March 1, 2026 Update for Elementary Families 

Dear WMAES Families,

We hope your week is off to a great start! We’re looking forward to connecting with families at Parent-Teacher Conferences this week on Wednesday and Thursday evening, and a reminder that there is no school on Friday. Conference scheduling information has already been emailed and is also included below for easy reference.

We’re also excited to kick off March is Reading Month—you’ll find key information and reminders included below so your family can plan ahead and participate.

This week, Open Enrollment begins, and we’d love your help spreading the word. If you have friends, neighbors, or family members who are looking for an amazing school community with a strong environmental science focus, please encourage them to learn more about WMAES and apply during the open enrollment window. Sharing WMAES with others helps us welcome new families who value hands-on learning, outdoor experiences, and a school culture built on strong relationships.

Please take a few minutes to review the information below with your family as we prepare for the week ahead. Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Warmest regards,

Nathan VanDuinen

Elementary Principal

Parent Reading Survey (Elementary Families)

We love reading and want your child(ren) to love reading too! Please let us know how we are doing in regard to supporting your child(ren) as a reader. This information will help us improve our partnership with our families.

This survey is anonymous, but you will have the option to include your contact information if you desire a response.

If you have multiple children in elementary, you can select multiple answer choices. Feel free to leave additional comments about each child in the comment section.

Parent Reading Survey link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZbrA2MDzt2qElXHSEP2B23DYi7Bvqrn7MfenVyGXn_4jk4A/viewform 

Student Reading Survey (K–5) – Questions for Family Review

Students will also complete a short reading survey at school. Here are the questions they will be asked:

1. What is your grade level?

2. Outside of school, do you like to read? (Yes / No / Sometimes)

3. How do you rate yourself as a reader? (1–5 scale)

   • 1 = I struggle a lot

   • 3 = Sometimes I need help reading

   • 5 = Reading is easy for me

4. How much have you grown in reading this year? (1–5 scale)

5. Do you think Lexia helps you become a better reader? (Yes / No / Sometimes)

6. Do you think Extended Learning helps you become a better reader? (Yes / No / Sometimes)
   
   

Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your feedback—your input helps us keep improving how we support readers at WMAES.

GSRP Preschool Applications are OPEN NOW!

If you’re looking for an engaging, nature-focused start to your child’s education, we would love to welcome your family to WMAES Preschool.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Apply Now: Visit https://preschool.kentisd.org/Apply

• Select WMAES: Choose West Michigan Academy of Environmental Sciences as your preferred site during the application

• Apply Early: Placement decisions are made directly by Kent ISD, so we strongly encourage families to apply as soon as possible

Please share this with anyone looking for a wonderful, supportive preschool program—we can’t wait to grow and explore together!

Ready to join the WMAES community? Open enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year begins Monday, March 2nd! 

We are so proud of the welcoming, supportive environment we've built together. At WMAES, students don't just learn, they grow, explore, and thrive through hands-on environmental education.

We’d love your help in welcoming new families to our community:

• Enroll Siblings: Have a younger child ready to start? We can't wait to officially welcome them to the WMAES family! You can submit their application starting Monday, March 2nd.

• Spread the Word: Know a family looking for a unique, nature-focused school? Share this post with them!

Let’s welcome more families to our amazing school.

Parent-Teacher Conference registration is still available!

Families can sign up here: https://www.myconferencetime.com/wmaes/

Conference options:

• Virtual Conferences: Tuesday, March 4 | 5:00–7:00 PM

• In-Person Conferences: Wednesday, March 5 | 5:00–7:00 PM

Reminder: No school for students on Thursday, March 6.

We look forward to connecting with you and sharing updates on your child’s progress. Need help signing up? Use this quick guide:
https://www.myconferencetime.com/info/help/video-how-to-sign-up/

Reading Month is officially underway at WMAES, and March is packed with fun—your student already brought home the Reading Month Calendar (which also serves as the reading log for our competition), plus the Whitecaps Reading Month calendar for families who want to participate. Throughout the month, we’ll celebrate with Dress-Up Wednesdays, classroom game-themed bulletin boards (with family voting later this month), and our Read for FUNds fundraiser supporting the Literacy Nest. We’re also looking forward to our Elementary Read-In on Friday, March 20, and we’ll wrap everything up with our Reading Month Assembly on Wednesday, March 25—where a schoolwide minutes goal could lead to a very memorable challenge. (Quick reminder as you plan: there is no school on Friday, March 6.)

Reading Month Calendar + Reading Competition

• The Reading Month Calendar was sent home and includes everything families need for the month.

• The calendar also doubles as the reading log for our Reading Competition.

• Only minutes read at home count toward your class’s total.

• Class totals will be updated weekly, and there will be prizes (individual and class).

Calendar / Reading Log Turn-In

Please have your student return their calendar/log:

• Thursday, March 5 (first week only)

• Then every Friday

• Final deadline: Friday, March 20

Whitecaps Reading Month Calendar

Whitecaps calendars were also sent home.

• Students can record the same minutes on both calendars—no need to double the reading.

• These do not need to be returned to school.

• Families will contact the Whitecaps directly about tickets.

• Classrooms will also track minutes on a “Crash” chart at school.

Dress-Up Wednesdays

• March 4 – Wordy Wednesday: Wear a shirt with three or more words

• March 11 – Board Game Colors Day: Wear a color to represent a favorite board game
  Examples:
  Red: Sorry!, Trouble, Candy Land
  Blue: Chutes and Ladders, Connect 4
  Green: Candy Land, The Game of Life
  Yellow: Connect 4, Candy Land

• March 18 – Hats Off to Reading: Wear your favorite hat

• March 25 – Game On Character Dress Up Day: Dress as your favorite game or book character

Bulletin Board Competition (Family Voting!)

Each class is creating a game-themed bulletin board, and families will get to vote on Facebook in mid-March (watch for the post!). It’s a friendly competition across the building—winning classes earn some fun recognition and a sweet treat.

Read for FUNds (Fundraiser for the Literacy Nest)

The Read for FUNds flyer was also sent home.

• Goal: $2 per student to help keep our book checkout system strong

• Anything beyond that helps us purchase new books and replace damaged books

• Dates: March 2–March 13

• Money due: March 13 (cash or check—checks payable to WMAES)

• Raise $10+ to earn a no-uniform voucher

• Top 3 fundraisers earn lunch with Ms. Baxter & Mrs. Silveira and a chance to help in the Literacy Nest

Elementary Read-In: Friday, March 20

We’ll have a special all-school Read-In in the gym!

• Check-in begins: 8:10 AM

• Reading time: 8:30–9:00 AM

• Students should bring their own books

• Blankets/stuffies are optional (teacher discretion)

• Families may attend, but must have a volunteer application on file by Wednesday, March 11 (we cannot process applications the day of the Read-In)

Reading Month Assembly: Wednesday, March 25

We’ll wrap up the month with a Reading Month Assembly at the end of the day. If students reach 50,000 minutes, there will be a very memorable challenge for our administration team to take on!

Quick Reminder

• No school Friday, March 6

Thanks for helping make this March is Reading Month a memorable one for our students! 

Lost and Found Reminder

Our Lost & Found at the elementary main entrance is filled with unclaimed items! Please be sure to check for any belongings. Thank you for your help in keeping our school organized!

Save the Date - Family Dance March 20 at WMAES! 

Mark your calendars! Join us for a night of dancing and fun at our Family Dance for elementary students and their families.

When: Friday, March 20
Where: WMAES Gymnasium

Stay tuned for details on how to purchase tickets. We're looking forward to a fantastic evening with our school community!

See you there!

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! 

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

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:

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.