Dec 5, 2022

We spent some time on Thursday helping our buddy class with their posters for their Christmas Cookie Sale. I love watching these students shine bright. They are kind, helpful, and modeling what it looks like to be a stellar student that is shining bright for Christ. I love these moments.

Classroom Christmas Party - We will have our Christmas Party on Tuesday, Dec. 13th from 1:30-3:00 (with a 15min break for recess). We will NOT be trading presents, but instead playing games and doing some activities. I have three volunteers! Please let me know if you are interested in helping as well! Thanks :)

Cookie Sale - Our kindergarteners will be selling cookies for the student body at 10:00 on Thursday, December 8. All money raised will go to Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child which sends shoe boxes all over the world filled with personal hygiene items, school supplies and Christmas gifts.  For those children receiving these boxes, this is likely the ONLY thing they are receiving for Christmas.  In addition to the gift of a shoe box, Samaritan’s Purse also provides opportunities to learn about our greatest gift of all—Jesus! 

ART OPPORTUNITY - Carolyn Stitch (local artist) reached out with a WONDERFUL opportunity for our children to impact other children through their artwork. Due date is December 12. Mrs. Rynsburger will deliver any art your children submit in our school office by December 12. 

SKIING OPPORTUNITY - All students in 4th and 5th grade ski/snowboard FREE at participating ski areas in Michigan with the Cold is Cool Passport App (when accompanied by a paying adult).  29 participating ski areas!  Visit coldiscool.org to apply online.

Kinder Dutch Dance registration is now OPEN. 3rd-5th grade Pine Ridge and Rose Park students will have the opportunity to practice and participate in this 90+ year tradition by learning this partner dance during their lunch recess, starting the week of February 20th, 2023. Registration closes JANUARY 25. Please see the flyer for all the details, and sign up TODAY! Reach out with any questions you have to Nicole Johnson, your Coach and Costume Director (nicole.gugino@gmail.com/616-836-0028). Share with your friends in other school districts; we want everyone to Join The Dance!

Maroons Unified Basketball is looking for partners! Unified Sports is a program offered in partnership with Special Olympics to provide inclusive sport opportunities for students with and without disabilities. Holland Christian and Zeeland Christian partner together to form the Maroons Unified teams. The basketball season runs from the week of January 9 to the week of March 20 with practices one day a week and games in place of practice toward the later weeks. If you would like to sign your child up to play Unified basketball this Winter at either the K-5 or 6-8 level, please fill out this form. Due to the high interest Unified Sports has received, we cannot promise every interested partner will be on the team as we would like to keep the players from each school as balanced as possible. 

Nov. 28, 2022

On Monday, we listed the many blessings we are thankful for and enjoyed a cup of "thanksgiving snacks" with our kindergarten buddies.

On Tuesday, we enjoyed some YUMMY donuts from Bowerman Bakery.

On Tuesday, the students worked in groups to escape a "Math Escape Room". They had 45 minutes to work together to solve over 16 multiplication clues.

The winners!

The disappointed "losers"

"Ms. Snoeyink said we could bring in Christmas stuff!" - In preparation for the Christmas season, the students and I thought it would be fun to each bring in a Christmas decoration from home. This item could be an ornament, lights, a little tree, a snowman sticker...whatever is "extra" at home and will not be missed. I told them they were not allowed to beg about buying something new. It can gladly be something extra from home :)

Classroom Christmas Party - We will have our Christmas Party on Tuesday, Dec. 13th from 1:30-3:00 (with a 15min break for recess). We will NOT be trading presents, but instead playing games and doing some activities. 

Here are my two options....

Choice 1 - I am looking for 2 more parent/grandparent helpers to lead a station for 5 students. I have the games and activities prepared, and just need a helper to lead the station. 

Choice 2 - Some creative parents (2 more parent/grandparent helpers) help create and design three stations/activities for us to do!

If you are available to help and/or plan, please email me and let me know.

Live Nativity - I'm reaching out to see if your 4th grader or your older children would have a desire to be Mary or Joseph in the Critter Barn's Live Nativity.  Mary, owner of the Critter Barn,  is eagerly trying to fill these roles!  Mrs. Bos told her she would help with recruiting!  If you need more info, send Rita Bos an email at rbos@hollandchristian.org!

Mocha and Merch Christmas Open House! Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 30 from 4:30 - 8:00. You are invited to The Maroon and White Shop’s First annual Mocha and Merch Christmas Open House!  Come stroll along Main Street at HCHS while sipping provided hot chocolate and coffee, listening to Christmas Carols played by members of the HC Jazz Band and start your Christmas shopping!  We will have the latest HC gear to purchase!  Every purchase directly supports the Special Olympics Unified Sports program at the high school.  It’s an event you won’t want to miss!

Nov. 11

On Tuesday, we spent time in the barn caring for Rosie and Parker.

Wednesday was pretty special too, when we got to meet a PUBLISHED author!

Ribbon Cutting Hootenanny on Thursday afternoon

A Friday Writing Celebration with our other 4th grade friends!  We enjoyed stories, complements, and treats together!

 

 

Our next writing unit will be a persuasive essay - we'll begin planning for that next week.

This coming week is a normal week of school with our normal routines (math and reading minutes, word work test, recorders on Tuesday, etc.), but the following week is the week of Thanksgiving.  We will only have school on Monday and Tuesday that week. That means we will NOT have reading/math homework or a word work test that week. 

In fact, we are planning some special days that week.

- Monday the 21st will be spending some time with our kindergarten buddies.  

- Tuesday we are going to celebrate the conclusion of our Analyzing Characters reading unit with a 4th grade celebration - we will be watching the movie of the book we recently read in our classes, "The Tiger Rising."  We will make this a "comfy day" where students can wear lounge clothes or PJs and bring along a blanket and a pillow OR a stuffed animal (only one - either the pillow or the stuffed animal).  

It will be a fun way to celebrate all we've learned, especially right before we break for a long holiday weekend.

MATH TEST - We are looking at taking a math test over multi-digit multiplication on the Monday or Tuesday of that last week before Thanksgiving.  If you will be gone for any reason please plan ahead to offer your child the opportunity to complete that before the break.  It's really tricky to come back to a test after a LONG break.

THANKSGIVING ACTIVITY: On November 21, each little one will bring in one cup of his/her favorite “dry” snack.  For instance, pretzels, cheese-its, Chex Mix, craisins, marshmallows…  We’ll then join our fourth grade buddies and take time for each of us to place our snack item in a large pot while thanking God abundantly for His goodness.  This beautiful collection will be mixed and scooped up so everyone can enjoy a bit of the goodness that others provided!  Isn’t that life…?  We all bring our beauty and then, added with others, it’s a true gift!