New Groningen News
October 18, 2024
THANK YOU to our BUSINESS SUPPORTERS!
A special thank you to Countryside Greenhouse and Distinctive Group Inc. for generously supporting New Groningen students for the 2024/2025 school year!
If you know a business owner or are a business owner and would like to support our school this year, please see the flyer below on how you can do that!
Thank you, Countryside Greenhouse!
We appreciate your donation and support!
Thank you, Distinctive Group, Inc!
We appreciate your donation and support!
Christopher Nelis, DDS
Mark Your Calendars for these EVENTS!
2024/2025 Important Dates to Remember
Young 5's Post Family Farms: October 22, 9a-12p
Book Fair: Oct. 22-25
Picture Retake Day: October 25
Early Release/ Halloween Celebrations & Costume Day/ Dollar Carnival / Staff PD: Thursday, October 31
NO SCHOOL (students)/Staff PD: Friday, November 1
Conferences: Nov. 4, Nov. 6 & Nov. 7 (see sign up below)
NO SCHOOL: Nov. 8
CONFERENCES!
Parent/Teacher Conferences are approaching and we cannot wait to share how wonderful your learners are, what they've been working hard on and what growth areas they might have, .too!
Please take a look at our scheduling system and plan to schedule ONE 15 minute block of time with each of your learners' teachers. If your child's teacher needs more time with you, they will connect and let you know.
Conferences are a great way to create a supportive learning environment for students by facilitating communication and collaboration between families and our teachers.
CLICK HERE to SCHEDULE YOUR CONFERENCE for either November 4, 5 or 7!
5th Grade Cash Carnival (fundraiser for CAMP)
Your HELP is needed if you are willing and able! Please see the Sign Up Genius for donations to the 5th Grade Cash Carnival on October 31!
Dux Winners!
Y5-2nd Grade Star Dux!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Kindergarten & Young 5's
Kent
Carson V.
Emmalyn
Ben
1st Grade
Cruz
Alex W
Brayden
2nd Grade
Addi
Orion
Colin
Rupert
3rd-5th Grade Star Dux!
CONGRATULATIONS!
3rd Grade
Dakota
Clayton
Wesley
4th Grade
Mason D.
Livia
Linh
Audrey
5th Grade
Darby
Lelyn
Jon
STAFF TICKET WINNER!
Congratulations to Ms. VanDam for being our super star staff ticket winner!
CATCH NEWS!
Great Apple Crunch 2024
Arrival/Dismissal
Transportation
Safety & Security Volunteering
Below is the information regarding our new security system, including what is needed from you to complete a background check and what to look forward to when coming to volunteer in a classroom or chaperone a field trip! We are excited about the new system and the updated level of security. Please note that if you do not complete the background check form (linked below) at least 3 days before an event at New Groningen, you will be turned away. In addition, if you do not have your state issued ID upon arrival for the event, you will be turned away. We do not have the capacity to run emergency background checks like we did in the past and the only way to sign into the system is with your state issued ID. We do not want any sad kids because mom, dad, grandma, uncle, etc. could not attend the event they were hoping to, so PLEASE fill the form out IMMEDIATELY, do not wait! Please read ALL of the information below before clicking on the background check link!
Complete the form from the link below (this will be a ONE TIME A YEAR form to fill out; no username and no password needed!). The information you enter on the application must match your government-issued identification card including your full legal name.
https://docs.google.com/forms/ d/1pA5N5xzvUL7QweO1C_ kceWP2kCrsEZaC4-jrW_PWE3s/ edit?ts=66c75165
On the day of your volunteer opportunity, you will need to bring a government-issued ID and scan it into the Raptor Visitor system prior to entry (this is EVERY TIME YOU come to volunteer).
If you'd like more information or have any questions, please check out the FAQ document:
Here is a link to our visitor/volunteer policy and a FAQ document
Thank you for your willingness to support the students in our schools and help maintain a safe learning environment.
Zeeland Public Schools Happenings
Join the Cityside Players for Finding Nemo Jr. and dive into an unforgettable adventure through the Big Blue! Marlin, a once-funny clownfish, is filled with fear after losing his wife. His worst nightmare comes true when his son, Nemo, is captured on his first day of school. Marlin teams up with Dory, a forgetful but fun fish, and together, they encounter sharks, turtles, and jellyfish on their journey to find Nemo. Meanwhile, Nemo discovers friendship and courage with the Tank Gang at the Sydney Aquarium. This heartwarming show reminds us to face our fears and "just keep swimming."
Tickets are on sale now through Ludus. Go to this link to buy tickets through the Ludus site. The show runs November 20-22 at 7 PM and November 23 at 2 PM. Get your tickets before they are gone, and we hope to see you there!
Zeeland Recreation
Zeeland Rec has a handful of upcoming programs that you don't want to miss! Below are some highlights. Visit THEIR WEBSITE to view more details and to register!
IMPORTANT FREE/REDUCED breakfast & lunch INFORMATION!
To fill out the food service application (please fill this out regardless of economic status and/or the new budget approval):
SCAN the QR code in the image to the right, OR
Click on the FOOD SERVICE link HERE!
CLICK REGISTER to go to the food portal (if you did not register for the 23/24 year) OR sign in!
Once you are registered in the new system, you can click on the BENEFITS button and will be walked through what to do to determine if you qualify for free or reduced meals!
Please feel free to email Food Service with any questions you might have; they are more than happy to help!
NGFA Information
The NGFA is excited for another school year. Here's a little about the NGFA and the amazing things they help put together in order to support NG!
The NGFA is proud to help support our school, many fun activities, field trips and events for New Groningen Elementary free of charge for our families. We hold meetings throughout the year that will be announced in the upcoming weeks, have many fun events and activities planned, fundraisers and there will be many volunteer opportunities as well.
You can join our Facebook group “New Groningen Family Association - NGFA” to stay up to date with NG happenings.
We hope you all had a fun, safe long weekend and look forward to working with you all this year! If you have questions throughout the year you can contact us at ngfainfo@gmail.com.
Kristin Hunderman, President
Nicole Orazem, VP
Meghan Trowbridge, Treasurer
Randi Alferink, Secretary
COMMUNICATION
What will general communication look like at New Groningen?
School-wide: Mrs. Rindfliesch will send New Groningen News to all families via email on Fridays (sometimes earlier depending on holiday breaks)!
Classroom: Each classroom has their own classroom communication site or newsletter and that will be communicated to each family by your child's teacher!
District-wide: ZPS sends emails in the form of Z For Me (click HERE to sign up to receive these emails), uses Facebook (ZPS: Learning for Life), Instagram and Twitter. In addition, you can opt into our district-wide School Messenger, which delivers a text message to your phone to notify you of school closings, safety alerts and more! All you need to do is TEXT "Y" to 67587 to opt in (see flyer below for more information).
Other NG Resources:
- Facebook: You can also find information from the NG Family Association on our NGFA Facebook page located at New Groningen Family Association - NFGA if you search for us on Facebook. This is ONLY a place parent engagement and sharing. This is NOT where we store information or publish information that must get to parents.
Choice Reading
In ZPS, we believe that reading is foundational to the success of our students. Throughout each week, students are regularly provided with opportunities to read independently. Classroom teachers and library staff work hard to provide high-quality, engaging, and relevant texts for students. We respect each parent’s right to provide input on what books would be appropriate for their own child. For more information on this topic, please read this letter to the community.
New Groningen Positive Behavior Protocol
PARENT PORTAL
If you do not have portal set up, please feel free to set one up!