Lakeside Elementary
Mr. Craig Weigel • Principal
2325 Hall Street SE • Grand Rapids, MI • 49506
(616) 235-7553
August 15, 2014
Dear Lakeside Families,
Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year! It is an honor to be able to write to you today as the new Principal
of Lakeside Elementary. I have heard so many wonderful things about the students, staff, and parents of the
Lakeside community, not to mention all of the rich traditions that make Lakeside such an excellent school.
For the past four years I have had the privilege of serving as the Assistant Principal at East Grand Rapids
High School. Working with the young people at our high school has been a rewarding experience and I am
excited about building positive relationships with the students of Lakeside.
You are welcome to join the Lakeside staff and students for our back to school assembly followed by a PTO
coffee reception in the Learning Commons. The assembly will start at 8:25a.m. and is located in the Gym.
Please note that the first day of school is a half day for students with a dismissal time of 11:30 a.m. Teachers
will use the afternoon to engage in professional development with other educators from across our district.
First Day Schedule: Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Young 5’s AM
8:20 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
Young 5’s PM
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Kindergarten – Fifth Grade
8:20 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
*Students may enter the building at 8:15 a.m.
The entire Lakeside staff is eagerly anticipating the arrival of “our lions,” and looking forward to another
excellent year of discovery and learning. Mr. Josh and our custodial staff have been hard at work to create a
clean and safe learning environment for all of our students. Additionally, Lakeside teachers have once again
embraced summer learning opportunities to further their growth as teachers in order to provide our students
with the very best education possible.
Each year brings some staffing changes, and I am pleased to introduce Miss Erin Staley as our new third
grade teacher. The process for identifying new teaching staff is rigorous and exhaustive and involves all
elementary administrators, multiple committees of teachers and parent representatives, and culminates with a
teaching interview with a group of students. I have great confidence in the selection of our newest Lakeside
educator. Miss Staley comes to us with extensive experience and a passion for teaching and learning. Also,
here is the most current line-up of our Lakeside teachers for the 2014-2015 School Year:
Young Fives AM & PM: Mrs. Jen Harmens
Kindergarten: Miss Jen Metz, Mrs. Katie McIntosh, and Miss Shannon Mitchell
First Grade: Mrs. Michelle Kirk, Mr. Kirk Reifinger, and Mrs. Karen Sullivan
Second Grade: Mrs. Michelle Day, Miss Whitney Mudge, and Mrs. Andrea Severns
Third Grade: Mr. Scott Mitton, Miss Erin Staley, and Mr. Mark Pullen
Fourth Grade: Ms. Nancy McSkimming, Mrs. Gerri Johnson, and Mrs. Kaitlin Merpi
Fifth Grade: Mrs. Kaelynn Benham, Mrs. Kristen Lecours, and Mr. Brett Scheidel
Resource Room: Mrs. Holly Brownley
Reading Specialist: Mrs. Susan Stearns
Art: Mrs. Jena Lacks, Mrs. Peri denDulk, and Mrs. Breanna Wagenmaker
Music: Mr. Michael Woodward, Mrs. Anne Schmieder, and Mrs. Breanna Wagenmaker
PE: Mr. Charles DeWildt, Mr. Matthew Putnam, and Mrs. Breanna Wagenmaker
The bond passage this past May has allowed for the installation of 10 iPads in each Kindergarten through 2 nd
grade classroom and grades 3-5 will have one-to-one access to Chrome books through technology carts
assigned to each classroom. These technology tools will remain at school and will not travel back-and-forth
to home as with the secondary model. All teachers will continue to receive professional development on
how to effectively integrate technology into their classroom, similar to what our three current one-to-one
teachers have participated in over the last five years. From a bricks and mortar perspective, bond dollars will
be at work around Spring Break 2015 to include a newly designed visitor entry and main office. Final design
work on this important safety and security upgrade is underway and will be shared upon its completion.
Specific measures will be taken to ensure student safety during this construction and to limit its impact on
instruction.
New this year, the Confidential Information Form is available electronically or on paper. It can be completed
and turned in to your child’s teacher or by visiting www.egrps.org/confidential. Complete this form only if
you DO NOT WANT student photos and directory information such as phone number, home address, and
parent email addresses used in district publications. Parent email addresses will be included in building and
district directories this year, this form represents an opportunity for you to keep family email and other
directory information confidential. The ability to opt out of student photograph use and directory information
sharing by the district is in keeping with Board of Education Policy #8940.
Each new school year provides wonderful opportunities for our students to participate in an engaging
curriculum and meaningful educational experiences. It is important to keep in mind that our students are
learning and discovering new ideas and concepts all of the time and to make each day count. Our focus at
Lakeside is to meet every student where they are, to encourage and support them in their growth, and to
challenge them in achieving their very best. I am confident that, with your support and active participation in
your child’s education, this year will be one to remember.
Lakeside Elementary, Where Kindness Counts!
Sincerely,
Craig Weigel
Principal
2915 Hall Street SE  Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506
Telephone 616.235.3535  Fax 616.235.3256  www.egrps.org