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2026-2027

A Welcome from Dr. Fernandez

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year at Ada Christian School (ACS).

I'm honored to join ACS this year as Head of School, and grateful for the way this community has already welcomed my family. Ada Christian has been rooted in Christ-centered education since 1951, and I'm looking forward to building on that legacy alongside our faculty, staff, and — most importantly — you.

This year's theme, “A Work in Progress, For HIS Purpose,” comes from Philippians 1:6. It's a fitting picture of who we are as a school community — and of every student in our care: not finished, but faithfully being shaped by the One who began the work. We'll return to this theme often this year, in chapel and in our classrooms, as a reminder that God is not done with any of us yet.

Thank you for the joy of partnering with you in educating the whole child — mind, body, and soul — in Christian community. I'm eager to get to know your families this year.

In Christ,



Max Fernandez
Head of School

A Work in Progress, For HIS Purpose

Theme Verse

Philippians 1:6

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Mark your Calendar

  • Thu, Aug 20: Popsicles on the Playground — all Kindergarten families, 11:30 am–12:30 pm
  • Mon, Aug 24: Open House, 1:00–3:10 pm — by last name:
    • A–G: 1:00 – 1:40 pm
    • H–P: 1:45 – 2:25 pm
    • Q–Z: 2:30 – 3:10 pm
  • Tue, Aug 25: First Day of School (full day, 8:00 am–3:00 pm)
  • Fri, Aug 28: All School Chapel, 8:20–8:50 am – All Welcome (South Gym)
  • Tue, Sept 1: K-8 Parent Orientation, 6:00–7:30
    • Session 1: 6:00 - 6:50 PM
      • Parents by grade sessions 
      • Meed the leadership team time available
    • Session 2: 6:55 - 7:30 PM
      • Repeat parents by grade session(s)
  • Fri, Sept 4 – Mon, Sept 7: No School (Labor Day Weekend)
  • Thu, Sept 10: Back to School Bash, 5:30–7:30 pm, ACS Track – All Families Welcome*
  • Mon–Tue, Sept 14–15: Picture Days, 7:30 am–2:30 pm

    *Preschool families will receive separate email with additional preschool-specific details
    ** A more detailed schedule with locations will be sent to you 

    Worship

    Chapel is one of the many ways we live out our belief that every square inch of life and learning belongs to Christ. Scripture calls us to gather often, "not neglecting to meet together... but encouraging one another" (Heb. 10:24–25), and that's exactly what happens each week when our whole school community worships together, sits under God's Word together, and is reminded together whose we are. It's where this year's theme, "A Work in Progress, For HIS Purpose," becomes more than words on a page—it's where God does that shaping work in and among us.

    Elementary Gathering Time - Thursdays 8:10 AM - 8:40 AM in The Commons
    Middle School Chapel - Fridays 8:40-9:10 in The Commons
    All School Chapels - Chapel Dates

    First Day of School Details

    Thursday, Aug 25

    Tuesday, August 25, 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 the year ahead.

    This year's first day runs as a full instructional day.

    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) Please note "Late Start Wednesdays" Section

    • School doors open at 7:40 am.
    • The Elementary Loop and Middle School Loop are open for quick student drop-off. If more time is needed to gather items and say good-bye, please use the parking lot.
    • Students must exit on the right side of the car when using the drop-off loops.
    • No parking is allowed in the drop-off loops.
    • Students must enter through the front of the building; drop-off from behind the school is prohibited.
    • See the image below for which entrance your child should use. 

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

    • The Elementary Loop is for preschool and kindergarten pick-up only.
    • Drivers must remain with the vehicle at all times and may not park in the loop.
    • If the Middle School Loop is full, please find a spot in the parking lot — do not block the parking lot entrance.
    • Students must exit through the front of the building; pick-up from behind the school is prohibited.
    • From 2:30–2:50 pm, the Elementary & Middle School Loops are reserved for preschool pick-up only.
    • Please back your car into a spot — it's easy to miss seeing a child when backing out.
    • Children must be picked up by 3:10 pm. Students not picked up by then will wait at the front entrance under the covered awning.
    • Students may not play on the playground without adult supervision, and should keep their feet on the ground — no climbing on trees, flagpoles, light poles, or snow piles.
    • School employees monitoring the parking lot after school wear vests and are there to help.

    Mid-day Student Check In and Check Out 
    Please enter through the Main Office vestibule, or call from a cell phone for assistance checking students in or out during the day. Due to end-of-day classroom transitions, we're unable to release students between 2:45 and 3:00 pm — requests after 2:45 pm will result in a 3:00 pm dismissal.

    Mid-day Item Drop-Offs 
    A counter in the front office is available for parents dropping off needed items (instruments, athletic equipment, computers, lunches). Please be sure your child's name is on the item.

    Times to Remember

    • Student Arrival: 7:40 am – 7:55 am – Please note “Late Start Wednesdays” Section
    • Instructional Hours: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
    • Student Pick-Up: 3:00 pm – 3:10 pm
    • Office Hours: 7:30 am – 3:30 pm

    Tardy Talk
    Please help our days get off to a smooth start by having your child arrive no later than 7:55 am. A student entering class after 8:00 am is tardy. Parents are notified by letter when their child reaches 5 tardies in a trimester, and for every 5 tardies following.

    Absences
    We understand students may miss school due to illness, appointments, or family emergencies. If your child will be absent, please email their homeroom teacher and by 8:00 AM.

    Late Start Wednesdays - New This Year

    Beginning Wednesday, August 26, every Wednesday will be a Late Start for K–8 students. School will begin at 9:00 am instead of 8:00 am.

    That protected hour gives your child’s teachers unhurried time to plan together and strengthen instruction — which makes every other hour your child spends in class more intentional and effective.

    Wednesday Schedule (K-8)

    • 8:00 am — Before Care opens (pre-registration required) - Deadline is July 31, 2026.
    • 8:40 am — Doors open to students
    • 9:00 am — School day begins
    • 3:00 pm — Dismissal (unchanged)

      Good to Know

      • Dismissal remains 3:00 pm, and pick-up procedures are unchanged.
      • Elementary students still have their regular morning recess.
      • Preschool begins at normal times.*
      • ACS bus routes and pick-up times shift back approximately one hour on Wednesdays.

      Please note: our first Late Start is Wednesday, August 26 — the day after the first day of school.

      *Preschool families will receive separate emails with additional preschool-specific details. Young 5’s begins at 8:00 AM.

      Questions: Front office: 616-676-1289. General secretary email: (Wendy Ingraham, Mon/Wed/Fri, and Kimmie Brander, Tue/Thu).

      Note for New Students

      Birth Certificate: 
      Any student new to Ada Christian School, Kindergarten – 8th grade (K-8), must bring a copy of his/her birth certificate to the office. This is required by Michigan law.

      Immunization Forms:
      Immunization forms (click here) are due by Tuesday, August 25 (the first day of school). If your student is entering Kindergarten, 7th grade, or is new to ACS, these forms are required by state law before the start of school.

      You may email a copy to , or stop by the office for help making a copy.

      Questions: Front office: 616-676-1289. General secretary email: (Wendy Ingraham, Mon/Wed/Fri, and Kimmie Brander, Tue/Thu).

      Supply List and Calendar

      K-8 Supply List

      2026-2027 Calendar

      Who's in the Office?

      Who’s New?

      Mr. Josh Call — 7th Grade Bible & 7th Grade Science
      Miss Katelyn DeJonge — 2nd Grade Teacher
      Mrs. Sarah DeVries — EL Math Interventionist
      Miss Aubrey Kerkstra — EL Math Interventionist
      Mrs. Jasmine Stienstra — 1st Grade Teacher
      Mr. Bradley VanWienen — Middle School Physical Education
      Mrs. Abigail Thompson — Elementary Music Teacher
      Mrs. Rachel Udy — Middle School Interventionist
      Miss Brittany Darling — Band Assistant
      Mrs. Jennifer Stoufer — Elementary Reading Interventionist
      Miss Abigail Hoekzema— Covenant Care
      Miss Sophie VanWieren — Preschool Teacher

      Athletics

      PurePlay (Y5’s - 4th grade) 

      Soccer for Y5-4th graders. Games are Saturday mornings; 1st-4th graders also have one weekday practice. Y5/K is one hour on Saturdays.

      Questions: https://www.adachristian.org/athletics/pureplay
      Email:

      Wildcats (56’ers & 78’ers)

      ACS offers boys soccer, girls volleyball, and boys/girls cross-country for grades 5-8 in the fall. All 5-8 athletes must complete a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) physical and concussion form prior to their first practice.

      Completed forms may be dropped off into the ACS office or emailed to , Athletic Director.

      Questions: https://www.adachristian.org/athletics/wildcats
      Email:

      School Lunch Program

      Two lunch options are offered daily, along with a fresh fruit and salad bar. Students order each morning, with deductions made from their lunch account. An account must be created on Meal Magic before your student can order. Visit www.adachristian.org/hotlunch for details or to apply for lunch assistance.

      View the August / September lunch menu
      Questions: , Lunch Coordinator

      Student Handbook

      Ada Christian School provides a Christ-centered education and we recognize the authority of God and His Word in our lives. 

      Guidelines are necessary for the proper management of the school. We ask for your cooperation in following the guidelines outlined in this Student Handbook. We ask you to pray for ACS as we work in God’s Kingdom, equipping students to serve Christ in God’s world.

      Dress Code

      The basics are listed below, and more detailed information is available in our Student Handbook.

      • Shorts/skirts must reach the bottom of the student's middle finger when arms are relaxed at the side.
      • Leggings, jeggings, and yoga pants are not to be worn as pants unless covered by a skirt/top that covers “bottoms.”
      • Tank tops must have a minimum 2” strap.
      • Clothing must cover underclothes and the mid-section of the body.
      • 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.

      Questions: Principals are points of contact for respective departments.
      — Elementary Principal
      — Middle School Principal

      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 August 21, 2026

      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.

      DEADLINE: August 21, 2026
      Questions:

      Get Involved! Recess & PTO

      Elementary (K-4) Recess Volunteers
      Volunteers are needed for lunch recess (12:05-12:30 pm & 12:30-1:00 pm — four people daily) and, on Fridays, morning recess (9:55-10:15 am — four people). Younger siblings are welcome to join.

      Questions: Front office: 616-676-1289. General secretary email: (Wendy Ingraham, Mon/Wed/Fri, and Kimmie Brander, Tue/Thu).

      Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
      We're grateful to our PTO for all they do to support ACS teachers and students. Take a moment to learn more about our PTO and how they support our teachers. Mark your calendars for the PTO Kick-off meeting on August 31 at 2:00pm in the Commons.
      Interested in serving as a Room / Grade Parent? or PTO Voulnteer

      Questions:

      Campus Safety

      A New Face
      This fall you'll see a new face on campus. Ada Christian School is adding a full-time safety officer, in partnership with Shield, beginning ahead of the first day of school.

      We want to say clearly why. This is not a response to any incident at ACS. It reflects a conviction we hold about stewardship: the care of your children is entrusted to us, and that trust is best honored by preparing thoughtfully rather than reacting after the fact.

      The officer's role is intentionally visible and mobile — assisting at arrival and dismissal, walking the building and grounds throughout the day, and present in the ordinary rhythms of campus life. Familiarity is the point. An adult who knows our campus, knows our families, and knows our students by name offers something a locked door cannot.

      The officer will also help us strengthen our emergency plans and lead our required safety drills. You may hear about those drills from your children this year. They are practiced calmly and age-appropriately, and teachers prepare students beforehand.

      Student discipline and classroom supervision remain with our teachers and administrators, as they always have.

      We are grateful for a community that takes both diligence and peace seriously. We plan carefully because we love your children — and we rest because they are held by One who never sleeps.

      If you have questions, please reach out to your child's principal.

      - Elementary Principal
      - Middle School Principal

      Concerts & Programs

      We invite you to join us as we worship the Lord through music. Ada Christian strives to form the mind, body, and soul — and music channels all three into one.

      Concert & Program Dates

      Transportation News

      Families living in the Forest Hills district who registered for transportation will receive information directly from Forest Hills. If you haven't yet contacted them, please call the Forest Hills Transportation Department at 616-493-8785 as soon as possible.

      For ACS transportation, especially if you haven't used it before, please contact , Transportation Supervisor. If you plan to use ACS transportation, please view this information with details about stop locations and times.

      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.