October, 2007

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 4

Dear Parents:

I am most delighted to report that our 2007-2008 school year is off and running in fine fashion. We have already been blessed by the contributions of the incoming sixth grade class as well as our nine new students. The 240 total students that now make up SSMS do bring great joy to our lives each day. We are excited to have your children in our school. --- It remains our stated desire to provide an excellent educational environment that is intentionally spiritual, that encourages a positive relational experience and that enhances the learning opportunities uniquely found in a middle school setting. With that being said, we are looking forward to seeing what our students can gain and achieve in a wide variety of areas in this school year.

We have three new staff members at SSMS this school year. Let me very briefly introduce them to you next:

Mrs. Jeanette Barry (Seventh Grade Language Arts) Mrs. Barry comes to us after teaching for 16 years in the Holland Public system in both the middle and high school buildings. She and her husband, Greg, have three children attending Holland Christian Schools.

Mr. Mark Lucas (Orchestra) Mr. Lucas has a wide and interesting educational background, including 21 years directing orchestras at Eastern Christian Schools in New Jersey. He is a talented cellist as well as an avid photographer. He and his wife, Kathleen, have two married children.

Mrs. Christa Zwiep (Office Secretary) Mrs. Zwiep is in the process of taking on the secretarial functions in our office as a newly hired replacement for Mrs. Sue Landman. Mrs. Zwiep grew up in Holland and graduated from Holland Christian. She and her husband, Josh, have established a new home together in Holland.

IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES

October 5 SSMS Picture Re-Take Day and BOC Group Pictures

End of Fall MAP Testing Window

October 11 Q1 Progress Reports Go Home

October 13 Tuition Grant Fund – Laketown Golf & Conference Center (6:00 PM)

October 17 No School – Teacher Learning Day

October 18-19 No School – CEA Convention

November 2 Last Day of First Marking Period

We are progressing through our first round of MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing. The three part (math, reading and language usage) testing is being administered online within the school day to all students in grades two through eight. We are using the weeks of September 17 through October 5 for this academic testing of our students. Look for additional information and reports to follow regarding your student’s individual test results.

School picture retakes are scheduled for October 5. If parents have any desire to replace the first set of purchased student pictures, this is the day for retakes. LifeTouch, the company we are working with, simply asks that your student bring along the original package of pictures. A second round picture and package will promptly be granted. --- During this same school day, we will also be taking band/orchestra/choir group photographs for the school yearbook.

It is hard to believe, but we are fast approaching the middle of our first marking period. On Thursday, October 11, midterm progress reports will be sent home with your child(ren). If you have any questions about the progress of your child in a class, please feel free to contact the teacher directly. --- Have you checked out your middle school student’s academic record on PowerSchool via the Internet? Did you know that you can easily arrange for school announcements and academic progress reports to be e-mailed to you at a frequency you can set? A letter was handed out on the August 23 student check-in day to all middle school parents with login information and parent passwords. If you are having any difficulty accessing this online information, please give us a call at school.

There is no school scheduled for students on the days of October 17, 18 and 19. On October 17, the teachers will be participating in some local staff development activities. On October 18 and 19, all the teachers will be attending the CEA (Christian Educators Association) convention in South Bend Indiana.

In past years, we have offered optional Saturday morning MEAP testing for seventh and eighth grade students for the sole purpose of gaining access to $500 of post high school scholarship money. This $500 was in addition to the $2,500 scholarship award that eleventh grade students could earn through MEAP testing. --- As of last winter, this scholarship money for middle school has been discontinued by the State of Michigan. In its place, the governor has instituted a $4,000 post high school scholarship program known as the Michigan Promise Grant. Receiving this college scholarship money after high school is now based only on the new Michigan Merit Exam (MME) that is given to all high school juniors each March. --- Therefore, we have determined that the middle school MEAP test now has very limited value for our students and we no longer are participating in that testing program.

We are continuing to offer and encourage support services that include a tutorial study time before school, at noon hour and after school for students who may need or desire some extra help with homework or test preparation. This remains an unscheduled arrangement and any middle school student may utilize this valuable service on a drop-in basis. This study time is offered in room 109.

The middle school Sports Hotline (820-3250) is another valuable information tool for you to use each school day. Give that phone number a call every day to make certain that anticipated practice or game information matches your plans. --- Other important school and grade level information can also be found on the SSMS link on the Holland Christian website located at www.hollandchristian.org.

Moms In Touch – Plan ahead for an hour of prayer for your children and our school. We meet on Wednesday mornings at Central Wesleyan Church. Call Julie Filippini at 335-8828 for more information.

We will gladly accept your empty inkjet/laser printer cartridges, old cell phones, laptop computers with power cords and PDAs (Palm Pilots) in the school office throughout the school year. We are again participating in the Cartridges For Kids recycling program that will pay our school cash for these items. All proceeds from this program are designated for the purchase of new books in our SSMS media center.

We are excited and encouraged so far by with the implementation of our one-to-one student laptop computer initiative in all three middle school grades. The students truly are being immersed in the technological skills that will help equip their minds and nurture their hearts to transform their world for Jesus Christ. That is our mission. The computer is one more tool students will use and need in their lifetimes. --- A note to seventh/eighth grade athletes: The proper storage of laptop computers during after-school practices and contests (home and away) is a major responsibility and expectation for all students. Each sport is developing an after-school plan for secure laptop storage and management. All team members must follow their specific groups storage plan. Laptops should never be left unattended or in an insecure location while participating in any after-school activities.

We want to congratulate Mrs. Jamie Dannenberg (sixth grade teacher) and her husband, Dave, for the birth of their baby boy, Hayden Allen, on September 12. Mother and son along with dad are all doing very well. --- As Mrs. Dannenberg anticipates being away from her teaching assignment for a few weeks, we have Mrs. Ruth Evenhouse covering for the maternity leave. In turn, we have also secured the services of Mrs. Karen DeMaagd and Mrs. Amy Woods to now cover for Mrs. Evenhouse in support of teachers and students within the ESS program in our building.

We would also like to say a heartfelt thank you to all those parents who have volunteered your time and energy in our school already this year! Many of you have worked at the August 23 Check-in Day, at our Parent Open House night, helped with the magazine sales campaign, school pictures or may have even served as a test reader for students. Other parents have joined in with planned class activities, did special tasks for teachers or brought in snacks for all to enjoy. The bottom line is you are all so very much appreciated by our staff!

Finally, with this letter, we are saying a very special good bye and thanks to Mrs. Sue Landman for more than seven years of outstanding service to middle school students, staff and Holland Christian families. As of the end of September, most of you may know that Mrs. Landman is leaving her position as our school secretary. We are all so thankful for Mrs. Landman’s contribution to our middle school program …. so sad to see her go …. so absolutely thrilled for her new life together with Dick …. so appreciative of her demonstrated love and care for students, families and staff over the years…. and so pleased that she is following the path that the Lord has set in place for her!

Blessings,

Mark Van Dyke, Principal