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Ada Connection – Apr 14, 2021 April 14th, 2021

A Note From The Principal

  • Welcome Back
  • COVID-19 Update
  • New Kids
  • MAEA Region Nine 2021 Exhibition

This Week

  • "Faith. Strong" Friday
  • Moms In Prayer

Action Needed

  • 2021-2022 Enrollment – Due Apr 23
  • Employment Opportunities

Now You Know

  • Morning Recess
  • Earth Day - Apr 22
  • Fine Arts Nights – Apr 29 & 30
  • Grand Friend's Day
  • Spring Band & Orchestra Concerts
  • Spring Elementary Class Coffees
  • April Hot Lunch Menu
  • Art Box Opportunity
  • Looking Ahead

ACS Athletics

  • PurePlay

Calendar Reminders

A Note From The Principal

Welcome Back

Welcome Back to school! We hope you had a special Easter and wonderful Spring Break. It is so great to have our students back at school!

Spring is a time of change and a time to celebrate growth. Read through the highlights below of events and opportunities for your family.

COVID-19 Update

Per the Kent County Health Department, required days of quarantine has INCREASED from 10 to 14 days.

New Kids

If you see Miss Leah, our Farm Manager, she may look a little sleep deprived. Why? Because we have 13 new kids at ACS! Meet them at the barn -- they are adorable!  We will introduce each of them to you soon. #Dreamgoats

MAEA Region Nine 2021 Exhibition

Mr. Wanner submitted students' work to the Michigan Art Education Association and several were selected. Take a look at the artwork! This work is currently going on to be adjudicated at the state level.

This Week

"Faith. Strong." Friday

It’s that time again. All students, staff and parents are encouraged to wear their ACS gear to school this week Fri, Apr 16.

Moms In Prayer

This week we’re praying for our 3rd grade teachers and students.

Attribute:  God is Love — One who is strong and has intense affection, benevolence, kindness, and tenderness

We’re a group of Moms passionate about lifting up our kids and ACS faculty and staff in prayer — we pray every Thursday, 8-9am. Join us in person or, if you’d like to join us via Zoom, please do! If you have trouble signing on, call Kelly Stafford, 616.304.2963

Action Needed

2021-2022 Enrollment - Due Apr 23

Dear Parents,

It is time to re-enroll your student(s) at ACS for the 2021-2022 school year. We ask that you complete the online enrollment form by Fri, Apr 23.

To complete the enrollment form for 2021-2022:

  • Log into PowerSchool using your web browser (laptop/desktop recommended over a mobile device)
  • Click on "Forms" in the left navigation menu
  • Complete the relevant forms

There is a Tuition & Grants section on the form.

  • The first TUITION amount you see is the calculation for the “Requested” or “Full Cost”  amount of tuition.
  • In the GRANT section, thanks to the generous, ongoing support of the ACS Education Foundation and our annual fundraising efforts, you will see the maximum grant amount you may accept towards your tuition. The grant is available for all families. Families that are able to pay the “Requested” or “Full Cost” of tuition will receive a charitable receipt for the difference (Thank You!).
  • For families needing additional tuition assistance, you may complete an online application through FACTS, by May 14. Qualifying families will be notified of the assistance amounts no later than June and adjustments to your tuition total will be made at that time. 

Covenant Care registration is also open at this time. If your family wishes to have Covenant Care for your K-5 student(s) please fill out the Covenant Care form. 

We have worked hard to ensure our online enrollment process will go well for our families; however, we realize you may have questions during this process. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Employment Opportunity

Now You Know

Morning Recess

7:45-7:55am

Elementary students are beginning their days outside for the first 10 minutes. We were not able to start the school year this way and are happy to reinstate this practice. Fresh morning air and time outside with friends is a nice way to start school days! Please have students to school as close to 7:45am as possible so they can enjoy this time.

Earth Day - Apr 22

Our students will partner up with “buddies” and head outside loaded with flowers and prayers to bless our neighbors. Parent volunteers will be needed. Watch classroom newsletters for an opportunity to help.

Fine Arts Nights - Apr 29 & 30

Our annual Fine Arts Night will be hosted over two evenings. ACS families are invited to join us for a self-guided tour through our halls featuring student artwork. You will be amazed! Grandparents and friends are welcome to join you. Please try to attend on the suggested date below based on your family last name. 

Thurs, Apr 29 from 4:00-7:00pm last names A - K

Fri, Apr 30 from 4:00-7:00pm last names L - Z

Grand Friend's Day

We will not be hosting a Grand Friend’s Day on campus this year. However! We will invite our parents and Grand Friend’s to peek into our classes virtually. How? We will be posting video clips from classes throughout the day on our ACS FaceBook page. We will be sharing a schedule so “visitors'' know when things will be posted.

Spring Band & Orchestra Concerts

Grades 5-8

Parents are invited to join us for our Spring Concerts. Guests will be limited so please watch for more details. Come see the incredible progress our musicians have made this school year. 

Monday, May 17

6:00-6:30 5th grade band & orchestra concerts
7:00-7:30 6th grade band & orchestra concerts

TBD

6:00-6:30 7th grade band & orchestra concerts
7:00-7:30 8th grade band & orchestra concerts

Spring Elementary Class Coffees

Apr 20-23, 8:00-9:00am. Parents are invited to join us at the WoodShed for coffee and a time to connect. Teachers will be joining in - we have missed seeing our parents! 

  • Apr 20 - Kindergarten
  • Apr 21 - 1st/2nd
  • Apr 23 - 3rd/4th

April Hot Lunch Menu

Check out the April Hot Lunch Menu (910 KB PDF) and see what's for lunch!

Art Box Opportunities

We are partnering with a local Veteran’s Home to provide artwork to brighten the residents’ days! Have kids put their work in the box in the lobby. Thank you!

Looking Ahead

Below is the 2021-2022 school calendar. Please look over these important dates for next school year. 

Aug 24 – First Day of School (1/2 Day)
Sept 03-06 – No School Labor Day Weekend
Sept 27 – No School - Teacher In-service
Oct 20-22 – No School - Teacher's Convention
Nov 24-28 –  Thanksgiving Break
Dec 18-Jan 02 – Christmas Break
Jan 17 – No School - Teacher's In-Service
Feb 17-21 – Winter Break
Mar 29 – ACS Annual Society Meeting
Apr 01-11 – Spring Break
May 06 – Grand Friend's Day (1/2 day)
May 09 – No School - Teacher Inservice
May 30 – No School - Memorial Day
Jun 07 – 8th Grade Graduation
Jun 08 – Last Day of School (1/2 day)

ACS Athletics

PurePlay 

Soccer begins this Saturday. Girls @ 9:00am, Boys @ 10:30am.   

Track and Field Club (K-4): Apr 21 & 28, May 05 & 12. 3:00-4:15pm Sign up by emailing Coach DK.

Calendar Reminders

Apr 20-23 - Spring Class Coffees
Apr 29 - Fine Arts Night at 6:30pm
May 07 - Fun Run
May 20 - Retirement Event
June 09 - Last Day of School (Dismissal @ 11:30am)

Middle School Matters – Apr 16, 2021 April 16th, 2021

Middle School Matters

General Announcements

Dates:

May 17 - 56 Band/Orchestra Concerts (more details coming)

May 19 - 78 Band/Orchestra Concerts (more details coming)


Art Student Teacher:

Dear Parents,

My name is Mrs. Marissa Ouwinga, I am student teaching this semester at your school under Mr. Zac Wanner. I am a current student at Calvin University and hope to graduate with a Bachelors degree in Art Education. I have been at Ada Christian from March 15 and will be here until May 7. One thing that is required for my student teaching is to film one class that I teach. This film will only be used for educational purposes and will only be viewed by Zac, myself, and my Professor at Calvin. I am letting you in advance so that if anyone has concerns about this, they can email me and let me know.

A bit about me: This past summer I got married, and my husband and I now live in Moline. We have a little dog, a bunny, and several silkie chickens that we enjoy spending our time with. On sunny days, I enjoy taking walks and riding my bike around my town. I love all forms of art, but I especially love painting and ceramics. I look forward to working with your child during this time and learning more about the culture of your school.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Marissa Ouwinga ()

2021-2022 Enrollment - Due Apr 23

Dear Parents,

It is time to re-enroll your student(s) at ACS for the 2021-2022 school year. We ask that you complete the online enrollment form by Fri, Apr 23.

To complete the enrollment form for 2021-2022:

  • Log into PowerSchool using your web browser (laptop/desktop recommended over a mobile device)
  • Click on "Forms" in the left navigation menu
  • Complete the relevant forms

There is a Tuition & Grants section on the form.

  • The first TUITION amount you see is the calculation for the “Requested” or “Full Cost”  amount of tuition.
  • In the GRANT section, thanks to the generous, ongoing support of the ACS Education Foundation and our annual fundraising efforts, you will see the maximum grant amount you may accept towards your tuition. The grant is available for all families. Families that are able to pay the “Requested” or “Full Cost” of tuition will receive a charitable receipt for the difference (Thank You!).
  • For families needing additional tuition assistance, you may complete an online application through FACTS, by May 14. Qualifying families will be notified of the assistance amounts no later than June and adjustments to your tuition total will be made at that time. 

We have worked hard to ensure our online enrollment process will go well for our families; however, we realize you may have questions during this process. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

5th Grade

Art: 5th graders are continuing their Pointillism landscapes inspired by Georges Seurat’s work. 

History: We are beginning our next unit on the American Revolution!

Language Arts: This week we finished taking notes about the biographies we have been reading. Next week we will begin writing speeches in the perspective of the people we researched!

Math: We are continuing to learn about multiplying and dividing with fractions. There will be a quiz next week Tuesday and a test next week Friday. Students will be given a review sheet early next week. 

Music - Band: We will have a concert on May 17 - details will be announced when we get closer. For now - we are learning some more new pieces. Help your band student set up regular practice sessions and write them down. Great habits for future life success come from working gradually through work at a regular pace. :) 

Music - Choir: We have begun listening to the GR Symphony concert! It’s great! This will take us about a week or so of class periods.

Music - Orchestra: Mrs. Vruwink is back and we are preparing for a concert to happen in mid- May (more information to come). Make sure you continue to turn those practice records in.

PE: Students have been working on their hitting/striking skills with a bat and applying them to smaller group games. Next week they will be using these skills through baseball/softball style games. 

Science: We’re conducting experiments with celery and will have some outdoor adventures in the coming week as we study plant vascular systems.

Spanish: We are learning about Peru! Students are hearing and discovering about Peru’s climate, geography, history, culture and its places such as Machu Picchu and Cuzco.

6th Grade

Art: 6th graders are working on their Animal Pinch Pots inspired by Native American Effigy bowls. They will have 3 more classes to build their animal. 

History: This week students finished a timeline project and participated in a simulation. We will wrap up our ancient Greece unit with a test on Tues., April 20.

Language Arts: This year for World Fair, the 6th graders are creating websites to display and communicate their research about their countries! We started creating our websites this week, and we had Becky Downing, a graphic designer and marketing expert, come in and help the 6th graders with their website designs. Next week we will continue to work on our websites! 

Math: We are continuing to learn about volume and surface area. There will be a quiz next week Monday and a test next week Friday. 

Music - Band: We have more new music and a video quiz to work on. Videos are due by Apr 22. We get to give a concert for you on May 17 - YAY! Details will be forthcoming about protocols, etc. A great Summer Music Camp - Knollcrest Music Camp -  will be held in person at Calvin. For a discounted price, register before June 30. Knollcrest Informational Brochure

Music - Choir: We are finishing up The Sound of Music. :) And singing. 

Music - Orchestra: Mrs. Vruwink is back and we are preparing for a concert to happen in mid- May (more information to come). Also, when looking for summer camps, Knollcrest Music Camp at Calvin College is a great one to participate in! For more information/ signup see this brochure and follow this link. Knollcrest Informational Brochure Middle School Week Sign-up

PE: Students have been working on their hitting/striking skills with a bat and applying them to smaller group games. Next week they will be using these skills through baseball/softball style games. 

Science: Students are learning how to use microscopes to view tiny details about God’s creation. They’re doing a great job with the responsibility and are showing great excitement for using these scientific tools!

Spanish: This month we are doing a review unit on colors, clothing, and the word “like.”  The emphasis will be on reading comprehension and speaking/using sentences with the word “like.”

7th Grade

Art: 7th graders continue to work on their wooden assemblages inspired by Lousie Nevelson. Projects need to be glued by next Thurs, Apr 22 and ready for painting on Fri, Apr 23.  

Bible: In Bible Class we are finishing up our Knowing God Project at the end of this week. We will then begin out final unit which will be a prayer walk following the story of Jesus. Students will spend much of their class time outside discussing the life of Jesus and what it means to us.

History: We have begun looking at the English colonies that later become the United States. Next week we look at the New England colonies and the Middle colonies. We’ll have a quiz on the New England colonies Tuesday or Wednesday.

Math - 7th Math: Students just finished learning all about area. Next week we will focus on volume and surface area of measurable figures. 

Math - Algebra: We are wrapping up our chapter about Quadratic equations and the different ways to solve them. We will spend a few days reviewing and will have a test on Tuesday. Next is chapter 10 - this is a short chapter and we will spend time learning all about Radicals! 

Math - Pre-Algebra: We completed Chapter 9 on Functions! The PreAlgebra students did such an awesome job on this chapter and I am proud of their hard work. We are now into Chapter 10 on Statistics and Probability. In this chapter we will be working on longer problems such as finding the mean, median, more etc. It will be important for students to be organized in their work.

Music - Band: We will be performing for you in concert on May 19. Details will be forthcoming. We have some more new music and a band video is due April 22. Regular practice helps! A great Summer Music Camp - Knollcrest Music Camp -  will be held in person at Calvin. For a discounted price, register before June 30. Knollcrest Informational Brochure

Music - Choir: We are exploring music composition.

Music - Orchestra: Mrs. Vruwink is back and we are preparing for a concert to happen in mid- May (more information to come). Also, when looking for summer camps, Knollcrest Music Camp at Calvin College is a great one to participate in! For more information/ signup see this brochure and follow this link. Knollcrest Informational Brochure Middle School Week Sign-up

PE: Students have been working on their hitting/striking skills with a bat and applying them to baseball/softball style games. 

Science: This week we have returned to Chemical Interactions. We are looking at previous models of the atom and what we see and know about them now. 

Spanish: This week we began Unit 8.  Our vocabulary emphasis is on “looks for, finds, and knows.”  Our crazy story for this unit involves a lost item.  These are the lost items selected by your students: motivation, soggy elbows, chicken nuggies…should be interesting!

8th Grade

Art: In 8th grade next week we will continue working on our Rites of Passage painting project. These will be due at the end class next Wed, Apr 21. 

History: We have begun studying the reasons and ways the North and South began developing such dramatic differences that it led to war (Civil War). A slideshow exploring one of the inventions of the Industrial Revolution is due Tuesday.

Math - Algebra: We have started a quick unit on Probability. Students also will be getting a review for chapters each week to prepare for their Algebra exam. 

Math - Geometry: We are now learning about circles! This chapter is fun as we learn more and more about circles and the different theorems that they have. So far we are off to a great start. Students will begin receiving exam review packets. This will be a little extra work that I hope to spread out over our remaining time to help prepare for the final exam. 

Math - Pre-Algebra: When students returned from break, we moved right in to part two of our functions unit: Solving systems of equations. This week we explored solving by graphing. Next week we will look at solving by substitution and elimination. 

Music - Band: We will be performing for you in concert on May 19. Details will be forthcoming. We have some more new music and a band video exam will be due in May. Regular practice helps! A great Summer Music Camp - Knollcrest Music Camp -  will be held in person at Calvin. For a discounted price, register before June 30. Knollcrest Informational Brochure

Music - Choir: We are finishing our unit on Fiddler on the Roof, and also looking into music composition.

Music - Orchestra: Mrs. Vruwink is back and we are preparing for a concert to happen in mid- May (more information to come). Also, when looking for summer camps, Knollcrest Music Camp at Calvin College is a great one to participate in! For more information/ signup see this brochure and follow this link. Knollcrest Informational Brochure Middle School Week Sign-up

PE: Students have been working on their hitting/striking skills with a bat and applying them to baseball/softball style games. 

Science: We have been looking into the digestive system of our rats and our own bodies. Next week we will be looking at the respiratory system. 

Spanish: 8th graders are finishing up Unit 11 about sports in the Spanish speaking world.  There will be a vocabulary check and test next week.  See the homework calendar! 

Athletics

All spring sports have officially started practice by now and will be competing in games/meets/matches soon.

All 5-8 graders must have a Physical Examination Form completed before they can participate in sports for the 2021-2022 school year. This physical examination should be completed on or after Apr 15, 2021 to valid for next school year.

Whatcha Doin' Out There!? – Feb 2021 March 02nd, 2021

OE News

Kindergarten

Kindergarten continued to enjoy winter.  We began the month with a puppet show of animals in winter followed by a tour to see some places where animals were hiding around school, finding tracks and tunnels in the snow.  We also spent some time enjoying the snow, hiking in the deep snow and enjoying the beauty of the woods in winter.  Kindergarten also got a little bit of time inside the hoop house to get their hands dirty with some planting.

1st Grade

First grade explored air around school using a paper helicopter they made and some bubbles moving in the wind.  First graders also got a chance to view the animals in the winter puppet show and time to explore the places animals were hiding around school. The end of the month they switched gears and spent time learning more about herbs and planting herbs that will be part of our market.  

2nd Grade

Second graders focused on some map skills and basics of a compass for the month.  They spent time following directions and using a compass to find a hidden treasure, they worked with partners to hide objects and then find them using a map, and they learned about letterboxing.

3rd Grade

We started the month taking advantage of the snow learning a variety of simple games that can be played in the snow with now props necessary, so don’t let them tell you they’re bored. The rest of the month we moved our focus to birds. We started by exploring tools that imitated various beaks adapted to different foods. We then moved into owl pellet dissections. We’ve sorted a lot and will soon attempt to put some of the pieces together. It is such a fun way to explore what God has created.

4th Grade

In fourth grade we had finished up focus on lumber barons and shanty boys of old and switched our focus to some lumber techniques. We used a variety of methods for measuring trees and practiced outside around school. We took a quick opportunity to tie into science using some sleds to introduce the kinetic and potential energy.

5th Grade

We wrapped up some work with goats by creating a brochure with Miss Leah to give instructions on goat care. We also continued our learning about primitive ways of life from early Native Americans. We wrapped up by cooking bannock using corn that we ground using an authentic Native American recipe. 

6th Grade

We’ve put much of what we’ve learned about the processes that drive weather systems together in the last few weeks. We’ve discussed the many factors that impact weather and climate on Earth as well as how these things both impact and are impacted by people on Earth.

7th Grade

February was the return of Spanish and so weekly OE ended for middle school. Many plans are in the works for continued integration with other classroom teachers. In Seventh grade that means starting syrup right away in March and later in the spring continuing with some of the pond studies.

8th Grade

February was the return of Spanish and so weekly OE ended for middle school. We will be joining up forces in science soon to plant some fast plants that will let us replicate Gregor Mendel’s experiments growing plants from seeds, cross pollinating them and then growing the new seeds to see the results.  

The Link: December 2018 December 15th, 2018

Strong Bonds: Changed by Service
Strong Beginnings: The Simplicity of a Sandbox
Strong Living: Uncovering a Story
Strong Growing: A Pleasant New Sound
Strong Future: ACS Annual Fund: Making the Difference
Strong Leading: Student Conferencing
Strong Journey: An Excerpt from a 2018 Distinguished Service Award Recipient

Related Information

Download File 831 KB, PDF

Strong Bonds: Changed by Service

Service project -Heartside -signHeartside Park receives a fresh clean up.
Service project -Heartside -carrotsPounds of peeled carrots create full stomachs and orange hands.
Service Project -Hope NetworkSixth grade students serve at Hope Network.
I believe that the Christian community is called to serve God by serving others. Opportunities to be servants of Christ are all around us each day. Through our service to others we build community, become aware of God’s blessings, and discover how we can help others around us. Exploring this call to service with 6th grade students at ACS is one of the highlights of my year.

Again this year, with the help of 31 adult volunteers, our sixth grade students spent two days being the hands and feet of Christ at 14 organizations around the greater Grand Rapids area. These organizations included God’s Kitchen, In the Image, UCOM, Hope Network, Comprenew, Vista Springs Northview, Seidman Park, Bible for Missions Thrift Store, Grand Rapids Area Parks, The Pantry, Vista Springs Wyoming, Apostolic Christian Church, Soup’s on - Meals on Wheels and Kids Food Basket.

Over the two weeks leading up to the service days our students had class discussions and chapels to begin thinking about how we could serve others in our community and how we could live out 1 Peter 4:10 which states, “each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms”. We thought about what it would be like to be homeless, to not have snacks in the cupboard or not have the means to stop at a fast food restaurant for dinner. Mrs. Koetje shared with students that, “It’s not wrong to be homeless or in need, it’s just hard” and that we are called to help them.

Following the days of service, students spent time in class reflecting on the experience and writing thank you letters to the organizations. Because service is not only about helping others, but also about understanding how those experiences have changed us, we reflected individually and as a group on questions like:

  • What was the most satisfying part of your work? What can you learn from that?
  • What was the most difficult or uncomfortable part of your experience? What can you learn from that?
  • Is it important for ACS 6th Graders to serve? Why or why not?
  • How has this experience changed how you look at the world?
  • What important things do you hope to remember about your experience?

A few reflections from 6th graders:

  • “I learned that it is ok to need help.”
  • “I learned that you don’t need to buy or have things in order to be happy.”
  • “The experience changed how I look at the world because I used to look at the world thinking everyone is the same. Now I know that not everyone is the same, but that everyone deserves to be treated the same.”
  • “I know that God gave everyone a purpose, even if they have special needs.”

As we approach Christmas, 6th graders have an extra sense of awareness of the needs around them. One specific need that surprised many students was that food pantries and organizations helping those in need are almost always very short on toilet paper. Sixth graders will be collecting toilet paper to give to United Church Outreach Ministry (UCOM). Feel free to drop a few rolls off at ACS or directly to your local food pantry.

–Nate Kiser

Strong Beginnings: The Simplicity of a Sandbox

Sandbox -rolling in logsKindergartens find logs to serve as a good foundation.
As our Outdoor Education program continues to expand we asked our Preschool- 1st grade staff to dream about the space outside of their hall. With help from our seventh and eighth graders a sandbox was added to the early elementary

playground this fall. What started as a simple sandbox with a few logs and boards has turned into an avenue for imagination and creativity. Each day, during recess and after school, students head to this play space and start using their imaginations. Logs become the foundation for a house and boards are used as bridges.

SandboxStudents arrange wooden pieces to create forts and bridges.“It’s a great option for kids who may not like soccer or tag. They have a space to be creative while still being outside,” first grade teacher Miss Bonnema shared. “The sensory experience of sand mixed with the gross motor skills of lifting makes the sandbox a total win. It’s been fun to watch them get excited about the littlest things like finding a new board or making a home for toads and bugs.”

Not only are students learning with their hands but they are also growing their minds. “I have seen kids learning to share and work together in groups while building,” said Miss Bonnema. “My first graders are also getting to know kindergarteners by talking while they play and build. Important relationships are being formed with kids of different ages.” It has been a joy to watch as our youngest students learn through play.

Strong Living: Uncovering a Story

Girl uncovers bonesDeer bones are uncovered by fifth grade archaeologist, Tessa Honholt.What do deer bones, clay pots and several Taino Indian artifacts have in common? Fifth graders uncovered all of these during their two-week archaeological dig this Fall. Former ACS teacher and current archaeologist Neil Bierling planted several artifacts in our 20’ X 40’ archaeology site modeled after early Israeli homes.

Working in groups of six, students first lined out the square in which they would work. Next, working slowly, students used small utensils like brushes and dental picks to remove dirt and uncover artifacts. Once an artifact was found students had to plot the item on their chart and use the proper scale. Items could then be carefully cleaned off and placed on the counter in the classroom for observation.

Fifth grade teacher Miss Slauer explained that more than finding artifacts, students are working to “uncover a story.” “Since they spent time beforehand learning about archaeology, the kids were more invested because they knew the why behind it,” said Miss Slauer. Students learned how archaeology could shed light on parts of the Bible that may be confusing. They spent time in class asking, “What questions do we have about the Bible that archeology can help us answer?”

Students also learned empathy for archaeologists when they were working in the intense heat or cold rain. Some commented, “I could never be an archaeologist,” while others embraced the slow methodical process.

Fifth grade student Lily O’Grady used the word “unexpected” to best describe her experience during the dig. “It was really fun to uncover things and to see everything we collected,” she commented. “I was surprised how much I loved doing the charting and scales, too.” From planning and digging, to charting and putting together a story, students were able to experience the full archaeological process.

Strong Growing: A Pleasant New Sound

UkuleleJames VandenBosch proudly strums notes on his ukulele.
Somewhere over the rainbow, in the elementary music room at Ada Christian School, the sound of strumming ukuleles can be heard.

Last year, when we received a donation to our music program, our music teacher, Mrs. Vruwink, knew right away what she wanted to add: ukuleles. Now, beginning in the second trimester of school, third grade students are introduced to this small stringed instrument. As the year progresses students learn different notes and strum patterns building up to full songs and a performance at Grand Friend’s Day.

Students light up any time you mention ukuleles, eager to share a song they have learned or what they named their instrument. Our third graders were very proud to be chosen as the grade to have this added to their curriculum.

I thought it was cool to be the first students to play the ukuleles. It was really special to perform on Grand Friend’s Day.

Why ukuleles and why third grade?

Mrs. Vruwink explains, “Ukuleles give students a unique introduction to string instruments aswell as develop their ability to read music. Strumming and picking is a perfect way for students to continue to exercise their fine motor skills. In third grade, students continue to develop independence and the ukuleles serve as another avenue for problem solving.” Her favorite part of the program has been watching student’s faces beam with pride when they finally play a song all the way through successfully switching chords.

“I’m grateful to have the chance to have a ukulele program and for all of the excitement and support around it,” Mrs. Vruwink shared.

Strong Future: ACS Annual Fund: Making The Difference

Link 2018 -Annual Fund breakdown -pie chartEvery year Ada Christian School depends on the philanthropic community to help cover a portion of expenses that are not covered by tuition revenue.The ACS Annual Fund, Ada Christian’s annual giving program, is the school’s top fundraising priority. When you give a gift to The ACS Annual Fund, you make an immediate impact to the students, faculty, and vibrant educational programs that distinguish our school. Please consider a gift to this year’s annual fund. Your gift signals your confidence in our mission of equipping students for service in God’s world by integrating academic excellence with a distinctly Christian perspective.

Your Participation In Our Annual Fund Helps Us:

  • Deliver a leading academic education tailored to students’ unique needs and learning styles
  • Supply the resources and support needed to ensure students are equipped to make healthy choices for their own physical and emotional well-being
  • Nurture students’ personal relationship with Christ and provide opportunities for them to express and share their faith
  • Lead students to a comprehensive understanding of their communities and engage them as agents of change for the Lord
  • Provide needed tuition assistance for families who desire an ACS education

Strong Leading: Student Conferencing

Student-Teacher ConferencingMrs. Quist conferences with seventh grade student Lindsey Schrock
It is one thing to say that Ada Christian School nurtures students -- mind, body, and soul in Christian community, but it means much more to see it lived out in so many ways. As I made a loop through the school recently, I simply had to pause in the middle school hallway as I thought, “This is amazing!” and my heart whispered, “Thank you, Lord.”

Each conference ends with prayer and a positive sense that teachers and students know one another a bit better and that, together, we have a faith strong ACS family committed to nurturing the whole child.

Teachers and students were meeting one-on-one for teacher- student conferences. Each year we bring in substitute teachers so our seventh and eighth grade teachers can meet with their homeroom students to talk about how each young man and woman are doing.

Each student prepares for the meeting by considering where they are currently and setting goals for where they want to be:

  • (Mind) What subjects am I enjoying the most and the least? What kind of grade would I give myself for effort?
  • (Body) Am I getting enough sleep and exercise? Am I building healthy habits?
  • (Soul) What goal do I have for spiritual growth and how could I achieve it?
  • (Community) If I graded our middle school community, what would I give us and why? How have I grown because of my work with others this year? If I have a problem, who do I feel comfortable sharing with?

– Principal Brower

Strong Journey: An Excerpt from 2018 Distinguished Service Award Recipient

Relationship and friendships begin at ACS and they last. When I think about ACS, and the work of the Education Foundation, I think about how blessed we are to have this caring and collaborative Christian community. Over the years, we have seen first hand how the teachers, administrative staff and parents collaborate to nurture each and every student through a Christian perspective.

One can’t help but marvel at the projects and opportunities given to our children to grow in their faith, their knowledge of God and His incredible world. From the books they read, to the songs they sing, to the projects they perfect, our children grow in their faith and their knowledge of our Savior through the teaching and opportunities provided at ACS.

Serving ACS has been a joy and a privilege and I am grateful for every opportunity I had to serve. It was through these opportunities that I made important and lasting connections with the amazing staff at ACS as well as the other parents.

It brings me to tears of joy to think of my parent’s generation, my generation and now the future generation of this community. These connections and treasured friendships that make our community so strong. We have no doubt that YOU, our community, will continue this legacy of service in God’s world. Get out there, make connections, and keep this strong Christian community thriving! Because THAT is what ACS is all about!

– Jeannine Lanning