We Are Open Today! (Except for W.I.S.D.)

Many area schools are closed today due to the extremely cold conditions. Districts don't want children waiting for the bus or walking to school in these temps. At Gretchen's House, since all our kids are driven to school, we do not have the same concern. Therefore, we will open today at our regular time, with the exception of GH-W.I.S.D., which is a public school facility and beyond our control.

Parents who need care for their school-aged children should call their centers to inquire whether there is space before bringing schoolage kids to the center.

Thanks -- and stay warm!

-- Admin

Family Friendly Film Series Continues

On Sunday, January 11 at 1:30 p.m., the Michigan Theater will be showing Babe 2: Pig In the City. Admission is free for kids 12 and under!

Cabin Fever?

This might be a good cure:



It was a community project done by Australia's Polyglot Puppet Theatre.

Mr. G Memorial

We are sad to announce that our Oak Valley location's Music Consultant, Mr. G (Loren Greenwalt), passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 19. He was 54. The Ann Arbor News obituary can be found here. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, December 27, at 1 p.m. at the Greenwood United Methodist Church, 1001 Green Rd., in Ann Arbor. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan Theater. Our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all those who enjoyed his music and company.

Ann Arbor Centers Closed, Friday December 19, 2008

Due to the continuing snow and increasingly hazardous conditions, All Gretchen's House Ann Arbor Centers will be closed today.

Please drive carefully if you must drive. Our local roads survey showed nothing has yet been plowed. We recommend a day at home baking cookies, sledding, or playing games!

- Hope

Inclement Weather

The Ann Arbor Public Schools (and many surrounding districts) are closed today due to the winter storm, so Gretchen's House will at least have a delayed opening. During the delay, Gretchen's House administrative staff will survey local roads and look at the forecast for the rest of the day. By 9 a.m., we make a decision whether to remain closed for the day or open at 10, and will post that update here.

Little Oaks will close if the Oakland County Government Offices close; Little Huskies follows the Michigan Tech decision.

You can read more about our Inclement Weather Policy on the policies page of our website.

-- Admin

Online Health Resource

Integrated Health Associates of Ann Arbor has updated their website with lots of useful resources. One tool that families may find especially useful is the Pediatric SelfCareNavigator. It's a handy checklist of symptoms, organized anatomically, that can help parents decide whether childhood illnesses and injuries require immediate medical attention and/or how to relieve minor symptoms.

As we enter the colds and flu season, it's a good idea for GH parents to review our Health Policies. When GH Staff send a child home due to illness, we use two main criteria to make that decision: the sick child's comfort and well-being, and the well-being of other children and staff in the program. Sometimes an easily communicable illness can affect some children and adults more seriously than others. Other times, a child with a relatively mild illness can feel miserable. And occasionally, children with colds or low-grade fevers may feel perfectly fine in a group setting. In all cases, we need to do what's best for all the children.

-- Admin