Another New Teacher!

New Teacher

Rachel Hucul will be introduced in our next blog post as well:

I graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with a BA in Elementary Ed and an Early Childhood Endorsement. I have taught preschool, kindergarten and first grade. I am passionate about innovation in education and launched Nature-Based Kindergarten in Midland, Michigan before joining the Outdoor Discovery Network Team to start multiple nature-based preschools. I have always been compelled to serve young children and their families. I believe strongly that God has designed children as capable and whole people that should be honored for their individual gifts. Serving God at Holland Christian provides me with the opportunity to work on a team to design an educational experience that is centered with a  relationship with God, His creation and each other. The ultimate learning experience!

 

I am married to my high school sweetheart, Josh and we have three children; Harper (8), Easton (5) and Summer (10 months). I enjoy spending time with my family, wandering in the Michigan seasons, camping, and running. It is in my quiet moments running that God and I share in some of my most favorite conversations.

In this season of life, 2 Corinthians 5: 7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” is at the center of my journey. I am eager to walk alongside children to learn, play and serve God. Together, we will learn how experiencing God’s creation ,the forest, will  provide us with the ultimate opportunity to be guided by God. I am incredibly grateful for the trust and opportunity to teach at Holland Christian's Forest School!

Adaptive Schools

I will be at the ISD all day on Monday and Tuesday of next week engaging in learning organized by Doug Greer for the full instructional team. Katie Clausing will be serving as principal in my place. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me as I may or may not be checking my phone under the table ;)

Quarter 4 Running Records

• Running Record Expectations ** see THIS DOCUMENT

• The level that you are putting into the Q4 data spreadsheet is a student’s INDEPENDENT LEVEL and this is the same running record that you will hand in to me which will then be passed along to next year’s teacher.

• If you have been putting INSTRUCTIONAL LEVELS on your progress reports to parents, you can just continue that for the last report card–the reason for this is that if you have not communicated to your parents the difference between the instructional and independent level, then just putting the independent level could make them panic as it will most likely be lower than the instructional level.  We will also review this next year as well and discuss what we want to report on our progress reports in terms of students and their reading progress.

MAP Testing

The final week of MAP testing and Delta Math opens the week of May 9. 

Help Available

We are planning an 8th grade service day for June 1st and in the past have sent some 8th graders to assist in each of your buildings. This has ranged from helping art teachers get their rooms clean to sorting books in libraries, and much more. In the past there have also been specific teachers who appreciated 8th graders doing some cleaning, organizing, or purging in their classrooms. If your elementary students and teachers will be out of the building that day some have also left lists for the 8th graders. We would love to bless your buildings and staff members on this day! Students typically present in your buildings from approximately 10am - 1:30pm, and will bring a lunch with them. I will be moving between buildings to check on students periodically, and we always do our best to send trustworthy and motivated individuals!

If you have any interest in welcoming 8th graders on June 1st please let me know by Friday!

Program Time!

Here we go friends! The Spring Program! It's a big day! Thank you for your support and grace as we work to bring back the spring program for all of our elementary students. This is a huge endeavor.  Your positivity, grace and support is what will make this event special and memorable. Let's talk through logistics:

THURSDAY:

Please plan to walk over to Central Wesleyan and be in our Legacy Room "green room" by 1:00. 

We'll ALL begin in our green room area first. Gather your class in the Legacy Room and, once we've all arrived, you will hear grade levels being called to find their spots on the risers or stage floor. You know your students best! Please line them up so they are surrounded by friends who support them positively rather than challenge them behaviorally.

We will rehearse until we feel ready. Think of this a bit like a "walk up" choir at church. We're not a broadway show. We are children from every school bringing praises to Jesus with what we have to bring: our hearts! Thank you again for the grace and positivity.

Teachers arrive in our Student Center at 6:30 to gather your class and be prepared for walking into the sanctuary at 6:50. Showtime is 7:00.

Thank you for ALL you do to make these special events a memory maker for our children and families! I'm feelin' ya that these days are a LOT of work! Keep digging deep for positivity and hold onto that Easter glow! Centering our children on our good, good Father is our WHY! 

Please copy and paste for your blogs:

If you are interested in using the Before and/or After School Care Program for the 2022-23 school year, please follow the links below. The program is for students in Preschool- 5th grade. If your child(ren) attends South Side and/or Pine Ridge, then you will need to fill out the form for South Side. If your child(ren) attends Rose Park, then you will fill out the form for Rose Park. If you have any questions, please contact Tammy Grassmid at tgrassmid@hollandchristian.org."

Here is the link for Rose Park BSC/ASC    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1WBK0ypTxUNx_hh2ATZKXoJvnIp5kkKwjIClnuBz_6aw/edit

Here is the link for South Side BSC/ASC     https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12el7bXhOKybs4BvNaHyKKJ-z3dzS1-GecIDFlEPQUFM/edit

Blazing Into Springtime

Did you ride a roller coaster over spring break? Because if you didn't, you're on one now. The last stretch from spring break to the last day of school feels like a blur! Hold on tight, friends, God's got us! 

Tulip Time

Our current responses

Class Lists by May 9 please (just for K) 

Field Day on May 31 at the Ridge in the Afternoon hosting by our brand spanking new parent team! 

More details to follow

Please Copy and Paste in your Blogs:

 It's been a joy to hear all about the spring time adventures you enjoyed with your family last week! We've been preparing with excitement for two linked events in our elementary campuses this month! Our Spring Program and Grandparents Day are nearly polished up and ready for your enjoyment! ALL of our elementary students will be participating in our Spring Program this year because it's been missed for the past two years! It's TIME for all of us to gather in worship as one large family! ALL preschool through fifth grade students have a program prepared for YOU on Thursday, April 21 beginning at 7:00 at Central Wesleyan Church. Please plan to bring your K-5th grade child to our Rose Park "green room" at 6:35. Door I will bring you directly to our "green room" which is known to the locals as the Student Center. This is where you will meet your child's teacher. From there you are welcome to find a good spot in the Worship Center. Preschool families, please find your special reserved seats on the right hand side of the Worship Center. We will call your children to the front for their special portion of the program! The K-5th grade classes will take their position on the stage in the Worship Center beginning at 6:50. We anticipate the program to wrap up a bit before 8:00. We hope you are as blessed as we have been in our practices.