Greetings!

It is an exciting time of the year in the work of Cedar Springs Public Schools. Students are learning at a feverish pace in classrooms throughout the district. The spring musical, band concerts, and athletic competitions keep things hopping at both the middle and high schools regularly after classes end. We want to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of our parents and families as they support our students during this busy time of the school year. Our students couldn’t experience the success they do without help from home.

While we remain focused on the current school year, we have started looking ahead at planning for the 2025-2026 school year. The enrollment window will open later this month for students who will start school for the first time next fall. Counselors and students at the high school and middle school will soon be scheduling classes for next year. We are reviewing our staffing plan and will begin posting our vacant positions shortly. We are working to get a head start on our hiring process to find the best people to support our students, families and staff next year. Lastly, we are making great progress on the last of several facility upgrades paid for by the construction bond passed in August 2020.

If you have experienced the construction of an addition to your home, you will be able to relate to how interesting it can be to have construction occurring in the place you live. Students and staff at Beach Elementary School have had the unique opportunity to watch the progress made on the new academic wing in real time. Major construction projects will continue to impact the Beach site for the next 6 months. The new sections of the building will welcome students, staff and families in August 2025. We will do everything possible to minimize the impact of this work on classroom instruction.

Watching our students heat things in the classroom, on the court and under the lights on the stage has been rewarding. We look forward to watching student learning, daily attendance and the outside temperatures steadily increase over the next six weeks. It continues to be a great time to be Red Hawks!

With respect and appreciation,

Scott B. Smith

Superintendent of Schools

Feb. 3-7

Class Scheduling Begins for High School Students (9-11 Grades)

Feb. 5-6

WIDA Testing for Cedar Trails and Cedar View EL Students

Feb. 6-7

WIDA Testing for Middle School EL Students

Friday, Feb. 7

Seal of Biliteracy Testing HS Students

Athletic Hall of Fame Event (More Information Below)

Saturday, Feb. 8

Snowcoming Dance for HS Students

High School from 7-10 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 11

High School Band Concert

High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. (Free to Attend)

Wednesday, Feb. 12

Count Day

Feb. 14-17
Midwinter Break

Feb. 19-20

WIDA Testing for Beach EL Students

Feb. 26-March 7

WIDA Testing for High School EL Students

Cedar Springs senior Ian VanderLugt is turning his passion for filmmaking into reality! Inspired by films like "Ratatouille" and "Knives Out", Ian has been hard at work creating his first feature film, "Screw Your Neighbor", set to premiere this May at Kent Theatre.

From his start in TV Production class to winning awards for short films and podcasts, Ian is proving that dedication and creativity can lead to incredible opportunities. His story is one of passion, drive and storytelling magic!

Join us on Friday, Feb. 7, for our Hall of Fame Meet and Greet! This special event is open to everyone, and light snacks will be provided as we celebrate and honor our incredible inductees.

Meet and Greet: Before the game
Game Times: Girls Varsity at 6 p.m. | Boys Varsity at 7:30 p.m.
Acknowledgment Ceremony: During the games

Both Varsity teams will be playing, so come out to cheer on our Red Hawks and be part of this memorable evening. We can’t wait to see you there!

Our Young 5s students have been learning all about birds over the past couple of weeks!

They discovered how challenging it is for birds to find food during the winter and decided to help out by making bird feeders. The class had so much fun watching their feeders attract visitors, including chickadees, a downy woodpecker and a cardinal!

These inquisitive and kindhearted Young 5s Red Hawks are not only learning about nature but also making a positive impact in their world.

Mark your calendars for upcoming spring conferences in our district:

• Cedar Trails Elementary: March 10 and 12
• Beach Elementary: March 11 and 13
• Cedar View Elementary: March 10 and 13
• Middle School Conferences: February 10 and 12
• High School Success Conferences: March 19 and 20

More specific information will be communicated in building newsletters and emails. We look forward to connecting with families to support student success!

Each year, Cedar Springs Public Schools publishes its Annual Education Report (AER) on the MiSchoolData website, making it accessible to parents and the public. This report provides a comprehensive look at our district's performance and progress.

To view the report:

• Visit our website or go to MiSchoolData.org.

• Navigate to K-12 Grade → School Accountability → Annual Education Report.

The report includes valuable information such as:

• Educator qualifications

• Student assessment data

• Accountability metrics (assessment proficiency, participation, graduation and attendance rates)

• Civil rights information about the school environment

A paper copy of the report is also available upon request at the District Office. To request a copy, please contact our Academic Services Department.

The 2024-2025 Annual Education Report for Cedar Springs Public Schools will be available later this month.

As a reminder, we will notify families of weather-related delays or cancellations through email and text messages using the contact information we have on file. To opt in for text messages, simply text “Yes” to 79041. We also share updates on our District Facebook page, website and local news stations so everyone can be informed.

If needed, you can verify and update your contact information at the main office of your child’s school.

In January, we experienced an issue with our text messaging service, but we’ve been informed that the problem has been resolved. To ensure everyone has access to important updates, we share information across multiple platforms (website, district Facebook and local news sources).

At Cedar Springs Public Schools, safety is our top priority. We follow the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to ensure clear and effective responses to various situations. Here’s a quick overview of the five key responses:

Hold – “In Your Classroom or Area”
Used when hallways need to remain clear, but normal classroom instruction continues.
Examples: Medical emergency, fight in the hallway, unexpected fire alarm.

Secure – “Get Inside, Lock Outside Doors”
Initiated when a threat or hazard is outside the building. Exterior doors are locked, and students remain inside.
Examples: Unknown person on school grounds, dangerous animal, nearby criminal activity.

Lockdown – “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight”
Used when a threat is inside the building. All interior doors are locked, lights are off, and students/staff stay out of sight.
Examples: Dangerous intruder inside the school.

Evacuate – “To a Location”
Students and staff move to a safe, designated location on or off campus.
Examples: Fire, bomb threat, large-scale hazmat incident, power outage.

Shelter – “State Hazard and Safety Strategy”
Used when protective measures are needed due to environmental hazards.
Examples: Tornado, severe weather, flooding, hazmat spill.

By practicing and understanding these protocols, we ensure a safe and prepared school community. Thank you for partnering with us in keeping our students and staff safe!

As the days get shorter, some children and teens may experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression common in fall and winter. In our latest newsletter, discover how to recognize symptoms, foster resilience and support your child's well-being with tips on open communication, bright environments, physical activity and maintaining a healthy routine. Stay engaged and connected—simple changes can make a big difference!

If you need support for any life concern, call today to utilize the FREE counseling sessions provided by the Red Hawks Care School Assistance Program. Call 800-442-0809 and press 1 to schedule an appointment.