A Note From The Principal
Look Up
As I was walking the halls that morning, after welcoming students in the building, I snapped this picture. One of our 8th grade sections were in their homerooms doing devotions. It was none other than “Look Up Child” by Lauren Daigle. Not only did I benefit from faculty devotions, this section of 8th grade did as well.
The seeds we plant may not grow immediately, but being intentional with devotions while being flexible with how the Spirit moves at ACS is priceless!
Staff Appreciation - Thank You
Thank you for all your generosity last week during Staff Appreciation. We did indeed feel appreciated and feel very blessed to serve God in such a wonderful community.
A Warm Welcome
I graduated from Grand Valley in 2017 with a BA in International Relations. After graduation I started volunteering with Youth for Christ with a friend of mine who was launching a CampusLife youth group at Westwood Middle School. As we were looking for ways to serve the Westwood school community and get to know students, an opportunity arose for me to substitute teach in a reading class there for a semester. Despite my lack of teaching credentials at the time, I loved that experience and decided to go back to school to get my certification in Secondary Social Studies Education. I completed my student teaching at Grand Rapids University Prep Academy in 2020 and taught 7th and 8th grade social studies in Comstock Park last year.
My educational experience, both growing up and professionally, has always been in public schools. While my ability to openly discuss my faith in the classroom has been limited, there have also been plenty of opportunities to serve teachers, students, and families and introduce them to the joy that can be found in knowing Jesus. I’m excited for the ability to integrate my love for Jesus and his creation directly into the social studies classroom and encourage students in their own personal walks with Christ.
In my spare time you can find me writing or learning new music on the piano, practicing or participating in tournaments at my fencing club, and spending time with my Soma church family.
This Week
Dessert Theatre - Mar 24 & 25
The 8th graders will have two more performances this Thursday and Friday at 7:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase at the door for $13. Doors open at 6:30pm each night.
MENistry
When: Friday’s at 8:00am
Where: Brody’s BE Café
What: Man in the Mirror book review
Who: ACS dads
Why: To be in community with other fathers of ACS students and grow deeper in Christ.
Questions? Contact Andy Anderson via text/call, 616-325-6116
Moms In Prayer
This week we’re praying for our 2nd graders and their teachers.
God is our Teacher — One who guides, instructs, and imparts knowledge
Scripture: LORD, may You show us Your ways and teach us Your paths. May You guide us in Your truth and teach us. May You be our God, our Savior, and may our hope be in You all day long. - Psalm 25:4-5
We’re a group of Moms passionate about lifting up our kids and ACS faculty and staff in prayer — we pray every Thursday, 8:00-9:00am, in the front office. If you have any questions, give me a call (Kelly, 616.304.2963)
Now You Know
Book Fair - Mar 24-Mar 30
If you are interested in volunteering to run a cash register before or after school, please sign up using this link. As a thank you volunteers receive 20% off at the Book Fair.
Online Companion Book Fair
There is also an online companion fair. Books ordered online will be sent to school. They will be distributed to students after Spring Break.
Grounds Clean-up Day
The Operations Committee is hosting a Grounds Clean Up Day on April 23rd from 12:00 - 6:00pm. We plan to spruce up our campus in preparation for a few spring events. This includes trimming trees, moving mulch, pulling weeds, etc. We need approximately 20 people to help around campus during each of our three 2hr sessions. Anyone middle school age and older is welcome to help.
Please sign-up so we know who to anticipate. If you have any questions please contact Kurt Rewa, moc.kcaprehs@truk
Autism Awareness
World Autism Awareness Day is Apr 02. Ada Christian School will be celebrating on Thurs, Mar 31. Please join us in wearing blue for Light It Up Blue. Each student will also be given a sticker to wear for the day.
A little about Autism: Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 44 children in the United States today.
Visit Autism Speaks for more information.
Summer Camps & Tutoring
Every year it seems like our list of summer opportunities grows even bigger! Led by ACS teachers camp activities will ordinarily take place at ACS unless special approval has been granted. This summer we will offer the following camps:
- ABC, 123 Camp (Preschool)
- Animals of ACS (K-2nd)
- Art Camp (3rd-5th & 6th-8th)
- Basketball (5th/6th & 7th/8th)
- Bible Journaling (5th-8th)
- Camp Invention (K-6th, 7-8 Leaders in Training)
- Farm Club (2nd-8th)
- Forest Adventure Camp (2nd-8th)
- Little Tikes Art Camp (1st/2nd)
- OE Camp (Preschool)
- Volleyball (5th-8th)
Several Ada Christian teachers will be offering tutoring this summer. These tutoring sessions will be hosted at Ada Christian School.
- Elementary - Language Arts
- Elementary - Language Arts and Math
- Middle School - All Subjects
- PreAlgebra, Algebra & Geometry
- Private Lessons - Voice, Ukulele, Songwriting & String Lessons
Grand Friend's Day - May 06
Please have your Grand Friend's save the date for May 06. We will be sending home personalized invitations in the next couple of weeks.
Action Needed
Enrollment Opens Mar 30
It is almost time to re-enroll your students for the 22-23 school year! On Wednesday, Mar 30 you will receive an email with detailed instructions on how to enroll. We will also include enrollment information in the Ada Connection next week. Please make sure that you have access to your PowerSchool account prior to enrollment. PowerSchool works best when accessed from a laptop/desktop rather than a mobile device.
Login questions? Contact Dani Buchanan.
Society Meeting
The time is fast approaching for our Annual Society Meeting. This annual meeting is where the members of the Ada Christian School Society (faculty, staff and parents of children in grades K-8) gather (digitally) to formally vote to approve the school's budget for the 2022-23 school year and elect new members to the Board.
We'll also take time to hear reports from the Principal, the Director of Advancement, and the Board. A link to a prerecorded video of the meeting will be sent out on Mar 28.
Begin reviewing the information now
Yearbook Advertisements
Interested in promoting your business in our school yearbook? We have several half page spots available. Email Dani Buchanan.
Become a Guest Gardener
At Ada Christian we are blessed with many great spaces for growing all varieties of plants: the greenhouse, hoophouse, summer garden, fall garden, perennial V garden, and even our prairie is a garden of sorts! We love these garden spaces for learning and just pure enjoyment. Part of that learning and enjoyment comes with taking care and maintaining these beautiful spaces. That’s where you come in! We’d love to invite you to get your hands dirty, dig into creation, and learn more about it… introducing: Guest Gardeners!
No matter what shade of green your thumb is, we'd love to have you join us any Friday morning starting this spring to plant, transplant, harvest, pull weeds, prune, and more. If you are interested or have questions please reach out to Reuben Sportel.
PTO Happenings
Daddy Daughter Dance - Apr 22
We're looking for a few enthusiastic moms to help out at the Daddy Daughter Dance on Friday, April 22nd. Sign up here.
Mother Son Event - May 13
Friday, May 13 | 6:00 - 8:00pm, Fowling Warehouse Grand Rapids
Sign ups to come after Spring Break.
ACS Athletics
PurePlay
PP soccer sign ups are closed. Team rosters are being prepared. Details will be shared before Spring Break.
Track and Field Club
Wednesdays, April 20, 27, May 4, May 11 3:00-4:15pm
No cost.
K-4th graders
Parent volunteers are needed for help at stations.
“Tuesday Tennis”
May 3, 10, 17 and 24 3:00-4:15pm.
Cost: $25. Includes a t-shirt and 4 weeks of basic skill instruction.
Parent help is needed. If you help, the fee is waived for your child.
This is open to the first 24 students, 1st-4th grade.
To sign up, email Coach DK.
Baseball Coaches Needed
We are currently in need of a 5/6 baseball coach for this upcoming spring season. If you or someone you know may have any potential interest, please contact Casey Meyaard for more information.
Calendar Reminders
Mar 29 - Virtual Annual Society Meeting
Mar 30 - Enrollment Opens
Apr 01-11 – No School (Spring Break)
Apr 12 - School Resumes
Apr 19 - Elementary Spring Concert
Apr 22 - Daddy Daughter Dance
Apr 28 - Fine Arts Night
May 06 - Grand Friends Day
Requested Announcements
Sports Physicals
Current 8th graders planning to play sports in high school in the 2022-23 school year need to have a MHSAA physical form on file with the high school athletic office before they are allowed to participate. A valid physical for 2022-23 must be completed any time after April 15, 2022. You may print out a physical form here. This form must be completed with all signatures in order to participate in sports in high school. You may attach your doctor’s office physical form for the doctor portion of this form but the parent portion and all signatures need to be completed on this form.
Looking Ahead
2022-2023 Calendar
Below is the calendar for next school year.
Aug 23 - First Day of School (Half Day, dismissal at 11:30am)
Sept 2-5 - No School (Labor Day)
Sept 26 - No School (Teacher In-Service)
Oct 19-23 - No School (CEA Convention)
Nov 23-27 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)
Dec 21 - Half Day, Dismissal at 11:30am
Dec 22-Jan 2 - No School (Christmas Break)
Jan 3 - School Resumes
Jan 16 - No School (Teacher In-Service)
Feb 16-20 - No School (Winter Break)
Mar 30-Apr 9 - No School (Spring Break)
Apr 10 - School Resumes
May 5 - Grand Friends Day (Half day, dismissal at 11:30am)
May 29 - No School (Memorial Day)
June 2 - Last Day (Half day, dismissal at 11:30am)