The Weekly Update #4

As we continue navigating winter's icy grip, I'd like to address a topic that remains relevant this season: snow days. We have used all of our allotted six inclement weather days. While we are hopeful we won't have any additional inclement weather days, we are still aware of the potential. Should we exceed this number, I will soon outline potential options for "make-up" days. While I understand the excitement that a snow day can bring, please know that these decisions are made with careful deliberation. Declaring a snow day involves a thorough and thoughtful process. We balance the hazards of travel in unsafe weather conditions against the value of classroom instruction and routine. This process includes consulting the National Weather Service, coordinating with neighboring districts, assessing road safety, and considering the impact on families and childcare. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Ensuring a secure learning environment extends to making sure travel to and from school is safe for everyone. Holding classes during severe weather can lead to distractions and less effective teaching, hindering the educational process. We appreciate your understanding and patience in these situations. While snow days may cause inconvenience and scheduling challenges, our primary goal remains to prioritize safety and foster a conducive learning atmosphere. Looking ahead, we will continue to monitor weather conditions carefully and make well-informed, timely decisions about snow days, communicating through our established channels.

As we celebrate National School Board Recognition Month this January, I want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to our dedicated school board members. Their tireless commitment and unwavering dedication play a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape of our community. These individuals volunteer their time and resources to make crucial decisions that profoundly impact the future of our students and schools. Their service is often behind the scenes but is integral to our collective success. Let's take a moment to recognize and thank them for their invaluable contributions in guiding the course of education in our community.

As we pass the midpoint of the school year, it is inspiring to witness our students excelling both academically and in their community and school engagements. We are fortunate to have an exceptional team of teachers and support staff – among the finest any district could hope for. Our bus drivers deserve special recognition for their dedicated care of our students, skillfully navigating challenging routes in often adverse weather conditions with unwavering safety. Additionally, our administrative team consistently goes above and beyond to uphold the exceptional standards of Hudsonville.

I feel immensely grateful to work alongside such an incredible staff across our district, and I hope you share this sentiment of appreciation. Thank you for your continued support of Hudsonville Public Schools.

Dr. VanderJagt

Superintendent

To increase traffic safety in our district, we have added school zone radar feedback signs at seven of our school locations across the school district. These new signs were installed in high-speed traffic zone areas. The new signs are located in school zones near Baldwin Street Middle School/Georgetown Elementary, Riley Street Middle School/Jamestown Upper Elementary, Bauer Elementary, Alward Elementary, The 5/6 Building @ Georgetown, Forest Grove Elementary, and Jamestown Lower Elementary.

These signs have been proven to slow down vehicle traffic and improve the overall safety on the roads for our students, staff, and families. So be on the lookout for these visual reminders to help our community continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our children.

First graders at Forest Grove Elementary took a learning trip to Antarctica! Brrrrr! Students participated in a multi-disciplinary learning experience involving math, reading, and science. They worked on measuring, comparing, ordering, and graphing by comparing their heights to penguins. They learned about the Rockhopper and King penguins and gathered field notes on various animal and geographic features. Students were also connected with non-fiction reading and text features and creatively designed individual snowsuits to prepare them for the extreme temperatures of the South Pole. Michigan is not the only place to experience arctic blasts of extremely chilly winter weather this January!

Open House:

Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Early Childhood Center, 5535 School Ave. (main entrance off Madison Ave.)

This is a chance to gather information about our programs, meet staff, and visit the Early Childhood Center. There is no formal presentation and children are welcome.

Programs:

• 3 Year Old Preschool

• 4 Year Old Preschool, including 4 Year Old “PreK for All” FREE Preschool

• Before/After School Care

• Summer Care

Online Registration:

Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 12:00 p.m.

Registration link at hudsonvillepublicschools.org

A $50 fee per child is due if enrolling in a tuition-based program.

For more information, please email eccoffice@hpseagles.net or call the Early Childhood office at 616-797-0842, ext. 1.

We are thrilled to announce that four students from The 5/6 Building @ Georgetown STEAM classes were selected to represent our district at the Student Technology Showcase in Lansing this month! The event highlights the incredible work of young innovators as they demonstrate their skills and creativity in computer science, engineering, and design.

The showcase, which takes place during Computer Science Education Week, provides a unique opportunity for students to present their projects to the broader community. From coding and robotics to digital art and app development, projects from schools across the state reflect the exciting ways students apply computer science concepts to solve real-world problems.

The event aims to increase awareness about the importance of computer science education and how it prepares students for the future. Attendees saw firsthand how our STEAM curriculum fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and technical expertise in the next generation of learners. Special guests at the Hudsonville table included State Representative Bradley Slagh, District Director David Chhum, and the President of AT&T Michigan, David Lewis. The sixth-grade students represented Hudsonville well.

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors - Spark Business Works and J’s Wearable Canvas, for sending the students in style with new t-shirts for the occasion.

We are excited to announce a new academic opportunity for our students beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. Both Baldwin and Riley Street Middle Schools will offer a dedicated section of Algebra I (Advanced) for 8th-grade students who meet the eligibility criteria.

This initiative aligns with one of our strategic plan (SOAR V) goals: Investigate increased opportunities for advanced learners. During our strategic planning process, feedback from students, staff, parents, and administrators emphasized a strong desire to expand advanced academic opportunities for our learners.

Middle school families have already received an email outlining additional details so be sure to check your inbox. We are dedicated to creating opportunities that meet the diverse needs of all our learners and are looking forward to supporting those ready to excel in an advanced math curriculum.

Congratulations to Maddie Bush who rehearsed and performed with our Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association's All State Middle School Band! This group met in the beautiful DeVos Convention Center, rehearsed and performed Saturday, January 25.

Maddie was one of over 2700 applicants to the All State Groups (middle and high school) and was our first Baldwin Street Middle School student to attend/perform since 2015.

The HHS Student Council had a very successful blood drive on January 10. They collected a total of 94 units, which exceeded their goal. There were 111 donors, and 29 of them were first time donors. The amount of blood collected could save approximately 244 lives in our community. We are so proud of our students for the dedication and generosity. Congratulations to student council for making these incredible events possible.

On November 9, 2024, Laurie Stein was recognized as the Hourly Employee of the Year by the School Nutrition Association of Michigan. This prestigious award highlighted Laurie's exceptional contributions at Jenison and Hudsonville Public Schools.

Laurie is our Cold Prep staff member at Hudsonville Central Kitchen. She prepares cold food for our schools (just like her job title indicates).

On an average week, Laurie prepares almost 80 gallons of our delicious homemade ranch dressing every week. During watermelon season, on Wednesdays and Fridays, Laurie will cut a minimum of 60 watermelons. Remember that 30 watermelons will fit into the giant bins you see in a grocery store. Laurie can wash, peel, dice, and pan up the watermelon faster by hand than

if she used a food processor!

Laurie also prepares homemade items for our menus every week of the year, such as bean salad, coleslaw, winter salad, fiesta corn salad, homemade Pico de Gallo, tropical fruit salad with fresh Michigan blueberries, and fresh-cut kiwi. Laurie is up for any task. She is always willing to help her coworkers, and she acts as a mentor to new employees. Laurie works catering events with our department, making everything she does look effortless. Laurie is habitually in a good mood and very understanding of the needs of others.

She is highly effective at the “prep” part of her cold prep job. In the food service department, it is not uncommon for staff members to switch duties or places. Team members can always seamlessly step into Laurie's duties because her work areas are consistently organized, her food products are ready, her pans are in order, and her paperwork is prepared.

We know in the next five (hopefully longer!) years, she will be retiring, and her position will be very challenging to fill. Her attitude, skill set, and demeanor are top-notch and make her so valuable to our team. Congratulations, Laurie! Keep up the incredible work.

The kindergarten students at Park Elementary enjoyed a gingerbread-themed week filled with fun and learning. They explored different versions of gingerbread stories and read simple emergent books to boost their reading skills. The kids practiced addition and subtraction by engaging in gingerbread-themed problems. Parents were then invited to join in on the fun by helping their children build gingerbread houses using graham crackers and various candies. This activity brought out the holiday spirit and encouraged creativity and family bonding.