Updates for Elementary Families

May 4, 2025 Update for Families

Click Subscribe below at add our WMAES Family Calendar to any calendar app on the device of your choice. You can also click here to visit the calendar page and view information about subscribing.

Help Us Share What Makes WMAES Special — Tell Us Your Story!

We’re gathering stories and feedback from families to showcase what makes WMAES such a unique and positive place to learn and grow. Whether it’s a favorite memory, a shout-out to a staff member, or what your family loves most about WMAES, we’d love to hear from you!

Your testimonials will help us highlight the amazing experiences happening in our school community. We’ll feature these stories in our communications throughout the year.

Click here to make a submission

Or copy and paste this link into your browser:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJ0ERwYERl-5uvrAKJEUMFDRuAtxdFVlGqVX2s0-AXD2CPwg/viewform

Thank you for sharing your voice and being part of what makes WMAES so special!

Early Dismissal – Friday, May 9

May 9 is an early dismissal day for staff professional development. Elementary students will be dismissed at noon.

We appreciate your flexibility in making arrangements for this noon pick-up and your continued support!

Parking Lot Reminder: Pets Must Stay in Vehicles

For the safety and comfort of all students and families, pets must remain inside vehicles during drop-off and pick-up. Even well-behaved pets can behave unpredictably in busy environments, and not all students or adults are comfortable around animals.

Please also consider that on extremely warm days, it may be safest for pets to remain at home.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

Field Day Information and Shirt Orders

We are excited to celebrate the end of the school year with one of our favorite traditions — Field Day — on Tuesday, June 3! This fun-filled event gives students a chance to build teamwork, enjoy the outdoors, and celebrate all of their hard work this year.

Field Day Schedule and Grade Level Shirt Colors:

8:30–11:30 AM:
- TK – Red
- Kindergarten – Green
- 1st Grade – Blue
- 2nd Grade – Yellow
12:15–2:45 PM:
- 3rd Grade – Red
- 4th Grade – Green
- 5th Grade – Blue

Students should wear a school-appropriate shirt in their assigned grade level color for Field Day. Purchasing a Field Day shirt is completely optional — students may wear any appropriate shirt in their grade color.

Field Day Shirt Options and Pricing:

Cotton T-Shirt – $8
Cotton T-Shirt with "WMAES Field Day" lettering – $13
A4 Dry Fit Shirt – $10
A4 Dry Fit Shirt with "WMAES Field Day" lettering – $15

Ordering Information:

Order forms were sent home with students on Friday.
If your family would like to order a shirt, please return the completed form and payment to the elementary office by May 9.
All checks should be made payable to WMAES. Payment must be turned in with the order form.
Shirts will be delivered to the school and sent home with students on Monday, May 27.
A printable copy of the order form can also be found below.

Volunteers and Snacks:

We will need 25 volunteers for each Field Day session and are also requesting snack donations.
A Sign Up Genius link will be shared soon with opportunities to sign up for volunteer shifts and snack donations.

More details about Field Day activities will be shared as the event gets closer. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Parent Team at parentteam@wma-es.com.

Thank you for your support!

Field day t-shirt order form.pdf

We’re pleased to share our 2025-2026 Overview Calendar!

Please see the calendar below for key dates for the upcoming school year, including the first and last days of school, breaks, events, and early dismissal dates. We hope this helps your family begin planning ahead for a successful year.

For Families - WMAES 25/26 Calendar List

WMAES Breakfast May 2025.docx - Google Docs.pdf

WMAES Lunch May 2025.docx - Google Docs.pdf

Uniform Reminders

As we approach the end of the school year and enjoy warmer days, we want to remind everyone of our uniform requirements to ensure our students remain comfortable, focused, and ready to learn every day. We appreciate your continued support with our uniform policy!

Uniform requirements include a WMAES uniform top, solid color pants/shorts or solid jeans/jean shorts, and closed-toe shoes.
The WMAES top must be the outermost layer.
All clothing must be free of writing and adornments and rips/tears/holes.

Important: OEAA Assessment Electronic Device Use Policy

As we approach state testing season, it’s critical that all students and families understand the expectations around electronic device use during assessments. The Michigan Department of Education requires schools to follow strict policies to protect the security, reliability, and fairness of all state tests.

Key highlights of the policy:

Students are not permitted to use or access personal electronic devices (like cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds, or tablets not used for testing) during testing or breaks.
Any access to unauthorized devices during testing—whether or not the device is used—can result in the test being invalidated.
Headphones with advanced technology (such as those with voice command or app access) are not allowed.
All electronic devices must be stored securely away from students during testing.
If a student needs a medical device that has electronic capabilities, accommodations must be made in a one-on-one testing setting.

These rules are in place to ensure the validity of the testing process and to protect student results.

Please take a moment to review the full OEAA Electronic Device Use Policy, which is available below.

OEAA Assessment Electronic Device Use Policy.pdf

M-STEP TESTING

Once each year, students in 3rd grade and above take a high-quality state summative assessment, M-STEP. Summative assessments measure what students know and are able to do at specific grade levels and in specific subject areas. All of these are online assessments that students will take using their Chromebooks. The tests are given to determine where students are in their grade level so teachers and staff can develop customized learning plans for each student. Your child’s teacher will be in contact with you regarding the testing schedule for their classroom. Please review the documents from the Michigan Department of Education provided below for more information concerning Michigan’s required assessments.

Here are some suggested ways to support your student’s preparation for summative assessments:

Make sure your student gets a good night's sleep the night before and eats a healthy breakfast the morning of the test.
Remain positive. Talk to your student about the test and the importance of taking their time and doing their best.
Remind your student that the test results are only used to give you and their teachers information about the progress they have made.

Talk to your child about their experience. What did they learn from the test? How was their experience?

State Superintendent Letter to Parents.pdf

What_Parents_Should_Know.pdf

Student_Testing_What_Parents_Can_Do_to_Help_Students_Prepare.pdf

Snack Donations for M-STEP Testing

After Spring Break, our 3rd–5th grade students will begin taking the M-STEP Assessments. A quick snack break during testing can help students stay focused and energized.

We are asking for donations of individually packaged snacks listed at the sign up link below to help support our students during these sessions. Donations can be dropped off at the front office anytime before April 18.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!

To sign up to donate, please use the following link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054CACAB2DA75-55787538-3rd5th#/

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!

🌳 GSRP Nature Walk & Talk with WMAES! 🌳

We invite you and your little ones to join us for our monthly Nature Walk and Talk! These events are a wonderful opportunity for children ages 1–4 and their caregivers to explore nature on our beautiful 62-acre campus. Each session includes a short, guided hike and exploration in our outdoor classroom featuring a sand area, magnet wall, mud kitchen, and more!

Dates & Times:

May 9, July 11
Time: 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Where: Meet us at the outdoor classroom space to the left of the Elementary building.

This program is designed to run rain, snow, or shine, so please dress accordingly. No sign-up is required; simply meet us at the designated spot, and we'll begin our adventure together! 🌞🌧️❄️

To stay in the loop and receive reminders, please fill out this short form: Nature Walk & Talk Interest Form

Have questions? Feel free to reach out to Jamieson Schultz at jamiesonshultz@choiceschools.com.

We hope to see you there and can't wait to explore and learn together!

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.

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

Uniform Online Ordering

Purchase uniform apparel any time from the convenience of home with free shipping.

Online Uniform Store Link: WMAES Apparel

You can also enter the URL https://wmaesapparel.secure-decoration.com/ in any browser to access the store.

A convenient printable format of Important dates for the 2024-25 school year can be found below

WMAES Families Calendar List 24-25.docx

Click here For Our PRevious Update

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