Updates for Elementary Families

Important dates for the coming school year have been added to our school calendar on AddEvent—including breaks, early release days, family events, and more! We encourage all families to follow the calendar to stay informed and organized throughout the year.

You can follow the calendar by clicking “Follow Calendar” above this post or by visiting:
https://www.addevent.com/calendar/MF615307

Our calendar is hosted through AddEvent and is fully compatible with:

• Apple Calendar (iPhone, iPad, Mac)

• Google Calendar (Android devices and Gmail accounts)

• Outlook

• Office 365

• Yahoo Calendar

• Any calendar app that supports iCal or .ics feeds

Once added, all events will sync directly to your personal calendar—and any updates we make will automatically be reflected on your end. It’s a simple, reliable way to stay connected and never miss an important date! 

We would like to inform everyone that Green Kids child care registration will open on Monday, August 3 at 7:00 PM. The registration link will be emailed to families and made available on the main WMAES website at that time. We are sharing this information now so you can plan accordingly.

As capacity will be limited, availability will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis in order of registration. Shortly after registering, you will be notified if space is available for your child or if they will be placed on a waitlist until space becomes available.

More information—including the Green Kids handbook and required registration forms—will be provided following the start of online registration. Thank you!

To help families with back-to-school planning, our staff has put together updated recommended supply lists for each elementary grade. The lists can be found at the link below. 

https://wma-es.com/supply-lists/ 

These lists were thoughtfully created by our teachers to include items that may support your child’s learning and organization throughout the school year. Please know that these are recommendations only and are not intended to create a burden for families. We understand that back-to-school shopping can feel overwhelming, and families should always feel free to do what works best for their situation.

Our hope is that these lists provide a helpful starting point and make the process a little smoother as we prepare for a great school year together!

We’re pleased to share that our uniform provider has all WMAES uniform apparel available for online ordering—with free shipping to your home!

Just click the link below and click “Shop Now”—then navigate to the Uniform category to explore all that’s available. We’re especially excited to let you know that several new, lower-cost uniform t-shirt options have been added for your convenience.

Shop Now: https://wmaesapparel.secure-decoration.com/

As a reminder, here are our uniform policy guidelines:

Uniform requirements include:

• A WMAES uniform top

• Solid color pants or shorts, or solid jeans or jean shorts

• Closed-toe shoes

Please note:

• The WMAES top must be the outermost layer

• All clothing must be free of writing, adornments, and rips/tears/holes

• Uniforms with the old logo will be fully grandfathered in. Students may continue wearing their previous uniform items. 

Thank you for partnering with us and for your continued support of our uniform policy!

We are currently accepting donations of gently used WMAES uniform tops to help support students and families in our school community.

Items we are seeking include: Kids’ uniform shirts, hoodies, or fleece jackets.

If you have gently used uniform tops your child has outgrown and would be willing to donate, they may be dropped off in the Elementary Office from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Monday–Thursday, throughout the summer.

These donations make a meaningful difference for our families. Thank you for supporting WMAES!

• Students may arrive beginning at 7:45 AM and enter through the elementary main entrance. Students will go directly to their classrooms upon entering. All students should be in their classrooms by 8:00 AM.

• Parents may not enter the building with students at drop-off but may accompany them on the sidewalk as they wait to enter.

• If you are accompanying your student on the sidewalk at arrival, you must park your vehicle in a parking space.

• As the school year begins, many staff members will be available to walk students to their classrooms as needed.

• All elementary classes will be dismissed at 2:45 PM. At dismissal, they will be standing with their teacher on the designated area of the sidewalk for their class.

• At dismissal, you must park and walk to your child's teacher to pick up your student. Please be prepared to identify yourself to your child's teacher as necessary.

We’re excited to welcome families back to campus for our annual Pig Roast and Open House. This is a great opportunity to kick off the school year together with a meal, connect with teachers, explore our facilities and campus, drop off supplies, and access helpful resources to start the year strong.

Families are welcome to:

• Meet their child’s teacher

• Explore our facilities and campus

• Visit classrooms

• Drop off school supplies

Please label supplies in advance when possible to help teachers get everything organized for the first day of school.

We’ll also have an information table available with the following forms:

• Elementary Parent Volunteer Form (We can also copy your ID that night).

• Medication Administration Form (This must be signed by a doctor for all medications, including prescribed and over-the-counter medications).

• Elementary Information Update Forms (To make sure we have your current phone numbers and contact information).

• Elementary Sibling Pick-Up Form (For families where a 6th grader or older will pick up a younger sibling).

• Permission to Walk Home Form

Save time! All of these forms are also available online at www.wma-es.com under the Parents & Students section. You’re welcome to print them at home and drop them off at the event.

If you are submitting a Medication Administration Form, completing it ahead of time means you can drop off your child’s medication at the Pig Roast. Please make sure the form is signed by a doctor, whether it is for prescribed or over-the-counter medication.

Please take a moment to add our school’s phone number to your contact list: 616-791-7454. This helps ensure that you recognize calls coming from West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science.

We also kindly ask that you make sure your phone is set to allow calls from the school. It’s important that we’re able to reach an adult family member during the school day if needed.

We are excited to welcome current families, new families, prospective families, and anyone interested in learning more about West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science to join us for several upcoming community events this summer.

These events are designed to give families a chance to enjoy our beautiful outdoor campus, connect with other WMAES families, meet members of our school community, and experience some of the hands-on environmental learning that makes our school unique.

Wednesday, July 22 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
Berry Picking and Jam Making

Join us for a new summer favorite as families have the opportunity to pick berries and learn more about the jam-making process.

Register Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepyD_nIb97F5WmA7_lnx_cm1qi08seFi3rQJV9I1z914SrMA/viewform?usp=header
 

Wednesday, August 5 | 5:30–6:30 PM
Popsicles on the Playground

Come enjoy a relaxed evening on the playground with popsicles, connection, and time for students and families to meet others before the school year begins.

Register Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfg9Vlbx7gOCtfgJY9aQn8bLj0fIryr6f9X0TSRLuPXcbrcpw/viewform?usp=header
 

Join us for Forest Bathing at WMAES!

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeWwfJ5rKWxuUssg6tAJoerHNXiqYxFihyCi7xdJz6G7s4N4w/viewform 

Forest bathing is a guided experience designed to help you slow down, quiet your mind, and connect with nature through your senses. Led by Rachel Lynn, a WMAES parent, nature enthusiast, and certified Forest Bathing Guide, each session will include gentle activities, quiet reflection, breathwork, mindfulness, and time to be fully present in the forest.

A note from Rachel:

“Hi, I’m Rachel, a mom, nature enthusiast, and certified Forest Bathing Guide. I became a guide after recognizing the need for safe, supportive, and community-based healing experiences in nature. Over the last several years, I’ve spent time exploring many of West Michigan’s forests and nature preserves, discovering a peace and grounding that modern life often pulls us away from.

Through slow, mindful, and intentional time in nature, I found a deep sense of connection and healing. My hope is to guide others in building a nourishing relationship with nature and remembering that we are part of it. The forest is here to support us. Let’s accept the invitation and return to nature together.”

All sessions will meet by the WMAES greenhouse behind the elementary building.

Upcoming Sessions:
Monday, July 20 at 10:00 AM
Monday, August 17 at 10:00 AM

Cost: $15 per session
Adults only (please note child care will not be available)
Limit of 10 attendees per session

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeWwfJ5rKWxuUssg6tAJoerHNXiqYxFihyCi7xdJz6G7s4N4w/viewform

What to Bring:
Yoga mat or blanket
Water bottle
Bug spray for biting forest insects

Rachel will also have some of her homemade, all-natural mosquito spray available to purchase.

What to Expect:
Group introductions
Introduction to forest bathing
Exploring the senses
Digital detox with no phones
Silent walk
Barefoot grounding
Breathwork exercise
Savasana/meditation
Closing reflection

Come slow down, breathe deeply, and experience the calming support of nature.

We are pleased to continue our efforts in supporting our students through our assistance programs. Our resources have expanded this school year, and we want to ensure you are aware of the benefits available to our entire community.

Our new counseling service, the School Assistance Program (SAP), is offered through Pine Rest, a professional mental health service. This program provides five free, confidential counseling sessions per episode of care and is available 24/7 to anyone in the student’s household.

To access this service, simply call 800.442.0809, press 1, and follow the prompts. Be sure to mention, “I have an SAP with West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science.”

To learn more about all the benefits provided by this program, please watch the introduction video. Click the link below or paste the URL into any browser:

SAP Video – Password: SAPOrientation
URL: https://vimeo.com/video/956870695?share=copy

Please note that all services provided through the SAP are 100% confidential. We hope this resource can support you and your family whenever needed.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.