BLUE NOTE

2026-27 EDITION No. 06 | PUBLISHED WEEKLY ON WEDNESDAYS | BURN BRIGHT

Upcoming Calendar Dates //

  • October 13, 2026  9:00 am - 9:30 am | Family Groups

  • October 14, 2026 | No School // Teacher PD

  • October 15, 2026 | No School // Teacher CEA

  • October 16, 2026 | No School // Teacher CEA

  • October 21, 2026  8:00 am - 8:45 am | CONFIRMED: Donuts with Dads - Front Entry Y5-5th

Full Calendar with Event Details
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Blue Note Blurb // A New ZCS Tradition: Walkathon!

This Friday, October 9, we’re kicking off a brand-new ZCS tradition with our 1st Annual ZCS Walkathon!

From 1:00–1:45 p.m., elementary and middle school students will fill the streets around Faith Church with ZCS gear, school spirit, and plenty of Deep Joy! Parents, you’re invited to join the fun by volunteering or walking alongside your kids.

But the Walkathon is about more than walking. It’s an opportunity to come together as a community, support the Burn Bright Fund, and help form generous hearts in our kids.

Generosity and stewardship are learned by practicing them. As your kids collect pledges, we encourage you to talk with them about why people give to ZCS and how their efforts can make a difference for others.

Each year, more than $1 million is generously given to the Burn Bright Fund. These gifts help students of all abilities receive the support they need to experience value and belonging at ZCS, while also helping make Christian education accessible to families across income levels. A portion of Walkathon funds will also support Parent Partners, providing experiences, events, and activities that bring ZCS kids and families together throughout the school year.

This week, consider using the Walkathon to start a conversation about generosity. Here are a few questions you could ask:

  • “Did you know the money you raise can help your classmates learn, grow, and feel included at ZCS?”
  • “God has been incredibly generous to us. How can we show that same generosity to others?”
  • “Everything we have belongs to God, including our money, time, and talents. What is something God has given you that you could use to bless someone else?”
  • “Imagine a kid really wanted to come to ZCS, but their family couldn’t afford it. How would it feel to know that what you raised could help make ZCS possible for them?”

So break out your ZCS gear, lace up your shoes, and come walk with us! We can’t wait to see our students, families, and staff together as we launch what we hope will become a favorite ZCS tradition for years to come.

Burn Bright,

Peter Jenkins
Director of Advancement

P.S. Go here for more Walkathon details. Interested in volunteering? Sign up here!

Photos from Recent Events

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Blue Note News //

Oct. 07, 2026 //

// NEW INFORMATION //

Elementary Odyssey of the Mind // applications are due to Mrs. Van Dyk no later than Friday, October 9th

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Fall Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences for Y5-8th Grade // are on October 22 and October 23. Sign-up begins on Monday, October 12 at 9:00 AM You have received or will be receiving information from your child’s teacher with instructions for sign-up, as well as the master password.

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Chapel Pre-Registration //for the October 23 chapel is now open! If you have previously signed in using your license you are eligible to pre-register.  Pre-register HERE until noon on October 22nd. 

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Donuts with Dads //Parent Partners is hosting our annual Donuts with Dads/Special Dude event. Come Join us on October 21 or 22! Sign up here

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Quote of the week from the Technology & Digital Well-Being Parent Committee // "Compared to kids confined indoors, children who regularly play in nature show heightened motor control... They tend to engage more in imaginative and creative play, which in turn fosters language, abstract reasoning, and problem-solving skills, together with a sense of wonder." -Scott Sampson, How to Raise a Wild Child

Try This: Take a family walk after dinner; see how many types or colors of leaves you can find!

 

 // REPEAT //

Kitchen Crew //The ZCS kitchen crew is looking to hire 2 people to work 3-4 days per week. The hours are approximately 9 am - 1 pm, w/ flexibility a must. The pay is $15 per hour w/ paid holidays and sick days. If interested, please contact Sharon Amundsen (Kitchen Lead) at samundsen@zcs.org

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ZCS Mandarin Preschool Club // 3 & 4 year olds as well as Y5 students, along with their parents, are invited to join this free parent-led ZCS Mandarin Preschool Club. Fridays (when school is in session) 2:15-3:15 in room 6. Contact erinwebb05@gmail.com with questions. 

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ZCS Family Directory // will be published at the end of October. If you do not want your family information shared please opt out using this form prior to October 21. 

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ZCS Walkathon // We are excited to announce the 1st Annual Zeeland Christian School Walkathon on Friday, October 9, 2026, from 1:00–1:45 p.m.! Our elementary and middle school students will come together for an afternoon of walking, school spirit, and fun. Find more information here. 

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Registration Is Now Open!

Legacy Event | Thursday, November 5, 2026

The Legacy Event is more than a tradition. It is a meaningful evening of fellowship, inspiration, and a shared vision for everyone who cares deeply about Zeeland Christian's mission. If you are new to ZCS, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet other families and experience the heart behind our broader mission.

Register today and help ZCS Burn Bright for generations to come!

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Travel Opportunity // We invite you to consider joining other ZCS families in Trujillo, Peru this summer! This culturally immersive trip is offered in partnership with Travec. While families of students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade are given priority in registration, this opportunity is open to any interested ZCS family. 

If your family would like to learn more about the trip, we invite you to reach out to Angelica Delgado adelgado@zcs.org (4th Grade teachers at ZCS), Kristen Evenhouse kristen@traveltravec.com (Travec Representative), or visit the Travec website (https://www.traveltravec.com/zeelandchristian). 

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Reminder // Illness/Sickness Policy: When To Keep Your Child Home

  • A fever of 100 degrees or higher:  Your child must be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine before returning to school.
  • Vomiting and/or diarrhea:  Your child must be free of vomiting/diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school.
  • A child that seems ill: If your child seems unusually tired, pale, difficult to wake, has a headache or body aches, is confused or irritable, and/or lacks a normal appetite, please keep him/her home. Your child must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.

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REMINDER: ZCS Apparel Store is NOW ALWAYS OPEN

Orders are processed on the 15th and 30th of each month. https://zeelandchristian.deco-schools.com/

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ZCS VOLUNTEER & EMPLOYMENT //

VOLUNTEER // TRIP would like a couple more volunteers to sell Instant TRIP on Friday mornings.  If interested contact Deb at 616-879-0398.

Current ZCS Job Listings

Parent Reminders