Spring For A Break!

If you have any items in the refrigerator, would you please toss them or bring them home before break? It's time for a little spring cleaning! :)

Whether you're staying home, traveling out of the country or driving to Iowa (sorry, Jenna ;) ) I pray you have a safe, rest-filled, adventuresome break! We've worked so hard to get through a congested spot in the school year. Assessments, report cards and conferences are behind us! That's a major! Congratulations on a job well done getting to this point in the school year! Our kids are growing, working hard and flourishing! They deserve a good break too :)

Heather BouwmanAn HC alum and author is coming to talk with our students on Wednesday, April 11 at 11:00. Please bring your students right on time equipped with a piece of paper, pencil and writing surface (perhaps if clipboard if you have them). 

K-2 Staff Meeting

Will be April 19 over the lunch hour. 

Spring Fever

It's coming, friends! I think we can all feel it in the air. The season is changing and spring excitement is in the air. Can I just add, our hallways are positively BUSTING with learning samples that have been taking place in the classroom. Children's learning is being celebrated and shared! They are so proud to explain their dioramas, all about posters, their contribution to the rainforest, their paintings and artwork. Learning experiences like this time and energy to provide for our children but it is oh so enriching! I'm excited for our parents to see this celebration of learning at South Side when they visit during parent teacher conferences next week.

Love Does

The following is the piece for our blogs:

As we approach Holy Week next week, our desire is to point our children to the cross and to the empty tomb. We also have much to learn from walking in Christ's footsteps through the events leading up to Good Friday and Easter morning. In the upper room, you will remember, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples in act of loving servanthood. He challenged His disciples, and the words hold true for us today, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:17. We have an opportunity to move our children into action. It's small, but we believe effective. Even though the water crisis in Flint has been replaced by other stories in the media's attention, the people of Flint remain in need of clean water and supplies. Maple Avenue Ministries has partnered with several churches in Flint who are reeling due to several help centers recently closing their doors. Children in the region impacted by the unsafe water are in need of individually packaged toothbrushes as well as tubes of ProHealth Crest toothpaste (because that brand offers the amount of fluoride needed but is missing from the bottled water). Would you be willing to help? If you and your child can talk through the needs of the people in Flint and, following the lead of Christ, we can act as a servant and offer to reach out in love. Our collection of toothbrushes and toothpaste will be delivered on Wednesday, March 28, so we have a tight turn around. If you are willing to participate with your child, we believe the experience to bless and be blessed will be valuable. 

Multiage Classroom
Karina Schebor will be joining our ranks at South Side. She has experience in both multiage classroom settings as well as success in working with high ESS needs. She will be teaching first and second grade in our multiage classroom and joining both our first and second grade teams! Welcome Karina!

Spanish Immersion Teachers
Hillary Klipp-Lopez and Perla DeLeon will be transitioning to teach in our Spanish Immersion program. Hillary will be our new kindergarten teacher. Perla will be our new Spanish Immersion preschool teacher.

ESS Resource Teacher

Lynae Stielstra is joining the ESS team as a Resource Teacher at PR and SS next year. Her prior experience, gifts, and passion also make this a great fit for her and the role.

As more movement and placement news becomes available, I will let you know! 

Heather Bouwman

An HC alum and author is coming to talk with our students on Wednesday, April 11 at 11:00. Please bring your students right on time equipped with a piece of paper, pencil and writing surface (perhaps if clipboard if you have them). 

We'll officially send everyone off with a "happy spring break" next week but, in the meantime, 

Grace and Ears

My apologies for rerouting yesterday's staff meeting. Thank you for your understanding and compassion offered for Cam's trouble with ear pain. All that we need to cover we can work through in the blog and I will touch base with individual teams as well. Springtime temps...where are you? ;)

Report Cards
Quarter Three report cards will go home next Friday, March 23 so parents have them in advance of parent/teacher conferences. Please let Pat and/or me know when you are ready for the printing press. We'll get that thing fired up!

Conferences Request Form
We have a new format for any staff members who would like to request attendance at a conference. Please use this form to submit your request. We will keep it available in the staff folder as well.

Heather Bouwman
Keep in mind, as soon as we return from spring break we will be treated to an author visit! Heather Bouwman, an HC grad, has published several children's books. She will present to our kiddos at 11:00 on April 11. She has requested that our students bring paper, a hard surface to write on and a pencil to the assembly.

Preschool Staff Meeting
We will meet this Thursday, March 22 at Rose Park at 11:30. Thank you!

Do you know what? Those are all of the announcements we have right now! I hope you each have an excellent weekend! See you back in action on Monday! 

A Few Invitations

Thinking About CEA

Kristyn Kamps, formerly a middle school teacher at Holland Christian, now a presenter with the Buck Institute, is willing to come to CEA and give teachers the same training in PBL (Project Based Learning) that they would receive if they were to go to the three day Buck Institute training. The Buck Institute holds presentations and trainings all over the nation.

This training is normally a three full day training, but Kristyn is willing to condense it down to fit our CEA schedule of four sessions on Thursday and two sessions on Friday. We would need to have teachers commit to attending the PBL training for all six sessions.

This training will go far beyond just identifying what PBL is into exactly how to implement PBL. This training is coming from a fully certified and very experienced presenter. Consider having a few from your staff attend this training together and then they can become lead teachers into PBL at your school. It would be great when marketing your school to be able to say that you have staff trained in PBL from the Buck Institute.

There is NO ADDITIONAL COST for this training. Teachers simply pay their regular CEA dues and will be allowed to attend this PBL training with Kristyn. This is a great deal since going to a PBL training can be very expensive.

Let's talk about this at our staff meeting so we can RSVP numbers. 

Another invitation for your consideration

Beth Green from Cardus asked if we would be interested in inviting her to come speak to HC teachers on 4/12 or 4/13 after school. 

Possible topics:

1. Regarding Cardus Data: presenting an encouraging picture of the effect that Christian teaching is having on students and families
2. For teachers who might be doing masters research: How to do research in your own classroom, from a methods standpoint and with regard to what it means to be a Christian researcher.
3. Unpacking the terms “innovation” and/or “character” and their implications for a Christian school.

I will ask at our staff meeting if you are interested in attending a training time led by Beth on the 12th or 13th.

Classroom Spotlight
The Holland Sentinel requested the name of a South Side teacher to feature in their "Classroom Spotlight" story. OH MAN! That's impossible to select. Every one of our teachers are a BLESSING to our children, families and this greater community. Preschool through second grade! Rather than selecting a teacher based on ability, Sarah Becksfort was asked to be featured so that families can read about and learn details of our 3-day kindergarten program. This is an option that makes Holland Christian unique and it's valuable for the public at large be reminded of or newly learn about this option for them here at South Side. PLUS, Sarah Becksfort IS amazing! Can I get an amen?!? ;) Thank you for being willing, Sarah! 

A Nibble of Spring

Man, a day in the fifties does give the hope that springtime is on the way. Every time we go through the switching of the seasons, I always find myself expressing gratitude to God for the new, excitement in the air as well as his promise to remain steadfast and faithful come what may.

Did you see our tree tapping Junior Kindergarteners? Seeking sweet treats in the trees :) 

Welcome AJ
For consistency of programming for our students, Hillary has agreed to stay at the high school for the duration of the school year. AJ has accepted the offer to collaborate with Hillary and teach our elementary students for the duration of the school year. This change will be communicated to parents in tomorrow's blog.

Staff Meeting
Our staff meeting WILL NOT take place on Thursday, March 8. I will be at the ODC over the lunch hour. Rather, we will hold our staff meeting on Thursday, March 15.

ODC Kindergarteners
We will talk further about this at the staff meeting, but our SS family is growing! We will be creatively thinking through ways to include our newest kinders, housed out yonder in the woods, into our SS events and programming when and where appropriate.

P/T Conferences
Remember to block off dinner if you'd like to eat all together. Parent team will provide food from 6:00-6:30 on Monday, March 26 and Wednesday, March 28.

Author Visit 
Heather Bouwman, an HC grad, has published several children's books. She will present to our kiddos at 11:00 on April 11. She has requested that our students bring paper, a hard surface to write on and a pencil to the assembly.