Well, the year is underway. WONDERFUL job meeting and greeting at the ice cream social. Thank you for preparing and energetically describing the nitty gritty of life in your space at Parent Night. Parent left feeling happy and affirmed in their choice to entrust their children with you! Here's but ONE example from one of our parents:
As I sat in my 4th South Side parent meeting last night I was just in awe as to how phenomenal of a school and program Holland Christian really is. Perhaps it is because I am a single parent and for me it really does take a village to raise my little people, or maybe it is because I know what a gift it is to have my children at Holland Christian. There are days that I struggle with the agony of whether I have made the right decision of sending them to a "private" school, especially on a single parent income. I do get sideways looks and glances from friends at times about my choice and sure, I could maybe afford to live in a bigger house and not drive an old van, but my children are thriving. They are loved by people who love God. I could not ask for anything better. Holland Christian and South Side has truly been a blessing to my little family.
She says it best. You are being faithful and God is being great! Keep up the faithful work!
Procedures
Tis the season isn't it. Amidst the fun and the joy, I can hear and sense some frustration. It's not easy to let go of the classroom community you created last year and adopt a new batch. These children are younger, they don't yet know your systems and they are coming off of three months of unstructured time. The teaching of procedures is not why you entered into this profession. But it is critical. Keep up the hard work of gently reminding, nudging and holding little ones accountable. Please let me know when/how I can help you in this effort. By teaching and practicing EACH classroom procedure well now, you can more easily go about the good work of teaching and learning soon. We'll get there, folks. They're already growing and it's only day 4!
NWEA Training
Wednesday, September 6 at 4:00, all general ed and ESS teachers are asked to come to the Rose Park staff center to be trained on our new MAP testing. Training should last one hour. Our MAP testing window begins Monday, September 11 and runs for two weeks.
Delta Screener
Please note that we will need to complete the Delta Screener for a baseline assessment some time during the week of September 5.
School Pictures
School pictures will be taken on either Wednesday, September 13 or Thursday, September 14. Preschool pictures will be taken Wednesday morning before their walk-a-thon. K-2 and Tammy's Thursday class will be taken on Thursday, September 14.
Kinder Dibels for the County
will take place August 31. This requires nothing of our kindergarten teachers other than letting one student out of the classroom at a time to be assessed.
Thank you, Darlene and Bill
OH MY! Isn't South Side looking amazing?!? I've seen Darlene washing windows and cleaning sinks! Bill was spotted vacuuming UNDER the baseboards in the staff center! Paul keeps checking in regularly to see how things are going. Will you join me, please, in offering our thanks to them? A little expression of appreciation goes a long way and this team deserves a big thank you!
Enrique Gomez
We are excited to announce that Enrique Gomez has joined our staff! From 3:30-6:30 he and sometimes his wife and Raphie, will vacuum and take trash out of classrooms. Welcome Enrique and family!
Convocation
Will be Wednesday, September 6 at 9:00. Bussing information will come out soon.
Keep up the amazing work, team! And keep your hearts hope-filled and positive! Your little learners WILL learn how to do school again!
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Monday, August 14, 2017
Firing Up the Engines
Thank you for coming to our meeting this morning. Here are a few of our follow ups:
D.J. VanIwaarden
We are blessed to welcome another staff member to our team at South Side! Karen Strikwerda has a student who may exhibit some emotional/sensory needs. For the first eight weeks of the school year, he will have an aide to support him and "teach" him how to flourish at South Side. Mrs. VanIwaarden has accepted the role of supporting little Henry. Welcome to South Side, D.J!
DP Schedule
The following are the DPs listed with the months preschool introduces and teaches each:
September: Creation Keeping/ Community Growing
From Mary Hofman:
Student accounts will be updated as quickly as possible to include new students and place students in their 17-18 classrooms. I will notify you when the circulation notebook for your class is ready. Please, no student checkout until notified.
Any issues? Please let me know. Otherwise, we'll inform parents of this in our elementary blog post tomorrow afternoon.
Work Order Link
Can also be found in the staff folder
Differentiated Classroom
We have agreed to complete the reading and perhaps even some implementation of this book by the November staff meeting.
Running Records
Erin will return students' running records on Friday morning after our all-staff PD. :)
Lead Teacher Survey
This lead teacher role is intended to select a CROSS-TOWN individual to serve for this school year. Please complete this survey by August 17.
D.J. VanIwaarden
We are blessed to welcome another staff member to our team at South Side! Karen Strikwerda has a student who may exhibit some emotional/sensory needs. For the first eight weeks of the school year, he will have an aide to support him and "teach" him how to flourish at South Side. Mrs. VanIwaarden has accepted the role of supporting little Henry. Welcome to South Side, D.J!
DP Schedule
The following are the DPs listed with the months preschool introduces and teaches each:
September: Creation Keeping/ Community Growing
October: Word Rooted, image reflecting
November: God Glorifying
December: Kingdom Building
January: Wisdom Seeking
February: Servant Living
March: Disciple Making
April: Grace Breathing
May: Beauty Creating
From Mary Hofman:
Welcome back! I’m so eager to see all my wonderful colleagues again.
I admire what you do and wish to assist you and your students to have a year full of good learning and meaningful relationships.
My first priority is to respond to teacher requests for resources. Please do not hesitate to email, or leave a note in my mailbox, OR stop in and visit me!
My schedule, at least initially, will be:
Mon./Tues. Off (Zeeland Public Library)
Wed. a.m. Rose Park
Wed. p.m. Pine Ridge
Thurs. a.m. Rose Park
Thurs. P.m. South Side
Fri. a.m. Pine Ridge
Fri. p.m. flexible--wherever there is the greatest need
Please add me to your mailing list for your classroom news blogs. This helps me know what is happening in your room and your building as I travel around the district.
Please recruit library volunteers to assist with your library visits. Consistent dependable volunteers are important to maintaining our libraries!
Do access our library catalog at https://www.hollandchristian.org/elementary-media-center/. Click on Alexandria for your building, then choose Researcher.
Refer to the shared Elementary library Google folder for library circulation instructions and policies and procedures. I am happy to help you when I am in your building. (If you are already an expert, note that the software system and circulation desk instructions are unchanged from last year.)
PATRON ACCOUNTS:
I will have all staff accounts updated by the end of the week (8/18.) Staff members may check out materials at any time.
Student accounts will be updated as quickly as possible to include new students and place students in their 17-18 classrooms. I will notify you when the circulation notebook for your class is ready. Please, no student checkout until notified.
Parent Night
Our format for parent night will be just as it has been in the past. SOME parents will come to school beginning at 7:00. They will visit their classroom from 7:00-7:30. I will chatter at ALL of the parents from 7:30-8:00 in the gym. Then the last batch of parents will visit their classroom from 8:00-8:30. In an attempt to be equitable in terms of timing, we try to alternate teachers each year from "first shift" and "second shift". Here is our schedule for parent night:
7:00-7:30: Kindergarten-Mrs. Johnson
Kindergarten-Mrs. Becksfort
First Grade--Mrs. VanMeeteren
Second Grade--Mrs. Ritsema
7:30-8:00: All parents in the gym
8:00-8:30: Kindergarten--Mrs. Strikwerda
First Grade--Mrs. Bohle
Second Grade--Mrs. Dreyer/Mrs. Hunderman
Work Order Link
Can also be found in the staff folder
Differentiated Classroom
We have agreed to complete the reading and perhaps even some implementation of this book by the November staff meeting.
Running Records
Erin will return students' running records on Friday morning after our all-staff PD. :)
Lead Teacher Survey
This lead teacher role is intended to select a CROSS-TOWN individual to serve for this school year. Please complete this survey by August 17.
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Starting to Gear Up
Hello, friends! How are you?!? Last we left each other, we prayed the Aaronic blessing "May the Lord bless you and keep you" over you and our students. I can't wait to see everyone again and hear about your summer stories and how God has blessed you! I have been asked by several people what the PD week is looking like so plans can be made accordingly. While I'm a little hesitant to interrupt your summer, I would like to share with you what plans we have in place as well as an update on staffing changes that have happened over the summer months.
PD Week
Monday, August 14: 8:30-10:30 K-2 Staff Meeting
Monday, August 14: 11:00-12:30 Preschool Staff Meeting
Tuesday, August 15: 8:00-11:00 Elementary Math Teachers in the High School Media Center
Tuesday, August 15: 11:00-12:00 ESS teachers meet with Katie (she will provide details)
Wednesday, August 16: 8:00-3:00 All Staff (pre-K and aides dismissed at noon) Breakfast 8:00-8:30
Thursday, August 17: Ice Cream Social 6:30-8:00
Friday, August 18: 8:00-11:30 All Staff please. Breakfast 8:00-8:30
Staff Movement
Amy Woods
In pursuit of our reading group (previously known as LLI) teachers being consistent for students every day, we will have one teacher deliver small group instruction five mornings per week and another teacher delivering instruction five afternoons each week. Amy has enjoyed being Grandma to her little Adilynn two days per week. This created a conflict with scheduling. Amy has chosen to step down as a reading para-pro at South Side and be available to be Grandma instead. Oh dear. We will miss Amy! She has been such a blessing to our entire South Side community. For many years Amy has so graciously blessed our children with her loving wisdom and creative instruction. Perhaps God will yet open a door at South Side that will allow her to service our community in a new role. In the meantime, we will miss you and the blessing you are, Amy!
Karen DeRoo
Karen has provided beautiful support to both individual students at South Side as well as our teachers. She will be supporting students in other buildings next year. Thank you for all of the loving support you have provided, Karen. You are a GIFT! We hope it won't be long and you'll be back in the classrooms of South Side again!
Rachel Steen
Rachel has accepted the position to support several of our inclusive students in first grade. She will be based in Amanda Bohle's classroom. Rachel also has a little son, Luke, in Amanda's class as well. Welcome to the community, Rachel!
Lindsay Slager
Lindsay will be supporting a student in Dawn Baker's class this year. Little Jonathon presents some very special, high needs. His degenerative sight and need for hearing aids will impact his learning and play on the playground. Lindsay will support his learning, socializing and emotional navigating of life at South Side.
Gerrit VanKlaveren
As you may remember, we are excited to welcome Gerrit, Mr. VK, to the South Side team as our new PE teacher. We are excited to make South Side his new professional home.
Helena Hoogland
Guess what! We are welcoming Helena Hoogland to teach art at South Side and Pine Ridge on Fridays only. If your students have art on Mondays through Thursdays, they will still experience art with Diane Walters. If your students have art on Fridays, they will be taught by Helena Hoogland. Welcome to South Side, Helena!
Tami Schippers
We are welcoming Tami as our new reading interventionalist (previously known as LLI teacher)! She will work with our students who need remedial reading support on Mondays through Fridays from 8:15-11:45. Tami is little Kyla (3rd) and Jaylen's (K) mom! We can't wait to onboard Tami to our South Side family.
Hillary Klipp Lopez
Hillary will serve this year as our new Spanish teacher. Welcome Hillary! She and her family are moving from out East and will begin teaching toward the end of September. Hillary will teach Spanish at South Side, Pine Ridge and a section at the middle school as well.
Welcome Back Letters
Students are always so eager to receive a welcome letter from their classroom teacher. This is the beginning of a beautiful, year-long relationship. Many people look back and remember their teachers for a lifetime. Pre-K through 2nd grade teachers, please welcome your children with a "hello" letter. It would be helpful to include an invitation for preschool parent night (preschool teachers only) on August 15, Ice Cream Social on August 17 and first day of school on August 21 (full day). District wide we are planning to send the letters on Thursday, August 10. If you could print your letters, Pat will provide stamps and labels. We would love to put them all in the South Side mailbox on Thursday, August 10 in the morning. This way, all students/families will receive the welcome letters on the same day.
Preschool Parent Night
Parents will attend the informational meeting with their child's preschool teacher starting at 6:00 on Tuesday, August 15. You may communicate to your own parents how long they should plan to receive the information you would like to share.
Any issues? Please let me know. Otherwise, we'll inform parents of this in our elementary blog post tomorrow afternoon.
First Day
Please take note, our first day of school is a full day. This is different than last year. August 21 is also the solar eclipse, which is nearly a once in a lifetime event! I've purchased a fun learning pack with multiple license so please feel free to use as you see fit. The pack is attached to this email. What a great way to spend the first day back to school!
 |
| No worries! It's not time to pack away the beach days yet! |
PD Week
Monday, August 14: 8:30-10:30 K-2 Staff Meeting
Monday, August 14: 11:00-12:30 Preschool Staff Meeting
Tuesday, August 15: 8:00-11:00 Elementary Math Teachers in the High School Media Center
Tuesday, August 15: 11:00-12:00 ESS teachers meet with Katie (she will provide details)
Wednesday, August 16: 8:00-3:00 All Staff (pre-K and aides dismissed at noon) Breakfast 8:00-8:30
Thursday, August 17: Ice Cream Social 6:30-8:00
Friday, August 18: 8:00-11:30 All Staff please. Breakfast 8:00-8:30
Staff Movement
Amy Woods
In pursuit of our reading group (previously known as LLI) teachers being consistent for students every day, we will have one teacher deliver small group instruction five mornings per week and another teacher delivering instruction five afternoons each week. Amy has enjoyed being Grandma to her little Adilynn two days per week. This created a conflict with scheduling. Amy has chosen to step down as a reading para-pro at South Side and be available to be Grandma instead. Oh dear. We will miss Amy! She has been such a blessing to our entire South Side community. For many years Amy has so graciously blessed our children with her loving wisdom and creative instruction. Perhaps God will yet open a door at South Side that will allow her to service our community in a new role. In the meantime, we will miss you and the blessing you are, Amy!
Karen DeRoo
Karen has provided beautiful support to both individual students at South Side as well as our teachers. She will be supporting students in other buildings next year. Thank you for all of the loving support you have provided, Karen. You are a GIFT! We hope it won't be long and you'll be back in the classrooms of South Side again!
Rachel Steen
Rachel has accepted the position to support several of our inclusive students in first grade. She will be based in Amanda Bohle's classroom. Rachel also has a little son, Luke, in Amanda's class as well. Welcome to the community, Rachel!
Lindsay Slager
Lindsay will be supporting a student in Dawn Baker's class this year. Little Jonathon presents some very special, high needs. His degenerative sight and need for hearing aids will impact his learning and play on the playground. Lindsay will support his learning, socializing and emotional navigating of life at South Side.
Gerrit VanKlaveren
As you may remember, we are excited to welcome Gerrit, Mr. VK, to the South Side team as our new PE teacher. We are excited to make South Side his new professional home.
Helena Hoogland
Guess what! We are welcoming Helena Hoogland to teach art at South Side and Pine Ridge on Fridays only. If your students have art on Mondays through Thursdays, they will still experience art with Diane Walters. If your students have art on Fridays, they will be taught by Helena Hoogland. Welcome to South Side, Helena!
Tami Schippers
We are welcoming Tami as our new reading interventionalist (previously known as LLI teacher)! She will work with our students who need remedial reading support on Mondays through Fridays from 8:15-11:45. Tami is little Kyla (3rd) and Jaylen's (K) mom! We can't wait to onboard Tami to our South Side family.
Hillary Klipp Lopez
Hillary will serve this year as our new Spanish teacher. Welcome Hillary! She and her family are moving from out East and will begin teaching toward the end of September. Hillary will teach Spanish at South Side, Pine Ridge and a section at the middle school as well.
Welcome Back Letters
Students are always so eager to receive a welcome letter from their classroom teacher. This is the beginning of a beautiful, year-long relationship. Many people look back and remember their teachers for a lifetime. Pre-K through 2nd grade teachers, please welcome your children with a "hello" letter. It would be helpful to include an invitation for preschool parent night (preschool teachers only) on August 15, Ice Cream Social on August 17 and first day of school on August 21 (full day). District wide we are planning to send the letters on Thursday, August 10. If you could print your letters, Pat will provide stamps and labels. We would love to put them all in the South Side mailbox on Thursday, August 10 in the morning. This way, all students/families will receive the welcome letters on the same day.
Preschool Parent Night
Parents will attend the informational meeting with their child's preschool teacher starting at 6:00 on Tuesday, August 15. You may communicate to your own parents how long they should plan to receive the information you would like to share.
Ice Cream Social Start
Please join me outside at the front doors at 6:20 on August 17. We'll catch parents there and begin our "welcome back" conversations. At 6:30 we'll pray and walk into school together. I'm praying over each of you as you meet your new children and open your hearts to walk alongside families in growing children to more deeply know, see and love our Father God.
Parent Night
Our format for parent night will be just as it has been in the past. SOME parents will come to school beginning at 7:00. They will visit their classroom from 7:00-7:30. I will chatter at ALL of the parents from 7:30-8:00 in the gym. Then the last batch of parents will visit their classroom from 8:00-8:30. In an attempt to be equitable in terms of timing, we try to alternate teachers each year from "first shift" and "second shift". Here is our schedule for parent night:
7:00-7:30: Kindergarten-Mrs. Johnson
Kindergarten-Mrs. Becksfort
First Grade--Mrs. VanMeeteren
Second Grade--Mrs. Ritsema
7:30-8:00: All parents in the gym
8:00-8:30: Kindergarten--Mrs. Strikwerda
First Grade--Mrs. Bohle
Second Grade--Mrs. Dreyer/Mrs. Hunderman
First Day
Please take note, our first day of school is a full day. This is different than last year. August 21 is also the solar eclipse, which is nearly a once in a lifetime event! I've purchased a fun learning pack with multiple license so please feel free to use as you see fit. The pack is attached to this email. What a great way to spend the first day back to school!
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