September 7, 2025

West Elementary News

Dear West Families,

Welcome to September! Our West students have ROCKED the first few weeks of school! This week Fall Benchmark Assessments will continue for kindergarten-5th grade students. Assessments help us fit instruction to students and inform the academic support students need. 

In a few weeks, students will begin visiting the Power H Store to spend the Power H tickets that they have earned. Our West Power H Store is a fun way for our kiddos to get rewarded for following our school-wide POWER expectations. POWER stands for Pride, Own Your Actions, Wise Choices, Engaged, and Respect. See below for information about how to help support the Power H Store.

This year our arrival and dismissal areas are more congested due to the beginning of construction. Please help keep our West students safe during drop-off and pick-up times by reviewing the procedures below! Thank you for your help and support!

One way that all families can help support West is by completing the Education Benefits Form. This is how our district is allocated funding by the state and federal government. Please take a minute to read more about the Education Benefits Form and complete the form at this link: https://www.hollandpublicschools.org/pub/news/posts/3298.

Please contact our administrative team with any questions or concerns!

Warmly,

Chad Tolson, Principal

Jennifer Heinritz, Assistant Principal

Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures

When picking up and dropping off students along the front circle, please keep the following to keep traffic moving for all: 

Morning Drop-off

  • Morning Drop-Off begins at 8:00 AM for all students

  • If your child needs to arrive prior to this time, then please check out our Books and Games Morning Program (which kids love!!)

  • Pull your vehicle all of the way forward, next to the right-hand curb 

  • After your student(s) has exited your vehicle, please pull forward, out of the way, so that the next car may unload. 

  • Students may not be dropped off in the outer lane of the circle, on the street, or in the front of the building.

  • 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!

Afternoon Pick-Up

  • Pull your vehicle as far forward as possible.

  • DO NOT park against the fencing.

  • There is a “drive” lane and a “pick-up” lane. Students may only be picked up at the curb, not in the “drive” lane. 

  • No parking in the pick up or drive lanes.  We are trying to keep traffic moving quickly and safely for everyone.

  • Please do not motion students across the traffic lanes to the grass, 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.

  • If you walk up to the front to pick-up your child, please stand to the right-hand side of the walkway (this is towards the playground), and give teachers and students space to safely walk towards the drive-up area. 

  • Please yield to students and adults who need to cross via the crosswalk by stopping your car and waiting for them to safely cross.

  • Please follow the procedures to help ensure the safety of all. Thanks!!

Food Service

Breakfast and lunch are again free for all students. Our school lunch menu is linked on the HPS website. Students who bring home lunch are encouraged to bring a beverage such as a juice box, milk box or water bottle. To purchase milk by itself is 75 cents. 

2025 School Nurse Fun Run

Come out to support our amazing school nurses! The Fun Run has raised $383,500 since 2013 to make sure every HPS Building has a nurse on site! Register your family by September 8! This non-competitive event is for everyone, at any fitness level, offering both a 5K run route and 1.5 mile walk/run route. It’s a perfect way to embody the Fun Run’s motto: “Healthy Families Stay Active” and enjoy an evening outdoors. Students can enter the Fun Run for FREE by making a goal to improve their health. This could be a physical challenge, a change in eating habits, or starting a new wellness activity. Use code funrun25 at sign-up.

Online registration closes September 8. Walk-in registration will be available at the event starting at 5 PM. Sign up ASAP to guarantee a t-shirt.

https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Holland/SchoolNurse5KRunwalk

Event Details

Thursday, September 11, 2025

5 PM Check-In/Registration Opens
6 PM Race Starts

Holland High School
600 VanRaalte Ave

West PBIS Power Store Donation and Volunteers

Our first West Power H Store is coming up at the end of September! PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, and makes up the foundation for how we support students at West. Our West Power H Store is stocked with a wide range of items that students can “purchase” with their saved tickets. Students LOVE visiting the store!! We are always looking for volunteers to help run the store and donations of prizes! 

Sign-up to Volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4EADA728A6FD0-west.

Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2P9J0ALCYRKCR?ref_=wl_share

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