Pine Ridge Newsletter: January 2025

Happy new year to all our Pine Ridge families! I don’t know about you, but I am not one for “new years resolutions” or even early goals. I like to take a moment to reflect on the past year and then jot down my hopes and prayers for the coming year. I do this because I know that ultimately it is not I who guides my life but Jesus Christ. He has given me life, a purpose and he has a plan laid out for me. This past year I heard a speaker talk about finding “bright spots” in our day to day lives. He said that as humans we tend to look for and find the problems, hard things and even sometimes create challenges for ourselves. I am challenged by the word in 1 Thessalonians, “Encourage one another and build each other up”. I pray that we can do that this new year, encourage each other, find the bright spots and share them with those around us. Thank you for your partnership and continued support as we live into 2025.

Blessings,
Dinah

Announcements

Technology Reminder:

As a reminder please do not send personal technology to school, this includes Smartwatches. If they are seen by a teacher, they will be asked to put it in their backpack and take it home. If it is seen a second time it will be placed in the office for a parent to pick up at the end of the day. An excerpt from our handbook states;

Personal Technology: Personal Technology is not necessary in a school setting and disrupts the learning environment. Personal Technology includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Cell Phones
Smartwatches
Headphones or Earbuds
Personal Laptops
MP3-Players
Etc. (i.e. Any non-school issued personal technology)

If parents need to communicate with their student, they can send their student an email or call the office and get a note from the office. Personal Technology items are not allowed to be used or visible during the time a student enters school until the final bell rings. If a student needs to use their phone, they must receive direct permission from a staff person to do so.

Kinderdance

Kinder Dutch Dance 2025 registration is now open! Practice is during one lunch recess per week, starting February 17. See this flyer for more info and the link to register. Registration deadline is January 18, 2025. Fee is $25 with additional cost for required costume and wooden shoes.

Running Clubs

Do you have a love for youth fitness? Are you looking for a way to invest in the students at Pine Ridge? This spring, we hope to have running clubs for both girls and boys.

Boys:
TTQ is a fun, high energy after school program designed exclusively for boys in 3rd-5th grade; it incorporates strength and stretching exercises, activities designed to help develop a healthy lifestyle along with training for a 5K. The Spring season begins the week of March 10th, with a final 5K on May 17th. Check out the TTQ Flyer in your child’s teacher blog for Kristen Chan’s contact information to sign up to be a coach.

Girls:
There is Pine Ridge Girls Running Club; a club organized and run by Pine Ridge parent volunteers. It follows much the same organization of TTQ with 2 practices a week, held right after school. This running club will culminate in the Tulip Time Run on Saturday, May 3. Please contact the Pine Ridge office if you can help us by being a coach for this event!

Wacky Wednesdays

Let’s break up the dreary and cold days with some fun! The following Wednesdays will be themed for students to participate – as chosen by our 5th graders:

January 15 – Sports Day (clothing and hats only; no equipment please!)
January 22 – PJ day
January 29 – Neon Day
February 5 – Hat day

The winning class each week (largest % of students participating) will get a hot chocolate party provided by our Parent Board!

Tardies

The doors at Pine Ridge lock at 8:15 each morning. If your child arrives after 8:15, they will be marked tardy. Thank you for helping us get learning started right away in the morning and utilizing all the time we have!

Chapel

We would like to extend an invitation to our weekly chapels. Chapel happens each Tuesday from 1:25-1:55 pm. Please be sure to check in at the office!

Swimming Lessons

These lessons are provided at the Holland Aquatic Center. Holland Christian elementary students have the privilege of receiving swimming lessons each year through the Holland Aquatic Center. These lessons are provided during the school day for 2 weeks. We recognize that this program could be a little uncomfortable for children. Because our children are blessed to be raised in Michigan, surrounded by bodies of water, we believe this safety instruction is a blessing that we pray they will never need, but that we still feel responsible to equip them with. If you find yourself pondering over the “why” of lessons, please listen to HC mom Jenny White on the why swim safety. This HCAC Swim School welcome video can help you understand a bit about the logistics. Any questions please feel free to contact the Pine Ridge office.

Swimming lessons will be happening March 17- 28 for 3rd and 4th graders this year!

Lost and Found

The Lost and Found table outside the office at Pine Ridge is growing into tables!! If your student is missing something, please check the photo album online or stop in and check it in person.

Absences & Appointments

Please call the school office at 616.820.3505 or email the Pine Ridge Office any time before 8:30am to let us know each day your child will be absent. You may leave a voicemail any time and it will be checked in the morning when the office opens. Please leave any symptoms your sick child may have; this information is a requirement for us to report to the county! Also, please note that we do have a 24-hour policy for any fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. For colds and coughs, please use your discretion as we know these things can linger.

Please inform the office of any appointments or early dismissal/late arrival information. That helps us make sure your student is ready for pickup or let’s us know they are coming later and are accounted for. All students must be signed in and out from the office by an adult!

Pine Ridge Carpool Line:

Please remember that you may only turn right out of the parking lot between 3:15-3:45 so we can still get cars in and out as quickly and safely as possible!

Also, remember to pull ALL the way up to the bike rack even if the weather isn’t ideal for pickup AND dropoff so we can fit as many cars in as possible. We cannot stop in the circle for any reason during those times.

Food Services

Please remember to keep an eye on your child’s lunch account and add funds as necessary.

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 at Providence Church from 8:30-9:30 am. Please email Nicole Shook with questions.

Elementary Handbook

The Elementary Handbook is a great resource for parents providing important details on things like our curriculum, discipline policy, etc.