Upcoming Dates of Note:
- March 31st - April 30th - Fun Run Fundraiser!
- April 11th - Reading Month Dodgeball & Sundae reward for the top 30 AR point earners during the month of March in grades 3 & 4.
- April 12th - Jim Bigham Elementary Mile at WHS starting at 8:30 a.m.
- April 14th - 1st grade field trip to The Real Life Farm in Canton
- April 15th - Yake Family Dinner Night at Bierhaven from 4:00 p.m. until midnight!
- April 18th - No School for Good Friday!
- April 22nd & April 29th - 3rd grade M-STEP Testing!
- April 24th - Kindergarten Orientation for the Classes of 2038 & *2039 (*Young Fives) starting at 6:00 p.m.! We LOVE meeting our new Gators!
- April 30th & May 7th - 4th grade M-STEP Testing!
- May 2nd - Gator Family Fun Run!
- May 7th - Bike & Roll to School Day with Mr. Podlewski & Mr. Crane!
Author Lisa Wheeler Brings Books to Life at Yake Elementary for March is Reading Month
Yake Elementary students took a journey through books when award-winning children’s author Lisa Wheeler visited for a special presentation during March is Reading Month. Wheeler, known for her lively storytelling and engaging picture books, captivated students with animated readings, silly songs, and interactive activities that brought her stories to life.
But for Wheeler, this visit was extra special—she has deep roots in the Woodhaven-Brownstown community. Though she now lives in Addison, Michigan, she previously lived in Brownstown, and her own children attended Wegienka Elementary and later Woodhaven High School.
Wheeler shared not just her stories but also her journey as a writer. Born in Pennsylvania, she moved to Michigan at 15, attending high school in Rockwood before graduating from Carlson High School. She admitted she never went to college but emphasized, “There’s a lot to be said for passion.” Her love for writing started early, but she never imagined she could make it a career.
“I was that kid who was terrified to stand out,” she told students. “But I had to learn. I’ve always written poetry, and when I was in high school, my teacher would edit my work with a red pen. We need people to teach us because we never get it right the first time. We all make mistakes.”
Before becoming a published author, Wheeler worked in the former Toys R Us at the back of the store in the Books R Us. It was there, surrounded by books, that she thought, I think I could do this. In 1995, she began sending out manuscripts. It wasn’t an easy road—she faced 225 rejections before selling her first book. “Don’t be afraid to fail,” she said. Now, she has written over 60 books.
During her visit, Wheeler took students on a literary adventure. She began with Sixteen Cows, a playful story about Cowgirl Sue and Cowboy Gene, who try to round up their cattle with different songs—only for the cows to hilariously mix up. She sang parts of the book, inviting students to respond with enthusiastic “moos!” and transported them from Michigan to Texas through the power of storytelling.
She then introduced Jazz Baby, a rhythmic city-based story that had students clapping, swaying, and using hand motions to repeat beats in the book, demonstrating how rhythm and movement can bring a story to life.
Next, she shared Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum, a tale of a toad who gets stuck in a gooey wad of pink bubblegum—followed by a shrew, a goose, a bee, a crow, and even a big blue truck! Wheeler invited students to imagine other creatures that could get stuck, improvising rhymes on the spot as students suggested animals like a fox, a deer, a spider, and even a sheep. “When you write a book, you get to be the boss of the story,” she told them, inspiring young minds to dream up their own creative tales.
She also explained what every good story needs: a beginning, a middle, and an end. “If one is missing, it’s not a very good story,” she said, helping students understand the importance of storytelling structure.
“For me, getting to spend time in a school with kids is the most fun ever,” Wheeler shared. And for Yake Elementary students, her visit was an unforgettable celebration of reading, creativity, and the magic of stories.
To learn more about Lisa Wheeler and her books, visit lisawheelerbooks.com.
3rd grade Parent Letter!
(Click here) for a PDF version of the letter.
4th grade Parent Letter!
(Click here) for a PDF version of the letter.
Perfect Attendance weekly winners!
For the week of March 17th, we had 230 Gators (down from 255 the week before break) who had perfect attendance! Through our raffle, $10.00 Rev'D Up Fun arcade gift cards were awarded to Willow & Mila! Our next raffle will take place on Monday morning where two more gift cards will be awarded to Gators who had perfect attendance this week.
Watch D.O.G.S. t-shirts!
We have Watch D.O.G.S. t-shirts in stock to purchase! You can also click here or on the link below to check out a wider variety of items to order online.
Parent Access iReady Reports
With the Winter i-Ready diagnostics completed, families can now view their child's Family I-Ready Report online.
WBSD Report Code: 95040X
Please see the attached letters and steps below to access your child's i-Ready Report.
How to access online Parent i-Ready Reports
Step 1:
Log in to Clever using your child’s wbsd google account. Clever link on WBSD website Then, select the i-Ready icon.
Step 2:
Click the For Families icon at the top right corner. Then choose a subject
Step 3:
Users will be prompted to select English or Spanish for the report language. Then, a box will appear requesting the user to enter the district report code - 95040X
It's essential to enter the correct district code number in the provided field, as four incorrect attempts will result in a five-minute system lockout and prompt to contact the school. Please double-check before submitting.
For Family Guidance on I-Ready Report watch the video Family Report Video
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Tim Podlewski
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!
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.
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