Gretchko Elementary Newsletter

Hello Lakers!

We are in the home stretch of getting everything ready to welcome our Gretchko students back to school! Today, you should have received your child's welcome letter. If you did not, please email me Monday morning and we will get you squared away. Next Wednesday, we invite you to join us for Popsicles With the Principal, so you can tour the building, see your child's classrooms, drop off any school supplies you might have, and enjoy a popsicle. I'll be right at the main entrance saying hello!

In the meantime, please call us if there is anything we can help with.

Warmly,

Jen Teal

Principal

• August 26: Popsicles With the Principal, 4:00-6:00pm
• August 31: 1st Day of School (full day)!
• September 4: NO SCHOOL
• September 7: NO SCHOOL
• September 9: LATE START (school begins at 11:00am)
• September 10: Gretchko Curriculum Night 6:00-8:00pm
• September 11: Picture Day
• September 18: Family Fun Night at WBHS 5:00-7:00pm
• September 21: NO SCHOOL
• September 25: Gretchko's Annual FunD Run

To help ensure a safe and secure building, all exterior doors remain locked at all times. All visitors must enter through the main entrance using Door 1. There is a doorbell outside of the door that visitors push upon arrival, and the Main Office staff will buzz them in to our vestibule.

We have several new staff members joining us this year. Welcome to our new-to-WBSD and new-to-Gretchko staff!

Jessica Szkrybalo is joining the Gretchko 1st grade team. Last year, she taught Kindergarten over at Scotch Elementary.

Jolene Plotzke, BHMS choir teacher, will be joining us on Tuesdays for 5th grade choir, alongside Mr. Stein and Mrs. Kang.

Marisa Ballard has moved from our 2nd shift custodian to our daytime lead. She and her team have worked tirelessly to get the building ready this summer!

Sarah Madden is new to WBSD. She will be teaching art at Gretchko (Mrs. Bailey and her family returned to Indiana to be closer to family)!

Sarah Morais is now on staff as our new ASD teacher. You may know her from her previous role as our fearless building sub!

Theresa Diaz is joining us as a COTA (Occupational Therapy assistant) this year, working with Erica Maresh.

Keila Adkins is joining us as a special ed para this year. Again, you may know her from her role as a long-term sub at Gretchko last year.

Steffanie Levering is joining the team as a second Resource Room teacher.

Grace Elliott is joining the team as a 2nd grade teacher.

Nahiyan Shirajee is joining us as our building substitute this year.

West Bloomfield School District has moved to an all-online enrollment process. Starting July 29, 2026 families need to login to PowerSchool and complete the Back to School Update Packet.

This process needs to be completed before the first day of school on Monday, August 31. Please click on the following link: https://westbloomfield.powerschool.com/public/

Families are required to do this for each child enrolled with WBSD.

If you do not know your login and/or password for PowerSchool, please contact your school for assistance, or visit https://www.wbsd.org/parents/powerschool for more information.

First day of school is a full day on Monday, August 31.

NEW SCHEDULE for the 26-27 school year:

School Start Time - 9:00am

School End Time - 3:52 pm

Late Start will begin at 11:00 am

• August 2026 Lunch
• September 2026 Lunch

Every child will have what they need to be successful in our classrooms.

If you would like to donate school supplies, you may click on the Amazon Wish Lists below for a convenient way to contribute online and have items shipped directly to us:

• Kdg/1st Wish List

• 2nd/3rd Wish List

• 4th/5th Wish List

OR if you would like to donate supplies and like to shop for these in-store, here is a list of suggested school supplies for one student, no matter what grade they are in.

• Glue sticks (Elmers pack of 4)

• Crayola crayons (1 box of 24)

• Crayola Markers (1 box of 10)

• Crayola colored pencils (1 box of 10)

• 1 pack eraser pencil toppers

• 1 pack of yellow highlighters

• 2 boxes of 24 sharpened pencils (Ticonderoga and Amazon brand work best)

• 2 boxes of tissues

• 1 container of non-bleach, antibacterial wipes

• 1 container unscented hand sanitizer

• 2 4-packs of low odor black fine tip Expo markers (dry erase)

• 1 pack of bandaids

• 1 box of ziplock gallon sized bags

• 1 box of ziplock sandwich sized bags

Any items sent in will be considered communal classroom donations that all students will use and benefit from throughout the year. We truly appreciate any support you choose to give, but most importantly, we are excited to partner with you to make it a wonderful year for your child.

BUSES

• Students are dropped off and picked up at the East/Front loop.

WALKERS/BIKERS

• Students who walk or bike to school will enter through the front, main doors of the building. Please do not let your walker use the breezeway doors, as this is where the car line drops off.

CAR RIDERS

• There is no stopping or parking in front of the school. If you drive your child to school, you must join the car line unless you arrive tardy past the start of the school day.**

• Please watch our brief car line video by using the QR code (sound on) or clicking here.

Morning Drop-Off

• If you are driving your child to school, please follow the designated GREEN arrow traffic pattern in the map. Remain in your car during this process and allow our staff to assist your child. Make sure your child is ready to get out of the car when you get to that drop-off point.

• Car line is staffed from 8:45 am to 8:59 am. If you arrive at school by car at or after 8:59, you must park in a designated parking spot at the front of the building and walk your student to the main office lobby to sign them in there.

Afternoon Pick-Up

• You will follow the same procedures above if you are picking your child up from school in the afternoon. Car line is staffed in the afternoon from 3:52 pm to 4:07 p.m. Thank you for timely pick-up of your children after school.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR CAR DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP

Adults Should:

• Drive slowly and carefully.
• Remain in their vehicle.
• Pull all the way forward in the loop (adult staff will be present to direct you).
• Observe our staff for further direction/instructions.
• To avoid a waiting-to-turn-left line-up along Greer Road, pass the school on Greer, turn left in the subdivision just past the school, pull into the right hand turn lane and follow into the school entrance.
  

Car Loop Students Should:

• Be ready to get out of your vehicle when you arrive at the exit area. (including shoes, coats, hats as weather cools).
• Be on the right side of the car, ready to exit.
• Say good-bye before their expected exit from the car.
• Be positioned so the child does not have to climb over others in the car.
• Have car doors unlocked and student ready to go.
• If your child is not ready to exit, please pull all the way forward so others may exit their vehicles.

PRESCHOOL

• When preschool begins, preschool students will use the southeast parking lot as noted in the map.

West Bloomfield School District community enrichment and early childhood will be transitioning from the Eleyo registration system to Arux.

Kids Connect and Preschool before and after care registration opens on July 15th https://wbsdec.arux.app/
Please note that this link will replace our current Eleyo registration system.

WBSD programs that will be switching from Eleyo to Arux:

WBSD Summer Camp

Kids Connect (School age before and after care)
3 year old Preschool
Preschool before and aftercare
Community and enrichment programs

Good News: Everything Transfers Automatically

Your account data - All of your information will transfer automatically
Login credentials - Your current username and password still work
Existing enrollments - All current and upcoming registrations transfer
Payment methods - Saved cards and autopay settings carry over

If your student requires medication during the school day, prescription and over the counter, the WBSD District Medication Administration Form must be filled out AND signed by your doctor. This form should be turned in before school starts so students do not miss important medications they need. Click here to access the form or stop by the main office to pick one up.

Transportation is provided for resident students who live more than one (1) mile from their assigned school. To help ensure a safe and efficient transportation experience, all students are expected to follow the district's transportation rules and regulations.

Students should arrive at their designated bus stop at least ten (10) minutes before their scheduled pickup time to allow for normal traffic and weather-related delays. If a student is not at the bus stop when the bus arrives, the driver is not required to stop. As we begin the new school year, we appreciate your patience as drivers and students become familiar with new routes and schedules before requesting route changes.

For the safety of our youngest learners, a parent or designated adult must be present at the bus stop to accompany kindergarten and first grade students at both pickup and drop off. If an adult is not present to receive a student at drop off, transportation privileges may be suspended until appropriate arrangements are made.

We also encourage families to download the BusZone app to track their child's bus in real time. Instructions for setting up BusZone will be included with the transportation information mailed to each eligible family. The district access code is 4079WBSD, and parents will need their student's ID number to complete the registration process.

Transportation information for eligible students will be mailed the week of August 17, 2026.

Thank you for your cooperation and partnership as we work together to ensure a safe, smooth, and successful start to the school year.

For additional transportation information, please visit:

West Bloomfield School District Transportation Department

Education & Nutrition Benefits Application (formerly known as the Free & Reduced Meals Application)

Complete the application today!

Step 1: Visit the Meal Magic Family Portal and follow these instructions:

Select Application

• if your child is enrolled in a GSRP preschool program

• if you have more than one child attending West Bloomfield School District and at least one is enrolled in a GSRP program

Otherwise, select Education and Benefits Form.

Questions, contact the Nutrition Services Department at (248) 865-6733

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.

Register Here

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.