Thursday, January 24, 2019

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

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! 

Friday, January 18, 2019

Semester One. It's In The Books!


Take a peek at our newest promotional video <3

MLK Jr. Day Plans
Thank you for the intentional thought and planning you have been putting into learning on Tuesday. Micah 6:8 keeps ringing in my mind. Through the work and lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King, we can instill the guiding principles to teach our students, in child appropriate ways, why and how to 'act justly to love kindness and to walk humbly with our God."

Report Cards
Are due Wednesday or Thursday if needed. We'll get those printed and packed for you to send home on Friday!

Data Meetings
First grade: Tuesday, January 29 during encore.
Second grade: Wednesday, January 31 during encore.
Kindergarten: is on the move yet.... ;) TBD.

Collaboration Days


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.

Chapel
We WILL have chapel on Wednesday again. This will get us back on our new schedule for 2019! :)

Discovery Night
Forest School Discovery Night took place last night (1/17) and it was a hit :) Our South Side Discovery Night will take place on 1/29 from 6:00-7:00. I can't WAIT for prospective parents to meet each one of you! Eager hearts and capable hands busting over with God's love and grace ready to partner with new families! Thank you for your willingness to give up this evening and meet with prospective families.

Part-Time Kindergarten
We have an update to share with you on part-time kindergarten at HC. For a while we were exploring changing 3-day part time to be restructured into 5 mornings a week instead. As you talk with prospective parents in the upcoming weeks, please know that 5 mornings is NOT the part time offering at HC. We have decided to stay the course which we have developed and is a successful, effective model for our learners. Part-time kindergarten will remain 3-days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursdays. We will continue to add Tuesdays after spring break.

Wacky Wednesdays
They are almost here!   
Jan. 30 - Favorite color day
Feb. 6  - Crazy hair / hat day
Feb. 13 - School or team spirit day
Feb. 20 - Pajama day

Makers Week Sign Up
Please provide your project ideas here so we can start to collect the pieces and parts you need. Our Makers Week will be M-Th beginning February 4. We'll hold a chapel celebration on the 8th of February.

February PD
We will have PD on the 15th of February. The details of the day will be confirmed on the 22nd of January. Right now please plan on a full 8:00-3:00 day...but more details will be forthcoming.


Thursday, January 10, 2019

2019... GET SOME!

Check out how Wellness Wednesday meets Morning Math Routine in Strikwerda's class! See Karen down there? Doing her 10 crunches? Way to go, Karen (you're welcome for the pic 😜)!!!





Makers Week
Our South Side week for Makers Week is approaching. Here is the sign up we used last year. Please take a peek and make edits as you think of them. We'll go shopping for supplies at the end of January.

Josh's Bathroom
Our Josh Algera has been enjoying some excellent mornings at school the past few weeks. He is going to be adding full days on Mondays and Thursdays. One of his learning targets is to use the bathroom at school. The adult bathroom closest to the gym will be the bathroom Josh uses. You may feel free to use that bathroom but we just wanted you to be aware that Josh will be parked in that one around lunch time...hopefully not for long ;)

Chapel Dates
Here are the newly updated dates for our chapel times in 2019!

Discovery Night
Our Discovery Nights are coming soon! Forest School will be from 6:00-7:00 on Thursday, January 17. South Side will be on Tuesday, January 29! We'll talk in more detail at our staff meeting (segue to...)

Staff Meeting
Our next K-2 staff meeting will take place on Thursday, January 17 over the lunch hour.

Staff Meeting
Our next PK staff meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 23 over the lunch hour at Rose Park!

Ditto Thanks
Each month a different campus from Holland Christian has been in charge of sending a community THANK YOU to Ditto for supporting our work and facilities at HC. January is our month. I will explain my idea to you at our staff meeting for your approval or take your suggestions.

Middle School Interns
Katelyn Roskamp is looking to place a few middle school interns in our classes at South Side. Here are the details:


This will take place in 4 afternoons during that week:
Session 1 - Monday February 11 + Tuesday February 12  from 11:45-2:55pm
Session 2 - Wednesday February 13 + Thursday February 14 from11:45-2:55

If you are willing to take a student or two, would you please let me know by the end of the day on Friday? This is an excellent learning opportunity for our middle schoolers and could benefit you and your instruction as well! 

Report Cards
Will go home on Friday January 25 (24th for Sarah). We would like to begin printing on Wednesday, January 23. Please let me know if you need assistance.

MLK Jr Day
Monday the 21st is the day our nation will commemorate the person and work of Martin Luther King Jr. As you likely know (and if you don't....we have to talk! ;) ) we have the 21st off of school. You are encouraged to teach the lessons of social justice, equality and respect for ALL of God's children!

Bulthuis Funds
We have been entrusted each year with spending money in honor and at the request of the Bulthuis family.

The criteria for these funds is:
“The purpose of this fund shall be to provide books, instructional materials, and other resources in print or digital format, not to include disposable items, for the Holland Christian School System. Funding shall be for the purpose of acquiring holdings in church history and missions, Biblical studies, and Christian faith-developing materials. This may include biography, history, narrative accounts, anthropology, and other writings. The resources will benefit our students and teachers and support the Holland Christian mission statement to ‘equip minds and nurture hearts to transform the world for Jesus Christ.’”

South Side has been allocated $476.

Any ideas come to mind? We can talk about this at our staff meeting as well! 

South Side Staff Calendar