It has been such a beautiful sight around Pine Ridge lately: Students can be found spread throughout the day in our multiple outdoor learning spaces, especially our courtyards—some sitting on blankets, some perched on a stump, and others simply settled into the grass—with their Bibles open and journals in hand. They are reading, reflecting, and taking time to listen to what God’s Word has to say.
In a world that moves so quickly, it is easy to rush from one thing to the next without stopping long enough to truly reflect or digging deeply enough for something to become rooted in our hearts. This month at Pine Ridge, being rooted in the Word has been at the center of our chapels, devotion times, and daily Bible lessons.
Our hope is that these intentional moments are creating a climate of reflection, gratitude, and appreciation for the words God has given us. We want our students not only to know Scripture, but to allow it to take root in their hearts and shape the way they live, think, and care for others.
What a gift it is to see our students slowing down, opening their Bibles, and growing deeper in their relationship with the Lord.
With appreciation,
Dinah
Announcements
Lost & Found
The table is FULL! Please take a look at the photo album and claim your child’s lost items!
Walkathon
We had SUCH a great day at walkathon on Wednesday! Thank you for partnering with us to raise funds and coming to cheer us on.
Picture Retake Day
Pine Ridge picture retake day is November 4. Simply bring in your picture packet or your original order form if your student was absent on Sept 24. These typically happen first thing in the morning so please have your child start their day at school if possible!
Grandparent & Grandfriend Day
This year we will have two “sessions” for our Pine Ridge students: Grandparents of a 3rd or 5th grader will be invited to join us from 12:30-1:15pm. Grandparents of a 4th grader or a Homeschool Connection student (3-5th) will be invited to join us from 1:45-2:30pm. There will be a worship program in the gym and a chance to see the classrooms and school at both sessions. Due to space please allow this time for grandparents or friends only.
Message from our Parent Partners (formerly Parent Board)
- Rollxscape is booked for our Rollerskating Party November 2 from 6 – 8pm. This is for PR (and Homeschool Connection 3rd-5th grades) students only; siblings are not invited due to space! Parents may stay. Cost is $5 per person (not skater).
- Winter Book Fair is scheduled for December 4-11 at Pine Ridge; signups will be coming to help run this event in the November newsletter. This is a great time to grab Christmas gifts and help support our libraries at both Pine Ridge and South Side
- Parent Teacher Conference Meal sign ups: Please signup to help us feed our teachers and staff as they stay late for conferences: Soup Bar Signup & Taco Bar Signup
Parent-Teacher Conferences
PT Conferences will be held on October 8 and 12. Please remember that the office does not have access to schedules so you need to look it up in your account if you need a reminder.
Student Life & Discipleship Practices
This month we have really worked hard on how to show respect to those who serve our school community. This is true when we think about our shared spaces like the hallways, bathrooms and playground. Teachers are pointing out our PR expectations in these spaces, and we are noticing students exceeding expectations in some spaces! We are excited about our spotlight students and it has been fun to see students CELEBRATE EACH OTHER each week at chapel.
This month we introduced the idea of “shout outs” to students. Teachers have given students examples of what a shoutout is: an intentional, specific word of affirmation to someone. We will start to encourage students to turn in shoutouts to be announced each week.
Absences
Please email the office or call the school office at 616.820.3505 any time before 8:15am to let us know each day your child will be absent. You may leave a voicemail at any time and it will be checked in the morning when the office opens.
Pine Ridge Carpool Line Reminders
- Always use the Graafscaap Road/60th Street entrance and exit.
- Always pull ALL THE WAY up to the traffic cone (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.
- Please use your hazard lights at pickup and leave them on until your student is in the car.
Moms in Prayer
Moms in Prayer will be starting back up again this school year on September 5 at Providence Church (across from the middle school) 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.
Parent University 2.0: Forming Our Kids For A Life Of Joy Rooted In Christ
What if raising happy kids isn’t about making childhood easier but making it formative?
Join us for an engaging evening inspired by The Happiness Crisis, by Jonathan Eckert, as we explore how adversity, belonging, curiosity, responsibility, and real-world experiences help form resilient, joyful, faithful kids.
We’ll laugh, reflect, wrestle with real parenting scenarios, and leave with one simple commitment to bring home.
Not simply happy children.
Joyful, resilient, Christ-centered adults.
Come discover a childhood worth having and how we can build it together.
Free Tin Can phone for Third Grade Families:
Connected with the Parent University 2.0 is the possibility of a Tin Can phone! Join the Holland Christian Third-Grade Tin Can Community and help your kids spend more time building the real-life confidence, independence, and connections that childhood is meant to be all about! With support from the DeVos Family Foundation, a Tin Can phone will be provided to each interested third-grade household at no cost. Place your order by October 16. We can’t wait to hear our kids calling each other!
Welcome Walk
We’re excited to invite all current Holland Christian preschool, pre-K, and young 5s families from every campus to our Welcome Walk! This open-house-style experience is designed specifically for current families as they begin thinking about enrollment for next school year. Please click the link here for more information and registration.
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. 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!
Food Services
For students taking hot lunch, please be sure to deposit money into your student’s online lunch portal before they order! If you have any questions about lunches, please contact Sue.
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
Calendar
October:
- 7: Grandparent & Grandfriend Day
- 8: Parent-teacher conferences
- 12: Parent-teacher conferences
- 14-16: No school: CEA Convention
- 30: End of first quarter/Report cards emailed home
November:
- 4: Picture retakes
- 25-27: No school: Thanksgiving Break
