Gretchko Elementary Newsletter

Hello Lakers!

We are SO GRATEFUL for your incredible GENEROSITY, as we have now crossed our fundraising goal of $40,000 for FunD Run! We celebrated this week with PJ day and movie and popcorn, and next week, there are more surprises coming! PTO funds go right back into our school to help in so many ways: as a major cost offsetting measure for field trips (each child would owe $30-40 per year for field trips but thanks to PTO only pay $10), to bring in terrific assemblies, to host FREE family events like BOO BASH next weekend, to provide extra supplies for your children's classrooms, to cover tableware for class parties and treats during March is Reading Month, and more. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I do hope we will see you all at Boo Bash next Friday from 6-8pm. Costumes welcome! The festivities will include food trucks, a DJ dance party, games, bingo, and a special visitor bringing creepy, crawly creatures for an unforgettable animal experience! Entry is FREE for the whole family; food will be available for purchase.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

Jen Teal

Principal

A Pizza with Everything on It

It's a tale as old as time: a kid wants to make a pizza with his dad, but not just any pizza . . . he wants a pizza with everything on it. That's right, everything. But as the toppings pile on, this father-son duo accidentally create a pizza so delicious, so extravagant, so over-the-top, that it destroys the universe—and the cosmos go as dark as burnt crust. Will anyone enjoy pizza ever again?

• October 23: Blizzard Day
• October 23: PTO presents Boo Bash (6:00-8:00pm)
• October 28: Picture Retake Day (9:15-11:15am)
• October 30: Costume Parade followed by classroom parties (2:15-3:15pm)

• November 3: NO SCHOOL
• November 11: LATE START
• November 13: Blizzard Day
• November 20: HALF DAY
• November 20: PTO Bagel Day Sale
• November 25-27: NO SCHOOL

Here at Gretchko, we love recognizing students who are following our classroom social contracts and demonstrating responsibility, respect, safety, and kindness. This week, we have been on the lookout for students who are setting a great example and we have been handing out many Rockin' Croc tickets. A copy of the ticket goes home so you can celebrate with your our student as well, and the other half is entered into our Friday drawing.

ROCKIN' CROC winners for October 16, 2026:

Madisyn Lewis, Lilith Nummer, Lincoln Hogan, Victor Ruiz Coello, Cameron Riebe, Chase Daniels, Viviana Winowiecki, Harper Kincaid, Armani Daniels, Silas Rosemeyer, Adonis Fowler, Eloise Lulgjura, Madison Samona, Walter Smith, Nolan McLeod, Kai Salina

K-4 music has been having fun and working hard this month on singing technique; learning to sing with strong, confident voices in a large group and in duets or trios. We’ve been learning songs from around the world, with our current song being from Ireland! We’ve been playing a number of different instruments including hand drums, guiros, rhythm sticks, glockenspiels and bell sets. We have been increasing our comfortability with musical terms for tempo, and have already come a long way with rhythm reading and note recognition. Solfege has been a focus for us across all grades as we gain comfortability with Curwen hand signs and Kodaly solfege note names to help us differentiate pitch changes as they move up and down the scale.

Join us for a spooktacular evening at Gretchko’s Boo Bash on October 23 from 6–8 p.m.! Costumes are welcome, so come dressed in your Halloween best and enjoy an evening packed with fun for the whole family.

The festivities will include food trucks, a DJ dance party, games, bingo, and a silent auction featuring decorated pumpkins and themed baskets. We’ll also have a special visitor bringing creepy, crawly creatures for an unforgettable animal experience!

Bring your family, invite your friends, and get ready to boo-gie the night away!

Want to volunteer? Here's how you can help!

• If you would like to help in your child's room specifically, please reach out to your child's teacher directly.
• If you would like to help with behind the scenes work such as copying, stapling, organizing or take home projects please click this link to sign up for Buoy Crew.
• If you would like to work with students school-wide please email Jennifer.Teal@wbsd.org with your preferences of times and days.

All volunteers must complete the iChat form annually and send or bring in a copy of their driver's license to the main office. Once you have been approved, you will be able to begin volunteering!

PTO.Gretchko@gmail.com

https://linktr.ee/gretchkopto

This month, we are celebrating AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) Awareness Month! AAC includes the many ways people communicate beyond speaking, such as communication devices, picture symbols, gestures, sign language, and communication boards. Everyone deserves a way to share their ideas, express their feelings, make choices, ask questions, and connect with others.

Throughout October, we will celebrate the many different ways our students communicate and remind our school community that communication is for everyone! 💙 We encourage families to join us by recognizing and celebrating all forms of communication at home and at school. Every voice matters. Every message matters. Every student deserves to be heard. 🌟

• Saturday Morning Youth Basketball 10/24-11/14
• Elementary Drawing 10/29-12/10
• Math Pentathlon 11/2-5/10
• Tennis Academy 10/30-11/20
• Wrestling Club 11/5-3/18

Please join us on Friday, November 6 for a fun night of Fueling Kids' Futures annual Trivia Night Fundraiser.

Fueling Kids' Futures (FKF) is run entirely by volunteers who purchase, pack, and send home six non perishable meals to students each weekend of the school year. This year we are feeding over 225 children a week.

Please consider buying a tickets to the event, being a sponsor for the program, or donating raffle items to be used that evening.

Tickets can be purchased online at fuelingkidsfutures.org/events or email katherinesheiko@hotmail.com

• October 2026 Lunch
• November 2026 Lunch

We know childhood hunger is a huge problem. Fueling Kids' Futures goal is to make sure no student goes hungry over the weekend by sending six non-perishable meals home discretely with students each Friday at no cost to families. If your child would benefit from this program, please complete the form below and turn it in to the main office.

There are many community resources available to families in need. See the Oakland County Community Resource Guide, which includes resources about topics including Abuse & Protective Services; Food Pantries, Clothing & Household Support; Healthcare Services; Housing Assistance; and Parenting & Pregnancy Resources.

211 (United Way) offers resources/connections for family support as well. Parents/adults can call, text, or email. Here is the link to the 211 website, which is searchable by topic. Additionally, see these 211 flyers in English, Spanish, and Arabic.

Finally, here are some resources for Food Pantry/Supplies near WB/Oakland County.

WBSD has partnered with ParentGuidance.org to give parents free access to resources and helpful information. We have shared this information with our families. We hope that it will be useful for some of you as well!

ParentGuidance.org is an online service by licensed therapists that provides trusted and specialized courses, professional support, and a safe community for parents to learn how to support their children and get answers to mental health questions.

Phone:

• Main Office Phone: (248)865-6570
• SAFELINE to report absences: (248) 865-6572. This is a 24 hour answering machine.