Yake Gator Bites

I can hardly believe we have reached the beginning of the 2025.26 school year. I hope that all of our Yake families had safe and relatively enjoyable summer vacations.

I am looking forward to seeing all of my Gators when they return to school on Tuesday!

I am especially looking forward to meeting all of our new Gators and their families. I know they will all be outstanding Gators!

We are going to have a fantastic year!!

• August 27th - Open House from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.!
• September 2nd - First Day of School! - a full day for all students!
• September 17th - Our first PTO meeting of the year staring at 6:00 p.m.! - details coming soon!
• September 18th - Watch D.O.G.S. Dads & Kids Pizza Night starting at 6:00 p.m. in our cafeteria
• September 21st - Fall Festival from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on the Yake grounds
• October 2nd - Picture Day!

Our State Senator Darrin Camilleri will be joining us on Tuesday morning to help welcome our Gators and families back to school. As a former teacher, Mr. Camilleri is a strong voice for public education in Lansing. Please join me in thanking him for continuing to support Yake Elementary School, the WBSD and the 4th district of Michigan.

Please take a peek at the script for a phone message that will be going out to all Yake families on Friday evening. The call will note that Tuesday morning will be a Kiss & Go morning as families will drop their children off at their classroom doors starting at 9:00 a.m. Parents wishing to drop their children off in the loop will be asked to start doing so at 8:50 a.m. Please make sure that your Gator(s) are ready to exit the car as you pull up. We need to work together to keep that loop moving starting at 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Please note that if you are in a hurry on Tuesday morning, Yake is not a place where you will want to be. Our parking lots will be full of happy Gators and patient families.

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

I can't wait to see our Gators when they come to school on Tuesday morning. We are going to have an outstanding year!

Tim Podlewski

Good evening, this is Mr. Podlewski calling with a message for our Yake families. I can hardly believe that we are down to our last weekend of the summer. All students begin with a full day of school starting at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Please note that all students will arrive to and be dismissed from their exterior classroom doors on Tuesday. Starting on Wednesday morning, parents with children in Young Fives and kindergarten are asked to park in the visitor’s lot and walk their children to the main doors where they will be escorted to their indoor morning line-up locations by their safeties or their teachers. Parents of 1st graders are asked to walk their children to the exterior classroom doors until they are comfortable finding their exterior classroom doors on their own. Please do not drop students off in grades 2-5 before 8:50 a.m. Please feel free to contact our main office if you have any questions about our morning drop-off procedures. Please be patient during morning drop-off, especially on the first day and first week of school. If you are in a hurry in the morning, waiting in the morning drop-off loop on the first day of school is not the place where you will want to be.

Children wishing to come in for breakfast may enter through the front doors starting at 8:40 a.m.

As a reminder, outside visitors are not allowed in our school without an appointment or unless they are scheduled to work as a volunteer. 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 or press the Ring Doorbell for assistance. Staff members will welcome students in, assist them in getting to class and/or pick up backpacks, lunches and/or similar items as needed.

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.

I hope all of our families have a great evening and a wonderful Labor Day weekend! I will look forward to seeing all of my Gators when they return to school on Tuesday morning. Remember, Tuesday morning will be a kiss and go morning as parents will say goodbye at the classroom exterior doors starting at 9:00 a.m.

All Kindergarten & Young Fives Gators are invited to join Mr. Podlewski for a reading of "The Night Before Kindergarten" at 7:00 p.m. on Facebook Live on Monday, September 1st. If you list your child's name in the chat, Mr. Podlewski will greet them by name.

• Kennya Salinas - SLP

• Jenni Hanna - Building Sub

• Evan Bliss - Long-Term sub for Stephanie Ulman! Second generation Yake teacher!

• Sarah Begley- Recourse - Not new, but started second semester last year.

• Emma Flaishans - Independence Paraprofessional - Not new, but started second semester last year.

• Kaelyn Weisbrod - Social Worker - Not new, but started second semester last year.

• Katie Brooks - Early Childhood Para

• Mackenzie Borg - Student teacher with Kara Hool

• Stephanie Bodagh - Independence Paraprofessional - Returning to Yake.

• Jennifer Kaminski - Independence Paraprofessional - Returning to Yake.

• Samantha Freeman - GSRP Paraprofessional - Returning to Yake.

Please join me in welcoming our new staff members! We are fortunate to have such great additions to our team at Yake Elementary School.

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

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!

*Bus routes may be updated, as there are always adjustments to be made and bugs to work out each year.

Please click here or on the image below to see this year's bus routes. They should be similar last year.

Please click here for more information about our Transportation Department as listed on our District website.

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.

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 18th. 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 2025.26 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!

Please take a moment to read the letter below from our Superintendent in regards to Free Breakfast and Lunches this year. The commitment from our Superintendent, School Board and community to doing what is best for our kids is one of the reasons why I love living and working in the Woodhaven-Brownstown community.

-Mr. Podlewski

Every Gator in grades 1-4 will be issued touch-screen Chromebooks. The Chromebooks will usually remain in the classrooms, but damages can occur and repair charges can range from $25 to $200 or $300 for a full replacement. For an annual cost of $20, your Gator's Chromebook will be protected!

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.

Erving, Wegienka & Yake are scheduled to break ground on June 11th to begin our Bond renovations. While the completed work is about two years away, I wanted to share some images about what is to come. A big element of the design process centered around developing natural environments that centered around the mascots of each school. In our case, our theme will center around gators and the Everglades. I will share some images from our Design Playbook as we move through the year to share some glimpses into Yake Elementary School's transformation.

As we head into the home stretch of the summer break, I wanted to take a moment to share a special recognition that our school received. This is an indicator that showcases the excellence of our team at Yake Elementary School. Staff, parents, and Gators continue to set a high bar and it doesn't go unnoticed. Enjoy the rest of your well deserved summer break and enjoy the pat on the back that our team deserves. Keep Giving and Expecting the Best, Gators!

We have a back to school packet for families to complete in Parent Connect. MiStar updates (emergency contacts, numbers, emails, etc.) will be made automatically when families complete the online packet. In Parent Connect on the top there is a link that states 2025-2026 Back (coming soon) to School Packet. Click on the link below for directions and a short video explaining how to complete the Parent Connect Packet. The deadline to complete the online Parent Connect packets is Friday, September 5th.

https://www.mywbsd.org/page/parent-connect-resources

Our 4th graders have been selected to participate in the 2026 NAEP this year. Please see the images below for more information, but as a snapshot, our 4th graders will be selected to take tests in reading and math and our results will be used a part of "The Nation's Report Card." Testing will take place between January 26th and March 20th and would take no more than two hours. I am confident that our 4th grade Gators will be ready to boost our Nation's Report Card when they represent our school, school district, Michigan and the United States of America when they take the tests at the start of the new year.

Are you smarter than a 4th grader? Test yourself by clicking here or on the link below to try our some of the NAEP questions for yourself. Would you be able to help our Nation's Report Card?

Please take a peek at Yake's 2025/26 building calendar. This calendar is subject to change and will be updated as we move through the new school year.

We are waiting with fingers crossed to see if breakfast and lunch will be available for all students for free once again this year. Stay tuned...

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.

mywbsd.nutrislice.com

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. Kindergarten & Young Fives Gators will be allowed to enter through the front doors and line-up outside of their classrooms starting at 8:50 a.m. All other Gators in grades 1-4 will enter their classes through the exterior classroom doors at 9:00 a.m.

Please see the flyer below and click on the link to book your room at Kalahari on President's Day! 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 16, 2026! The rooms sell out every year. Be sure to book early to reserve your room.

All about i-Ready for parents! Please see the videos below for information about the i-Ready diagnostic and the i-Ready program.

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.

Home of the Gators!

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