South Side Newsletter - August 2022 | Holland Christian Schools

Greetings South Side Families!

I hope you all are enjoying your beautiful Michigan summer having fun with your family and friends. It has been such a wonderful summer and as much as I love the weather and a bit of the slower pace…I have missed all of you and I can’t wait for the start of our new school year. This summer our staff has been praying for each family and the students that we will welcome. We see each child as a cherished treasure, created in the image of God. We are all so excited to meet each one and to watch them grow spiritually and academically into what God has called them to start to become. As August has arrived, I wanted to share some very important information and dates listed below with you. As I start to share these dates, I just get more and more excited about starting our new year together. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any additional questions.

Blessings,

Erin Wyma

Announcements

Class Lists & School Supplies

We are so excited to welcome your child back to school! Below you will find the links for class lists and school supply lists per class and/or grade level.

2022-2023 South Side Preschool-2nd Grade Class Lists

Preschool-2nd Grade South Side Supply Lists

Beginning of School Year Paperwork

Preschool, Kindergarten, and new transfer families please remember to submit your Google Form responses and hand in your Health Appraisal and Immunization Record or Waiver (in person or electronically) by Friday, August 5. This is necessary for your child to attend the first day of school. Contact Pat (pmeiste@hollandchristian.org) or Jenna (jritsema@hollandchristian.org) at South Side’s office with any questions.

Preschool Parent Information Night

Tuesday, August 16th 6:30-8:00

This will be a night where just parents come to meet Mrs. Wyma and your child’s classroom teacher. You’ll be able to ask more detailed questions about your child’s school and classroom experience.

Ice Cream Social

Thursday, August 18th 6:30-8:00

This will be a night where all preschool-2nd graders come together with their families and walk through their classrooms, meet their teacher, find their lockers…all the fun things about starting a new school year. Once your family has had a chance to do that, then everyone gets to head out to the playground to enjoy an ice cream sundae bar and have fellowship as a school community.

First Day of School

Our first day of school is a half day, Tuesday, August 23. Dismissal will be at:

11:15am for Preschool students
11:30am for Kindergarten-2nd grade

Before & After School Drop-off/Pick-up Procedures

We ask that you adhere to the following traffic policies for Drop-Off and Pick-Up as specified. We appreciate your cooperation and doing your part to keep our children entering and exiting school safely each day.

K-2nd Parent Information Night

Wednesday, August 24th 6:30-8:00

This will be a night where just parents come to meet Mrs. Wyma and your child’s classroom teacher. This is a time where you will be able to ask more detailed questions about your child’s school and classroom experience.

Picture Day

For those of you really planning ahead, South Side’s picture days are Wednesday, September 21 (for PreK-2nd grade) and Thursday, September 22 (for 3’s PreK T/TH). Once order forms are received from GPI they will be sent home with students. If you are ordering a yearbook this will be the time to do that also. Picture retake/makeup day will be Wednesday, November 2 from 8:00-8:30am.

Medication at School

If your child needs to take medication at school, we need an updated form signed by their physician each school year. If you have not done this yet, please do so asap. The medication forms can be found on the Medical Information and Forms Page for your convenience. You are welcome to contact our school nurse, Hendrina Cupery (hcupery@hollandchristian.org). 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 (prescription or non-prescription) to our students without a doctor’s order. Thank you!

New Hot Lunch Information

Students at South Side have received free snacks and lunches through the USDA Covid Relief Program for the last few years. That program ended with the 2021-22 school year. Families once again are responsible for supplying snacks for their student(s) to eat during the school day. Please send one to two nutritious snack items along with a water bottle to school each day.

Holland Christian will be offering lunches for purchase for preschool through second grade during the 2022-23 school year. Kindergarten through second grade will place their lunch order for that day’s hot lunch option in their classroom each morning. Chocolate or White milk is included with hot lunch. Students may choose to order milk only to accompany their home lunch.

Full-day preschool students need to pre-order their selection of sack lunches for the week by the start of the day on Monday mornings. There is a set menu for preschool and will be sent out via a Google form from your student’s teacher each week.

Detailed information about our new Hot Lunch Program is found on our flier. You can also find more information includingHot Lunch menus, pricing, how to apply for free or reduced lunches, and how to deposit funds into your child’s hot lunch account. If you have further questions, check out the Food Services page.

Absences

Please call the school office at (616) 820-3535 any time before 8:30 am 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.

Transportation

Busing is available for students needing transportation to and from South Side. For complete busing details and to register, please visit ourTransportation page.

Student Safety

After the school day is underway, all doors will be locked. All students who arrive late for school must stop in the school office. Parents are asked to sign children in and out at the school office if they are coming or going any time within the normal school hours.

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. PowerSchool parent information, including passwords and usernames, will be shared with parents at the beginning of the year or provided to you upon enrollment if you enroll mid-year. If there is a change in your phone number or address 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.

You must update your demographic information in Powerschool each fall with your latest and most accurate contact information. Simply login, then either an “update demographic screen” will automatically pop up, or simply click the “change demographics” button on the left of the screen. This information is necessary for field trip participation, emergency response and treatment, student photo permission, and for the office to easily be able to contact a parent or guardian as needed or desired. When listing your child’s emergency contacts, please be sure to list two contacts other than yourself.

Elementary Handbook

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

Moms in Prayer

Moms In Prayer is a great way to connect with other moms, pray for your child, and have an impact on our school. Please join us on Fridays starting September 9 at Providence Church 8:20-9:20. Contact Nicole Shook with questions at ncshook@gmail.com

Important Website Links

Upcoming Dates:

August

16: Preschool parent night 6:30-8:00pm
18: PreK-2nd grade Ice cream social 6:30-8:00pm
23: First day of school 11:30am dismissal
24: K-2 Parent information night 7:00pm-8:30pm
31: All school Convocation

September

2: No school
5: No school Labor Day
16: Half day of school
21: PreK-2nd picture day
22: PreK 3’s T/TH picture day
28: Walkathon

October

17: Parent Teacher Conferences 4:00pm-8:00pm
19 – Half day of school – Afternoon parent teacher conferences
20-21: CEA Convention – No School

South Side Newsletter – August 2022

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