Welcome to West Elementary

HPS parents, students, and staff, along with members of the Holland Community, are encouraged to nominate a HPS staff member for one of the following Power H Awards:

• IMPACT Award
• Support Staff Award (Transportation, Maintenance, other district support positions)
• Distinguished Alumni Award 

The deadline for nominations is February 5, 2025

Congratulations to two representatives from Holland Public Schools for being recognized by the City of Holland with a Social Justice Award.

• Karinna Martinez (Class of 2025) was awarded the Social Justice Youth Award recognizes her commitment to make the City of Holland a better place for everyone to call home.
• Chase Magsig (DHH Deaf Language Model) was awarded the Social Justice Award for his work to improve accessibility for the DHH Community in the City of Holland.

Thank you Karinna and Chase for everything you do in the City of Holland.

REMIND is the best way to get “Snow Day” announcements from HPS.

Holland Public Schools is excited to be using the My Ride K-12 app!

This app will let parents:

• Use their phone to follow your student’s bus in real time.
• See estimated arrival times of the bus to the bus stop.
• Check for bus information.
• Receive updates on their phone about any changes in daily bus routes.

We hope parents of all K-5 bus riders will download and use the app.

Congratulations to these West Students who haven't missed a day in the first half of the school year!

Many find the holidays a time of sadness and stress. A new study showed that 64% of people with mental illness report holidays make their conditions worse. But even without a diagnosis of a mental illness, sadness and stress are very real feelings.

Here are some suggestions to make the holidays less stressful and more joyful:

This month read more about:

• HPS Nutrition Service is awarded grant to provide students with locally grown fruits & vegetables
• Thank you to local food providers!

REMEMBER: All HPS students are provided Breakfast & Lunch at no cost!

Join HPS is congratulating Patti Arndt on her second retirement from the district.

• She started teaching in 1969 at Harrington School. (She also taught at Van Raalte School)
• She retired the first time in 2009.
• She came back to the district in 2022, working part-time in an ASD classroom at West Elementary.
• Today, was her last day in a classroom.

All of us at HPS will miss the incredible impact Mrs. Arndt has on students and families in Holland.

This week we talk with Patty Beatty, Director of Early Childhood at HPS, about all the great things happening in our pre-school classrooms.

• Listen Now!

As the Winter Athletic Seasons gets underway in the Dutch Dome (and Holland Aquatic Center), here is a reminder about some of the rules and expectations for students and families who attend games/meets:

• Middle school age and younger MUST be an accompanied by an adult
• No student backpacks
• No re-entry for any spectators
• All school rules apply during events 
• The Dome and the parking lots are a drug free school zone which includes any vape products.

#GoDutch