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Appleseed: December 2013
Category: Miscellaneous
Toys for Tots – Georgetown Service Project
Do you know about Toys for Tots? It’s a great charity that provides happiness and joy to kids on Christmas morning. They cannot do this without our help.
I learned about Toys for Tots when I was around three years old. My parents took me shopping and we would purchase toys to put in the Toys for Tots box. I did not completely understand the idea of buying toys, putting them in a box, and not keeping them. I learned that you don’t always get what you want and some kids may wake up Christmas morning with nothing or very little under their tree.
Each year we continued this tradition of purchasing toys for the Toys for Tots box. It’s always fun shopping for things that I know I would like. This makes me feel good knowing that kids that may not be getting presents would be getting something.
This got me thinking that as a school we can help Toys for Tots do more. I asked permission of Mrs. Reagan and she agreed that this would be a great service for our school to offer.
We will have a Toys for Tots box in the school library. We will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for kids until December 12th. Toys for Tots will distribute these toys to kids in need throughout our community.
You can give a little or you can give a lot, it’s Toys for Tots.
Quinton T., Grade 4
Week 12: Nov 18-22, 2013
As you can see below, the highlight of the week is MARCO’s PIZZA Night on Wednesday. When you order your pizza, make sure you give your child’s teacher name. The class that orders the most pizza’s will receive a pizza lunch compliments of Marco’s and our Parent Club.
Throughout our building this week, classrooms will be focusing on a curriculum called Be Nice • Be Safe – strategic lessons to teach skills to prevent bullying. We will be sharing the lessons on our blog at the end of the week. On Friday, you child will bring home a Be Nice • Be Safe Pledge that is signed by you and your your child and then returned to school where it will become part of the a class book.
We are hopeful that these common lessons help our children understand the difference between bullying and rough play and much more.
It sounds like we have some interesting weather events ahead for the day. Be safe wherever you are today.
Mrs. Reagan
Holiday Program: December 3 @ Fair Haven
Where is the church?
Address: 2900 Baldwin Street Hudsonville, MI 49426; Fair Haven Ministries is located down the road from Georgetown Elementary at the corner of Baldwin Street and 28th Ave. This program is led by Georgetown’s two music teachers: Mrs. VanRiijs Gr K and Mrs. Bretz Gr 1-5What time do students need to be at the church? 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE PROGRAM
Address: 2900 Baldwin Street Hudsonville, MI 49426; Fair Haven Ministries is located down the road from Georgetown Elementary at the corner of Baldwin Street and 28th Ave. This program is led by Georgetown’s two music teachers: Mrs. VanRiijs Gr K and Mrs. Bretz Gr 1-5What time do students need to be at the church? 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE PROGRAM
- K, Gr. 1, Gr 2: 6:15 pm
- Grades 3,4 and 5: 7:30 pm
Where does my child need to go when they get to the church?
There will be signs at the church directing you to your child’s classroom assignment and also this information will be sent home prior to the program. Below are the room assignments by grade. To view a map of the room locations, click here: fairhavenmap
There will be signs at the church directing you to your child’s classroom assignment and also this information will be sent home prior to the program. Below are the room assignments by grade. To view a map of the room locations, click here: fairhavenmap
- PK/K – Family Life Center
- 1st – 100 Wing
- 2nd – 400 Middle
- 3rd – 100 Wing
- 4th – 400 Middle
- 5th – Family Life Center
How long will the program be? Each group will perform for about 30 minutes.
What order are the grades singing?
K, followed by 1st/2nd grades; Grade 3 followed by 4th/5th Grades.
Can we save seats prior to the program?
No. The only reserved seats will be for the directors, videographer, and teachers.
No. The only reserved seats will be for the directors, videographer, and teachers.
- The doors to the sanctuary (where the children perform) will open at 6:30. There is AMPLE seating so we want you to know that you will have a WONDERFUL SEAT no matter where you are seated.
- Please be respectful and courteous to other families as you make your way into the sanctuary and during the performance.
- WCET TV will be taping and televising the program so that families who are unable to attend can still see it. If you do not want your child to be shown on WCET TV, do not attend the program. Notify your child’s teacher and Mrs. Bretz/Mrs. VanRiijs that your child will be staying home rather than participating.
Is food or drink allowed in the church?
No food or drink is allowed in the church.
Do the students need to wear anything special?
No. Most students love to dress up and will wear special Christmas dresses or “church clothes”, but there is no requirement. Exception: Children who have a part and require special costumes. Mrs. Bretz would have sent a note home to you if this were the case–so you will be aware in advance.
How do students get special parts?
- Auditions during or after class time.
- History of prior solo or part performance in past years.
- There are 600+ students and we do our best to make this process fair and equitable over time.
Additional Information:
- MAP of the CHURCH will arrive home on Tuesday. It is also available here: fairhavenmap
- DVD order form will be attached to this information. You can also download the order form here: DVD FORM 2013 DVD FORM 2013
- NOTE: Georgetown does NOT set the price for the DVD. This is done by WCET. The cost of the DVD goes toward programming fees, staff compensation, materials, etc.
PTC November Meeting
We held our November PTC meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 pm in the library.
The minutes from the meeting can be read here: PTCMinutesNov2013
Many, many thanks to everyone who supports all the events that we hold throughout the year.
The next big and hugely popular event is SANTA’S SECRET SHOP also called the HOLIDAY GIFT SHOP. This is run by volunteers (parents) who help children shop for important members of their family. Please watch the blog for volunteer opportunities.
To find out more about our PTC, visit the page above (PARENT CLUB) to see learn about the board members and all that our PTC does for the school each year.
Future meetings:
Thank A Veteran Today
Did you know that we have nearly 23.2 million veterans in the United States? Chances are each one of us know a veteran or family member of a veteran. Like you, I am so grateful for all that these amazing people have done and continue to do for us year after year.
Today, on Veteran’s Day, take a moment to thank a veteran and appreciate the work and commitment these people have shown for protecting our great country.
The History Channel is a great resource for information about Veteran’s Day. Below is a list of facts I found on their site.
- 9.2 million veterans are over the age of 65.
- 1.9 million veterans are under the age of 35.
- 1.8 million veterans are women.
- 7.8 million veterans served during the Vietnam War era (1964-1975), which represents 33% of all living veterans.
- 5.2 million veterans served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2, 1990, to present).
- 2.6 million veterans served during World War II (1941-1945).
- 2.8 million veterans served during the Korean War (1950-1953).
- 6 million veterans served in peacetime.
- As of 2008, 2.9 million veterans received compensation for service-connected disabilities.
- 5 states have more than 1 million veterans in among their population: California (2.1 million), Florida (1.7 million), Texas (1.7 million), New York (1 million) and Pennsylvania (1 million).
- The VA health care system had 54 hospitals in 1930, since then it has expanded to include 171 medical centers; more than 350 outpatient, community, and outreach clinics; 126 nursing home care units; and 35 live-in care facilities for injured or disabled vets.
November Chill
November has arrived — making itself known with a stiff breeze, gray clouds and cold temps. If your child argues with you about the necessity of hats, mittens, or any type of warm weather clothing — use me as your point person. Our playgrounds are C * O * L * D and windy. Dress warmly…and you will have more fun! Mrs. Reagan Said So.
Thank you for your time last week during parent/teacher conferences. The 15 minutes we have with the parents of each child is valuable — and we do our best to share academic and social/emotional success and highlight areas we are growing. Your support is key to your child’s success and we very much appreciate all you are doing to be your child’s best advocate.
The PTC would also like to thank you for supporting our FALL BOOK FAIR. It was extremely successful — and this was due to the volunteers and your purchasing support. Because our COIN WAR brought in over $1200, we were able to supply books for many children and teachers.
We have much to be thankful for at Georgetown…and you, the parents, are the foundation and core of our all that we do.
Mrs. Reagan
BLOG BITS 11/8/13
Happy Friday Georgetown Parents!!
NEWS FROM THE OFFICE………. We have a good, but busy, week here at Georgetown. The long weekend we had was nice but we were right back at it on Monday. Parent/Teacher conferences went very well and thank you to all of you for taking the time and effort to come to these. We also held our fall book fair. It was a very busy place this week. Thank you to all of the volunteers that came in to help with this great event! The students really love the book fair and with out volunteers it would not be possible! : ) Last, but not least, we ended the week with a Popcorn Friday which was absolutely fabulous!!!
DIRECTORY INFORMATION……… We know a lot of you have been inquiring about a school directory. Our great PTC is working on it and we hope to have one out to families by the end of next week. Thank you for your patience.
LUNCH INFORMATION………… Here is November’s hot lunch menu and a deposit slip if needed. Nov. 2013 Hud Elem 2 Deposit Slip
SNOW DAY PROCEDURE FOR HOT LUNCH……….. With snow just around the corner, the food service program would like to remind parents and students about what will happen if school is closed due to weather. If the district is closed, the menu that was supposed to be served on the snow day will be moved to the next school day. An example: if school is canceled on Tuesday due to weather, Tuesday’s menu will be served on Wednesday and the menu that was scheduled for Wednesday will be completely canceled. Because of our computer lunch account system, there will be no need to issue credits and your student will still be able to order a lunch if they need one. The only exception to this policy is if school is canceled on Friday. In this case, Friday’s menu will be completely canceled and we will continue with the regular menu on Monday. Information on what menu will be served on the day you return will be available on Twitter or the foodservice web page at www.jenhudfood.org. Please feel free to contact the food service department at 457-2400 if you have any questions or are unsure of what the menu will be. Thank you! ~ Stacey L. Wykoski, Food Service Director.
GIRLS ON THE RUN ……
All the girls in grades 3-5 are invited to participate in the national program, GIRLS ON THE RUN. To find out more about Girls on the Run and registration please visit the GOTR site at http://gotroac.org/
P.E. NEWS………. P.E. C.A.R.E.S…….. Please visit the PE BLOG for the complete details of this great project we do here at Georgetown. The Non-perishable food/Can Drive will start on NOVEMBER 11 and go until NOVEMBER 21! Remember the class that donates the most to this great cause gets a free t-shirt and a trip to Hudsonville Lanes : ) Start collecting!!!
PTC NEWS…….. FALL BOXTOP COMPETITION………. WOW….. way to go Georgetown! We collected 12,026 Box Tops and a check for $1,202.60 should come in December, woot woot! This was amazing!! We hope we can do this well in the spring too, so keep saving those Box Tops. Mr. Bowen’s class was the winning classroom with 1,705 Box Tops! They will be receiving a fall treat for winning. Thanks again for doing such a great job Georgetown students and thanks to the volunteers who helped count all of those Box Tops.
CASH FOR CLASS ………… Is coming up again!! Family Fare and D&W Fresh Market Cash for Class will be taking place during the week of NOVEMBER 17-23. Purchases made with your ‘yes’ card will be credited to Georgetown Elementary. You will need to “link” your yes card to Georgetown Elementary at www.myyesrewards.com. If you’re not a ‘yes’ member yet you can sign up at www.myyesrewards.com and pick up your ‘yes’ card at the customer service desk. The money raised is used for many classroom activities including field trips and assemblies. This is a great way to earn money for our school!!
ALL FOR BOOKS COIN WAR………..
The All For Books Coin War tallies are in………. drum roll please…….. the UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN was the WINNER!!!! The University of Michigan weighed in at 143 pounds. Michigan State University weighed in at 139 pounds. Georgetown students are simply amazing……… they raised $1800.00 that will be used to purchase new books for our school and help those in need who are not able to buy books!! WAY TO GO GEORGETOWN!!!
COMMUNITY NEWS……… HUDSONVILLE HOLIDAY PARADE…….. This year is the 2oth Anniversary for the Hudsonville Holiday Parade! Wow!! The parade will take place on Saturday, November 23 at 10:00 am. The parade route runs along 32nd Ave, starting at Highland Drive and going north to Central Boulevard ending at the Fire Station. There will be activities, crafts and games for the family and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There might even be some reindeer?? This is a great way to kick off the Holiday season and we hope to see a lot of you there!
BMS PRESENTS SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE……….. Baldwin Street Middle School is proud to announce and invite you to their first musical, Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr. Performances will be Friday, November 22 at 7:00pm and Saturday, November 23 at 4:00pm in the Hudsonville High School Auditorium. This production is based on the popular television series of the 1970s and 1980s and is very kid friendly. Tickets are $6.00 each, reserved seating and are available in the main office at BMS and will also be available (1) hour prior to each performance at the door. Come out, enjoy some family friendly time and support your local middle school!
THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS ASSISTANCE…….. The year has gone by quickly and we at Love In the Name of Christ are preparing for the holiday season. Even though the economy has improved – there are still many families in need. We offer Thanksgiving and Christmas Assistance to struggling families that either live in our service area of Jenison, Hudsonville, and Grandville, attend a church participating with Love INC, or attend a school in our service area. If you are aware of a family that could use assistance, please feel free to pass on the attached forms. The applications are also available at the Love INC office (Monday through Friday 9 am – 4 pm), 3300 Van Buren, Hudsonville, or on our website: loveinthenameofchrist.org. The Thanksgiving application must completed and returned in no later than NOVEMBER 7. The Christmas application must be completed and returned no later than NOVEMBER 14. The applications are attached here…….. Christmas Assistance App 2 Thanksgiving Assistance App 2
COMMUNITY ED NEWS……….. 
Hudsonville Community Education has many offerings for your kids. For more information or to register, please visit www.hudsonvillepublicschools.org or call Rebecca at 669-7747, ext. #3. Listed below are some of the activities that are available currently.
BOYS 3rd-6th GRADE BASKETBALL……HUDSONVILLE MYWA WRESTLING…….GYMNASTICS/DANCE/CHEER…….HEAT SWIM TEAM……..LEARN TO ICE SKATE……. INTRO TO HOCKEY
Upcoming Winter Activities to be on the lookout for……….. ROCK THE GYM…… BASEBALL CLINICS…….. SOCCER………TAE KWON DO…….. JR. EAGLES BASKETBALL…… COOKING CLASSES…….. GUITAR CLINIC
UPCOMING DATES
11/12 ~ PTC Meeting 6:30pm
11/17 – 11/23 ~ Cash for Class at Family Fare/D & W
11/20 ~ Marco’s Pizza Night
11/27 -11/29 ~ Thanksgiving Break
12/3 ~ Holiday Program (Grades K-2 @ 6:30p; Grades 3-5 @ 7:45p)
12/4 – 12/6 ~ Holiday Shop
12/6 ~ Popcorn Friday
12/10 ~ Jet’s Pizza Night
12/18 ~ Marco’s Pizza Night
12/20 ~ Classroom Holiday Parties
12/23 – 1/3 ~ Holiday Break
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!! Mrs. Nurenberg : )
Mom’s In Touch: New Location
We are excited to announce that we have a church that is able to accommodate our prayer group AND offer child care! We will now meet at New Hope Lutheran Church 3232 Port Sheldon Ct. Hudsonville, MI 49426.
We will still meet the first and third Thursdays of the month. November 7will be our first meeting at New Hope Lutheran. Hope to see you then!
In Prayer-
Renae Bell
