This week I had the opportunity to visit our second grade classrooms, where students were eager to share their prayer journals. During personal devotional time, students write out prayers in their journals, creating a meaningful space for reflection and conversation with God. One student explained, “It’s nice that you can write prayers on your own and remember them.”
Students shared that their prayers often include thankfulness, requests for forgiveness, praise to God, and prayers for the needs of people listed on their classroom prayer boards. When I asked what they enjoy most about their prayer journals, students thoughtfully replied, “We have time to write” and “It is a nice, quiet time to pray.” Their teachers hope this meaningful practice of prayer becomes a lifelong rhythm that continues well beyond second grade.
One of our Holland Christian values is Discipleship. It is our deepest hope that students find their identity and purpose in Jesus. Throughout the school day, students are nurtured in their faith in many ways — through chapel, weekly praise times, classroom devotions, and Bible lessons where they learn the stories of Jesus. They also practice living like Jesus through acts of kindness, community-growing, and servant-living choices.
In both the big moments and the small ones, we seek to nurture students’ hearts so they know how deeply Jesus loves them and how they can share His love with the world.
Christy Haig, South Side Principal
Announcements
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences for kindergarten – 2nd grade students are coming up Thursday, March 26 and Monday, March 30, from 4-8pm both days. You received an email on February 12 about how to sign up. Teachers deeply value your partnership, and are looking forward to this time of conversation with you!
From the Parent Board
Parents: We would love to support our teachers with a meal the night of conferences on Thursday, March 26. If you are willing to contribute, please sign up through the Conference Signup Genius.
South Side Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair will be coming to South Side during conferences in March. It will be open Thursday, March 26 and Monday, March 30 from 4-8pm at South Side. We are in need of a few volunteers to make this a success. Please sign up through the Book Fair Signup Genius if you are willing to help out!
This is an amazing way for our school to get new books! You can also shop online from March 26-April 8 in case you can’t make it in to school!
Spring Program
South Side, along with Pine Ridge and Forest School will be holding our Spring Program on Thursday, March 12 from 6:30-7:30pm at Christ Memorial.
Young 5s through 5th grade students should arrive between 6:00-6:15 to meet with their teachers in the lobby. Families will head into the sanctuary to be seated by 6:20.
Preschoolers should arrive with their families and be seated in the sanctuary by 6:20. They will be called up to the stage to sing part-way into the program
Student Life and Discipleship
One of our Discipleship Practices at South Side is Servant Living. Students learn to look beyond themselves by considering others’ perspectives, noticing needs, and finding ways to help those around them. These important lessons are woven into everyday classroom life. Students hear stories about people who serve others, practice sharing and cooperating with classmates, and take responsibility for caring for their learning spaces — even helping pick up paper scraps at the end of the day.
We encourage you to take a moment to show this flag to your child and ask what they did today to practice servant living. These small, everyday acts help shape hearts that reflect the love of Jesus.
Lost and Found
The office is continuing to update our South Side Lost and Found Album as items come into the gray tub in the office. Please check it out to see if any of these items belong to your child. Feel free to email Rachel Steen, to claim your item(s), and we will be sure to get it into your child’s backpack.
Job Opportunity
Important Website Links
Calendar
March
- 7: Kids’ Stuff Resale 9am-noon @ HCHS
- 13: End of 3rd Quarter
- 20: Report cards
- 26: Parent-teacher conferences 4-8pm
- 30: Parent-teacher conferences 4-8pm
April
- 3-10: No school: Spring break
- 13: School resumes