Thankful Heart

 

Gratitude fills the epicenter of these days, doesn't it? In our classrooms, small groups at church and in living rooms across our community we come together to express our deep and abiding gratitude for the small and big blessings in life. This school year has not been an easy one. For Pete's sake, 2020 has not been easy. But despite the hardship and the valleys, we have been blessed to see God's hand clearly and presently in all things! 

I am grateful for each one of you! I am grateful for your grace and your faith. I am grateful for your creativity and your 'can do' attitude. I am grateful for your laughter and your joy! I'm telling you, I am so grateful to do life with each one of you! We have a unique bond. God has woven us together in community to help raise a group of beautiful children! We live in relationship marked in truth and grace! Thank you for faithfully serving God with your best! Thank you for dusting each other off when we trip up! Thank you for praying over one another in our times of weakness. I am grateful, this Thanksgiving Day in 2020, to be woven together with you for such a time as this! 

Chapel on the 1st! 

We have Mrs. Render on next! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you'd like ideas or support, Charity! 

Turkey Trot

Well team, I'm putting on a Turkey costume and trotting around the playground with our Rose Parkers on Monday. Tuesday afternoon....anyone around? Want to have your kids trot with a turkey on the track? Send me an email with a 15 minute window of time that works for you and I'll meet your kids on the track! Ron? No hunting gear allowed! ;) 

For your blog please:

Little Maroons Basketball Update

Due to the current safety protocols, our kindergarten through sixth grade Little Maroons basketball programing will be postponed till after Christmas break.  Current registrations will be automatically registered for the new dates.  City of Holland Recreation will also be postponing our 5/6er programing as well, but more specific information will be coming from them as well.  The dates we are planning on at this point for our grade levels are the following: 

K-2: Skill Sessions on 1/9, 1/16 and 1/23.

(10:30-12pm: Girls at Pine Ridge & Boys at High School) 

3-4: Skill Sessions on 1/9, 1/16 and 1/23 & League Play 1/30, 2/6, 2/13 and 2/20. 

(8:30-10am: Girls at Pine Ridge & Boys at High School)

5-6: Skill Sessions on 1/9, 1/16 and 1/23 & City of Holland Dates Coming. 

(12:30-2pm: Girls at Pine Ridge & Boys at High School)

More information about specific safety protocols may be communicated as we get closer to January, but the plan is to continue with our current practice of wearing face masks, 1 spectator per participant, distancing, and washing of hands and equipment.    

Snakes!?

What's up with all of the little beastly snakes in the Forest/Kamp David as of late?!? Have I mentioned this before? I'm so grateful for you courageous, snake-handling people! I so appreciate the blessing that it is to grow with you and serve with/for you in the Forest. See you for devotions tomorrow morning at 7:30! ...or 5! 😂

Virtual Encore Learning Plans

We've talked through several scenarios for encore lessons if we need to move to remote learning. The decision is that our encore teachers will provide a K-2 and 3-5 (if applicable) lesson for our students via email. This link will be sent to Carla/Laura. They will send the lessons along with chapel on Wednesdays via a power announcement. This will follow similarly to what we did last year. Let me know, please, if you have questions. 

iPad Connectivity at Student Homes

A few students have moved to virtual learning recently and we are discovering some connectivity issues at home. If you have a student who asks you to troubleshoot connectivity issues, give this method from Charlie a whirl. 

Sunshine!

Isn't the sunshine glorious!? I understand we're in for a record warm weekend! What a gift given all of the swirling emotions and happenings in our world. I pray you each have time to set your device down and enjoy our Creator outside this weekend! 

Discovery Day

We're on for tomorrow morning! I hear there's a lot of interest in Forest life for next year! We'll bring our A game tomorrow and God will handle the rest...well, Courtney too! Ron and I have been asked to arrive at 10:00. Emily and Angie at 10:15. I believe Courtney asked that IF you have a handy photo roll to stream on your projector in the classroom, great! Don't put time into creating one if it's not handy! Courtney will pregame with us prior to parents' arrival. We should be wrapped up by noon tomorrow to go enjoy the sunshine (or build a new house!) 

Chapel Schedule

We get to hear from our first graders again! Sukkot Celebration learning time!