Yake Elementary School

Good afternoon,

As we reach the midpoint of May, our calendar really fills up.  Please click on the link below to learn about all of the events and activities as we move into the last four weeks of the school year.  In reviewing our Gator Bites, you will learn more about upcoming field trips, including the Y5 & Kindergarten trip to the Detroit Zoo, the 3rd grade trip to Lansing, the 4th grade trip to the Howell Nature Center, and more. You will also see a first draft Yake Building calendar for the 2026.27 school year, information about the 3rd & 4th grade music concerts taking place at WHS, the Excellent Attendance BBQ, the 4th grade Breakfast & Graduation and more.  

https://app.smore.com/n/5y3h7  

Please take a moment to review our Gator Bites and let me know if you have any questions.

Have a great weekend!
Tim Podlewski

The WB RISE meeting is coming up on Monday, May 18. The Guidance Center will be sharing information on supports and resources for families. Dinner will be provided. Please RSVP if you're planning to attend. https://tinyurl.com/2pfsn7u4

Come out and support the Warriors on Wednesday, May 20th starting at 4:30 PM!

Bring your family and friends for a fun night of softball and baseball featuring:
⭐ Warrior Trade Pop-Up Shop
⭐ Giveaways
⭐ Run the Bases After the Game
⭐ Great Community Atmosphere

Let’s pack the stands and cheer on the Warriors! We can’t wait to see everyone there!

Don't forget to join us for our next Yake Family Dinner Night coming up this Wednesday at BW3's all day. This is an extra fun dinner night as 20% of your total bill, including beverages will go back to out PTO. Be sure to show the attached ticket when ordering in or dining out on Wednesday.

Thank you for enjoying some good food with some great families while supporting our PTO at BW3's this Wednesday night (kids night).

Tim Podlewski

Good afternoon,

We appear to have a great afternoon ahead of us for the Fun Run. Big "Thank you!" to our PTO for working to put on the Fun Run and for taking care of our teachers and staff members all week long. Our staff members, families and Gators really make Yake an extra special school. With that noted, please click on the link below to learn more about events coming up through May and June. In our Gator Bites, you will learn more about our Yake Family Dinner Night at BW3's on Wednesday, as well as having an opportunity to meet our new Superintendent, Matt Salah at 5:45 p.m. that evening during our last PTO meeting of the year. You will also learn about upcoming field trips, field day, our Excellent Attendance BBQ and more.

https://app.smore.com/n/5dx9b

I will have the first draft of our 2026/27 building calendar and suggested supply lists coming soon.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

I hope that all of our families have a great Friday, an excellent weekend and a wonderful Mother's Day!

Tim Podlewski

Good afternoon,

I hope that your month of May is off to a great start! Please click on the link below to learn more about events taking place the rest of this year. Please note that we have three deadlines coming today. 1. ThinkStretch orders muct be placed by the end of the day today. A link to the form can be found in our Gator Bites. 2. Teacher Requests must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. today. Any requests submitted after 3:00 p.m. this afternoon will not be considered. 3. We are down to one spot left in our Kinder Lit program.

With those deadlines noted, please peek at our Gator Bites to learn more about Bike & Roll to School on Wednesday, the Gator Family Fun Run on Friday, field trips, Arts, Beats & Eats, 3rd & 4th grade music concerts at the high school and more.

https://app.smore.com/n/mpase

As always, please take a moment to peek at our Gator Bites and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Have a great weekend!
Tim Podlewski

🎉 Countdown to Preschool

Big milestones start here! 🎉

GSRP Preschool through the Woodhaven-Brownstown School District begins September 21, 2026, and we’re excited to meet our newest learners!

If your child turns 4 on or before September 1, now is the time to complete the GSRP interest form.

💻 Sign up here:
https://tinyurl.com/48wkemtn

Tag a friend who has a future preschooler! 💜

Not all heroes wear capes—some wear school colors and carry a walkie-talkie!

Today is National School Principal's Day, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate the 13 dedicated leaders who guide our schools every single day.

Whether they are navigating hallways, supporting our teachers, or cheering on our students from the sidelines, these individuals are the heartbeat of our district. Their leadership ensures that WBSD remains a place of growth, safety, and inspiration.

To our Team: Thank you for your tireless energy, your late nights, and your unwavering commitment to our kids. We appreciate everything you do!

Help us celebrate! Give a shoutout to your favorite principal in the comments below.

#SchoolPrincipalsDay #LeadershipTeam #EducationHeroes #DistrictPride #ThankAPrincipal

Good afternoon,

Please click on the link below to take a look at our Gator Bites for the upcoming week.  I can't believe we move into the month of May next Friday.  The Upcoming Dates of Note are quite long as I have added all of our dates through the rest of the school year.  In our newsletter, you will learn all about these events and more.  Big events coming up include our continued M-STEP testing, Teacher Appreciation Day/Week, Bike & Roll to School Day, the Gator Family Fun Run, Arts, Beats & Eats, 3rd & 4th grade choir concerts in the Woodhaven High School Auditorium and more. 
  
https://app.smore.com/n/qp8u5 

As always, please take a peek at our newsletter and let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Please also note that any Teacher Requests submitted after 3:30 p.m. next Friday, May 1st will not be accepted.

Have a great weekend!
Tim Podlewski

💜 Strong Start, Bright Future

A strong start makes all the difference. 🌈

The Woodhaven-Brownstown School District GSRP Preschool program helps children build confidence, independence, and foundational skills that prepare them for kindergarten and beyond.

📍 Available at all WBSD elementary schools
🗓 Program begins September 21, 2026

Ready to learn more? Complete the interest form today:
https://tinyurl.com/48wkemtn

We can’t wait to welcome our newest little Warriors! 💜

TONIGHT is the night - Kindergarten Orientation for incoming Young Fives and Kindergarten students at all elementary schools. We hope to see you at 6 p.m. at Bates Elementary, Erving Elementary, Gudith Elementary, Wegienka Elementary and Yake Elementary schools.

Good afternoon,

I hope that our Gators enjoyed our Fun Run kick-off this morning. I definitely need to work on my sprinting. Please take a few moments to review our Gator Bites for the upcoming week. You will learn more about upcoming field trips, M-STEP testing, Kindergarten Orientation for the Classes of 2039 & 2040 (Young Fives), Bike & Roll to School Day, the Gator Family Fun Run, Arts, Beats & Eats & more. Don't forget that Teacher Requests for the 2026.27 school year are due on May 1st, no exceptions!

https://app.smore.com/n/bnq9y

Thank you for peeking at our Gator Bites. I am super excited to meet our new kindergarten & Young Fives Gators on Thursday Night. Every new class brings energy and excitement as they become a part of the Yake community.

Have a great weekend!
Tim Podlewski

Good afternoon,

Please take a moment to click on the link below to learn more about our upcoming events during the rest of April and leading into May.  The newsletter has lots of information, including a flyer for our Yake Family Dinner Night at Applebee's on Wednesday.  Remember to mention Yake Elementary School when dining in or carrying out (online orders aren't allowed), our Teacher Request Policy and application (due May 1st), Take Your Child to Work Day (with a link to the permission slip to excuse the absence), Kindergarten Orientation on April 23rd, Bike & Roll to School Day, the Gator Family Fun Run, Arts, Beats & Eats, & more.

https://app.smore.com/n/ga1w7  

Please note that families must request a ThinkStretch Workbook to receive one this summer.  A link to order the free (to WBSD families) workbook can be found in the Gator Bites.

Please take a moment to review our newsletter and let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Have a great weekend!
Tim Podlewski

Good afternoon,

I hope that our Gators and their families are excited about the upcoming Spring Break. The break is a nice chance to rejuvenate as we prepare for the home stretch of the school year. Please click on the link below to learn about upcoming events including Yake Family Speed Puzzle Night, Yake Family Dinner Night at Applebee's, Kindergarten Orientation and more. You will also find links to opportunities like the Jim Bigham Elementary Track Championships & Drama Llama Day. Additionally, you will find information about our Teacher Request Policy, the Teacher Request Form (due by May 1st) and the Take Your Child to Work Day permission slip.

https://app.smore.com/n/esbv5

I know we have quite a bit packed into this newsletter. Please take a moment to review and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. If you know of any families interested in Yake for kindergarten or young fives in the fall, please feel free to share the newsletter and links. Particularly for families looking at Yake as their Building of Choice, they need to get registered ASAP. I am more than happy to speak with any prospective families and/or schedule building tours if they are interested.

Have a good weekend and a great Spring Break! I will look forward to seeing all of my Gators when they return to school on Tuesday, April 7th.

Tim Podlewski

✏️ Is Your Child Ready for Preschool?

🎒 Is your little one ready to learn, grow, and make new friends?

If your child turns 4 years old on or before September 1, they may qualify for GSRP Preschool through the Woodhaven-Brownstown School District!

Our program focuses on:
✨ Early literacy
✨ Social-emotional growth
✨ Learning through play
✨ Kindergarten readiness

💻 Start the process by completing our interest form:
https://tinyurl.com/48wkemtn

Let’s get your child’s educational journey started!

Good morning,

I know we have quite a number of Gators already involved in theatre between DYPAC and the Downriver Actors Guild.  For those Gators and any others who may be interested in theatre, please see the attachment and message below from 3x Defending State Champ Woodhaven Theatre Company's director, Mike Clemons.  Many current members of the State Champion WTC got their first exposure to the world of theatre during Drama Llama Day when they were in elementary school.  See the attached flyer and click on the QR code to register your Gator for this day of theatre fun.

Tim Podlewski  

Hello!! 

The Woodhaven Theatre Company will be hosting our annual Drama Llama Day on Saturday, April 25 at Woodhaven High School. This event is focused on introducing elementary students to the world of Theatre. Interactive workshops will focus on topics, such as Acting, Scenery, Lighting, Sound, Props, Stage Combat, Costuming and more.
Registration is open until WEDNESDAY 4/8. $20 per participant (covers t-shirt, lunch, and workshop supplies). More information can be found on the flyer.


--
Timothy S. Podlewski
Principal
Yake Elementary School
16400 Carter Rd. E.Woodhaven, MI 48183
(734)692-2230 (office)
(734)692-2234(fax)

Good afternoon,

Happy first day of spring!  Please click on the link below for lots of information about events coming up next week and during the month of April when we return from spring break.  In this edition of our Gator Bites, you will learn about Kindergarten Enrollment, which is currently open, Spring Break, our Teacher Request Policy and Application Form (remember, you get one request during your child's time at Yake and it is DUE BY MAY 1ST), the Yake Family Speed Puzzle Night, the Yake Family Night at Applebee's, field trips, M-STEP testing, Kindergarten Orientation, and more.  You will also see a great video from our Candy Land game experience that took place yesterday afternoon.  We truly have THE BEST PTO!  Seriously, what other elementary school PTO could pull off an event like this?  

https://app.smore.com/n/2sq4k

Please take a moment to review and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Have a great weekend!
Tim Podlewski

Good evening, Yake families! Come visit Revd Up Fun for a night to support Yake at a great price! Our event is this Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Yake gets credit for all advance wristbands and arcade cards purchased through Tuesday. Click on the link below for your early purchase and special savings. https://shop.revdupfun.com/retail/items/g/yake We look forward to seeing you and your Gators there! Yake PTO

Good afternoon,

What a busy, fun day! From our visit with Senator Camilleri this morning to BINGO for Books to the 2nd grade Coin Wars reward, we have a fun Friday. Big "Thank you!" to our PTO for taking on these initiatives while providing dinner for our staff during conferences last night. We have an amazing PTO and they are very much appreciated.

With that said, please click on the link below for a peek at our Gator Bites, which is full of information that will take us through the month of March and into the month of April. In our newsletter, you will find information about Kindergarten Enrollment starting on Monday, our Rev'D Up Fun Family Night on Wednesday, Spring Break, field trips, M-STEP testing and more.

https://app.smore.com/n/0p4bh

Please enjoy reading through our newsletter and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Have a great weekend!
Tim Podlewski