Iroquois Campus News

Merry Christmas! 

Merry Christmas to each and every GRCES family from the staff here at school. We pray that you are able to celebrate family traditions in some way during this challenging Covid time and hope you have a relaxing break until we reconvene in January. 

Date Change for Kent County Health Department Hearing and Vision Testing 

A representative from KCHD will be at school the first week of January. Students will be tested as follows:

• Preschool will be screened for both hearing and vision
• Kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th will be screened for hearing 
• 1st and 3rd will be screened for vision 

If you would like to request your K-4 child be tested for both, please notify the office at 616.574.6500.

KCHD will notify you by mail ONLY if your child requires further testing.

Virtual Learning

If you are considering virtual learning for your child for any reason, you MUST contact the office. Please do not contact teachers about arranging virtual learning. Any type of virtual learning MUST be arranged through the office. (616.574.6500)

2021-2022 Preschool and Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration for 21-22 is now open for current families and staff! We encourage you to register your child as soon as possible to save their seat in kindergarten at www.grcs.org/register.  Remember to use the passcode: Explore21.
 
Preschool registration will open for all current families and staff on December 29.  Watch your inbox for an email with all the details. 
 
We want to make sure all of our current families and staff have the opportunity to register for preschool and kindergarten before we open registration to new families at the open house on January 14.

Lost and Found

It is SO helpful if you label your kids' items — even if just with initials. Clearly labeled items always make it back to their owner! You are welcome to call the office at 616.574.6500 to ask about missing items.

Please CLICK HERE to view photos of lost and found items. If you see something you that belongs to your child, please email Laura at lszotko@grcs.org and the item will be sent home with your child.

Notify the Office of Absences and Late Arrivals

Please ALWAYS notify the office if your child will be absent or late. You are encouraged to notify teachers by email, but it's most important to notify the office as this helps us keep efficient attendance records. Please email IRAttendance@grcs.org or phone 616.574.6590. 

Complete the Daily Health Screen! 😷

Please help avoid disrupting class time by completing your child's health screen. If a child's screen has not been completed, he or she will be pulled from class to answer the health screen questions. 

Complete the daily health screen as follows:

• before your child arrives at school and no later than 8:30 am
• even if your child will be absent or late
• even if your child is learning virtually

Preschool parents - complete the screen even on days your preschooler does not attend.

If your student is experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, please keep them home and contact your doctor.

Kent County COVID-19 Testing Sites

Thank you to everyone for your positive attitude and teamwork to keep our school in session! 

For more information on testing sites or to register for a testing day, call 616.632.7200 or register online.

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Food Service News

Free Meals and Snacks

Free meals and snacks will continue on in January through  the end of the school year. Enjoy!

Preschoolers both half day and full day and their younger siblings may pre order lunch online. All orders must be placed by Monday at 8:00 am.

Food Service Workers

Grand Rapids Christian Food Service is looking for fun and energetic part time staff. These positions are at the GRCHS and Rockford Christian Schools. Hours are 8:30 am — 1:00 pm.  Work involves standing for long periods of time, fast paced and some lifting. Limited experience needed, must enjoy working with students and a heart to serve.

If interested, please email Nancy Michaels at nmichaels@grcs.org.

January 6 Meal Pick-Up and Weekly Meals for Virtual Learners

Realizing some of our students are missing out on FREE meals in school,  we have provided curbside pick up for those students who choose to learn virtually. This will be a weekly form you need to complete each week by 9:00 am on that Monday. If you have any questions, please email Jill at jzondag.org.  

Please sign up here: Sign-Up for Virtual Meals

Free and Reduced Lunch Benefits

We encourage you to fill out a meal application if you feel you would qualify for Free and Reduced meals.  For those of you that received a P-EBT card this past  summer — a  debit card that offers grocery dollars for each child.  USDA passed a second bill to reinstate the program in January for virtual learners.  One of the criteria to qualify is to have an application filled out.  

Go to lunchapp.com to fill out an application.  

MLK Day

Monday, January 18th, Hot Lunch will be offering Lunches to GO. Lunches will be delivered to classrooms before students are dismissed on Martin Luther King Day. 

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GRCS Technology

Student and Parent Online Directories

Staff, student, and parent directories are available online.

For quick access to the staff directory, select Contact at www.grcs.org. To access the student and parent directories on the www.grcs.org Parent Portal, select Parents > Parent Portal and log in to your Parent Portal account.

Not sure how to login to your Parent Portal account? Go to the GRCS Tech YouTube channel to learn how to access the directories.

The GRCS Online Directories tutorial will help you navigate there.

The GRCS Website Portal Account Set Up will show you how to create an account if you have not yet done so.

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PTO News

Thanks again to our Foot Frolic Frenzy Sponsors!

There is still time to donate online at http://www.grcs.org/frenzy

Thank you to our corporate sponsors for their generosity! Please support them as they have supported us!

Gold Soaring Supporters:

• Armbrect & Wierenga Orthodontics
• The Brouwers Agency
• Floral Ave Promotions
• Kool Auto Group
• Macatawa Bank
• Plante Moran
• Olivier-Vandyk Insurance Agency
• Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan
• Summit Point Roofing

Silver Eagle Encourager:

• Accurate Alignment & Brake
• Buist Sheet Metal Company
• Christopherson Orthodontics
• DeHaan Tile and Floor Covering
• Gaines Pediatric Dentistry
• Houskamp's Auto Services 
• Weather Shield Roofing Systems

Bronze Nest Builder

• Buist Electric
• Rit e-Way Plumbing & Heating

PaperGator

The Paper Gator is always open! Toss in junk mail, magazines, newspapers, and school papers. Click here for the list of accepted items: papergatorrecycling.com/accepted-materials/. Paperboard is accepted now, but no corrugated cardboard, please. 

GRC Youth Sports and Recreation Programs  

Did you know, GRC has our own Recreation Department? We offer sports programs for GRCS students and students from the surrounding area.  For a complete look at what we have to offer, go to www.grcs.org/youthsports.

Our programs will follow the same Health and Safety Protocols, as we are following at school. Masks for coaches, hand sanitizer for players, disinfectants for equipment, and social distancing will all be observed.  

Please email sboender@grcs.org if you have more questions.

Upcoming Opportunities:

Cannonsburg Ski Passes

This year, you can go directly to Cannonsburg.com to order your passes.  Passes can be mailed to your house or you may pick them up. Your school name is "GR Christian" and the sponsor is "Stacey Boender."  Makes a great Christmas present!

Winter Kindergarten Boys Basketball

GRCHS Varsity Coach Eric Taylor and his staff and players will run a basketball clinic for Kindergarten boys & girls. Baskets will be lowered to 8 feet. 

• Days: Saturdays
• Dates: January 9 — February 6
• Times: 8:30 am — 9:30 am
• Coach: Eric Taylor
• Location: GRCES Iroquois Campus
• Cost: $65, T-shirt included
• Registration Deadline: December 18 — this class will fill sign up soon!

Little Eagles Night Out — Boys Basketball Fundraiser

This is a fundraiser for the Varsity Basketball program that has been extremely popular.  Whether your child is involved in Youth Basketball or not, you may drop off your child for free babysitting.  You could get Christmas shopping done or go out for Valentine’s Day.  The Varsity Boys Basketball team will entertain your little one with movies, basketball, games, and snacks. No registration is needed. Sign in and out at the door.

• Dates: Saturday, February 6
• Times: 6:00 pm — 9:00 pm
• Location: Quest Center
• Cost: FREE! (Suggested donation $10 per hour)
• Registration Deadline: drop-in
• Other Notes: Boys & Girls ages 5-12

Winter Kindergarten Girls Basketball

New this year! GRCHS Varsity Coach Crystal Strickland and her players will run a basketball clinic for Kindergarten girls. Baskets will be lowered to 8 feet.

• Days: Saturdays
• Dates: January 9 — February 6
• Times: 8:30 am — 9:30 am
• Coach: Crystal Strickland
• Location: GRC High School Quest Center
• Cost: $65 (includes T-shirt)
• Registration Deadline: December 18; due to COVID, we may have to limit our numbers; sign up soon 

Register at www.grcs.org/youthsports. Your password AND username is your email address.  

Questions? Email Stacey Boender at sboender@grcs.org.

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New 2 You News

New 2 You  is once again set up to take your donations. After donating, don’t forget to shop for wonderful Christmas gifts in our safe and well stocked store. See you soon!