Dear Forest Families,
There is something truly special about this season. The trees are full, wildflowers are blooming, birdsong fills the air, and every corner of our Forest is alive with the beauty of God’s creation. As our staff has spent time preparing the cabins, trails, and learning spaces, we have been reminded again and again of God’s abundant goodness.
Yet, as beautiful as our Forest is right now, it is missing its most important part…our children.
The laughter on the trails, curious questions beside the pond, muddy boots, joyful discoveries, and the friendships that make this place feel like home are what truly bring our Forest to life. We cannot wait to welcome each child back to their special place in our Forest family. We have been praying for your children throughout the summer and eagerly anticipate all that God has planned for this new school year.
This year also marks a remarkable milestone for Holland Christian Schools as we celebrate 125 years of God’s faithfulness. What a joy it is to look back with gratitude and see generation after generation of students whose hearts and minds have been shaped for Christ’s Kingdom. Throughout this year, we’ll celebrate this incredible birthday together, rejoicing in the Lord’s steadfast love and faithfulness across more than a century. How appropriate that our school theme this year is His Love Endures Forever. It is our privilege to walk alongside your family as we help nurture a new generation of children who will know, love, and serve Jesus.
Thank you for entrusting us with your precious children. We are grateful to partner with you and cannot wait to begin another year of wonder, discovery, learning, and growing together in God’s beautiful creation.
Welcome to the Forest and see you soon,
Miska
Announcements
Before School Supervision
Our teachers will be gathering every Wednesday morning this school year for professional learning time together. We’re hiring kind, fun-loving supervisors for our students at each campus! Would you like to help our teachers and care for students on Wednesday mornings? 7:45-8:30am. $15 per session. Please Complete this form if you’re interested!
Enrollment/Medical Paperwork 26-27
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 26-27 school year and moving from:
- preschool to kindergarten: New waiver needed; please 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 is open 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, Lindsey Prentice. 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.
- 2nd Grade: Wednesday, August 19 6-7pm starting at Pine Ridge Elementary
- K & 1: Thursday, August 20 6-7pm at the cabins
- Young 5s: Thursday, August 20 5:30pm at Cedar Creek
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 31, 6pm in kindergarten cabins, for parents only
- Forest School 1st grade: Monday, August 31, 6:30pm in 1st grade cabins, for parents only
First Day of School
Our first day of school is a full day, Tuesday, August 25.
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- Cedar Creek Y5: 8:30-3:00
- Cabin campus: 8:20am-3:20pm
- Pine Ridge Elementary: 8:15-3:15
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
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
- 19: 2nd grade Parent+Student Night @ 6:15-7:30pm starting and ending at Pine Ridge.
- 20: Y5, Kindergarten & 1st Grade Parent+Student Open House
- 25: 1st day of school
- 31: K & 1st Parent Information Night 6pm (K) & 6:30pm (1st)
September
- 4-7: No school: Labor Day
- 4: K & 1st Picture Day
- 18: 2nd grade Picture Day