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
Families,
I cannot believe we are wrapping up our 3rd week of school. I am proud of our start and excited for what our year will bring. Thank you for your support and commitment to our Lakes Elementary community. This week, students will be wrapping up NWEA testing. We will soon be sending family communication about fall testing, as well as Parent Reports for our now 4th and 5th-grade students who took M-STEP in the spring. Be on the lookout next week for those reports.
Families dropping off and picking up, thank you for supporting our Driveline practices in the morning and after school. Our job is to keep your kids safe, and your help is vital to doing this. In the morning, please pull as far forward as you can before releasing your students. Also, along the playground fence area, please pull close to the sidewalk when releasing students. Thank you for your help.
Our teachers and staff continue to do a fantastic job supporting the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support- Reading here at Lakes. This year, we are expanding the umbrella of support for MTSS-Behavior. Part of our work is a new RAMS model. As much as we want our students to be safe, respectful, and responsible, we are aligning ourselves with a new acronym: RAMS. This year, our students will focus on being Respectful, Accountable, Motivated, and Safe. Through MTSS- Behavior, we will continue to focus on monthly character traits. This month’s character trait is Kindness. We are using this to help share what kindness is with our students. Kindness means being friendly, generous, and considerate toward others. Children show kindness when they share with a friend, offer a smile, or help someone in need. Small acts of kindness can make a big difference, teaching kids that their words and actions have the power to brighten someone’s day.
Thank you for your partnership.
Matt Zokoe
Principal
Attendance Reminders
To report absences, appointments, or changes in transportation, please email the student's teacher and both administrative assistants -or- call the attendance line at 616-863-6340, 24 hours a day.
Evie Campbell - ECampbell@rockfordschools.org
Kathy Low - KLow@rockfordschools.org
- If your student has a morning appointment, please indicate whether your student will be having school lunch so the order can be placed accordingly.
- If your student will be leaving school early, please let us know the time and include if your student will be returning. Due to the arrival of buses and traffic, we ask that early pickups are completed by 3:10 pm. Driveline will begin at 3:30pm.
- If your student will be absent due to illness, please include details of the symptoms that they are experiencing in your message.
- If your student attends BAC, please make sure to let the school and BAC know if after-school plans change.
Driveline Reminders
- Parents or other family members should remain in their vehicles at all times for student safety and to keep traffic flowing smoothly.
- Please leave furry friends at home or make sure they are secured in the vehicle.
Morning Dropoff
- Please form one line along the sidewalk. Please pull all the way forward to the front of the line - following the directions of our paraprofessionals.
- Students should exit from the passenger side of the vehicle only. Students should only exit the vehicle when their car is parked along the sidewalk.
- Please do not pass any other vehicles. Please be patient and wait for the car ahead of you to clear the drop off.
After School Pickup
- Please keep one lane until you reach the half-circle portion of the driveline so vehicles can enter and exit the parking lot safely. Some buses only pick up a few students and will promptly leave. Please keep the space in front of the bus driveway clear for exiting buses.
- Please display your number tag where it is easy to see. Please make sure to have your pick up tag with you.
- When between the cones, please follow the directions of our paraprofessional team. Please turn off your vehicle and pay attention. Students will cross the road to all vehicles in the area at the same time. Please watch for our staff to walk by. Please give them a thumbs up when you have all of your students in your vehicle. If you are still missing a student, please let them know so we can help your student find your vehicle. Once all students are in their cars, the cones will be moved, and vehicles can exit from the left side first.
Lakes PTO
First PTO Meeting: Thank You!
Thank you to those who joined us last night at our first PTO meeting, it was energizing to see so many new and returning parents attend the meeting! Please watch for your follow-up email today in terms of next steps. If you were unable to attend and want to learn more about volunteer and leadership opportunities, click here for an overview. If you are interested in volunteering, click here to complete our interest form or shoot us an email and we will be in contact with you. No prior experience or commitment needed to attend; everyone is welcome!
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:
$61 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.
2025-26 Activity Pass Amounts by Grade
Kindergarten ($82) - 1st ($67) - 2nd ($77) - 3rd ($98) - 4th ($133) - 5th ($127)
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.
More information on the Activity Pass here.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, September 25th Donuts with Grown-ups! Enjoy donuts and cider with Lakes families, friends and staff on the school playground! This is a simple way to connect with other parents at the beginning of the school year, and a free event covered by your student’s Activity Pass.
Tuesday, September 30th Deadline to pay Activity Pass for 2025-26 school year
Monday, October 20th thru Sunday, November 9th Lakes Spirit Wear Sale. Purchase sweet gear to show your school spirit and support! More details to come.
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 a variety of elected, leadership, and general volunteer roles available for the 2025-26 school year. Click Here to fill out an interest form!
Helpful Links
Rockford Booster Bucks
PTO Linktree
PTO Email
Den Competition Begins
Our den competition pairs groups of classrooms together with challenges to earn points. Dens have friendly competition to earn rewards! Rewards include shout-outs on the announcements, Den voted spirit days, extra recess with their den, and more, all the way up to a staff dunk tank opportunity for students. Dens are a lot of fun, but also pair with our MTSS umbrellas of support.
Each Den is represented by a colored banner. Dens will be encouraged to wear their Den Color to our awards assembly on our next Early Release Day - September 24th. We can't wait to see which banner will be raised in the lead!
Den #1 - Wear Orange (MacKenzie, Doenges, Schirmann)
Den #2 - Wear Turquoise (Farran, Sedlock, Post)
Den #3 - Wear Yellow (Wallis, Kraft, Baird)
Den #4 - Wear Teal (Onak, Ejups, DeBoer)
Den #5 - Wear Purple (Glass/Zawacki, Gittus, Fierge)
Den #6 - Wear Green (Forrester, Throop, Nelson)
Upcoming Dates
- 9/24 : Early Release with Dismissal at 1:30pm - Wear your Den color!
- 9/25 : Donuts with Grownups at Lakes
- 9/29 : Picture Re-take Day
- 9/30 : Deadline to pay your Lakes Activity Pass!
Important Links
After the Bell - Rockford Community Services Registrations
School Lunch Offerings : You can also download the NutriSlice App
