click here. By bringing the completed form and a copy of your driver's license to the dinner, we can get you up and running as a Watch D.O.G.
I am very excited to see Watch D.O.G.S. get back up and running this year!
Fall Festival!
Sunday September 22nd
2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
on the Yake grounds!
Fall Festival 2023!
Take a peek at a few pictures of the fun at our 2023 Fall Festival!
Emergency Preparedness Drills!
Pick-Up & Drop Off!
When dropping off and picking up students, we ask you observe the following safety procedures:
Drop Off:
The drop-off lane is open.
This is our KISS & GO ZONE. Pull up next to the sidewalk to let your student out of your vehicle from the passenger side ONLY.
Please do not drop off your students in the parking lot or in the second lane of traffic.
If your student needs assistance exiting the car, you MUST park your car in the lot and walk your student to the front of the school to ensure a safe crossing from the parking lot.
Students should not be permitted to walk past parked or moving cars unescorted.
All students will line up outside at their classroom doors.
Pick Up:
Y5 & K car rider parents will pick up their child from their classroom’s exterior doors at 3:25pm.
1st grade car rider parents will pick up their child from their classroom’s exterior doors at 3:30pm
2 - 4 grade walkers / car riders will be released from their classroom exterior doors at 3:45pm
You may meet your child at their classroom doors and escort them to your car.
Do not call your student to your car if you are parked in the main lot
2024.25 Bus Routes!
Please click here for more information about our Transportation Department as listed on our District website.
Birthday Celebrations!
Birthday Celebrations!
Every child’s birthday is important. However, we must take more care when sending birthday treats to school. In addition to pandemic related precautions, we must also consider student food allergies, student diabetes, and our national push for healthy eating. If you wish to send a prepackaged birthday treat, you will need to either send the treats in with your child in the morning or pull into one of the parent parking spots and call the office to have us come out and pick up the treats from you. Please make sure that the pre-packaged treats have the ingredients listed on the packages. Please label the treats with your child’s name and classroom teacher. Parents will not be allowed to deliver treats into their child’s classroom.
Visitor's & Volunteers!
As a reminder, no outside visitors will be allowed in our school unless they are volunteering or have an appointment. Any parent or visitor wishing to drop off or pick up a child, drop off a backpack or a lunch, etc. will need to call our office at (734)692-2230 for assistance. Staff members will welcome student in, escort students out and/or pick up backpacks, lunches and/or similar items as needed.
Yes, volunteers are welcome. However, they must be i-chat approved and the application is due one week prior to volunteering. To assess an IChat form, (Click here) and then click on the IChat form.
If parents wish to pick students up prior to dismissal, our office must be called before 3:20 p.m. Children will not be walked out to parents after 3:20 p.m.
Technology Protection Plan!
To enroll in the protection plan for 2024-2025, you can enroll by submitting payment through Parent Connect, available within the WBSD app. Here are the step-by-step instructions at bit.ly/WBSDhelp on how to make payment via Parent Connection. Alternatively, if online payment is not possible please print and complete the form from bit.ly/protectplan and send it with a check made payable to WBSD to the address below. Contact the WBSD Central Office at 734-783-3300 for any questions or concerns.
*Please address checks/cash to the Technology Department, 24821 Hall Road, Woodhaven, MI, 48183.
The Technology Protection Plan must be paid by September 30th of each school year or two weeks after your student(s) enrolls at WBSD Schools.
Free Breakfast & Lunch for the 2024-25 school year!
Nutrislice Menus
New this year, all breakfast and lunch menus are available for families to view through the Nutrislice app. View menus online or with the Nutrislice app.
Breakfast procedures!
Children who are coming in for breakfast will be allowed to enter Yake through the maind doors at 8:40 a.m. and head to the cafeteria for breakfast. All other Gators in grades 1-4 will enter their classes through the exterior classroom doors at 9:00 a.m. Young Fives & kindergarten Gators will be allowed to enter through the main doors at 8:50 a.m. and line up outside of their classrooms.
A flyer and a link to book your room can be found below! You don't want to miss out on a great deal for a room and a few days of waterpark fun with some great Yake families at Kalahari on President's Day, which will be on Monday, February 17, 2025! The rooms sell out every year. Be sure to book early to reserve your room.
i-Ready
Additional information will be coming throughout the year. i-Ready is a great resource for tracking your Gator's academic growth in Reading and Math, particularly when reviewing initial (September), mid-year (January) and end of the year (May) data.
We will all work diligently to help our Gators demonstrate academic growth throughout the year.
Your one stop quick reference!
Yake Elementary School
Where our Gators "Give and Expect the Best!" everyday!
Email: podlewt@wbsdweb.com
Website: https://www.mywbsd.org/yes
Phone: (734)692-2230
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yakepto
Twitter: @YakeGators


