Yake Elementary School

Good morning, In looking at the future weather forecast, we feel like our best bet will be to move the Yake Family Fun Run to next Friday, May 9th. We should have better weather and the treatment for ticks will have had time to settle in. I apologize for the change and I appreciate your understanding. Thank you and have a great day! Tim Podlewski

🎙️ New Warrior Way Podcast Episode - Supporting Student Mental Health May is #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, and in this episode, Superintendent Mark Greathead sits down with WBSD experts—Amanda Sayre (Brownstown MS Counselor), Monique Giannetti (School Social Worker), and Stefanie Scalcucci (School Psychologist)—to talk about real, practical ways parents can support their child’s mental health. 💬💜 ✅ How to check in with your student (without making it awkward) ✅ Reducing the stigma around mental health ✅ Support available through our partnership with @CareSolace 🎧 Tune in now and learn how small conversations can lead to big support. 🔗 https://rss.com/podcasts/thewarriorway/2010432/ #WBSDWay #MentalHealthMatters #CareSolace #StudentSupport #WarriorWayPodcast

Good morning, With rain in the forecast for today, Thursday and Friday and the increase in ticks that we are experiencing, Mr. Crane and I discussed moving the Fun Run to Monday afternoon. Even if it isn't raining Friday afternoon, the grounds may be quite wet and muddy. Additionally, our maintenance staff would need two dry days for the treatment for ticks to work. With Friday afternoon through Monday being dry and sunny, moving the Fun Run to Monday afternoon may work well all around. We would have much improved weather and grounds conditions and our tick application would have had time to set in. No final decisions have been made, but I want to give parent volunteers and families who plan to come out and observe the change to begin peeking at their schedules for a potential schedule change. I will share a final decision by the end of the day on Wednesday to give families a chance to plan accordingly. Your support and understanding is appreciated. Tim Podlewski

Good afternoon, I hope that your Friday is going well.  Please click on the link below to take a peek at our Gator Bites for the upcoming week.  In addition to seeing some fun pictures, you will also learn about the events and activities that will take us through to the end of the year.  You will have your last chance to submit a teacher request for the 2025.26 school year (due May 1st), learn about upcoming field trips, mark your calendars for upcoming half-days, the Excellent Attendance Family BBQ, Field Day, the Fun Run and more. https://secure.smore.com/n/7nqycg As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  As a note, I have included a link to the Kindergarten Orientation presentation that I shared last night for those families who missed it or who would like to go through the information at a slower pace. Have a great weekend! Tim Podlewski

🎨📚 Today, we celebrate our kindergarteners and teachers who bring curiosity, energy, and excitement to learning every day! Kindergarten is where the love for learning begins! Don't forget that tonight is Young Fives and Kindergarten Orientation at all five of our elementary schools at 6 p.m.💜 #WhyWBSD #BatesEagles #ErvingSkyhawks #GudithGrizzlies #WegienkaWildcats #YakeGators

🎙️ New Episode Alert! This week on the Warrior Way Podcast, we’re talking all things Young Fives with Yake Elementary’s very own Mrs. Kara Hool! 💜👶✏️ From how the program supports early learners to what a typical day looks like in her classroom, Mrs. Hool shares her passion for helping our youngest Warriors grow, learn, and thrive. 🎧 Tune in now to learn why Young Fives might be the perfect start for your child’s school journey! 🔗 https://open.spotify.com/episode/1auuv0T4eeW9MdndjejxZ0?si=vgbMI7LPQJq9RIPxIgYj6Q As a reminder, Young Fives & Kindergarten orientation is TOMORROW, April 24 at all of our elementary schools at 6 p.m. #WarriorWayPodcast #YoungFives #WBSDProud #WarriorStrong #WoodhavenBrownstown

Good afternoon, Just as a reminder, all Gator Fun Run t-shirt orders are due on Monday, April 21st. Be sure to get your orders in on Monday morning. Thank you! Yake PTO

Good afternoon, I thought that I would share our Gator Bites a day early to provide an additional reminder about school being closed on Friday for Good Friday.  Please take a peek at our Gator Bites for the week of April 21st.  We have a full calendar with our 3rd graders starting M-STEP testing this week.  You will also find information about upcoming events including Kindergarten Orientation, the Gator Family Fun Run, Bike & Roll to School day with Mr. Crane and I, field trips, Arts, Beats & Eats and more. https://secure.smore.com/n/vgb61 Please take a moment to review our newsletter and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I hope that all of our families enjoy a warm and safe three day weekend. Tim Podlewski

Good afternoon, I hope that you are having a great day!  Please take a peek at our Gator Bites for the upcoming 4-day week.  In our newsletter you will learn about our upcoming Yake Family Dinner night taking place at Bierhaven on Tuesday, M-STEP testing for 3rd & 4th graders, Kindergarten Orientation, the Gator Family Fun Run and more. You will also find information about our Teacher Request policy and request form (due by May 1st), a link to have your child join you for work and have the absence excused for Take Our Daughters & Sons to School Day and more.  We will share information about Bike & Roll to school day on May 7th where Mr. Crane and I will be riding our bikes to school and hope to meet up with some Gators along the way. https://secure.smore.com/n/6y2dq Please take a moment to review and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Have a great weekend! Tim Podlewski

📣 We're Hiring! The Woodhaven-Brownstown School District is looking for passionate, dedicated professionals to join our team! 💜If you love working with students and want to make a real difference every day, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. Come be a part of the WBSD family and help shape the future—one student at a time. ✨📚 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/3d35h52f #WhyWBSD #NowHiring #JoinOurTeam #EducationCareers #MakeADifference

Good Morning! Please see the message below from Coach Hammerle. Yake has a history of performing really well at the fall and spring track opportunities. Please see the attached flyer and click on the image below if you would like your Gator to join Mr. Crane and our team at the Jim Bigham Mile at WHS on Saturday, April 12th. We hope to see many Gators and their families there! Tim Podlewski We are less than 1 week from registration closing for this year's Elementary Mile Championship. Registration will close at 11:59 on Wednesday April 9th. As of right now, the registration numbers are as follows: BATES - 10G/9B ERVING - 2G/6B GUDITH - 9G/15B WEGIENKA - 4G/5B YAKE - 12G/24B Thank you for your support! Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nyz9TZlkiPjqOretlr0r0aW8M0t0uraXPVIHeZpzmNs/edit?usp=sharing Jake Hammerle Varsity Cross Country Head Coach Varsity Track & Field Head Coach Woodhaven High School 24787 Van Horn Rd. Brownstown MI 48134 Mobile| 734.673.1557 Athletic Office| 734.789.2077

📚 Join us for the final "The Anxious Generation" Book Study Discussion! Whether you've been part of the journey or want to jump in now, we’d love to have you! 🗓 When: Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 7 PM 📍 Where: Woodhaven High School 📖 What: A discussion on The Anxious Generation—exploring the impact of social media on children’s mental health with parents, teachers, support staff, and administrators. Light refreshments and small appetizers will be provided. Please RSVP to help us plan accordingly! https://tinyurl.com/2p9unwrt #WhyWBSD #TheAnxiousGeneration #ParentEngagement #MentalHealthMatters

Let's get ready for school! The latest episode of the Warrior Way Podcast features GSRP teacher Jennifer Danosky and Young Fives teacher Kara Hool as they talk about some of the things that families can be doing at home to prepare students for when they come to school in the fall! Remember, GSRP, Young Fives and Kindergarten enrollment is happening now! Listen to the episode here https://rss.com/podcasts/thewarriorway/1952155/ or on Spotify, Tune-In or many other podcast platforms!

Good afternoon, I know that tour staff members, Gators, and their families are all all excited to begin Spring Break.  Please click on the link below to take a peek at our Gator Bites for the week that we return from break.  You will find information about our next Yake Family Dinner Night, which will be at Bierhaven on April 16th, M-STEP testing, our Kindergarten Orientation for the Classes of 2038 & 2039 and more.  You will also find links to order your yearbook (before March 28th, request a teacher for the 2025/26 school year, a form for Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day and more. https://secure.smore.com/n/tcd7n  Please take a moment to review and let me know if you have any questions or concerns.I hope that all of our families enjoy a warm, safe and fun Spring Break! Tim Podlewski   

Summer EBT is Back! What are SUN Bucks? SUN Bucks is the new name for Summer EBT. Eligible families of school-age children will receive $120 per child for qualifying groceries. Who Should Apply? Families that are not automatically enrolled should apply for SUN Bucks directly. APPLY HERE: https://newmibridges.michigan.gov/s/isd-landing-page?language=en_US Note: Families will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks if they are already enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) benefits or meet the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals. In other words, keep an eye out for $120 per child at the beginning of summer! Where to Find the Application: This application is available online! Deadlines: Apply by April 15, 2025, to be eligible for the first issuance of benefits in May. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until August 31, 2025. https://newmibridges.michigan.gov/s/isd-landing-page?language=en_US

REMINDER: (As IF students need a reminder!) Spring Recess is coming up next week! School resumes on March 31.

Good afternoon, Happy  or π Day!  Also Happy 120th Day of School for our First Graders!  What a week!  I can't tell you how blown away I was by our PTO, parent volunteers and staff members yesterday.  The Mario Kart track was amazing and our staff members just crushed their roles.  16 years at Yake and I have never heard the gym that loud.  If you haven't seen the video from the race, click on the link in our Gator Bites for a good laugh and a gym filled with Gators smiling, laughing and cheering.  Our staff and parents truly are second to none! Click on the link below to peek at our newsletter to learn more about events coming up the rest of this month and into April.  There is also a link to enroll our next class of Gators as the Classes of 2038 & 2039 (Young Fives) prepare to join us in the fall.  Please don't forget to order your yearbook!  All sales end on March 28th.  Don't be one of the families scrambling to try and buy a yearbook in May and June.  We run out every year.  You will also find links with information about our Teacher Request policy for the 2025.26 school year and Take Your Sons & Daughter to Work Day.  https://secure.smore.com/n/4z3qge  I hope that you enjoy taking a peek at our yearbook and are excited about Spring Break being just around the corner.  Please review and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Have a great weekend! Tim Podlewski

Good Evening, Yake Families, As you are aware, Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled to take place tomorrow afternoon and evening. Conferences will run between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. and again between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. As a result of Parent-Teacher Conferences, our students will have a half-day of school tomorrow with a 12:00 p.m. dismissal. During Parent-Teacher Conferences, your child’s teacher will share current assessment data, information pertaining to your child’s progress in the classroom, and observations of your child’s social interactions with their peers. If your student has been identified as being below grade level benchmark in reading, the teacher will also share your child’s Individualized Reading Intervention Plan (IRIP). Each conference will be limited to ten minutes (unless they are 4th grade student-led conferences, which may take longer). If, after that time, you feel you need additional time, we may arrange an appointment for another conference. Our goal is to have 100% parent attendance at conferences. Following your conferences, please take a moment to complete a Parent-Teacher Conference Experience survey. These surveys can be completed in an online version by clicking on the link below. https://forms.gle/6NucDTqSzDRNm5NV8 Your feedback will be very valuable to our ongoing school improvement efforts. Then, please stop by our Scholastic Book Fair. There isn't a better way to reward a child's academic efforts than by giving them a good book to read. I hope that all of our families enjoy having a positive parent-teacher conference experience tomorrow. Take care and have a great evening! Tim Podlewski

Youth Dance Team Classes are forming NOW! The deadline to register is April 4th, or when all the spots are filled. This program is open to students in first through sixth grades. If you have questions, please email lintonc@wbsdweb.com

🔔 Time to Spring Forward! 🔔 Don’t forget to set your clocks one hour ahead tonight before you go to bed! ⏰ Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Longer days & more sunshine ahead! ☀️Let’s make sure everyone is on time for school and activities on Monday!