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2024-2025

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year. We are honored to partner with you in Christian education as we work together to equip students for service in God’s world.

Ada Christian School is a special place. The impact this school has on our community each year is truly a blessing from the work God is calling us to do. Since 1951, ACS has committed to Christ-centered education. We are proud to be a Christian school rooted in God’s Word and following His plans.

Our theme this year is, “God’s Goodness, Our Gratitude” based on I Thessalonians 5:16-18 - “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We recognize God’s goodness each day. Giving thanks to Him is necessary on an individual basis as well as a communal one. Join us this year in that recognition and response. As we visit this theme on a regular basis, know that our children will be nurtured and will grow in their love for Jesus and each other. We are eager to invest in their hearts, souls and minds.

Thank you for the joy of partnering with you in educating the whole child - mind, body, and soul in Christian community! We are looking forward to a great year.

In Christ’s service,
Principal Sall

God's Goodness Our Gratitude

Theme Verse

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Mark your Calendar

Thurs, Aug 15: Kindergarten Meet-Up, 11:30am
Mon, Aug 19: Open House
Tues, Aug 20: First 1/2 Day of School, dismissal at 11:30am (Dedication Chapel at 10:45)
Aug 27: K-8 Parent Orientation 6:30-8:00pm
Aug 30-Sept 2: No School (Labor Day Weekend)
Sept 5: Back to School Party 5:30-7:30pm
Sept 16-17: Picture Days
Sept 30: No School (In-service Day)

K-8 Open House

Monday, Aug 19

Teachers are looking forward to seeing your family on Monday, Aug 19 at your scheduled time. Students are invited to bring their school supplies and to put them in their lockers.

Time	Last Name
1:00-1:40pm	A-G
1:45-2:25pm	H-P
2:30-3:10pm	Q-Z

First Day of School Details

Tuesday, Aug 20

Tuesday morning, Aug 20, will be a great time for teachers and their students to begin building community and establishing classroom routines that will set a strong foundation for a wonderful year of growing and learning together. Doors will open at 7:40 a.m. for students and parents. We plan to begin classes promptly at 8:00 a.m. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m following our dedication chapel.

On August 20 at 10:45 a.m., parents are invited to join us in the South Gym for our dedication chapel. We will celebrate and give thanks to God for a new year of school together. At the end of our chapel, students will return to their classes to pack up for the day. We ask that parents pick up students around the front of the building in the parking lot or car loops at 11:30 a.m.

Daily Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures

The safety of our students and their families is a top priority. Please review these important daily procedures.

Morning Drop-Off (7:40am-7:55am)

School doors will be opened at 7:40am
The bus loop and car loop will be open for parents to quickly drop off students. If more time is needed to gather items and say good-bye, please use the parking lot.
When using the drop-off loops, students must exit on the right side of the car.
No parking is allowed in the drop-off loops.
See the image below for which entrance your child should use.
Students must enter through the front of the building (pick-up and drop-off from behind school is prohibited)

Afternoon Pick-Up (3:00pm-3:10pm)

The car loop is for the pick up of preschool and kindergarten students only.
The driver must remain with the vehicle at all times and may not park in the loop.
The bus loop may be used for quick student pick up. The driver must remain with the vehicle at all times and may not park in the loop. It is important cars not block the Fox Hollow entrance.
Students must exit through the front of the building (pick-up and drop-off from behind school is prohibited)
From 2:30pm - 2:50pm, the bus loop is for preschool pick-up only, please do not park in the bus loop at that time.
When parking, please back your car into a spot. It is too easy to miss seeing a child when backing out of a spot.
It is important that your child(ren) are picked up by 3:10pm
All students not picked up by 3:10pm will be asked to wait at the front entrance under the covered awning.
Please enforce our rule that students may not play on the playground without parent/adult supervision.
Remind students to keep their feet on the ground -- no climbing on trees, flagpoles, light poles, snow piles, etc…
We ask that students do not walk through our landscaping where plants are trying to grow.
School employees helping to monitor the parking lot after school will be wearing orange vests. If you have questions, please ask one of them and remind students that the orange vested adults are friends who can help them if they need it.

Mid-day Student Check In and Check Out

Please enter through our Main Office vestibule or call from a cell phone to get assistance with checking students in or out during the day.

Out of consideration for our office staff and the hustle and bustle during the last 15 minutes of the day we ask that you call before 2:45pm to request an early dismissal. Any requests after 2:45pm will result in a 3:00pm dismissal.

Mid-day Item Drop-Offs

There is a counter in the front office where parents can drop needed items off for students (i.e. - instruments, athletic equipment, computer, lunches). If you are dropping something off, please be sure your child’s name is on the item.

Note for New Students

Birth Certificate:

Any student new to Ada Christian School, Kindergarten – 8th (2024-2025 school year) must bring to the office a copy of his/her birth certificate. This is required by law in the state of Michigan. You may email a copy to Kimmie Brander (gro.naitsirhcada@rednarbk). If you need a copy made please stop into the office and we will be happy to help.

Immunization Forms:

Immunization forms are due by Aug 20. If your student is entering Kindergarten or 7th grade or is new to ACS these forms are required. By state law the school must have this form on file for your child by the start of school. If you have any questions please call Kimmie Brander in the office at 616-676-1289.

Supply List and Calendar

K-8 Supply List 2024-2025 Calendar

Theme T-shirts & ACS Apparel

Our web store is open for the next 2 weeks. In addition to this year's theme t-shirt you can also order sweatshirts, beanies, long sleeves and more! Any items ordered at this time will be delivered to school in mid-September. Order deadline is August 21.

ACS Web Store

Who’s New?

Leah VanDerLaan - 4th Grade Teacher
Lexi Synder - 5th Grade Teacher
Bryce VanDeWalker - Outdoor Education
Livingston Garland - 5th, 7th, 8th Math
Pam Foster - K-8 Technology Integration, GROW Program Coordinator
Kelly Honholt - Kindergarten Aide
Jacob Blundy - Kindergarten Aide
Stephanie Fernandez - 4th-8th Spanish
Katie Markus - Band Assistant
Jessica McMorrow - Preschool Aide
Elise Anderson - Preschool Aide
Brianna Carter - Y5's - 1st Grade Music
Ryen Sutton - Covenant Care Aide

Parent Orientation

Please join us August 27 for our K-8 Parent Orientation. During this evening, teachers will share important information with parents about the upcoming school year. Please do your best to be in attendance.

Please arrive a few minutes early so you can fill out a name tag and get to your destinations on time for a prompt start since our time is limited.

Time	Who
6:30-6:45pm	Session I: Grades K-4
6:45-6:50pm	Passing Time
6:50-7:05pm	Session II: Grades K-4 (repeat of Session I)
6:50-7:05pm	5-8 Athletics (AD, Jon DeVries will share)
7:05-7:10pm	Passing Time
7:10-7:45pm	Grade 5
7:10-7:45pm	Grade 6
7:10-7:45pm	Grades 7 & 8

Back to School Party

Thursday, September 5, 5:30pm - 7:30pm at the ACS Track & Field. Sponsored by our ACS Promotions Committee, this event is sure to please with a dunk tank, bounce houses, obstacle courses and other fun activities. Food will be available for purchase from one of the many food trucks on site. No tickets to the event are needed.

Athletics

PurePlay (Y5’s - 4th grade)

This fall we plan to offer our soccer program for Y5-4th graders. The games take place Saturday mornings beginning Sept 7, at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. For 1st-4th graders, there will be one practice during the week. Y5/K is only one hour on Saturdays. Registration ends Aug 22.

Wildcats (56’ers & 78’ers)

ACS offers boys soccer, girls volleyball, and boys/girls cross-country for all 5-8 students during the fall. Fall sport seasons are scheduled to start the week of Aug 20 for students in grades 5-8.

All 5-8 athletes must complete an MHSAA physical/concussion form prior to the first day of practice. These forms and other important information can be found at the ACS Athletic Webpage.

School Lunch Program

School lunch will be available daily beginning Wed, Aug 21.

There will be two options each day and a fresh fruit and salad bar. Students place their orders each morning for that day and deductions are made from their lunch account. Before your student can order lunch, an account must be created on Meal Magic. Visit adachristian.org/hotlunch for details or to apply for lunch assistance.

First week menu

Times to Remember

Student Arrival: 7:40am-7:55am
Instructional Hours: 8:00am-3:00pm
Student Pick-Up: 3:00pm-3:10pm
Office Hours: 7:30am-3:30pm

Tardy Talk: Please help our days get off to a smooth start by having your child arrive no later than 7:55am Tardies cause disruptions to important morning routines for individual students and classrooms as a whole. A student entering class after 8:00am is tardy. Parents will be notified by letter when their child reaches 5 tardies in one trimester and for every 5 tardies following.

Absences: We understand that students may have to miss school due to illness, appointments, and family emergencies. Some absences may be unavoidable; however, please help limit the number of days our students miss school. When possible, please provide a doctor’s note for absences.

If your child is going to be absent please email their homeroom teacher and our secretary Kimmie Brander; kbrander@adachristian.org. ;

Dress Code

The basics are listed below and more detailed information is available in our policies and procedures.

Shorts/Skirts that reach to the bottom of the student’s middle finger when arms are relaxed at the side are permitted. Middle school students not meeting this will be asked to change into their PE shorts or be given a pair to wear from the office.
Leggings, jeggings, and yoga pants are not to be worn as pants. If worn, they are to be covered with skirts/tops and must cover “bottoms”.
Tank tops must have minimum 2” straps.
Clothing must cover underclothes and the mid-section of the body.
Flip-Flops, for safety reasons, are not allowed for students kindergarten through 4th grade.
Hats are not to be worn in class.

Students will be asked to change their clothes if their attire does not meet our dress code. Thank you in advance for your support.

Parent Class Coffees

Moms and dads - join us and meet fellow parents of your child’s classmates! It only takes an hour, and it is a great way to connect with other parents. Led by our Promotions Committee, we will meet from 8:00am-9:00am in the library for coffee, refreshments, devotions, and time to chat.

Parent Class Coffee dates to pencil in:

Sept 16 Middle School
Sept 17 Kindergarten
Sept 18 First and Second Grades
Sept 19 Third and Fourth Grades

Ada Christian School Education Foundation Fundraiser

Save the Date for the annual Ada Christian Education Foundation Fundraising Dinner which will be held at the JW Marriott Tuesday, October 8, 2024. We will give an update on our Faith Forward Campaign and celebrate God’s faithfulness to ACS.

Student Information Forms

Several student information forms (K-8) are ready for you to complete online (emergency contacts, student health, school policy agreement, etc). These forms must be completed by Friday, Aug 16.

To complete the forms:

Log into your PowerSchool parent portal (powerschool.adachristian.org).
Select Forms
Complete all forms under the category Student Information Forms.
Please note that some forms need to be filled out for each child while others may be submitted for the whole family.

Fun with Elementary (K-4) Recess

Beginning on Aug 21, volunteers for recess will be needed. At lunch recess (12:05pm-12:30pm & 12:30pm-1:00pm) four people are needed daily. On Fridays we also need four people for morning recess (9:55am-10:15am).

Younger siblings may join parents for this volunteer opportunity. Sign up for K, 3rd & 4th grade recess or 1st & 2nd grade recess. Digital signups will be released in the Ada Connection later this month.

If you have any questions about volunteering for elementary recess, please email Sharon DeKleine. gro.naitsirhcada@enielkeds

PTO

We are grateful to our PTO and all the work they do to support the teachers and students at ACS. Take a moment to learn more about our PTO and how they support our teachers.

Chapels and Concerts

We invite you to join us as we worship our Lord through the gift of music. Ada
Christian strives to mold the mind, body, and soul. Music channels all of these
aspects into one. For more details on our programs please look for more
information in the Ada Connection when the dates are closer.

Chapel Schedule

Concert Schedule

Transportation News

We rely on Forest Hills buses for those living in the district. For families who registered for transportation with Forest Hills, information will be sent to your homes. If you have not contacted them, please call Forest Hills transportation department at 616-493-8785 as soon as possible.

If your family indicated during enrollment that you planned to ride the bus, please view this information with details about stop locations and times. Please call the school office if you were planning on using our buses and you did not receive the email.

ACS Transportation Questions?

Please direct ACS Transportation questions to our Transportation Supervisor, Patty Permoda, gro.naitsirhcada@adomrepp

ACS Hub Stops

Whatcha Doin' Out There!? - Nov 2023 December 05th, 2023

OE News

November was a month in which the weather transitioned quickly. There were many very warm days in November, but we also found ourselves in some cold, rain, and snow. As the weather turns we are able to consider what happens as creatures get ready for winter. We also wrapped up some of our fall activities like cider and began the transition into Christmas preparation. K-2nd grade made ornaments that will be on display at the Festival of Trees at Legacy Park in Ada for the Christmas season. Check out the ACS tree and the others if you're in town.

Kindergarten - In kindergarten we began November with a review of recent letters of the week A,D,S,L. Activities included Act like animals, Dig in the sand, Strolling, Skipping and Sprinting, and Launching Leaves. Later in the month we took a look at wind and made pinwheels as instruments to measure wind, just like an anemometer. We then shifted to making ornaments that will be displayed at the Festival of Trees in Ada. First we made a triangle shape out of sticks and then the sticks were wrapped with yarn and decorated with mini ornaments of their own.

1st - First grade took a turn with cider making one week and a couple weeks later had a special visitor. Johnny Appleseed met them in the woods to read about his life and enjoy some of the great cider that they made. First grade also learned about animal shelters and made some small places for animals to hide in the woods. To end the month they began Christmas preparations by making ornaments. Students made ornaments by decorating pine cones with ribbon and bells. The ornaments will be on display in the “Festival of Trees” in Ada.

2nd - A big theme in second grade was Pioneers. They began with a turn at the cider press. Then they enjoyed some pioneer games to see what kids did for fun long ago. They also pushed their wheelbarrow wagon through the woods during the Oregon Trail simulation facing many challenges along the way. Lastly they used their pioneer skills to make candles which will serve as ornaments in the Festival of Trees in downtown Ada. Go check it out!

3rd - Third grade took some time to review the great lakes in an activity where we put the numbers into perspective. Volume of water, perimeter and depth were all compared with the lakes and we reflected on the importance of 20% of the world’s surface fresh water that is in the 5 great lakes. We began to learn about the Native Americans by learning about the three sisters' planting method and clearing out that section of our garden so it is ready to plant in the spring. Lastly, we played games that the native americans played to practice balance and strength.

4th - Fourth graders had multiple science connections in OE. To begin we did a simulation that looked at food availability affect population size by searching for food in the form of colored straws. The next week we considered how animals used their senses in an activity in which students had to find animals of their own species by listening for the same sound while blindfolded. It was a challenge to listen to the specific sounds while others were also making sounds and predators were on the prowl. We introduced the topic of Community Supported Agriculture. We took inventory and decided to attempt our first Farm Fresh Box for thanksgiving. They were able to produce enough products for 12 families! Lastly, we talked about soil temperature tolerance and its practical application on the farm. The students learned how to take soil temperature samples and determine by reading the back of a seed packet if the seed would germinate in that environment.

5th - This month we took a deep dive into the internal anatomy of a chicken. We studied the path of digestion and egg production. We learned how chickens break down their food and absorb nutrients. We learned what the “grade” of an egg means on the outside of an egg carton. Then we cracked some ACS eggs and studied the color/ shape/ and consistency of the yolk to decide what grade eggs our chickens lay. We rounded out the month with some Fun Farm Games. Kids learned how strong you need to be to do daily farm tasks in a fun and silly competition.

6th - Our 6th graders have spent the month learning external anatomy of a goat. To encourage them to really understand the shape and muscle structure of a goat we learned how to draw one realistically. Now we have a great base understanding as we get more specific with anatomy in December. We rounded out the month with Farm Games and learned how to set product prices for SEED Market.

7th - November in 7th grade OE involved students mapping out the memorial trees on our campus which will later be available as an interactive map with links to more information on the trees. We then turned our attention to composting. Students began learning about composting. We talked about the importance of composting as well as the basics of what materials are best including a balance of browns and greens. We are now collecting lunch scraps from 7th and 2nd grades for a compost bin here at school to put what we learned into practice.

8th - November was a month to transition to the Legacy Project for 8th grade. We began with a tour to see projects from previous grades and considered how well they met the needs of the school and what they offered to students. We then presented students with some potential legacy projects for this year. Now students are researching these topics to see what logistics will be necessary to make this happen.

ACS Family Dashboard