Waukazoo Elementary Newsletter
November 7, 2025
Principals Report:
Dear Waukazoo Families,
Fall is such a fun time to live in the midwest! We have been so lucky to have great weather most days for outdoor recess and other activities. Many of our teachers are taking students outside for different activities and it's been so nice to have the weather cooperate with all their plans. We hope it continues so we can keep having fun outside and learning along the way! This is the time of year that the weather does start to turn (looks like maybe this weekend!), so please make sure you are sending your student with outdoor gear. We send students outside for recess as often as possible- so please make sure they're ready! If your family needs assistance with providing your student with winter gear, please reach out. We are happy to help make sure they have what they need!
This month, we are excited to host three assemblies at Waukazoo. Two of them are travelling shows from local colleges and also our annual Veterans Day Assembly. Today, we hosted Grand Valley's travelling theater- ask your student about the show!
Here's what's coming up the next two weeks:
- Monday, November 10 to Friday, November 21- Student council food drive
- Tuesday, November 11- Veterans Day Assembly- Wear Red, White, and Blue to school!
- Friday, November 14- World Diabetes Day- Wear Blue to school!
- Wednesday, November 19- HALF DAY for students for staff professional development
- Friday, November 21- Popcorn day! And Hope College's Striketime Dance assembly
Have a great weekend, and Go WO!
Mrs. Bolhuis
West Ottawa AI Guidelines
hand2hand
Dear Parent/Guardian,
We would like to offer your student the opportunity to participate in a program called "Hand2Hand". This program helps provide a student with food for the weekends and is intended for families who currently may be experiencing a financial burden.
Here's how it works: At the end of each week, students who are signed up for Hand2Hand will receive a minimum of 10 food items in a bag. These food items will be a combination of breakfast, snacks, and lunch or dinner items. There is no cost to participate! If you sign your student up to receive Hand2Hand, they will continue to receive the weekend bag of food each week throughout the school year. Bags will be discreetly delivered to your child at school.
If you feel like your child would benefit from this opportunity, please complete this form. (You will need to complete one form for each of your children.) If there comes a point when you no longer need the assistance, alert your school office. It will take at least two weeks to receive your first bag. If you do not receive a bag, please contact your school office.
(Please note: if your student or another family member has food allergies, it will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian to check the contents of the bag each week to ensure the food doesn't contain ingredients which could cause an allergic reaction).
World Diabetes Day- Blue Out At School
Wear ALL BLUE on November 14!
The Zoo Pack
Please only sign up for ONE time slot!
Waukazoo Student Council News:
Sign up to help at the Student Council school store! Please be sure you have a volunteer profile completed & processed.
Want to become a sub at Waukazoo?
🌟 Become a Substitute at Waukazoo (and West Ottawa Public Schools)! 🌟
We’re always looking for caring, reliable people to help in our classrooms — and you could be one of them! Substitutes play an important role in keeping our school days running smoothly and supporting our students when teachers are away.
If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to help out at school” — this is your chance!
📚 Education Requirements
Edustaff accepts any one of the following:
✅ Transcripts showing 60+ credit hours and a minimum 2.0 GPA from an accredited college or university
✅ Temporary Teaching Authorization
✅ Current Michigan Teaching Certificate (no substitute permit needed!)
✅ Expired Michigan Teaching Certificate
✅ Out-of-State Teaching Certificate + undergraduate transcript showing 60+ credit hours and a 2.0 GPA minimum
🖐️Background Check (K-12 Fingerprinting)
The State of Michigan and Edustaff require fingerprinting for anyone regularly working in a school.
If you’ve already been fingerprinted for Michigan school employment, your prints are still valid if:
· They were taken after January 1, 2006, and
· You’ve been continuously employed by a K-12 school or approved staffing company since then.
If not, you’ll need to be re-fingerprinted using the Edustaff Live Scan Request Form.
💡 Why Substitute?
· Flexible schedule — you choose when you work!
· Make a difference in our school community
· Great experience if you’re considering a career in education
💡 Interested?
· Visit www.edustaff.org to apply or learn more, and help us keep Waukazoo the wonderful our students deserve! 💙
PTA News:
Waukazoo Specials:
Discovery w/ Mr. D:
Library w/ Mrs. Wilkinson & Dr. Reynolds:
Physical Wellness w/ Ms. Krause:
Music w/ Ms. Koedyker:
Art w/ Mrs. Hall:
Technology w/ Mrs. Jarzembowski:
