Week of March 25

Dear parents,

It’s almost hard to believe that Spring Break is upon us this Friday. Whether you’re venturing out of town or staying local, I hope for safe travels and enjoyable moments with your loved ones. While my family and I won’t be hitting the road, I eagerly anticipate some quality downtime with them and hopefully some outdoor activities if the weather permits. It’s a chance for us to recharge and gather our energy for the remainder of the year.

Report cards will be handed out on Tuesday, March 26th. Remember, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me at any time.

This week, we’ll continue focusing on the profound journey of Jesus in the days leading up to His crucifixion. We’re deepening our love and appreciation for our Savior. Through prayer, reflection, and study of His teachings, we’re nurturing our hearts to overflow with love for Jesus. As we journey through this Easter season together, let’s allow our love for Him to shine brightly in all that we do.

In Christ!

Maestra González

 

.Announcements:

  • March 26: Report Cards will be sent home.
  • *March is Reading Month : Thursday 28th Dress like a book character- Dress like Taky (wear crazy clothes)

  • Burn Bright Puppet Party on Monday!Our Burn Bright Puppet Party Celebration will be on Monday! Kathy Miedema is a ventriloquist and ZCS grandma. This will be fun!
  • Wear Green on Monday – Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day
  • From the Immersion Director
    For the last several weeks, we have been exploring the journey of raising bilingual and biliterate children. I wanted to take this opportunity to look back over the main points. First, cherish these sweet years when your child will curl up and listen to you read a good story. Please read aloud to your child in English daily! However, rest assured that it is best if you do not try to teach them to read in English. We begin our literacy instruction in the target language for many reasons, and it is best to wait for formal English reading instruction until their immersion language reading develops to a confident level. Even though you might not understand your child’s language of instruction, it is important to be an active listener when they read out loud to you. You can engage with them by asking questions about the story, but do not ask for a direct translation. Finally, provided your child reads 15-20 minutes in the target language for practice at home, for any reading beyond this, let your child take the lead in choosing the language. If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s reading development in either language, please reach out to your child’s teacher. You can also connect with me (Jodi Pierce, jpierce@zcs.org) or our reading specialist, Marianne Raitz.

Upcoming Elementary Events: (ZCS Calendar)

• Mar. 25: Burn Bright Puppet Party

• Mar. 28: Elementary Worship; 2:50-3:10

• Mar. 29-April 5: No School – Spring Break

• Apr. 8: School resumes

• Apr. 15-19: Delta Screener window

• Apr. 16: Elementary Worship (2:50-3:10)

• Apr. 17: Chapel (9:10) and Family Groups (9:40)

• Apr. 19: ZCS Auction

• Apr. 23 & 24: Muffins with Moms/Ma’ams

week of March 18

Dear parents,
First of all I want to say thank you for the lovely wishes from your generous hearts on my birthday! I loved the beautiful flowers. I sincerely appreciate your blessings and love!

We had another great week in our class. It was great hearing the children sing Wednesday night at the concert. They did a fantastic job, I’m so proud of them! Thank you for coming out to support them.!

In Christ!

Maestra Gonzalez.

Announcements:

  • March is Reading Month

     Week of March 22: Glow in the Dark (bring in and read with a flashlight.

     Week of March 28:  Dress like a book character- Dress like Taky (wear crazy clothes) or another book character of your choosing.

  • On the morning of Friday 22 we will have the Guest Author:  Kelli Baptist reading her book “The Electric Slide and Kai ” Kai is the only member of his family who can’t get the dance steps to the Electric Slide right. But Kai is determined to bust a move in this fun and sweet celebration of African American families…  The author will not be bringing her books to sell here, rather if you would like to purchase, please can follow this link on her website to do so.
  • Can you believe the third grading period is over? Report cards are sent home next Tuesday before spring break.

 

Upcoming Elementary Events: (ZCS Calendar)

• Mar. 18: Reading running record benchmarks due – K-5th

• Mar. 21: All School Chapel (9:10)- NO Family Groups

• Mar. 22: Author Visit – 9:00-9:30 for Y5-2nd, 9:45-10:15 for 3rd-5th

• Mar. 22: Half Day of School, Teacher Grading PM (No PD)

• Mar. 28: Elementary Worship; 2:50-3:10

• Mar. 29-April 5: No School – Spring Break

• Apr. 8: School resumes

• Apr. 11: Society Meeting (not required for staff, just FYI)

• Apr. 15-19: Delta Screener window

• Apr. 16: Elementary Worship (2:50-3:10)

• Apr. 17: Chapel (9:10) and Family Groups (9:40)

• Apr. 19: ZCS Auction

• Apr. 23 & 24: Muffins with Moms/Ma’ams

Week of March 11

Hola padres,

As a first-grade level, we gathered together with our teachers to brainstorm and adapt our usual activities to make March Reading Month extra special. We knew we wanted to incorporate our love for reading into every aspect of our learning journey this month.

This month we’ll be doing a few fun things to celebrate! One book our class has really been enjoying lately is El Pingüino Taky. 🙂 We are going to write clues to help another class discover which book we are studying. We’re also going to learn a bit more about the author. This book is also available in English if you’re interested in finding it at the library!

Please see the dates below and add them to your calendar to help us celebrate!

  • Wednesday, March 13- Pajama/Comfy Day- Get comfy and read
  • Friday, March 22- Flashlight Day- bring a flashlight to read by
  • Thursday, March 28- Dress like a book character- Dress like Taky (wear crazy clothes) or another book character of your choosing

In Christ!

Maestra Gonzalez.

Announcements:

  • Here is the information for the West Michigan Whitecaps Reading Club.
    • Flyer went home on Friday.
    • The students will track their reading and parents will fill out their information to redeem the student’s two free tickets
    • Once the forms are sent home it will be the responsibility of their grown ups to make sure the reading is complete and to redeem their free tickets.
    • On the side of the Reading Tracker / Ticket order form, you will see a blue bookmark that is able to be torn off.  This is for the Nine Innings of Prizes.  When students attend their free game, they will be able to turn in the bookmark at the Box Office to be entered into the prize drawings.  More information and instructions are listed on the bookmark
    • If parents have any questions they can reach out directly to the White Caps Reading Club office:   616.726.7053  whitecapsreadingclub@gmail.com.
  • Scholastic Book clubs: You can choose to have your books shipped to your home or delivered to me with our class order.  With a $25 order, you can pick a FREE $5 Book (use code: READS).  Class Order Due Date: 03/24/23. Shop Our Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/RD2LG.  Shop Digital Flyers for Our Grade with Your Child: https://clubs.scholastic.com/.     Please share the Class Page link to extended family and friends. All orders also earn FREE Books for our class.  Thank you for your support!
  • Wonderfully Made : Each child has been assigned a special day this year. Please help us to make this a very special day for your child, as we remind him/her what a wonderful creation of God he/she is and how much we love and celebrate him/her!  This week we will be celebrating Isaac’s Brithday & Wonderfully Made Day. Here is the calendar and More info HERE ) if you have questions please let me know.

Reminders:

  • A Note from Miss Stilwell (Elementary Art Teacher): This year, along with the 1st, 2nd, 5th Grade Worship Service at Community Reformed Church in Zeeland, the 1st, 2nd, & 5th grade artists will be displaying their artwork connected to this year’s theme at ZCS: Restored. At the conclusion of the service, students are invited to show family & friends their artwork, and take their artwork home. 1st graders will be displaying their Butterfly Symmetry projects, 2nd graders will be displaying their Clay Fish projects, and 5th graders will be displaying their Paper Folding Relief Projects. Please see Miss Stilwell’s WAAG to learn more about these projects & when your student will be creating them in art class.
    Miss Stilwell appreciates volunteers during the day on March 12 to help make this art show possible. Please reach out to her (jstilwell@zcs.org) if you are available to help for a portion of the day. No past art experience required!
  • A note from Kendra Walters, music teacher, about worship night: The first graders will be joining the 2nd & 5th graders for a beautiful night of worship on Tuesday, March 12 at 6:30pm at Community Reformed Church (10376 Felch St). Please bring your child directly to the stage at 6:20pm. After their songs, they will come back to sit with you for the remainder of the service. This is their first official musical performance at ZCS so please help us in getting them excited for it and dressing them accordingly. We’re excited to see you there!
  • Please Help Keep Our Students Safe! Parents, please take a few minutes to remind yourselves of our arrival and dismissal procedures. We ask you to follow these steps for the safety of all of our students. If you have specific questions, please feel free to email zcsinfo@zcs.org. This document reminds you of the where, the when, and the how. The why is easy…SAFETY! Thank you for taking time to refresh your memory.  2023-2024 School Day Arrival & Dismissal Protocols
  • TRIP is easy! The ZCS Tuition Reducing Incentive Program is a simple way to earn “free” money on things you are already purchasing to reduce tuition. Order gifts cards & e-gift cards on the RaiseRight app or online (even while you are shopping) or buy gift cards at school on Friday mornings. Just click here and follow the steps to start saving right away! Email Jennifer Schafer at jschafer@zcs.org for more information or with any questions.

 

Upcoming Elementary Events: (ZCS Calendar)

• Mar. 12: Spring Elementary Performance – 1st, 2nd, 5th grades; 6:30pm

• Mar. 15: End of Marking Period; School in Session

• Mar. 18: Reading running record benchmarks due – K-5th

• Mar. 21: All School Chapel (9:10)- NO Family Groups

• Mar. 22: Author Visit – 9:00-9:30 for Y5-2nd, 9:45-10:15 for 3rd-5th

• Mar. 22: Half Day of School, Teacher Grading PM (No PD)

• Mar. 28: Elementary Worship; 2:50-3:10

• Mar. 29-April 5: No School – Spring Break

• Apr. 8: School resumes

• Apr. 11: Society Meeting (not required for staff, just FYI)

• Apr. 15-19: Delta Screener window

• Apr. 16: Elementary Worship (2:50-3:10)

• Apr. 17: Chapel (9:10) and Family Groups (9:40)

• Apr. 19: ZCS Auction

• Apr. 23 & 24: Muffins with Moms/Ma’ams

Author’s visit.

Reading to Kinder friends.

Pajamas and stuffed animal day.

Indoor Recess

Week of March 4

Hola padres,

Welcome back to our weekend blog from the wonderful world of first grade!

This week was filled with excitement as we embarked on a special journey of sharing our theater reading experiences with our friends from different grades. It was a memorable occasion that left us buzzing with joy and pride!

Also we had the privilege of welcoming some special guests – Mrs. Coop and our Immersion Director, Mrs. Pierce, they joined us in the heartwarming task of watching our beloved theater readers.

I am bursting with pride for this great class. Their exceptional performance not only showcased their reading fluency but also highlighted their development in responsibility, cooperation, and group work. This activity has undoubtedly contributed significantly to their growth, both academically and socially.

As we look ahead, I am filled with optimism about the future of our tether reading presentations. The success of this endeavor has solidified our commitment to continue this tradition, fostering a love for reading and a sense of camaraderie among our peers.  I am excited to see where it takes us next.  Thank you for all your support at home.

But our journey didn’t end there! In addition to our tether reading presentations, we had the wonderful opportunity to share our own writings with Teacher Izenbaard’s class. These personal narratives, capturing small moments from our lives, allowed us to showcase our creativity and storytelling skills. It was a joyous occasion filled with laughter, shared experiences, and newfound friendships.

Here I attached videos and many photos to enjoy.

In Chris!

Maestra Gonzalez.

 

Announcements:

  • March is Reading Month, 2024
    Our theme is Clue Book Game and we have planned some fun activities for each week to celebrate this theme.  All Month – Students will need to guess what book did their friends choose.
    Book Fair- March 1st
    From your own classroom library, each student will choose a book secretly that they will have for the entire month… Students will choose a book without telling others what the book is about.About the AuthorMar. 8 God gave different talents to all of us, and writing is an amazing one! For this reason we will study more about the person who wrote the book each student chooses. Take time to investigate more about the author.  Younger grades, look at the ‘About the Author” at the back of the book to learn more.  Older grades may want to look online to learn more about the author. Keep the CLUE mindset and have students write a short summary, and share it as a circle…. For example,  “My author writes _______ genre, or lives in a big city, or writes about animals…”  (The higher levels make a summary or write about this author to share between them.)Giving Clues part 1Mar. 15Everyone needs someone who they can share this big secret with. Enjoy visiting another class and choose one person with whom you can read your book in between the two of them. You will travel to your partner teacher’s class. Please contact your partner teacher and plan a time on March 8 for you to visit your partner’s classroom to read a book of your choice to them. (Suggested time – 15-20 minutes)Giving Clues part 2 –  Mar. 22Make students bring an object or part of what their character uses for them to give a clue to others of what the book is about. Give them some minutes to try to guess. Book Character Dress-Up Day: Thursday, Mar. 28,2024

    Plan and prepare your costume to resemble the character as closely as possible.

    On the designated day, dress up as your chosen book character and share with your friends about your book character. 

    Have fun and enjoy embodying your favorite literary character!

  • Author Visits:
    • Bradley Slagh: Bradley Slagh reached out to our school asking if he could read to our 1st graders. He will be coming Monday, March 4.
    • Emilie DeYoung: If you are interested in purchasing a book by Emilie DeYoung, clinical director of Winning at Home and author of Peanut Butter Pie,  Just click here and follow the steps to start saving right away! Email Jennifer Schafer at jschafer@zcs.org for more information or with any questions . Emilie will be visiting our school on March 8. Her book, Peanut Butter Pie is full of practical steps for challenging worries.
  • From the Immersion Director:

    How can I help my child with reading in Spanish or Mandarin if I do not speak the language?

    Watching your child learn to read and write in a different language can feel a little strange at times. However, you are not alone! The vast majority of our parents do not speak the language in which their child is learning to read, and yet, they are still able to support the growing literacy abilities. Many strategies to help your child become a reader are the same regardless of the language shift. As mentioned before, have books available in either Spanish or Mandarin for your child to read at home. Set aside time for your child to enjoy a book with you or on his/her own. Model good reading habits by letting your children see you read. Show interest in any books that your child brings home from school. Even if you cannot understand a word of your child’s classroom language, ask him/her to read aloud to you. Get cozy and make it a special time for both of you. Ask your child to do the best s/he can and assure him/her that it doesn’t need to be perfect. Be an active listener by leaning in, asking questions, and giving genuine thoughts based on pictures or details your child shares. Once again, do not ask your child to translate what was just read; this is unnatural for children and can cause the child to feel like s/he “doesn’t understand” the text. Instead of asking “What did that just say?”, you could ask, “Do you think that character made a good decision?” or “If you were the author, what would you have happen on the next page?” These questions get at the meaning without requiring translation. If your child is stuck at a word or phrase, assure him/her that it’s okay to not know it right now, but encourage him/her to ask the teacher tomorrow and then come back home the next day to teach it to you. As a side note, if you really want to understand the text, there are apps that can read the text and translate it for you; just save this for your own information rather than giving your child access to it! Happy reading!!

     

  • This year, along with the 1st, 2nd, 5th Grade Worship Service at Community Reformed Church in Zeeland, the 1st, 2nd, & 5th grade artists will be displaying their artwork connected to this year’s theme at ZCS: Restored. At the conclusion of the service, students are invited to show family & friends their artwork, and take their artwork home. 1st graders will be displaying their Butterfly Symmetry projects, 2nd graders will be displaying their Clay Fish projects, and 5th graders will be displaying their Paper Folding Relief Projects. Please see Miss Stilwell’s WAAG to learn more about these projects & when your student will be creating them in art class. 
    Miss Stilwell appreciates volunteers during the day on March 12 to help make this art show possible. Please reach out to her (jstilwell@zcs.org) if you are available to help for a portion of the day. No past art experience required! 

 

Upcoming Elementary Events: (ZCS Calendar)

• Mar. 12: Spring Elementary Performance – 1st, 2nd, 5th grades; 6:30pm

• Mar. 15: End of Marking Period; School in Session

• Mar. 18: Reading running record benchmarks due – K-5th

• Mar. 21: All School Chapel (9:10)- NO Family Groups

• Mar. 22: Author Visit – 9:00-9:30 for Y5-2nd, 9:45-10:15 for 3rd-5th

• Mar. 22: Half Day of School, Teacher Grading PM (No PD)

• Mar. 28: Elementary Worship; 2:50-3:10

• Mar. 29-April 5: No School – Spring Break

 

Tether Reading Videos.  

IMG_9979          IMG_9982
IMG_9991        Video
Theater Reading Pictures. 
Sharing writings with Teacher Izenbaard’s class,
Watching the middle school and elementary Unified basketball games!

Week of February 26.

Hola padres,

This week has been filled with boundless creativity and a whole lot of excitement as we dove into the world of acting reading and writing our own realistic fiction stories.

I am absolutely thrilled to share that our students have been beaming with enthusiasm and pouring their hearts into their work. Witnessing their dedication and passion for learning has been an absolute joy! Their eagerness to learn and grow fills our classroom with an infectious energy that is simply inspiring.

In Christ!

Maestra Gonzalez.

 

Announcements:

  • Please review pick up and drop off procedures that are in place for everyone’s safety!

    Please Help Keep Our Students Safe!

    Parents, please take a few minutes to remind yourselves of our arrival and dismissal procedures. We ask you to follow these steps for all our students’ safety. If you have specific questions, please feel free to email zcsinfo@zcs.org. This document reminds you of the where, the when, and the how. The why is easy…SAFETY! Thank you for taking the time to refresh your memory.

    2023-2024 School Day Arrival & Dismissal Protocols

  • LEAP DAY! Feb. 29: Please send your student to school with 1 disposable water bottle that is emptied. We will use that as a time capsule. If you have a few extra laying around, please send those in too! Thank you!

  • TRIP is easy! The ZCS Tuition Reducing Incentive Program is a simple way to earn “free” money on things you are already purchasing to reduce tuition. Order gifts cards & e-gift cards on the RaiseRight app or online (even while you are shopping) or buy gift cards at school on Friday mornings.

     Just click here and follow the steps to start saving right away! Email Jennifer Schafer at jschafer@zcs.org for more information or with any questions.

  • March 4, 2024
    We are thrilled to have Emilie DeYoung visit our Y5’s, K and 1st grade classrooms this year as a part of “March is Reading Month” activities.
    She will be reading her recently released children’s book “Peanut Butter Pie” to our students, which offers steps for challenging worries.
    The book is beautifully written by Emilie and illustrated by Joel Schoon-Tannis.Emilie is the Clinical Director for Winning at Home. She holds a PhD inpsychology with an emphasis on child and adolescent counseling and
    a master’s degree in social work. She was also a ZCS parent to her two now adult children.If you would like to purchase a copy (or copies) of her book at a discounted price of $15.00 please send the money to your child’s teacher by March 7th. You may send cash or a check made
    payable to Winning at Home. Otherwise, if you’d like to purchase later, you can use the QR code in the flyer to purchase the book online at the regular price.
    Thank you!

 

Upcoming Elementary Events: (ZCS Calendar)

• Feb. 29: Optional Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences; School in Session

• Feb. 29: Leap Day!

• Mar. 1: Half Day of School; no PD;  Destination Imagination preview day for 3rd-5th (10:25-11:35); Unified basketball K-5 at ZCS (time TBD)

• Mar. 12: Spring Elementary Performance – 1st, 2nd, 5th grades; 6:30pm

• Mar. 15: End of Marking Period; School in Session

• Mar. 18: Reading running record benchmarks due – K-5th

• Mar. 21: All School Chapel (9:10)- NO Family Groups

• Mar. 22: Author Visit – 9:00-9:30 for Y5-2nd, 9:45-10:15 for 3rd-5th

• Mar. 22: Half Day of School, Teacher Grading PM (No PD)

• Mar. 28: Elementary Worship; 2:50-3:10

• Mar. 29-April 5: No School – Spring Break

Week of February 19

Happy Winter Brake!

Thank you SO much to Heather Bosman and Ashley Meade able to organizing everything and for coming to set everything up and “running” the activities for the Valentine’s Day celebration, also Jayne Schmidt and Alesha Schut for helping in the classroom  during that time.

The children loved it and we are very grateful for all the work you put into this!  We appreciate you!

As you know Parent Teacher Conferences are optional in the Spring.  That being said there’s a few of you that I would like to meet with because I have some celebrations to share and some new goals to set for your child.  If this is the case, you should have received an email next week from me asking you to sign up for a conference.
If you don’t get that email feel free to Sign up  if you do wish to share something with me, otherwise I will continue doing my best to teach your child to the best of my abilities in order to prepare them well for Second Grade!  🙂
Sign-up begins February 19th at 9:00 a.m. (EST) until February 26th at 10:00 p.m. I will send the letter to make reservations via email.

Enjoy the long weekend!

In his service,

Maestra González.

 

Announcements:

 

  • Kingergarten/1st Grade Chapel: Friday, February 23 all kindergarten and 1st grade classes will be leading some singing during chapel. You are all invited to attend this special time of worship. If you’d like to join us, please see the note below from our front office to make your morning run a little smoother. 🙂Pre-Registration For February 23 Chapel Now Available!Parents, we encourage you (and grandparents/friends) to Pre-Register for chapel on February 23rd to avoid sign-in lines!! Please share the good news!!
    • Pre-Registration is now a sign-in option for parents/grandparents/guests when attending chapel! 
    • Pre-Registration allows guests to skip the line and pick up their badge at the front desk. No waiting in line to scan in!
    • Guests are eligible to pre-register IF they have signed in at the kiosk in the office previously WITH their driver’s license.  
    • Pre-Registration will be open until 5:00 PM on 2/21/24  

    Pre-Register using THIS LINK!

  • A note from Kendra Walters, music teacher, about worship night: The first graders will be joining the 2nd & 5th graders for a beautiful night of worship on Tuesday, March 12 at 6:30pm at Community Reformed Church (10376 Felch St). Please bring your child directly to the stage at 6:20pm. After their songs, they will come back to sit with you for the remainder of the service. This is their first official musical performance at ZCS so please help us in getting them excited for it and dressing them accordingly. We’re excited to see you there!
  • Please Vote For ZCS!!  Holland Sentinel’s Community Choice Awards voting is now open. Please vote and encourage your friends and family to vote as well. You can vote HERE.
  • Leap Year! Time Capsule: Parent Partners have created a fun way to celebrate Leap Year! Each student will be making a super simple time capsule to bring home and open the next leap year (2028). Please send your student to school with 1 disposable water bottle that is emptied, we will use that as the time capsule. If you have a few extra laying around, please send those in too!
  • Wonderfully Made : Each child has been assigned a special day this year. Please help us to make this a very special day for your child, as we remind him/her what a wonderful creation of God he/she is and how much we love and celebrate him/her!  This week we will be celebrating Leland’s Brithday & Wonderfully Made Day. Here is the calendar and More info HERE ) if you have questions please let me know.

 

Upcoming Elementary Events: (ZCS Calendar)

• Feb. 16-19: Winter Break – No school, no PD

• Feb. 23: All School Chapel (9:10) and Family Groups (9:40); Pastor Appreciation Breakfast

• Feb. 29: Optional Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences; School in Session

• Feb. 29: Leap Day! 

• Mar. 1: Half Day of School; no PD;  Destination Imagination preview day for 3rd-5th (10:25-11:35); Unified basketball K-5 at ZCS (time TBD)

• Mar. 12: Spring Elementary Performance – 1st, 2nd, 5th grades; 6:30pm

• Mar. 15: End of Marking Period; School in Session

• Mar. 21: All School Chapel (9:10)- NO Family Groups

• Mar. 22: Author Visit – 9:00-9:30 for Y5-2nd, 9:45-10:15 for 3rd-5th

• Mar. 22: Half Day of School.

• Mar. 28: Elementary Worship; 2:50-3:10

• Mar. 29-April 5: No School – Spring Break

Week of February

Dear parents,

This was another great week in 1G. Also we  completed a few different assessments- MAP Growth for reading and math and some phonics assessments for RAMS/RTI. Those test results provide valuable data that I can use to tailor my teaching strategies to meet the specific needs of each student, whether they need additional support or enrichment activities.

I am happy and proud of the remarkable growth I have seen in our students since the beginning of the school year. As we continue through the school year, I want to emphasize the importance of maintaining this momentum. The journey towards second grade is an exciting one, but it also requires hard work and commitment. With your continued support and encouragement at home, I have no doubt that our students will be well-prepared for the challenges and adventures that lie ahead.

We will also have two short weeks (only four days) because of Winter Break.  I’m sure we all will enjoy some time off, especially with having this wonderful SUNNY winter weather.  Wherever your winter break takes you enjoy and be safe!

In his service,

Maestra González

 

Announcements:

  • Pre-Registration For February 23 Chapel Now Available!Parents, we encourage you (and grandparents/friends) to Pre-Register for chapel on February 23rd to avoid sign-in lines!! Please share the good news!!
    • Pre-Registration is now a sign-in option for parents/grandparents/guests when attending chapel! 
    • Pre-Registration allows guests to skip the line and pick up their badge at the front desk. No waiting in line to scan in!
    • Guests are eligible to pre-register IF they have signed in at the kiosk in the office previously WITH their driver’s license.  
    • Pre-Registration will be open until 5:00 PM on 2/21/24

    Pre-Register using THIS LINK!

  • Please Vote For ZCS!!  Holland Sentinel’s Community Choice Awards voting is now open. Please vote and encourage your friends and family to vote as well. You can vote HERE.6
  • A note from Kendra Walters, music teacher, about worship night: The first graders will be joining the 2nd & 5th graders for a beautiful night of worship on Tuesday, March 12 at 6:30pm at Community Reformed Church (10376 Felch St). Please bring your child directly to the stage at 6:20pm. After their songs, they will come back to sit with you for the remainder of the service. This is their first official musical performance at ZCS so please help us in getting them excited for it and dressing them accordingly. We’re excited to see you there!
  • Let’s commemorate Valentine’s Day by sharing our love for God alongside our affection for one another. We will celebrate in our classroom on Wednesday Feb 14.  Thank you parents for all the work you do in making these celebrations so fun and exciting for students! If you wish you can send non-edible “valentines” to share with classmates.  If your child would like to personalize cards or treats with friends’ names here is our class list: Valentina, Abigail, Eva, Leland, Olive, Gabriel, Ian, Carson, Brayden, Quinn, Freya, Eleanor, Ethan, Breslin, Isaac, Daniel, Baylen.
From the Immersion Director

Do I need to teach my child to read in English?

The answer to this question is a resounding no! you do not need to teach your child to read in English. In fact, our best advice is please do not begin teaching your child to read in English–we’ve got this covered! There is actually a fair amount of research that shows us that introducing English reading instruction too early in the immersion students’ literacy development can be detrimental. We want the students to develop a strong base in the immersion language first, so that the transfer of reading skills to English can happen most efficiently and with the least amount of confusion. This being said, many of our students develop literacy in both languages at about the same rate. Therefore, please let your child take the lead in his or her reading growth; if s/he shows a natural desire and inclination to read in English, you can provide the opportunity. I imagine this looking like a child navigating English reading in a board game you are playing together. Maybe your child loves to read street signs or is trying to follow the words on the screen at church. These are natural points of interest for a child and have an authentic purpose. By all means, you should support and applaud them for their efforts! However, you can put away the English flashcards (unless your child loves it and begs for it), you should not require that they read a certain number of minutes or pages in English each night, and you do not need to expect them to reach specific reading levels in English. As I said before, the best thing you can do to help them grow in English literacy is to read out loud to them each day in English and be sure they have access to books in both languages at home.

Upcoming Elementary Events: (ZCS Calendar)

• Feb. 15: Schedule switch – Friday specials schedule

• Feb. 16-19: Winter Break – No school, no PD

• Feb. 23: All School Chapel (9:10) and Family Groups (9:40); Pastor Appreciation Breakfast

• Feb. 29: Optional Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences; School in Session

• Feb. 29: Leap Day! 

• Mar. 1: Half Day of School;  Destination Imagination preview day for 3rd-5th (10:25-11:35); Unified basketball K-5 at ZCS (time TBD)

• Mar. 12: Spring Elementary Performance – 1st, 2nd, 5th grades; 6:30pm

• Mar. 15: End of Marking Period; School in Session

• Mar. 18: Reading running record benchmarks due – K-5th

• Mar. 21: All School Chapel (9:10)- NO Family Groups

• Mar. 22: Half Day of School, Teacher Grading PM (No PD)

• Mar. 28: Elementary Worship; 2:50-3:10

Week of February, 5

Hola padres,

How wonderful weekend we’ve just experienced. Wasn’t it simply splendid? The sun was shining brightly, casting its warm rays across our neighborhood and filling our hearts with joy. I hope each of you had a chance to bask in its glow.

The weekend weather was a gentle reminder of the beauty that surrounds us every day. It’s incredible how something as simple as a sunny day can lift our spirits and fill us with energy and enthusiasm. Let’s not forget to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation manifested in the warmth of the sun, the chirping of birds, and the vibrant colors of nature around us.

In Christ!

Maestra Gonzalez.

Announcements:

  • MAP Growth Assessments: Tomorrow we will be taking our Reading MAP Tests at 12:40 and on Tuesday will be taking Math at 8:40amIt’s important that students do their best to show all that they’ve learned this year! We are helping your student by preparing them to know what to expect on the assessment, coaching them on assessment-taking strategies, reminding them that they are capable of doing well, and shaping a structured and supportive classroom environment on those days.You can help your student by ensuring that they get proper sleep the evening before an assessment, feeding them a healthy breakfast on the assessment morning, and encouraging them to have a positive attitude and to do their best–this assessment is important, and they are capable!Together, we can support students in doing their best to show what they’re reading to learn this year! There is additional information available at https://www.nwea.org/parent-toolkit/. If you have further questions, please let me know!
  • The students are very excited working on the Science project. They will design a model of solution to a human problem. Its design will be based on imitating an animal or plant characteristic. Students will share what animal or plant characteristic helped them design their model. They will draw a model of their design and present how their model will provide a solution to a human problem. They are so excited working on their projects, they are doing an incredible job.
    If you have shoe boxes, empty water bottles, transparent food container lids, etc., as well as scraps of thin rope, would you be so kind as to send them to the school to support our hardworking engineers? Thank you!
  • 新年快乐–Happy New Year! Join us for our Lunar New Year Celebration! 
    On Friday, February 9, more than 1.5 million people will begin their two week celebration of the Lunar New Year. The Mandarin staff, students and families are excited to celebrate as well. The community is invited to join the celebration on Friday, February 9 at the Holland Fish and Game Club from 5:30-8:00pm. It will be an open house-style celebration with Chinese food for purchase, cultural crafts and activities, a traditional Dragon Dance and more!
    Let’s wear RED on Friday…We will also be celebrating at school. In addition to a Chinese themed lunch, we invite everyone to wear RED on Friday, February 9–the traditional color of this holiday.
  • Day 100 will be on Friday February 9th, Please help your child find 100 small items and bring them to class that day. We will use these object for counting, sorting, classifying, etc, as part of our Day 100  MATH activities.  We will send the items back home with your child that day.  Please DO NOT send edibles.  Examples of things you can send:  small erasers, magnets, pencils, tiny toys, marbles, little rocks or pebbles, shells, etc.
  • Valentine’s Day Celebration – We will celebrate in our classroom on Wednesday Feb 14.  Thank you parents for all the work you do in making these celebrations so fun and exciting for students! More information came soon. If you wish you can send non-edible “valentines” to share with classmates.  If your child would like to personalize cards or treats with friends’ names here is our class list: Valentina, Abigail, Eva, Leland, Olive, Gabriel, Ian, Carson, Brayden, Quinn, Freya, Eleanor, Ethan, Breslin, Isaac, Daniel, Baylen.
  • From our  Nurse Lindsey

    “Holiday parties are a special time for children, but can be a difficult time for the food-allergic child (egg, nuts, dairy) or the child following a strict gluten-free diet. If you would like to send in treats, please be mindful about the ingredients.  Treats must be store bought pre packaged only.  No treats will be consumed in the classroom; all treats passed out during the holiday party will be sent home.

    We trust that you understand how deeply important it is to respect and adhere to these guidelines. If throughout the course of the year you have any questions or concerns about food-allergy or diet related issues, please do not hesitate to contact us, thank you.”

  • Wonderfully Made : Each child has been assigned a special day this year. Please help us to make this a very special day for your child, as we remind him/her what a wonderful creation of God he/she is and how much we love and celebrate him/her!  This week we will be celebrating Leland’s Brithday & Wonderfully Made Day. Here is the calendar and More info HERE ) if you have questions please let me know
  • Pastor Appreciation Breakfast: The Pastor Appreciation Breakfast is coming up on Friday, February 23, and we can’t wait! Last year we had a great turnout with about 80 pastors who attended which was awesome. We would love it if you would take the time to invite your pastors so we can appreciate them once again. The invitations went home to your children.
  • Pastor Appreciation Breakfast: The Pastor Appreciation Breakfast is coming up on Friday, February 23, and we can’t wait! Last year we had a great turnout with about 80 pastors who attended which was awesome. We would love it if you would take the time to invite your pastors so we can appreciate them once again. The invitations went home to your children.

Upcoming Elementary Events: (ZCS Calendar)

• Jan. 29-Feb. 9: MAP Growth Window

• Feb. 5: Project Best Life Parent Info Meeting for 4th/5th grade parents; 6:30pm

• Feb. 7: Elementary Worship; 2:50-3:10pm

• Feb. 9: Lunar New Year Celebration (Wear RED; evening event optional)

• Feb. 15: Schedule switch – Friday specials schedule

• Feb. 16-19: Winter Break – No school, no PD

• Feb. 23: All School Chapel (9:10) and Family Groups (9:40); Pastor Appreciation Breakfast

• Feb. 29: Optional Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences; School in Session

• Feb. 29: Leap Day!

• Mar. 1: Half Day of School; no PD;  Destination Imagination preview day for 3rd-5th (10:25-11:35); Unified basketball K-5 at ZCS (time TBD)

• Mar. 12: Spring Elementary Performance – 1st, 2nd, 5th grades; 6:30pm

• Mar. 15: End of Marking Period; School in Session

• Mar. 18: Reading running record benchmarks due – K-5th

• Mar. 21: All School Chapel (9:10)- NO Family Groups

• Mar. 22: Half Day of School, Teacher Grading PM (No PD)

• Mar. 28: Elementary Worship; 2:50-3:10

Week of January 29th

Dear parents,

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for all the support, kind words, and prayers you have extended to me during my time of illness. Your thoughtfulness has truly touched my heart and lifted my spirits in more ways than I can express.

Receiving your well wishes has been a source of immense comfort and strength for me, and I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you for your generosity and kindness. Your support has reminded me of the incredible community we have here in our class, and I feel truly blessed to be surrounded by such caring and compassionate individuals.

Thank you once again for your unwavering support. I am looking forward to returning to class soon, and I cannot wait to see again your beloved children, I miss them deeply.

In Christ!

Matilde González.

 

Announcements:

  • Math Mania- Remember to return your yellow math game mania paper , it was by January 29 but you can send it tomorrow  to be entered into the drawing.
  • MAP Growth Assessments

    We’re looking forward to upcoming MAP Growth assessments! MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments in Math and Reading, will help teachers to understand how much students have grown in their learning so far this year and what they are ready to learn during the rest of the year.

    We’ll be taking these assessments in the morning during class on the following dates:

    • READING: Monday February 5th  (12:40- 2:00)
    • MATH: Monday February 6th ( 8:40-10:00)

    It’s important that students do their best to show all that they’ve learned this year! We are helping your student by preparing them to know what to expect on the assessment, coaching them on assessment-taking strategies, reminding them that they are capable of doing well, and shaping a structured and supportive classroom environment on those mornings.

    You can help your student by ensuring that they get proper sleep the evening before an assessment, feeding them a healthy breakfast on the assessment morning, and encouraging them to have a positive attitude and to do their best–this assessment is important, and they are capable!

    Together, we can support students in doing their best to show what they’re reading to learn this year! There is additional information available at https://www.nwea.org/parent-toolkit/. If you have further questions, please let me know!

  • Wonderfully Made : Each child has been assigned a special day this year. Please help us to make this a very special day for your child, as we remind him/her what a wonderful creation of God he/she is and how much we love and celebrate him/her!  This week we will be celebrating Valentina’s and Breslin’s . Here is the calendar and More info HERE ) if you have questions please let me know
  • I wanted to reach out to inform you about our upcoming Immersion Coordinator meetings that I am required to attend during my usual lunch time. As you know, these meetings are crucial for the effective coordination of our immersion program and ensure the best educational experience for our students.Since this is a monthly occurrence, I am seeking assistance from someone who is both able and willing to provide coverage during this period. This will ensure that our students are supervised and engaged in constructive activities while I am attending the meeting. I am in urgent to have someone for tomorrow. If you are able and willing to come tomorrow, please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks So much!Here are the dates for the rest of the year.
  • Jan 30 12:20-12:45 pm
  •  Feb 20, 12:20-12:45 pm
  • March 19 12:20-12:45 pm
  • Apr 23 12:20-12:45 pm
  • May 21 12:20-12:45 pm
  • From the Immersion Director:

    Watching your child learn to read is an interesting journey; couple that with the fact that you are expecting your child to become biliterate and questions can quickly arise. Over the next few weeks, I will share some thoughts and guidance on helping your child develop as a reader of both English and Spanish or Mandarin. I often tell parents at the beginning of their family’s immersion journey that it is important to let go of traditional timelines for English literacy development; trust the process and enjoy the journey! Follow your teacher’s blog to see answers to questions such as: Why do our immersion students learn to read in the target language first? How can you support your child’s literacy development? Do you need to teach your child to read in English? Where can you find books in Mandarin or Spanish? What language should we choose for reading at home?


    For this week, I will simply share two thoughts. First, rest assured that you do not have to teach your child to read in English–we’ve got that covered at school! In fact there is some great research that suggests it is best not to introduce English reading instruction too early for immersion students. Second, carve out short amounts of time daily for two types of reading 
    (more on both of these later.):

    1) independent reading in the immersion language (child practices reading with books from school)

    2) read aloud time (an adult reads aloud in English for the purpose of enjoying a good story–not to teach English reading).

Upcoming Elementary Events: (ZCS Calendar)

• Jan. 29-Feb. 9: MAP Growth Window

• Jan. 29: Roller Skating Party- 3rd-5th grade (Parent Partners sponsored event)

• Jan. 30: Immersion Year 1 Parent Meeting

• Feb. 5: Project Best Life Parent Info Meeting for 4th/5th grade parents; 6:30pm

• Feb. 7: Elementary Worship; 2:50-3:10pm

• Feb. 15: Schedule switch – Friday specials schedule

• Feb. 16-19: Winter Break – No school, no pd

• Feb. 23: All School Chapel (9:10) and Family Groups (9:40); Pastor Appreciation Breakfast

• Feb. 29: Optional Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences; School in Session

• Mar. 1: Half Day of School; no PD

Week of January, 22.

Happy Weekend!

We had a short but very busy week in First Grade. It was amazing to start the week with the field trip to the Lollipops concert. Thank you to Renee Texer, Heather Bosman and Hofman for joing us. Despite the snow, your dedication and positive spirit made the experience truly special. Your presence added warmth to the chilly weather, and your commitment to creating a memorable outing for the students did not go unnoticed. Thank you for braving the elements and contributing to the success of the trip.

On Monday we will have family groups and all school chapel, it will be a great reminder not to be hearers of the word only, but to be doers of that word.

Looking forward to another great week of teaching and learning beginning on Monday!

In Christ!

Matilde González.

 

Announcements:

  • SKATING PARTIES !!! 
    January 22: Y5-2nd
    January 29: 3rd-5th  
    February 13: Middle School
    Where? Rollerxscape in Holland (12521 James St, Holland, MI 49424)
  • Report cards will be sent home on Tuesday in an envelope with your child. Please spend time reading them over and celebrate the growth. Also, tune into any area that could use some additional practice or support from home. Thanks for your support!
  • Math Mania- Remember to return your yellow math game mania paper by January 29  to be entered into the drawing.
  • Monday we will be taking our Delta Math test.
  • 1st-8th grade students will take WINTER MAPS TESTS during Jan. 29-Feb. 9
    1st grade will take two assessments: Math and Reading(both will be done in Spanish language).
    Our class test will be taken on:
    Reading: Monday February 5 (12:30 pm)
    Math: Tuesday February 6 – (8:50 am)
  • Wonderfully Made : Each child has been assigned a special day this year. Please help us to make this a very special day for your child, as we remind him/her what a wonderful creation of God he/she is and how much we love and celebrate him/her!  This week, Jan 26th we will be celebrating Carson’s Half Birthday & Wonderfully Made Day. Here is the calendar and More info HERE ) if you have questions please let me know.

 

Upcoming Elementary Events: (ZCS Calendar)

• Jan. 22: All School Chapel at 9:10, Family Groups after chapel

• Jan. 22: Roller Skating Party- Y5-2nd grade (Parent Partners sponsored event)

• Jan. 29-Feb. 9: MAP Growth Window

• Jan. 29: Roller Skating Party- 3rd-5th grade (Parent Partners sponsored event)

• Jan. 30: Immersion Year 1 Parent Meeting

• Feb. 5: Project Best Life Parent Info Meeting for 4th/5th grade parents; 6:30pm

• Feb. 7: Elementary Worship; 2:50-3:10pm

• Feb. 15: Schedule switch – Friday specials schedule

• Feb. 16-19: Winter Break – No school.

• Feb. 23: All School Chapel (9:10) and Family Groups (9:40); Pastor Appreciation Breakfast

• Feb. 29: Optional Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences; School in Session

• Mar. 1: Half Day of School.

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