Popcorn Day September 19

The WMAES Parent Team has once again made it possible for us to host a popcorn sale for students. Bags of popcorn are 50 cents. Families will still be able to sponsor an entire class for a donation of $12. Students are able to purchase multiple bags of popcorn if desired. 

Important ATTENDANCE  Reminders

We would like to remind everyone of the importance  of regular attendance and punctuality in setting students up for success.

The school day begins promptly at 8:00 AM, and students may enter as early as 7:45 AM. Arriving on time ensures a smooth start to the day, helps establish a strong routine, and maximizes essential instructional time—setting a positive tone for learning. Every moment in the classroom is an opportunity to grow, connect, and build essential skills.

We understand that occasional absences or tardiness may happen due to illness or unforeseen circumstances, but making consistent attendance a priority helps students stay engaged and confident in their learning. Regular attendance fosters a sense of belonging, builds positive habits, and ensures students don’t miss valuable instruction.

We appreciate your partnership in making daily attendance a priority! If you have any concerns or need assistance, please reach out—we are here to help.

Attendance Guidelines:

• WMAES expects an attendance rate of 90% or higher (approximately 4 absences per quarter).

• If a student accumulates 3 counted absences within the first 30 school days or their attendance rate falls below 90% at any time, families will receive a first notice via email with helpful resources. Additional support will be available based on individual needs.

Thank you for your commitment to your child’s success!

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.

If you're interested, please fill out this quick form:
 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeecE5nACwXBm1l5Uy7dwEH_gZb3-1dqVRauJAs6_WeZsaBIg/viewform

You'll be contacted with upcoming date options after submitting the form. We look forward to connecting with you!

🎉 Save the Dates – Roller Skating Parties Are Back! 🛼

We’re excited to share this year’s Roller Skating Party dates — mark your calendars and get ready to roll! All events will be held at GR Skate in Kentwood from 6:00–8:00 P.M.

📅 2025–2026 Skating Party Dates:
• Thursday, November 6
• Thursday, January 15
• Thursday, March 26

Each event is a great opportunity for fun, movement, and connection outside of the school day. 

 More details and reminders will be shared before each event.

We hope to see you there!

🎨 Spirit Day Shirt Design Contest!

Our parent team is excited to announce a Spirit Day Shirt Design Contest for students! In your student’s classroom, teachers have forms available for anyone who would like to participate.

🖌️ How to Participate:

• Students can create their own shirt design and submit it by Thursday, September 19.

• Turn in drawings to either school office to be collected by the parent team.

• Designs can also be submitted electronically by emailing them to parentteam@wma-es.com.
  
  

🗳️ Voting:

• Students will vote for their favorite designs during lunch on Thursday, September 26.

• Two winning designs will be selected: one from elementary and one from secondary.

👕 The winning designs will be printed on shirts that staff and students can purchase and wear on Spirit Days throughout the school year!

Treats on the Trail October 30 - Candy Donations Appreciated

We’re looking forward to one of our favorite annual community events, Treats on the Trail. Treats on the Trail provides a fun, safe trick-or-treating experience for families on the beautiful trails at WMAES. Donations of bags of individually wrapped candy in support of the event are greatly appreciated. Candy donations can be dropped off in either the elementary or secondary office. 

Families can begin entering the trails at 5:00. Costumes for students are encouraged but not required. Costumes must be appropriate for school (e.g. no weapons, blood, etc.). We encourage families to bring a bag or bucket for each child that will be receiving candy. We hope you’ll join us for this fun family event!

important details and reminders:

• Families can begin entering the trails this evening at 5:00. 

• The last opportunity to begin the trail is at 6:00.

• Costumes for students are encouraged but not required. Costumes must be appropriate for school (e.g. no weapons, blood, etc.). 

• We encourage families to bring a bag or bucket for each child that will be receiving candy. 

Picture Day – October 1

Mark your calendars! Picture Day is coming up on October 1. 

On Picture Day, students may wear school-appropriate clothing of their choice and do not need to wear school uniform tops or other uniform items. 

We look forward to seeing all those smiling faces on Picture Day!

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. 

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.