It’s official!  We have been in school for over 100 Days.  How do i know this?  The kindergarteners count every day of school and celebrated on February 8 with a 100’s Day Party.  Check out their blogs to the right to learn about all the fun learning activities that take place in these amazing classrooms.

This past Thursday, the Board of Education accepted student art work for the district permanent collection.  Pictured above are Georgetown artists who’s works were selected: Brynn, Chelsey and Taelyn. Their pieces are now on display at the HPS Administrative Offices on VanBuren Ave.

A snapshot of our week is below.  Remember to order pizza on Thursday.  The class that has the most orders receives a class pizza party from Marcos!

Mrs. Reagan

High school seniors scoring in the highest percentage nationally on the ACT or SAT were recognized by the Board of Education this evening.

Georgetown is honored to have four graduates who attended our school during their elementary years.  Congratulations to Ryan Yonker,  Rachel Shereda, Kyle Grooms and Lane Essex.  We are so proud of them!

Paraphrase, our word of the week, is also a high-level learning strategy.  Our goal is to help our students understand the text and/or content well enough to put the writer’s words into their own words — an indication that the student has a solid understanding of the text.  The skill of paraphrasing is practiced extensively — and one that helps students do well in secondary education.

The official definition: put the author’s words in your own words, make it easier to understand

Song Link: paraphrase

Last week, the top 5th Grade Pillow Polo Teams faced off against select staff members for the annual Staff VS 5th Grade Pillow Polo Game.  As I have mentioned in prior years. each year the staff are older and the 5th graders fresh and highly charged competitors.

The game lasts for 40 minutes — and every 5 minutes, the same staff members play a new group of 5th graders.  This year, the staff were as follows:  Mrs. Reagan, Mrs. P, Mrs. VanKovering, Mrs. Burdis, Mrs. Ball and Mr. Rob.    We had a BLAST playing against the 5th graders.  They provided us with the ultimate cardio work out…and we provided them with some great entertainment.  We  squeaked out another win – 2 to 1.  They were our most competitive group ever!  Enjoy the video below.  Photos taken by Avery Glass.

A snapshot of the week ahead is below the video.  Have a wonderful winter break weekend.  See you on Tuesday!

Mrs. Reagan

I hope that you are enjoying your three day weekend!

Blog Bits 2/3/2017

News From the Office…

Not a lot to report from the office. We have been busy with our daily routines and learning. We had Kindergarten round up this week and we are starting to think of next year already. If you know of anyone that has a child starting Kindergarten next year and they didn’t make it to round up, send them to the office to pick up a registration packet.

The yearbooks came home and they are always fun to look at. We do have a couple of extras in the office if you forgot to order one and would like one yet. Call the office if you would like one and we will set it aside for you. The cost is $10.

Our next early release to put on your calendar is on March 10. Otherwise enjoy a long weekend!!

Winter Break…

Just a reminder there is no school this Monday Feb. 6 for Winter Break. We hope you enjoy your time off and we will see you back at school on Tuesday Feb. 7

PTC News…

Feb 8 – Jets Pizza Night…. Order some Jet’s Pizza and let them know your child’s teacher name when ordering. The class that has the highest amount of orders will win a pizza party for their class. Mrs. Stutz class has been on a winning streak!

Feb 10 – Popcorn Friday

Feb 16 – Marco’s Pizza Night… Order Marco’s and let them know your child’s teacher name when ordering. The class that has the highest amount of orders will win a pizza party for their class. Georgetown also gets a portion of the profit made so you are also supporting Georgetown!!

It’s that time of year again!! BOX TOPS TIME!!! If you have Box Tops at your house it is time to send them in!! We have sheets in the office or you can print one off using the link below. If you don’t have them on a paper, please make sure you count them out and send them in labeled with your child’s name and teacher. You have a couple weeks to turn them in!!  WinterHatsMittens BOX TOP FORM

Daddy Daughter Dance is Feb 25. The deadline for signing up is past. If you didn’t get your RSVP back or you have questions, please contact Penny Johnson. Her email is [email protected]. Also if you would like to help out at this event, they are looking for help!! Click on this link to go to the sign up page!!

Upcoming Survey for SOAR III…

For the past three years, we have been working on accomplishing our district’s long-range planning goals outlined in S.O.A.R. II (Strategic Objectives to Achieve Results).  Teams of teachers, administrators and support staff have been focused on specific goals in the areas of Human Services, Operations, and Teaching and Learning.  S.O.A.R. II points of pride include, but are not limited to, the development and phased implementation of an elementary STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) special, saving millions of taxpayer dollars by renovating a former elementary school, renovating all buildings’ front office areas to provide an extra level of security, and expanding community education offerings.  A complete report of the many accomplishments can be found on our district’s website.

To continue our great tradition of excellence at Hudsonville Public Schools and to elevate our successes, we are asking for your help in the development of our next strategic plan: S.O.A.R. III.  We have completed the first phase of development (Focus Groups) and are very thankful for the wealth of information we received.  Our website contains a summary of findings based on this phase.

We are now entering the second phase in the research; a Randomized Needs Assessment Survey.  If you receive an invitation to participate, please consider taking part in helping us set the direction for the next three years.

Later in February, we will open the survey to parents and community members who were not part of the random selection process.  We will email the link to the survey when it becomes available.

Community News…

•Love & Logic Parenting Workshop

February 22 and the 4 following Wednesdays:  Love & Logic Parenting Workshop, 6-8pm. Tired of power struggles with your kids and exhausted with trying to keep it cool in hot situations? Let us help! Join us for the Love & Logic 5 week Parenting Workshop on Wednesday nights beginning on February 22 from 6-8pm here at Fair Haven Church (FHC).  In these five sessions, parents will learn valuable techniques that will help transform their homes and create a positive environment for everyone to live in! FHC is covering the cost of the course; the only purchase that needs to be made by parents is the $10 workbook! Don’t forget, dinner is offered on Wednesday nights and we are offering free childcare through age 11. What’s stopping you?  Click here to sign up for the class and choose your desired childcare option today!

•New to lacrosse?  

Join us to learn basic lacrosse skills from our youth coaches before the season begins.

Who:    New players 3rd – 5th grade.  NEW PLAYERS only please!

Where:  Park Elementary gym, from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

When:   Monday evenings Feb 13-March 13

cost:  Free,  you bring your own men’s or women’s lacrosse stick

Community Ed…

Stay Connected…

Upcoming Events

If you have a child ready to attend pre-kindergarten or kindergarten in 2016-17, please attend the PK•K Parent Meeting tonight at 7:00 pm in the Multi-Purpose Room.

If you cannot make the meeting, send us an email and we will make sure we get all the forms ready for you to pick up and complete!

Mrs. Reagan

If you would like to help out at this event, they are looking for some volunteers!! Click on this link to go to the sign up page!!

Daddy Daughter Dance is Feb 25. The deadline for signing up is past. If you didn’t get your RSVP back or you have questions, please contact Penny Johnson. Her email is [email protected].

We have early Release Friday this week on Feb. 3

We will be dismissing at 12:15 on Feb. 3. If your child is a car rider, please be at school between 12:10 and 12:15 for pick up.  Food Service will be offering a sack lunch on early release days. Children can order a lunch with their teacher in the morning and will have them to take to their destination.  The cost will be $2.25.  Free and reduced benefits will also apply.

Monday Feb. 6 there is no school. This is our Winter Break. Hope you enjoy some time together!

We will see you back on Tuesday, Feb. 7

We have a new word for this week:  SUMMARIZE

Our students are asked to summarize each time they write a piece of non-fiction writing and each time they retell a story (fiction or non-fiction).    Our third, fourth and fifth graders will take a state test called M-STP this spring.  The word ‘summarize’ will appear on the test repeatedly.

Our common definition is as follows:  Make a short statement of the main points of a passage   Click on the word to hear our song:   summarize  (NOTE:  This opens and plays in google chrome).