Dear Forest Families,
After a beautiful summer of restoration, adventures, new ideas, and many relaxing walks with God, we’re gearing up for the 25.26 school year with so much joy and excitement! We pray summer has been (and still is!!!) a blessing for your family as well! In our partnership between home and school this year we will be unpacking our school theme “The Joy of the Lord.” For our tender children’s hearts and growth, let’s do this together. If you’re able, please find a quiet moment in your day to prayerfully consider these words from our HC Director of Faith Formation, Bryant Russ, regarding our theme. This is the learning and ponderings we get to bring to your child all year:
The LORD’s joy is woven throughout Scripture and creation itself. From the very beginning, joy permeates all that
God made, as seen in the refrain of Genesis 1—“And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:4, 12, 18, 21, 25).
Divine joy is the source of strength for God’s people, as Nehemiah reminded the Israelites: “The joy of the Lord is
your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Psalm 16 declares that fullness of joy is found in found only in God’s presence (v.
11). Even Jesus, in the face of terrible suffering, was empowered to endure the cross “for the joy set before him”
(Hebrews 12:2). In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul says that God fills His people with joy and peace as we
trust in Him, resulting in an overflow of hope through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
…I wonder if we’ve underestimated the God of the Bible. Is “joy” one of the first words that comes to mind
when we think of God? It should be! Pastor John Mark Comer said that, likewise “Joy is the defining feature of a life
organized around God.”
What if the joy of the LORD became the defining characteristic of our school system?
What if joy permeated conversations on the playground, in classrooms, and in our homes?
What if the joy enabled the kind of vulnerability that builds authentic community?
What if joy gave a context for hardship, allowing us to do difficult things with courage?
What if joy paved the way for generosity, humility, and service?
What if joy laid the foundation for worshipful curiosity and inspired lifelong discovery?
Let’s come close to God together this year, so that His joy permeates everything that we do!
Yours in partnership,
Miska
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11)
Announcements
Forest Family Updates
We are grateful to announce two new staff positions:
- Beth Bull is taking the role as lead teacher in first grade.
- Melissa Sedjo will be joining Beth in her classroom as teacher assistant for our first graders.
Enrollment/Medical Paperwork 25-26
All students entering kindergarten as well as new transfers have a variety of paperwork that needs to be filled out and turned in as soon as possible! Students will not be allowed to attend their first day unless all paperwork has been turned in!
Please be sure your child is up to date on all immunizations, and if you are pursuing an immunization waiver through your county health department, please call them for an appointment ASAP as appointments fill up quickly, and it needs to be done before attending the first day of school. If you have any questions, please email us!
Waiver Information:
If your child is a new student coming to HC from a different school district, your old waiver is invalid and you will need to schedule an appointment.
If your child with a waiver is returning student to Holland Christian for the 24-25 school year and moving from:
- preschool to kindergarten: New waiver needed; schedule an appointment.
- Young 5s to kindergarten: Current waiver on file is good unless you have chosen to complete a vaccine series during the year that was waived on the waiver.
Contact the Pine Ridge school office if you have any questions at 616.820.3505 or email us.
Summer Office Hours
The Pine Ridge/Forest School office will be open starting August 4 on Mondays-Fridays from 9am-3pm until school starts. There will be a few dates TBD for beginning of the school year all-staff off-site meetings, and those dates will be posted on the door once they become available.
Food Services
Family portal accounts will be ready to receive deposits on Monday, August 11. If you do NOT have a family portal account set up, you will need your student’s ID number. Please email Sue for your student ID number. There is no fee to deposit money into your child’s account with a debit or credit card.
Medications at School
If your child needs to take medication at school–either prescription or over the counter (including inhalers!)–we need an updated form signed by their physician each school year. If you have not done this yet, please do so ASAP so it is ready by the first day of school. The necessary form is on our Medical Information & Forms page.
If you have questions, you may also contact Holland Christian’s school nurse, Hendrina Cupery. She will help you set up a plan for the office to assist in administering the medication. For safety reasons, Holland Christian Schools is not able to dispense any medication to our students without a doctor’s order. Thank you!
Class Lists & School Supplies
We are so excited to welcome your child back to school! Below you will find the links for class lists and school supply lists per class and/or grade level.
Back to School Night:
This will be a time to come and check out your child’s classroom WITH your child. They can meet their teachers, deliver supplies and get the layout of where they will be this year.
- Kindergarten + First Grade at the cabins: August 14 from 6-7pm
- Second Grade starting and finishing at Pine Ridge (with a bus ride to the Ridge): August 12, 6:15-7:30pm
Parent Night:
This evening is a time for parents only to learn about the goals, routines and helpful partnership expectations from your child’s teacher.
- Forest School Kindergarten: Monday, August 25, 6pm in kindergarten cabins, for parents only
- Forest School 1st grade: Monday, August 25, 6:30pm in 1st grade cabins, for parents only
First Day of School
Our first day of school is a full day, Tuesday, August 19. The day begins in the classroom at 8:20am. Dismissal will be at the following times:
- K-1st grade students will be dismissed at 3:20pm at our cabin campus (880 Ottawa Avenue)
- Second grade students will be dismissed at 3:15pm at Pine Ridge Elementary School (we affectionally call this our “depot”)
Before & After School Drop-off/Pick-up Procedures
We ask that you adhere to the following traffic policies for Drop-Off and Pick-Up as specified. We appreciate your cooperation and doing your part to keep our children entering and exiting school safely each day!
Picture Day
For those of you really planning ahead, Forest School’s K & 1 picture day is September 4. Once order forms are received from GPI they will be sent home with students. If you are ordering a yearbook this will be the time to do that also. Second Grade Forest Kids’ school pictures will be taken on September 18 at Pine Ridge.
Absences
Please call the school office at 616.820.3505 or email us any time before 8:30am to let us know each day your child will be absent for any reason. You may leave a voicemail any time and it will be checked in the morning when the office opens. Please list any symptoms your sick child may have, as this information is a requirement for us to report to the county!
Transportation
Busing is available for some students needing transportation to and from Forest School or Pine Ridge. For complete busing details and to register, please visit our Transportation page.
Student Safety
After the school day is underway, all doors will be locked. All students who arrive late for school must notify the school office. This policy also applies to picking a student up from school. Please be sure to inform both your student’s teacher AND the office.
Moms in Prayer
Moms in Prayer is a great way to connect with other moms, pray for your child, and have an impact on the school. Please join us on Fridays, starting September 6th at Providence Church from 8:30-9:30am. Please email Nicole Shook with questions.
PowerSchool
PowerSchool is our student information database. You will want to bookmark this site! There is also an app available for PowerSchool for your phone which can be very helpful. If there is a change in your phone number or address any time during the school year, it is important that we are informed right away. Parents can update their information on PowerSchool directly on the Demographics Change tab. This assures up-to-date contact information for your child.
Please update your demographic information in PowerSchool each fall with your latest and most accurate contact information. Simply log in, then either an “update demographic screen” will automatically pop up, or simply click the “change demographics” button on the left of the screen. This information is necessary for field trip participation, emergency response and treatment, student photo permission, and for the office to easily be able to contact a parent or guardian as needed or desired. When listing your child’s emergency contacts, please be sure to list two contacts other than yourself.
Elementary Handbook
The Elementary Handbook is a great resource for parents providing important details on things like our curriculum, discipline policy, technology policy, etc.
Important Website Links
- School Calendar
- School Supply Lists
- Hot Lunch Information
- Medical Information & Forms
- School Transportation
- Before & After School Programs
Upcoming Dates:
View the full Holland Christian calendar
August
- 12: 2nd grade parent+student Night @ 6:15-7:30pm starting and ending at Pine Ridge.
- 14: Kindergarten & 1st Grade Parent+Student Open House @ 6-7pm
- 19: 1st day of school
- 25: K & 1st Parent Information Night 6pm (K) & 6:30pm (1st)
- 29: No school: Labor Day
September
- 1: No school Labor Day
- 4: K & 1st Picture Day
- 18: 2nd grade Picture Day
