Walk a thon JOY

Wasn't it a JOY to come together with ALL of the elementary and middle school kids and celebrate our supportive community? Thank you for making the trek over to the track! Go Maroons!!! 

JOY! 

Data Meeting

Almost everyone has completed those NWEA MAP tests! 🙌  Emily and Angie, would you please kick a convenient time for you to meet and talk about our learners? Let's start talking about progress and intervention plans! 

Collaboration Days

They're coming:

Continuing Education

Just a reminder for you, if you are interested in receiving some financial support for coursework you are pursuing, please complete this form. The deadline has passed but this year is all about grace periods. The grace period is OPEN! 

Beauty in Rhythm

We're starting to find a beautiful rhythm, friends! It was a bit of a bumpy start with the mask mandate being imposed so last minute before the year launched, but we're finding our rhythm and this is a beautiful thing! We've been entrusted with loving our children, developing their skills and helping them understand the grace given and love overflowing of our Good, Good Father! THAT is what you are faithfully providing every day! Thank you for this faithful work, friends! 

Security Questions

Saugatuck Public Schools had an incident in their high school parking lot two weeks ago. There was an attempted abduction of a high school student. At the end of this past week, a vehicle of similar description was in the high school parking lot near the tennis courts and a man exposed himself to a high school student from HC. You may notice an increase in police presence around the high school. Some parents received a notification from Saugatuck Public Schools that stated an HC student was also the victim of an attempted abduction. This piece is not accurate. There is nothing required of you other than feel free to pass parent questions on to me. The vehicle in question is an older model white Ford Explorer. If you see a questionable car around Forest School, don't hesitate to call Rob Westfall at 616-593-1277

Data Meetings

We're going to hold data meetings to talk about each of our students. To ensure students do not "fall through the cracks" we will talk about the progress each child is making. We'll take a look at each child's running record as well as their MAP data. Emily and Angie, is it possible to input the running record score for each child on these data sheets, please? Once these scores are in, let's arrange a time to talk about progress and interventions to help our budding skills. 

1st Grade Data

2nd Grade Data

Rest from your Labor

Matthew 11 rings true a bit after this start to our school year! "Come to me all who labor and are weary. I will give you rest." It's a long Labor Day weekend. You have served well and faithfully these past few weeks. We've had a plethora of emotions. Thank you for your faithfulness, your smiles and your willingness to choose to see the big picture! Rest well this weekend, my friends! Cooler temps and brighter days are ahead! 

Walk a thon

Our walk a thon packets have gone out. Your only responsibility at this point is to remember to collect the envelopes from children on the 10th. Hold the afternoon of the 15th open. We'll be bussed for our annual fun at the track that afternoon! 

Tuesday

I will spend the day in the Forest on Tuesday!!! WooHoo!! That is a rare treat! My hope is to collect names from you of children whose parents have told them they should not wear a mask. That's not my favorite reason to spend the day in the Forest. But we'll get through this together. I had many good conversations with Rose Park parents on Wednesday and every one of the conversations resulted in increased understanding and renewed trust. We are also starting a task force for stakesholders from throughout HC and including the spectrum of perspectives. We hope to learn together for the sake of our children and make recommendations to the school board as we navigate COVID related protocols. We already have some Forest friends from both perspectives volunteering to serve with this group! I'm SO grateful for our gracious community who LOVES their children passionately and desires to serve God with their best! 

Sept 1 Details

Preschool Mask Details and Clarifications (this is not necessarily relevant for us but FYI):

3s: are not required to mask before/after school care, in the morning classes, community spaces or in enrichment

4s: are not required to mask in their morning preschool class. BUT. 4s are required to mask in before/after school care and afternoon enrichment because they are among 5 year olds and/or older children

JK: is required to mask throughout the day

Waiver List

Wednesday Morning

The grace period we offered families to obtain a medical waiver for masks must end on Wednesday, September 1. Here is how the day will roll (and the goal is to take this OFF of the shoulders of our children and you):

Upon arrival, families will find Doug and a perhaps an additional board member greeting at the circle. They will be reminding parents that children must mask today unless they have submitted a medical waiver from an MD or DO licensed in the state of Michigan. 

Begin the day as you typically would in the classroom or outside. At the start of the day, don't worry yet about masks. We have convocation at 9:00 in the stadium and will get further details soon. 

After we return from convocation and are back in our classrooms, we'll address the masks with our students. We are asking each teacher to explain to the class that the county health department is requiring all of us, JK-6th grade, to wear a mask for our safety. Students may be told that there are some children, however, who have a doctor's note because their body cannot tolerate a mask. Children can know that, if a child has a doctor's note, they will not be required to wear a mask. Please allow the children to get their mask from a backpack or supply them with a mask if they are not on our waiver list (I have a note to make sure you have a box handy). Shortly after convocation, we should all be "masked up" with the exception of the children on the medical waiver list. You might also share with the children when it is permissible to take masks down: outside, water breaks, eating snacks or lunch, and breaks when they are six feet apart or more from each other. 

Teachers who have a child with a documented hearing impairment will not be required to mask. This can also be shared with the children so they understand the differences they will see in who is masking and who is not. I will be communicating this with families as well. 

Doug will come to your classroom shortly after convocation to support you. Please be prepared to share with him which children have told you their parents have instructed them they must not wear a mask. 

Doug will talk gently with each of these students and, again, gently ask them to wear the mask. Doug is doing this so that it is removed from your responsibility and the child talks directly to Doug for the follow up conversation with parents. If the child also tells him they are not to wear a mask according to the instructions from their parent, he will help them feel comfortable by telling them that he will have a friendly conversation with the child's parents and we will figure it out for them. 

As much as we are able, we do NOT want children to feel uncomfortable or pressured or "in trouble". This pressure should not be placed on your shoulders and most certainly not on our children. 

The children will remain in your classroom until further notice and the day, from their perspective, will flow as any typical day would. 

Doug and/or I will call each family of the child sharing with us their instructions from home that they are not to mask at school. Parents will be reminded of the mandate. Doug/I will share our risk as a school in non-compliance. Parents will be asked to offer permission for their child to mask or they may opt to pick up their child. 

I will keep you as informed as I am able throughout the day of the decision for each family. 

Please ask me the questions you might have or concerns beginning on Monday or Tuesday.  I will be in the Forest on Tuesday morning for any questions or discomforts you may have. All of this, you guys, is not normal or comfortable. We just don't have choices right now in this matter. 

In the meantime, friends....

Remain in prayer, please, that our children would be shielded from the stress that comes with this mandate. That they would not carry the anxiety their parents may be struggling with. That they LIVE into the knowledge that our God reigns and is caring for them through this issue. 

Also? Please let this go over the weekend. Have a glorious, summery day. Relax! Drink some iced tea and enjoy LIFE! We are so blessed by the love of our good, good Father! We have much to be grateful for! 

Final Details

We're nearly there, friends! Our rooms are looking like a home for our children! Thank you for putting HOURS and HOURS of your time, creativity and care to creating a special place for each of the learners God has placed in your care this year. 

Mask Questions

They're happening and are understandable. Here are the talking points Doug has outlined for us to use so we speak with a common message:

• Present data of positivity rate doesn’t at this time indicate a need for mandatory masks
• HC has consistently administered protocols that are required vs. recommended
• Any students or staff with COVID related symptoms are requested to stay home
• Parents will be notified if there is a close contact with another student
• We will monitor the case rates in both the schools and the community

First Day Devotion

It seems so fitting to begin the year with a prayer. This is odd, but I will email you the prayer I offer over you and your children on Tuesday morning. Please take a brief moment to pray our community prayer in your learning space. We'll plan on devotions together on Friday morning and pray in person together! 

Carpool Details

This always seems to be a bit of a bugger. I will be present for pick up most Tuesdays and Thursdays. We may very well have to use trial and error to find our rhythm. Here is our plan to start. 

Chapel

I'm on! We'll see how we do as everything is new but let's try for an 8:35 start time! 

Lunch Order

Please text or call Sue your class count for lunch by 8:30 each day. Sue's cell is 616-394-1371. There will be a tally sheet sent with your lunches on Monday. Please mark each child with a tally for the number of lunches they take in the week. Our kitchen program receives funding for those numbers. If adults would like a school lunch, they are $2.50. You can begin ordering these after Labor Day. Include that order in the text or call to Sue! Bon Appetite! 

Launch Details

Monday:

Breakfast and lunch will be provided for ALL today! 

8:00 please meet in Emily's classroom. We'll begin with devotions and introductions together. I will walk us through a few logistical items for the school year. Ted will begin with our team at 9:00. While this may seem sort of backwards, he will lead us in vision casting and future oriented work. I will depart at 10:30 to head for the Rose Park meeting. Ted will stay with our team until the work is complete. Lunch will be provided! 

We're hoping for our FULL team (except Mychala who is completing her internship and joining us next week! I can't wait for you to meet her!) 

Our full team:

Kindergarten:

• Mackenzie Wierenga and Anna Hicks

• Ron Harig and Mychala Spoelman

First Grade

• Emily VanVliet and Mary Terpstra and Rachael Follett

Second Grade

• Angie Smith and Jen Allen

Third Grade

• Erica Slenk and Melanie Beckman (Erica and Melanie, I'll circle up with you separately about this but it makes most sense for you to begin at Pine Ridge at 8:30 and then join us around 9:30, please. Dinah agrees and is in kahoots with this plan) 

Tuesday:

8:30-3:30 We'll be led by various HC admin folks in all-school training and learning. Plan to meet at the high school with a START time of 8:30. Might be wise to arrive a few minutes early and please bring a device if you have one. 

Meet Katy Rozema

We are blessed with an educational leadership intern from Calvin University for the fall semester. Her name is Katy Rozema and she's WONDERFUL! She's eager to listen, learn and may bop into your space from time to time. I'm eager for her to be part of our family at Rose Park and in the Forest! Welcome, Katy! 

Parent Night

Emily will be holding her parent night early and has communicated as such. 

K and 2nd will be holding parent night on Wednesday the 25th.

Erica we'll plan on holding parent night with the Pine Ridge schedule, which is Thursday the 26th at 7:00. 

Back to Business!

One Final Team Member! Welcome, Rachael Follett! 

Rachael will be working in the first grade classroom on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We are grateful and eager to have her heart and hands supporting all of our firsties in the Forest this year! Welcome to the team, Rachael! 

FOLLETT, RACHAELTEACHER ASSISTANT

I planted my life in Holland after graduating from Hope with a BSW in 2010. My husband, Josh, and I got married in 2012, and have since had 3 children: Weston, Caleb, and Halle. I have a lot of experience working with kids–Sunday School teaching, Young Life leading, gymnastics coaching, and (newly) foster mom-ing. Prior to the arrival of Caleb, I worked as a case manager in a late-stage dementia unit, but decided to stay home to focus on raising my children over these last few years. I used to think that Michigan winters were dreadful, but God took us by the hand and delivered us to HC Forest School for our children’s education and I’ve since become an enthusiast. The benefits and ceiling of this program know no end. I feel blessed to serve our Lord in this capacity and to adventure on in life at HC!

Playdates

Thank you, friends, for taking your own personal time to invite families to get to know each other in an informal and fun-filled setting during summertime playdates. I have had families reach out to me to express how welcoming this effort has made them feel. Our newest families are gifted with a chance to spend time with you prior to the first day and they have the opportunity to meet each other with their family member close at hand! THANK YOU! I appreciate your willingness to give up your time and welcome each new family to the classroom community you will create. This is such a unique and warm offering. I appreciate your work and dedication to serving families with our best while balancing your own personal time in the summer as well.

Speaking of Dates! 

As is agreed upon in our contract, teacher days officially begin the week of August 16. Having said that, I have seen EACH of you working hard already all summer long! I pray you have also enjoyed adventures, laughs, learning, challenges, creativity and JOY this summer as well! Good time away brings a healthy balance to our lives! 

• Monday, August 16 we will work together in the Forest all day. Please plan on meeting together in Emily's classroom starting at 8:00. This is for all teachers and teaching assistants. We'll likely be all over the place. Bring your charged up computer, creative brain and honest feedback. Talking Ted will be meeting with us! Lunch will be provided. Let's go! 
• Tuesday, August 17 will be an all-district day. Eric and Doug have plans for us. We'll receive fine-tuned details of that day soon. Please keep a place holder in your calendar for PD work the whole day. 
• August 24 is our first day of school!