I have grown up all my life in the West Michigan area. I have enjoyed the changing of the season for the most part, and this year is no exception. Despite my intolerance of the cold, this time of year brings with it so many great memories and traditions that make me so grateful to be here. One of my favorites are the many, many, MANY lights that adorn homes, businesses, schools and even miscellaneous fences and signs around town. It takes me back to my younger days of stringing lights around my Christmas tree.
As I reflect on the light that we each have within us, Jesus Christ, I am reminded that not all lights shine so bright this time of year. I am challenged to be a brighter light, because, after all, light shines the brightest in the darkness. Also, that the love of Jesus would be the focus this season and that we would be bold enough to share our light with those around us. Pine Ridge students and staff are doing just that by partnering with the Positive Options program at Lakeshore Pregnancy Center, a program that helps protect and provide for moms and babies. We are doing our part to help out where we can! Thank you for being a HUGE part of this initiative as students learn to be a light to this world.
Blessings to you and yours this holiday season,
Dinah Pereira
/ ANNOUNCEMENTS
Illness
We continue to use precautions at school such as diligent hand washing and wiping down of surfaces to keep everyone healthy and in school each day. Thanks for your help with this in monitoring your child for any symptoms he/she may be experiencing at home. If your child has the following symptoms, please keep them home:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever (over 100.3)
- Fatigue and chills
- Loss of taste and/or smell
Your child needs to be free of these symptoms for at least 24 hours before returning back to school. For fevers, your child must be fever free without the use of fever reducing medicine for 24 hours. If your child will not be present at school, please remember to let our office know at 616.820.3505, or by emailing kwashburn@hollandchristian.org AND cboss@hollandchristian.org.
Just a friendly reminder that the office is not able to administer medication without a doctor’s signature on a medical consent form. This includes both prescription and over the counter medication (Tylenol, ibuprofen, cough drops, ointment, etc.). You can find the medical forms needed on the Medical Information Page.
Christmas Fundraiser: Positive Options
We kicked off our annual tradition of collecting baby items for Lakeshore Pregnancy Center’s Positive Options program November 17, and it will continue to run through December 15. The students are having a GREAT time competing with one another and bringing in so many great baby items to help those who need it most! Thank you for helping us make this a great experience for our students and teaching them to share their resources.
Just a reminder this fundraiser will be in lieu of gifts during our class Christmas celebrations as we focus on giving!
Christmas Spirit Week
Let the Christmas spirit roll! During the week before Christmas we will be having fun special dress events, so bring on the Christmas sweaters and Christmas PJs!
Here is the calendar of dressing events:
- 12/13 Monday: Christmas socks
- 12/14 Tuesday: Christmas sweater
- 12/15 Wednesday: Christmas headgear (antlers, hats)
- 12/16 Thursday: Red/green day
- 12/17 Friday: Christmas PJs
Christmas Volunteer Request from PR/SS Parent Board
On December 14, Pine Ridge staff will have the opportunity to gather together for a Christmas luncheon. In order for this to happen, we would like some volunteers. If you are willing to volunteer in your child’s classroom during lunch time, please reach out to the teacher and let them know. We need 1 parent per classroom. If you’re willing to bundle up and cover recess duty, please sign up to reserve your spot! Thank you for your help in making this special time work for our staff!
Pick up and Drop off
Thank you to those who continue to use Graafschap Road to both enter and exit during these busy times. We are required to leave the bus lane open for only buses between 7:45-8:30 am, and 2:45-3:45 pm every weekday. We appreciate your help in making this a safe experience for students and families.
Thank you from PR/SS Parent Board
The Parent Board would like to thank you for your support of our teachers and staff during the month of November! Your cards and tokens of appreciation brightened their days. Thank you!
Thank you also for your support of the Book Fair! Your participation was able to help us fund more books in the South Side and Pine Ridge libraries.
Parent Volunteers
We are very excited to invite parents back into the building by providing a wide range of activities that we would like to have help with as we partner together. We would like to have parents to help with:
- Lunch recess daily 12:00-12:30
- Library check out
- Listen to students read
- Help check out/in classroom take home books
- All parent volunteers will need to wear a mask and complete a background check through our HR department, which will be set up for you prior to helping at school in order to make sure we are keeping our students safe. Thank you in advance as we look forward to having you back in our building.
/ Important Website Links
- Lunch menu
- Medical information & forms
- School transportation
- HPS transportation page linked here
- Before & after school program
/ Calendar
View the full Holland Christian calendar.
December
15: Last day to turn in Positive Options baby items
20-31: Christmas vacation
January
3: Classes resume
10-21: MAP & Delta Testing Window
14: End of 2nd quarter
17: No School: MLK Day
21: Report cards sent home
