Fall Has Arrived!!!

The fall afternoon sunshine is GLORIOUS! These mornings are getting chilly! Thank you for your positivity and energy each day, friends! Could you please respond to this blog post with your coffee/warm drink preference? I'll bring one out to you next week! 

Goals Documents by Reformation Day please

I am working on getting our first round pop in documented in Effective Educator.  As we talked about in our staff meeting, please note the goals you'd like feedback around. Here is a little video Doug created to help show us how to select our goals! 

Staff Meeting

Our next staff meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 17 at 11:30. If possible, could you please check to see if parent volunteers might be able to cover your lunch so teacher assistants can attend as well? See you there! 

Autumn News!

Running Record Review

Transportation Trip Sign Up by Friday, September 23

Please put your requests in by the 23rd. Rose wants to make sure we have trips and busses and drivers ready for you! 

Friday Lunch Coolers

Could you please remove your milk from the coolers on Fridays? Apparently the milk turns to warm yogurt when left for the weekend ;) 

From Kristi: 

I do have a request for you regarding absences. I am responsible for reporting to Allegan County the reasons why students are absent so they can track sicknesses.

When you have a student that is absent, please write down the symptoms. For example:

sore throat

fever

cold symptoms

allergies

throwing up....

and if you know they are simply on vacation you can enter that too!

Walk A Thon Timeline as laid out by our hard-working parent board:

1:00 – Buses and walkers arrive | Photographer to arrive | Marching Band to arrive

- Each class goes to “center field”. 

1:15 – Photo taken around the HC logo in the center of the field

1:30 – Begin Walking

- The band will “pick up” each class from their home-base section to begin walking

2:00 – 6th graders to distribute popsicles

2:15 – Load buses

Our Walk a Thon will take place at the high school football field again this year. It will include Preschool through Eighth Grade students. There will be no games this year. Just community fun walking together. 

News and Dates!

We're moving through our first "full" week and it's been EXCELLENT! Thank you for all of the pivoting and brainstorming as we adjust to all sorts of new systems and schedules! And, on that note, tomorrow morning is a Tuesday morning! 

Moms In Prayer

Hello Forest Family -

This week HC Moms In Prayer has the privilege of praying for Forest School! It is near and dear to me as I have a first grader in FS! 

Please email me with any prayer needs for yourself, your students and/or family! We will be praying scripture over you and each student will be prayed for by name. 

We also have an Instragram hc_momsinprayer if you want to follow and DM prayer requests that way! 

Blessings on a great school year!

Nicole Shook

ncshook@gmail.com

Engagement! Do you see un-engaged, passive, or active engagement here? 

Transportation

October dates to THE SCHEDULE by Friday, September 23. 

Any "one offs" from the submitted schedule go on this form (cue Angie's rap!) All School Transportation Request Form

Devotions

How did the staff meeting work for each of you? Might we be able to meet together on Friday morning for devotions as well as an alternative idea for devotions time together throughout the remainder of the year? There's an idea bubbling that has merit but I'd like to float it past each of you for consideration before implementing! See you Friday morning at 7:35! 

Learning Opportunity (with Stipend!)

Here is the application link.

Friday + Monday = Funday!!!

Tomorrow is MondayFriday (this is our new encore-day language) Groundhogs Day anyone? No? Is everyone too young for that joke???

Staff Meeting

We have our first staff meeting on Tuesday, September 13. We will meet from 11:30-12:15. This meeting will be for teaching faculty only. Some meetings we may ask for a fleet of parent volunteers if the teaching assistants are needed as well. But, for Tuesday, we'll only ask that teachers attend the meeting. For supervision needs of your classroom, you may find it wisest to invite a parent volunteer to help supervise your students in your absence. Sadie and Angie, we'll Zoom you in for the learning. Doug will be leading us in setting forth our goals for this year! 🎉

Data Meetings

As you are collecting your students' running records, please enter each score here. May I barge into your grade level planning time on Monday, September 19 for our grade level data meetings? 

8th Grade Buddies

Anyone interested? Email me if you'd like to dream this up with your class. Here are some thoughts from Michelle Styf and Todd Smeenge looking to pair their 8th grade Bible class with some Forest Kids:

We have a lot of flexibility in our schedule for Wednesdays.  The ideal time would be between 9:30-11:30.  We have those students throughout that time for Bible class, etc..

On Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays: We have lunch from 11:25-11:59 but then followed by Bible class from 12:04-12:48.  We could use lunch time, but would need to kids to bring sack lunches with them. We were wondering about twice a month for the frequency.  Perhaps it could be once with one grade level and then a different grade level the next time, especially if that was too much/ too often for it to be twice with the same kids. 

Ideas on the what/ topics:

It would be great for some of the planned times to be Bible focused (like acting out a story), etc.

Overall, we just want to build community.

Please Copy and Paste for your Classroom Blogs:

We are excited to send out the dates for the 2022-2023 Little Maroons BASKETBALL Camp!

The dates for the practice sessions before Christmas break will be the 3 Saturdays in December. All sessions at Holland Christian HS-

December 4, 11, and 18- 

3-4 8:30-10:00

k-2 10:30- 12:00

5-6 12:30-2:00

These sessions will be teaching, skill work and a practice type atmosphere.

Please sign up for all levels on active!

https://campscui.active.com/orgs/HollandChristianSchool?orglink=camps-registration#/selectSessions/3100533

After Christmas Break we will have our game session for the 3-4 grade groups- These dates will be as follows- January 7, 14, 21, and 28- Teams will be made and games will be played- We are going to do things a little different than in years past as we want to develop our players skills and game play. We will build up to 5 on 5, but sessions will be a 3 v 3, 4 v 4 and then 5 v 5 tournament play-

Our 5th and 6th graders will play games through Holland Rec. You will need to additionally sign up through their website-  (link below) (registration is not open yet, but will be asap)

https://teamsideline.com/sites/cityofholland/content/138/Youth-Basketball

If you could sign up ASAP to ensure we get shirts and jerseys ordered that would be great!

Please reach out if you have any questions!

Go Maroons!

Coach Jansen

Lots of Doo Dads

Thank you for creating such a warm welcome and smooth transition for our beautiful little learners! 

Fall Assessment Window

Grades K-5

• 9/6/22 - 9/16/22 - NWEA MAP testing is set up and ready to go.  Teachers should be able to login and give tests.  NWEA MAP Growth Proctoring - K-5 - this guide may be helpful
• 9/6/22 - 9/16/22 - Delta Math should be set up for teachers to give the Fall screener.  Delta Math Teacher Preparation Instructions.  I received this note from the ISD about Delta Math:

Educators that had the building admin role last year can sign into the Data Manager and connect their building to their account so that they can help teachers prepare for screening.  If any educators need their usernames and passwords please ask them to submit a Help Request at https://www.oaisd.org/deltamath/information-and-support/contact-us/ and I will send them their information.

• Teachers please check over both testing spaces before 9/6/22 and make sure all is correct and all students are showing.  Sometimes new students and students who change classrooms need to be added or adjusted where they show up.  If there are any changes needed let Dan Vos know.

Administrative Support

Kristi Washburn and Cara Boss are the administrative team supporting all things Forest! Kwashburn@hollandchristian.org and cboss@hollandchristian.org are the best way to get in touch with them. They're eager to support our work! 

School Pictures

3rd and 4th are at Pine Ridge on September 22nd going through the line with their grades.

2nd are also on the 22nd first thing in the morning before they launch to Sassafras Ridge. 

Please send home picture forms before pictures next week and note that each form is specific to each student :)

K and 1st pictures will be on September 8 starting at 8:30am in the middle school media center:

8:30am - Harig 

8:45am - DeWitt

9:00am - Hucul

9:15am - VanVliet

Feel free to trade times with teachers if a different slot works better in your schedule. 

Christmas Luncheon (I know. It's a little early!) 

Parent Board would like to treat you to a Christmas Luncheon on December 13. Second Grade will come back a little early that day (ok with you?) and we'll have Christmasy fun from 1:00-2:00. More details forthcoming! 

Staff Meeting

Tuesday, September 13 will be our FS staff meeting! We'll meet from 11:30-12:15. Please request lunch coverage if your class needs the support at that time. Among other items, Doug will be here to help us walk through each of our iObserve accounts and set goals! All teaching K-2 faculty please. Angie and Sadie can Zoom in! Assistants can stay with the class on this one. 

Please Copy and Paste in Your Blog:

Holland Christian Girls Cheer Clinic!  

The HC Alumni Cheerleaders have an opportunity PK-5th girls interested in cheer with an upcoming clinic on Saturday, September 17 and at the Homecoming football game on Friday, September 23.  Please register soon to get the early bird rate!  For more information and registration: 

https://campscui.active.com/orgs/HollandChristianSchool?orglink=camps-registration#/selectSessions/3100533

We Did It!!

FRIENDS! WE DID IT! It is an absolute JOY to see your children FLOURISHING in the space you have intentionally and prayerfully designed for them! The first weeks of school always present a few wrinkles (I'm looking at you, Wacky Wednesdays and Flipping Fridays!) but the grace you have shown, the gentle reminders and the helpful suggestions are what make you EXCEPTIONAL! This is a joy-filled, safe community to live in! THANK YOU! Let's do it all again in a short week next week! 

Flipped Friday

Tomorrow is a MONDAY schedule :) 

Please copy and paste in your classroom blogs:

WALK-A-THON

Walk-A-Thon envelopes will be coming home in your children's backpacks soon. Walk-A-Thon is our only elementary fundraiser for the school year. We are able to fund our Rose Park Ranch initiative as well as a variety of programming throughout the year for our children thanks to the funds raised through this event! 

FALL KIDS' STUFF RESALE

Fall is just around the corner and that means it's time for our Kids' Stuff Resale! Our fall resale is Saturday, September 17 from 9 am to Noon at Holland Christian High School. Join us for shopping or selling for all fall/winter kids clothing and toys. If you are interested in selling at the resale or for more info, please contact Michelle Schaap at kidsale@hollandchristian.org or call 616.820.2813. The entry fee is $1 for adults and a portion of the proceeds go directly to the Tuition Grant Fund.

Welcome to the 22-23 School Year

It's nearly time, friends! Our classrooms and learning spaces are once again coming to life! I am SO grateful for the hard work and creative dedication put in over the summer months by each of YOU and our maintenance team. You have worked so diligently to prepare our spaces and we are nearly ready to welcome your children! You'll note the kindergarten classroom construction and sidewalk has almost reached completion as well! Thank you for your patience as we finally get to usher in this new adventure into the school life of our students and growing program. To say that I am excited would be a massive understatement!

The theme we will be unpacking together as a school community this year is "Streams of Living Water". Our children will hear the words Jesus spoke at the Festival of Tabernacles found in John 7:37-38 "Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” and apply this truth to their lives. As our dear children's parents and teachers, we are encouraged to bask in this truth as well. When we come to the water and receive LIFE from our Jesus, we are made whole and belong fully, body and soul, to God. Please pray regularly that our children grasp this deep truth and make it their own in their lives during this year and all that God has in store for them in their lives. 

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.

Our Dates!

As is agreed upon in our contract, teacher days officially begin the week of August 15. 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 15 we will work together in Emily's room starting at 11:30 and working until 1:30. This meeting is for all teachers and classroom teacher aides. Please bring your charged up computer if you have one, creative brain and honest feedback. Let's go! More details on the WHO and WHEN are being ironed out. Thank you for putting a placeholder on this date. Lunch will be on your own for this one but treats will be provided. Do you mind scarfing something healthy down before 11:30? 

• Tuesday, August 16 will be an all-district day starting with breakfast on Main Street (high school) at 7:30. 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. Lunch will be provided.
• Wednesday, August 17 is teaming day. Please plan to meet as a grade level (HA! We've never been able to use that phrase universally in Forest School! I kinda like it!) to map out transportation needs and details of quarter 1 with your team. This can be done at a time and for a duration that works best for you. 
• Wednesday, August 17 First Grade Parent Night! Parents are invited to bring in supplies and meet their teachers! Details have been communicated with parents.
• Thursday, Friday and Monday, August 18, 19 and 22 use as you need in order to be prepared for your children on Tuesday morning. 

• First day of school is Tuesday, August 23! We have a half day of school. Dismissal will be at 11:30. It may be wise to include this note in your teacher blogs as well. We're trying to blast out this timing but could easily be missed in the shuffle of all the things. 

• Meet the Teacher night for K is Monday, August 29 from 6:30-7:30. 

Staff Details

Our staff folder can be accessed here and we'll walk through this together. Our encore schedule can be accessed here and we'll DEFINITELY walk through this one together!