Welcome to West Elementary

Holiday Break begins with a HALF DAY on Friday,  December 20.

• HMS Dismiss at 10:35am
• HHS Dismiss at 10:50am
• HTS & HLA Dismiss at 11:20am
• JEF & West Dismiss at 11:35am

NO SCHOOL on December 21- January 5

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

HPS GOAL: Engage and Inform parents and community members through consistent two-way communication.

HPS continues to work on engaging parents and the community through effective communication.   This has included using Remind, My Ride K-12, and Parent Portal.

The next level of work will be to 

• Gather feedback from parents so we have an understanding of what they need and want
• Streamline the enrollment and registration process
• Create standards for communication so that parents are not overwhelmed with the number of messages received

We'll also host focus groups of parents on:

• Thursday, January 9

If you are interested in participating in the Communication Focus groups, please drop us an email.

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

Holland Recreation and Holland Public Schools are excited to partner together to offer a new After School Basketball Program.  The after-school basketball practice option is being offered for the 3rd/4th grade levels.

• PRACTICE: December 9 - February 10 - Mondays & Wednesdays | 3:45-5:15pm
• GAMES: Thursdays, January 9 – February 13. | 5:30 and 6:30pm

There are still spots available for 3^rd and 4^th grade girls to register for this program!

Starting in January, Holland Public Schools will have an exciting opportunity to offer preschool programming to families in our community who have children turning 3-years-old on or before December 1st, 2024. 

• Children will be enrolled in our current preschool classrooms at HLA, West and Jefferson. 
• Full days 
• 5 Days/Week
• Spots will be limited!

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.

Top Ten Reasons to Try School Meals

1. Studies prove that children perform better academically with a balanced meal at both Breakfast & Lunch.
2. It saves time grocery shopping and packing lunches.
3. It saves money and extends your household budget.
4. Breakfast and lunch is a great time to spend with friends.
5. Whole Grains, Protein, Fruits, Veggies & Milk are offered with all School Meals.
6. Meals include kid-friendly national brand name items, but with lower sodium, fat & saturated fat.
7. Our delicious menus have calorie and sodium limits and zero grams of trans fats.
8. You are helping your local school Nutrition Program stay fiscally sound.
9. It is convenient for Students & Parents.
10. Breakfast & Lunch are FREE for all HPS students.