Waukazoo Newsletter

3/24= PTA Book Swap BINGO 6:30

3/27 = Start of 4th Marking Period

3/31 - 4/9 = Spring Break

4/10 = 5-6pm, PTA Meeting

4/18 & 4/20 = 3rd Grade M-Step Testing

Each year existing West Ottawa families are required to register using the district’s Parent Portal tool. The registration window is now open and it must be completed BEFORE June 1. Please complete your student(s) registration and if you have questions you can contact the Waukazoo office at (616)786-1800.

Hello Waukazoo!

My name is Chris Loughrin and I teach Music at Waukazoo. This is my 25th year teaching at West Ottawa. I began as a 5th grade teacher, then taught 2nd and 3rd grade before teaching music. I received my undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University and my Masters in Education from Aquinas College. I have two grown sons who now live in Portland, OR. My wife Susan and I live in Grand Haven and moved to West Michigan from New York City in 1993. When I am not teaching, I can be found playing out with my band, Sweet Lou and the Savages or with my wife Susan as WoodSong. We love hiking, camping and spending time with our dog Finn!

Hi! My name is Maribeth Zeinstra. I have worked at WO for 21 years, 18 of which have been at the front desk of Waukazoo. Prior to that my involvement with Waukazoo was as a parent, volunteer and member of the PTA. I have 3 children who attended this school during their elementary years. Today they are adults and have moved away from Holland so to fill our home, my husband Mark and I have adopted 3 cuties, Cinnamon, Samoa and Sugar. When the weather is nice, we enjoy going for walks with our dogs around the neighborhood, to the parks or even Downtown Holland. If you happen to see us out and around town, come on over and say “Hi” and meet my fur babies.

Morning drop-off will continue to begin at 8:30am, please remember that students are not supervised prior to 8:30am. The doors will electronically unlock and there is a bell to note the 8:30am time.

If your child does arrive late(school begins at 8:35), please walk them in and sign them in for the day in the office.

Attendance is an important component of success in school. All Waukazoo should “strive for 5” or less absences during the last marking period (March 27 - June 9). Please join our school community in “striving for 5” or less absences during the last marking period of the 2022-2023 school year. During the first 3 marking periods Waukazoo had the following percentage of students with 5 or less absences:

March’s PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) root is TEAMWORK. Waukazoo’s 3rd Grade is leading the building’s look at TEAMWORK each Friday in March. Ask your student about TEAMWORK and see what they have learned.

Waukazoo will be continuing to utilize Waukazoo Pride Tickets this year. These tickets recognize students for being Respectful, Responsible, Ready to Learn, or demonstrating Waukazoo Family Pride. Our goal this year is to reach 12,500 tickets this year. Let’s go kids!

Pride Tickets to Date = 9,761 and counting

As part of previously approved West Ottawa bond projects Waukazoo will be adding on beginning in the late spring. 2 classrooms will be added off the southwest corner of the building and 1 classroom will be renovated. The remainder of the building will see a significant refresh with carpet, locker, and paint improvements over the summer. The work will be completed in time for the 2023-2024 school year at Waukazoo.

Beginning the week of April 17, Waukazoo 3rd grade students will be taking the M-Step. The M-Step, as explained below, is a state assessment and is given to all West Ottawa elementary students in grades 3-5. 5th grade and 4th grade testing will follow the weeks of April 24, May 1, and May 8 but 3rd grade students will begin testing on April 18 and 20 in ELA and Math.

The M-STEP is a 21st Century online test given for the first time in the Spring of 2015. It is designed to gauge how well students are mastering state standards. These standards, developed for educators by educators, broadly outline what students should know and be able to do in order to be prepared to enter the workplace, career education training, and college.

M-STEP results, when combined with classroom work, report cards, local district assessments and other tools, offer a comprehensive view of student progress and achievement. For additional information, click State Assessment in Michigan: What it is, What it means - And What it Offers.

West Ottawa Public Schools adheres to a method of progressive discipline when there is a violation of basic Bus Rules or Behavior Expectations. Depending on the severity or progressive nature of the unacceptable behavior, the Director of Transportation and/or principal at the building of attendance may impose any number of days of bus suspension up to and including the loss of bus riding privileges for a brief or extended period of time including the remainder of the school semester or the school year. All consequences are subject to administrative discretion. Restorative practices are considered in all situations and may be implemented when appropriate.

To view a copy of the Bus Rules and Behavior Expectations which are posted in color at the front of every West Ottawa school bus, CLICK HERE.

To view a copy of the Transportation Department's Administrative Guidelines on Pupil Transportation Student Conduct and Corrective Action (AG 8600.009), CLICK HERE.

To access the West Ottawa Transportation Department website, containing links to all of our Administrative Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, CLICK HERE.

We look forward to working with you and your child to address unacceptable behavior and to restore your child as a safe bus rider for themself and for others on the bus.

Welcome back Waukazoo Families & Artists! I look forward to sharing with you all the awesome projects and art inspired learning we will be exploring in art class this year! Please visit the Google Sites link below to keep up to date with all the awesome things happening in our Waukazoo art room.

https://sites.google.com/westottawa.net/mrs-halls-art-news/home

Don’t forget- ART Makes You SmART!

Hi Wauakzoo Families,

March Madness is in full effect! In Physical Wellness we are right in the middle of our Basketball Unit. Upper elementary aged students are learning a variety of basketball shooting games. Lower elementary aged students continue to improve their passing and dribbling skills as well as starting to learn a shooting game or two. We are having a really good time and students are working really well together. Have a great rest of the week!

-Mr. Metz

Technology Talk with Mrs. O’Brien!

Hello! It was so much fun to celebrate learning with you at Waukazoo! I hope you enjoyed being able to experience our programming adventures with your learner! We are fortunate to be in a district that supports computer science education K-12!

Be sure to check my website to learn about our latest adventures in Technology! Our current updates are all about Book Recommendations! Our 1st-5th graders can share their recommendations with you if you visit Google Classroom. They should be finished soon and some are finished already!

Wishing you a safe, relaxing, fun-filled Spring Break Week! I hope you’re able to enjoy some extra time with your favorite Waukazoo student(s)!

Mrs. O’Brien obrienp@westottawa.net

March is Reading Month! Celebrate!

Library Check Out Days:

Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays

Thank you for helping students remember to bring their books back on or before their library day!

Check out the awesome March is Reading Month events at our school!