Lakes Newsletter
Matt Zokoe - Principal
mzokoe@rockfordschools.org
Address: 6849 Young Avenue, Rockford, MI 49341
Website: www.rockfordschools.org
Phone: (616) 863-6340
Quick Information
- As we begin to consider next school year, parents/guardians are invited to share some information about their student(s) to help inform our class placements for the 2025/2026 school year. Please complete this form by May 16th.
- Please consider leaving a pair of clean gym shoes at school for students to wear in the classroom and during gym class. Many students are arriving to gym class with slippers, crocs, sandals, and boots.
- Please help us to keep everyone healthy. If your student has had a fever (100.4 or higher), vomiting, or diarrhea; please keep them home for at least 24 hours after the last use of medication and symptoms.
- Looking for the best job in town? Lakes is in need of more paraprofessional substitutes! Come hang out with us on the playground, in the lunchroom, in the classrooms, and more! If you are interested in more information, please contact the front office. To apply, please use the attached link. The position list is a bit different but it will get your application to us! We'd love to see you more often.
- SAVE THE DATE! Our Lakes Elementary Springtime Hoedown Spring Concert will be held on April 16th for all students in K-5. Timing details were attached to the newsletter email.
- Our Battle of the Books team made it to round 6! We are so proud of them and all of their hard work. Thank you to Mrs. VanStensel for leading our great team.
- Spring break is your LAST chance to purchase the YEARBOOK for this school year! Extra copies are not ordered in the office and will NOT be available for purchase after April 11th.
You're Invited to Rockford Family Night at the West Michigan Whitecaps!
Support Rockford Public Schools and kick off your summer with the Whitecaps. A portion of each ticket bought will be donated directly back to the schools.
GRASP is a correspondence program for students in Kindergarten through 8th grades which helps students maintain reading and math skills while they are on summer break. Enrolled students will receive a packet of materials with a booklet containing 9 lessons. It should take your student approximately one hour to complete each weekly lesson. They can complete one lesson a week or work at their own pace, as long as all lessons are submitted before August 8th. The students can mail the lessons to GRASP for scoring or, new this year, lessons can be scored with a parent/guardian cell phone instead of mailing them in! There is also an on-line version of GRASP for students in 4th through 8th grade and these students will also receive results via the email provided.
Students who successfully complete and submit at least 7 lessons with 70% accuracy are awarded a certificate. Those who successfully complete and submit all 9 lessons with 70% accuracy will receive a medal! Certificates and medals will be distributed by your student’s school at the beginning of the next school year.
Please order your student’s CURRENT grade level. If there are extenuating circumstances, order the level that is appropriate for your student. The fees for the summer of 2025 are $26 for one subject or $48 for both subjects for each student. You can enroll your student for the book version (grades K-8) or the optional online version (grades 4-8) by completing the registration and payment online.
LAST CHANCE!!
Place your yearbook order today!
Paper orders forms were sent home recently. If you would like a new paper copy, please contact the office to have one sent home with your student.
You can also purchase online. Lakes Yearbook ID is 14560825. Please make sure to enter your student's name and teacher for correct delivery. Extra yearbooks are not ordered so make sure to place your order by April 11th.
Can't recall if you already placed an order? Please email Kathy Low (KLow@rockfordschools.org) to check your status.
Volunteer Opportunities
Mileage Club Volunteers :
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D4DA5A82CA5F49-55132694-mileage#/
Daily Volunteers :
We now have some daily volunteer opportunities for families to help foster our Lakes Community. Please visit the link for additional details and to select a time slot.
Lunchroom (11:30 am - 12:50 pm) - How to support in the lunchroom:
- Walk around and interact with students.
- Help open lunch materials.
- Review lunchroom procedures to help with the end of the lunchtime.
- Push the trash bin around to gather trash materials.
- Play a game with the 5th-grade students at their table.
- Encourage students to walk to recess.
Lunch Recess (11:10 am - 1:00 pm) - How to support at lunch recess:
- Play or organize a game.
- Encourage positive play.
- Help with chalk art.
- Walk around with a group of students.
- Organize a coloring table.
- Support the quiet area with quiet area activities.
Last Recess (2:15 pm - 3:30 pm) - How to support at last recess:
- Play or organize a game.
- Encourage positive play.
- Help with chalk art.
- Walk around with a group of students.
- Organize a coloring table.
- Support the quiet area with quiet area activities.
Dads of Great Students
Who can participate: Fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, uncles, and other father figures.
Watch D.O.G.S can serve full days (8:15 am - 3:45 pm) or half days (pm option). Watch D.O.G.S can be assigned to classrooms as needed by the teachers, perform recess duty, complete ground checks, or other various tasks. When possible, Watch D.O.G.S will have the opportunity to work with their students or their student's classrooms. However, they may also be called to serve in a separate space as needed.
Sign Up for Lakes Watch D.O.G.S.
Lakes-A-Palooza Volunteers
Looking for any high school sports teams and/or our Lakes families to volunteer during May 15th's Lakes-A-Palooza Carnival and Art Show! Please sign up with the PTO!
PTO Corner
Your Help Needed: Staff Thank You Notes
Every year, Lakes teachers and staff receive a special package of their favorite things as part of the PTO's staff appreciation efforts. We are compiling personalized thank you cards to include in each bag. Your help is needed!
- Write a note to any of the teachers and staff in the building - or have your child write them!
- Send them in with your child to bring to the office, or slip into the drop-off bin at the school entryway no later than Wednesday, April 2nd.
- You can also complete this form to send a note!
We truly have the best staff, so let's show them some love! Thank you in advance for your support and partnership.
Student T-Shirt Design Contest
We are looking for amazing design submissions that embody Lakes school spirit and pride! The winning design will appear on the school spirit t-shirts for the whole school, given out as part of the Activity Pass next year. This year, we couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Mrs. Poel in April during her graphic design unit in Art specials for this contest! Watch for more information later this month.
Upcoming Events
- Friday, April 18th Join RPS families for a fun-filled evening of ice skating and soccer from 6-8pm at Cedar Rock Sportsplex. Wear your Lakes gear to show your school spirit! A portion of the night’s entry fees will benefit Lakes Elementary. $10 ice skating entry, $5 skate rentals, children under 5 free with a paying adult. $5 drop-in admission to indoor soccer field.
- Thursday, May 1st PTO Public Meeting at 7pm at Lakes Elementary. We welcome all parents, guardians or teachers to join us as we look ahead to discuss next year’s PTO budget and efforts.
- Friday, May 9th Silent Auction starts! Get ready to bid on dozens of amazing auction items for yourself or someone you love. Proceeds benefit the PTO scholarship fund, which covers field trip fees and other items for students and families needing assistance with their activity pass. Online bidding opens Friday, May 9th and runs through Sunday, May 18th. More info coming.
- Thursday, May 15th Lakesapalooza! Our annual family spring carnival event featuring food trucks - live music - carnival games - bounce houses - raffle prizes and much more! Free entry for Lakes families. Join us from 5:30-8:00pm on the Lakes Elementary grounds. Interested in volunteering? We have spots available, Click Here to sign up!
Join the PTO!
Join our team of parent volunteers as we enhance the learning and educational experience of students and staff at Lakes Elementary. Work alongside fellow parents, get to know Lakes teachers and staff all while making a positive impact on our school. We have a variety of elected, leadership and general volunteer roles available for the 2025-26 school year. Click Here to fill out an interest form!
Activity Pass Reminder
As you know, your student's Activity Pass is their ticket to field trips and other enriching activities throughout the school year. Here's how that breaks down:
$34 goes toward school-wide activities for students and staff, such as assemblies, field days, staff appreciation and grants, and more. The remaining amount (varies by grade level) covers field trip entry fees and transportation costs.
- Pay Now online via Paypal or Venmo
- If you are a family experiencing financial hardship, please reach out to Mr. Zokoe for a confidential discussion.
- If you have a business that'd like to donate to the PTO scholarship fund to cover families experiencing financial hardship, please contact the PTO for more information.
For students who have not paid, an itemized bill will be sent home to ensure equal opportunities. Thank you for your support!
Helpful PTO Links
- Rockford Booster Bucks
- Follow the PTO on Facebook or Instagram
- PTO Linktree
- PTO Email
Recycling Initiatives
NexTrex Recycling
Bins located in front vestibule. All bags should be clean and free of food or other debris.
- Produce bags, grocery bags, ice bags, cereal box liners, bread bags, bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags - Plastics that can stretch.
- We've collected over 279 pounds of plastic!
Papergator Recycling
Green dumpster located in the side parking lot.
- Office/School papers, newspaper, junk mail, magazines, shredded paper, and cereal boxes (paper board that can be torn), etc.
Popcan Tabs
Can be turned in to the front office. Collected and sent to Ronald McDonald House.
Enrollment is Open
Enrollment for the 2025/2026 school year is open. Children who turn five years old on or before December 1, 2025 are eligible to enroll for the 2025/2026 school year. In order to take advantage of an early placement screening, please enroll your Developmental Kindergarten -or- Kindergarten-age child before June 1, 2025. Please visit www.rockfordschools.org/enrollment// to review the online enrollment procedures and required documentation.
Upcoming Dates
4/3 - 4/13 : Spring Break
4/14 : School Resumes
4/16 : Lakes Spring Music Program
4/18 : Rockford Family Skate Night at CedarRock Sportsplex
5/15 : Lakes-A-Palooza
5/20 : Family Night at the West Michigan Whitecaps
Important Links
After the Bell - Rockford Community Services Registrations
Annual Education Report : Paper copies available in office by request
Lakes Facebook Page (family only)
School Lunch Offerings : You can also download the NutriSlice App
School Lunch Payments : Make sure to select Family Portal. Lunches are free this year unless your student selects milk only.
