Rockford Campus News

First Home Bulletin of the Year!

Welcome back to our returning students and families, and a special welcome to any new students and families that have recently joined RCS. We are excited to see everyone, whether that be in person or virtually. It is going to be a different type of school year, but it is going to be a great one! A home bulletin will be sent home weekly with the latest updates going on within our school. 

Daily Health Assessment 😷

During COVID–19 reporting the health of your student will be VERY important. GRCS will be using a health tool developed by the Kent County Health Department in order to check your student for symptoms daily.

Each day that your child attends school a parent is REQUIRED to fill out the student health check.

You will receive a text in the morning to complete the health check. If your student comes to school and the health check has not been performed you will be required to take your student to the office.

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

Late Arrival/Early Departure

If your student(s) will arrive late to school or will need to leave early, it is important for the school office to be notified. This year, students will be signed in and out of the building by office personnel.

Late arrivals will need to be buzzed in and checked in by office personnel before they can enter their classrooms.

If your student(s) needs to leave early, due to an appointment,  you are asked to come into the airlock. Office personnel will then call your child's classroom. Students must wait in the school office until a parent arrives to pick them up.

Virtual Classroom Connect

Classroom teachers will be hosting a virtual Classroom Connect over Zoom on Tuesday, September 1st. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect as a classroom community, hear a bit about the year ahead, and ask any questions you may still have. Teachers will host a 20 minutes session at 7:30 pm and again at 8:00 pm. Look for more information from your child's teacher this week. 

Family Time

At Rockford Christian, we start each week with Family Time. Although we cannot yet gather in person as a whole community, we do not want to miss out on this important time of worship. You are invited to join us each Monday from 8:45 am — 9:00 am over Zoom.

Please use this link and be sure to turn off your camera and microphone when you arrive. Thanks!

Kent County COVID-19 Testing Sites

Thank you to everyone for your positive attitude and teamwork to get the school year off to a good start! All things considered, the first few days of school went well last week. Parents are getting used to completing the health screening tool, and students and staff are acclimating to the new protocols at school.

The Kent County Health Department recently asked all area schools to share the following information about testing sites with their families. These are County sites, and their lab results are currently coming back in 48 – 72 hours. Other testing sites are also available and can be used.

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

From the Music Classroom

We will be making instruments in music class.  We are looking for small empty containers so each child in Grades K-4  can make a shaker.  Containers that work well are empty pill containers, Altoids tins, and metal bandaid boxes. Please feel free to drop off containers in the marked box in the airlock this week.

Outdoor Education at RCS

Outdoor Education at Rockford Christian School is off and running. Year-long projects, trips, and just gaining a better sense of God's creation are all in the works for this year! As we get started, we would also like to begin gathering items that could be donated to our program. If you have any of the following things in your garage or your basement that you would be willing to part with, your gift would be appreciated:

• Hatchets
• Pruners (either long-handled or handheld)
• Rakes
• Five-gallon plastic buckets
• Birdseed

We also collect pop cans and change as donations to monthly projects. This month we are raising money to simply replenish our room with food and supplies for the animals, both indoors and outdoors. Anything will be accepted. We are up to $30.91 so far!  Thank you for supporting this new program at our school!

Moms In Touch

Join us Wednesday mornings for Moms in Prayer in the Rockford Christian School parking lot. We will meet to pray from 8:45 am — 9:15 am in the front parking lot at the back corner by the tree. Feel free to bring a chair to sit & join us for our first meeting outdoors. If you have little ones, please feel free to bring a stroller & we can walk & pray. We will have our Moms in Prayer binder. We keep the binder in the RCS office.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions. You can contact Leesa Christophel 616.719.7388 or leesachristophel@gmail.com

Recess Volunteers

This year looks a little different on the playground with some modifications due to COVID, but volunteers are still needed on a daily basis to supervise children on the playground. Afternoon recess takes place from 12:20 pm — 12:55 pm (elementary until 12:40 pm and then continue to cover middle school until 12:55 pm).

Please consider volunteering as you are able. Kids LOVE seeing loved ones during recess. You can sign up by clicking on Sign-Up Genius.

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GRCS Technology

Internet Filtering

Our goal is to allow safe access to valuable online educational content both on and off-campus on school-issued devices while remaining CIPA compliant and maintaining security.

GRCS uses Content Keeper as our internet filtering solution. Content Keeper can handle SSL decryption without hindering network performance. It gives us very granular web filtering options and policy control over the content students can access while enabling us to have more insight into students’ online activity. If your home router has parental control features available, you may implement this in your home without interfering with the filter on the school device unlike you could do with our previous filter, Securly.

If the school notices inappropriate internet usage, the administration will contact you as needed. In the case of repetitive issues, school may send you automated internet usage reports.

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Athletics + Youth Sports

GRC 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 in school. Masks for coaches, hand sanitizer for players, disinfectant for equipment, and social distancing. 

Register at www.grcs.org/youthsports. Your password AND username is your email address. For questions, please email sboender@grcs.org

Boys Basketball Clinic 🏀

GRCHS Varsity Basketball Coach, Eric Taylor would like to refine your son’s basketball skills. He is a firm believer that fundamentals are important to learn early so they can be practiced correctly, repeatedly.

• Dates: September 23 – October 17
• Days: Wednesdays & Saturdays
• Site: GRC Iroquois Campus, outside courts
• 5th & 6th Grade Times: 5:30 pm — 6:30 pm (Wednesdays) & 1:00 pm — 2:30 pm (Saturdays)
• 7th & 8th Grade Times: 6:45 pm — 7:45 pm (Wednesdays) & 2:45 pm — 4:15 pm (Saturdays)
• Cost: $70
• Register By: September 18

Youth Sports Performance Training 101  

101 is geared towards helping athletes build a sports base for strength, speed, balance, and power. It also includes developing our young athletes’ qualities for them to become better student-athletes. Varsity coaches will be invited as guest speakers for the last 10 minutes of class.

• Dates: October 26 – November 18
• Days: Mondays and Wednesdays
• Site: GRCHS
• Ages: 3rd — 8th grades (students will be divided by 3rd–5th and 6th–8th grade)
• Time: 6:00 pm — 7:15 pm
• Cost: $65
• Register By: October 16

Fall Boys Lacrosse 🥍

Time to pick up where we left off….oh yeah, we didn’t have a Spring season!  That’s ok, Coach Nedd is back and ready to play some lacrosse! Whether you are new or experienced it’s time to get out and play.

• Dates: September 9 – October 14 (6 weeks)
• Days: Mondays and Wednesdays
• Site: GRCS Elementary – Iroquois Field
• Ages: 3rd — 8th grades  
• Time: 3:30 pm — 5:00 pm
• Cost: $60
• Register By: August 28

Fall Learn to Play and Skills and Drills Girls Lacrosse 🥍

Come bring a friend and learn to play lacrosse. All skill levels welcome. If you are a current player, come work on your game. The coach is Julie Roossien. We ask that all players provide their own mouth guard, stick, and goggles.

• Dates: Tuesdays, September 8–October 13 (6 weeks)
• Ages: K–8th grade, girls
• Site: GRCS Elementary – Iroquois Field
• Time: 3:30 pm — 5:00 pm
• Cost: $45
• Register By: August 30

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New 2 You

New 2 You is an upscale thrift shop run primarily by volunteers and supports Grand Rapids Christian Schools. New 2 You is located at 2929 29th St SE and is loaded with great deals. Stop in and shop! Many of you have used this time of staying at home to clean out your closets, drawers, and basements. Use our contactless drop off for your gently used donations!

Check out new2youshop.org for lots of great information.