March 14

Finished moving all that dirt this month.

We begin planting after Spring Break!

Celebrating our work on our Persuasive Essays

We read about Elijah vs. the Prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.

The kids loving the story and seeing the POWER of God.

It's hard to believe we're about to begin the final week of the 3rd marking period! We've been working hard around here! We've just started studying measurement units, we're exploring the life and dedication of God's prophet Elijah, we're interpreting and analyzing themes in the books we're reading, we're planning out some personal expertise information books that we're going to start writing soon, and we're exploring the movement of people in the history of the United States. Can you see our brains growing?!?!

1. CONFERENCES - This Spring the 4th graders will be doing student-led conferences. This will be a special time for just you, your 4th grader, and me to reflect on their growth in person (no siblings please).  More details will fall into place later, but since the conference sign up email came out from Holland Christian on Feb. 13, keep that in mind as you choose your time for your conference.  Please plan for an in-person conference.  Thanks so much!  

2. TULIP TIME is coming! 1st through 4th grade parents - please fill out this google form to indicate your students participation and attire for the Kinderparade on May 9th.

3. March is Reading Month! - Rose Park is going to “drop everything and read” each Friday this month!  

- March 14- Read to a stuffed animal- students bring a stuffed animal to read to in their classrooms (small please!)

- March 21- Build a fort and read- students bring in a beach towel or blanket to create a fort to read in!

March 28- Flashlight read- students bring in flashlights from home to read in their classrooms in the dark!

4. WhiteCaps Tickets: As part of the national celebration of reading month, West Michigan WhiteCaps is providing a free optional Reading Tracker/Ticket Order Form.

1. Students and/or their grown-ups keep track of reading minutes in March. 
2. Those who participate are eligible for 2 free tickets to select WhiteCaps home games.

All information regarding this incentive and how to order free tickets is included on the WhiteCaps 2025 Reading Club Form.

5. From Mrs. Rietman:

Link Up Concert:  On Tuesday morning, we will be attending a Holland Symphony Concert at Hope College's Jack Miller Auditorium.  This is a wonderful participatory concert where students will not only get to listen to pieces they've studied, but they will also be encouraged to sing, move, and play along.  A recorder piece the 4th graders have been working on for the concert is  "Shibolet Basadeh."  Please encourage your child to practice this piece at home, and remember to send the recorders to school on Tuesday.  

Glow Party: On your child's music day next week (Wednesday) there will be a Glow Party in music class.  This is a reward that was earned for good class behavior throughout the year. All of our music activities that day will revolve around hands-on, glowing/light-up items.  It is going to be a blast!  Your child is welcome to wear clothing that will "glow" under the black lights.  Most white and neon colored clothing appears to glow.  If your child has anything they can wear that lights up/glows (glasses, hat, etc...) they are welcome to don that as well.   No extra toys please.  Thanks for your support. 

6. Swimming Lessons: Our Holland Aquatic Center is providing swim lessons for us again this year! I recognize this program is new for some children and families. Because our children are blessed to be raised in Michigan, surrounded by bodies of water, we believe this safety instruction is a blessing that we pray they will never need but feel responsible to equip them. If you find yourself pondering over the “why” of lessons, please take a listen to HC mom Jenny White on the why for swim safety. HCAC Swim School welcome video will help you understand a bit about the logistics. Our 1st-4th graders will be bused to the pool each day the weeks of April 14-25.

• 9-10am: 1st Grade

• 10-11am: 4th Grade

• 11am-12pm: 2nd Grade

• 12:35-1:35pm: 3rd Grade