Store windows at this time of year are often laced in doilies and framed with paper chain hearts. Our commercial calendar is reminding us it’s time to celebrate love in this the shortest month of the year. I hope you hear my smile rather than the sound of cynicism. Truly, Jesus challenges us to love others authentically, love God deeply and even love ourselves graciously every day of our lives rather than the focus in just one month or a single special holiday. Our Rose Park children recently unpacked these words shared by the revered Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” Yes. May our actions throughout the journey of our lives ever speak this truth. And may our children learn this truth through our actions, not just our words. Love is much greater than hate. God’s light is much greater than the darkness in this world. My prayer is that our children will live this truth more authentically and effectively than all who have come before. And? Happy Valentine’s Day, friends. 🙂
Yours in Christ’s service, Miska
Buddy classes are an opportunity for our children to encourage, support and love others as we serve the world.
Los escaparates de las tiendas en esta Ă©poca del año a menudo están atados con tapetes y enmarcados con corazones de cadenas de papel. Nuestro calendario comercial nos recuerda que es hora de celebrar el amor en este el mes más corto del año. Espero que escuches mi sonrisa en lugar del sonido del cinismo. Verdaderamente, JesĂşs nos desafĂa a amar a los demás autĂ©nticamente, amar a Dios profundamente e incluso amarnos a nosotros mismos con gracia todos los dĂas de nuestras vidas en lugar de enfocarnos en solo un mes o un solo dĂa festivo especial. Nuestros niños de Rose Park recientemente revelaron estas palabras compartidas por el venerado reverendo Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: “La oscuridad no puede expulsar a la oscuridad: solo la luz puede hacer eso. El odio no puede expulsar al odio: solo el amor puede hacer eso”. SĂ. Que nuestras acciones a lo largo del viaje de nuestras vidas hablen siempre de esta verdad. Y que nuestros hijos aprendan esta verdad a travĂ©s de nuestras acciones, no solo de nuestras palabras. El amor es mucho más grande que el odio. La luz de Dios es mucho mayor que las tinieblas de este mundo. Mi oraciĂłn es que nuestros hijos vivan esta verdad de manera más autĂ©ntica y efectiva que todos los que han venido antes. ÂżY? Feliz dia de los enamorados amigos. 🙂
Suyo en el servicio de Cristo, Miska
Announcements
Swim Lessons January 30-February 10
Now that safety concerns we lived through during the pandemic are released, the Aquatic Center is able to provide swim lessons for us again this year! I recognize this program is a little uncomfortable for each child because it’s new and unfamiliar. 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 feel responsible to equip them. If you find yourself pondering over the “why” of lessons, please take a listen to HC mom Jenny White on the why swim safety HCAC Swim School welcome video that will help you understand a bit about the logistics. Our 1st-4th graders will be bussed to the pool each day the weeks of January 30-February 10. Each grade level is assigned the time below:
- 1st Grade: 9:15am-9:45am
- 2nd Grade: 10:15am-10:45am
- 4th Grade: 11:15am-11:45am
- 3rd Grade: 12:50pm-1:20pm
Spirit Week at Rose Park Feb. 13-17
Join us as we spice up February! The week of February 13-17 we will add some fun to each day:
- Monday: pajama day
- Tuesday: tie dye day
- Wednesday: camo day
- Thursday: jersey & hat day
- Friday: maroon and white day
Coming Soon!!
We have some exciting news to share! In partnership with the ODC, we will soon have a brand new playscape on our playground! More information to come soon!
Enrollment for 2023-2024
For full information on enrollment dates and links, please see the separate email sent out earlier today to all parents. However, for all parents with children in kindergarten or above, it’s nice to be reminded that Holland Christian is a continuous enrollment school. This means, in an effort to simplify the process for our current K-12 families, you will not need to re-apply every year (this is, after kindergarten). We are happy that you are a part of the Holland Christian family, and our hope and plan is that you want to continue partnering with us in the years to come!
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are coming up! You will receive an email with instructions on how to register for conferences in a few weeks.
- Monday, March 20: 4-8pm, In-person
- Monday, March 27: 4-8pm, Virtual option available
Tulip Time Choices
In 2018, Tulip Time reframed their mission statement to read “Mission Statement: To celebrate Holland’s tulips, Dutch heritage and community.” To better align ourselves with their mission statement as well as with the goals here at Holland Christian, our Rose Park and Forest School students will be given two options for dressing up and walking in the the 2023 Kinderparade. More details will be forthcoming as we get closer to Tulip Time but we want you to be aware of the options well in advance of the Tulip Time season. Our students from Rose Park and Forest School will be given the option of walking in either our “tulip” section of the parade or our “Dutch heritage” section. The whole of our two groups walking together will be a celebration of our “community.”
- If your 1st-4th grade student chooses to opt into the “tulip” section of our parade, your child will design and construct his or her own tulip to carry and then dress as a gardener based around our “Streams of Living Water” t-shirt. This gardener costume might include gardening boots and gloves, overalls, a wide-brimmed hat, etc. Anything you have handy at home that helps your child look like a busy gardener tilling the tulips will fit the part perfectly!
- Students who opt into the “Dutch heritage” portion of our student body will wear their own Dutch costume and carry the parade props our Rose Park students have carried in the past.
More details about logistics, costumes and timing will be coming soon. Don’t hesitate to email Miska with questions or wonderings at mrynsburger@hollandchristian.org.
Share in the Farming Fun
If your family would like to participate in the barn chores during the evening and weekend, you’re invited to sign up to be a “farmer for a week.” I’ll send you our training video prior to your week, but truly this will be a leadership opportunity for your child to teach your family how to care for the animals and keep the chores tended to on an evening or two and on the weekend. If you’d like to sign up, the basic need is checking in on the animals on Saturday and even on Sunday to ensure they’re fed, have clean water and clean bedding. Any evening chores is a bonus! Once we have a rhythm with Rosie and Parker, we’ll add our three egg-laying hens! Here’s the link to sign up to be a farmer for a week. You’ll note our year is full so I’ve added a second family slot for each week. There’s plenty of work to go around, and we’d love to have you join us!!
Elementary Athletic Opportunities
K-6 Boys & Girls Volleyball Clinic
Whether brand-new to the sport of volleyball or a more experienced player, this clinic is for all elementary athletes, both boys and girls! Led by the high school coaches and mentored by Holland Christian varsity volleyball players, kids will have 3 fun and active sessions learning the game of volleyball and focusing on improving foundational skills. We coach every level and look forward to helping your kids grow in the game of volleyball while also challenge themselves physically and engaging in fun and memorable games and activities.
Who: K-2nd and 3rd-6th grade boys and girls
Location: Holland Christian High School Gym
Dates/Time: March 11, 18, and 25. K-2 @ 8-9:20am, 3rd-6th 9:30-10:50am
Cost: $25, Late Registration: $35
Sign-up for elementary volleyball clinic.
Girls’ Running Club
3rd-5th grade girls are invited to join the Rose Park Girls’ Running Club this spring. Together we will learn about the physical and mental benefits of running as the girls gain confidence and work toward the goal of running a 5K at the end of the program. The club is designed to be fun and welcoming and there is no cost to participate. Practices will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30 to 4:30pm starting Tuesday, March 14 (no practices during spring break). The club ends with the Tulip Time 5K on May 6. To sign up or for more information, contact coach Goldie Van Horn at 570.401.7181.
3rd-8th grade Lacrosse
Holland Little League
Holland Little League is excited to offer baseball and softball for kids ages 5 through 12. Sign up HERE on Holland Little League’s website to get your child outside this spring and on a team. Younger levels (age 7 and below) are formed based on the elementary schools, so it is likely your child will have others they know on their team. Registration closes February 28, so act soon and get your child signed up! Financial help with the registration cost is available. Please email: littleleagueholland@gmail.com. If you know of anyone interested in coaching, or helping coach a team this year please email Matt Richardson at richardsonm252@gmail.com.
Rose Park Lost and Found
Please take a minute to look our Lost and Found photo Album to see if any of these items belong to your student. Feel free to email Carla  or Laura to claim your items and we will make sure to get it in your students backpack. These items will be donated soon. Also, please make sure bring your child’s snow stuff to school everyday or leave an extra set at school. In Michigan, the weather can change quickly and we want to make sure your child is warm and comfortable in their outdoor play! Our office has a limited supply of items. If your child borrows an item, we will send it home to be washed and returned for other students to use. We are always looking for extra gloves to add to our supply!
Substitute Need
Help needed!! Rose Park has a handful of WONDERFUL individuals who faithfully jump in and help us fill in for teachers and aides who need to be absent from the classroom. We need to add to this group! If you have even a spark of interest in subbing in a class room at Rose Park, or you know of someone who may be interested, please contact Laura in the office or call 616.820.4055. Subbing hours can range from a few hours, to a full day form 8am-3:15pm. If it is your preference to sub only at Rose Park, we can make that happen! A teaching certificate is NOT required.
Hot Lunch
Calendar
View the full Holland Christian calendar
February
- 1: Preschool & kindergarten enrollment begins
- 30-Feb 10: Swim lessons at the Aquatic Center
- 13-17: Spirit Week at Rose Park
- 17: 1/2 day
- 20: No school: Presidents Day
March
- 4: Kid Stuff Resale at HCHS
- 17: End of 3rd quarter
- 23: Spring Program
- 24: Half day – Teacher Inservice
- 24: Report cards available online
- 20: Parent Teacher Conferences
- 27: Parent Teacher Conferences
April
- 31-9: Spring break
