Ada Family Connection
August 22, 2025
Dear Ada Families,
What an incredible first week of school! It has been wonderful to see our hallways filled with smiling faces, excited conversations, and the energy that makes Ada such a special place.
Our students have jumped right into learning, building new friendships, and getting comfortable with their routines. I could not be more proud of the way they have embraced this new school year!
I also want to take a moment to recognize our incredible staff. From teachers and classroom teams to our office staff, custodial team, food service staff, and student support staff, everyone has worked tirelessly to prepare for a successful start to the year. They have created welcoming spaces, established routines, supported students’ individual needs, solved countless little challenges behind the scenes, and made sure our school feels safe, caring, and ready for learning. Their dedication, teamwork, flexibility, and genuine care for our students have made this first week such a success. I am incredibly grateful for all they do each and every day.
Thank you for your partnership, support, and trust as we begin another wonderful year together. We are off to an amazing start. I am so excited for all that is ahead!
The proudest principal in the world,
Gabbi Kokenakes
Please read the attached letter from our Instruction Office Team: CKLA Amplify Family Letter.
Ranger Rock Out yard signs are an Ada Elementary tradition!
Celebrate your student and show your school pride by purchasing a Ranger Rock Out yard sign!
Kids love spotting their sign during the big event and “Rocking Out” with friends along the walk (see the photo above of the "walking course" we set up for them as a station to do as a class).
After the fundraiser, take your sign home and proudly display it in your yard — a fun way to show your Ranger spirit all year long!
Signs start at $20/sign with a discount after 2 signs but, as always, there is financial assistance for any amount encouraged. See payment options below.
Bonus: A portion of each sign sale supports our school and counts as participation when we measure whether each class reached their 100% participation goal.
To order a sign, please fill out the Ranger Rock Out 2026 Yard Sign Order Form .
Let’s fill all of our neighborhoods with Ada Pride!
Contact the Ada Elementary PTO at ptoadaelementary@gmail.com with questions/concerns.
Interested in volunteering at Ranger Rock Out?
Ranger Rock Out is a fun-filled day of activities all over the school grounds to celebrate our largest fundraiser of the year at Ada Elementary. Making this big event happen would not be possible without our volunteers! There are two ways to join the fun!
- Thursday, September 24 - Help set-up the night before the event. There's a ton to do and we really could use your help!
- Another way to help is to drop off a canopy shade tent to help keep our volunteers cool during the event! We'll take great care of it and return it the end of the day Friday!
- Friday, September 25 - Sign up to work the day of the event. You will work with other parents to help run a station for a half-day "shift".
- Note the stations have an AM and PM timeslot:
- AM: Morning ECSE, Jr Kindergarten, Kindergarten & 1st Grade
- PM: Afternoon ECSE, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Grade.
Please click here to sign up: Ranger Rock Out Volunteer Form
Supervisor of Student Support Systems- Ryan Culey
PE Teacher- Carly OBrien
STEAM Teacher- Dana Meyer
Kindergarten Teacher- Hannah Long
Early Elementary Behavior Support Paraprofessional- Taylor Burgess
4th Grade Student Teachers- Lillian Whynott, Lydia Bockheim
2nd Grade Student Teacher- Adriana Leonard
Long-Term Sub- Emily Berkobien
We are looking for donations of individually packaged, healthy snacks to keep in the office for students who may need a little something to eat during the school day. Items such as granola bars, crackers, pouches, pretzels, and other nutritious, shelf-stable snacks are greatly appreciated.
September 4: No School Labor Day
September 7: No School Labor Day
September 15: Picture Day!
September 25: Ranger Rock Out
October 9: FHC Homecoming
October 12th & 14th: Fall Conferences
March 8th & 10th: Spring Conferences
Drop-off begins at 8:35 a.m. Please wait for an Ada staff member to be outside before letting your child out of the car.
For both drop-off and pick-up, please use the car line. The other area is reserved for buses. Below, you’ll find a map showing Ada’s traffic flow. When we all follow the same procedures, our car line runs smoothly!
Thank you for practicing patience and kindness while in line.
- Please remain in your car during drop-off and pick-up.
- Students should exit the vehicle from the passenger side, curbside for their safety.
- Please make sure your child(ren) remain safely seated in the car until it is time to exit.
- In the morning, pull all the way forward when dropping off. This helps keep the line moving continuously.
- Please be patient and never jump ahead of another vehicle in line.
- The only exceptions to these arrival and dismissal procedures are those approved by Gabbi Kokenakes for specific needs, such as health concerns or students with casts.
Thank you for doing your part to keep our students and staff safe and to help make arrival and dismissal run smoothly!
If you are picking up from school, please use the sign provided with your family "number" on it. Please pick these up from your classroom teacher at Open House. Please display it on your windshield. This helps us identify your car for your child. Families with multiple children will all have the same number.
In a continuing effort to keep our students safe, Forest Hills Public Schools (Board Policies #3105 & 4205) requires that parents/guardians and community members submit to a criminal background check prior to participating in any volunteer activities (including field trips) involving our students. The Board of Education recognizes and appreciates the generosity and support it receives from volunteers.
If you have more than one child in the district, you only need to complete the form one (1) time.
We will need a copy of the front of your ID to complete this form. If you would like to scan your photo identification using a mobile device, please see this document with directions on how you can accomplish this task: https://bit.ly/docscan20
The Volunteer Consent Form is kept completely confidential at the District Office.
If your student is going to be absent, please call the Ada Attendance Line at 616-493-8943 by 9:00 a.m. This is a 24-hour voicemail system, so you may leave a message anytime, day or night. Voicemails are checked for messages by 9:00 a.m.
The Ada Elementary office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Ada Elementary Main office number (available from 8:00 to 4:30): 616-493-8940
Gabbi Kokenakes
Email: gkokenakes@fhps.net
Website: https://www.fhps.net/elementary-schools/ada/
Location: 731 Ada Drive Southeast, Ada, MI, USA
Phone: 616-493-8940