Park Newsletter
Feb. 23, 2024
A Note from Mrs. Stefanich
Hello Park Families,
We are looking forward to meeting with you next week at our Parent Teacher Conferences! Thank you for prioritizing this time to meet with your child's teacher. Just like in the Fall, we will have some volunteers from the National Honors Society here to provide supervision for your children if you'd like to drop them off in our open classroom near the STEAM room. We will have high school volunteers here from 4:30 until 8:00. Feel free to drop in with your children.
Our Park Elementary Challenge is also underway! Our students have been working hard thinking of all the vocabulary words from the year, counting the interior windows in our building, dressing up for the spirit days, and many more fun activities! Ask your child about their favorite challenge so far! Next week, due to conferences our dress up days will be Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Here is what you can plan on:
Tuesday - Dream Job - Dress for what you want to be when you grow up!
Thursday - Neon Day! Wear anything neon for points.
Friday - Favorite team day! (Don't have a favorite team? Support the Eagles in Maize and Blue!)
With this warmer weather, please know that sometimes our playgrounds get a little muddy. We would love if you could have a conversation at home about avoiding the mud and sticking to the dry areas of the playground. Our teachers are giving this message too, so hearing it at home might help as well!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Mrs. Stefanich
Notes from Music:
Hello Park Family!
K-4 Music students are just finishing studying the instruments of the orchestra.
Thank you to the Park Parent Club for supporting an amazing music fundraiser which takes place at the Pinnacle Center on February 24. The proceeds will enable us to purchase new music supplies and equipment and update some of our used equipment. We are so thankful for your generosity.
For a more detailed Music Update by Grade Level click HERE
It is my pleasure to teach music to your children. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Warmly,
Mr. Aaron Bouwman; abouwma@hpseagles.net
Park Music Website: https://sites.google.com/hpseagles.net/bouwman-music
Recent Words of the Week
Convince - to persuade someone to do or believe something
Integrity - the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
Mary Poppins Tea Party
We are hosting a "practically perfect" high tea luncheon on Saturday, March 9th at the high school. This is the only fundraiser we do for the musical, and this one is so special! Fun for ALL ages, you'll get a sneak peek of the show with songs and dances from all 77 cast members, take pictures with Mary Poppins & Bert, and be served a gorgeous luncheon/high tea by our fabulous cast.
We can only serve 150 guests and tickets are going fast.
This special event will truly be magical!
The last day to purchase tickets is March 5.
Tickets are now on sale HERE
Important Dates
Feb. 24 - 11:30am-1:15pm or 1:30-3:15pm Boys VIP bowling
Feb. 26 & 28 - Parent Teacher Conferences ~if you still need to sign up please contact your child's teacher or the office.
Mar. 9 -11:30am-1:15pm or 1:30-3:15pm Girl VIP bowling
Mar. 15 - Early Release
March 26 - Parent club meeting 7PM
Mar. 28-April 7 - Spring Break
Parent Club Info
Parent Club Updates
Scholastic Book Fair is coming up next week (February 26-February 29). Parent/Teacher conferences are February 26 and 28. We are providing staff dinners for conferences, and are still looking for donations to help spoil our staff. If you are willing and able to help, please check out the link below or visit our Facebook page (at the bottom of this update) to see what we still need.
https://signup.com/mobileweb/2.0/vspot.html?activitykey=1241616766014#choose_event_page
Boys’ VIP Bowling is this Saturday, February 24, from 11:30am-1:15pm or 1:30pm-3:15pm.
Information for Girls’ VIP Bowling has been sent home. It is March 9 from 11:30am-1:15pm or 1:30pm-3:15pm. Deadline to sign up for Girls’ VIP Bowling is TODAY, FEBRUARY 23.
The next Tarry Hall Skating party will be March 28th. More information to come.
PARK PARENTS’ CLUB MARCH MEETING DATE/TIME CHANGE:
To accommodate more parents for the meeting with Dr. VanderJagt, our March PPC meeting has been changed to March 26th at 7pm in the STEAM room. Please join us to discuss remaining events for this year, as well as an update and information from Dr. VanderJagt. We hope to see you there!
As always, thank you so much for all of your help to support and spoil our students and staff. We wouldn’t be able to do this without all of your help!
Check out our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ParkParentsClub?mibextid=LQQJ4d
HPS Early Childhood Programs
Open House/Registration Night for the 2024-2025 School Year and the 2024 Summer Program
Registration: Begins Wednesday, February 7, at noon. Registration must be completed using our online link, which will be available on the ECC Website. A $100.00 fee per child is due at the time of registration, and you will receive a $50.00 credit towards future tuition.
The link to register for all programs can be found on the Hudsonville Public Schools website, under the Early Childhood Programs tab. Please note that enrollment fills quickly.
For more information, please call the Early Childhood office at 616-797-0842, ext. 1.
HPS Community Education
While it might be dreary outside, we have plenty of engaging activities to keep your kids entertained until the weather warms up. Make sure to register early so your child doesn't miss out on the fun!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
New Winter Activities for Kids - Check Out Our Electronic Flyer!
Rebecca Fabiano
Community Education Director
616-669-1740
Community News - Not sponsored by Hudsonville Public Schools
Gary Byker Library of Hudsonville Upcoming Events for Kids
To register or for more details, see our event calendar @ https://hudsonville.librarycalendar.com/
Kids Winter Reading Program: Ages 8+; Log your reading & earn prizes along the way! January 8 – March 30
Check out how to get a free National Park Pass for your Fourth Grader!
AYSO Epic Program
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 4 and above. 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 Registration for 2023 Fall, Winter, Spring (7 weeks each session)
Spring Session - week of 4/8/24 through week 5/20/24
By registering for EPIC, you are registering for all sessions at once. Players will have the opportunity to provide session availability. Volunteers are requested for all sessions for player familiarity and consistency.
Each week, we will meet on one day. The day, time, and location are being determined so that information will be provided after registration.
AYSO EPIC: https://ayso.org/epic/
EPIC Register: https://www.ayso676.org/
School Breakfast and Lunch Information
In 2022, federal legislation created a new program to fill hunger gaps during summer break, called Summer EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer). The program is being administered by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Michigan Department of Education (MDE). A household can receive $40 per month per child in June, July, and August 2024 (for a total of $120 per child). Benefits will come in the form of preloaded cards that families can use to purchase groceries.
Summer EBT benefits will be issued to students who have a completed and approved Application for Meal Benefits on file as of February 14, 2024.
If you already have an approved application, automatically receive Free or Reduced Meal Benefits, or already receive EBT Benefits, you do NOT need to re-apply.
Completion of the form does not automatically qualify your student for the summer benefits. These benefits will be based on annual incomes and household size as noted by you on the form.
If your address has changed this year, be sure to update it with your school to ensure your benefit card is sent to the right address.
This WILL NOT impact your student receiving free breakfast and lunch at school.
Click HERE for Income Guidelines to see if you might qualify.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS!
If you have any questions, please contact Food Service at foodservice@hpseagles.net or 616-457-2400.
Breakfast and Hot Lunch are available everyday to all students. This year, school lunches are once again free to our students! This is such wonderful news and we look forward to feeding your children each day! Of course, you can still pack a lunch for your child if you prefer. (As a reminder, hot lunch is only free if your child takes a fruit or vegetable on their tray. Please remind them they have to *at least* put it on their tray for the lunch to be free.)
New! Family Portal: https://familyportal.cloud
- Apply for Free and Reduced Price Meal benefits! If you are wondering if you would qualify, here are the Income Guidelines. Free and Reduced Meal Benefits are based on household size, income amount (gross), and income frequency. We encourage all families to apply, even though school lunches are free. Applying is confidential, and provides our school with additional supports for students.
- You will need to register a new account to monitor accounts or deposit online; Send Money to School accounts no longer exist.
- Regardless of benefits status, Milk-only purchases remain at $0.50 per carton. Milk is included as part of the whole MEAL benefit. However, if all your child wants 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
2140 Bauer Road
Jenison, MI 49428
Menu's, Free and Reduced Information, nutrition information and lunch account info can all be found on the Jenison/Hudsonville Food Service Home page.
Parents, please review our district wide Student/Parent Elementary Handbook. This is new this year and is full of great information that may answer many questions. Please take a look and let me know if you have any specific questions regarding this handbook. Some notable items are listed below:
- Student dress code prohibits clothing promoting alcohol, violence, etc. Additionally, dress code prohibits bare midriffs, sides, or backs.
- Cell phones and smart watches are not allowed at school. They need to be powered down and in backpacks during school hours.
School begins at 8:45 a.m.
Parent drop off: no earlier than 8:35 a.m.
School ends at 3:45 p.m.
Office hours: 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Opt-In for Text Messages
In order to receive text messages from Park and HPS, you will need to Opt-in. Please see this link to Opt-in to text messages so you don't miss any important information.
How do recipients opt-in to receive text messages?
- Text “YES” to 68453 from each phone or device from which they wish to receive texts.
- Confirm that your phone is on file at your school
How do recipients opt-out of receiving text messages?
Recipients not wishing to receive text messages to a particular number can simply do one of the following:
- Don’t opt-in, and don’t reply to the opt-in invitation message.
- Text “STOP” to 68453 at any time.
- Opt out online at http://schoolmessenger.com/txtmsg
- Request that the SchoolMessenger system administrator adds the number to the account’s phone number block list.