April - Red Hawk Monthly
April 2025
Greetings!
With Spring Break 2025 soon to be in the rearview mirror, the students and staff at Cedar Springs Public Schools see a clear path ahead to the finish line. With roughly eight weeks of school remaining, the pace of learning and life accelerates from now through the end of the school year. Students and teachers recognize the scope of the challenges and opportunities on the horizon as they enter the final stretch of the 2024-2025 school year. Together, we are up for the challenge.
In addition to the work being completed by our students and staff, we have several teams of contractors on campus, making great progress on our bond construction projects. Visitors to campus this spring will see significant signs of active construction at Beach Elementary School and at the High School. Triangle Construction and their army of contractors are making great progress at both job sites. These two projects are currently on schedule and running under budget.
We are replacing the original three academic wings at Beach Elementary with an efficiently designed two-story wing. The new design of the school successfully incorporates the original gymnasium and the cafeteria, as well as several classrooms that were added in the early 9'0s. We are adding a weight room and a multi-purpose area for fitness and athletic programs on the East end of the High School near the stadium entrance. We are also replacing the tennis courts at the High School. Our existing courts had become unplayable, as they could no longer be properly maintained with surface patches and seam repairs.
Cedar Springs Public Schools has much to be thankful for this spring. We must acknowledge the members of our community committed to making Cedar Springs Public Schools a place where each of our talented students can thrive. We know none of these things are possible without a supportive community. Strong communities build strong schools, and strong schools build stronger communities.
We can. We will. We are. TOGETHER!
With respect and gratitude,
Scott B. Smith, Superintendent
April 3-11
Spring Break
Tuesday, April 15
M-STEP testing begins for grades 3-8 and 11
Mandatory 8th grade East Coast Parent Meeting in the MS Cafeteria, 6-8 p.m.
Wednesday, April 16
PSAT 8 for 8th graders
Thursday, April 17
PSAT 9/10 & SAT (seniors on job shadow, college visit, community event, etc.
Wednesday, April 23
Forever Red Hawks, Event for Community Members 55+, 8:30-10 a.m. at the High School
Thursday, April 24
Preschool 'Here I Come' Open House Event, 4:15-5:45 p.m. at the Early Childhood Center
High School Students Poetry Slam at 6 p.m. in the High School Auditorium (free event)
Friday, April 25
Half Day for Students
Preschool 'Here I Come' Open House Event, 9-11 a.m. at the Early Childhood Center
High School Prom, 8-11 p.m. at the Frederick Meijer Gardens
Cedar Springs High School marching band members recently took their talents to Disney World and Universal Studios as part of Disney’s Imagination Campus program. About 70 students participated, performing a parade on Main Street USA in front of thousands of spectators and taking part in a movie soundtrack workshop at Universal Studios.
For drum majors Avery Colombo and Isabella Galperin, the experience was unforgettable. “It was a huge honor to perform there,” said Isabella.
Read more about their incredible journey on School News Network!
We invite our senior community members to join us for a special morning of connection and celebration at Cedar Springs High School! Enjoy coffee and social time, meet with our students, and experience firsthand what makes Cedar Springs Public Schools extraordinary.
Date: Wednesday, April 23 | 8:30 a.m.
Location: Cedar Springs High School
RSVP today!
Email: communications@csredhawks.org
Call: 616-696-1200 x1014
Come celebrate the legacy and impact of our Forever Red Hawks! ❤️
Before our state test administration, district and building assessment coordinators must communicate a policy for using electronic devices by students and staff during testing.
During testing, the Michigan Department of Education does not allow students to have electronic devices with them (including wearable technology like FitBits, Apple watches, etc.). Please make sure you take the time to review our Electronic Device Policy for the 2024-2025 school year before testing.
If you have any questions or concerns about the policy, contact the main office in the building where your student attends.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to recognize the critical importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. Cedar Spring Public Schools stands united with others across the nation in honoring our children, the future they represent, and the collective efforts we can make every day to ensure that they have the safe, loving childhood they deserve.
Throughout the month of April, you’ll notice blue and silver pinwheels displayed around our campus. These pinwheels are more than just a decoration; they symbolize the health, happiness and bright futures that all children deserve.
The purpose of National Child Abuse Prevention Month is to raise awareness about the importance of child protection and the role that each of us plays in strengthening families and communities. By supporting prevention services and initiatives, we can help parents, caregivers, and communities create safe, nurturing environments for children to thrive.
At Cedar Spring Public Schools, we are committed to doing our part to protect and support the well-being of every child. Together, we can create a brighter, safer future for all children.
Thank you for your ongoing support in making our community a place where children can grow up healthy, happy and loved.
Give your little one a fun, engaging and nurturing start to their learning journey! Our preschool programs help kids grow, explore and make new friends while building a love for learning.
Don’t wait! Visit our website to learn more about how to enroll today!
We can’t wait to welcome your little Red Hawk!
We’re excited to offer our Red Hawk families the first chance to register for Campus Kids Summer Session before we open it to the general public! Spots fill up fast every year, so be sure to register today to secure your child’s spot.
Program Details:
Summer Session: June 11–August 14*
Location: Early Childhood Center
Hours: Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–6 p.m.
Registration Fee: $100
Daily Rate: $50
T-Shirt Fee: $10
*Campus Kids will be closed on July 3 & 4.
At Campus Kids, students will enjoy a summer filled with friends, fun activities and unexpected learning! Registration includes breakfast and an afternoon snack daily, plus a hot lunch Monday–Thursday (students must bring a cold lunch on Fridays).
Register for Campus Kids Summer
At Cedar Springs Public Schools, student safety is always a top priority—including beyond the classroom. With more than half of U.S. gun owners storing firearms unlocked, it’s important to raise awareness about safe and responsible gun storage at home.
Why It Matters:
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Suicide Prevention: Access to unsecured firearms can be deadly during a mental health crisis.
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Theft: Stolen firearms are often used in crimes. Secure storage helps prevent theft from homes and vehicles.
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Unintentional Injuries: Children are at risk when firearms are left unlocked. Safe storage saves lives.
Safe Storage Tips:
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Store all guns unloaded in a locked box or gun safe
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Use cable or trigger locks as an extra layer of protection
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Keep ammunition in a separate, locked container
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Choose safes with combination or fingerprint access
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Lock firearms securely in vehicles when traveling
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Always keep firearms under physical control when not locked away
Home Safety Reminders:
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Ask guests to store their firearms safely while visiting your home
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Temporarily remove firearms from the home if someone is in crisis
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Talk with other parents about gun safety in their homes
Teaching Kids About Gun Safety:
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Teach children never to touch a gun and to tell an adult immediately if they see one
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Have open conversations about firearms and safety, especially if your child shows curiosity
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Consider the influence of media, video games and social platforms in sparking interest in guns
Additional Reminders:
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Safely dispose of unwanted firearms through local law enforcement
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Treat all firearms as if they are loaded
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Apply the same precautions to BB guns, paintball guns, and pellet guns
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Michigan Law Update: Under Public Act 17 of 2023, firearms must be unloaded and locked if a minor is likely to be present in the home
Thank you for helping us keep all Red Hawks safe—at school, at home and in our community.
About 30 million children participate in USDA’s school breakfast and lunch programs on an average school day. When school is out for the summer, kids lose access to these healthy meals, but they still need nutritious food to grow healthy and strong.
Michigan offers SUN Bucks, a summer grocery benefit that provides eligible school-aged children $120, so you can stretch your grocery budget and buy more of the foods your children love! SUN Bucks is designed to work together with other benefits your family may already receive, like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children).
Families will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks if they are already enrolled in SNAP, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) benefits or meet the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals. In other words, keep an eye out for $120 per child at the beginning of summer!
Families that are not automatically enrolled should apply for SUN Bucks directly. The application is available online!
If we only do things we're already good at, we miss out on the sheer joy of learning, experimenting, and just playing. Turns out that engaging in activities we're not great at can actually improve our well-being in surprising ways:
- It builds resilience and lowers fear of failure.
- It brings joy and strengthens social bonds.
- It encourages play and creativity.