Matt Zokoe - Principal
mzokoe@rockfordschools.org
Address: 6849 Young Avenue, Rockford, MI 49341
Website: www.rockfordschools.org
Phone: (616) 863-6340
From The Desk of Mr. Zokoe
Lakes Families,
We have reached the last week of school. I cannot believe the 2025-26 school year is coming to a close. Hard work, determination, and grit are all words that can define our year. Our Lakes students can be proud of the effort they put forth and the growth they have achieved this school year.
This year, we focused on a new RAMS model for behavior. Students demonstrated respect, developed their accountability, displayed motivation, and showed how to be safe. Each month, we focused on a character trait that included kindness, respect, integrity, generosity, gratitude, empathy, initiative, perseverance, and courage. It is my hope that we can continue to live out these traits and the RAMS model this summer and be ready to apply this again next school year.
As we finish the last week of school, we will celebrate our 5th graders as they finish elementary school and embark on their next adventure at the middle school. We will have an opportunity to see the talents of our 3rd - 5th-grade students at the talent show. We will meet at the flagpole one last time to say the Pledge of Allegiance and lower the flag together. We will have one final wake-up before we can start to think about summer vacation! We will also depart the building one last time for the 2025-26 school year.
Thank you for a great year and I hope you enjoy all our ‘lasts of the year’ this week! Thank you for your continued partnership,
Matt Zokoe
Off The Bat of Mrs. McClure
Wow! Lakes Mileage Club had it's most impressive year ever. We saw a lot of students setting some big goals and hitting some huge milestones!
Congratulations to Teegan C and Thomas A for completing 100 miles in our 6 weeks of Mileage Club.
We are also proud to announce our group of dedicated runners who continued working after the 'official' end of Mileage Club to reach their personal goals. This great group (along with Teegan and Thomas) supported each other, continuing to log miles after each reached their own 100-mile mark. Congratulations to Camden C, Landon M, Aaron T, Easton N, and Beckham Y.
Lakes Elementary logged over 5,000 miles this year.
Keep the fun runs happening by joining the Kids for Kids Start of Summer Run!
6 Week Stats*
*NEW BOYS' RECORD : TEEGAN 107.34 MILES
*NEW GIRLS' RECORD : HARPER C. 82.67
Shout out to the following participants for being the top movers for their grade level this season:
5th boy/girl: Hugh- 17.33/ Olive- 46.67
4th boy/girl: Teegan- 107.34/ Harper C.-82.67
3rd boy/girl: Landon-92.34/ Harper P.-61.33
2nd boy/girl: Beckham & Everett- 84.00/ Adelyn- 54.67
1st boy/girl: Graham 9.00/ Madelyn 36.00
K boy/girl: Finley 23.33/ Berklee- 20.00
*Stats at the end of Week 6 - official record keeping.*
Watch D.O.G.S.
We have a wonderful final two weeks of this school year with our Watch D.O.G.S. Thank you to everyone who joined us this year. The staff and students love to have you at Lakes.
Rockford Book Bus
The Rockford Book Bus is gearing up for another summer of reading adventures.
- On June 6, you can find the bus in the Start of Summer parade.
- On June 13, the Book Bus will be welcoming readers at the Rockford Farmer's Market.
- On June 15, the Book Bus officially starts its travels around the Rockford community, visiting schools, neighborhoods, and daycares.
You will want to have your calendars handy so that you can embrace each week's engaging theme and share the joy of reading with others in our community.
Lakes PTO
Thank you from your Lakes PTO Board
A huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who took time to be part of our PTO team this year- whether that was through your activity pass payment, attending a meeting, chairing or volunteering for an event, or making other donations. Your involvement is what makes it work, and we are SO grateful for your support in our efforts to enhance the elementary school experience for students and families.
If you are interested in becoming involved with the PTO next year, we would LOVE to have you. We have Board and Volunteer positions available; no previous experience needed.
And the Winner is… T-shirt Design Contest Announcement!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Lakes PTO t-shirt design contest! We were SO impressed with every design submitted and the unique way each student approached what school spirit meant to them.
During school the last two weeks, the student body voted and we determined the winner. First, a big congratulations to our four runner-up finalists: Claire Andrews, Camellia Utter, Eloise Kuriata and Brinleigh Vandermolen.
And now, we are thrilled to announce that second grader INDIANA FRANKLIN was selected as this year's contest winner by her student peers. We are so excited to see this design brought to life and featured across the school spirit t-shirts for next school year.
Thank you again to everyone who took time to participate, and a super special shout-out to Mrs. Poel for her partnership on this year's contest during art specials!
Hip Hip Hooray for Lakes-a-Palooza
That’s a wrap on Lakes-a-Palooza 2026! We could not have asked for a more beautiful evening to bring Lakes families together for lots of food, fun and friends! We are so grateful to the LaP committee for organizing this event over the past several months, as well as the many volunteers, businesses and other groups (such as the Cannon Township Fire Department) for helping make this event a success!
Additionally, a special shout-out to our families who donated to the CARES Closet donation drive. We received several bags and boxes of clothes that will be well-utilized next school year.
We’d love to hear from you!
Click HERE to fill out a short, anonymous feedback survey about Lakes-a-Palooza for our planning purposes next year.
Click HERE if you are interested in volunteering for Lakes-a-Palooza or CARES Closet next year.
Silent Auction Items Available for Pick-up
Thank you to our families who participated in the annual Silent Auction & Online Fundraiser. We raised over $3,000 to support PTO events and activities at Lakes.
If you won a silent auction item, it is now available for pick-up in the school entryway. Email us if you have any questions!
THANK YOU to these generous people and businesses who graciously donated items for the auction:
Accidental Art · Alan Riehl · Altitude Trampoline Park · Bier Art Studio · Binder Park Zoo · Brower’s Flowers · Cannon Township Fire Dept · Circle Theatre · Detroit Tigers · Frederik Meijer Gardens · Grand Rapids Civic Theatre · Great Lakes Glow Golf · Inspired Pines Creative Photography · John Ball Zoo · Lakes Teachers & Staff · MVP Sports Club · Perrin Brewing · Pinball Land · Pizzeria Grande · The Bauble Patch · Urban Air Adventure Park
Thank you Pop Stars for a Pop-tastic End to the Year!
Thank you to parents (and grandparents!) who joined us last week on Tuesday to bag and distribute goodies during our last Popcorn Day of the year! And every other pop star who signed up to help throughout the year - you butter believe we are so grateful for your time!
We were also so thrilled to welcome one the winners of the Silent Auction student popcorn volunteer opportunity. Jude and his friend Rowan were able to join Jude's grandparents for a fun morning popping up delicious snacks for their classmates.
PS. Interested in signing up for a Popcorn Day next year? Watch our website starting in August for all the 2026-27 popcorn dates OR fill out an interest form HERE and we’ll email you as soon as we ‘pop’ them up on our website!
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. Click HERE to fill out an interest form.
Helpful Links
Lakes Recycling Initiatives
NexTrex Plastic Recycling
The program has been revamped and our goal is now to collect 250lbs of plastic EACH quarter.
- Produce bags, grocery bags, ice bags, cereal box liners, bread bags, bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags - Plastics that can stretch.
- BIG NEWS! We have reached our goal and collected over 250lbs. We'll start collecting another 250lbs for our next goal!
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
- 6/2: 4th Grade Market Day
- 6/3: 5th Grade + Kindergarten Celebrations
- 6/4: Talent Show + Half Day
- 6/5: Last Day of School Flag Lowering, Half Day, Report Cards sent home
- 8/24: First Day of the 2026/2027 School Year
Important Links
After the Bell - Rockford Community Services Registrations
North Kent Connect June Resources
School Assistance Program Information
School Lunch Offerings or the Nutrislice App on your mobile phone
