Central Woodlands

Dear CW Families,

We're looking forward to celebrating the season at CW's Harvest Festival! On the afternoon of Friday, October 30, students will celebrate autumn with fall-themed activities and treats in their classrooms. The CW Harvest Festival will take place in classrooms at various afternoon times on 10/30, depending on each team's academic and Specials schedule. (As several of our K-4 elementary schools hold an all-school event, it's important to note that at CW, there is not a school-wide time for all classroom parties, nor is there a school-wide event such as an all-school parade.)

Student costumes - for the afternoon only - are allowable and also completely optional.

IMPORTANT: costume guidelines for school:

• All costume types must allow for students to be easily identified for safety purposes (for instance, full-face masks or large inflatable-type costumes that cover the entire head should not come to school.)

• Of course, all costumes must also be school-appropriate (not scary/gory, not suggestive, no weapons.)

• If a student chooses to bring a costume to wear at school in the afternoon on 10/31, it should be quick and easy for a student to change into (without time-taking makeup, with no need for extensive wardrobe preparations, etc.)​ T​eachers will provide students with a costume-changing time.

Please reach out to your child's teacher or me with any questions. Thank you!

~Amy (Mrs. Major)

October 16-19 Fall Break! No School for Students (Staff Professional Learning on 10/16)

Oct 29 6th Grade Band & Orchestra Rehearsal 2:30. Students must bring instruments to school.

November 6 5th Grade Hearing/Vision Screening

Hearing and vision screenings for children in Michigan are mandated by the Michigan Public Health

Code (Act 368 of 1978) and are provided to all children at no charge through local public health

departments.

Central Woodlands will be conducting screenings November 6 during school. Please read the attached Parent Letter from the Kent County Health Department. Email your teacher or the office if you have any specific concerns regarding your student's vision or hearing.

Trip Dates by Class:

October 21 = Biller/Stiles Hills/Sybenga

October 22 = Homrich/Johnson/White Traughber/Buchinger

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

Apply Here!

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!

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!

*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.

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.

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.

ODYSSEY OF THE MIND - it's not too late! Sign-ups are still being accepted for students who love to build cool stuff, perform, write stories, or otherwise use their limitless imagination. Click here for the form to sign up ASAP. Need more information? Contact your OM Coordinator, Marti Atwater, at matwater@fhps.net.

Please also include the approved FH Robotics message for the next two weeks (through October 16) and, if possible, put it on the school calendar, too.

BIKE DRIVE

The COMETS - your Forest Hills high school FIRST Robotics students - are again seeking donations of adult bicycles (26" or larger wheel) in almost any condition. We have supported Upcycle Bikes, a Grand Rapids non-profit organization, since its founding. (See Robotics is about building community' FHS robotics team continues giving back and Robotics students provide smooth bike rides for refugees and youth in need - School News Network | A Window into Your Public Schools) Bicycles are refurbished and then provided by Upcycle at no cost to those in need of transportation. Help us help Upcycle by bringing your bikes to the Fine Arts Center on Saturday, October 17 (1:00 - 3:00) or Sunday, October 18 (3:00 - 5:00). If you can't make it on those dates but have a bike to donate, please email marti.atwater@fhrobotics.org to arrange a pickup time. Thank you for your support!

• FHC Pom & Dance Clinic: Saturday, Oct. 24, FHC gym. The clinic is for grades JK-6th grade; registration is $55 per student. Students will learn dance techniques, receive a t-shirt, create a craft project, and more. All proceeds benefit FHC’s Pom & Dance team to travel to the national competition in Orlando. The morning session runs from 9:45 a.m.-1 p.m. and the afternoon session runs from 1:45-5 p.m. For more information and to register, go to fhcdanceteam.ludus.com/200540380.

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