Pine Ridge Newsletter: January 2026

Our school has been buzzing with excitement this past month. We were able to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, when we remember Jesus’ birth, but more than that, the fact that He came to save us! It was a blessing to hear from Mr. Russ, the 5th grade music class, Mr. Schrotenboer, and the students themselves as they sang and spoke of Jesus. Our community continues to flourish as students grow not only in knowledge, but also in faith, joy, and gratitude, nurtured under the loving care and guidance of our teachers, staff, and the entire HC community. As I walk through classrooms I can hear students speak of how they are growing and learning to see the goodness of God at work in our school and in their own lives. I pray that you are also able to see yourself and your family flourishing under God’s provision and grace this new year.

In Christ,
Dinah Pereira

Announcements

Technology Reminders

Just a reminder if your student received some new technology for Christmas: Personal technology is not necessary in a school setting and disrupts the learning environment. This includes, but is not limited to:

Cell phones
Smartwatches
personal laptops
MP3 players
any other non-school-issued personal technology.

These items are not allowed to be used or be visible from the time a student enters school in the morning until the final bell rings. If a student needs to use their device, they must receive direct permission from a staff member. Please do not send personal technology to school including smartwatches. If such items are seen by a teacher, the student will be asked to put them in their backpack for the remainder of the day and take them home; if seen a second time, the item will be placed in the office for a parent to pick up at the end of the day.

If parents need to communicate with their student, they can send an email to or call the office to have a note delivered. Thank you for helping us make learning a priority!

Save the Date

Pine Ridge, along with South Side and Forest School will be holding our Spring Program on Thursday, March 12 from 6:30-7:30pm at Christ Memorial. More details will follow.

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!

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. If you are interested in coaching or helping with either of these teams, please let the office know!

Student Life & Discipleship

This month, we had the opportunity to truly lean into Servant Living and community growth at Pine Ridge. Through this initiative, our students were able to stock not only shelves, but also hearts, by supporting three local organizations right here in our community: Rest Haven, Positive Options, and Hope Packages.

Together, we collected, packed, and helped deliver nearly 400 items for each organization, making a meaningful impact on those they serve. One of the most memorable moments was when students personally delivered the boxes to Rest Haven while caroling for the residents throughout the month of December. This experience brought joy to both the residents and our students and highlighted the power of service and connection.

Throughout this project, students demonstrated strong leadership, responsibility, and a genuine commitment to cultivating relationships within our community. It was inspiring to see them live out the values of compassion, generosity, and service in such a tangible way.

Practice Respect, Practice Responsibility, Practice positive Relationships.

Lost and Found

The lost and found album is updated regularly. Please keep checking it out and having your child claim the things that belong to you!

Pine Ridge Carpool Line

Just in case you need a refresher after break on our carpool procedures:

Use the Graafschap Road/60th Street entrance and exit.
Always pull ALL THE WAY up to the bike racks (or the car in front of you).
Never stop in the traffic circle. This needs to be clear in case of an emergency as well as for the buses.
Parent pickup is in front of school; it is not at the baseball fields, the tennis courts or anywhere else!
Please use your hazard lights at pickup and leave them on until your student is in the car.
The only children permitted to walk are those who are walking/biking directly home or their parent is a staff member of Holland Christian.

Swimming Lessons

Holland Christian elementary students have the privilege of receiving swimming lessons for two weeks during the school day each year through the Holland Aquatic Center. 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, even if this program is a little uncomfortable for some children. 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 May 11- 22 for 3rd and 4th graders this year.

Moms in Prayer

Moms in Prayer meets Fridays at Providence Church across from the middle school from 8:30-9:30am. We look forward to welcoming any moms who would like to partner in prayer for this school year! Please email Nicole Shook for any questions.

Medications at School

As a reminder, no student may be in possession of any medication over the counter or otherwise. The only exceptions are an epipen or inhaler with the correct forms completed in the office!

Food Services

For students taking hot lunch, please deposit money into your student’s online portal before they order! If you have any questions about lunches, please contact Sue.

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 at 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.

Elementary Handbook

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