Updates for Elementary Families

January 3 Update for Elementary Families

Happy New Year, WMAES families! We hope your winter break was restful and full of good moments together. As we return to school, we’re excited to jump back into routines, reconnect with friends, and keep building on the great growth we've already seen this year. Thank you for your continued partnership. We’re looking forward to a strong start to 2026!

Quarter 2 Report Cards – Week of January 5

Report cards for Quarter 2 will be distributed the week of January 5.

You’ll be able to access your child’s report card in two ways:

PowerSchool Parent Portal (once posted) — families will receive an email notification when report cards are available in Parent Portal
A PDF attachment emailed to the email address you have on file with us

If you don’t receive the email by the end of the week, please check your spam/junk folder and confirm your email contact information is up to date.

Standards-Based Grading Reminder

The information below serves as a reminder of our Standards-Based Grading system at WMAES, ensuring families have the necessary information to effectively interpret report cards.

We use Standards-Based Grading to clearly communicate the specific expectations set by the Michigan K–12 State Standards, and to measure student growth and achievement relative to these standards. This approach helps provide a more accurate picture of what students know and are able to do—benefiting students, families, and teachers.

Standards-Based Grading Overview

Standards-Based Grading helps students understand what they are expected to learn and gives families an in-depth view of their child’s progress toward key grade-level skills. Rather than providing one overall grade that can blend together many different factors, it reports progress on specific learning targets.

Key Details for Families

Instead of (and in some cases in addition to) traditional letter grades and percentages, students receive proficiency scores from 1 to 4 for specific standards/skills.
These scores are directly linked to descriptions of what students are expected to know and be able to do.
Teachers use these proficiency scores to provide targeted feedback, and students have multiple opportunities to demonstrate proficiency (a score of 3).
Report card scores are based primarily on the most recent evidence of learning, reflecting a student’s current level of understanding.
Learning behaviors/work habits that support a positive learning environment are reported separately from academic proficiency.

What Proficiency Scores Mean

A score of 1 or 2 is often a normal part of learning—especially when students are working on new or developing skills. Learning is a process, and some concepts take more time and practice.

1 or 2: Indicates a student is in the learning process for a new skill or concept and is developing understanding.
3: Indicates proficiency—the student has met the grade-level standard (this is the goal and a reason to celebrate!).
4: Indicates the student has met the standard and is applying learning beyond the grade-level expectation.

Why Standards-Based Grading?

Standards-Based Grading evaluates how well an individual student is progressing toward grade-level standards, rather than comparing their performance to other students. It helps families clearly see:

Which skills their child is currently developing
Which skills their child has already demonstrated proficiency in
Where support or additional practice may be helpful

Traditional letter or percentage grades can be influenced by many factors (assignment completion, behavior, effort, extra credit, class expectations, and comparisons to peers), and often don’t clearly show which specific grade-level skills a student has mastered and which are still in progress. Standards-Based Grading is designed to provide that clarity.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support!

No School on Monday, January 19 - MLK Jr. Day Observance

We would like to remind our WMAES community that there will be no school on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

This day serves as a valuable opportunity to pause and reflect on Dr. King's enduring legacy and his unwavering commitment to equality, justice, and unity. We stand beside Dr. King’s message of equality, respect, and education for all, striving to maintain a community where these values are lived and celebrated every day.

Dollar No Uniform Day January 9

Winter Gear Reminder

As we return from break, please remember to send back the winter gear that was sent home! With snow and and cold ahead, students will need their coat, hat, gloves, boots, and snowpants for outdoor learning and recess.

If your family needs support with any winter gear, please let us know. Stay warm!

January Breakfast Menu.pdf

January Lunch Menu.pdf

Stay Informed: Weather-Related Updates

As we enter the season of inclement weather, we want to remind you of the ways we will keep you informed about weather-related school cancellations. Your convenience and access to timely updates are our priorities! If you haven't already done so, now is a great time to opt in to receive text updates using the information below.

We communicate weather-related information through:

• School Messenger: Automated phone calls to the primary numbers on file with us.

• Email Notifications: Delivered directly to your inbox.

• Text Messages: If you’ve opted in to receive them.

• WMAES Social Media: Updates posted on Facebook and Instagram.

• Local News Outlets: Tune in to WZZM, WOODTV, and FOX 17 for closure information.

WMAES Text Updates Opt-In

Please refer to the information below for everything you need to know to sign up for text updates from WMAES. We look forward to being able to utilize texting as a convenient means of providing links to our newsletters, reminders about upcoming dates, weather-related closing notifications, and more. As shown in the flyer below, simply text Y or Yes to 67587 from a number you have on file with the office to get signed up. Coming soon, we will also be sending a one time opt-in message to all numbers on file who have not opted in to provide the option of doing so at that time.

SMS Text Opt-In Flyer 67587 Eng and Esp.pdf

Essentials for Everyone

The WMAES National Honor Society is proud to present Essentials for Everyone, a donation drive to help supply West Michigan with much-needed personal care items.

We’re currently accepting donations of:

Toilet paper
Shampoo and soap
Toothpaste and deodorant
Laundry detergent and dish soap
Feminine hygiene items
Paper towels
and any other essential, nonperishable personal care items you can think of!

This drive will be ongoing throughout the school year and into the next, so there’s always time to give.

Questions?

Email wmaesoffice@choiceschools.com

Interested in Free Nature-Based Preschool?

We invite families to join a Nature Walk & Talk to learn more about our tuition-free GSRP preschool program. See below for more information.

Elementary Enrichment Update

We are excited to share our new Elementary Enrichment Google Site—a central place to learn about each enrichment teacher and stay connected to all of the great things happening in Art, Technology, Physical Education, and Spanish.

On the site, you’ll be able to:

Get to know each enrichment teacher
Learn about what students explore, learn, and create in enrichment classes
Access helpful class information and resources

Visit the site here:
https://sites.google.com/choiceschools.com/wmaeselementaryenrichment/home

Spirit Shirt Orders

Order Anytime!

These shirts and hoodies will be available to order throughout the school year.

If you need a digital copy of the form or have any questions, please reach out to the Parent Team at parentteam@wma-es.com.

When are Spirit Days?

Spirit Days will take place on the first Wednesday of each month, beginning on Wednesday, November 5. We encourage students and staff to wear their WMAES spirit shirts to show their school pride on these days!

Thank you for supporting WMAES school spirit!

—WMAES Parent Team

spirit day shirt order form.pdf

Dollar Day Punch Cards Are Here!

No more digging for $1 bills—Dollar Day just got easier! Students can prepay for Dollar Days and you will be able to save a little cash. It's a simple, convenient way to join in the fun!

The Punch Card is not a physical card but a subscription (No worries about misplacing the card)
The cost is $15 (for 25-26 school year) and will include participation in all Dollar Days
A student who purchases one will no longer need to remember cash for each Dollar Day
This process will help make it easier for families and staff
Participating supports our school events/clubs/programs
Subscriptions can be purchased in the Secondary Office. (Cash or Card)

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!

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:

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.

For Families - WMAES 25/26 Calendar List

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.

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