GRCMS Campus News 

GRCHS 8th Grade Scheduling Nights 2020

Grand Rapids Christian Middle School 8th Grade Parents & Students are invited to an 8th-grade scheduling meeting with the Grand Rapids Christian High School Academic Advisors.

Academic advisors from Grand Rapids Christian High School will meet with parents and students to provide valuable information about the Grand Rapids Christian High School curriculum, graduation requirements, and freshman courses. Please join us on one of the following evenings:

• Tuesday, February 18 at 6:30 pm
• Tuesday, March 3 at 6:30 pm

Please register at www.grcs.org/advisory

Even if you are not sure which high school your child will be attending next year, we encourage you to attend this event and complete all of the scheduling forms.  There is no cost to complete the paperwork and it does not serve as a commitment to enroll, by attending, however, you will have the very best chance of getting the courses your student selects for their freshman year at GRCHS.

We appreciate your attendance as you contemplate this transition from middle school to high school and we look forward to meeting you soon. If you have any questions, please contact the Grand Rapids Christian High School Counseling Office at 574-5651.

If you are unable to attend this scheduling night, please contact Vickie Fischer, Director of Admissions,  at vfischer@grcs.org or 616.574.5605 to make alternate arrangements.

Grand Rapids Christian Schools 2020 Annual Meeting

You are invited to attend the Grand Rapids Christian Schools 2020 Annual Meeting on Monday, February 10 at 6:00 pm at the James and Shirley Balk Center for Administrative Services, 2400 Plymouth Ave SE.

At the meeting, the proposed 2020-21 budget will be reviewed and GRCS members will be asked to approve the budget for the new school year.  In addition, three new board members will be elected.  

The board looks forward to seeing you on February 10.

If you are unable to attend, please complete the absentee ballot found in the 2020 Annual Meeting Notice and return it to your school office or as indicated on the absentee ballot page.

Sign-Ups Needed to provide Staff Dinner during Conferences 

The PTO is putting on a yummy Nacho bar for the staff during conferences. Please consider signing up to help provide some of the items needed. Dinner will be Tuesday, February 11, from 4:30 – 8:00 pm. For more information and to sign–up, please click HERE.

Make-Up Artists Needed!! 

The Play crew is still in need of a few helpers for applying make–up for the play performance in March. If you have a desire to help in this capacity, please come to the office to talk with Mrs. Elzinga. We will accept additional applications until this week Thursday, February 6.

Box Top Challenge!! 

Box Tops for Education Challenge started January 21st and goes through February 15th. Turn in TUESDAYS dates: the 21st, 28th, 4th, and 11th.

• Who: You and your family
• What: Box Tops
• When: Turn in Tuesdays!
• Where: Your Homeroom
• Why: Earn money for your GRCMS PTO

The Homeroom that collects the most Box Tops each week gets the Box Tops Trophy and candy delivered by Mr. Burgess.

The Homeroom that collects the most Box Tops will win pizza, ice cream or candy party with their class. Box Tops must be sorted into bags of 50 without expired ones to be eligible for prizes.

• 1st Place – Pizza Party
• 2nd Place – Ice Cream Party
• 3rd Place – Candy Party

Questions? Contact: Kelli Corl at 616.745.2444 or kellicorl@gmail.com

Sky Zone 

5th & 6th graders had a bouncing good time, and now the 7th & 8th graders will have their opportunity for a Sky Zone party on Monday, February 10. The cost will be $10 for one and a half hours. Please note these important reminders:

• All of the attendees need to have a new waiver filled out, and signed by their legal guardian if they are under 18 years of age (they are good for a year, so if you filled one out last time, you should be good to go). 
• Your jump time starts at 6:30 pm, but we ask you to arrive with your guests at least 15 minutes early to check-in.
• Everyone MUST WEAR Sky Socks. Bring your own if you have them, or you can purchase them for $1 at Sky Zone.

Part-Time job opening at GRCMS  

GRCMS is looking for a part-time student support team member to work with students in the 7th grade. As a student support aide, you will work with students in small groups, one on one, and as push-in classroom support. This position will be about 20 hours a week. A teaching background is preferred.

Please contact Sian Zylstra at SZylstra@grcs.org to submit your letter of interest and resume. We will accept applications until the position is filled.

Homework Club 

January invoices will be sent out this week. Also, please note, there is a half day next week Friday, February 14, with a noon dismissal. There will be no homework club.

Middle School Mania Volunteers Needed

On February 22 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. the PTO will be hosting Middle School Mania at the GRCHS All-City Gym. This community event traditionally hosts more than 300 GRCS kids for an evening of fun with their friends. In order to effectively run the games and activities, we need volunteers.

We are asking parents to please support our PTO and the greater community by signing up for a 1 ½ hour shift – Middle School Mania Volunteer Sign Up

Hold the Date — Middle School Mania 

It's that time of the year again... time for Middle School Mania (MSM!!). MSM will be held on February 22, 2020. Hold the date – tickets will go on sale soon!

Protecting Young Eyes 

Parent Presentation: Digital Trends 2019-2020 — Equipping Kids to Thrive in an Increasingly Hostile Online World

February 4 at 6:30 PM. GRCMS Village Square. 

Preschool-High School parents are invited to attend. 

We love technology, and we know kids do, too. This popular presentation will address YouTube (can it be controlled?), social media (our expertise), pornography (let’s talk about it!), gaming addiction (is this a real thing?), screen time (what’s the right amount?), tricky people (stranger danger in the digital age), and so much more.

Participants will leave with a whole list of steps they can implement immediately to better equip their kids to make better online choices. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to hear from internet safety experts. 

Click here for a short video about this event.

Lost & Found 

We have items filling up our bins again in Village Square. Have your students take a look if they are missing anything!

Outdoor Recess

Cold weather comes and goes here in Michigan! ❄️

When we have cold weather and snow, just a reminder to make sure your child comes to school with warm clothing appropriate for being outdoors! Students are still expected to be outside during lunch break.

Spanish Phrase for the Week

“Educar la mente sin educar el corazón no es educación en absoluto.” 

 –Aristóteles

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” 

–Aristotle

Hot Lunch News & Updates

Pizza–Pizza–Pizza!! 🍕

We will be offering a second slice of pizza for a $1.50 charge on Fridays. Please communicate to your students that they need to pre-order this extra slice on Friday morning. Your student must have money in their account to receive an extra slice of pizza. If your child is receiving free or reduced lunch benefits, the extra slice of pizza is NOT part of the lunch meal. Deposits may be made in the office or online at sendmoneytoschool.com money needs to be in their account on Thursday before.  

Attention Parents: Meal Magic Accounts 

A friendly reminder to take care of any outstanding balances and get reloaded for our second semester! If uncertain what the balance is, you can check that out here!

Looking to get out of the house...come help us serve Hot Lunch!

Monday through Friday volunteers are needed from 11:25 am — 12:15 pm.

To help with serving hot lunch, please sign up here!

Take a look at your schedule – join us – we could use the help!

02/05/2020
(Wed. 11:25 am — 12:15 pm) **Volunteer Needed

02/06/2020
(Thu. 11:25 am — 12:15 pm) **Volunteer Needed

02/07/2020
(Fri. 11:25 am — 12:15 pm) **Volunteer Needed

02/10/2020
(Mon. 11:25 am — 12:15 pm) **Volunteer Needed

02/11/2020
(Tue. 11:25 am — 12:15 pm)  Cinthia Hill

PTO News 

Magazine Subscriptions make great gifts all year long!

Interested in giving a subscription for a gift? Visit APMags.com.  Click SHOP.  Type in WA8617 for code. Type in 'grcms' in the Student First Name box and then in the Student Last Name Box. You'll be able to pay with a credit card. GRCMS PTO will earn 40% of all sales done within the school year. 

GRCMS Athletics and Youth Sports 

Attention 5th — 8th Graders:

Sign up for WINTER 2 sports!!

WINTER 2 runs from January 6 — March 7 and includes Girls Basketball, Wrestling, and Ski Team. To sign up, click the name of the sport you are interested in.

• Girls Basketball
  • Practices will start on January 6 and run through March 7
  • The goal is for each grade level will have its own team.
  • 5th & 6th Grade teams will meet 3x per week (including games/scrimmages)
  • 7th & 8th Grade teams will meet 4x per week (including games/scrimmages)
• Wrestling
  • Practices start the week of January 6 and run through February.
  • Participation is a 5th
  • 8th-grade group combined
  • Practices are at GRCHS 2-3 days per week.
• Ski Team
  • Practices start Wednesday, January 8 and meet every Wednesday and Saturday through February 12.
  • Practices are at Cannonsburg - Wednesday is 6:30-8p and Saturday is 3:00-5:00p
  • Pay to participate is $200/athlete + you will need to purchase a season pass from Cannonsburg's website
  • Please sign up and pay the participation fee by clicking the link above.

Recreation Programs Open for Registration  

The majority of our programs are run by GRCS High School Coaches. For more detailed information go to www.grcs.org/youthsports  

Register Now:

• Coed T–ball ages 4–7 years old
• Spring Girls Tennis – 3/4th graders
• Coed Learn to Bowl – 5th–8th graders
• Girls Basketball Clinic – 1st–8th grade
• Boys Basketball Clinic – 5th–8th grade
• Pureplay Spring Soccer – 1st–4th grade www.adachristian.org/pureplay
• Boys Lacrosse Open Gym:  Thursdays, Jan. 9–Feb. 20  Free, drop-in!
• Boys Lacrosse Learn to Play and Drills:  Tuesdays, Feb. 11–Mar. 3
• Girls Lacrosse Learn To Play:  Saturday, Feb. 28
• Girls Spring Lacrosse Leagues: Mondays & Wednesdays, March-May

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

For questions, contact Stacey Boender at Sboender@grcs.org or 616.574.6024. Office Hours are Wednesdays and Fridays 8:00 am — 2:00 pm. 

Requested Announcements 

Little Eagles Night Out

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 needed. Sign in and out at the door. 

• Where: Quest Center
• Who: Boys & Girls ages 5–12
• When: Saturday, February 8, 2020
• Time: 6–9 pm
• Cost: FREE!! (suggested donation $10/hour)