Lakes Newsletter
Matt Zokoe - Principal
mzokoe@rockfordschools.org
Address: 6849 Young Avenue, Rockford, MI 49341
Website: www.rockfordschools.org
Phone: (616) 863-6340
Family Action Items
Information on these items can be found in the newsletter.
- 5th Grade Parents - turn in your student's pictures.
- Enroll your DK/K student for next year.
- H2H donations / Book Bracket Voting this week - breakfast bars.
- Kids Have Rights Presentations on 3/31.
- KNIGHTLY reading slips (green) due to your teachers every Monday!
- March 25th - Early Release at 1:30 and Den Assembly Day (wear your den colors)
- Order a yearbook! Sales end soon and extras are NOT ordered in the office.
- Spirit Week for Reading Month: 3/16 - 3/20!
From The Desk of Mr. Zokoe
Lakes Families,
This week brought warm days and snow, a reminder of Michigan's changing weather. Thank you for helping your student be prepared for anything when heading out for recess.
Spring State testing will begin after Spring Break for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students. Below, you will find our letter for testing dates for M-STEP. Please let the office or your student’s teacher know if there is an absence during this testing window. This allows staff to help with any rescheduling of testing if needed.
If you have stopped by the office or your reader has visited a castle in the library or a dragon lair on the gym stage, we are working to bring the theme of the Magical Kingdom of Reading to life. Thank you for helping at home with the ‘knightly’ reading log and bingo board to help students keep track of their reading minutes. Students have added their castle banners to their lockers and are helping to vote for their favorite books in our March Reading Madness book bracket. Next week, Lakes will have spirit week at school as part of our reading month. See the flier below for our spirit week dress-up days. Also, please see the Hand2Hand flier that helps explain our partnership and how our Lakes community can help others with a fun March book bracket and voting here at school.
Thank you for your continued partnership,
Matt Zokoe
The Magical Kingdom of Reading
March also brings Reading Month to Lakes. This year’s theme is The Magical Kingdom of Reading. We are looking forward to many reading activities here at school that will help us continue to immerse ourselves in reading, as well as support our community partners. A ‘knightly’ reading log and bingo board will be coming home to help students keep track of their reading minutes. Students will have the opportunity to earn locker castle banners and prizes by turning in their reading slips or bingo boards. We will have a spirit week to help dress up here at school. Please see the Hand2Hand flier that helps explain our partnership and how our Lakes community can help others with a fun March Reading Madness book bracket and student voting here at school.
Week 1 Voting : Microwave Popcorn
Week 2 Voting : Breakfast Bars!
Initiative and Den Assembly
Our March character trait focus is initiative. Initiative is doing something without being asked because it needs to be done. Students show initiative when they clean up after themselves, help a friend, or begin homework on their own. Encouraging initiative builds independence, responsibility, and confidence in their ability to take action. We will continue to focus on initiative through our RAMS model every day at Lakes. We have our DEN assembly on Wednesday, March 25, highlighting initiative. Please dress in your DEN colors for our assembly.
DK/K Enrollment is open!
All students must be screened for DK and K. Screening spots are filling quickly for our Spring Session. Please begin your applications soon so you can be included in this first round!
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
Thank you to Mr. Coppedge for joining us as Watch D.O.G. this week! We appreciate you.
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 11:00 am or 1:00 pm until 3:45 pm.
Mileage Club
- A walking, jogging, and/or running club with 314 Lakes Participants!
- A variety of distance levels can be achieved: 5K, 10K, 20K, 1/2M, 25K, 30K, M, GOLD.
- Each participant gets a personalized QR code to scan after each lap to keep track of distance.
- 3 laps on the designated route = 1 mile.
- Students will have locker tags to track their accomplishments!
Mileage Club will begin when we return from Spring Break!! We can not run Mileage Club without our amazing, lunchtime volunteers. Thank you for supporting our students!
Yearbook Sales are now open!
Lakes Yearbook ID is 14560826. Sales close on April 17th. No extra copies are ordered for re-sale.
5th Grade Parents
For our 5th grade celebration this year, we will include a slideshow. Please email 2 photos of your child to stephaniewood@guildmortgage.net to be included in the slideshow at the celebration. Please attach the photos as JPEGs and include one photo from the earlier years (kindergarten time frame) 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!
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
Attire Reminders
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 student's clothing and shoes.
Students should also have coats with them for the weather fluctuations. Please make sure your student has proper attire to be in varying Michigan weather.
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 4-10 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 Digital Sign Up Link until noon on April 15th, 2026.
Lakes PTO
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 help 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!
3rd Annual Tshirt Design Contest, Sponsored by the Lakes PTO
The 3rd Annual Tshirt Design Contest is coming up soon! We are looking for an amazing design that embodies 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.
Students will have the opportunity to participate during Art specials, or design and submit an entry on their own. Printed copies of the contest rules and submission template will come home following Spring bBreak. Students will have until May 6, 2026 to submit their design. Then, students will vote on the top submissions by grade with the grand prize winner announced the week of May 18th. Watch for more information soon!
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
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.
- For the current quarter, we have collected over 201 pounds! Can you help us to make it there?
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
- 3/16: Read to a Stuffy day!
- 3/17: Read in your Den Colors day!
- 3/18: Read with a hat day!
- 3/19: Read with a flashlight day!
- 3/20: Read with fun socks day!
- 3/25: Early Release at 1:30 pm with Den Assembly! Wear your Den Colors.
- 3/26: Third Grade Field Trip
- 3/31: Kids Have Rights Presentations in Kindergarten - 4th grade.
- 4/2 - 4/10: Spring Break
- 4/13: School Resumes
- 4/22: Early Release at 1:30 pm
- 5/6: Early Release at 1:30 pm
- 5/19: Rockford Family Night at the Whitecaps
Important Links
After the Bell - Rockford Community Services Registrations
North Kent Connect February Resources
School Assistance Program Information
School Lunch Offerings or the Nutrislice App on your mobile phone
