Need A Laugh Anybody?

 

I've been trying this one out on people all day! 😂 You're welcome! 

Field Day

Thank you for your patience as we've moved this date around a few times. I think we've landed on a winner! Field Day will run on Friday, May 26. I will arrange the buses. Please pencil in 11:00-2:00 but I have yet to receive confirmation of that timeframe. 

Tulip Time Week

Some calendars that were sent out prior to Tulip Time making their parade decision state otherwise, but here's the truth of the matter: We have a full day of school on Wednesday, May 10. Thursday is a half day for the parade. If the parade is cancelled due to rain, the whole thing is just kaput. No make up parades on Friday. 

We're Flipping Out!

Thursday, May 11, our half day for Tulip Time is a FLIPPED day. Please note that early elementary students have encore on Thursday, May 11. And then, if I haven't lost you yet, Friday, May 12 is a Thursday schedule. Sometimes this feels like we're at the funny farm rather than the Rose Park Ranch! 

Faith Statements

As you begin to have your faith statements completed, please clip them together and pass them to me when I float by. We'll put them in each child's cum folder. 

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 8. 

Doo Dads

Today we welcomed guests from the DeVos Foundation. They were seeking innovative education and requested a tour of our K-2 Forest and the Rose Park Ranch! What a joy it was to share the story of creativity, play in childhood, teamwork, dedicated staff members and growth! Thank you, friends, for all you do to create this story! At the conclusion of the visit team members remarked this is one of the most joy-filled, creative learning spaces for a child to grow in formative years! 

Check this out. First graders at play "deep" in the Forest on a spring morning! The weather is variable but the energy and creativity found in the Forest remains off the charts! Thank you, friends, to your dedication to creative play within the Forest that is critical to these little ones' growth and development! 

Grandparents Day + Maroon and White Shop

We can't WAIT to welcome our grandparents/friends at the following 

May 5 

• 2nd grade: 8:30-9:30
  
• 1st grade: 10:00-11:00
  
•         K: 11:00-12:00

The Maroons Pop-up Shop will be at the middle of the Forest School campus during this time. Hope to see you there!

Class Lists

It's time to staaaaaart thinking about who to place with whom next year! Will you please begin to sketch out your class (if you are in a two section grade level) list into two groups? And, during your grade level collaboration times, would you please start thinking through our lists? Our due date for class lists will be May 19. We've got time but starting early will allow for more eyes on the lists. Thank you! 

MAP Testing

The final week of MAP testing and Delta Math opens the week of May 8. 

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.

Quarter 4!

Faith Writing

We will be collecting faith writing pieces from students at the close of this year again. These faith writings will be stored in each child's cumulative folder. The writing prompt is quite open. Teachers can select a prompt that reflects learning experiences that have taken place in the classroom this year or a very general prompt. Length of the piece is open as well. The goal is that an HC graduate would receive these faith writings as a glance of their faith walk during their time at Holland Christian. 

Staff Meeting

Our next staff meeting is Monday, April 17 from 11:30-12:15. Let's meet in Emily's room again please. 

Parade Details

First and Second grade teachers, when you have time, could you please jot in the parade preference totals for your class on this doc to help us organize the parade during our staff meeting? 

Convocation

Will take place on May 17 @ 9:00. We'll receive more details forthcoming! 

Final Chapel

Will be a special one. We'll celebrate the legacy of Mrs. Smith and Mr. Harig starting at 8:30 on May 31. 3th and 4th graders will be joining us AND we'll "send off" our second graders. Parent board will be supplying us with a small treat afterward. 

Field Day

Parent Board is organizing our field day again. Buses will bring us to Sassafras Ridge and we'll hike it to the beach pond for our fun. Field day will run from 11:30-2:00 on Wednesday, May 31. I'll arrange the transportation for K & 1st with Rose. 

Please Copy and Paste For Your Blog

Yearbooks

The Forest School Yearbook is going home on Friday, April 21! If you did not order a book but you still want to order one (it will be shipped to your house). You can go online and order one now at: https://www.geskusphoto.com/yearbookorders

You will need to type in "Forest School" and select it from the drop down menu, and then enter your order information.

Mentor Parent

Our goal and prayer is that every child and every family at Holland Christian would be known, nurtured and inspired. To that end, we are seeking warm and welcoming individuals or families who might be willing to serve as a mentor in their Forest Classroom for the 23-24 school year. Please see the list of needs that this role might encompass but is not limited to!

• Host two play dates at a park, beach, or other location of your choice for one hour.
• Attend the New Family Picnic in August
• Attend Forest special events such as the Forest Family Night Hike
• Willingness to share contact information with classroom families to receive questions, concerns, wonderings and feedback.
• Connect with Miska as needs from families arise

If you’re interested in serving your child’s classroom community in this manner in the 23-24 school year, please email Miska at mrynsburger@hollandchristian.org

Grandparents Day + Maroon and White Shop

We can't WAIT to welcome our grandparents/friends at the following 

May 5 

• 2nd grade: 8:30-9:30
  
• 1st grade: 10:00-11:00
  
•         K: 11:00-12:00

The Maroons Pop-up Shop will be at the middle of the Forest School campus during this time. Hope to see you there!

SPRING!

Kids Food Basket

Oh my! THANK YOU for promoting this service learning experience for your children! What a joy to see their smiles as they added yummy food items to the school collection! I will work out the details of food pick up with the KFB folks on Monday afternoon! 

Ticks! 

For the health and safety of our students and staff, we're going to institute this new protocol when/if we find a tick embedded on a child. I'll add this language to our handbook:

When tick is attached in child’s skin: Protocol is to save the tick and parent can take it to the health department for testing. Place in tape in a bag with date and location on body. Notification to parent right away when tick is removed via text/email.

Adult Dutch Costume Rental

Do you need a Dutch costume for the parade?  The Tulip Time committee is able to loan you a costume.  

If you need a costume, please let Kristi or Cara know by Tuesday, April 11.  

Tonight is the Night 

I will not be able to attend because Calvin University has an admissions event for incoming students in the fall. Kearia, TJ and I will be attending this event but missing our hike! I'm so sorry. Just too many good things! Here are our hike details! 

Oh boy....our calendars, the ODC calendar, a power outage and several snow days tried putting the kabosh on our Forest Family night hike. Then along came our friends at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts! They are hosting a Lantern Lit Night Hike to the Beach! ....with hot chocolate, coffee, hand projects and give aways! Guess what! We're invited! So we'll enjoy a night hike together after all! March 24 from 6:00-8:00 join us at the Saugatuck State Park for an evening in the fun-filled evening hiking in the Forest together! 

Nuts and Bolts

OK, friends! The goal? Let's just try not to implode over the next two weeks! On top of all of the amazing learning and transformational experiences you have planned in your classroom, we've got school-wide experiences planned galore as well! I'm trying to boil this down to just the fact, ma'am (+Ron). 

Kids Food Basket Week

This event begins on Monday. I'm so grateful for this opportunity allowing us to step into servant living. We’re approaching Holy Week during which Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as an act of service and love. Our act of service and love to our neighbors is help offer relief from food insecurities. It may be a beautiful discussion to hold during snack time which can be so easily taken for granted. Thank you, friends, for passionately growing Christ followers by leading and modeling with your heart!

Day 1-Why is Healthy Food Important? 

1. Why is healthy food so important? What could happen to a student if they weren’t able to get access to healthy food? 

2. What are some positive benefits to eating healthy food? 

3. “All children have a right to healthy food.” Do you think all children currently have access to healthy food? Why or why not? 

Day 2-What is Food Insecurity? 

1. Food insecurity is where a person (or a family) can’t get enough food where everyone can live healthy. 13.7% of children experience food insecurity. How does this make you feel? 

2. Sometimes it's easy to assume that certain people are food insecure, but it can happen to anyone. All it takes is lower pay, fewer work hours, or higher bills. Why is it important to not assume that only certain people are food insecure? 

3. Community is so important when it comes to addressing food insecurity. Why is it important to remember that it takes an entire community to help find solutions to food insecurity? 

Day 3-What is a Food Desert? 

1. A “food desert” is a place where it’s difficult to find healthy food people can easily get. What are some obstacles that families can have in accessing healthy foods in food deserts? 

2. Have you ever heard of a food desert before? If so, when and how did you learn about it? 

3. Why would it be important for our community to know more about food deserts? How would raising awareness about these areas help families that live in those areas? 

Day 4-Phalesha's Story 

1. What were one or two things that stood out to you about Phalesha’s story? 

2. What were some of the things that were hard for Phaslesha to do without healthy meals growing up? 

3. What were some factors that kept Phalesha and her family from purchasing healthier foods when she was growing up? 

Day 5-How You Can Continue to Make A Difference 

1. How do you feel after being a part of a week where you raised food, funds, and learned more about Kids’ Food Basket and their mission? 

2. Why is it important to continue to think about ways that you can get involved beyond this week? 

3. There are several ways to continue to stay involved (i.e. host a fundraiser, organize a “wish list” drive, volunteer, etc.). What are some ways that you hope to stay involved? 

We will have a table set up to collect food items from the wish list:

• Nutri-Grain bars

• Fruit cups

• Cheerios

• Raisin boxes

• Cheez-It crackers 

• Goldfish crackers 

These food items were selected by children who were invited to a listening session so we can ensure we're providing children with healthy choices that suit their preferences as much as possible. 

Additionally, if you'd like to contribute to the mission good work Kids Food Basket provides in our community, please feel free to use this QR code for a direct link

Friday, March 24

Is Go Orange Day to raise awareness and pubicly offer support to the continued work done by Kids Food Basket. 

PD

If we have any marbles left in our cranium, we'll be engaged in some learning/work at the high school in the afternoon of the 24th. The 24th is a half day for students. 

Report Cards

Will be live online on March 24. 

Parent/Teacher Conferences 

Will take place on March 20 and 27 (27th is a virtual option night)

Please Copy and Paste For Your Blog

Kids Food Basket Week

Kids Food Basket Week begins on Monday. We're so grateful for this opportunity allowing us to step into the call of servant living. We’re approaching Holy Week soon, friends, during which Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as an act of service and love. One act of service and love to our neighbors can be to help offer relief from food insecurities. We anticipate special learning experiences and what we pray will be impactful discussions each day with your child. Thank you, friends, for passionately growing Christ followers by leading and modeling with your heart!

Kids Food Basket held a listening session with children who struggle with food insecurities. They learned the food preferences from the children right in our own neighborhood! The following is food from their wish list. If you're willing, please bring any of these food items between Monday, March 20-Friday, March 24. 

• Nutri-Grain bars

• Fruit cups

• Cheerios

• Raisin boxes

• Cheez-It crackers 

• Goldfish crackers 

Friday, March 24

Is Go Orange Day to raise awareness and publicly offer support to the continued work done by Kids Food Basket. 

Additionally, if you'd like to contribute to the mission good work Kids Food Basket provides in our community, please feel free to use this QR code for a direct link

Night Hike

Oh boy....our calendars, the ODC calendar, a power outage and several snow days tried putting the kabosh on our Forest Family night hike. Then along came our friends at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts! They are hosting a Lantern Lit Night Hike to the Beach! ....with hot chocolate, coffee, hand projects and give aways! Guess what! We're invited! So we'll enjoy a night hike together after all! March 24 from 6:00-8:00 join us at the Saugatuck State Park for an evening in the fun-filled evening hiking in the Forest together! 

Grandparents Day!!!

May 5 

• 2nd grade: 8:30-9:30
  
• 1st grade: 10:00-11:00
  
•         K: 11:00-12:00

BAND EXTRAVAGANZA - Come one, come all to the Holland Christian Schools Band Extravaganza for a wonderful night of music on Tuesday, March 21. HC’s 5th grade, 6th grade, Middle School, and High School Bands will perform at the Jack H. Miller Center for the Musical Arts on Hope College’s campus at 7pm. Hear a wide variety of musical styles and sounds and you won’t want to miss the closer, featuring over 200 musicians combined!

 

SWINGIN’ THE NIGHT AWAY - The HCHS music department and jazz ensembles invite you to Swingin’ the Night Away on Friday, March 24, 6:45-9:30pm in the HS Cafeteria. Free dance instructions from 6:45 pm-7:30pm. Enjoy intergenerational fun, dancing, desserts and beverages from 7:30-9:30pm. Tickets are $5 at the door. Enjoy Afro-Cuban influenced music, funk tunes, the blues, and a vocal soloist!

Kids Food Basket Week

 

Kids Food Basket Week Is Coming

Are you willing to help fire up your kids to make a difference in the lives of children who struggle with food insecurities? 

50 schools from throughout West Michigan will be jumping in to work together to help bring food to “nourish kids to be their best” thanks to the leadership of Kids Food Basket.

Guess what! Rose Park is invited to join in with this important effort. Every child knows the discomfort of hunger. Many of our children don’t understand the depth of struggle with food insecurities but we certainly can work together to help ease the pain children who are our neighbors are feeling. March 20-March 24 we will live into Kids Food Basket Week! Take a peek at this flyer to learn about some of the ways your family can also get involved if you choose: KFB Week 2023-School Flyer. You’ll find a wish list of food items children in our area have shared that they enjoy eating the most. There is a QR code your family can contribute to this dear organization if you’d like. And, finally, you can wear orange on Go Orange Day, March 24. Orange is the color of Childhood Hunger Awareness and we want to help make a difference. As we grow in our gardening skills, our dream is to one day raise fresh, organic treats for these yummy sack suppers.

We'll be collecting food from the wish list gathered from children close by right in our neighborhood! Here are some of their favorite foods for the sack suppers we'd like to collect:

• Nutri-Grain bars

• Fruit cups

• Cheerios

• Raisin boxes

• Cheez-It crackers 

• Goldfish crackers 

Additionally, if you'd like to contribute to the mission good work Kids Food Basket provides in our community, please feel free to use this QR code for a direct link

Night Hike

Oh boy....our calendars, the ODC calendar, a power outage and several snow days tried putting the kabosh on our Forest Family night hike. Then along came our friends at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts! They are hosting a Lantern Lit Night Hike to the Beach! ....with hot chocolate, coffee, hand projects and give aways! Guess what! We're invited! So we'll enjoy a night hike together after all! March 24 from 6:00-8:00 join us at the Saugatuck State Park for an evening in the fun-filled evening hiking in the Forest together! 

Report Cards

Will be live online on March 24. 

Parent/Teacher Conferences 

Will take place on March 20 and 27 (27th is a virtual option night)

Please Copy and Paste in Classroom Blogs:

Kids Food Basket Week Is Coming

Our prayer, as your partners, is that the words we say, the behaviors we model and the experiences we plan would shape your children’s heart to look just a little more like Jesus’ heart every day. By embedding our Holland Christian Discipleship Practices in the learning activities and daily life of our community, we believe we help to prepare our children for a life lived closer to God’s call as Kingdom Bringers.

50 schools from throughout West Michigan will be jumping in to work together to help bring food to “nourish kids to be their best” thanks to the leadership of Kids Food Basket.

Guess what! Rose Park is invited to join in with this important effort. Every child knows the discomfort of hunger. Many of our children don’t understand the depth of struggle with food insecurities but we certainly can work together to help ease the pain children who are our neighbors are feeling. March 20-March 24 we will live into Kids Food Basket Week! Take a peek at this flyer to learn about some of the ways your family can also get involved if you choose: KFB Week 2023-School Flyer. You’ll find a wish list of food items children in our area have shared that they enjoy eating the most. There is a QR code your family can contribute to this dear organization if you’d like. And, finally, you can wear orange on Go Orange Day, March 24. Orange is the color of Childhood Hunger Awareness and we want to help make a difference. As we grow in our gardening skills, our dream is to one day raise fresh, organic treats for these yummy sack suppers.

Would you like to participate? We'll be collecting food from the wish list gathered from children close by right in our neighborhood! Here are some of their favorite foods for the sack suppers we'd like to collect:

• Nutri-Grain bars

• Fruit cups

• Cheerios

• Raisin boxes

• Cheez-It crackers 

• Goldfish crackers 

Additionally, if you'd like to contribute to the mission good work Kids Food Basket provides in our community, please feel free to use this QR code for a direct link

Night Hike

Oh boy....our calendars, the ODC calendar, a power outage and several snow days tried putting the kabosh on our Forest Family night hike. Then along came our friends at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts! They are hosting a Lantern Lit Night Hike to the Beach! ....with hot chocolate, coffee, hand projects and give aways! Guess what! We're invited! So we'll enjoy a night hike together after all! March 24 from 6:00-8:00 join us at the Saugatuck State Park for an evening in the fun-filled evening hiking in the Forest together! 

Finally! Mark Your Calendars and Invite Your Parents! Grandparents/friends Day is Coming! 

On May 5, we would love to welcome our Grandparents/friends to the Forest! Please note the following times for each grade level. Tell your parents/friends to dress comfortably! We're going to get them moving!

• 2nd grade: 8:30-9:30 (Grandparents/friends will ride the bus with us to the classroom! We'll meet at the depot in Pine Ridge. Grandparents/friends will ride the bus back to their cars)
• 1st grade: 10:00-11:00
• K: 11:00-12:00

Brief Updates

 This might get the award for our shortest blog post EVER! Just a few notes for your calendar and one copy/paste request, friends! Other than another winter storm, it really does start to feel like spring is trying to arrive! 

Report Cards

Will be live online on March 24. 

Parent/Teacher Conferences 

Will take place on March 20 and 27 (27th is a virtual option night)

Chapel

We're back on our schedule with team Harig/Spoelman for the 8th of March.

Please copy and paste for your blog:

"To the elementary and middle school students who are interested in playing lacrosse for Holland Christian this year, there will be a parent informational meeting on Thursday, March 9 at 7pm. It will be held in the Lecture Hall at Holland Christian High School. Please enter through Door A which will be unlocked at 6:45. This meeting is to provide you with details in terms of practice, equipment, times, etc. If you have any questions, we will be willing to answer any you may have there as well."