A Note From Principal Brower
Snow Days
Dear ACS Families,
With so many snow days in a row, a question naturally comes to parents’ minds, "Are we going to have to make up for having so many snow days?"
Ada Christian School’s calendar has 173 full days and 3 half days for students, providing 1221.5 hours for students. We are 123.5 hours beyond the required 1,098 hours required for public school students. Each snow day reduces our hours by seven.
As of now, we do not need to consider a change in our current schedule. I am hoping that the snow day tally will quickly slow down, and we can get back to consistently providing an excellent education for your kids!
Warmly,
Principal Brower
This Week
MENistry
MENistry is a coffee group for dads who want to get to know more about themselves and the Bible. Join us on Fridays from 8:00-9:00am.
Moms In Prayer – Praying For 6th Grade
Praying for 6th graders and their teachers. God is patient: One who is longsuffering, tolerant, understanding, persevering, constant.
"Joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" - Romans 12:12
Come join us for the journey when you can. We meet every Thursday morning 8:00-9:00am, in the ACS office back conference room.
Need more information? Contact Kelly Stafford (616.304.2963, ten.tsacmoc@droffats-kj).
Now You Know
Sweatshirts For Sale
Box Tops - Until Feb 21
Please have your kids empty your drawers and search your cupboards for any and all Box Tops at home and send them to school before Feb 21. We will not be sending home collection sheets this year. Please place your Box Tops in a Ziploc bag; you may include your Bonus Box Tops with single Box Tops. Thank you!
Here are a few reminders:
Please cut out labels on the dotted line.
Please do not submit Box Tops with an expiration date before Mar 01, 2019.
If the expiration date is cut off of the Box Top it cannot be submitted.
Box Tops are to be turned in at the office.
Students turning in 25 or more Box Tops will receive a candy reward.
Parent Teacher Conferences – Feb 14 & 21
The conference schedule for our elementary grades is available to download.
No sign up is necessary for Middle School. Parents of students in middle school will have the opportunity to visit with each of their student’s teachers in the commons.
Feb 14 the teachers will be available from 4:30-7:30pm and Feb 21 from 4:30-7:30pm.
2019-2020 Calendar
Aug 26 – First Day (Half Day)
Aug 30-Sept 02 – No School (Labor Day)
Sept 30 – No School (In-Service Day)
Oct 23-25 – No School (Teacher’s Convention)
Nov 27-29 – No School (Thanksgiving Break)
Dec 23-Jan 03 – No School (Christmas Break)
Jan 27 – No School (In-Service Day)
Feb 28-Mar 02 – No School (Winter Break)
Apr 02-10 – No School (Spring Break)
May 01 – GrandFriends (Half Day)
May 04 – No School (In-Service Day)
Jun 04 – 8th Grade Graduation
Jun 05 – Last Day (Half Day)
Hot Lunch
Review the Feb menu with your student(s).
Available to help during hot lunch? Find a time that works for you.
Questions? Contact Shelly VanGoor, (gro.scrg@roognavs).
GRASP - Grand Rapids Academic Summer Programs
Forms are available for download or may be picked up in the ACS office. GRASP is an optional summer correspondence education program for grades K through 8, which helps students maintain reading and math skills while they are on summer vacation. Forms are due Feb 15.
Action Needed
School Board Committees
Did you know that there are seven standing committees of the school board? Executive, Education, Development, Finance, Long-Range Planning, Operations, and Promotions. Each committee is chaired by a school board member and committee members typically include administration, faculty and parents from our school community. Term of appointment is for one year and committee members may serve up to three consecutive one-year terms.
If you are interested in serving on one of these committees or would like more information, please contact a school board member or e-mail the board secretary.
2019-2020 Preschool Registration
We are happy to announce that ACS Preschool Registration is now open for the 2019-2020 school year. We are asking you to do two things:
- If you have a preschool school aged child, register now.
- Forward the registration information to any friends or family members who may be interested in our preschool program.
Kindergarten Intentions
Partner with us! If you intend to send your child to kindergarten for the 2019-2020 school year, please call the office at 616.676.1289 or email Sharon DeJong at sdejong@adachristian.org. We need your child’s first, middle and last name as well as their birthdate for the list we are building.
We would also like to know if you prefer 5-day or Progressive Kindergarten. Parent preferences vary from year to year. To help us plan for staffing needs, we will cap the list for each option at 22 and then begin to build our 3rd class list. There is a chance that those on the 3rd list may be asked to alter their preference.
There will be a parent orientation on Tues, Mar 12 at 7:00pm for parents only. On Thur, Apr 11, plan on having your child visit for one hour. If your child turns 5 after June 01, 2019, he/she will need to be tested on Thur Apr 18. Sign up sheets will be at the orientation or in the office.
For families enrolling their oldest child in kindergarten, another part of the enrollment process is a meeting with Melissa Brower, our principal. This meeting may happen any time before enrollment. If you would like to schedule that meeting, please contact Julie DeKoster at 616.676.1289 or gro.naitsirhcada@retsokedj.
PTO Happenings
Recess Help Needed Feb 14 & 21
Looking for a way to bless our hard working teachers during PT Conferences? Covering Recess Duty is a great way to help! This gives them those precious extra moments to prepare, or even just to take a small mental break without managing a playground full of sweet but rambunctious kiddos.
This is such a great opportunity for those who can't commit to a full year-long recess schedule - you get to jump in and bless the teachers, plus it's an extra chance to see your child in action on the playground. That's always a special treat for them. Please take a quick moment to check out the sign up page and claim your spot!
Thank you so much for your support,
Your PTO
Daddy Daughter Dance - A Special Thank You
What a wonderful event! Even with the cold, swirly, icy winds it couldn't keep those pretty daughters and great daddies at home. Those little dancing shoes came out in full force after a snowy week at home! We are thrilled to offer this special time-honored event for the fathers and daughters at Ada Christian, and we are so pleased to see the fun pictures and hear all about the great memories made.
This is a very big event, and couldn't have been pulled off without an amazing crew. Please join us in thanking Liz Keilen, Kristen Gruennert, Rachel Gurk, Sheila Hemker, Melissa Hoekzema, Kelly Honholt and Jamie Christenson. If you'd like to be a part of this amazing team next year, please don't hesitate to reach out to the PTO to share your interest, we'd love to have you!
Jasmine's Closet was a brand new concept this year, and we are pleased to report that even with the limited amount of school days you donated over 20 dresses! We were able to bless a number of families with practically new darling dresses for the dance at no cost. We will be boxing up those left over and tucking them safely away for next year. Thank you so much, Amy Leonard, what an inspired idea you brought to the table, and thank you for managing this through to completion.
Any questions, thoughts, or would you like to be involved? Reach out to Amy Leonard at amycooker@yahoo.com.
Warmly,
Your PTO
Open PTO Position
Well, our dearly beloved Secretary, Karen Naude (who was amazing) has moved back to her Florida home. (Do any of us blame her? Decidedly not.) We miss her laugh and bright sunny spirit terribly and wish her the absolute best as she resumes her beautiful life down there. However, that leaves us with a little opportunity on our hands. If you've considered getting involved in the Parent Teacher Organization, this is the perfect way to begin. Little responsibility and lots of fun.
Your job:
1. Attend monthly PTO meetings and take notes.
2. Type them up into minutes.
3. Write and mail thank you cards to our hard-working volunteer event chairs (a handful a month).
4. Jump in to help as needed throughout the year on various events as your schedule permits.
Your pay: $0 (unless you're including benefits, vacation time, sick days etc, in which case....well...it's actually still $0)
We pride ourselves in transparency.
Want to check it out? Come to our next meeting! We promise we won't make you take notes on your first visit.
Please contact Holly Karasinski, PTO President at hollyk2234@gmail.com or 616.901.8882.
Mother Son Event – Mar 01
Come join us for a fun night battling it out in a game of laser tag, archery tag and other games with your son(s). Of course, snacks are provided, too.
Please follow all 3 steps below:
1. Check out EventBrite to sign up or pay cash or check in the office. Cost is $20/couple and $30/family.
2. Go to SignUpGenius to secure your laser tag and archery spots (filling up fast).
3. Finish up at https://www.battlegr.com to sign the waiver to play - very bottom, red box.
Deadline to sign up is Fri, Feb 22. Hope to see you there!
Questions? Contact Denice Burgess at moc.oohay@ssegrub_ecined
PTO Information
Looking for our calendar, information about upcoming events or opportunities to serve? Check out our updated website.
ACS Athletics
PurePlay – Spring Opportunities
Co-ed Child/Parent volleyball clinic: Open to boys and girls, Y5-4th, accompanied by a parent/adult. Saturday, Mar 09, 9:00am-12:00pm. $30.00 per adult/child pair. Includes 2 t-shirts and 3 hours of learning, cooperation and fun. Register online Deadline: Feb 22.
Soccer: Y5-4th grade. Saturdays, Apr 13, 20, 27, May 04, 11 and 18. Register online. $45-65. Parent volunteers are needed to coach teams. Deadline: Mar 22.
Track and Field Club: K-4th. Wednesdays, 3-4:15. Apr 10, 17, 24, May 01 and meet on May 08. No cost. Email me to sign up. Parent volunteers are needed to assist me.
Tennis: 1st -4th. Tuesdays, 3:00-4:15pm. April 30, May 07, 14, and 21. $10.00 per student. Parents who help will have the fee waived. Email me to sign up, (gro.naitsirhcada@enielkeds).
Calendar Reminders
Feb 14 & 21 - Parent Teacher Conferences
Feb 15 - No Forest Hills PM transportation
Feb 22 & 25 - No School - Winter Break
Mar 21 & 22 - Dessert Theatre
Mar 26 - Annual Society Meeting
Mar 28 - Apr 05 – No School - Spring Break