3/6: Portfolio Session Scheduling Began, 7:00 AM, see details below
3/9 - 3/13: Literacy Spirit Week, see details below
3/9: GRCDC Board Meeting, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
3/10: Early Release day
- 2:30 - 2:45 is for students with the last name A - I
- 2:45 - 3:00 is for students with the last name J - Z
3/11: Community Meeting feat. Elly & Coach's class, 8:30 - 8:45 AM
3/12: Community Meeting feat. Amash's class, 8:30 - 8:45 AM
3/12: Family Team Meeting, 8:45 - 9:45 AM
3/13: Movie Night @ GRCDC, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
3/20: No School for Students, Portfolio Prep Day
4/1: Portfolio Day, alternative schedule, see details below
4/2 - 4/10: Spring Break, No School
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Dear Families,
March is National Reading Month and gives us a great opportunity to celebrate the joy of reading and recognize all the hard work that goes into growing as a reader! Families have an enormous role to play in reading development, especially helping children identify as "readers" and growing an association that reading can be fun and pleasurable.
Decades of research show that shared reading builds language skills such as vocabulary growth and narrative skills. Reading together isn't just academic- it's relational! What a great way to connect for a community that believes education is based on relationships! Reading together can create warmth and responsiveness between parent and child and increase positive interactions and bonding. Research also shows that conversation during reading matters more than just reading itself- asking questions, talking about the pictures, making connections to the stories- increase language production and comprehension. And, although research shows that frequency matters- it doesn't have to be long. 10-15 minutes regularly can make a real difference!
So, please set some time aside to read with your child this week. Even if your child is already reading independently, reading together still has multiple benefits. Try out these family conversation prompts that will build comprehension and family connection:
- what character would you want as a friend?
- what would you change about the ending?
- if this story happened in Grand Rapids what would be different?
- which character is most like you?
Enjoy and have a great weekend!
Lisa
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Q: Will no longer having GRPS as our authorizer impact how GRCDC kids "rank" in the lottery for GRPS theme schools?
Yes. As of now, GRCDC students are supposed to be considered current GRPS students for the purposes of the lottery. Going forward, they will not be, so their address will have a bigger impact. It will be more important to apply in the first round of applications.
Q: Will our calendar & snow days still roughly follow GRPS?
For now, we expect that our calendar will be similar to GRPS for the "big" dates- we know many families will continue to have children at GRCDC and in GRPS. For snow days, we are not yet sure how the determination will be made and still considering that question.
Q: Who will provide therapies? I believe GRPS staffs us now.
A: Services like OT, PT, Speech/Language, School Social Work on a child's IEP may still be provided by related service providers from GRPS or a different agency. Contracting with GRPS for those services was not/is not related to our authorization.
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Behind every smooth school day are substitute teachers and paraprofessionals whose dedication, flexibility, and compassion make it possible for students and classrooms to flourish- even when a staff member has to be out! |
Jan Schuitema, known to students as Ms. Jan, has spent 30 years in education, working mostly with Kindergarten through 6th grade students, though she has also taught K–8 and young adults ages 18–26 with special needs. She loves the energy elementary students bring to learning and especially enjoys watching their growth both socially and academically. While 3rd–5th grade are her favorite grades to sub in, she truly enjoys working with students of all ages.
Ms. Jan brings enthusiasm for learning and a strong focus on building relationships into every classroom she enters. She describes herself as flexible, attentive, and accepting, and works hard to make sure students feel comfortable and supported. By listening carefully and paying attention to students’ needs, she helps create an environment where children can feel safe, confident, and ready to learn.
One fun thing students might enjoy knowing about Ms. Jan is that she has a big dog and likes to joke that she is 104 years old. She is excited to be part of GRCDC because of the school’s welcoming culture and commitment to adapting and improving to meet students’ needs. Most importantly, Ms. Jan believes that school should be a place where students experience safety, acceptance, and the confidence that they can do this learning thing.
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Portfolio Day, Wednesday, April 1st: On Wednesday, April 1, GRCDC celebrates the growth and connections of students in our Annual Portfolio Day. This is a special day in which the teachers and families come together on an alternative schedule. Please plan to attend school with your child for a half hour session on Wednesday, April 1. Only the parent(s) and the student should attend the session. Please make child care arrangements for siblings who do not attend GRCDC. This event is only for parents and students. We do not have the space for extra family members such as grandparents or other relatives. The half hour portfolio session is the only instruction that is planned for April 1st. The sessions are posted and open now for you to sign up. Here are the links to each classroom sign up:
- Sana Amash
- Caitlin Benson
- Carley Brown
- Elly & Coach
- Harmony Perry
- Abby Jensen
- Mandy Redman
- Jacie Memmott
- Kelly Moushey
- Molly Parker
- Molly Swartz
- Maryam Trout
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2026 - 2027 School Year Info: The first day of school for next year will be 8/24/2026. Back to School night will be 8/20/2026 and attendance is required. Please finish family vacations on or before 8/19/2026. The complete school calendar will not be finalized until May or June. We will update you when we have more information.
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Lost and Found Weekly Post: A few items from this weeks post have been claimed, but there are still many items left. Here is the link to this week's lost and found post.
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Communication Expectations: From the Family Guidebook: Teachers and staff should reply to any email sent within 48 hours. If you need additional help or you are not receiving the response you need, please contact Lisa Nuyens via email nuyensl@childdiscoverycenter.org or through ParentSquare. *Messages sent to teachers in the morning may not be able to be read until after school hours.*
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March is Reading Month - Guest Readers
Consider being a guest reader in your narwhal's classroom during the month of March. This minimal time commitment has a large impact on our students. There are approximately 240 opportunities to be a guest reader, sign up on ParentSquare today!
March is Reading Month - Book Reviews
As another way to show our narwhals our commitment to reading, parents and caregivers are invited to fill out this Book Review Google Form, sharing your personal favorite children's books. This information will be turned into book review posters that will be posted around the school. Please complete by Friday March 13.
Narwhal Nation Merch Pickup
Thank you to everyone who ordered Narwhal Nation merch! We anticipate that orders will be ready for pickup at the Movie Night on Friday March 13.
Upcoming Events
- Movie Night - Friday March 13 at 6:30pm
- Book Swap at Portfolio Day - Wednesday April 1
Family Team Meetings
- The next Family Team meeting is Thursday March 12 after the Community Meeting.
- Dates for the year are: April 16, May 14
Find Family Team on ParentSquare!
The GRCDC Narwhals - Families of Current Students Facebook group has been archived, so stay up to date through the Family Team GRCDC Narwhals Group on ParentSquare.
Let's Connect
We want to hear from you! If you have an idea, question, or suggestion for the Family Team email us at grcdcfamilyteam@gmail.com. |
After School Club meeting schedule this week:
3/10 - GOTR
3/11 - Board Game club
3/12 - GOTR
It's Cookie Time and Cookie Booth Time!
We have 25 girls in the GRCDC troop, and all of them are selling cookies. This year, you could order from an individual scout, or use the new TROOP COOKIE SITE to order. Ordering from the Troop Site benefits the WHOLE TROOP, and helps us raise money for activities and adventures.
This year, the girls are raising money to go camping and horseback riding.
Choose the "Girl Delivery" option, and we'll deliver cookies to school (no need to pay for shipping).
Cookies should be delivered the first week of March.
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- If you are experiencing a housing crisis or issue, please contact us at 616-459-0330 and our Homeless Liaison will reach out to you.
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Families Supporting Families! We want to support our families. We are collecting the information for any family-owned businesses within our community. If you own a business, please fill out this survey. We will add you to the directory once we receive your information.
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OK2SAY: If you receive a threat or know of a threat of violence against your community, please contact your local law enforcement or call 9-1-1. Non-emergency tips can be submitted the following ways:
- Call: 8-555-OK2SAY, (855-565-2729 )
- Text: 652729 (OK2SAY)
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Email: OK2SAY
- Visit: OK2SAY website
- OK2SAY Mobile App: Available for download for Apple, Google and Android mobile devices.
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Absence Reporting: If your child will be absent from school, please contact us by 8:20 AM if possible. There are a few ways you can contact us about an absence:
- Email office@childdiscoverycenter.org
- Call the main office, 616-459-0330
- Send a ParentSquare message
- If you contact a teacher only regarding attendance, please know that they do not always have time to inform the office about your child's attendance. Your first contact should always be the school office. If you want to include the teacher and inform them as well, go for it!
If we do not hear from you, ParentSquare will send an automated message around 8:50 AM that you may also reply to. If you do not contact the office to excuse the absence, it will be marked unexcused.
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