High School News

2021-22 GRCS District Calendar 

Click here to download the district calendar for next year!

COVID Symptom Reminders — It's Spring Allergy Season! 😷

As we enter spring allergy season, please continue to be diligent in monitoring symptoms and in filling out the daily screener! It can be hard to distinguish allergy symptoms from early COVID symptoms. Please keep your students home and get them tested if students have symptoms on the screener. We are seeing early COVID symptoms that look like allergies (runny nose, scratchy throat, etc.) If you have an alternate diagnosis from a Dr. for those symptoms, let attendance know. 

If you have questions about whether your child should be in school, please call attendance at 616.574.5521.

Next-Day COVID Testing Sites Available to Students

The Kent County Health Dept. has opened up testing locations to serve students in any school district in Kent County. If you would like to take advantage of this free testing with next-day results for your student, use this link to sign up.

Note: You will need to choose Grand Rapids Public Schools, Wyoming, or Sparta locations. Other locations only test their own staff/students. 

Virtual ←→ In-Person Learning

We are asking that families that wish to make a change in their student’s learning plan (in-person to virtual or vice versa) make a request by 3:00 pm on the Thursday prior to their change. All changes can only take place on Mondays this semester. This notice is necessary so that we can make adjustments in classroom furniture to optimize physical distancing and to prepare for potential contact tracing. 

To make a change in your student’s learning plan, contact your child's counselor and they will walk you through the process. Please note that parents/guardians, not students, must make these requests.

If your child is home because of illness or quarantine, they do not need to register as virtual but they may join their classes online if they feel well enough to do so. Please report all illness/absences to our attendance line at 616.574.5521 or email HSattendance@grcs.org. 

Host an International Student at Grand Rapids Christian Schools

Yes, it’s true: we are expecting to have a number of international students join us in August 2021! If you are interested in other cultures, enjoy hospitality, and want to have an enduring impact on a young person's life then this could be a great opportunity for your family!

Hosting is a powerful way for families of all ages to be a testimony through their daily lives. Host families receive a monthly stipend to cover costs and we provide orientation, training, and ongoing support throughout the school year.

For more information contact Joelle Williams at jwilliams@grcs.org or 616-574-5652.

Summer Session

At Grand Rapids Christian Schools, we believe a student’s learning and growth does not stop when second semester ends. Summer Session is an exciting way at Grand Rapids Christian High for students to participate in fun enrichment and immersion activities during the summer and earn high school credit. Incoming 9th – 12th-grade students can participate in Courses, Workshops, College Prep Activities, and Drivers Training.

There are still spots open for our ACT, SAT, and College Application Essay workshops. Take advantage of these one-week opportunities to better scores and applications this June.

All summer offerings are now posted online at www.grcs.org/summer. Registration is open now!   

New GRCS Bands Website

Check out our GRCS Bands Website to stay up to date with the latest info and newsletters about our band program!

Yearbook Orders 📷

If you are interested in purchasing a yearbook, please visit Jostens.com.

Spring 2021 College Test Prep Workshops 

Are you taking the ACT on April 17 or the SAT on May 8?  Focused practice immediately before the test is the best investment you can make! 

 — Small group format — Individualized instruction — Proven strategies

ACT 4-day workshop:  April 12—15

• Target date: April 17 ACT
• Schedule: Mon—Tue 6:00 pm — 8:00 pm, Wed—Thur 6:00 pm — 9:00 pm

SAT 4-day workshop: May 3—6

• Target date: May 8 SAT
• Schedule: Mon—Tue 6:00 pm — 8pm, Wed—Thur 6:00 pm — 9:00 pm
• Instructors: Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Madole, and Mrs. Hartemink 

To register or inquire about either workshop, contact shartemink@gmail.com or 616.498.1372.

Awakening Summer Camp

Awakening is a weeklong camp (June 13-18 in person) at Hope College for students entering grades 9-12 in the Fall of 2021. Awakening builds emerging worship leaders in all worship art forms from preaching to all things musical, visual art, dance, and technology. Students give it such high reviews that many return for multiple summers. Check out the videos and registration at hope.edu/awakening  

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Coming to the Center for Arts and Worship

GRCHS Theatre presents “RANKED,” a New Musical, via LIVESTREAM

Ranked has been described as Putnam County Spelling Bee meets The Hunger Games.

Written before the 2019 college admissions scandal and the recent Netflix documentary “Operation Varsity Blues,” Ranked presents a world where high school academic rankings determine everything. But what happens when the unthinkable happens? With a compelling story and an exciting score, Ranked challenges audiences to question their own ideas about what constitutes academic success, how students are to reconcile the expectations of family and society with their own gifts and talents, and what integrity, happiness, and community really mean. 

Join us for the Michigan Theatrical Premiere of Ranked via LIVESTREAM on April 29-30 and May 1. Whether you watch the performance on your iPad, computer screen, or television (via AppleTV, Roku, or AirCast), your entire family can enjoy the performance for only $10! Digital tickets will be available for purchase soon.  Visit the CAW website for more information on how to secure your “seat” at the show!  

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From the Counseling Department

Please visit the Counseling Department webpage for the latest information from the GRCHS Counseling Department, including curriculum and class information, ACT and SAT testing information and prep classes, college planning guides, and much more.

Paying for College Webinar Available Today

The counselors are excited to share a 30-minute webinar with you from Joe Harmon.  Joe is a local expert who has put together a webinar for you to view at your convenience in the next few weeks. Look for the email today!  When you receive the email, click "Watch Now" and input your name and email which only tracks attendance, there is no sharing of names and emails.

Junior Parents

The counselors will continue to offer Junior Parent Conferences to Juniors and their Parents through April 2021. The Zoom conference helps students and families prepare for the senior year and applying to colleges. Please contact Jill Anderson at JAnderson@grcs.org to schedule yours today. 

Sophomore Coffee Presentation Coming Soon

Our Virtual Sophomore Presentation will be available on our website this week.  Please check your email for the presentation.  

Upcoming Saturday ACT dates: 

April 17, 2021

Late deadline of March 26.
Register at ACTstudent.org

June 12, 2021

Registration deadline of May 7 with a late deadline of May 21.
Register at ACTstudent.org

Upcoming Saturday SAT and SAT Subject Test dates:

May 8, 2021

Registration deadline of April 8 with a late deadline of April 27.
Register at collegeboard.org. 

June 5, 2021

Registration deadline of May 6 with a late deadline of May 26.
Register at collegeboard.org. 

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From the Athletic Department

Sports Physicals

Current 8th-11th graders planning to play sports at Grand Rapids Christian High School in 2021-22 school year need to have a MHSAA physical form on file with the high school athletic office before they are allowed to participate. A valid physical for 2021-22 must be completed any time after April 15, 2021. You may turn in the completed physical to the GRCHS athletic office by mail or email (to cgroendyk@grcs.org) as soon as you finish it, even if it is before the end of this school year or during the summer. You may print out a physical form here. This form must be completed with all signatures in order to participate in sports at GRCHS. You may attach your doctor’s office physical form for the doctor portion of this form but the parent portion and all signatures need to be completed on this form.  

 

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Food Service News

Free Meals and Snacks

High School is still offering FREE Breakfast and Lunch each day!  Breakfast opens at 7:30 am choose from the following:

• Big Apple Bagel w/ Cream Cheese
• Yogurt Smoothie
• Strawberry yogurt parfait
• Egg, Cheese and Sausage Muffin Sandwich
• Coffee Smoothie
• Cereal, crackers, and other grab-and-go breakfast items.
• All items are served with fruit and milk. 

Free Lunch continues each day as well. Pizza Hut PIzza, Grab and Go salads and sandwiches, popular grill items, and our daily chef choice. All served with fruits, vegetables, side salads, and milk. A la carte items are not free such as bottled and canned beverages, cookies, snacks.