Welcome to West Elementary

2026-2027 Calendar Highlights

• First Day of School:  August 27
• Labor Day Weekend | No School: September 4-7
• Fall Break | No school: October 23
• Professional Development Day | No school: November 6
• Thanksgiving Break: November 25-27
• Holiday Break: December 20- January 3
• MLK Day | No School: January 18
• Midwinter Break: February 26-March 1
• Professional Development Day | No school: March 19
• Spring Break: April 2-April 11
• Professional Development Day | No school: April 23
• Memorial Day | No School: May 31
• Last Day of School: June 9

As we prepare for the start of the next school year, it's time to register your student for 2026-27. This is something we ask ALL current HPS families to do EVERY year. Completing the registration lets us know:

• Your student(s) will be returning next year!
• Your household contact information is up to date
• Your student health information is up to date
• if you are requesting transportation for the 2026-2027 school year (Deadline to request bussing is August 1.)

Without this information, your student can not be added to a class list for next year OR have a class schedule created for them.

Studies show that over the summer students lose a considerable amount of what they've learned during the previous school year.  That's why HPS is sending home Summer Learning bags with every K-5 student in the district. 

Set aside time each day to do an activity with your child. This investment will help them stay engaged and retain more of what they've learned.

We are excited to announce that enrollment is now open for the 2026 Summer Adventure Camps with the Outdoor Discovery Center! This engaging summer program is designed for students going into 1st grade through 5th grade and will focus on literacy skills through hands-on, nature-rich experiences.

• Adventure Camp will be held at Jefferson Elementary 282 W 30th Street
• June 15-July 23
• 8:30am – 12:30pm each day (Breakfast and Lunch will be available at no cost.)

The Summer Adventure Camp with ODC is led by the Outdoor Discovery Center’s Education Network and will take the place of HPS Summer School.  This is the ONLY Summer School option being offered at HPS in the summer of 2026 for K-5 students.

HPS is proud to provide 7-Day Meal Boxes to families in the district during the summer months.

Each box will contain a menu with food prep instructions and food items for 7 breakfasts and 7 lunches per week. 

• Meal pick-up will be located at Central Wesleyan Church (446 West 40th St. Holland MI 49423 - Door A) from 12:00-1:00 PM 
•  Thursday, June 11 through July 30
• Meals will be distributed based on a first come first served basis and not based on pre-registration. 

There is no need to register for these meals... just stop by during the pick-up time to receive the meals for your student(s).

For the last 77 years, May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month.  It was introduced by the organization Mental Health America, with the focus of increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting wellness.

In this month's newsletter, you'll learn more about practices that can help improve our children’s mental health as well as our own.  

This week we talk with our Community Coordinators Alex Crisp (Holland Heights & HMS), Grace Stupka (West & Jefferson), and Kate Leighton-Colburn (HLA and HHS) about the Registration Block Party and Ice Cream Social on Wednesday, April 29, 5:30-7pm at Holland Middle School.

• Listen Now!

Congratulations to our 2026 District Art Award Winners:

• Cassidy Russell, Grade 12
• Jordan Garcia, Grade 11 
• Von Bunnell II, Grade 9
• Jose Mendez Pimentel Jr, Grade 8
• Hendrick Hoekman, Grade 7
• Charlotte Buck, Grade 6
• Gennesis Ramirez-Ramirez, Holland Heights 5
• Tamari Jeanne, West 3
• Noah Fortuna, Jefferson 3
• Cecelia Ferreira, HLA 4

The award-winning artwork will hang in the Board Training Room at the District Admin Building for next year.