Welcome to Jefferson Elementary

Welcome back to Jefferson! We are working hard to get everything ready for our students and families. We hope you had a fabulous summer filled with play and rest with friends and family. Things stay steady here except for a few things. The biggest change is that Mrs. Heinritz, our Assistant Principal, has moved over to West Elementary as their new Assistant Principal. However, we are excited to welcome Ms. Alvarado as our new Associate Dean of Students. Ms. Alvarado has been the Dean at West for the past few years, and she is excited to join our community and meet all of our amazing students and families! 

Next week we are kicking things off:

Class information will be available on your Parent Portal starting Monday, August 18th. 

Open House on Tuesday, August 19th from 4 pm-6 pm. Come to meet your teachers, see your classrooms, listen to a short info session presented by me (4:30 & 5:30), and much more. 

School Starts on Thursday, August 21st. 

     The playground and breakfast opens at 8:15 am and school starts at 8:30 am. 

     School ends at 3:36 pm (Wednesday for early release it's 2:36 pm)

Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures

• Students can only be dropped off at the curb by the playground gate (not in the outer lane of the parking lot or in front of the building). Please pull your vehicle all the way forward to the curve, by the playground gate, to unload your student(s). If you wish to walk your student to the gate, you must park in a parking spot and walk them to the playground gate (no parents allowed inside the playground). 
  • If you are bringing your student(s) to school after 8:30, you will need to park and walk them into the office to sign them in. 
• Kindergarten Pick-up: Kinder students and their older siblings will be picked up at door #13 on VanRaalte. 
• 1st-5th grade Pick-up:Pick up is from the main parking lot. Students will stay with their teachers until they see their ride. Older siblings will stand with their younger siblings to make a one-stop. There is a drive lane and a pick-up lane. The pick-up lane is along the curb, please do not park in the pick-up lane. Pull forward until it is safe to load your student(s) and then exit in the drive lane (inside lane). This keeps traffic flowing, pick-up quick and easy, and students safe. 
  • You may also park in a designated parking space and walk across the crosswalk to pick your child up from their teacher. Please use the crosswalk. 
  • Do not motion for your child to cross the parking lot to get in the car. We want to keep students safe!
• More Important Information:

• Visit our Back-to-School webpage for the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar and links to other important information:

  • ·Classroom assignments and Class schedules will be available on Parent Portal on Monday, August 18.  
  • Suggested School Supply Lists
  • Completing the Education Benefits Form is a key step to unlocking essential support for all HPS students. Federal & state resources are allocated based on the income data collected through this form. Without this data the district could lose out on critical funding. 
  • Lunch & Breakfast will be served at no cost to ALL Hps Students in 2025-2026. Learn more about Nutritional Services.
  • Check your Parent Portal for bus stop locations and times.
  • Books & Games provides K-5 students with an hour of supervised reading, homework help, and games, plus a free breakfast an hour before school starts each morning. Students must sign up in advance to attend.
  • Back-to-School Information. Read more about Student Health & Wellness, HPS Non-Discrimination Statement, Photo/Video Release, and much more.
  • Stay in touch with school. HPS uses Remind to provide two-way communication with families. A Remind account has already been created for you using the information you provided on your Parent Portal during enrollment/registration.

  
  I'm excited to see you all at our Open House on Tuesday, August 19, 4-6pm at the school. School starts on Thursday, August 21. 

See you soon,

Mrs. Folkert, Principal

The first day of School is Thursday, August 21.

Completing the Education Benefits Form is a key step to unlocking essential support for all HPS students. Federal & state resources are allocated based on the income data collected through this form. Without this data the district could lose out on critical funding. 

School Starts Thursday, August 21. (Open House is Tuesday, August 19, 4-6pm at your school)

Calendar Highlights:

• First Day of School | Thursday, August 21
• Homecoming | Friday, October 10
• Thanksgiving Holiday | November 26 - November 30
• Holiday Break | December 20 - January 4
• MLK Day | Monday, January 19
• Mid-Winter Break| Friday, February 27 - Monday, March 2 
• Spring Break | Friday, April 3 - Sunday, April 12
• Class of 2026 Commencement |Tuesday, May 19
• Last Day of School | Wednesday, June 3

These dates are tentative, pending ratification of The Board of Education at the April Board of Education Meeting.

HPS is proud to provide 7-Day Meal Boxes to families in the district during the summer months.

Each box will contain a menu with food prep instructions and food items for 7 breakfasts and 7 lunches per week. 

• Meal pick-up will be located at Central Wesleyan Church (446 West 40th St. Holland MI 49423 - Door A) from 12:00-1:00 PM 
•  Thursday, June 12 through August 7, 2025

There is no need to register for these meals... just stop by during the pick-up time to receive the meals for your student(s).

Heathy food to feed your summer! Summer meal sites provide breakfast & lunch for children 18 and younger, Monday through Friday all summer long... at no cost to families.

• No registration needed. Just drop in.

This summer, Herrick District Library, Ottawa County Parks and Recreation, and the City of Holland Recreation Department are coming together to present the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge: The Truth is Out There.

• Pick up a trail map beginning June 9 to complete the challenge. Maps are available at either Herrick District Library location.

HPS is proud to award $29,000 in Teachers Live Here grants to Meghan Kelly! Along with $26,500 in down payment assistance, Kelly also received $2,500 to assist with closing costs because she is purchasing a home within the school district boundaries.