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| Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel. -Socrates |
You may have heard a bit about Makers Week. The week of February 23rd, we hope your child will come home to you reporting some new, intriguing higher-order learning experiences during which he/she engaged in learning at the top end of this pyramid. Each day your child will be introduced to a new problem to solve that will involve early engineering skills, physics, collaboration and creative thought to reach a solution. Our students will be grouped into teams of problem solvers based on their interests rather than age. They will work under the guidance of a new South Side teacher each day. Our children will collaborate with a new team of students for each Makers Week project. Our intent is to celebrate the creative minds that God has blessed our children with. This learning will challenge our children in new ways. It will be messy. It may be frustrating for students at times. It will require perseverance and encouragement from the team. Together, we will celebrate each child's success.
Stay tuned for more Makers Week details forthcoming...
Morning Drop-Off
For those of you who came through the drop-off circle on Friday morning, I offer you a big THANKS on two counts: one, thanks for adhering to our new, safer flow of traffic in the circle drive. Two, thanks for not hitting me-the human sign post ;) If you missed the announcement here is a reposting of our new guidelines for traffic during our drop-off times between 7:50-8:15:
As a South Side community, we treasure the partnership established between home and school. Every child who enters our doors at South Side is loved and deeply valued. Among our top priorities in caring for and educating your child is keeping them safe while they are under our care. To that end, we must improve the safety of our drop-off traffic flow at the front doors of school during the beginning of the school day. Currently, there are no explicit traffic rules to follow during our drop-off times, which are primarily from 7:50-8:15 each school day. During peak times, we have students exiting their vehicles from the left lane of traffic in the circle drive and crossing in front of moving vehicles in the right lane. During dark mornings in particular, with low visibility, this is a risk our children should not incur.
In the interest of keeping all of our children safe, I am asking that all traffic in the circle drive follow these rules between 7:50-8:15:
· If you are parking and exiting your vehicle with your children to enter school, please park in the gravel lot to the west of the sidewalk.
· If that lot is full, please use the LEFT lane of the circle drive for parking your vehicle. Please exit your car with your child and escort them across the moving lane of traffic on the right.
· The right lane of traffic will be utilized for dropping off your child and pulling forward. When possible, please instruct your child to exit your vehicle on the right so he/she safely walks on the curb rather than the circle drive.
· The left lane will be considered our overflow temporary parking spaces. The right lane will be for curb-side drop off and moving traffic.
15-16 Kindergarten Enrollment
Kindergarten enrollment is underway! If you will have a child in kindergarten this fall, please enroll them right away at hollandchristian.org/apply to assist us in planning for the next school year. Also, if you know of a family interested in kindergarten at HC, please let us know! Contact Courtney Lampen with questions or visit www.hollandchristian.org/admissions/kindergarten_enrollment for more information.
15-16 Preschool Enrollment
Preschool enrollment begins next week, including enrollment for our new Junior Kindergarten program and a full line up of Afternoon Enrichment Classes! HC families may begin enrolling Monday, February 9, prior to enrollment opening to the public on February 10. Enrollment is completed online at hollandchristian.org/apply and requires a $75 deposit. Details were also emailed to parents earlier this month. Visit www.hollandchristian.org/schools/preschool for a complete list of classes available.
HC Launching New Junior Kindergarten Program this Fall!
We're excited to offer Junior Kindergarten as a new program at HC this fall. Junior Kindergarten prepares students for the transition to kindergarten with a more formal, structured learning experience. The content and teaching style of this class are appropriate for 5-year-olds who will benefit from the gift of time before starting kindergarten or 4-year-olds desiring a more accelerated experience. These classes meet Monday-Friday mornings. For more information, visit: hollandchristian.org/schools/schools/junior_kindergarten.
Thank You!
Our thanks to Ava Potts for her donation of the book Amelia Bedelia Treasury in honor of her recent birthday. Happy reading!
Family Fare and D & W Cash for Class
Use your YES card when shopping the following dates to earn money for South Side.
The weeks of February 15-21 and March 15-21 will help us . Make sure your Yes Rewards Card
is linked to South Side at www.myyescardrewards.com
Save the date!
Friday, March 13 – It’s a Family Safari Fun Night! Grab your binoculars, hop in the jeep, and join us for a night of fun! Fun Night will be at Pine Ridge from 5:30 – 8:00 on Friday, March 13. Join us for great games, food, and fun prizes! More information coming soon!
ACE UPDATE - The Fabric & Beads, LEGO Vehicles, Kitchen Kids and Sports Spectacular Jr. classes at South Side Christian and Pine Ridge Christian will be using our first snow date. Therefore, our final Thursday class will now meet on February 26.
“Music in Action” A Living Hope Showcase Event
Need an idea for a gift for your sweetheart? Buy tickets for the upcoming Living Hope Singers Showcase 2015! Shows will be held on Thursday and Friday, March 19 and 20, at 7:00 pm in the Holland Christian HS Auditorium. If you want tickets for February 14, place your order by February 11, email Julie or Tam to let them know, and then pick up your tickets from the high school office on February 13. Tickets for “Music in Action” are available to purchase online at www.hollandchristian.org/living_hope. Reserved Seats for $10 are sold online or by placing an order at the High School Office. For more information, contact Julie Kammeraad at 616-218-8536/ juliekammeraad@charter.net or Tam Treffers at 616-218-9181/ treffers@charter.net
The Holland Area Newcomers' 64th Annual Dutch Costume Resale starts the week of March 9th, 2015 at the Holland Civic Center. We are sending this information out to area schools, as this is a community service event primarily for children participating in the Tulip Time Parades. http://www.hollandnewcomers.com/dutchcr.html or email president@hollandnewcomers.com if you have any questions.
Moms In Prayer:
Invites you to join with us as we pray for our children. We meet Monday mornings from 8:15am-9:20ish at Sonya Snyder's house (162 West 37th Street). It is such a blessing to pray with other mothers, and to praise God together for the good gifts He gives. Please feel to give it a try when it works for your schedule! If needed, childcare will be provided. Questions? Call or message Sonya at 283-8019.
Upcoming Events:
February 16 - No School, Winter Break
February 18 - Chapel led by Rev. Steenwyk
February 24 - Skating Party at Home Roller Rink from, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
March 6 - No school, Staff Development
March 13 - Family Fun Night at Pine Ridge, 5:30pm
Requested Announcements
JOIN THE FUN THIS SUMMER AT KIDS ROCK! Kids Rock Summer Camp is a teacher-led Christian day camp for grades 1-8. Each week features a different sport, theme, and elective class schedule. Wet Wild N’ Wacky, Splish Splash N’ Sports, and Field Trip Frenzy are just some of the fun themes happening this summer! All of our programming is delivered from a Christian perspective, and students have the opportunity to have daily devotions, prayer, and weekly faith testimonies from our camp counselors. Join us for fun elective classes like arts and crafts, cooking, acting, sports, Spanish, and dance! Sign-up for a day, a week, or all summer long! Check out our website at www.kidsrocksummercamp.com.
RIVERTOWN RACES 5K and 1/2 Marathon will be held on APRIL 25, 2015 at Millennium Park in Walker. These races start and finish at beautiful Millennium Park, the largest urban park in the area, located in Walker, MI, southwest of Grand Rapids. Runners will travel over roads, paved trails, and bridges while enjoying the rolling terrain, wetlands and lakes that encompass this unique location. Food and beverages, music, and family fun will be available throughout the event.
If you are training for the Fifth Third River Bank Run, this half marathon fits in nicely with the training schedule for the 13 mile run on April 25, 2015. Please join us for our 3rd year of Rivertown Races! To register for the race go to www.rivertownraces.com
Profits from this race benefit The Children's Assessment Center, The Conductive Learning Center, Grandville Calvin Christian Schools, Kids' Food Basket, Starlight Ministries and The YMCA Impact Afterschool Program.
Planning for this fun day is underway and we will need volunteers Thursday, Friday and Saturday to help make it a success! Follow this link to sign up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0845aba722a31-rivertown
