GRCMS Campus News  

Attention 8th Grade Parents

It is that time of year that we are already looking ahead to graduation. We will be working on diplomas soon and need your help on how you would like your student’s name to appear. The diplomas will state the given/legal name that we have on record UNLESS we hear from you! Please reach out with questions and this information to amoes@grcs.org no later than Friday, April 30.

Water Cups 💧 and Masks 😷 are Hot Commodities!!

Please continue to send a water bottle and masks to school with your student(s). Cups and masks are flying off the shelves in the school office. Drinking fountains are turned off; however, the bottle filler is on. Please help us eliminate the waste of paper cups by using water bottles. Thank you!

6th Grade News

All 6th grade parents are invited to an informative evening to discuss and share details about the end of the year trip to Camp Scottie. Dress warmly as we hope to be outside. 

• When: Wednesday, April 28 2021
• Where: The pavilion on the playground
• Time: 6:30pm

Host an International Student at Grand Rapids Christian Schools

Yes, it’s true: we expect a number of international students to join us in August 2021! Most of them are coming for the entire school year. We are also welcoming a handful of students from Spain for 8 weeks. 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 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.

Peanut–Free Policy Reminder

(GRCMS relies heavily on parent cooperation to implement this policy.) Yearly, GRCMS has students who are diagnosed with severe and potentially life-threatening allergies to peanuts and nut products. As a Christian school community, we have a legal and ethical obligation to follow their physician’s recommendations to safeguard their health. GRCMS is not a completely nut-free school. When we are officially notified of a child’s diagnosis and/or their need for this kind of accommodation, GRCMS will designate peanut-free/nut-free classrooms where no nut products of any kind are allowed into the classroom.

Attendance Reminder

If your student is going to be late or absent, PLEASE contact the office. You may call the attendance line, 616.574.6389, and leave a message 24/7, or email msattendance@grcs.org. If emailing a teacher, please cc the attendance email as well. Thank you for your help! If a student is marked absent, the office will call home to verify a late arrival or absence.

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. 

COVID Safety Protocols

• If your child or a family member is awaiting Covid test results, family members should quarantine until a negative test result is indicated.
• PLEASE keep the school office informed of symptoms and test results.
• GRCS works closely with the Kent County Health Department. We have been trained in determining the need for quarantine. Please call with any questions.

Traffic Reminders & Improvement 🚗

When dropping your student off, please pull as far forward through the car line as possible.  Students can walk a little farther to their assigned door!  This will greatly improve traffic flow!

• Please DO NOT park on the MAIN roadways to wait for your student!  (Chesaning and N. Shiawassee are OFF LIMITS!)
• Please respect the neighbor’s property (do not drive on the lawn, do not block driveways).
• The entrance near the school office is for buses only during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. 

Moms In Prayer

Attention, Moms! Do you worry about your children? Come experience how you can replace your anxiety and fear with peace and hope by praying with other women. Moms in Prayer gathers women together to pray specifically and scripturally for our children and their schools.

Please contact Sarah Bloem, Sarah.bloem@gmail.com, or Lisa Rusticus, lisajoyrusticus@gmail.com, for our local group information. For more information about Moms in Prayer, visit MomsInPrayer.org.

Spanish for the Week:

“Marzo ventoso y abril lluvioso hacen a mayo florido y hermoso.” 

“Windy March and rainy April make May flowery and beautiful.”

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PTO News  

PTO Members Needed

Thank you to those who have inquired about PTO next year! Looking ahead to what next year may look like, might you be interested in helping organize an event or fundraiser? Please prayerfully consider volunteering for this fun opportunity. The time commitment is minimal, and others will walk alongside you. Questions? Call the office, 616.574.6300 or email amoes@grcs.org.

Magazine Sale All School Year!

Magazines may always be purchased to help support our school. If you would like to order, please visit here and use code: WA8617

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GRCMS Athletics   

Sport Physicals

Current 8th–11th graders planning to play sports at Grand Rapids Christian High School in the 2021-2022 school year need to have an 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.