West PreK-5th Grade Elementary

No School Monday, May 27

In Celebration of Memorial Day – there is no school Monday, May 27.

Dutch Costume Return

If you rented a Dutch costume from Holland Public Schools please return the costume with all pieces washed and cleaned promptly to the West office. Thank you

Save the Date – 5th graders

The planning for our 5th grade send off is well underway. The party is Monday, June 3 from 4 to 6 at West. We are in need of a few items to help with the party.

If you have a 5th grader who is interested in coming, there is a sign up slot on the sign up genius. Please place their name in the comment portion. If you have any questions, please contact rynamy@hotmail.com. Thanks for all of your help this year. We appreciate all of you!!

Field Day – Friday, May 31

It is a busy time of year with all the fun end of year activities taking place. We are so grateful for all the help you’ve given the school and students this year; we couldn’t have done it without you. The last big event of the year is Field Day. We need YOUR help to run the games for students. Please consider signing up on this link to help make this last event a success and possible. Thank you! 

Important Message from the Library

Have you returned your library books?
Parents please help by encouraging and helping your children find their library books and return them to the library. Replacement fee for lost or damaged books are also due. Returning library books in a timely manner is important as it ensures all books are accounted for by the end of the school year. We will not have Library check out after May 17. All books must be returned the week of May 20-24. Thank you.

MSTEP Ice Cream Celebration

Friday May 24 our 3-5th graders will be celebrating the completion of this year’s MSTEP testing.

May Character Trait is Patience

Patience is “waiting without getting upset.” Some things just take time—like growing up, traveling from one place to another, or learning something new. A patient person responds to these situations with a positive outlook and attitude. This includes trying new approaches and “pushing through” in order to overcome obstacles.

Patience is a necessary part of life. Instead of getting frustrated when you face a difficult situation, patience helps you respond the right way—without getting upset or losing your temper. This makes everyone’s life better at school, at home, while driving in the car, or when checking out at the grocery store.

Summer Reading at Herrick Library

Herrick District Library invites you to explore A Universe of Stories with us this summer!

• This year for our Summer Reading Program, we're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing by challenging our community to work together to read as many minutes as there are miles to the moon and back. That's 477,800 minutes total! We need everyone to help us reach our goal!
• Every child (infant through entering 12th grade) who finishes our Summer Reading Program will get to pick out a brand new (free!) gift book as a "congratulations" for continuing to read and learn all summer long.
• We also have free activities for all ages! Your child will be bringing a schedule home with them, or check our calendar at www.herrickdl.org. We hope to see you soon!

Box Tops Deadline

Our final turn in date for the school year is upon us! Please turn in your box tops by May 30. Thanks for your support throughout the year with box tops. Every dollar helps, and turning in box tops from products you are purchasing is free dollars for our school. If you are interested in cutting and counting box tops, please email Amy Maatman. Your help is much appreciated!

Save the Date – 5th graders

A few parents have come together and are planning a 5th grade send- off. Monday, June 3 from 4-6 all current 5th graders are invited to stay after school for a few hours of fun. If you are interested in helping out, please email Amy Maatman. More details and a sign-up genius will be coming out soon!

West TTQ Team in action at Tulip Time

Great job guys!

Important Message from the Library

Have you returned your library books?
Parents please help by encouraging and helping your children find their library books and return them to the library. Replacement fee for lost or damaged books are also due. Returning library books in a timely manner is important as it ensures all books are accounted for by the end of the school year. We will not have Library check out after May 17. All books must be returned the week of May 20-24. Thank you.

Lunch Hero Day

We are so thankful for our lunch heroes, Mrs. VanHuisen and Mrs. Garcia. Thank you for all you do for our students at West!

West Music Concert

**Correction: For the Elementary Music Concert on Tuesday, May 21st West students need to report to Christ Memorial Church at 7:10pm for their performance which starts at 7:30pm. Previous communication asked students to report at 6:50pm, which is not correct. 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade students need to only report 20 minutes before the concert begins. We sincerely apologize for the miscommunication! Please contact your child's music teacher if you have any questions. Thank you!

All of our 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade students at West will be putting on their Spring Music Concert on Tuesday, May 21st at Christ Memorial Reformed Church. (595 Graafschap Rd.) This performance will be at 7:30pm and will be in collaboration with the 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders from HLA. Students should dress nicely and arrive 20 minutes earlier at 7:10pm to find their seat with their designated class. The entire concert will be no longer than 45 minutes total. You should expect a letter to come home with your child this week in regards to these concert details. We look forward to showing you all the music we have been practicing and encourage you to invite your family and friends to attend. It will surely be a fun and festive evening!

Kids Read Now Ice Cream Social

West School has partnered with Kids Read Now to deliver free books to our 1st and 2nd grade students all summer long! 1st and 2nd grade families please join us on Thursday, May 23, 2019 6:00-7:00pm at West Elementary to receive your child’s first 3 books!

STEM

Thank you to everyone who has brought in items for the STEM program. We are still in need of empty cereal boxes.

Tulip Time

Kinderparade Student participation form went home last week. Please return them ASAP.
For HPS 1st – 5th grade students needing a Dutch costume – rental is $5 a costume and can be rented at:

Holland Language Academy
461 Van Raalte Avenue

The dates/times are:

• Friday May 3 from 4:00pm-7:00pm
• Saturday May 4 from 9:00am-12:00pm

Key Tulip Time dates:

• Wednesday May 8 – Tulip Time 1⁄2 day
• Thursday May 9 – Tulip Time 1⁄2 day – however if the parade is cancelled on this day, we will have a full day of school. School dismisses at 11:40am. The 1st through 5th grade marchers need to return to their building by 1:00 (in costume) to ride the bus with their classmates to the beginning of the parade route. The bus will leave school promptly at 1:10-1:15. When your student is done marching (approx. 3:00-3:15) parents are responsible for picking u their children at the Kollen Park boat launch lot, between 12th and 13th streets by 3:15pm.
• Friday May 10 – Full day, unless Kinderparade is cancelled Thursday May 9, then Friday becomes a 1⁄2 day.

Tulip Time Art Show

Opening night is Thursday!! There are about 40 students from West that will have their art work represented at this year’s Tulip Time Art Show. The show will run May 2- May 10.

Holland High School Art Gallery Opening Reception Thursday May 2nd, 4:30-6:30

Teacher Appreciation Week

Hello parents of West student. Did you know that the week of May 6 is teacher appreciation week? We want to show our appreciation to our teachers, encourage them in the last weeks of school and provide them a small snack to fuel them to the end. We are in need of items (on the below link) to be brought to the West office no later than Friday, May 3. We will make and create Goodie bags that will be delivered to the teachers on Wednesday, May 8th. Thank you so much for your continued support – it is greatly appreciated! Please use this link to sign up!

West Music Concert

**Correction: For the Elementary Music Concert on Tuesday, May 21st West students need to report to Christ Memorial Church at 7:10pm for their performance which starts at 7:30pm. Previous communication asked students to report at 6:50pm, which is not correct. 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade students need to only report 20 minutes before the concert begins. We sincerely apologize for the miscommunication! Please contact your child's music teacher if you have any questions. Thank you!

All of our 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade students at West will be putting on their Spring Music Concert on Tuesday, May 21st at Christ Memorial Reformed Church. (595 Graafschap Rd.) This performance will be at 7:30pm and will be in collaboration with the 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders from HLA. Students should dress nicely and arrive 20 minutes earlier at 7:10pm to find their seat with their designated class. The entire concert will be no longer than 45 minutes total. You should expect a letter to come home with your child this week in regards to these concert details. We look forward to showing you all the music we have been practicing and encourage you to invite your family and friends to attend. It will surely be a fun and festive evening!

Start School Ready

Before you know it we will welcome new kindergartners and their families to our school. We can help these children be ready for kindergarten by making sure they know about the opportunity to attend Start School Ready this summer. Start School Ready combines the routines of a typical school day with outdoor exploration to build math, language and literacy and social-emotional skills. Children will reach kindergarten more confident, curious and socially ready.

Start School Ready will run every day, July 8th - August 2nd, 8:15am- 12:15pm

Breakfast and lunch provided daily. Transportation support will be available to families living in the district. Priority will be given to children who live in the district who have little to no preschool experience. Ready for School provides need based scholarships to applicants who qualify.

Apply at the Start School Ready website

Love your STEM class?

Keep exploring over the summer with more design, electronics, and inventions!

• Free
• HPS 4th and 5th graders
• July 8-12 or July 22-26
• 8:00-3:00 Mon-Thurs, 8-12 Friday. 
• Breakfast, lunch, and snack included
• Bus transportation provided from your regular bus stop. (Specific bus times will be provided at the end of the school year)

Return the signed registration and liability forms to your STEM teacher.

Registration form English

Liability Form English

Registration form Spanish

Liability Form Spanish

No School Friday, April 26

Tulip Time

Kinderparade Student participation form went home last week. Please return them ASAP.
For HPS 1st – 5th grade students needing a Dutch costume – rental is $5 a costume and can be rented at:

Holland Language Academy
461 Van Raalte Avenue

The dates/times are:

• Friday May 3 from 4:00pm-7:00pm
• Saturday May 4 from 9:00am-12:00pm

Key Tulip Time dates:

• Wednesday May 8 – Tulip Time 1⁄2 day
• Thursday May 9 – Tulip Time 1⁄2 day – however if the parade is cancelled on this day, we will have a full day of school. School dismisses at 11:40am. The 1st through 5th grade marchers need to return to their building by 1:00 (in costume) to ride the bus with their classmates to the beginning of the parade route. The bus will leave school promptly at 1:10-1:15. When your student is done marching (approx. 3:00-3:15) parents are responsible for picking u their children at the Kollen Park boat launch lot, between 12th and 13th streets by 3:15pm.
• Friday May 10 – Full day, unless Kinderprade is cancelled Thursday May 9, then Friday becomes a 1⁄2 day.

MSTEP

MSTEP is upon us and there are important reminders for ALL families

1. Please bring your children to school on time. School begins at 8:40 am
2. Get plenty of rest!! Sleep is so important for successful testing
3. Eat a good, healthy breakfast
4. Encourage your students to do their best!

3rd & 4th grade testing is April 30-May 2

Testing dates are on Tuesdays & Thursdays
Thank you West families for your support during this important time!

West Volunteer Appreciation Day

We want to take some time to say ‘Thank You’ for all you do at West! Please stop by the office conference room for some yummy ‘Thank You’ treats!

• When: Wednesday, May 1
• Time: Anytime throughout the school day
• Who: Anyone donating time to our wonderful students and staff.

Teacher Appreciation Week

Hello parents of West student. Did you know that the week of May 6 is teacher appreciation week? We want to show our appreciation to our teachers, encourage them in the last weeks of school and provide them a small snack to fuel them to the end. We are in need of items (on the below link) to be brought to the West office no later than Friday, May 3. We will make and create Goodie bags that will be delivered to the teachers on Wednesday, May 8th. Thank you so much for your continued support – it is greatly appreciated! Please use this link to sign up!

West Music Concert

**Correction: For the Elementary Music Concert on Tuesday, May 21st West students need to report to Christ Memorial Church at 7:10pm for their performance which starts at 7:30pm. Previous communication asked students to report at 6:50pm, which is not correct. 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade students need to only report 20 minutes before the concert begins. We sincerely apologize for the miscommunication! Please contact your child's music teacher if you have any questions. Thank you!

All of our 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade students at West will be putting on their Spring Music Concert on Tuesday, May 21st at Christ Memorial Reformed Church. (595 Graafschap Rd.) This performance will be at 7:30pm and will be in collaboration with the 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders from HLA. Students should dress nicely and arrive 20 minutes earlier at 7:10pm to find their seat with their designated class. The entire concert will be no longer than 45 minutes total. You should expect a letter to come home with your child this week in regards to these concert details. We look forward to showing you all the music we have been practicing and encourage you to invite your family and friends to attend. It will surely be a fun and festive evening!

STEM

Thank you to everyone who has brought in items for the STEM program. We are still in need of empty cereal boxes.

The last week for Library check out is: May13-17.

We will not have Library check out after May 17. All books must be returned the week of May 20-24