Dear Glen Lake Middle School Families,
Welcome to another exciting school year at Glen Lake Middle School! We hope you've had a wonderful summer, and we can't wait to welcome our students back for a year filled with learning, growth, friendships, and fun.
We invite all middle school families to join us for our Back-to-School Open House on:
📅 Wednesday, August 26, 🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
During Open House, you'll have the opportunity to:
🏫 Visit classrooms and meet teachers
🌭 Enjoy a free hot dog dinner
👋 Connect with our staff
🔑 Pick up locker assignments and practice opening lockers (no locks needed)
🚌 Learn transportation information
🏀 Tour the locker rooms and become familiar with daily routines
Our staff will also be available to answer questions and help ensure everyone feels prepared and excited for the first day of school.
School begins on Monday, August 31, with a half day. Rather than jumping immediately into our regular routine, we dedicate the first four days of school to what we call The First Four.
These four days are intentionally designed to help students reconnect with friends, build relationships with teachers, learn expectations and routines, explore opportunities, and develop the confidence they need for a successful school year. Through engaging classroom lessons, school-wide rotations, team-building activities, and advisory experiences, students will discover what it means to be part of the Glen Lake Middle School community.
This year's theme is Unlock Your Potential as a Laker!
Throughout the week, students will "unlock" the six characteristics that define our school community:
💜 L – Loyal
❤️ A – Accepting
🧡 K – Kind
💛 E – Empowered
💚 R – Respectful
💙 S – Successful
Each day, students will participate in activities that reinforce these values while learning school expectations, practicing organization, building friendships, exploring clubs and opportunities, and discovering the many supports available to help them thrive. As they complete activities, they'll collect reminders of each LAKERS characteristic, celebrating their journey into another successful school year.
To help students stay organized, Glen Lake Middle School provides binders, pencil cases, and lockers for each student. We ask that students bring:
🎒 Backpack
💧 Refillable water bottle (labeled with their name)
✏️ Pencils
👟 Physical Education clothes, gym shoes, and deodorant
If students choose to personalize the inside of their lockers, magnets are welcome; however, stickers are not permitted.
At Glen Lake Middle School, we believe every student deserves to feel connected, supported, and inspired from the very first day. Our hope is that every child leaves The First Four feeling confident, prepared, and excited about the year ahead.
Thank you for partnering with us as we begin another incredible school year. We look forward to seeing you at Open House and welcoming our Lakers back to school!
Here's to a fantastic year!
We are so excited to welcome our newest Lakers to Glen Lake Middle School! Starting middle school is a big adventure, and we can't wait to partner with you as your child begins this exciting new chapter.
Join us for our Back-to-School Open House!
Wednesday, August 26
6:00–8:00 PM
This is a great opportunity for students and families to:
Enjoy a complimentary hot dog dinner.
Meet teachers and staff.
Visit classrooms.
Pick up bus routes and locker assignments.
Tour the locker rooms.
Get answers to your questions before the first day of school.
6th Grade Orientation – 6:15 PM (Auditeria)
We'll share everything students and families need to know to start the year with confidence, including daily routines, expectations, and tips for a successful transition to middle school.
When school begins on August 31, our "First Four Days" are dedicated to helping students get comfortable with middle school life. We'll practice opening lockers, changing classes, staying organized, and learning daily routines so everyone feels confident and ready to learn.
To make back-to-school shopping a little easier, Glen Lake will provide all 6th graders with the binders and pencil cases needed for their core classes. Students only need to bring:
* Backpack
* Water bottle
* Pencils
* Change of clothes , tennis shoes, and deodorant for Physical Education
We know that starting middle school can bring a few butterflies, but our staff is committed to making every student feel welcomed, supported, and connected from day one.
We're looking forward to an incredible year of learning, growth, and new adventures. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and we'll see you on August 26!
Ms. R
Middle School Principal
Graduation will be held Sunday, May 31, at 2:30 p.m. in the big gym at Glen Lake School.
No tickets are necessary; all are welcome. Floor seating is first come, first served.
A special thank you goes to our talented music director, Mr. Rob Stow, whose leadership and encouragement continue to inspire our students to shine both on and off the stage. We are also incredibly grateful for the beautiful accompaniment provided by Mrs. Case, whose piano performance added depth and elegance to the evening. It was truly a night to remember and a wonderful reflection of the creativity and talent within our Glen Lake music program.
Tommy’s First Mates is one of Michigan’s first student-led mental health teams, dedicated to promoting mental wellness, supporting peers, and building a stronger, more connected community for students and families.
A special thank you to Band Director Elaina Abarrak for her leadership and commitment to our students, and to everyone who helped support the concert behind the scenes.
We are also grateful to the many parents and families who joined us to enjoy the performance—your support means so much. What a wonderful evening celebrating our talented musicians! 🎶
Join us for an unforgettable evening of music featuring songs by Christina Perri, Fiona Apple, The Outsiders, Rihanna, Billie Eilish, John Lennon, The Greatest Showman, Phillip Phillips, and many more!
📅 Wednesday, May 20
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Glen Lake Community Schools Auditeria
🎟️ This event is FREE and open to the public!
Come support our talented students and enjoy a night full of incredible performances. We hope to see you there!
The Glen Lake Band proudly presents Spring Concert Celebration, featuring performances by the talented 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands, Jazz Band, and High School Band.
📅 Tonight – May 13th
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Glen Lake Community Schools Auditorium
Come support our student musicians and enjoy a fantastic night of live music. We hope to see you there!
Glen Lake Community Schools is currently seeking reliable and dedicated teacher and paraprofessional substitutes to support our students and staff.
If you’re passionate about education and looking for a flexible opportunity to make a difference, we encourage you to apply!
How to Get Started:
Visit willsub.com or go directly to signup.willsub.com to register and become eligible for substitute positions.
Join our team and help support the success of Glen Lake students!
It has been a wonderful few days at the Leelanau Outdoor Center for all of our 6th grade students. The smiles, laughter, new friendships, and willingness to try new things have truly stood out. Students embraced outdoor activities and created lasting memories along the way.
LOC - Leelanau Outdoor Center serves as a dynamic partner with Glen Lake and other schools across the state, reinforcing the importance of consideration for others, teamwork, and doing one’s best. From staying in rustic cabins overlooking Lake Michigan, to enjoying meals in the Great House, students experienced a meaningful blend of character education and hands-on science.
Activities included the ropes course, team building, climbing wall, canoeing, dune ecology, ziplining, and much more—each providing opportunities for growth, confidence, and connection.
We are so proud of our students and all they accomplished during this trip! And we were thrilled to hear all the happiness and see all their smiles when they returned to school after 3 days away at camp including nights!
Save The Date! Glen Lake Schools Foundation Annual Event - Sail Away Soiree. Thursday, August 20, 2026, 5:30-8:30pm at the Glen Lake Yacht Club. 6617 S Sunset Drive, Glen Arbor, Michigan. The evening includes a silent and live auction, live music, and food & drinks, all while supporting excellence in Glen Lake Schools. Come together. Make a difference. Chart a bright future.
From creative Star Wars decorations along the lunch line to a themed meal that was truly out of this galaxy, they made lunchtime extra fun for our students.
May the 4th be with you… and thank you to our amazing food service crew for bringing the force to Glen Lake! 💫
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
7:00 PM
GLCS Auditorium
Come support our musicians and enjoy a night of inspiring performances!
Each year, our 8th grade students explore the rich history of Leelanau County through hands-on learning experiences. From welcoming community guests into the classroom to working alongside caretakers from four historical locations, students become “history detectives” as they research individuals connected to Glen Arbor Township Cemetery, Bland Cemetery, Maple Grove Cemetery, and the Poor Farm Barn.
On Friday, students spent the day visiting all three cemeteries, along with the Poor Farm Barn, Empire Museum, and the National Park Visitors’ Center. Following these visits, students are now creating chronological biographies of individuals (or families) connected to these sites. Using resources such as census records, family history websites, and archival documents, students are uncovering and preserving stories—many of which have little recorded history.
We also made a “pit stop” to enjoy lunch at Cherry Republic—a highlight for many of our students!
This meaningful project not only strengthens students’ research and writing skills, but also serves as a contribution to the Leelanau community by helping document and honor its past. Selected student work may be published, archived, or made available for future researchers.
We are proud of our students for helping preserve the history of our community while gaining a deeper appreciation for the people who shaped it. A special thank you to Melissa Okerlund and Kira Vasquez for organizing such an incredible experience for our students!
Join us Thursday, April 30 11:30am - 4:30pm at Glen Lake High School for a community blood drive. Appointments preferred but walk-ins welcome, as schedule allows. Schedule your appointment today by calling 866-642-5663, visiting versiti.org/mi or scanning the QR code on the flyer.
