April Elementary Schools Newsletter
April 2024
April 16-18 and April 23-25
Beach and Cedar View M-Step/MI-Access Testing
Friday, April 19
Half Day for Students
Friday, April 19
5th Grade Recruitment Concert at CSHS
April 24- 25
First-grade dance night at Cedar Trails with Ms. Davis
Thursday, April 25
Preschool Here I Come GSRP Open House
4:15-5:45 p.m. at the Early Childhood Center
Friday, April 26
Preschool Here I Come GSRP Open House
9-11 a.m. at the Early Childhood Center
Thursday, May 2
Drive Your Tractor to School (No Parade)
May 10 at 6:30
Cedar View and Beach 80's Themed Choir Concert
6:30 in the High School Auditorium
Adjusted School Calendar for End of School Year 2023-2024
In response to the unforeseen weather-related closures we've experienced, must revise our academic calendar for the remainder of the school year. We'll be utilizing our designated snow-day makeup dates, and we ask that you please note the following adjustments:
May 17, 2024: Full day of school
June 6, 2024: Half-day
June 7, 2024: Half-day
Testing Time is Upon Us
Now that spring has sprung, it is time for many of our state tests. Every Cedar View student will be taking the iReady test, M-Step, and end of year screeners. We try to spread them out throughout April and May, but know this amount of testing can bring added stress. Please encourage your student to do their best to show how much progress they've made this year.
2023-2024 Electronic Device Policy for State Testing
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 23-24 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.
Cedar View and Beach Choir Spring 80’s Concert
The Cedar View and Beach Choirs (grades 2-5) are excited to announce their spring choir concert on May 10 at 6:30 p.m., will be an '80s-themed event! Choir instructors Mr. Shutes and Mr. Theisen are preparing an authentic rock concert experience, complete with recorded backing tracks and live electric guitar performances.
Students will be embracing the theme by dressing in '80s attire, and we encourage all attendees to join in the fun by wearing their best '80s outfits. Your support in spreading the word would be greatly appreciated!
2024-2025 Enrollment Now Open at Cedar Springs Public Schools!
Kindergarten enrollment is open for children turning five by Dec. 1, 2024. Enroll easily online on our website. Interested in Young 5’s? Enroll and Cedar Trails Elementary will contact you with more info. If you need help or have additional questions contact our enrollment office at 616-696-1204 x1919.
Once enrolled, you'll receive an email to join our March/April kindergarten kick-off event at Cedar Trails Elementary. Kids will explore and learn, while parents meet our Principal, Scott Carpenter, and Assistant Principal, Cortney O’Brien, and discover more about our program.
We can't wait to welcome our new Kindergarten families!
Register for the Grand Rapids Academic Summer Program (GRASP)
Grand Rapids Academic Summer Program (GRASP) is a fun summer program for students from kindergarten to 8th grade. It helps our young scholars keep up with math and reading by giving them exercises to do. This means your student(s) can keep learning fun things even during summer!
Want to know more? Check out all the details by visiting GRASP's website. Join in and make your summer awesome with learning!
Cedar Trails Elementary News
Using our data to create positive change
Part of embracing multi-tiered systems of support is collecting data and using it to decide what can be done to create positive change. When there is a major behavior incident a referral form is filled out making note of the place, time, cause, day of the week, people affected etc. This information is stored in a program called SWIS (school wide information system). The PBIS team dives into this data multiple times a year to analyze where there are patterns and to create plans and goals to decrease behavior challenges.
The data tells us where, when, and why certain behaviors are happening so that we can try to make positive change in the climate of our building! We can also measure our growth to see if we’ve been successful in implementing our behavior strategies. It helps us focus on what really needs to be addressed. To the left is an example of just one of the many graphs we can analyze to determine which areas we should focus on. Data drives our work and helps us make Cedar Trails a positive place for all of our students!
Morning Drop Off at Trails
With the nice weather quickly approaching, this is a reminder that students must be supervised until the doors open at 8:50. There is no supervision for students before the beginning of school when the bell rings. Thank you for helping keep our students safe.
In addition, when using the drop off line, if you need to exit the vehicle to help your child with their belongings, please use a marked parking spot in the lot. This helps keep the line of traffic flowing.
Family Dance Night
Ms. Davis is hosting a family dance night again this year. This event will be happening at Cedar Trails in thy gymnasium the nights of April 24 and 25. Specific 1st grade teachers are assigned a specific night. Please be sure to check which night and time slot you child’s teacher is assigned to.
April Music Memo
March is a busy month in the music classroom! March is “music in our schools” month and “reading” month! To celebrate, we do a lot of storytelling in the music classroom. There are so many songs that tell a story and we can use them to develop our music skills and grow our creativity in the music classroom. In March we act out stories set to music, we play singing games that are based on books that we have shared together, and we add movements and instruments to familiar stories. Moving into April, we will continue with some of those stories and start creating our own verses to the familiar songs.
As the weather gets warmer, we can take some of our music games outside for a little more space and a change of scenery. We will sing about spring topics as we continue to work on our musical opposites. The first grade will share the dances they have learned here at Cedar Trails with a special adult in their lives as we hold our second annual family dance night at the end of April. There is so much to celebrate in the music classroom here at Cedar Trails!
Beach Elementary News
Healthy Eating in Action: YMCA Nutrition Lessons for 2nd Grade Returns to Our School
We're thrilled to renew our partnership with the YMCA for a series of nutrition lessons! Over the next six weeks, students will participate in engaging lessons aimed at fostering healthy habits. Each session will conclude with a fun, hands-on activity where students create their snacks. The program kicked off with a delicious snack of sunbutter, whole wheat tortillas, and apple slices rolled together. A big thank you to the YMCA for providing these valuable lessons!
March Music Highlights
This April, our students will deepen their musical journey with both familiar and new melodies. They'll continue practicing cherished songs like "Let's Catch a Rooster" and "Windy Weather," while also exploring new tunes such as "Draw A Bucket of Water" and "Dukes a Riding."
Additionally, our second graders will embark on a musical exploration of John Denver's life and works, learning to sing his hits and discovering his significance in the music industry. Meanwhile, the third graders will dive into the world of the Beatles, learning about their groundbreaking contributions to music and their lasting impact on global culture.
Kids Heart Challenge Gifts
The thank-you gifts for the Kids Heart Challenge participants will arrive by Friday, April 19. This month, we'll be focusing on paddle sports and enjoying our new scooters, courtesy of our wonderful PTO. Thank you for your support!
April Art Adventures: Integrating the Seven Elements of Art
Our clay projects are complete and heading home with students!
Throughout April, we'll apply what we've learned about the seven elements of art by diving into several exciting projects that integrate these concepts. Get ready for a creative and educational month ahead!
Cedar View Elementary News
Discover the Arts: 5th Graders Explore Choir and Band Opportunities
On Friday, April 19, all 5th graders will experience the performing arts programs at the high school. They will enjoy presentations from both the choir and band, highlighting the exciting opportunities available as they transition from Cedar View to Middle School. We encourage your students to explore these new avenues and hope they feel inspired to join either the band or choir!
Testing Continues
Our initial phase of testing wrapped up last week, with more sessions scheduled for this spring. We were incredibly proud of the dedication our students showed during the M-Step and are eager to see them continue to demonstrate their hard work in reading and math in the weeks ahead.
Early Childhood Center News
Preschoolers are Hungry for Reading
Explore and Learn with Early Learning CORPS March Newsletter
Check out this month's Early Learning CORPS newsletter! Discover fun and educational activities like practicing measurement, embarking on a picture walk, counting during meals or snacks, singing about emotions, and creating self-portraits. Download it now for a wealth of engaging learning opportunities!
Little Learners' Museum Exploration: Unveiling Their Artistic Collections
To conclude our Unit 4 focus on Museums, families were invited to an art exhibit showcasing our young learners' discoveries. Throughout the unit, students explored the concept of museums and collections, learning about their contents, the professionals who manage them, and their operations. They delved into fascinating topics like dinosaurs and the medieval era. Each classroom began its own collection, culminating in an art showcase for families to enjoy.
Preschool Registration Now Open!
Our Early Childhood Center is excited to invite the future preschool class of 2024-25! We offer programs for 3 and 4-year-olds, with half-day AM/PM and Full Day choices available.
If you have a child ready to begin their preschool educational adventure, visit our website for more information and the registration packet. We are looking forward to another wonderful academic year for our youngest learners!
Contact Us
Email: cspstogether@csredhawks.org
Website: https://elementary.csredhawks.org/
Location: 204 East Muskegon Street, Cedar Springs, MI, USA
Phone: 616-696-1204
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/csredhawks
Instagram: @csps_redhawks