Central Woodlands

Central Woodlands Students and Staff will observe Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 10. (NOTE: due to scheduling, we're celebrating a day early, as the national holiday falls on 11/11.) An all-school assembly will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the CW Gym on 11/10. CW family members are invited to join us for this observance, and any family members who have served in the Armed Forces are encouraged to attend in uniform as our honored guests. Students may also invite these honored veteran guests to join them for lunch following the assembly. School lunch will be provided for our honored guests, along with dessert, cocoa, and coffee.

Lunch times are as follows: 6th Grade... 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and 5th Grade... 12:30-1:00 p.m. Students should let their classroom teacher know if a veteran family member plans to attend the assembly and/or lunch.

All CW Students are invited to create a Google slide highlighting Veteran family member(s) - one slide per Veteran - regardless of whether that veteran family member can attend our school observance. Students' slides are being compiled into a Google presentation for the CW Veterans Day Assembly! Students' slides are due by the end of the day on Friday 11/6; please share with Ms. Smith: aismith@fhps.net

We are grateful to all those who have served or are actively serving in the military, and we look forward to honoring our veterans at school on Tuesday, November 10!

~Amy (Mrs. Major)

A Safer, Simpler Check-In

When you visit any FHPS school during the school day, there are two important things to remember:

1. Always enter through the main entrance and check in with the office staff.

2. If your visit will take you beyond the main office, for example, to volunteer or read to a class, bring a valid government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or state ID.

If you’ll be going beyond the office, here’s what to expect when you arrive:

• Enter the secure vestibule area inside the main school entrance. Press the security door buzzer, and proceed to the main office. Scan your ID using the designated iPad and follow the directions posted at each iPad kiosk. If you need assistance, an office member can help you.

• Scan your ID at the kiosk each time you visit.

• The system reads your name, photo, and date of birth from your ID. It then runs a brief background check against the sex offender registry and any flags or local alerts entered by school personnel.

• Once you’re cleared, the kiosk prints a visitor sticker. Visitors must wear their sticker where staff can easily see it throughout their visit, so staff knows you’re an approved visitor.

• Before you leave, return your sticker to the front office and quickly scan out.

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The entire check-in process typically takes less than 30 seconds.

Not every visit requires scanning in. If you’re stopping by briefly to drop off or pick up a student, or to make a delivery, you won’t need to use the system.

Most importantly, remember to bring your government-issued ID every time you plan to go beyond the school office. Our front office staff is always willing to assist. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe and welcoming for everyone.

November 9: Early Release Day (Dismissal at 1:45 p.m.)

November 10: Veteran's Day Assembly and Luncheon for Honored Guests (There wil be a PAPER Sign in for guests)

November 17: Orchestra Performance-7 PM @ CHS

November 19: Choir Performance- 7 PM @ CHS

November 25-27: Thanksgiving Holiday, No School

Calling all PRIDE Pup fans! Our PRIDE Pup sWAG sale is here, and it’s the paw-fect way to show some love for the four-footed friends who brighten our schools. Choose from cozy hoodies, crewnecks, tees, totes, and hats, with youth and adult sizes for the whole pack. Rep your favorite pup, or grab the design featuring the whole crew! Support KAI and the FHPS PRIDE Pup program! All proceeds go directly back to our school support dog program. Shop by Nov. 30 at grmifullypromoted.chipply.com/pridepupspopup. Have it shipped, or pick it up at your school. It also makes a great holiday gift!

FHPS is excited to have a working dog at CW. FHPS PRIDE Pups are a beloved part of our staff. They support students' academic and social-emotional well-being.

If students want to say hello to Kai, they must ask the handler first! He is excited to be back to work!

Work at your child's school! 1 day, 2 days, everyday! Days are flexible!

We are hiring for Lunch/Recess Aides- 2 hours a day!

Apply Here!

Dear Ranger Families,

We are excited to kick off our Ranger community fundraiser and to continue our relationship with Family Promise of West Michigan next week! Central High has been partnering with Family Promise for over 25 years and helping support our community to end homelessness one family at a time. Our Ranger community has been the primary supporter of their holiday store event, which provides toys and gifts during the holiday season. With our fundraising efforts, we are able to help provide a holiday experience for over 120 kids and 80 adults each year. For over 15 years, families have been able to come and shop the holiday store to pick out gifts for their children. All is made possible by the efforts of our Ranger families.

Last year our Rangers raised $27,400 to support Family Promise of West Michigan. Family Promise is seeing a greater need this year and has more families to support. There are currently over 4000 homeless children in Grand Rapids, and on any given night, 40 to 50 kids and their families require emergency housing (shelters). This fantastic organization helps families get back on their feet by providing resources and aftercare support. Check out their website here and watch this video.

The collection will take place from October 23rd to November 1st. We know that not everyone can help, but if your family can give any small amount, it all adds up to help us reach our goal. Online donations can be made directly on their donation page or through their Venmo with this link or the QR code below. All donations with a check made out directly to Family Promise or digital donations through their website or Venmo are tax-deductible.

If you donate online on their website or through Venmo, please put Forest Hills and the name of your school. The winning elementary school will be joined by our Men’s and Women’s basketball teams during recess!

Venmo donations can be made through the QR code below or the link provided. https://venmo.com/u/Familypromisegr

Thank you for your generosity and support!

Jonathan Haga

Principal of Central High School

Should any cancellations occur, we will use SchoolMessenger text and email, and the bus ride app to communicate a cancellation. It is also posted on the FHPS website.

We made this video when our school got a new parking lot a few years back. The traffic flow remains the same, several years later! Please review the helpful CW dismissal video below to ensure a safe and smooth pickup! Share with your carpool and any friends or family members who will pick up your child from school, too!

Email: cwattendance@fhps.net

or call 616-493-8798 (24 hour attendance voicemail)

You must notify the Office (not the student's teacher) if someone not listed

as an emergency contact will be picking up your student early for any reason.

We can not release students to anyone not listed in PowerSchool.

If you need to pick up your student prior to 3:45 dismissal, please call or email the attendance line. If it is an emergency, notify the office as soon as possible (not the child's teacher).

There will be no early dismissal passes given after 3:30.

We are still looking for two very important committee chairs - Conference Meals & Staff Appreciation Week! We would love to have these filled asap to ensure they don’t get missed.

Sign Up Here

• November 19, 2026
• December 10, 2026
• January 21, 2027
• February 18, 2027
• March 18, 2027
• April 22, 2027
• May 20, 2207

Fill out a volunteer form to help in classrooms, work with the PTO, or go on field trips!

*School Begins - 8:45 a.m.

*Dismissal - 3:45 p.m.

First bell for students to enter school is at 8:35 a.m. Instruction begins daily at 8:45 a.m. Breakfast is served 8:35-8:45 a.m.

*Outdoor supervision is not provided prior to 8:30 a.m. or after 3:55 p.m.

Please see the attached guidance from our district nurses on when to keep your child home from school due to illness.

SchoolMessenger will be our primary method of communication with families. School Messenger alerts will be sent to you via email. You must "opt in" to recieve text messages.

Opt-in to receive SMS messages from Forest Hills. Text “YES” to 67587 from the cell phone or mobile device we have in PowerSchool.

Go to the website for additional information.

Please take a moment to check your response in the Media Release section of PowerSchool under student forms. Your child's teacher, principal, and the district would love to keep sharing these glimpses into the incredible learning happening in our classrooms every day. However, if you select "no" in this section, neither the teacher, the school, nor district can share information or photographs of learning, student engagement, and much more. Should you have any questions about the media release statement in PowerSchool, please connect with your student's teacher, building principal, or the district's communication office, Elizabeth Brink, communications director, ebrink@fhps.net or Isabella Giannakopoulos, communications specialist, igiannakopoulos@fhps.net.

6th Grade Students will need a Music Shirt (Band, Orchestra, and Choir) for performances. They will be for sale in the office for $10.

Recorders for 5th grade students can be purchased in the office. Please see the attached family letter from Mr. G.

Please add the following dates to your family calendar.

Performances in the evening are at the Fine Arts Center at 600 Forest Hills Ave SE.

Times: 6:30 PM Students arrive

7:00 PM Concert begins

Concert Dates: November 2, 2026, 6th grade band's First Performance Concert.

February 9, 2027 Collage Concert, 6-12th grade bands

May 19, 2027, Spring Concert with 6-8th grade bands

Full Band Rehearsals for the band are from 2:30- 3:30 PM in the Central Woodlands caf. All band classes join together as 1 full band. Students are to bring their wire music stands to school along with their instrument & music. The dates are Oct 29, Feb 4, & May 12.

Fittings Concert:The 6th grade band, choir, & orchestra perform a Fittings Concert during the morning of Thursday, March 11, 2027, in the CW gym performed only for 5th-gr classes. This is an in-school concert only for the students, faculty, & staff of Central Woodlands.

Concert Participation - Band is a performance-based class part of the school curriculum, so performances are mandatory & receive a grade for attendance. Band directors keep track of student concert attendance. Give your coaches, dance instructors, etc, advanced notice of the evening concert dates as they approach. Band concerts are part of the school curriculum, graded for participation, and required to attend. If your student will miss a concert, please email your student’s band director for the reason of the absence.

Electronic Devices

Students will not be allowed to carry or use cell phones during the school day, district-wide. Phones are available in the office should a student need to contact their parent/guardian. If families believe that their child needs access to a cell phone before or after school, it will be the student's responsibility to ensure that his/her phone remains powered-down and stored in a backpack/locker during school hours. This includes smart watches. Thank you, CW Families, for your support with this!

CW is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen personal electronic devices.

K-6 Student/Family Handbook

Our handbook provides a wealth of information including important annual notices from FHPS.

Families and students may access the handbook on www.fhps.net under "Students”.

Trips, Music Shirts, Library Fines

Please see the attached letter in regards to behavior expectations at athletic events.

Please visit the FHPS website for additional opportunities, information about other nonprofit organizations, and community flyers. The school district does not sponsor/endorse or otherwise take a position on non-profit entities that exist separately from FHPS. We simply provide this service to our community in an effort to inform them of events/activities that may be of interest to school-aged children.

Principal: Amy Burton-Major amajor@fhps.net

Website: https://www.fhps.net/5-6-buildings/central-woodlands/

Location: 400 Alta Dale Avenue SE Ada, MI 49301

Main Phone Line: 616-493-8790