Students in need of a coat, hat, or gloves, please stop by Student Services—we’re here to help! The weather is cold, and students will need warm clothing for waiting at the bus stop or walking to school. Additionally, Ken’s Coat Closet, a free clothing bank serving our community, is available to assist families with clothing needs. Please note that Ken’s Coat Closet’s hours change based on the GLPS schedule. For the most up-to-date hours, visit their Facebook page. To schedule an appointment, please email kenscoatcloset@gmail.com.
Stay warm, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need assistance!
Need Shoes or Boots?
The Old Newboys Association of Greater Lansing is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to providing footwear to school aged students. They offer well-fitting school shoes, warm boots, and socks for those in need of assistance. Forms for The Old Newsboys are in Student Services.
Please contact Jennifer VandenBosch, in Student Services, if you have any questions or need any assistance with either of these offers.
We value your input! Please take a few minutes to complete our Family School Climate Survey. Your feedback will directly inform our Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Process (MICIP), which guides our district’s efforts to create effective strategies for student success. Thank you for partnering with us to make our schools even better!
Health Update
Cindy Brummette, RN, BSN District Nurse Grand Ledge Public Schools
What’s going around: We are continuing to see reports of COVID-19, pneumonia cases, and Strep Throat with a rash. There are still ongoing nonspecific illnesses with fever, cough, vomiting and diarrhea.
Winter Wellness:
Communicable illness activity typically peaks around this time of the year. Consider getting up to date on your vaccines as another layer of protection.
Continue to utilize mitigation measures including masks.
As local communicable illnesses increase, remember to take care of yourself. Wash hands frequently, eat immunity-boosting foods. Your health is invaluable.
Winter days can be long and draining—try to keep moving, eat healthy and nourishing meals, and enjoy small comforts to keep your mood elevated.
The holiday season can increase stress and overindulgence. Practice moderation with rich foods, continue to be active and practice mindfulness or relaxation techniques.
Are you at risk of seasonal affective disorder (SAD)? If so, consider talking with your primary care physician to discuss how to prevent or treat seasonal symptoms of depression.
With colder temperatures and use of furnaces for warmth, dry skin can occur. Stay hydrated and moisturized.
Winter weather - be cautious of slips and falls if you're in an area with snow or ice.
Most of all, try to be present during this holiday season by limiting time on social media and use that extra quality time with friends or family creating memories!
Student of the Month
GL COMET CONNECTION -- High School Student Store
We have launched a new online site for Grand Ledge merchandise and gear.
The Comet Connection is a small business enterprise that teaches students how to operate a business. Students will apply knowledge and concepts learned in the classroom in a work-based learning environment. The funds raised will be invested in the school store, DECA activities, competitions, and leadership events. *DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America)
Dec. 21 » First Day of Winter, Winter Solstice, Yule
Dec. 25 » Christmas
Dec. 25-Jan. 2 » Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)
Dec. 26 - Jan. 1 » Kwanzaa
Dec. 27 » International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
Dec. 31 » New Year’s Eve
Jan. 1 » New Year’s Day
Jan. 6 » Epiphany
Jan. 7 » Orthodox Christmas
Jan. 15 » Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan. 15 » Sankranti
Jan. 15-18 » Pongal
Jan. 21 » World Religion Day
Jan. 24 » International Day of Education
Jan. 27 » International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
Jan. 28 » Christa McAuliffe Day
Jan. 31 » International Day of the Zebra
Is something missing? Please share with John Ellsworth, GLPS Director of Communications, any additional Recognitions & Acknowledgments you think we should include on this list or upcoming lists – email him at EllsworthJ@GLcomets.net.
The Board of Education approved a letter of agreement between the school district and the teachers' union regarding the calendar for the next school year. Here is the 2025-2026 GLPS District Calendar. Our website now has two school calendars, one for this this year and one for the next year.
As required by state law, we are working closely with the Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD), and they recommended we provide all our school district families with some important information about pertussis / whooping cough so you can make informed decisions regarding your family’s health. The recommendation was made because multiple students in our school district have been officially tested and diagnosed with cases of pertussis / whooping cough (the increase in cases prompting this recommendation is currently limited to Hayes Intermediate School). District custodial staff continue to clean frequently, and the GLPS Health Team is coordinating with them to do additional, targeted deep cleanings.
Pertussis can be a very serious illness, especially in the very young who haven’t had the opportunity to be completely protected through immunization. Here is more information about pertussis:
The disease is caused by bacteria spread through sneezing and coughing. The time between exposure to the bacteria and disease symptoms is usually between 7-10 days, but in rare cases, it can take up to 3 weeks.
In the early stage of illness, pertussis can resemble a common cold. Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, mild dry cough, and low-grade fever. The disease is most contagious at this time.
After about 1 to 2 weeks, more serious “coughing spells” develop that can last for more than a minute and result in difficulty breathing. At the end of a coughing spell, the child may make a high-pitched “whooping” sound as they try to catch their breath. Sometimes the coughing will cause vomiting. Coughing in this latter stage of pertussis tends to be worse at night. Between spells, the child usually feels well.
Vaccinations against pertussis have made it a rare disease. The majority of children have been protected against it through their routine childhood immunizations. However, protection from the vaccine tends to fade over time. If your child is older than 10, you might ask your healthcare provider whether a booster vaccine is appropriate.
Please inform the school of any updates in your child’s immunization record.
Pertussis can be treated or even prevented with antibiotics if detected early or before the disease has started. If your child has been exposed or is not fully protected against pertussis, please contact your healthcare provider for medical guidance.
If your child does develop any of the symptoms described above, keep them at home (do not send them to school) and contact your healthcare provider immediately. Please also inform the school of any illness.
If you have any questions about this issue, please contact your family’s healthcare provider or the Grand Ledge Public Schools Health Team at (517) 925-5725 or health@glcomets.net. More information is also available from the Barry-Eaton District Health Department at 517-541-2641. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information here: cdc.gov/pertussis.
Sincerely, Grand Ledge Public Schools Health Team Cindy Brummette, BSN, RN – District Nurse Lanta Winn, MSN, RN – School Nurse Richada Brown, BA - Health Resource Advocate BEDHD
This year, we will communicate about school closings using our SchoolMessenger system and by placing a District Alert on our website's homepage: GLcomets.net. For school closings, we create an automated phone call, a text message, and an email that is sent using SchoolMessenger. We also post a District Alert on our website (see example below). Finally, we will reach out to local TV stations, but we encourage you to rely on the school district's communications – GLPS is the best source for closing information and details.
Please be sure your phone number and email address are accurately recorded in SchoolMessenger so you get communications about school closings. You can use the "SchoolMessenger Settings Guide" and follow the instructions to view the contact information in our system. If you want to get text messages from the schools, be sure to opt in by texting “Y” or “Yes” to 67587. If changes are needed to the contact information, legal parents and guardians can communicate with the main office of the school or use this Contact Information Update form.
If you have grandparents, daycare providers, etc., who need to be kept in the loop, please let them know they can sign up for school district communications about school closings, and more, by following the instructions at GLcomets.net/Connect.
An example of what the District Alert looks like on our website is below.
GLPS International Night is January 24, 2025, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Sign up to participate: share a cultural display or exhibit, to walk in the fasion show, or to do a cultural performance
Volunteers are needed to make International Night go well, so please sign up to volunteer.
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