Recently, I had a “from the heart” conversation with a few boys. Most of my time is spent observing classrooms, talking with parents, attending meetings, and planning for the next initiative, but occasionally I see the need to take the time to sit with students who need to be heard.
I love the energy of the students playing the sousaphone, competing in the gaga pit, and sharing with each other in book groups. I love their creativity in classrooms, in art class, on the playground, and sprinkled throughout their conversations. Yet one of the things I love the most is students’ honesty, and at our “sit down”, these boys were honest.
When we talked, it was obvious the boys appreciate each other. They want to hang out together. They desire to build a friendship, but this thing we call “Life Together” is not always as easy as it sounds. In his book “Playing God”, Andy Crouch writes that, “We can either make human flourishing possible or we can destroy the image of God in people.” Through discussion and a few tears, the boys and I decided that we don’t want to destroy, we want to help each other flourish, and we learned a few ways to do that. It is our prayer that, as imperfect as we are, we not only only grow and learn, but we flourish together here at Holland Christian.
South Side Playscape
The newest addition to our South Side playground, the natural playscape, is well-loved and played in every day by our children. They mine for “gold”, make imaginary campfires in the teepees and serve up Pokemon cards in our “restaurant”. All of this energetic play has caused the playscape area to get a bit shaggy. If you and your children have an hour or two to spare on Saturday, April 23 beginning at 9:00 am, we’d MUCH appreciate as many helpers as possible. We’ll be raking wood chips, rearranging teepees and cleaning up our trails. If you enjoy working with friends outdoors, we’d very much appreciate the help! Please RSVP to Miska at mrynsburger@hollandchristian.org if you are able to help for a bit on Saturday morning, April 23 at 9:00. THANK YOU!
Second Grade Parents
Our little second graders are not so little anymore. They have nearly outgrown all of the learning experiences we have to offer them at South Side. Moving Up Day will take place at the end of May. Parents of our South Side second graders, we would like to offer you the opportunity to meet Mr. Howell, principal, and our third grade teachers, Mrs. DeZwaan and Mrs. Stielstra. You are invited to come to the Pine Ridge library on Wednesday, April 27 from 8:45-9:30 for a casual meet and greet. Feel free to ask questions, tour the building and get to know several of the the loving Pine Ridge staff who are eager to get to know you.
Hot Lunch News!
Thank you to all our wonderful families we have had the opportunity to serve lunch to over the last school year. It’s that time of year when we focus on cleaning up student negative lunch accounts.
We need your help in collecting negative balances. It takes a village to collect each of your negative balances…we appreciate you taking the responsibility to pay any past due accounts. Our current Holland Christian negative balance total is $(3350.00). Over the next few weeks we could have this negative amount to zero!
You may send a check to your child’s school for payment or go to sendmoneytoschool.com if making a payment by credit card. If you don’t know your child’s student id number, please email Sue Lambers at slambers@hollandchristian.org. New USDA, child nutrition regulations, state that we are not able to have negative balances at the end of the school year. Thank you in advance for saving us time of collecting balances over the summer.
All positive lunch accounts roll over to the next year. If you have multiple students at Holland Christian, we can help you transfer money in between accounts. If you have questions about your account, please call Sue at 820-2934.
3-day to 4-day!
We’re so excited! Please remember that we will be adding another day to our 3-day kindergarten schedule after we return from Spring Break. Our schedule will be as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This schedule starts the week of April 11. We look forward to spending another day with the kindergartners!
FACTS Applications
Application of the FACTS forms may now be completed either in paper form (which we have in the office) or on-line at online.factsmgt.com/aid. The forms are due April 15, 2016.
Come Shop Our Kids' Stuff Re-Sale at HCHS on Saturday, April 16 from 9:00 – 12:00. Lots of great spring/summer clothes for girls and boys and so much more. If you are interested in being a seller at this sale, please contact kidsale@hollandchristian.org.
Volunteers needed: Friday 3:00 to 5:30 (set up) or Sat. 11:30 to 1:30 (clean up)
All sellers and volunteers can pre-shop the sale on Friday night 6:30-8:00 (Volunteers Only 5:30-6:30)
Please contact Shelly Conklin @ rconklinabc@sbcglobal.net or Lisa VanKampen @ lvankampen@hollandchristian.org.
Swingin’ the Night Away
The Annual Swingin’ the Night Away is this Saturday, April 16th from 6:45pm - 9:30pm in the HCHS Cafeteria. Free dance instructions from 6:45pm - 7:30pm and from 7:30pm - 9:00pm there will be dancing, vocal soloists and HC Jazz Bands. Enjoy desserts and beverages. Tickets are $5 at the door. All ages are invited to join the fun!
Volunteers Needed
Ditto needs your help. Ditto has open work bee’s on Monday Nights in April for Pine Ridge and South Side from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Please Sign up to support Christian education. High School students... Do you need service hours?? Think of Ditto. Also, think of us when cleaning out your closet ditto always needs donations. We are hoping for 20 - 25 Volunteers. Ditto’s Resale Shop is located on 8th St. and U.S. 31. Pine Ridge and SouthSide Work Bee Sign-up - APRIL http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c48a5a82ea75-ditto
International Student Host families Needed
Holland Christian is blessed to have incredibly dedicated families who are passionate about raising their children with a Christian education. There are international parents who dream of providing the best education in the world for their children and are willing to sacrifice enormously for that. Holland Christian can provide teenagers around the world with a quality life-impacting Christian education. If you would like more information about being a host family and making a significant and lasting impact, please contact Karen DeRoo at kderoo@hollandchristian.org
ATHLETIC PHYSICALS FOR NEXT YEAR
It’s not too late to signup for an appointment for a sports physical. Our annual Sports Physical night will be held on Tuesday, April 19, 6:30 - 9 pm at Lakeshore Health Partners located at 904 South Washington Avenue. Physical will cost $15 this year. You will be required to sign up for an appointment online. Please go to http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4eafaf2aa46-athletic and choose the fifteen minute time frame that works best with your schedule, click on the “Sign Up” box, fill in your name and email address and complete registration. Each fifteen minute slot allows only a specific number of sign ups, so please choose the next available time if your first choice is full. An email was sent out via powerschool with a link and instructions to sign up. Please call the middle school office at 616 820-2905 if you need any assistance!
Please have your student's physical form completed and signed before their appointment. Middle School Physical Form and High School Physical Form! Parent Information sheet, for any extra questions you may have.
Weather Safety
As the weather changes from Winter to Spring, ( we are all hoping ) it is time for you to become familiar with our emergency procedures, particularly during a tornado watch or warning. The guidelines below are also found in our elementary handbook on-line.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES:
Tornado Watch
1. All students will remain in their building under the direct supervision of their teachers.
2. The regular school schedule will be followed.
3. Classes will be dismissed at the regular time.
Tornado Warning
1. No student will be dismissed. Children may be released to a parent who personally comes to get the child (although this is not recommended).
2. All students will be assigned to the safest possible area within the school building until the warning has been lifted. Civil Defense Officials have assisted us in determining these areas.
*** It is helpful to us if you do not call the school during these times. It is not that we do not want you to know what is happening, but our attention needs to be on the safety of the children. Thanks!
Fire, tornado and lockdown drills are held periodically throughout the school year according to Michigan School Guidelines. We will be practicing a tornado and fire drill soon!
South Side Playscape
The newest addition to our South Side playground, the natural playscape, is well-loved and played in every day by our children. They mine for “gold”, make imaginary campfires in the teepees and serve up Pokemon cards in our “restaurant”. All of this energetic play has caused the playscape area to get a bit shaggy. John Woods has offered to help direct the clean-up work in the playscape. TJ, my husband, doesn’t know it yet, but he’ll be helping as well. ;) (He’s a GREAT guy!) If you and your children have an hour or two to spare on Saturday, April 23 beginning at 9:00 am, we’d MUCH appreciate as many helpers as possible. We’ll be raking wood chips, rearranging teepees and cleaning up our trails. If you enjoy working with friends outdoors, we’d very much appreciate the help!
Coffee & Canvas Event on April 23! Enjoy a morning of painting, coffee, and pastries with Tulip-Time poster winner, Alla Dickson. Tickets are going fast! Go to http://www.dittoresale.com for more information. Thanks for your support and your donations!
WELCOME Wednesdays
Curious about what happens at Holland Christian? Come take a tour, meet our staff, visit classrooms and see our students as they explore, create, and discover. Welcome Wednesdays will be held at all five Holland Christian buildings, preschool-12th grade, on the following Wednesdays from 8:30-10 am:
- April 20
- May 25
If you are interested, Please contact our Admissions Director, Courtney Lampen, at clampen@hollandchristian.org or (616) 820-2804. to save your spot!
Middle School Mashup - May 2
It’s a little bit open house, a little bit of an information night - it’s our Middle School Mashup! Current HC 6th grade parents and students and any family considering enrollment at Holland Christian Middle School for the 2016-17 school year are invited to come and preview what it’s like at the Middle School on May 2 from 7-8:30 pm. Take a tour, listen to current middle school students talk about life at HCMS, and find how to to dive into all the opportunities available to students both during and after school. It's going to be a great night; please join us! For questions or more information, please contact Courtney Lampen, Admissions Director, at (616) 820-2804 or clampen@hollandchristian.org.
Tulip Time
Yes, it will be here soon. Please begin plan ahead for your 1st through 4th grader’s dutch costume for the Kinder Parade on Thursday, May 12. Now is the time to be sure costumes are complete and or looking to purchase/borrow one for the festival.
Preschool-12th Grade Tours: We love to meet with new families and give tours of our buildings! Individual tours may be scheduled any time. Tours typically last 45-60 minutes and include a tour of the facility as well as a time to meet with the building principal to answer your individual questions.
Shadowing Opportunities for 7th-12th Grade Students: Prospective 7th-12th grade students are invited to shadow a Holland Christian student at any time! Shadowing visits last a half day and include 3-4 classes and lunch. Each shadow opportunity is customized by student based on their interests. Tours and showing opportunities for any of Holland Christian’s buildings can be scheduled by contacting Courtney Lampen at (616) 820-2804 or clampen@hollandchristian.org.
Choose Your Own Adventure Days!
Don't see an admissions event that works for you? Choose your own adventure by creating your own day to tour or shadow a student!
Preschool Press
There are exciting happening with our Preschool students, just follow this link http://www.buildinghiskingdomtogether.blogspot.com/ to see what our youngest students are doing.
FREEschool Enrichment classes are being offered at both Rose Park and South Side preschool sights.
By following the link to the above site you can find more information about what FREEschool is.
GOtR reference information
GOtR Website and A link to all the practice information GOtR Practices.
Hot Lunch News!
Thank you to all our wonderful families we have had the opportunity to serve lunch to over the last school year. It’s that time of year when we focus on cleaning up student negative lunch
accounts.
We need your help in collecting negative balances. It takes a village to collect each of your negative balances…we so appreciate you taking the responsibility to pay any past due accounts. Our current Holland Christian negative balance total is $-3350.00. My hope is in the next few weeks we could have this negative amount to zero! You may send a check to your child’s school for payment or go to sendmoneytoschool.com to make a payment by credit card. If you don’t know your child’s student id number, please email, slambers@hollandchristian.org. New USDA, child nutrition regulations, state that we are not able to have negative balances at the end of the school year. Thank you in advance for saving us time of collecting balances over the summer.
All positive lunch accounts roll over to the next year. If you have multiple students at Holland Christian, we can help you transfer money in between accounts. If you have questions about your account, please call Sue at 820-2934.
Holland Christian is excited to offer Summer Athletic Camps! Online signup is available now through 2 weeks before the start of each camp. We invite you to check out more information on each of the camps offered and hopefully sign up your child! https://www.hollandchristian.org/athletics/summer_camps
Calendar of Events
April 15 FACTS Applications Due
April 16 Kids Stuff Resale Event 9am - Noon
April 16 Swing’n the night away Event
April 19 Sports Physicals @ Lakeshore Health Partners 6:30pm - 9:00pm
April 20 Welcome Wednesday Event 8:30am - 10:00am
April 22 No HPS transportation
April 23 Playscape Event at South Side begins at 9:00am
April 23 Coffee & Canvas Event
April 27 3rd Grade Field Trip to Outdoor Discovery Center
April 28 Pine Ridge’s Fine Arts Night
May 2 Middle School Mash Up Event 7:00pm - 8:30pm
May 6 5th Grade Field trip to Windmill Island
May 11 No HCHS pm transportation
May 11-12 Half Days: Tulip Time
May 14 Saturday, Tulip Time Parade, Marching Bands
May 16 6th Grade Camp Geneva Trip
May 24 6th Grade Fredrick Mejier Gardens Trip
May 25 Welcome Wednesday Event 8:30am - 10:00am
May 30 Memorial Day
June 3 Half Day: Last day of Classes
June 3 GOtR ~ The 5K Run!!
Requested Announcements
Varsity Girls Lacrosse Co-op Team
This year, Holland Christian and West Ottawa have formed a co-op varsity girls lacrosse team. We are so excited about this new offering in athletics for girls' spring sports. Here is the link along with a flyer for more information regarding this new opportunity. We will be holding an informational meeting for parents next Tuesday, March 29th @ 7:00pm in the Holland Charter Township Offices which is located at 353 North 120th Avenue Holland, MI 49424.
Summer Camp links for 2016
