Lakes Newsletter
Matt Zokoe - Principal
[email protected]
Address: 6849 Young Avenue, Rockford, MI 49341
Website: www.rockfordschools.org
Phone: (616) 863-6340
From The Desk of Mr. Zokoe
Lakes Families,
I love winter activities, but the recent bout of harsh winter weather has me excited for spring. Our students are doing a great job rolling with the ever-changing weather and the stop-start nature it has caused. I am hopeful that we will see a return to consistency over the next few weeks. This week, our students worked hard to complete the winter testing for NWEA Math and ELA. The information from the testing will continue to inform our teachers and support the instructional moves classrooms will make over the next few months. Way to work hard, Lakes students!
Below you will see our link for conference sign-ups. Our conferences will be in person and will take place on Tuesday, February 24, and Thursday, February 26, in the evening. Please sign up for a time that works best for your family. Our School Book Fair will coincide with our Tuesday conference night. See you there!
Our February character trait focus is empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. When students practice empathy, they put themselves in someone else’s shoes and respond with compassion. This skill helps students develop meaningful connections, solve conflicts in a caring way, and become thoughtful problem-solvers. We will continue to focus on empathy through our RAMS model every day at Lakes. As we continue to work on MTSS-Behavior at Lakes Elementary, your perspective is needed. I have included a School Climate Family survey link here. This survey will help inform our Lakes MTSS-Behavior team on what is going well and areas we can improve. Thank you in advance for your participation in our School Climate Family survey.
Thank you for your continued partnership,
Matt Zokoe
How to Volunteer
Step 1 : Get involved! Contact the PTO for volunteer opportunities, become a daily volunteer, sign up to be a Watch D.O.G., or check your teacher's newsletters for additional classroom opportunities.
Step 2 : Complete a background check online. Background checks can take 2-3 weeks to process so please complete it early! Names are not cleared until teachers, PTO, or volunteer coordinators know that you are coming in. So DON'T hesitate to sign up for a volunteer opportunity, but DO make sure that you have completed the online form this school year! Forms must be resubmitted each school year.
Step 3 : This one is on us! We'll contact our security department to run your background check, and then you will receive an "All Clear" email!
Step 4 : Bring your driver's license on your volunteer day! Scan the back of your license, smile for a picture, and we'll direct you down to your classroom or volunteer space.
Thank you for supporting our Lakes community!
Daily Volunteers
We are seeking parent or family volunteers to support our learning community at Lakes daily. We are seeking support for both our lunchroom and recess spaces during the day. Parents will be aiding in activities that will allow our students to continue to grow in social situations here at school. Your participation is greatly appreciated!
Current Available Options:
- Lunchroom - 11:15 am - 12:50 pm
- Lunch Recess - 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
- Last Recess - 1:50 pm - 3:25 pm
Watch D.O.G.S
Watch D.O.G. Volunteer Sign Up
Watch D.O.G.S. is a nationwide program with two primary goals: First, to provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important. And second, to provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security, reduce bullying, and promote good sportsmanship.
We offer two options to make it easier to get involved. When you sign up from the link in the Lakes Newsletters, you will select if you are full day or afternoon only.
First is a whole day from 8:25 am - 3:45 pm . You will support the building from drop-off until the pick-up line is empty! This is how the program was designed and is the most preferred.
Second is a half-day option with a start at 11:00am -or- 1pm until 3:45pm).
5th Grade Parents
For the 5th grade celebration we will include a slideshow. Please email 2 photos of your child to [email protected] to be included in the slideshow at the celebration. Please attach the photos as JPEGs and include one photo from the earlier years (kindergarten timeframe or thereabouts) and one present-day photo. Photos should include only your child! Additional details regarding end of the year celebration will be announced soon. Thank you!
Conferences
We are looking forward to the spring conferences on Tuesday, February 24, and Thursday, February 26, 2026. We will be offering spring conferences as in-person, both nights. If you need to schedule a phone or virtual conference, we ask that you reach out directly to your child’s teacher.
Follow the steps below for scheduling your SPRING conferences!
- Please click on the link below to schedule a conference with your child’s teacher(s).
- After filling out your information, you can identify teachers by the grade they teach in the drop-down menu, as well as special teachers and ancillary staff.
- When you choose a grade, you will be able to choose your child’s teacher and a time that works for you.
- You can go through this process for each of your children. We suggest that if you have multiple children, please put a time gap between the meetings.
- You will then get an email confirmation with your time for the in-person conference.
Please note that we will not have childcare available either night.
We look forward to meeting with you to celebrate the growth your child has made and share growth opportunities.
Yearbook Sales are now open!
Yearbook are now available to be pre-ordered! Make your purchase today.
Lakes Yearbook ID is 14560826
Mental Health Education & Resource Night
Hosted by Rockford Public Schools on Wednesday, February 4th from 5:30pm - 8:30pm at the Rockford High School Auditorium.
Join us for a cost-free evening dedicated to strengthening our community through mental health education, awareness, and connection. Visit with over 20 vendors and listen to two speaker presentations.
For additional details, please see this PDF.
Superintendent Sub For A Day
Once a month, Dr. Matthews will be trading his Superintendent’s office for the classroom and stepping in to substitute for a day. How it works: Each $10 donation to the Rockford Education Foundation nominates a teacher to win a day off while Dr. Matthews takes over the classroom. All donations support REF educational grants, celebrate our incredible educators, and give Dr. Matthews a front-row seat in the classroom. $10 = 1 entry to nominate a teacher and multiple entries gladly accepted! Teachers may nominate themselves or a colleague. One winner will be drawn monthly, January–May 2026
GYM Shoes + Attire Reminders
- Appropriate footwear is needed for gym every day that students have that special. Please label a pair of gym shoes and consider having your student leave them in their locker. They are welcome to wear their gym shoes when changing out of winter boots at this time of year - they do not need to be GYM only. However, they do need to be closed-toed, non-slip shoes. Crocks, even in 'sports mode" are not acceptable.
- Students do need to have boots and snow pants while the snow remains on the ground AND usually until Spring Break. Lakes playground tends to be all mud in the early spring. Snow pants and boots will help to protect your students' clothing and shoes.
Lending Closet Re-stocking
Lakes has a Lending Closet for those in need of new clothing items due to an accident, injury, or other need. If your student borrows items from the Lending Closet, please wash them and have your student return them to school for the next student to use. We are looking to restock the following items from your previously loved clothing:
- Big Girls size 2-4 tennis shoes
- Boys and Girls size 4-5 pants with elastic waists
- Adult size 6 - 9 tennis shoes
- Winter coats in sizes 8+
- Waterproof gloves and mittens
GRASP
Grand Rapids Academic Summer Programs can help your child maintain reading and math skills over summer break! GRASP is an at-home program used by families for 50 years!
Children finishing Kindergarten to 8th grade receive a packet of materials with a booklet. This booklet has 9 units of review exercises to be completed each week. Each lesson takes about one hour to complete. Children in grades 4 to 8 can choose to do GRASP online instead of using the book and scan sheets.
For additional details, please follow this link. Sign-ups will be available at rps.difitalsignup.com until Noon on April 15th, 2026.
Lakes PTO
PTO Meeting Next Week!
Our next PTO meeting will take place on Thursday, February 5th, at Lakes Elementary, 7 pm in Room 25. No prior experience or participation needed; everyone is welcome to attend! The agenda will be shared on our Facebook page early next week.
Reminder: Activity Pass
Your student's Activity Pass is their ticket to field trips (entry and transportation), as well as other fun and enriching activities throughout the school year. As a reminder, please review the Activity Pass amounts by grade and submit payment for your student. Have questions or need details on the Activity Pass? Click here!
Kindergarten ($82) - 1st ($67) - 2nd ($77) - 3rd ($98) - 4th ($133) - 5th ($127)
Pay Now online via Paypal or Venmo, or drop a check at the front office.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact 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.
Thank you to our business sponsors this year! Their generous contributions help our scholarship fund. A warm and hearty high five to the following businesses: 85West Dental, SixOneSix Dentistry for Children, Douglas Photography, Integrated Packaging Machinery, Rockford Self Storage and Swift Printing!
Next Popcorn Day
Unfortunately, the Popcorn Day scheduled for Friday, January 23rd, was cancelled due to the weather. The next popcorn day will be on Friday, February 20th. Please click here to volunteer!
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 while making a positive impact on our school. We have many volunteer roles available for the 2025-26 school year. CLICK HERE to fill out an interest form!
Helpful Links
Check out our new Website!
Rockford Booster Bucks
Lakes Recycling Initiatives
NexTrex Plastic Recycling
Our goal is to collect 1,000 pounds this school year so we can earn a new bench for our playground!
- Produce bags, grocery bags, ice bags, cereal box liners, bread bags, bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags - Plastics that can stretch.
- We've collected over 380 pounds of plastic so far this year!
Papergator Recycling
Papergator use can continue throughout the summer! The green dumpster is located in the side parking lot. Papergator can accept office/school papers, newspapers, junk mail, magazines, shredded paper, and cereal boxes (paperboard that can be torn), etc. Please note, wrapping paper (without sparkles) can be donated to Papergator for all your Holiday party cleanup!
Pop Can Tabs
Pop can tabs are collected in the office and sent to the Ronald McDonald House. Please bring to Mrs. Low in the office.
Upcoming Dates
- 2/4 : Early Release at 1:30 pm
- 2/5 : Lakes PTO Meeting at 7 pm
- 2/13 - 2/16 : No School: Mid-Winter Break
- 2/17 : School resumes
- 2/20 : Popcorn Day
- 2/24 : Family/Teacher Conferences
- 2/25 : Early Release at 1:30 pm
- 2/26 : Family/Teacher Conferences
- 3/11 : Early Release at 1:30 pm
- 3/25 : Early Release at 1:30 pm
- 4/2 - 4/10: Spring Break
- 4/13 : School resumes
Important Links
After the Bell - Rockford Community Services Registrations
North Kent Connect December Resources
School Assistance Program Information
School Lunch Offerings or the Nutrislice App on your mobile phone
