Updates for Elementary Families

Popsicles on the Playground

Join us August 6 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM for our next exciting event, Popsicles on the Playground! This event is open to all new and returning elementary families. It's a perfect opportunity to connect with the WMAES community and enjoy some frozen treats. 

To help us plan accordingly, please sign up to attend here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdkVVNLRMeB4pMKS0KwQAJg0bz7sYZ6pAklp2syZgkAkeXWww/viewform

New WMAES Uniform Items Now Available Online – Free Shipping!

We’re pleased to share that our uniform provider now has items featuring the new WMAES logo 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!

Save the Date – Pig Roast & Open House

Don’t miss our annual Pig Roast and Open House on Tuesday, August 19 from 5:00–7:00 PM!

This is a great time to tour classrooms, meet your child’s teacher, enjoy a delicious meal, and kick off the school year together. We look forward to seeing you there!

This year we will have an Information Table at the Pig Roast.  We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity!  The following forms will be available:

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

• Medication Administration Form (Must be signed by a Dr. for ALL medications)

• Elementary Information Update Forms (Please make sure we have your current phone numbers)

• Elementary Sibling Pick-up Forms (For when a 6th Grade or older sibling will be picking up a younger sibling after school)

• Permission to Walk Home Form

And GREAT NEWS!  These forms are available online at www.wma-es.com under the Parents & Students area.  So if you want to print out a form, fill it out, and drop it off at the Pig Roast, you're welcome to do that too.  This is especially helpful for the Medication Administration Form.  If you take care of the Medication Administration Form now you can drop off your student's medication at the Pig Roast.  The Medication Administration Form has to be signed by a doctor for ALL prescribed AND over the counter medications prior to us taking possession of the medications.  The online form is fillable online and able to be forwarded to your doctor.  Please contact the Elementary School Office with any questions.

Updated Dismissal Time for Elementary Students

For the 2025-2026 school year, dismissal for elementary students will shift to 3:05 PM. The process and location remain the same as in previous years. An adult family member must park and walk up to pick up their student from the designated location on the sidewalk in front of the elementary and secondary buildings.

We’ll continue to share reminders about daily routines and procedures to support a smooth start to the year as the first day of school approaches.

Stay Up to Date with the WMAES Calendar

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! 

A printable version of our calendar is also available below for your convenience. 

Stay Connected with WMAES!

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.

To make it even easier, you can use the QR code below to quickly add our contact info to your phone:

Be a Part of the WMAES Family! 

At WMAES, we take pride in our welcoming, supportive school community where students grow, explore, and thrive. From our hands-on environmental learning experiences to the strong connections between staff, students, and families, there’s something truly special about being a part of WMAES!

Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year is now open! If you have a younger sibling ready to start school or know a family looking for an engaging, nature-focused education, now is the time to apply.

Apply today! wma-es.com/enroll

Help us welcome more families into our amazing community—please share with anyone who may be interested!

Assistance Program INFORMATION 

We are excited 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.