Important Family Information: As ACS grows, information about current and future students becomes even more important in our planning for your kids. Please take a few minutes to provide us the the name(s) and birthdate(s) of your child(ren) in 8th grade down to newborn. No need for the names of students that are older than 8th grade at this point. We need every ACS family to fill this out one time, and then we will work on a method to add babies that are born to ACS families. Family Information Document Link  Thank you for your help!

Enrollment - Preschool, Young Fives & Kindergarten enrollment is in full swing! We no longer do intention surveys for K-8 families with continuous enrollment, so if any K-8th family anticipates a change in enrollment for next school year, please contact Brian Koetje at bkoetje@allendalechristian.org as soon as possible, as this might impact staffing. Thank you!

Unity Christian High School students are leading chapel this Friday, January 20th! You are invited to join us!

7th Grade Art Exhibit - 7th Grade students have worked hard creating artwork that visually displays Psalm 148 using landscapes and lines that show texture. From January 17-22 these pieces will be on display at the Holland Area Arts Council, with a reception to celebrate these artists on Thursday, January 19 from 5:30-7:30pm. Please join us in supporting these artists and Allendale Christian School by visiting the Holland Area Arts Council!

Pick-up Reminder (North Lot) - Please do not enter the north lot for pick-up until 3:10pm or later. We have preschool classes dismissing a little earlier than the rest of our students and those parents are being blocked in due to early arrivers for the pick-up line. Thank you!

Upcoming Club opportunities: ACS is looking to host a few clubs for our students this winter and spring, but we will need help in making it happen. Please read the opportunities below and email me at bkoetje@allendalechristian.org if you are willing to help. Thanks for considering!

• Running Club: ACS is looking to start the Running Club for girls and boys in grades 3-5 a few weeks before Spring Break. We have a staff member that is willing to coach again this year, but we will need help in order to make it happen! Growth is great, but it means there are more and more kids that want to be involved, and more adults are needed. If you are willing to consider supporting the Running Club as an assistant, and potentially a co-coach so we can split the group in half (possibly boys and girls), please send an email to bkoetje@allendalechristian.org. 
• Robotics: We have a parent that is willing to lead the Robotics program in March. We are looking at six sessions after school (likely March 7,9,14,16,21,23). In order to make sure the club can happen, we will need around six parents per time to keep kids on track.
• Game/Chess Club: ACS would love to once again offer a game/chess club. We have a staff member willing to help support this club, but would need someone on site to help run the club. This would likely be 6-8 after school sessions.

ACS will be starting the be nice. program that was created by the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan. Its goal is to continue to promote a positive school environment and encourage good mental health by teaching students to notice, invite, challenge, and empower. This is a positive mental health initiative, but students will also engage in activities that educate them on the impact their words and actions have on the way others think, act, and feel. We want all students to be loving communicators through their words, servant workers through actively bringing joy to our school, and image reflectors as they live to reflect God's image through love and kindness. 

We want the idea of be nice. to continue to gain momentum in our school, so discussions and activities will continue through the school year.  Any discussions you can have at home will help keep our students thinking about the importance of their actions and their own personal value. This initiative is a great way to highlight some of the Habits of Living that are part of Teaching for Transformation.

NEW DATES ADDED - Volunteer Opportunity! Throughout the course of the month, teachers will have the opportunity to meet with their grade-level team and our Director of Learning, Rachel Reed, for continued professional development. These meetings will be held during lunch, and we are looking for volunteers to help provide classroom coverage for these meetings. We would love it if you could please check out our sign-up genius and sign up to help with classroom lunchtime coverage in order to make this possible. We appreciate your help in this way! Sign Up Genius link