Lakes Newsletter

Lakes Elementary - February 12th, 2026

Principal Matt Zokoe

Matt Zokoe - Principal
mzokoe@rockfordschools.org

Address: 6849 Young Avenue, Rockford, MI 49341
Website: www.rockfordschools.org

Phone: (616) 863-6340

Family Action Items

Book Fair is coming! Read below in the newsletter how to create a digital wallet.
Check backpacks for NWEA Reports - sent home today!
Look for digital report cards on Monday!
Order a yearbook!
PTO Family Pizza Nights During Conferences
Sign up for Family Conferences

From The Desk of Mr. Zokoe

Lakes Families,

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, resolve conflicts in a caring manner, and become thoughtful problem solvers. We will continue to focus on empathy through our RAMS model every day at Lakes.

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

Picture of a smiling Dad kneeling next to his student. Both have brown hair and are wearing Rockford Ram sweatshirts. — Thank you to Mr. Posthumus for joining us this week as Watch Dog.

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 11:00 am -or- 1 pm until 3:45 pm.

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!

Imagine of Pig the Pug on a teal background that says Save The Date for our Book Fair! #ScholasticBookFairs — Book Fair will be February 23 - 27

Students can purchase books during their class shopping period. Students can pay with an eWallet or cash! For more information or to set up an eWallet, please visit: Lakes' Book Fair website

Conferences

We are looking forward to the spring conferences on Tuesday, February 24, and Thursday, February 26, 2026. We will be offering spring conferences in-person on both nights. If you need to schedule a phone or virtual conference, we ask that you reach out directly to your child’s teacher.

Conference Sign Up Link

Follow the steps below for scheduling your SPRING conferences!

Please click on the link above 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.

Image contains a purple background with a cartoon bee holding a trophy and featuring two smiling students - one with short brown hair and one with long blond hair. It reads Congratulations to the winners of the 5th and 4th grade spelling bees! Viktor S and Paige K.

Image of a teal background with gold starts that says Gratitude. K students - Juniper C, Ayla D, Sage H, Leia V, Frankie J, and Mira E. 1st Grade Paxton S, Kassi C, Graham H, Wyatt D, and Kaylie B. 2nd with Jacob S, Nicolas K, Ian B, Presley C, Charlotte N, Eloisa W, Johnnie L, Norah L. 3rd Charlie N, Elijah B, Kiannah W, Olivia W, Michael A, Amelia W, Isaiah K, Magnus C, Keira L. 4th Grade Aston S, Easton N, Baylee G, Emmitt S, Sophia W, Cooper R. 5th Grade Brennan F, Oliver L, Owen C, Zoe C, Grayson L, and Emma G.

Coming Soon

Mileage Club 2026!

Yearbook Sales are now open!

Yearbook are now available to be pre-ordered! Make your purchase today.

Lakes Yearbook ID is 14560826

White background with with an image of an open book and it says Order Your Yearbook. Yearbook is written in brightly colored letters.

Photo of 10 students each holding a hand drawn illustration designed for the yearbook cover. — Presenting the Yearbook Cover Contest Winners!

REF Rockford Education Foundation on a black and gold background that says Thursday, March 5, 2026. 6:00pmm at the Gilmore 5179 West River Dr. — The Rockford Education Foundation invites you to The Taste on March 5, 2026, at 6:00 pm at The Gilmore. This is REF's annual signature event, serving up amazing support for education through great food, drinks, and community partnerships. The Taste hosts many local restaurants and businesses. The sponsor deadline for marketing materials is January 10, 2026. Click the image to get tickets!

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

Nominate a Teacher!

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 student's 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.digitalsignup.com until noon on April 15th, 2026.

Lakes PTO

Feb 5th PTO Meeting Recap

Thank you to everyone who attended our PTO meeting on Thursday, February 5th. You can view the meeting minutes HERE. We are excited about upcoming events including those integrated into March is Reading Month, as well as Silent Auction and Lakes-a-palooza. Watch for updates in the coming weeks. Our next public meeting will be on Thursday, May 7th at 7pm. We will be planning and reviewing the 2026-27 budget.

Lakes Family Pizza Nights During Parent-Teacher Conferences

White background with multicolor spots, with a 'dabbing' piece of pizza. It says Family Pizza Nights Feb 24 and Feb 26 during Parent Teacher Conferences

On February 24th and 26th, stop by the Lakes gymnasium for a delicious slice of pizza or grab a whole box to-go. Lakes PTO will be offering this meal service to our busy Lakes families during parent-teacher conference hours.

$15 whole pie - $2 per slice - $1 pop or water

Tableware and seating provided, or take it to-go. All proceeds benefit the Lakes PTO activity pass and scholarship fund.

Sign up to Volunteer for Popcorn Day on Friday, Feb 20th

We have ten (10) slots available for parents to pop, bag and distribute the delicious goods to eager students that morning. If you have younger children, we welcome you to bring them along to play in the gym while we work. Sign up HERE.

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!

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!
Follow the PTO on Facebook or Instagram
PTO Linktree and Email
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!