Alward Action

All students will have their picture taken at school for the yearbook. Blank order forms are available in the Office. Please scroll down to see when your student will have to say CHEESE!

Check out the Community Ed Link for all the GREAT offerings this Fall.

- Broadway Bootcamp

-Junior Cheer Clinic

-Tennis Lessons

-Parents night out

AND SO MUCH MORE!!!!

Our STEAM class is beginning to run low on empty cereal and tissues boxes. Other smaller boxes (oatmeal, cracker etc) are welcome too. If you would like to donate some feel free to send them in with your kids or you can drop them off in the office (Flattened would be GREAT) . Thank you!!

Back by popular demand, the Hudsonville Education Foundation's Fall Wesco 2023/2024 refillable popcorn bucket fundraiser is here, bringing flavor and fun to support Hudsonville Public Schools educational initiatives across the district.

How It Works:

Get Yours: Purchase your refillable popcorn bucket for only $14.99 by visiting our website at www.hudsedfound.org/popcorn-bucket. But hurry because this offer is available until Friday, September 15, or until 1,000 buckets are sold – whichever comes first.

Save the Date: Expect delivery of your popcorn bucket to students in late September to early October.

Popcorn Galore: With each purchase, you'll access unlimited bucket refills at any of the 55 participating Wesco locations. This means that from now until December 31, 2024, you can savor the delicious taste of freshly popped popcorn whenever you're in the mood!

Supporting Education, One Kernel at a Time: Not only will you enjoy yummy popcorn, but you'll also support a worthy cause. $7.50 from each bucket sale will directly contribute to the Hudsonville Education Foundation's mission to enrich the education of Hudsonville Public Schools students through classroom grants.

Act Now: Take advantage of this flavorful chance to make a difference. Order your Wesco 2023/2024 refillable popcorn bucket today at www.hudsedfound.org/popcorn-bucket and join us in building a brighter future for our students. Thank you for your continued support – together, we're shaping tomorrow's leaders, one kernel at a time.

Meet our 2023/2024 Alward PTC Board!

They can always be reached with any questions via email at alwardptc.hps@gmail.com

Co-President: Audra Kotman

Co-President: Stacey VanderBent

Co-Vice President: Allie Gonzalez

Co-Vice President: Ali Westhuis

Treasurer: Marissa Zylstra

Assistant Treasurer: Tom Holmes

Secretary: Heather Kleinjans

Teacher Representative: Rachel VanKoevering, 1st Grade

More details coming soon for this HUGE fundraiser for our school!

Due to the number of food allergies in the school, we ask that you please bring in non food items for birthday treats. Please see examples below.

• Breakfast will be served starting at 8:35.

• Breakfast consists of cereal, milk, juice, fresh fruit, and a cookie/cracker bar.

• Students that eat breakfast at school will eat breakfast in the cafeteria. Once students are done eating, they will be sent back to class.

• If your child will be eating breakfast at school, please contact your classroom teacher so that we know to send them down to the cafeteria the first week of school.

2023-24 School Year: Michigan Public School Students Prek-12 will receive Breakfast and Lunch at NO CHARGE.

Michigan approved Healthy School Meals for All. The budget will fund FREE school meals for all public K-12 students in Michigan for the 2023-24 School Year.

**** Districts MUST still collect Free/Reduced Meal Applications. We still need to verify eligibility levels for proper accounting of meals. ****

New! Family Portal: https://hudsonville.familyportal.cloud/

• Apply for Free and Reduced Price Meal benefits! Free and Reduced Meal Benefits are based on household size, income amount (gross), and income frequency. GOOD NEWS: any family that qualifies for Reduced Price Meal benefits will receive breakfast and lunch at NO COST.
• You will need to register a new account to monitor accounts or deposit online; Send Money to School accounts no longer exist. You will need your students ID to create an account. You will receive your students ID on their student profile sheet at the open house. Please make a note of it!
• Regardless of benefits status, Milk-only purchases remain at $0.50 per carton. Milk is included as part of the whole MEAL benefit. If your child(ren) qualify for free or reduced price meals and all they want is a carton of milk, their account will be charged 50 cents.

Our website www.jenhudfood.org is loaded with information. Please click on any of these links for more information:

• Digital Menus by Nutrislice (look for updates in August to Nutrislice)
• How Meal Service Works and Depositing Money
• Meal Charge Policy
• Follow us on Social Media!!

Contact us:

Email: foodservice@hpseagles.net

Phone: (616) 457-2400

Please check out our website for important information on Health Services.

In order for your child to take any medication (prescription and non-prescription) at school, a MEDICATION FORM is required. If your child requires a prescription medication (asthma inhaler, EPI pen, insulin), your physician must complete a portion of the form. The medication forms are available in the school office and will be posted to our website.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND MEDICATION TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR CHILD! MEDICATION CAN BE DROPPED OFF BY PARENTS FOR AN OFFICE STAFF MEMBER TO ADMINISTER.

Please send us an email if your child will be late or absent aesattendance@hpseagles.net.

You are still welcome to call our office 616-669-6700 option 1 if you would like to speak with one of our Administrative Assistance or have any questions.

• NEW email address aesattendance@hpseagles.net to report your student absent or late.

• If your student will not be attending school due to illness or other reasons, please call or email the office before 9:15 am. Students who are not called in by a parent/guardian will be marked with an unexcused absence.

• If your student will be late, arriving after 8:50 am, please call or email the office in the morning. Any students arriving after 8:50 am must be signed in by a parent/guardian.

• If your student will be late and needs a hot lunch, please let us know when you call. Hot lunch needs to be ordered by 10 am.

• Planned absences of more than 3 days require a vacation request form to be filled out. Forms can be picked up in the office or emailed to you. Please turn in vacation request forms at least 5 days prior to the planned absence.

Student drop-off and pick-up are very busy times during a normal school year in the school driveway and hallways. If you are dropping your child off in the carline, please remain in your vehicle and follow the procedures below.

Car Line Drop-off Procedures:

1. Please place the placard sign, pictured below, in your passenger side window of your car with your child/ren's names and teacher's name listed. You will receive two car signs at open house. Additional signs can be picked up in the office if needed. If you can, please put a name tag on your child along with his/her classroom teacher's name to help us get students to their correct classroom.

2. Use the car loop on the west side (office side) of the building.

3. Stay in the right lane and drop off your child in the drop-off zone. Zone will be marked with cones. Please pull all the way to either the stop sign for the unloading zone or to the car in front of you.

4. Students will exit the cars on the passenger side of the car in the unloading zone. (Do not allow students to exit the car on the driver’s side for safety reasons!) Staff will help child/children get out of the car and direct them to the door that they will go in.

5. Parents remain in their vehicles.

6. Do not pass cars in the car line. Stay in a single file line until the cars move in front of you.

7. If you want to walk your PK/K child to their line up spot, you must park in the parking lot and cross at the crosswalk. Parents will need to say their goodbyes at the line up spot.

To Keep Our Line Moving Tips:

1. Follow the procedures noted above.

2. Say your goodbyes and give kisses prior to dropping off in the car line. :)

3. Have backpacks/supplies ready to exit car with students.

4. Parents need to remain in their vehicles.

5. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding with our system and procedures. Safety is our number one concern for our students and their families.

Car Line Pick-up Procedures

PK-4th Grade Students

3:45 p.m.

1. Please put the placard sign, pictured below in your passenger side window of your car with your child/ren's names and teacher's names listed. You will receive two car signs at open house. Additional signs can be picked up in the office if needed.

2. Use the car loop on the west-side (office side) of the building.

3. Stay in the right lane and pull up to the orange cone on the far west side of the parking lot or behind the cars in front of you.

4. Students will be walked out in groups to the car line and must enter cars on the passenger side of the vehicle.

5. If you need to help your child buckle his/her car seat, please pull forward with the flow of traffic, park in a parking spot, and help your child buckle his/her car seat.

To Keep Our Line Moving Tips:

1. Follow the procedures noted above.

2. Parents need to remain in their vehicles.

3. Please be patient with this system for the first few weeks of school. Once students, staff, and families get used to the process, the line moves efficiently and is safe for all of our students!

4. Based on last year’s car line data, the car line takes 4-5 minutes to load 60 cars!

Change in Transportation Home At the End of the School Day

If your child is going to have a change in transportation home at the end of the school day, please contact the main office to let them know of the change prior to 3:00 p.m. We want to ensure that the classroom teachers are notified in a timely fashion prior to end of day dismissal procedures.

All volunteers and visitors are required to have a background check on file. Background Checks must be completed every school year. Please complete the background check now so you are all set for the school year!

• Visit Our Website: Our school website will be updated on a regular basis as it will be the main source of information for our parents and community members. Past newsletters will be linked under NEWS.

• School Messenger: Regular communication from school messenger will be sent out via email, phone calls, or text messages to keep you in the loop on what is taking place at Alward!
  

• Social Media: Follow our story by liking us Facebook

• facebook.com/AESEaglePride

• Google Classrooms: Teacher google sites are linked under staff members. Teachers will be updating their Google Classroom Sites on a weekly basis.

Website: https://www.hudsonvillepublicschools.org/alward/index
Location: 3811 Port Sheldon Street, Hudsonville, MI, USA
Phone: 616-669-6700
Facebook: facebook.com/AESEaglePride

Mark your calendars because Septemberfest is right around the corner. Come out and support our school at the annual arts and craft show on September 16th from 9am to 2pm at the Hudsonville Fairgrounds. This will be your one stop shop! Shop our 200+ vendors in all five barns along with many more outside booths. Tickets are $2 with kids 12 and under free. Strollers are welcome. VIP tickets are available that will allow you early entry before the crowds at 8:15am. The VIP passes also include a shopping bag full of local business coupons. These are available to purchase on our Facebook page. There are limited bags available so get yours soon! Cost is $10. Please help us spread the word by finding us on Facebook, liking it, and sharing us with your friends. Watch for current updates and giveaways on Septemberfest Arts and Craft Show on Facebook. We can not wait to see you all there!

To Register, go to our calendar @ https://hudsonville.evanced.info/signup

NOT Your Normal Book Club (Book: Wingbearer Book 1 by Marjorie Liu): Tues. Sept 12, 4:30pm: Ages 9-13
(Once you have registered for the book club, you can swing by the library to pick up your free copy!)
Maker Monday: Paint & Chill Pointillism: Mon. Sept 18, 4:30pm: Ages 9-18
Family Story Time: Mondays & Tuesdays starting Sept 11, 10:15am: Ages 5 & under
Stay & Play: Sept 14 & 28, 10:15am: Ages 5 & under
Aurora Chasing: Viewing the Northern Lights: Sept 7 at 6:30pm - For ages 10-Adults: Have you dreamed of viewing the Northern Lights? Get the advice and tools you need to finally catch an Aurora display near your home.

EPIC, standing for Everyone Plays In our Community

The mission of the AYSO EPIC Program is to provide a quality soccer experience for individuals whose physical or mental disabilities make it difficult for them to successfully participate on mainstream soccer teams.

Our EPIC program is open to players ages 5 and above with no age limit. Players will meet once a week during the fall, winter, and spring seasons for a weekly practice & game session. EPIC Buddies and their EPIC Coach will assist our EPIC players as they practice soccer drills and play in a weekly game. Anyone in or outside of the Hudsonville/Jenison area is eligible to participate.

EPIC dates for 2023 Fall, Winter, Spring (7 weeks each session)

Sessions:

Fall: Starts September 10th through October 22nd - Sundays, 5:30pm to 7pm, Soccer Zone, 596 Baldwin St., Jenison

Winter: Starts approximately January 8th through February 19th (day, time, and location is still being determined)

Spring: Starts April 8th through May 20th - Mondays, 6:20pm to 7:50pm, Soccer Zone, 596 Baldwin St., Jenison

In addition to players, we need volunteer Youth or Adult Buddies to assist the players one on one at all times. It is preferred that parents do not volunteer, so they may watch and enjoy the experience.

When registering, players will have the opportunity to provide session availability. Volunteers are requested for all sessions for player familiarity and consistency.

AYSO EPIC: https://ayso.org/epic

EPIC Register: https://www.ayso676.org/