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GRAND
RAPIDS
CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
Tom DeJonge, Superintendent
1812 Sylvan SE
Grand Rapids MI 49506
Phone: (616) 574-6370
Fax: (616) 245-6187 |
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| Upcoming Town Hall Meetings May 27, May 29, and June 3 |
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As Grand Rapids Christian Schools approaches a critical juncture in our strategic planning process, we have scheduled a series of Town Hall Meetings in late May and early June where we will share the Strategic Planning Committee’s recommendations before they are voted on by the board.
You and other interested members of the Grand Rapids Christian Schools’ community will have an opportunity to ask questions, share your thoughts and gain a deeper understanding of the complex issues behind these recommendations.
Town Hall meetings will be held in the DeVos Center for Arts and Worship, 2300 Plymouth, on Tuesday, May 27 and Tuesday, June 3. A third is scheduled to be held at Rockford Christian School, 6060 Belding Road, on Thursday, May 29.
All Town Hall meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Questions? Please call 616-574-6370.
For more information, click here for Grand Rapids Christian Schools Strategic Initiatives 2007-2012 updates. |
| Official Times of GRCS School Days 2008-2009 |
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Official Times of School Days for 2008-2009 at GRCS:
GR Christian High School: 7:50 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., half days dismissing at 11:30 a.m.
GR Christian Middle School: 7:45 am - 2:50 pm, half days dismissing at 11:35 am
Creston and Evergreen Christian Elementary School: 8:45 a.m. - 3:40 p.m., half days dismissing at 12:00 p.m.
Millbrook Christian Elementary School: 8:40 a.m. - 3:35 p.m., half days dismissing at 12:05 p.m.
Oakdale Christian Elementary School: 8:25 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., half days dismissing at 11:55 a.m.
Rockford Christian School: 8:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., half days dismissing at 11:40 a.m. |
| Enrollment Agreements for 2008-2009 |
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| Enrollment Agreements for the 2008–09 school year are in the mail. It is very important to return enrollment forms by Friday, May 2, 2008. This will help school principals and other administrative staff confirm your child’s 2008-09 teacher. Promptly returning your enrollment agreement by May 2 will ensure a smooth start to the upcoming school year and parents will avoid paying a $100/child late fee that will be added to tuition on enrollments received after this date. Questions? Please call Jay Laninga, CFO, at 574-6370 or any GRCS principal. Thank you. |
| $5,000 Grant Received for Grand Rapids Christian Middle School |
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The Grand Rapids Community Foundation awarded a grant to Grand Rapids Christian Middle School for “Discovering a Creativity/Technology Link.”
Dr. Gary D. Schmidt, author of the 2005 novel, “Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy,” winner of a Newbery Honor and a Printz Honor, and 2008 Newbery Honor Award for “The Wednesday Wars,” published by Clarion, will share with our sixth grade students his journey as a writer and use his skills to assist them in writing their own stories. Students will create podcasts, share their writing and discover how creativity can link with technology.
An important goal for all students at Grand Rapids Christian Middle School is increased proficiency in communication through writing and speaking, and through this grant all students will have the opportunity to learn from the talented Dr. Gary D. Schmidt.
Sixth grade teachers Hilda Quist and Judy Rooy, along with media specialist Tammy Baker and technology director Sheila VanderWoude, collaborated to design the project and wrote the grant application.
Writer’s Festival
A Writer’s Festival for the Grand Rapids Christian Schools community began Tuesday, March 25, and culminates in a special event in May celebrating students’ work.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008, Mr. Schmidt talked with sixth grade students from Grand Rapids Christian Middle School (GRCMS) and Rockford Christian School, in the multi-purpose room at GRCMS. And, Ruth Bishop, from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, presented Mr. Schmidt with the $5,000 grant check.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, Mr. Schmidt met with groups of 40 students throughout the day at GRCMS to advise them as they wrote their own fiction stories.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
"Celebration of Writing" at the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Arts and Worship on the campus of Grand Rapids Christian High School.
On May 29, sixth grade students will share their stories in a variety of ways: through artwork, recordings, computer presentations and live readings. Mr. Schmidt will be in attendance.
Dr. Gary D. Schmidt
Mr. Schmidt is author of the 2005 Newbery Honor and Printz Honor book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, published by Clarion Books. His most recent novel is The Wednesday Wars, a 2008 Newbery Honor Award Book. He is a professor of English at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Grand Rapids Christian Schools
Grand Rapids Christian Schools serves nearly 3,000 preschool through high school students at seven schools throughout metro Grand Rapids, has been in continuous operation since 1889 and is the largest private, association-governed school system in Michigan.
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
The Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Michigan’s oldest community foundation, was founded in 1922. It continues to fund, initiate, and lead programs that benefit the greater Grand Rapids community in the arts, education, the environment, health, human services, and community development.
Media Invited
Media are welcome to attend the "Celebration of Writing" on Thursday, May 29, 2008, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Please contact Mary Broene, principal, Grand Rapids Christian Middle School, at 616-574-6350. |
| Circle of Friends Dessert Reception ~ Thursday, April 24, 2008, 7:00 p.m. |
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The first annual “Circle of Friends” reception, which benefits students in the Educational Support Services, will take place on Thursday, April 24, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. The dessert reception will be held at Grand Rapids Christian High School in the Stapert Commons, 2300 Plymouth. A video and speaker will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Grand Rapids Christian Schools has been awarded a $35,000 matching gift for all gifts and pledges made to support the ESS program.
If you have any questions about Educational Support Services, or if you are interested in attending the reception and supporting the program, please contact Lisa Spoelhof Schra at 616.574.6310 or email lschra@grcs.org by April 16, 2008. |
| New 2 You Shoppe’s 4000 foot-expansion completed |
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New 2 You Shoppe, the quality resale store where net profits go toward a flat tuition reduction for all Grand Rapids Christian School students, has just completed it 4000-foot expansion that began last September. The project was fully funded, thanks to the generous donations and pledges received.
The need to expand reflects the success of New 2 You Shoppe, which has contributed toward tuition assistance for GRCS parents since the store opened in 2003. This expansion positions New 2 You Shoppe for more growth--and that translates to more tuition assistance. We thank God for His gracious provision and everyone who has contributed to the success of the store. In 2007, New 2 You Shoppe reached $1 million in sales!
New 2 You Shoppe has added 3,500 square feet of retail space, as well as a new processing area, drop-off center and storage space. This will allow for more donations, so take a look around your home--you just might have some great unused items that someone in the Grand Rapids community could put to good use.
Many thanks go out to our store manager, Steve Visser, and the many volunteers who worked so hard at preparing addition and then the transition. Our grand reopening on January 24th was a great success. Thank you to all who made it happen.
With our growth, the need for more volunteers has grown. If you would like to be part of a great organization that benefits directly every GRSC student, please consider volunteering at the store. Whether it is a few hours, or an afternoon, the New 2 You Shoppe needs your help. Please contact Steve Visser at the store for more information (616-942-2929).
New2You
2929 29th Street S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Phone: 616-942-2929
E-mail: info@new2youshoppe.com
Web: www.new2youshoppe.com
Store hours:
Monday through Thursday:
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday and Saturday:
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Come Check Us Out |
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Your child is a gift from God and we want to partner with your family in nurturing both academic and spiritual growth.
If this partnership is something you want to explore, check out Grand Rapids Christian Schools.
Creston and Evergreen Christian Elementary School
1031 Page NE, Grand Rapids, 616.574.6500
Millbrook Christian Elementary School
3662 Poinsettia SE, Grand Rapids, 616.574.6000
Oakdale Christian Elementary School
1050 Fisk SE, Grand Rapids, 616.574.5700
Rockford Christian School
6060 Belding Road, Rockford, 616.574.6400
Grand Rapids Christian Middle School
1875 Rosewood, Grand Rapids, 616.574.6350
Grand Rapids Christian High School (GRCHS)
2300 Plymouth, Grand Rapids, 616.574.5500
For more information about Grand Rapids Christian Schools enrollment, contact Eric Burgess, Director of Admissions, at 616-574-6340 or eburgess@grcs.org. We look forward to meeting you. |
| Reusable Canvas Shopping Bags Available Now at GRCS |
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Reuseable tote bags are available at each Grand Rapids Christian elementary and middle school...the canvas shopping totes have the same dimensions as paper grocery bags and are sturdy enough to stand on their own or support a hefty load of groceries.
By using these cloth bags, you can model environmental responsibility for your children. Our attractive “green” totes are actually black with our school logo and colors and are available for $3.00 per bag. Located in each school office, proceeds benefit each Grand Rapids Christian Schools’ Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
Rockford Christian School sixth grade environmental class sells its own reusable bag, which is available by contacting Rockford Christian at (616) 574-6400.
Questions? Call 616.574.6319. |
| Grand Rapids Christian Schools Strategic Initiatives |
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The Board of Trustees approved strategic initiatives at its September 17, 2007 board meeting and sets the direction for the next several years in six important areas...
Read more in the attached PDF. |
| New 2 You Shoppe Is Growing |
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New 2 You Shoppe, the quality resale store where net profits go toward a flat tuition reduction for all Grand Rapids Christian School students, keeps getting better--and soon it’s going to be bigger, too.
Now that New 2 You has reached a fund-raising goal of $250,000, a fully funded, 4,000-foot expansion begins in September. The project is fully funded, thanks to the generous donations and pledges received. The store will remain open during construction, with a target completion date and ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled in early December 2007.
The need to expand reflects the success of New 2 You, which has contributed toward tuition assistance for GRCS parents since the store opened in 2003. This expansion positions New 2 You for more growth--and that translates to more tuition assistance. We thank God for His gracious provision and everyone who has contributed to the success of New 2 You. In 2006-07, New 2 You reached $1 million in sales!
New 2 You is adding 3,500 square feet of retail space, as well as a new processing area, drop-off center and storage space. This will allow for more donations, so take a look around your home--you just might have some great unused items that someone in the Grand Rapids community could put to good use.
There is also a need for additional volunteers to help with operations. If you’d like to be a part of a great project that benefits GRCS students, parents and the community at large, or if you have any questions about New 2 You, call 616-942-2929.
New2You
2929 29th Street S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Phone: 616-942-2929
E-mail: info@new2youshoppe.com
Web: www.new2youshoppe.com
Store hours:
Monday through Thursday:
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday and Saturday:
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Get Healthy Fundraising Initiative Reaches Goal of $25 Million |
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"We are very blessed to have so many generous donors,” said superintendent Tom DeJonge. “These gifts represent the next generation of Grand Rapids Christian Schools leadership.”
The Get Healthy funding initiative is the largest fundraising effort undertaken by Grand Rapids Christian Schools in its more than 100-year history. Through this initiative, the Schools will a) fully fund the capital costs of a new athletic stadium and an auxiliary gymnasium on the campus of Grand Rapids Christian High, b) substantially reduce long-term debt and interest expense, c) make needed repairs at all seven schools, d) build new endowment, and e) provide tuition assistance to families.
Debt retirement
“Long-term debt retirement is an important part of this funding initiative, and it’s critical to the board’s need to position the Schools for growth and to strengthen the system’s financial footings,” says Jim Schipper, president of the Grand Rapids Christian Schools Board of Trustees.
Capital improvements
The initiative encompasses several capital improvements, including:
· Complete renovation of the 35-year-old athletic stadium at Grand Rapids Christian High. This project is well under way, with an opening ceremony scheduled for the evening of Friday, Sept. 14. Newly named Eagles Stadium, the facility will continue to be shared by Grand Rapids Christian High and Ottawa Hills Public High School.
· Construction of a north gymnasium on the campus of Grand Rapids Christian High, allowing the Schools to augment athletic and fitness programs. Construction of this auxiliary gymnasium begins Tuesday, May 22, following an 8:30 a.m. groundbreaking ceremony.
· Repairs at all seven campuses of Grand Rapids Christian Schools.
Tuition assistance
The initiative also increases the funding available for tuition assistance, helping families whose desire for Christian education outstrips their ability to afford it.
Endowment growth
The initiative also increases the permanent endowment held at Grand Rapids Christian Schools Foundation. The new endowment will help underwrite the operational costs of the new auxiliary gymnasium and provide additional dollars for tuition assistance—helping families who desire a Christian education.
Get Healthy initiative co-chairs
The co-chairs of the Get Healthy funding initiative are Doug ’78 and Chris Bouwer, Doug ’82 and Maria DeVos, Greg ’74 and Betsy Schierbeek, and Bob ’76 and Cheri ’78 VanderWeide.
“We are so pleased to be part of this initiative, which will benefit every tuition-paying parent at Grand Rapids Christian Schools, as well as students of Ottawa Hills High School and the broader Grand Rapids community,” said co-chair Doug DeVos.
The largest private, association-governed school system in Michigan, Grand Rapids Christian Schools (www.grcs.org) serves nearly 3,000 preschool through high school students at seven schools throughout metro Grand Rapids and has been in continuous operation since 1889. The mission of Grand Rapids Christian Schools is to prepare students to be effective servants of Jesus Christ. |
| Discover what a Christian education will mean for your child |
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Grand Rapids Christian Schools invite you to see first-hand what our Christian school communities have to offer your children.
Built on a solid foundation of faith and long tradition of excellence in education, our Christian schools offer your son or daughter the opportunity to learn from caring and expert staff in a safe and nurturing school environment.
Please take the opportunity to contact us, and visit Grand Rapids Christian Schools. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you.
Elementary Schools:
~ Creston and Evergreen Elementary Christian Schools (Preschool-5th), Principal Mr. Chip Jenkins. Located at 1031 Page NE, Grand Rapids, 49505, 616-574-6500.
~ Millbrook Christian Elementary School (Preschool-5th), Principal Mr. Mark Krommendyk. Located at 3662 Poinsettia, Grand Rapids, 49508, 616-574-6000.
~ Oakdale Christian Elementary School (Preschool-5th), Principal Mr. Ashanti Bryant. Located at 1050 Fisk SE, Grand Rapids, 49507, 616-574-5700.
~ Rockford Christian School (Preschool-8th), Principal: Mrs. Jan VanderWerp. Located at 6060 Belding Road, Rockford, 49341, 616-574-6400.
Middle School:
~ Grand Rapids Christian Middle School (6th - 8th), Principal Mrs. Mary Broene. Located at 1875 Rosewood SE, Grand Rapids, 49506, 616-574-6350.
~ Rockford Christian School (7th-8th), Principal: Mrs. Jan VanderWerp. Located at 6060 Belding Road, Rockford, 49341, 616-574-6400.
High School:
~ Grand Rapids Christian HIgh School (9th - 12th), Principal Mr. Jim Primus. Located at 2300 Plymouth SE, Grand Rapids, 49506, 616-574-5500. |
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