May Newsletter
May
6-10 Staff Appreciation Week
8 Early Release Day
9 HALF-DAY All Students Tulip Time
15 Early Release Day
17 (rain date: May 24) Field Day
22 Early Release Day
27 NO SCHOOL for All Students and Staff] Memorial Day
29 Early Release Day
June
4 HALF-Day/LAST Day for ALL Students
Principals Corner
Dear West Families,
As we transition into the month of May, I want to take a moment to celebrate the achievements and highlights of our school community. Despite the challenges we've faced this year, our students and staff have continued to demonstrate resilience, creativity, and a commitment to excellence.
Upcoming Events:
May 6-10: Staff Appreciation Week
May 17: Field Day/VIP Day - Get ready for a day of fun outdoor activities and friendly competition!
June 4: Last Day of School - Let's make the most of our final days together before summer break.
Reminders:
No School on May 27 - Memorial Day
Stay updated on school events and announcements by following us on social media or checking our website regularly.
As we approach the end of the school year, don't forget to express your appreciation to our hardworking teachers and staff for their dedication and support.
Looking Ahead:
As we look ahead to the summer break and the start of a new school year, I am filled with optimism and excitement for the opportunities that lie ahead. Our school community has shown incredible growth and positivity this year, and I am confident that together, we will continue to achieve great things.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Wishing you all a wonderful month of May filled with memorable moments..
Yours in education,,
Mr. Tolson
Principal
KinderParade
HPS Students (Grades 1-5) are invited to march in the Tulip Time KinderParade on Thursday May 9. If you are planning on your child walking in the parade, they must have a costume and you must fill out this form by Monday, May 6.
Tulip Time Costume Rental - $5
Friday, May 3 | 4:30-7pm at Holland Language Academy, 461 VanRaalte
Saturday, May 4 | 9:30-12pm at Holland Language Academy, 461 VanRaalte
For HPS students, Grades 1-5, marching in the KinderParade on Thursday, May 9. Cash or Check ONLY.
Students must have permission from parents to join HPS in the KinderParade on May 9.
2024-25 Student Registration
As we prepare for the start of the next school year, it's time register your student for 2024-25. 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! It also lets you:
Review and update household contact information
Review and update student health information
Request transportation for the 2024-2025 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.
It doesn't take long to update this information in your Parent Portal account - but it is so important that you do it very soon!
Student Learner Profiles Due May 1
If you want to complete a Student Learner Profile please focus on
specific information about your child’s learning styles,
educational needs and other special considerations
that should be made when placing your child into a
class next school year. Please return to the school
office once completed or email to mtatlock@hollandpublicschools.org
M-Step Testing
Our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students will be taking M-STEP, which is the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress. Please help us support our West students with a successful testing experience by doing the following: Get a good night of sleep, eat breakfast at home or at school, arrive on-time to school, avoid any appointments, bring healthy snacks on testing days, and bring a full water bottle. Below are the grade-level testing dates:
May 1, 2, 7 and 8 - 3rd/4th Grades
PBIS
Our focus for the month of May is RESPECT. Students can earn blue POWER tickets when demonstrating respectful choices towards school materials/property, peers and adults.
Spring fever has hit us but our April referrals stayed consistent with last year's April referrals.
We will celebrate our earnings of blue tickets with a dance party and popsicles at the end of May
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED in STEM
If you have completed the volunteer form and would be interested in helping with the 5th graders build their arcade games, please email Mrs. Johns at jjohn@hollandpublicschools.org
Dates and times:
Monday, May 6 or Tuesday May 7 2:45 - 3:30
Monday, May 15th 2:45- 3:30
Peer to Peer
Peer to Peer End of the Year Event! Friday, May 17th after school at West. Only for students that are part of the peer to peer program.
Please contact Corene D’Addona if you did not receive a note listing your time frame! Text: 616-594-0410 or email: cdaddona@hollandpublicschools.org
West PTO News
THANK YOU!
As we close out the year, Holland West Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) would like to thank all of our amazing volunteers who popped popcorn every month, helped at the book fairs so we could raise funds to purchase new books, ran carnival games so we could keep traditions alive, and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support our students and spoil our staff. We appreciate you and couldn’t have done it without you all!
If you couldn’t volunteer but participated in events like the Read-A-Thon or Holiday Drive, or donated goodies for staff appreciation, you also helped us achieve our goals and supported us throughout the year. Thank you!
And last but not least, thank you to our amazing staff who supported and encouraged us every step of the way.
Together we ALL make WEST THE BEST!
STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
Next week, May 6-10, we will be treating our staff to an extra special week for all they do for our kiddos. There are several easy ways you and your students can help show their appreciation to their teacher and favorite staff member. Please take a look at our flyer and see what’s happening each day!
VIP FIELD DAY
Our last big event is Field Day on Friday, May 17 (rain date Friday 5/24). We are also bringing back VIP Day on this day to make it extra fun! Each student has the opportunity to invite up to two Very Important People to watch from the sidelines. We encourage VIPs to bring chairs, as bleacher seating is limited. All VIPs must be pre-registered by Friday, May 10. To register, please click here.
We need lots of volunteers to make VIP Field Day happen. To sign up, please click here. Grades TK-2nd will participate from 9-11am and 3rd-5th from 1-3pm. Special thanks to HPD Polar Patrol for providing ice cream treats from 11am-1pm.
2024-2025
We are looking for new members to help plan for next year. We will meet Monday, May 20 @ 3:45 at West. If you can’t make the meeting but want to be involved, please email HollandWestPTO@gmail.com or visit https://facebook.com/HollandWestPTO to stay up to date. We appreciate your support!
Late Student Arrivals and Parent Pick-up
If your student is arriving at school after the start of the day, 8:30 AM, then he/she/they must be signed into the office by an adult. Please do not send your child into the building unaccompanied.
Our school day ends at 3:36 PM. Please pick your child(ren) up promptly at the end of the day. Our office and administrative staff often have other obligations, and we cannot guarantee that there will be supervision. Also, please refrain into the office or picking up your student so close to end of day, please wait in the designated areas for students to be dismissed at 3:36.
Drop-off and Pick-up Reminders
Our number one goal during drop-off and pick-up is to keep our West students safe.
Please read over our Pick-up and Drop-off procedures to help ensure that our students are coming and going from school in a safe manner.
Morning Drop-off
Morning Drop-Off begins at 8:15 AM for all students.
Pull your vehicle all of the way forward to the curb to unload your student(s).
After your student(s) has exited your vehicle, please pull forward, so the next car can unload.
Parking is NOT allowed curbside! Please park in the parking lot if you need to stay longer or get out of your car with your child. This will help keep traffic moving!
Students go directly to their class lines, and should not enter the office.
Afternoon Pick Up
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) , Kindergarten, First and Second Grade students are picked up in the front of building on 24th Street.
Third through Fifth Grades are picked up on the large West playground facing Christ Memorial, or the front loop.
No parking in the pick up or drive lanes. We are trying to keep traffic moving quickly and safely for everyone. Please be patient as we get students to each car safely.
Do not motion students across the traffic lanes to the parking lot, or motion students into the traffic lanes to get into your vehicle. We want to keep our students safe!
You may park in the parking lot and walk-up to the building to get your student. Please refrain from picking your student up so close to the end of the day, please wait
in the designated areas for students to be dismissed at 3:36