56G News
January 28, 2024
A note from Mrs. McClure
Hello 56G Families,
Wow! It is hard to believe that we have wrapped up our first semester at 56G! With the end of the first semester, our teachers have been working hard on report cards. If you have a sixth grade student, you can see your child's Quarter 2 grades in the parent portal for PowerSchool. If you have a fifth grade student, your child's Semester 1 report card will come home this Friday, February 2nd. We are excited to dive into Semester 2 and continue to see the growth and progress of our students academically, socially, and emotionally!
This past week, we were excited to welcome Hudsonville High School student leaders and members of Students Initiating Change to lead our sixth grade students through a program called Raise Your Voice. Our sixth grade students learned about communication skills, decision-making strategies, and positive coping techniques that prevent or reduce stress when they encounter challenging situations at school. Specifically, they discussed passive vs. aggressive vs. assertive communication skills and strategies, bullying, how to respond in a situation involving bullying, healthy ways to manage stress, and setting boundaries on social media and screen time. The high school students did a phenomenal job connecting with our students and providing them with real life scenarios that they may encounter in middle/high school and on social media and how to respond. Our students were engaged in these powerful lessons and enjoyed working with the high school students!
Unfortunately, bullying and harassment are things that we do address and respond to at 56G more often than we would like to. With this being said, we will be educating our staff with how to respond and report incidents. We will also look at various ways that we can empower our students and give them a voice to take a stand against bullying and harassment. Over the next few months, we will be designing and teaching lessons to our students about what bullying/harassment are/are not and how to be an "upstander." We want to give our students tools to stand up and say, "we don't do that here," report incidents, and feel safe in doing so. We will continue to inform you about how we are creating a safe school for all of our students. If you would like more information and resources about bullying, harassment, and cyberbullying, check out StopBullying.gov.
Thank you again to all of our families for your continued support and encouragement for our students as we kick-off Semester 2 at 56G. We look forward to meeting with you all at our upcoming parent-teacher conferences on February 27th and 29th.
In partnership,
Melanie
Scheduling for the 2024-2025 School Year
Fifth Grade-Last week, Mrs. McClure met with all fifth grade classes and went over the elective options for sixth grade. Check out the Electives' Overview document to learn more about specific electives. Videos and websites are linked in this document to give students a better idea of classes that they would like to take next year. Here are some important dates for scheduling with fifth grade:
February 7th: Music fittings during the school day Students will receive information about instruments and their elective scheduling form (hot pink cardstock paper) February 8th: Instrument rental parent meetings at the 5/6 building Meetings will take place at 6:30, 7:00, and 7:30 in the cafeteria February 16: Elective Scheduling Forms due (hot pink cardstock paper) Week of February 19th: Scheduling with fifth grade students during the school day Sixth Grade-In February, our guidance counselors, Mrs. VanZalen and Mrs. Rasmussen, will be visiting sixth grade students in their Social Studies classes to discuss elective options for seventh grade and helping them schedule. Here are some important dates for scheduling with sixth grade:
PTC Public Meeting
Join us for the next public PTC meeting! We will meet at 7pm in the cafeteria! Please enter through door A.
Monday, Jan 29, 2024, 07:00 PM
The 5/6 Building @ Georgetown, 36th Avenue, Hudsonville, MI, USA
5th Grade Report Cards sent home with students
Report Cards will be sent home with 5th grade students on February 2. Quarter 2 grades have been finalized in Powerschool for 6th grade students.
Friday, Feb 2, 2024, 02:45 PM
5th Grade Music Parent Mtg/Rental Night
February 7th all 5th graders will be able to hear the 6th Grade music classes perform! They will also go through a music rotation to experience choir and try band and orchestra instruments. They will receive a folder with information, their course selection sheet from the office.
Families may then attend a parent/guardian meeting to hear more about the music options and to rent an instrument or they may do it all online. Choir parents do not need to come to the parent meeting. Families may attend any of the three times they prefer, as they will be exactly the same.
Feb. 8 at The 5/6 Building: 6:30pm, 7:00pm or 7:30pm attendance options
To register for music, just select the class in your course registration! If you have questions, please contact any of the music teachers below and visit the music website.
Becky Bush, Orchestra, rbush@hpseagles.net
Zack Jacobs, Band, zjacobs@hpseagles.net
Geoff Hansen, Choir, ghansen@hpseagles.net
Jillian Coleman, Creative Music, jcoleman@hpseagles.net
Thursday, Feb 8, 2024, 06:30 PM
The 5/6 Building @ Georgetown, 36th Avenue, Hudsonville, MI, USA
Winter Break - NO School
Monday, Feb 12, 2024, 07:00 AM
Winter Break - NO School
Tuesday, Feb 13, 2024, 07:00 AM
Skating Party at Tarry Hall
Join us for a fun night of skating with friends! Admission is $7 and skate rental is $3. Students need to be accompanied by an adult.
Tuesday, Feb 20, 2024, 06:15 PM
Tarry Hall Roller Rink, Fairlanes Avenue Southwest, Grandville, MI, USA
Early Release
Students will be dismissed at 11:15am. If your child needs a sack lunch, please have them order with their first hour teacher.
Friday, Feb 23, 2024, 11:15 AM
The 5/6 Building @ Georgetown, 36th Avenue, Hudsonville, MI, USA
Parent Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024, 03:00 PM
The 5/6 Building @ Georgetown, 36th Avenue, Hudsonville, MI, USA
Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday, Feb 29, 2024, 03:00 PM
The 5/6 Building @ Georgetown, 36th Avenue, Hudsonville, MI, USA
ECC 2024/25 Open House and Enrollment
HPS Early Childhood Programs – Open House/Registration Night
for the 2024-2025 School Year and the 2024 Summer Program
Open House/Registration Night:
Tuesday, Febuary 6, 2024, at the Early Childhood Center from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Early Childhood Center is located at 5535 School Ave. (main entrance off Madison Ave.)
Programs include 3-year-old & 4-year-old Preschool, Before/After School Care, and Summer Care.
*This is a chance to gather information about the programs, meet staff, and visit preschool classrooms. There will be NO registration this night. Registration will take place online only, with the link active on Wed. Feb 7, at noon.
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.
Summer EBT Benefits
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.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Cub Scouts
Have you been looking for a place where your child can make new friends, learn new skills, and have fun while doing it? We’ve got the perfect solution!
Pack 3149 invites you to check out our Cub Scout Pack, open to all kids in grades K - 5.
We meet on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Thursday evenings from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM throughout the school year at Jenison Christian Church.
When 5th graders complete Cub Scouts, they can choose a Scout Troop. Hudsonville Troop 146 has a Boy Troop and a Girl Troop. Jenison Troop 354 has a Boy Troop and is hoping to start a Girl Troop this winter.
Contact Alison Freas at cubscoutpack3149@gmail.com, (616) 566-9332, or check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HudsonvillePack3149
REMINDERS
Student Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
Student drop-off and pick-up are very busy times 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
7:30 a.m.
1. Use the car loop at the main entrance of the building.
2. Stay in the right lane and drop off your child in the drop-off zone. Staff wearing yellow vests will be directing traffic. Please pull all the way up to either the stop sign for the unloading zone or to the car in front of you.
3. 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 direct them to the door that they will go in.
4. Parents remain in their vehicles.
5. Do not pass cars in the car line. Stay in a single file line until the cars move in front of you.
To Keep Our Line Moving Tips:
Follow the procedures noted above.
Say your goodbyes and give kisses prior to dropping off in the car line. :)
Have backpacks/supplies ready to exit car with students.
Parents need to remain in their vehicles.
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
2:45 p.m.
1. Pull into the parking lot and park.
2. Students will be walked out to the cross walk and then will go directly to their cars.
Tech @ 56G and Tech Fees for ALL Sixth Grade Students
- Our fifth grade students will be assigned a device that they will use and keep at school.
- As part of our 1-to-1 device initiative, all sixth grade students will be issued a Chromebook and case for use during the school year. Each student must pay a $25 technology fee with a $75 max for each family. You can conveniently pay online using these directions (desktop / mobile) . Checks and cash are also accepted and may be turned in at 56G to the main office.
- 6th grade students will receive new devices. New students will be issued devices.
- 1 to 1 Overview and Chromebook Guide
- Overview of device use expectations, tech fee details, and repair process
Forgotten Items
Mark Your Calendars!
- Please check the HPS Student Calendar for early release dates and breaks for the 23-24 school year!
- You can find all 56G events linked here.
SCHOOL HOURS
Full Day
- Doors open at 7:30 a.m.
School begins at 7:50 a.m.
School ends at 2:45 p.m.
Office hours: 7:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Attendance
If your student will not be attending school due to illness or other reasons, please call the office or email the attendance email (56Gattendance@hpseagles.net) before 8:15 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 7:50 am, please call the office in the morning. Any students arriving after 7:50 am must be signed in by a parent/guardian.
Planned absences of more than 3 days require a vacation request form to be filled out. Forms can be picked up in the office, emailed to you, or you can print them off by clicking on the links below. Please turn in vacation request forms at least 5 days prior to the planned absence.
Volunteer Background Check
The Hudsonville Public School District has the right to approve or deny your request if your background check does not meet the standards of HPS Board Policy.
If you have any questions regarding the Volunteer Background Check process, please contact our Human Resources Department at 616-669-1740 or by emailing our office at eagles@hpseagles.net
We greatly appreciate your support and willingness to volunteer for Hudsonville Public Schools. Go Eagles!
Hand2Hand
Communication
- 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.
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 56G!
Social Media: Follow our story by liking us on...
Facebook: Like us on Facebook-facebook.com/56Georgetown
Instagram: Like us on Instagram @56georgetown.
Website: https://www.hudsonvillepublicschools.org/5-6-building-georgetown/index
Location: 8175 36th Avenue, Hudsonville, MI, USA
Phone: 616-272-7100
Facebook: facebook.com/56Georgetown