Serving God Where Called

Well, friends, I think this will be the final edition of our Suite Post. By next Thursday there really won't be much to add that you don't already know! I don't possess adequate command of vocabulary to sufficiently express my heartfelt gratitude for your friendship and willingness to step up and serve God in such mighty ways at South Side. You are EACH an inspiration to so many and to me! I have learned so much with you and from you. Most of all, my faith in our God has been emboldened and deepened by living alongside you these past six years! As with our little ones, the years God has allowed me to live and serve at South Side with be some of my most special. Thank you for being my family for six amazing years! 

End of Year Chapel
Let's hold our final chapel like we typically do. Come to the gym at 10:45. We'll sing and offer a special blessing to our "graduating" second graders. K and 1 will line the hallway. Parents and family members continue the applause line. Then our second graders will walk through the adoring crowd as we send them off to all that God has in store for them in new places and spaces. 

Friday Afternoon
Lunch will be provided on May 31. Anyone and everyone who would like to brainstorm together, let's talk about how we can develop the idea of buddy classes and joint projects in order to facilitate a deeper/richer "family feel" at South Side! 

Summer Cleaning Schedule
There is a Guidebook on the table in the staff center. If you are in charge of prepping an area for the summer cleaning crew, please take a few minutes to read through the booklet. I'll attach it here as well. Don't hesitate to ask Darlene questions. She's eager to help so that South Side can be spic and span for our new batch of learners next year! 

From Paul:

Good morning, South Side Staff!

We will start cleaning classrooms during the week of June 10^th.  Our goal is to be done with South Side by the end of June.  The summer cleaning crew will attach a cleaning checklist to your classroom door when finished.  Please indicate where you would like the classroom furniture arranged after cleaning just as you have in previous years.  Marking each furniture piece with a letter corresponding to a classroom map is most helpful for our cleaning staff.  Please also note that hallway and classroom floors will be stripped and waxed at a minimum from June 17-28.  Please refrain from being at school during that time. We will keep you updated upon completion of refinishing the floors. We will keep you updated on the completion of this task should there be any delays or unforeseen circumstances affecting the cleaning schedule.

Please do a few things before you leave for the summer:

1. Please take home any valuables or personal items.  We may have contractors who will be in the school this summer, and we don't want anything broken or stolen.

2. Clear off desks and surfaces.  The more clear surfaces we have the faster and more efficiently we can clean your classrooms and stay on schedule.

3. Submit any maintenance requests for your classroom that needs our attention.  Click here if you need something repaired.

4.  Submit any Summer Painting Requests.

5.  Please make a room diagram of your classroom so the summer cleaning crew can set up the room in the layout that you would like for the start of the school year.  Please also attach a letter to each pice of furniture with your room number corresponding to the location where you would like it to be placed.  Please keep your room diagram on the door to your classroom so that we can easily find it and arrange your room as you have requested.

We look forward to you returning to a cleaned and sanitized school in the fall.  I am confident that all of our summer projects will get done with your help by doing the things listed above.  Also enclosed to this email is the Summer Cleaning Schedule and Guidebook.  It will provide information regarding the projected timeline for the cleaning projects that will be administered throughout the summer, and it should provide a reasonable expectation of when we are planning on cleaning your classroom.  

If you have any paint requests for your classroom or other areas around the school, please click here.

Thank you very much!  We look forward to meeting, and hopefully, exceeding your expectations.

Running Records

Please remember to give your running records to Miska. They will be delivered to the next year's teachers ASAP. Thank you!

Report Cards and MAP ScoresReport Cards will be printed and packed next week. Please let Pat or Miska know when your reports are ready for the presses! If we can get those cards completed by Tuesday or Wednesday, it makes the printing process more feasible. But...I know. It's May. Everything is due and everything is happening. We'll all give grace where grace is needed! MAP Scores have been printed and will be in each child's report card with a letter of explanation 

Yearbook DistributionOur yearbooks are coming! THANK YOU for all of your work, Jenna and Karen! Please distribute the yearbooks to students on Wednesday, May 29. Your class set will be near your mailbox in the copy room.

Monday, June 3

• Time: 8:00am - 3:00pm

• Who: Teachers and Administrators

• What: The morning will consist of department and grade level activities, with the afternoon being meetings/activities for our individual campuses.

• Food: Light breakfast and lunches provided

Tuesday, June 4

• Time: 8:00am - 12:00pm

• Who: All HC Employees

• What: Worship, Review of strategic roadmap for our Cultural Intelligence work, Years of Service & Departing staff recognition, Looking Back & Looking Forward

Classroom Purchases
As we go into the summer, please remember not to make any purchases until after July 1. Purchases made anytime before that date might not be reimbursed. Please let me know if this poses a problem for you. We have until June 6 to turn in receipts for this year.

Refrigerator 
Lunch will be provided on the last day of school. Since you won't have to take your lunch bag along that day, would you mind clearing out your goodies in the fridge? We don't want to accidentally dip into anyone's 3-month old salsa next August. 😱

Weekend
Have a wonderful weekend with some time to relax, enjoy the sunshine, catch a little poison ivy, whatever's your pleasure (I may try to avoid the latter this time). May God bless each of you as you celebrate the sacrifices and gift that our country is!

Have a blessed summer friends. 

Blessings To Our Jenna!

Jenna! Many blessings to our sweet friend who has completed all of the end of the year tasks and is now following doctor's orders to go home and rest a while. It makes everyone happy to think of you setting up the last preparations for your little miracle. We smile at the truth that your heart will never again be the same the moment you meet your blessed baby. We will miss you. We will be in prayer for you. I know I speak for everyone when I say Happy Mothers Day!

Remembrance Fund
$25 please by tomorrow to replenish our funds.

End Of Year Soiree

When: Thursday, May 23

            4:00-5:30ish

             *Come and Go as it works in your schedule

Where: Eldeans Pool House
              2223 S Shore Drive
             *Walk through the pool area to the big yellow house

What: Light appetizers, desserts, drinks and time to connect before we all head out  for the summer

PD
More details will be forthcoming but please plan for some collaborative work on Monday, June 3 (preschool teachers and aides CPR training details are being put together for you as well).

We will close our year together on Tuesday morning, June 4. Then check out with me and GO REST and CREATE ADVENTURES!


Ordering
Per our decision at the staff meeting today, please indicate "Ship on July 5" when placing orders for school. Check the box requesting 24 hour notification in your cart. I'll let you know when our supplies have arrived!

Buddy Classes
Thank you for the initial conversations today. Before I start the process of switching to Rose Park projects, let's see if we can get these wheels in motion. We'll talk more about this in the days upcoming. I appreciate your ideas and willingness! Thank you to our preschool teachers who are willing to give up their rooms in order to help facilitate these cross-grade relationships!

Field Day
Could you please copy and paste this blurb for your parents:

Monday, May 20 is Field Day!!! Please dress your child in his/her Preparing A Table t-shirt and shorts that might get wet ;) Thank you! 

Happy Mother's Day

Sometimes a teacher's heart and a mother/father's heart are so similar I think it probably takes some high tech equipment to decipher one from the other. Our children are so loved by every one of you. I appreciated the sensitivity of Sarah's devotional and prayer request on Wednesday. I talked with someone from church for a bit today and just have a few thoughts to share with you along those lines as we go into a beautiful weekend of celebrating mothers! 

I believe we are called to another kind of expression of love on this special day as well. If you take a moment to look closely into the eyes of parents this weekend, you may find other stories held quietly inside hearts. Sometimes you have to pause, talk with another for a moment in order to see more there than what meets the eye if you brisk on by. I believe God has placed us in community so that we can be the arms and hands that uphold each other when we see and feel hurt and brokenness in others. We are encouraged to gently reach out to others on this day and allow hearts that are hurting to receive love and acceptance with which, we pray, will grow into moments and twinkling of healing.

Some mothers are surrounded by little blessings! They have beautiful, healthy children and yet they are bone weary and heart weary. They are seeking hope, strength and rest.

Some mothers are blessed with an exceptional mother’s heart. Yet their arms are painfully hollow and empty. They, too, seek hope, strength and rest.

Some mothers have been blessed with a beautiful, strong mother of her own to journey through this life with. But she grieves every day as this role model in her life has been called home to Glory. Joy on this day seems to escape.

So many mothers don’t want to face the emotional journey this day brings because they have a little one, a life they once carried, already home in Glory. This day brings the onslaught of what-ifs and what-could-have-beens in new and painful ways.

So many mothers are journeying the road alone. Every. Day. Dutifully fulfilling the role of sole provider, the sole parent, the sole role model, the sole guider. At times this calling simply must be all too much.

This list goes on, doesn’t it. There are countless variations of stories we each bear. I believe we are called to be the person who notices. Notice the emotions and stories of others. Gently touch the forearm of another or offer a warm, knowing hug. I believe God can stir in powerful, healing ways when we seek to serve by loving others.

So, I’ll borrow words from our friend Rod Brandsen. May you bless and be blessed this weekend. We truly wish each of you a very happy, cup-runneth-over Mothers Day that is marked in compassion, tenderness, careful empathy, gentle joy and love.

Radios
We'll talk in greater detail about our new radios at the staff meeting on the 16th, but for now, please be sure to SLIDE the walkie talkie into the slotted charger. That's a little different than just setting them in like we used to with the old fashioned models ;)

Convocation
Is planned for Tuesday, May 14 at 9:00.

Staff Luncheon
Tuesday, May 21! Parent team's treat! Mark your calendars and leave your leftover pizza at home!

Summer Slide Materials
Kim Dykstra has put in so many hours copying and collating books for our children. She is already beginning to put together book packages for our readers! We have TONS of them! If you feel the need to make adjustments to the reading levels you find on the google doc, please let me know first. Things could get really tangly for Kim if we all start making edits. ;)

The slide party will take place at Rose Park on July 31 from 1:00-3:00. All are invited. None are required ;) I'm told Maranda from WOOD TV will be present...probably not for the slide. I think she's interested in the progress of our little readers and teachers who care! That's YOU! :)

Final Chapel
As we have in the past, you may invite your parents to our final chapel which will take place on May 31 from 10:45-11:15.

Delta Screener
We can talk about this a bit tomorrow, but we test up a grade in this final testing session. The Delta window and MAP window opens next week.

May's Daze

Tulip Time! 
Hold onto your hats, friends! It's HERE!

Tulip Time

Let's plan on our parade practice right after morning recess on Monday, May 6. By 10:15 we'll line up in parade order, walk to Maranatha parking lot and return. This will help the kids get a little comfortable with walking....that can be a little tricky ;) If you could, please have your students placement mapped out so they know where they stand.

Preschool dismissal can get a little convoluted because of the 11:30 dismissal of the K-2 crowd. Preschool teachers, as we have in the past, please offer to your families to pick up at 11:00 if they choose.

Please invite your parents to come and change their child into their costume if they choose. We will eat lunch, perhaps go outside if it's not too hot, I will take the kids in the gym to rest and stay cool before loading the busses. Please remind the parents that they must pick up their child at Kollen Park after the parade. Again, we'll have more details on division and times soon.

Grade Level Meetings
Let's pencil in the week of the 13th! What days work best for you during encore? 

Testing Reminder

Just a reminder we are doing NWEA MAP and Delta Math testing the weeks of May 13-24.  Teachers should schedule times over those two weeks to accomplish those tests.  Any questions contact me.

Assessment Season

'Tis the season! Here are the non-negotiable reminders for our end of the year running records :) 

Apple Distinguished Photos

Karen S and Jenna have graciously offered to update the photos in our Apple Distinguished iBook. If you have any photos or your learners using technology in a creative way (doesn't have to be National Geographic worthy!) please send the pix to either Karen or Jenna! They will need this by May 10, please. Thank you! 

Brief Post

8th Grade Shadow (New to HC)
Tomorrow our eighth graders will be shadowing a profession of their choice. Emily Scogin is a new student to HC. Her dream is to be a teacher. She will very likely be roaming into your classroom at some point tomorrow. If you see her (she is a tad shy) please help her feel welcome and perhaps even suggest a student for her to sit near and help or observe. I'm grateful she has asked if she can try her teacher legs with us at South Side! :)

Service Learning from PR
On May 1, we will have 22 kids from Pine Ridge visiting with us at South Side as a set of helping hands. If you have a specific job you'd like them to accomplish, we will collect a to-do list for them to accomplish. They will be here at South Side from 1:00-2:00.

Tulip Time

Let's plan on our parade practice right after morning recess on Monday, May 6. By 10:15 we'll line up in parade order, walk to Maranatha parking lot and return. This will help the kids get a little comfortable with walking....that can be a little tricky ;) If you could, please have your students placement mapped out so they know where they stand.

Preschool dismissal can get a little convoluted because of the 11:30 dismissal of the K-2 crowd. Preschool teachers, as we have in the past, please offer to your families to pick up at 11:00 if they choose.

We will get the finer points of Thursday's events soon, but please invite your parents to come and change their child into their costume if they choose. We will eat lunch, perhaps go outside if it's not too hot, I will take the kids in the gym to rest and stay cool before loading the busses. Please remind the parents that they must pick up their child at Kollen Park after the parade. Again, we'll have more details on division and times soon.

Batons
Please let me know if you have a new student or a student who has lost his or her baton, and I'll see to it that you get one.

We’ll be sending these home with students again on the last day, May 31. If you need any of the program information, here is a link again.

Just a quick reminder, if you haven't begun already, anytime now might be a good time to break your students' batons out of the closet, cupboard, or other storage space where you've had them. The last day will be here before you know and chipping off a few a week might be a good pace. Thank you for thoughtfully adding this piece of encouragement and blessing to your students! 

Easter Blessings

Lunch with Jim on April 25
Jim would like to get to know everyone at South Side just a little bit better. He has asked if he can eat lunch with you at our table on Thursday, April 25. There is nothing formal about this. When we sit together and enjoy lunch, it's a good time to connect, share stories and laugh a bit. We will all bring our lunch from home and Marty will pack one for him ;) No need for classroom coverage. Just plan, if you are able, to come to the staff center for lunch on the 25th if you are able!

Class Lists
Oh WOW! We should get a meeting time on the map soon. Will you please start thinking about who to keep together and who might be best kept apart? If you can begin to formulate your rough draft lists for next year, we'll look at talking through these lists the first week or two of May.

Tulip Time
Let's plan on our parade practice right after morning recess on Monday, May 6. By 10:15 we'll line up in parade order, walk to Maranatha parking lot and return. This will help the kids get a little comfortable with walking....that can be a little tricky ;) If you could, please have your students placement mapped out so they know where they stand.

Preschool dismissal can get a little convoluted because of the 11:30 dismissal of the K-2 crowd. Preschool teachers, as we have in the past, please offer to your families to pick up at 11:00 if they choose.

We will get the finer points of Thursday's events soon, but please invite your parents to come and change their child into their costume if they choose. We will eat lunch, perhaps go outside if it's not too hot, I will take the kids in the gym to rest and stay cool before loading the busses. Please remind the parents that they must pick up their child at Kollen Park after the parade. Again, we'll have more details on division and times soon.

Batons

Just a quick reminder, if you haven't begun already, anytime now might be a good time to break your students' batons out of the closet, cupboard, or other storage space where you've had them. The last day will be here before you know and chipping off a few a week might be a good pace. Thank you for thoughtfully adding this piece of encouragement and blessing to your students! 

Please let me know if you have a new student or a student who has lost his or her baton, and I'll see to it that you get one.

We’ll be sending these home with students again on the last day, May 31. If you need any of the program information, here is a link again.

---

Spring Things

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:17

Program Practice April 23
Pick Up at 12:30. We will return to South Side at 2:15. This will impact encore on Tuesday. There will be no encore on Tuesday afternoon until 2:15.

Program on the 23rd. 
Students will arrive at 6:30. Please plan to be in your place in the narthex at 6:25 to meet your first kiddos. It would be wise to make note of this in your classroom blogs.

Baby Shower
Thursday, April 18 over the lunch hour is the BABY SHOWER for Rhea and Jenna! We can't wait to celebrate these new mamas!

Miska's Personal Days
I will be leaving on Wednesday, April 17 for Aunt Amanda's wedding in California. I'm so sorry to miss days at South Side! I feel like the world might fall apart in my absence but, oddly, when I return all will be well. ;) Thank you for carrying on in my absence.

Collaboration Days
Here they come again! Yes, Ron! This means you too! ;)

Break Time!

Well friends, the news is here. I keep reminding myself that the bridge to the north side of Holland really isn't that long. I think it's only a 7 minute drive from here to Rose Park. Today it feels a bit like the other side of the moon....but it's not really that far away ;) I don't have an eloquent message prepared that adequately expresses my deep gratitude to each of you or begins to capture how much each of you mean to me...not yet. As Jim mentioned, this news needed to roll out just a little sooner than was originally planned. Please know that I treasure your friendship. I have such respect for every one of the people who comprise the South Side family. I am so grateful for how you made me feel at home 6 years ago and for how you have helped raise TJ and my children! I'll share more with you when the time comes. In the meantime, we have a whole quarter of life at South Side to continue working and growing our little ones! But first? Let's take a break! Happy Spring Break, y'all! I can't wait to hear about the many adventures and/or staycations everyone has in store.

...and brother, Joe and VK ;) 

Check This Out! 
When I was checking out with our DCC snacks on Wednesday, the cashier began to share a bit of her life story. Her name is Dawn and she is a wonderfully engaging person. Dawn is legally blind but has carved a successfully independent niche for herself thanks to her Leader Dog, Lady! Dawn visits elementary classrooms and engages children in a variety of activities to teach empathy, acceptance and the challenges that come with being blind. She also teaches children how to engage appropriately with a trainer dog who is "on the clock". Dawn would LOVE to visit any of our classrooms to provide her learning experiences. You can reach her at 616-836-8739. Or just tell me that you'd like to be scheduled and I'll contact her! I mention this here because I do think it would be a valuable experience for our children.

Dawn and Lady

We Have An Author Visit Coming!

Crystal Bouwman is an author who would like to present to our students on April 17 from 9:30-10:00! HC2 kiddos, you are invited to attend as well. Lisa, we can talk about these details. Please mark your after-break calendars. Preschoolers are welcome to attend as well!

Children will be invited to order her books. A paper order form will be placed in your mailbox for your students' backpack on Monday, April 8. The following is the requested timeline for ordering per Chrystal's message to me:

On Monday, April 8, book order forms will be sent home with the students.

On Friday, April 12, book order forms will be returned to school with students.

Please have the teachers collect the forms and payment (do not separate money from forms) and put them in an envelope with the number of book orders on the outside of the envelope. (example: 3 Our Daily Bread for Kids; 4 Does God Take Naps; etc.) There are only four titles so this should be fairly easy.

On Monday, April 15, please turn in the envelopes with the order forms to the office. I will call each school later in the day to find our how many books I need to bring on the day of my visit.  I hope to fill the orders that day so the students will get their books asap.

You Are Invited

Personal Days for TJ's Sister's Wedding

TJ's sister is getting married over Easter weekend. Our family is very happy for her. We are looking forward to celebrating with her and coming to the wedding. However, the wedding is in Lake Tahoe. Sooo....I'm cashing in my personal days (good thing I didn't take that cleaning personal day in November!) I will be out of the building on April 18 and 19. We fly in late Sunday night. If there's a zombie in the office on Monday, that's just me...time change, late flight, all the things. I'll be sure to have coffee close at hand. I'll miss you but am grateful we have been blessed with the gift of taking a personal day or two to step away from work and celebrate something of this nature.

April 10 Chapel-Program Practice

Shelly is able to free up a little extra time for program practice on April 10. Please plan to start chapel a little early on Wednesday, April 10 so we can put the final touches on our event. We will begin in the gym at 10:45 rather than 11.

MAP Testing 

Our testing window will be open May 13-24.

The Fridge

Oh boy. If you have old food, drinks, odd condiments, science experiments....please take them home. Spring break is a good time to clean up the fridge ;)

Have a blessed break! Make wonderful memories with your family! Allow time to rejuvenate and enjoy God in the slower pace that comes with a break away from school! See you on the other side when we start zipping to the finish line of the year!

More Alike Than Different

I happened to step into Karen Strikwerda's room at just the right time this morning. The kindergarteners were both tickled and curious about the mis-matched socks some students and adults were sporting today. Mrs. Strikwerda explained it is World Down Syndrome Day. This day is special because we take an intentional opportunity to celebrate something we ought to recognize and live into every day: we are each more alike than we are different! What makes us more alike than different? God's love! And you can't get better or more important than that! Even Pastor Dan's Improvement Machine demonstrated the truth that God's love is perfect and universal. Every child, every staff member, every person is created in God's image and is loved! What a blessing to love and care for our 202 South Siders, who are more alike than they are different, every day! The same truth applies to the big people around here too, doesn't it! Such comfort to know that no matter our abilities, uniquenesses or lot in this journey called life, God's love for us is bigger, more powerful and just plain old perfect. God's love and grace is sufficient. God's love is what we stand in need of and God's love is OURS! And in THAT we are more alike than we are different.

Rock Your Socks! 

Contracts
Section numbers are beginning to solidify as enrollment has slowed! That means contracts are starting to roll out! If you have received a contract, please turn that in to me by Monday, March 25. No worries if you haven't received one. More are on the way! If you prefer not to sign one that you did receive, I'm guessing you have a question or need some resolution. Please contact before Monday with concerns or questions.

Richard's Chapel
Richard Nagelkirk has requested a time to hold chapel at South Side and share his story. We will plan to listen to him and his team of guests on Wednesday, March 27 at 11:00.

Kevin Kameraad
Kevin will be presenting to us on Thursday, March 28 from 10:30-11:30. I suspect we'll be especially glad to welcome him and listen after the week we'll have put in at that point!

Conferences
They're coming! Monday and Wednesday evening! Please let me know if I can support/assist you in any way. I'll be meeting with new families both evenings but am happy to step out to help or make an appointment to follow up with any parents or with you!

Welcome Emily VanVliet! 
We have another teacher on our team! Welcome Emily VanVliet to our growing community! Emily will be teaching our first graders in the forest! Emily is currently student teaching at Grand Rapids Christian and has a very unique story. I know that she will be a blessing to our HC community and to Forest School. Welcome, Emily!

Staff Meeting
Our April 18 meeting is going to be a party! For real! (I know...I know...it's always a party!) Our sunshine committee has overtaken our staff meeting and turned it into a baby shower to celebrate our new Mamas: Jenna and Rhea! If you are able, please keep the lunch coverage you have for that Thursday and come to celebrate with our friends! 11:45-12:30. Lunch will be provided!

Spring Break
I may have neglected to mention...we have a few days off coming up. We'll not be in session beginning on March 29. I hope you have a chance to get outta dodge or at least enjoy a relaxing break! You have each poured so much of yourselves into this calling! I love to imagine everyone enjoying some REST over break!

March Madness ;)

Thank you to everyone for providing honest feedback to Erin for my evaluation. I'm SO grateful everyone has this process in order to anonymously share your thoughts, hopes, ideas and suggestions. It is one of my greatest joys to serve alongside each of you and live our day to day journeys together. I LOVE hearing your honest thoughts about this home-away-from-home we create for our little people but the big people too! I will take your feedback and create new goals for myself to grow into in the coming year. While this is a formal form of feedback, please know that I appreciate so much the honesty with which you converse with me on a regular basis as well. It takes this level of honesty for us to work together to grow the children God has entrusted to our care. Thank you!

Fun Night
It's almost here! Thank you for sending out messages, collecting goodies and for serving at Fun Night! It is a big deal for our kiddos when you are willing to meet them in their world....and on a Friday evening! You each go above and beyond the call of duty. This is but one example! Thank you!

Ron Clark Academy Visit
I have been asked to visit the Ron Clark Academy next week. The Ron Clark Academy For that visit, I will be out of the building (and state) on Thursday afternoon and all day on Friday, March 14 and 15. The request for me to attend this learning/observation has been made through the Kevin Witte Memorial. I will let you know what I learn while visiting the school. I'll return on Monday, March 18. 

Dave Zimmer
Would like to update our staff on the state of the union from the financial standpoint. He's planning to meet with us on Tuesday, March 12 at 3:30. This is not a meeting that is in response to anything critical, rather, he would like to keep all employees informed on our financial status.

Richard Nagelkirk
Please mark your calendar. Richard Nagelkirk has asked if he can share his basketball story with our South Siders. He will likely be bringing in a few guest speakers with him. He has asked to come on Wednesday, March 27 at 11:00. I know that is a busy week with reading celebration, prepping for conferences, and field trips. Come if you are able and have time with your class. The assembly is expected to last 30 minutes.

Kevin Kammeraad
March 28 from 10:30-11:30 Kevin Kammeraad will talk with our little ones about creativity and writing! We'll be in the gym for this fun event (helpful, I hope, after a looooong week leading toward spring break! Fweew!)

P/T Conferences
Again, for planning purposes, our parent teacher conferences for the spring will be held on March 25 and 27 from 4:00-8:00.

Report Cards
Just for your planning purposes, our third quarter report cards will go home on March 22. If you're able, please have them completed by the 21st so we can print and stuff them for you.

Lent

Wednesday marks an important day on the Church calendar. We observe the beginning of Lent on this day. The history of the Lenten season is an interesting journey. It tells the story of faith-filled servants spanning time and space seeking to observe and celebrate in gratitude the greatest gift of all, Jesus sacrificial atonement of his people. While God does not command the church to observe Lent, we do seek to prepare our hearts and lives as we walk toward Good Friday and Easter through the Lenten season. I recently read a book (thanks to our onslaught of snowdays!) entitled Mudhouse Sabbath in which Lauren Winner writes, "Practicing the spiritual disciplines does not make us Christians. Instead, the practicing teaches us what it means to live as Christians." We will be preparing our own hearts with music, liturgies and visuals during this time as well as inviting our children to mark themselves uniquely during this time. It is a tangible way for our young ones to remember to whom they belong and how that belonging transforms each of us in big and small tangible ways.

In my time at South Side, we have never walked our students through the practice of placing an ashen cross on their foreheads. Let's talk and think about the value of including this in our Wednesday morning devotions as a staff and with your students. It is a tangible way for them to understand there is something different and special about entering into the upcoming 40 days.

Staff Meeting Change
Dave Zimmer would like to come and share the proposed budget before our HC Society meeting. In order to accommodate his request, let's move our monthly staff meeting from Thursday, March 14 to Tuesday, March 12. Dave is available at 3:30. We will hold a brief after-school meeting with Dave on Tuesday, March 12 at 3:30. All are invited to attend this meeting. 

Report Cards
Just for your planning purposes, our third quarter report cards will go home on March 22. If you're able, please have them completed by the 21st so we can print and stuff them for you.

Parent Teacher Conferences
Again, for planning purposes, our parent teacher conferences for the spring will be held on March 25 and 27 from 4:00-8:00.

Kevin Kammeraad
March 28 from 10:30-11:30 Kevin Kammeraad will talk with our little ones about creativity and writing! We'll be in the gym for this fun event (helpful, I hope, after a looooong week leading toward spring break! Fweew!)

All The Things

Staff Meeting Change
Dave Zimmer would like to come and share the proposed budget before our HC Society meeting. In order to accommodate his request, let's move our monthly staff meeting from Thursday, March 14 to Tuesday, March 12. Dave is available at 3:30. We will hold a brief after-school meeting with Dave on Tuesday, March 12 at 3:30. All are invited to attend this meeting. 

Welcome Jim
The Open House is back on – the date that works for Jim and Martie and the date that we can use Main Street is Tuesday, February 26, which doesn’t give us a lot of time.   At 3:45 p.m., Jim will address the staff.  The Open House is from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.   

Worker Bee
If you haven't already sent out your blog, would you be willing to copy and paste this little note into your class blogs? 

Many of our students throughout South Side have recently engaged in non-fiction research projects. They've been delving into non-fiction books and excitedly sharing their findings and are working diligently to publish their work. We're thrilled, as a staff, to revel in their enthusiasm for learning. As you know, good learning can create good messes. Big ones. Our library is showing the enthusiastic research our children have engaged in. There are books that have been returned recently at a much faster rate than our volunteers can keep up with. We're flying the white flag and seeking help! If you have availability and are willing, we'd love to welcome you into our library to sort and reshelve our book supply. We'll hold a book reshelve party (doesn't that sound too good to pass up?) on Thursday, February 28 at 10:00. Snacks will even be provided! Please email Miska at mrynsburger@hollandchristian.org if you are willing and available to help in our media center. 

Lia and Diane Return!
Mark your calendars! Diane Walters and Lia Buursma would like to get all caught up with their South Side family. They are bringing soup for lunch on Thursday, February 28. Please pull up a chair, enjoy some soup and laugh with old friends! ....not to say they're old....at least not too much....let's leave that adjective out! ;)

Just for good measure, I'll paste here the notes from last week's post (because...you never know...maybe reading this gets skipped ONLY here and there ;) ) 

Yearbook Notice
ALL Yearbook Photos are due in 1 week on Friday, March 1. If you are a Preschool, Jr. K, K-2 Teacher, or After School Care teacher, this includes you! The committee needs your class photo, fun shots, Maker's Week, Wacky Wednesday, class verse, etc. Search your email for the "YEARBOOK!!" email from Jenna on January 16 to see what things the yearbook committee needs you to do while uploading and renaming your files. Thanks for getting them in on time! See Jenna or Karen S. for details.

Report Cards 
Just for your planning purposes, our third quarter report cards will go home on March 22. If you're able, please have them completed by the 21st so we can print and stuff them for you.

Parent Teacher Conferences
Again, for planning purposes, our parent teacher conferences for the spring will be held on March 25 and 27 from 4:00-8:00.

Kevin Kammeraad
March 28 from 10:30-11:30 Kevin Kammeraad will talk with our little ones about creativity and writing! We'll be in the gym for this fun event (helpful, I hope, after a looooong week leading toward spring break! Fweew!)

Valentine's Day

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these". Mark 12:30-31.

As our children sing, "this sums up the law and the prophets" (did you just sing that line in your head? I did! 😂 Thank you for bearing witness every day to our Heavenly Father. He is love and God's love radiates out of each of your hearts. Love for your students. Love for each other. Love for our God. It is a fun to take a day to celebrate the gift of human love. I cherish each one of you in this South Side family! I pray you each enjoy this evening and weekend with perhaps a little extra adventure and a little extra rest! Happy Valentine's Day!

Yearbook Notice
ALL Yearbook Photos are due in 2 weeks on Friday, March 1. If you are a Preschool, Jr. K, K-2 Teacher, or After School Care teacher, this includes you! The committee needs your class photo, fun shots, Maker's Week, Wacky Wednesday, class verse, etc. Search your email for the "YEARBOOK!!" email from Jenna on January 16 to see what things the yearbook committee needs you to do while uploading and renaming your files. Thanks for getting them in on time! See Jenna or Karen S. for details. 

Report Cards 
Just for your planning purposes, our third quarter report cards will go home on March 22. If you're able, please have them completed by the 21st so we can print and stuff them for you.

Parent Teacher Conferences
Again, for planning purposes, our parent teacher conferences for the spring will be held on March 25 and 27 from 4:00-8:00.

Kevin Kammeraad
March 28 from 10:30-11:30 Kevin Kammeraad will talk with our little ones about creativity and writing! We'll be in the gym for this fun event (helpful, I hope, after a looooong week leading toward spring break! Fweew!)

Some Normalcy Perhaps?

Makers Week? BOOM! Thank you for engaging our kids in all of the busyness and high energy that comes from Makers Week. During our PD day on the 15th we'll have time to reflect and reevaluate this week. If you have thoughts, comments or ideas on that front, please keep them in mind. We'll talk about this on Friday afternoon. In the meantime, the pix are pretty fantastic, aren't they? Busy kids making a mess and learning together! 

Protecting Our Pipes
Todd has requested that we please leave our classroom doors open when air temps are 10º or lower. I will zip around and open the doors that are already closed before I leave on Friday afternoon. 

Ditto 
There is a big heart card for our Ditto volunteers on a table in the hallway. Please have your class sign this card before Thursday. I'll deliver this Wednesday after school to express our gratitude to the hard working staff at Ditto! 

February PD Day
Please don't hesitate to ask me how this agenda impacts you. Our schedules are going to be quite personalized based on who has already completed the CQ training or who has already accomplished this work. You can access the agenda here and, again, don't hesitate to ask me how this impacts you. 

Kevin Kammeraad
Mark your calendars! Kevin will be able to come to teach our kiddos on Thursday, March 28 beginning at 10:30. Preschool, you are invited as well and I can let him know that you will need to quietly dismiss at 11:05 if you'd like. I will have more details as we approach the date. Just keep that assembly in mind!

Staff Meeting
Our next staff meeting will be February 14 over the lunch hour. Erin Wyma will be coming to talk with our staff regarding my evaluation. Please do try to cover your classroom to be present for this meeting. I know it can be a challenge but coverage does allow us to hold these meetings over the lunch hour. 

Snowy Daze

For chapel on Wednesday I was going to use these pictures of our second graders in their SPARK work! Look at the faces as windows to the soul of these little people engaging and building bridges with our neighbors. Friendships are being gently formed and hearts are being transformed, in both directions. This is just one important component of life at South Side that makes us so special. 

Holland Language Academy and South Siders building friendships!

Enjoying projects with the residents from Parkview in Zeeland. 

Discovery By Design
The Holland Christian Board of Trustees has approved the Middle School renovation project that we believe is a fiscally responsible way of bringing our aging Middle School into a new era of education. A significant percentage of the funding has been raised already. We are working to secure more lead gifts toward this project. In an effort to close the campaign, we are seeking $2 million dollars from the Holland Christian community. If you are willing to contribute to this project for our students, please navigate here: hollandchristian.org/donate or email Judy DeVisser. 

Collaboration Days

Are next week already. Here is our schedule! 

Wish List
Per the discussion at our staff meeting, there is a sheet hanging on the bulletin board in the staff center. This is to collect our "wish list" ideas for South Side or your learning spaces from the walk-a-thon funds. Dream big! Put it all on the list for consideration. We'll narrow that down together with the PR peeps and parent board. I will prepare and submit the list on January 31.

Data Meetings
First grade: Tuesday, January 29 during encore.
Second grade: Thursday, January 31 during encore.
Kindergarten: Monday, January 28 during lunch.

Wacky Wednesday
From the parent team. Would you please include these dates and notes in your blog?

Jan. 30 - Favorite color day

Feb. 6  - Crazy hair / hat day (also Wellness Wednesday)

Feb. 13 - School or team spirit day

Feb. 20 - Pajama day

You Are Invited
The MACUL Conference has been attended by several of our staff members in recent years. It's fair to say that the learning teachers have experienced at this conference has been quite impactful. What I'm trying to say is this is a GREAT conference in our experience. This year it is on March 21-22. Check the details here. We are encouraged to send 2-3 teachers from South Side to attend this conference! If you are thinking about it for yourself, feel free to talk to me or another staff member who has been. There's some excellent learning and inspiration that is in store for you! 

Discovery Night

South Side Discovery Night: January 29, 6:00-7:00

5:00--Optional light dinner served

5:30--Please report to staff center for staff instructions and prayer

5:45--Everyone to assigned places

• Rachel, Tina, Karen VM, Karina and Michelle E please cover child care split between Leanne and Dawn's rooms. Christy please float in hallway between the rooms to welcome families and help them get settled in at the start. Second grade teachers please check that child care is going smoothly. Offer to help as needed. 
• Second grade and K teachers please greet parents at the door. Bring them to child care rooms if needed. Bring them to gym for snack and presentation which will begin shortly after 6. 

6:05-6:30--Presentation in gym (available staff listen in gym)

6:30-6:40--Sectional #1 PreK teachers share pictures and relevant topics showcasing life in preschool at HC.  Karen and Sarah will provide a 'day in the life' picture for parents in Sarah's room.

6:45-6:55--Sectional #2 Repeat of sectional #1. 

7:00--Q&A

Makers Week Sign Up

Please verify that the materials listed by your name reflect your needs for this year. Please complete your materials needed list by Wednesday morning January 30. I'll be shopping Wednesday for our supplies!