A Few Touch Points

We're in the final lap! This post will be brief just to ensure we're closing out on the same page:

Running Record Data
Not all students have updated running record scores. When you are able, please input that data as Erin is soon running her reports detailing our reading growth and interventions. Thank you!

Discovery Assessment Scores
Classroom teachers, your score sheets have been printed and placed in your mailbox. These are for your review. Then please place them in the students' cums.

Alternate snacks in freezer
In your class blogs, would you please ask parents who have taken alternate snacks for their children to bring them back home? We have several varieties in the freezer. Thank you!

Clean Refrigerator
Speaking of bringing home food, if you have condiments, drinks, food, experiments in the staff center refrigerator, would you please bring that home? It will soon be purged.

Final Chapel
I have had several parents ask if we are going to do the Second Grade Blessing chapel. Would you please include this notice in your classroom blog? We will hold our final chapel and send off our second graders beginning at 10:45 on Friday, June 3. After chapel, you may bring your class back to your classroom to pray together and say good-bye.

Kindergarten Visiting Day
Our new kinders will be visiting us on Tuesday from 8:30-9:30. How exciting :)

Field Day
Chris will provide details for our fun Field Day which will take place also on Tuesday in the afternoon.

Report Cards
Are due Wednesday, please, so we can print them and stuff them for you. If you are done early, please let Pat or me know and we'll print them early for you.

Class Lists
If parents ask, or if you'd like to inform them in your blog, class lists will be publicized via a power announcement on Friday afternoon, June 3.

Laugh and Lunch
After saying good-bye to our children on Friday, June 3, please plan to eat together in the staff center beginning at noon. We will have a time to celebrate as well as be updated on a few items for next year.

June 6 and 7 
On Monday, June 6 teaching staff will meet at the high school from 8:00-3:30.
On Tuesday, June 7 all staff are invited to meet at the high school from 8:00-12:00--big breakfast served along with a coffee barista that morning beginning at 7:30.

I lied. This post became longer and longer as I went along. It wasn't brief at all, was it! Thanks for hanging in there through all this nitty gritty. I'm looking so forward to time to celebrate YOU, your work, your gifts, your calling and your servant hearts!!! 

Looking Toward Next Year!

Preschool Staffing News

Join me in thanking our amazing Preschool Team for another great year of equipping, nurturing, and transforming our children for Jesus Christ.  With the end of the year in sight we want to say a huge "Thank YOU" to some staff members who will not be returning in the Fall - Mrs. Heather DeBoer (Rose Park), Mrs. Julie Wright (Rose Park), and Ms. Tabitha Tolsma (South Side) will be exploring new roads in their journey and we so appreciate their dedication and commitment to all the students and families at Holland Christian this past year.  We pray that God will continue to bless them and keep them and make His light shine through them and in them.

Mrs. Rysnburger will be also be taking on the role of Preschool Director for Holland Christian as Mrs. Brouwer will be heading back to the classroom at Rose Park as well as South Side.  Mrs. Brouwer will continue to work as a Curriculum Director for the Preschool Program.

At this point here is our Preschool Teaching Staff for 2016-2017

THREESCHOOL

• Mrs. Tammy Grassmid (South Side)

4's PRESCHOOL

• Mrs. Dawn Baker - 3/5 day (South Side)
• We are hiring two new 3 day teachers for our South Side campus and will share that information with you as soon as they are in place.

JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN

• Mrs. Jamie Lanser (South Side)

ENRICHMENT

• Mrs. Amanda Brouwer (South Side)
• Mrs. Tammy Grassmid (South Side)
• Mrs. Dawn Baker (South Side)
• Mrs. Lisa VanKampen and Mrs. Dawn Houskamp (South Side)

Running Records
One end-of-year running record for each child, with helpful notes taken, will need to be passed on to next year's teacher. The running record must be taken at his/her independent level.
Due by Wednesday, June 1 so we can print and stuff your report cards. They will go home on the last day of school.

Kindergarten Visiting Day
Our brand new kinders will be visiting on Tuesday, May 31. We can't wait to welcome our little newbies.

Special Chapel

We are going to FaceTime with children from Beautiful Gate for our chapel celebration on Wednesday, May 25. Their chapel time begins at 9:00 our time. We will begin our chapel at the typical 8:30 start time to learn about the work God has been doing at Beautiful Gate with a variety of people including HC High School students and our very own Chris Rosencrans. They will teach us a bit about how their lives have been blessed by the children in South Africa and likewise the opportunity God has afforded them in doing His work. Then at 9:00, we will sing together via FaceTime until about 9:15. 

Final Chapel Time
Let's hold the final chapel on Friday, June 3 at 10:45. We will celebrate God's goodness together and pray over our second graders. We've given them everything we've got and it's time to send them off South Side style. After praying, we'll again line the halls and applaud as the newly crowned third graders make their way down the hallway.

Report Cards
Due by Wednesday, June 1 so we can print and stuff your report cards. They will go home on the last day of school.

June 3 
Please plan on meeting in the staff center for lunch and some touch points from 11:45-1:00.

June 6 and 7 
On Monday, June 6 we will meet at the high school from 8:00-3:30.
On Tuesday, June 7 we will meet at the high school from 8:00-12:00--big breakfast served that morning beginning at 7:30.

Ed Camp

Please note the Ed Camp "Help Wanted" sign in the staff center. If you or you and a few cohorts are willing to share a learning experience or technique that has gone well for you recently, ie. implementing math workshop, use of technology, furthering and differentiating reading and writing curricula (each of you have unique areas you SHINE in these realms!) and are willing to share with other staff interested in growing on June 6 in the afternoon, please feel free to sign up on the "Ed Camp" poster in the staff center. 

Communication Checklist
You will soon receive the student communication checkists for your grade level in your mailboxes. Please mark the essentials on the front. Rather than writing a narrative on the back, we will have time to talk between grade levels on our Friday, June 3 staff meeting.

Zipping To The End

I hope you and your family have had a chance to enjoy a little of your own Tulip Time this week. To me, this time of year we are treated to all of creation bursting forth declaring God's glory. Tulip Time also means the end of the year is approaching. That usually brings with it the flurry of end-of-the-year prepping along with the end-of-the-year heartache of good-byes. Before getting too sentimental, let's have a look see at what's in store over the coming days and weeks.

Look at these adorable faces...

...some of us had more energy left than others ;)

Thank you, Pam Maat
In some staffing news, our ESS Director, Pam Maat, has decided to further pursue some other special education work in which she has been involved over recent years. Pam has much to contribute to the world of education, and we are grateful for her 29 years of service at Holland Christian Schools. A search for a new Director is underway, and we anticipate having that position filled before the end of the school year. Thanks for your prayers and support of that process!

Assessment Day
It's coming together. Here is the schedule for Tuesday the 17th. I hope you are able to fly through your end-of-year running records.

Reminder for Lunch on the 17th
Parent team is providing lunch on the 17th. Please feel free to have a parent cover your class so you can sit for a spell and have fun.

CLC Meeting with Bear Berends
Please remember that we have been asked to meet with Mr. Berends on Thursday, May 19 after school. We should wrap up around 4:15. Due to this meeting, our lunch staff meeting will be cancelled.

Communication Checklist
You will soon receive the student communication checkists for your grade level in your mailboxes. Please mark the essentials on the front. Rather than writing a narrative on the back, we will have time to talk between grade levels on our Friday, June 3 staff meeting.

Running Records
One end-of-year running record for each child, with helpful notes taken, will need to be passed on to next year's teacher. The running record must be taken at his/her independent level.

Placement Meetings
First grade--Monday, May 16 at 7:30
Second grade--Tuesday, May 17 at 7:30
Kindergarten--Thursday, May 19 at 7:30

End-of-Year Convocation
Please plan to board the buses at 8:40. We will return to school around 9:45.

Report Cards
Due by Wednesday, June 1 so we can print and stuff your report cards. They will go home on the last day of school.

Kindergarten Visiting Day
Our brand new kinders will be visiting on Tuesday, May 31. We can't wait to welcome our little newbies.

Final Chapel Time
Let's hold the final chapel on Friday, June 3 at 10:45. We will celebrate God's goodness together and pray over our second graders. We've given them everything we've got and it's time to send them off South Side style. After praying, we'll again line the halls and applaud as the newly crowned third graders make their way down the hallway.

June 3 
Please plan on meeting in the staff center for lunch and some touch points from 11:45-1:00.

June 6 and 7 
On Monday, June 6 we will meet at the high school from 8:00-3:30.
On Tuesday, June 7 we will meet at the high school from 8:00-12:00--big breakfast served that morning beginning at 7:30.

Consider yourself warned: It's Friday the 13th, Full Moon and the Friday after the Tulip Time parade tomorrow. Let's do this, team!

Time for Tulips and End-of-Year Frenzy!

Put on your seatbelts, friends. It's MAY!

CLC Audit and Meeting
Thank you for finding a little time to complete the ESS survey. If you haven't already (like me) there is still time to put down a few basic thoughts and feedback. Again, this survey doesn't need to require a dissertation of thought, just keep it to general feedback.

On Thursday, May 19, Bear Berends from the CLC will visit South Side for a face-to-face talk time with a variety of staff and parents. Due to his visit, we will cancel our planned staff meeting over the lunch hour. Rather, he has asked that we attend a meeting with him at the close of that school day from 3:30-4:15.

Parade Practice 10:30 on Monday. Tuesday if rain.
Preschool staff, please remind your parents to come right on time for child pick up if they are utilizing the circle drive on Wednesday and Thursday. We had a few disgruntled preschool parents who were inadvertently "trapped" in carpool on our last half day of school.

Discovery Assessment
Testing window begins on Monday and runs for two weeks. First and Second grade teachers please let me know if you would like support in setting up a test for your students.

Speaking of the Parade...
Holland Christian Schools and bands are in division 2 which lines up in the same place, in front of the Post Office, as last year. More specific times and details will be provided as it is available. 

Assessment Day

In preparation for the end of the year data gathering, let's hold a final assessment day on Tuesday, May 17 for the morning. Parent team will be providing lunch for our staff on that day as well. Details of which classes move to which sections on the morning of the 17th will follow.

Closing Convocation
All of our students will be bussed to the high school for our 9:00-9:30 closing celebration of our Life Together at HC. Busses will pick us up around 8:45 and bring us back roughly at 9:45. Bus numbers and classes assigned to which busses will be forthcoming.

End of the Year Running Record
As we approach assessment day, please pass along the final copy of the independent running record for each student to next year's teacher. In order to help the next year's teacher have a good picture of each reader, please provide anecdotal notes such as "choppy, very fluent, referred to photos" on the child's running record comments

Grade Level Placement
First grade placement meeting will be Monday, May 16 at 7:30.
Second grade placement meeting will be Tuesday, May 17 at 7:30.
Kindergarten...let's pick a date :)