September Newsletter
Calendar
September
2 No School | Labor Day Break
4 Early Release Day
11 Early Release Day
18 Early Release Day
23-27 Homecoming Spirit Week
25 Early Release Day
26 District-Wide STEM Night Location: Holland High School 600 Van Raalte Ave
27 Homecoming Parade followed by the Football Game
At West, our behavior expectations are described in the matrix P-O-W-E-R. Our staff has been teaching what POWER stands for so that every student can memorize, recite, and demonstrate positive behavior.
Here’s what POWER stands for:
P-Pride | We care about self, others, work
O-Own Your Actions | We are responsible and honest
W- Wise Choices | We think before acting
E- Engaged | We are focused and involved in learning
R-Respect | Be Nice
We believe it is important for each parent to be aware of these expectations so you can support our efforts at home.
Principals Corner
Dear West Families,
Welcome back to the start of another exciting school year! I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable summer and Labor Day Weekend, filled with special moments with family and friends. As we embark on this new school year, I am thrilled to see our hallways buzzing with the energy and enthusiasm of our students.
Important Dates to Remember
Early Release every Wednesday - 2:36 dismissal
Parent-Teacher Conferences: October 16th-17th
Math Spooktakular: October 24th
Communication is Key
We believe in maintaining open lines of communication between school and home. Our school website and social media pages will be updated regularly with important information, and we encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns. Our teachers are also available via email or by appointment. My email address is ctolson@hollandpublicschools.org.
Volunteers and Involvement
We value the involvement of our families in school life. If you are interested in volunteering or joining our PTO, please contact me. There are many ways to get involved and make a difference in our school community!
Final Thoughts
As we begin this new year, let’s remember that every day is an opportunity to learn and grow. I am honored to serve as your principal and look forward to working together to make this school year successful for all of our students. Thank you for your continued support!
Yours in Education,
Chad Tolson
Principal, West Elementary
Volunteering at West
Do you want to be a chaperone on your students field trip, pop popcorn for popcorn Fridays, help in your students class or volunteer as one of our field day helpers? All HPS volunteers MUST complete this background check form. Once submitted, it takes up to 2 weeks for it to clear. This form must be resubmitted every year. Volunteering or entering the school MUST prearranged and approved by staff.
Thank for taking the time to volunteer and make West Best!
PTO News
On behalf of the Holland Public Schools Parent Teacher Organization (HPS PTO), we would like to welcome you to West! PTO sponsors events for students and teachers throughout the year. To learn more about PTO at the district & school level, please click here (note we have a new email address). Read on for upcoming volunteer opportunities and events.
UPCOMING EVENTS & WAYS TO HELP
Popcorn Friday
We're excited to bring back a student & teacher favorite - Popcorn Friday! Our first Popcorn Friday will be September 20. We need about 5 volunteers to pop, bag, and deliver popcorn from about 8:30 - 11 am. Email west@hps-pto.org to volunteer!
Scholastic Book Fair
Mark your calendars! Our beloved book fair returns in October! The in-person shop will be open October 8-10, 2024 in the school library. Email west@hps-pto.org with your availability to help. The online shop will be open October 7 -25, 2024.
October 8, 2024 3:45 - 7pm
October 9, 2024 2:45 - 5pm
October 10, 2024 3:45 - 6pm
All volunteers must have a background check. Please fill out this form as soon as possible so that your volunteer efforts will not be delayed!
District Dine-Out
Our first District Dine-Out is September 19, 2024 at On the Border, located at 12383 James St. In Holland, A total of 20% of all purchases will be donated to HPS PTO. Bring this flyer or mention HPS PTO for credit.
Teachers Lounge Restock
PTO sponsors a monthly restock of the Teachers Lounge. Please consider picking up some items on your next grocery trip. Favorites include individually bagged snacks, tea, k-cups, & cans of pop. Drop items off in the red bin in the front office.
HELP WANTED
Food Drive Coordinator Needed (November)
Winter Carnival Coordinator Needed (January)
Email Jenn @ west@hps-pto.org for more information
🎉 Homecoming Parade and Spirit Week 🎉
Our homecoming parade is just around the corner! We’re excited to invite students, parents, and teachers to join us as we represent WEST in the parade on September 27th.
Details:
- Meeting Time: 5:00 pm
- Meeting Location: 10th Street side of Centennial Park
- Parade Start Time: 5:30 pm
- Route: Please note that this year’s route is slightly longer than in previous years.
What to Wear:
- Show your school spirit by wearing Holland gear!
- A school banner will be provided for each school to carry.
Spirit Week: Details about Spirit Week will be coming home with your student soon. Stay tuned for more information on how to show your WEST pride!
We can’t wait to see you there and make this parade a memorable one!
Go WEST!
Attendance Incentives!
Daily attendance and being on time are the first step to academic success. We are grateful to partner with our West families to help ensure our students are growing, learning and developing skills to help them achieve and it starts with getting to school on time to eat breakfast and being ready to learn! Let’s make this year great by starting these successful habits!
Septembers Character of the Month
Family Resources
We’re excited to share valuable community resources available to support parents and families. Whether you're seeking guidance on navigating parenting challenges, accessing mental health support, or finding enrichment activities for your children, there are numerous local organizations ready to help. From parenting workshops and counseling services to and family enrichment events, these resources are designed to strengthen our community and support your family’s well-being. For more information and to connect with these services, see the attachments or contact our school. We’re here to help you thrive!
Power H Shop
The next date for Power H Shop is Oct 3 from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM at Maplewood Elementary School, 925 Central Ave, Holland, MI 49423. The Power H Shop is an initiative to support families experiencing crisis or financial hardship, by providing free household items through a dignified retail setting, and thus alleviating a family's financial hardship.
STEM
District Stem Night will be September 26 from 5-7 PM at Holland High. Jhomary's Paradise and Dolce mini-cakes food trucks will be onsite! Look for more info coming soon!
Cafeteria Information
Charging for à la carte Menu Items During Breakfast and Lunch
As you know, every HPS student gets a breakfast and a lunch at no-cost this year!
HOWEVER, when students need a milk to go along with a sack breakfast/lunch brought from home, that milk will cost the student .75 cents. (State funding allows us to provide full meals at no cost to students, but does not pay for à la carte menu items for students.)
If your student wants an à la carte milk to go along with a sack breakfast/lunch, please be sure add funds to their student account, or bring exact change.
If you have any questions or concerns, or need help with the account, please contact our Nutrition Services Department at 616.494.2245. Thank you for understanding!