BLUE NOTE

EDITION No. 5 | PUBLISHED WEEKLY ON WEDNESDAYS | BURN BRIGHT

Upcoming Calendar Dates 

  • September 29, 2023 | Half Day of School *Teacher PD*

  • October 3, 2023 | 8:00 AM Donuts With Dads & Dudes - Front Entry

  • October 4, 2023 | 8:00 AM Donuts With Dads & Dudes - Front Entry

  • October 4, 2023 | 9:10 AM All School Chapel

  • October 4, 2023 | 9:40 AM Family Groups

  • October 4, 2023 | Project Best Life Parent Mtg. - Time TBD

  • October 5, 2023  8:45 am - 9:45 am | Moms in Prayer

  • October 7, 2023 | Pumpkinfest Parade

  • October 10, 2023 | Staff Flu Shot Clinic

  • October 12, 2023  8:45 am - 9:45 am | Moms in Prayer

  • October 12, 2023 | 4-8:30 PM Y5-8th Conferences *School in Session*

  • October 12, 2023 | 8:45-10:15 AM School Board Coffee Connection

  • October 12, 2023 | School Board Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Looking Ahead

  • October 16, 2023  2:50 pm - 3:05 pm | Elementary Worship

  • October 17, 2023 | 4-8:30 PM Y5-8th Conferences *School in Session*

  • October 18, 2023 - October 20, 2023   | Fall Break *PD for teachers*

  • October 19, 2023  8:45 am - 9:45 am | Moms in Prayer

  • October 25, 2023 - October 26, 2023   | Threeschool/Preschool Grandparents Days

  • October 26, 2023  8:45 am - 9:45 am | Moms in Prayer

Full List of Events

BLUE NOTE BLURB

Best seat in the house | September 27, 2023

My mentor of eight years and former principal of Unity Christian High School, Jack Postma, wrote a column called “Best Seat in the House,” and I can’t help but think of him and that column as I sit in the middle school commons area writing this. Sadly, he passed away from cancer. Though I very much miss his coaching, his friendship and leadership stay with me. In honor of him… 

I feel like I have the best seat in the house in our middle school, and want to share a glimpse of recent happenings here. 

This year, we welcomed lots of new staff members to our team and have enjoyed seeing the gifts they bring to our school, in addition to their incredible teaching talent, which includes skills like worship leading, sports coaching, and hearts of service. We can’t wait to see God continue to work across the middle school team as we pour into students and help them flourish.

Our annual traditions are also well underway! Our 6th and 7th graders attended incredible overnight camps at Camp Geneva and Camp Roger, and our 8th graders participated in the “Leadership Day” offsite. Each of these experiences has the purpose of creating community, learning our identity in Christ, and leading through our God-given gifts. These three objectives align with our grade-level faith formation focus areas of community (6th), identity (7th), and leadership (8th). 

Another big experience for our middle school students was the launch of small groups – if you are new to ZCS, small groups are mixed-aged groups that meet once a month and are led by 8th-grade students. Meeting at Lawrence Street Park last week, we spent time in praise and worship, then followed that time with a “Middle School Olympics” activity.

Each of these big days, which are filled with so many activities, is not only important for cultivating relationships between students and teachers but also vital for encouraging students to be lifelong disciples of Jesus. Elementary parents, I can’t wait for your students to join us in Middle School and see these fun days in action. 

ZCS family, thank you for trusting our team to invest in each of our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders' lives in this way. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the opportunity to have one of the best seats in the house. 

 

Burn Bright, 

Tim Paauw
Middle School Principal

Brick by brick | September 20, 2023

I recently shared about my family’s move to Indiana almost fifteen years ago after accepting a teaching position at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. There were no houses for sale in Upland, and we had to quickly decide when we heard of one coming on the market. I vividly remember driving several hours on inspection day. When I arrived, the inspector just shook his head at me (which isn’t something you want to see from a home inspector). He asked me to come back later, saying that there was “a lot going on with this house.” When I returned, he reported major issues with the foundation. I naively said, “That doesn’t sound great.” He touched my shoulder and said, “When the foundation is bad, it’s all bad.”  

At Zeeland Christian, we count it the highest privilege to work with you as you seek to build your child’s foundation with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20-22). Brick by brick, we work together as co-laborers in this work. We educate and parent intentionally, choosing to be in a community where we support and encourage each other to parent and educate in a way that honors God.   

In Matthew 7, Jesus compares hearing and obeying his words to a man who builds his house on the rock. When the rains fall, the floods rise, and the wind blows, the house will stand firm. I’m struck that Jesus uses the word “when,” not “if.” Of course, any of us can testify that storms will come. Indeed, I know enough to know that many of you are in the storm now. We must teach our children to build their lives on the Rock.  

As parents and educators, we see our children through the lens of eternity, remembering who each child is and who he or she is to become in Christ. So, as Christian parents and educators, we keep this vision in front of us as we take on this awesome task. We have the privilege of nurturing students through this process, speaking truth into their lives, surrounding them with our support, seeing challenges as opportunities for them to grow, and always leaning heavily on our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the gift of each other. Often, finding the help we need is as simple as asking for help. If we can ever assist you or your family, we would be honored to help.  

 

Together, 

Tim McAboy
Head of School 

 

PS In case you are wondering – we did not buy that house. 

Seen, loved, and celebrated | September 13, 2023

Since my earliest days as a teacher, I’ve loved the energy and anticipation that come with a new school year. However, this school year is extra special to me as a mom and elementary principal, as all four of my kids are in elementary school at ZCS. 

While wearing both my mom and principal hats, I have to tell you that we have the most incredibly dedicated, skilled, and passionate teachers and staff at ZCS. I can't help but feel grateful for the strong sense of community and shared dedication to providing our students with a high-quality Christ-centered education.

For those of us who have been a part of ZCS for many years, we’ve come to know and expect incredibly relational teachers. Last week, I received an email from a new-to-ZCS parent who highlighted the uniqueness and profound impact our teachers make on students.

“Last weekend, I was surprised to find an audio message attached to an email from my son’s teacher. In this message, she explained her observations about my son, what stuck out to her, what she is learning about him, some insights, and other things for us as a family to praise. 

That 5-minute clip was more powerful of a message than anything we have gotten in his entire academic career so far. She sees our boy in all of his uniqueness and celebrates them. 

It wasn’t long after that our other child’s teacher wanted to thank me in person for trusting her to walk alongside us in supporting and growing our daughter. I was shocked that this beautiful human, who works so hard for so many, took the time to THANK ME... It was humility that I had never seen before.

Our children are seen, loved, and celebrated.

Lastly, I want to share that during a ride home from school, while my daughter was quiet and staring pensive out the window, I asked her if she wanted to talk about anything, and she said, "Momma, Zeeland Christian made me love learning again."

I had to quiet my sobs.

You have no idea what this means to us. 

Truly, I don't have words.

Great job to you and your team. This place is truly making a generational impact. I am so grateful.”

My prayer for this year is that each and every individual in the ZCS community feels seen, loved, and celebrated. As we continue through our daily routines and expectations of each other, may we see Christ in each other and take a moment to share each sentiment as we do. 

Burn bright, 

Betsy Koop
Elementary Principal

... a part of the story but not THE story | September 06, 2023

Through my 26 years of teaching (21 at ZCS), I’ve often been challenged and encouraged by the life of John the Baptist. John spent years building his ministry in the desert, but when Jesus came along, without hesitation, John pointed others to Jesus.  

What is so impressive about John is that he was not deterred from doing the job God had called him to do. John had a single focus: Point others to Christ. This was John’s focus before Jesus began his public ministry, while Jesus was in the middle of his public ministry, and it was John’s focus until his gruesome death at the hands of Herod Antipas. John realized that for Jesus to become greater and greater, he had to become less and less. John realized he was a part of the story but not THE story.  

As a teacher at ZCS, I need to be like John the Baptist. Within the context of teaching different subject material, my single focus must be to point my students towards Christ. Sometimes, I see the fruit of my labor as students’ hearts change or they begin making godly choices. But like John the Baptist, I don’t always get to see the fruit of my labor. John recognized that by doing what God had called him to do, he played an essential role in the stories of those who chose to follow Christ. God calls me to play a role in the stories of my students as well - what a privilege!  

Parents, I encourage you to join me in this goal and focus first on pointing our children to Jesus.  Don’t be moved from this single focus! Secondly, I encourage you to recognize your privilege, just like John, to be a part of the best story ever!

 

Burn Bright, 

Vince Hutt
Fifth Grade Teacher

 

“The following day, John the Baptist stood again with two disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, ‘Look! There is the Lamb of God!’ When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.”  John 1:35-37

 

Middle School Small Groups

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QUICK LINKS

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BLUE NOTE NEWS

September 27, 2023

September 29: ½ Day of School // Busing Available // Dismissal: MS 10:40, ELEM. 11:40

October 3 & 4: 8:00 AM // Donuts with Dads & Dudes

October 4: 9:10 AM // All School Chapel

October 7: Pumpkinfest Parade // MS Band marches, PS float

October 12: 8:45-10:15 AM // School Board Coffee Connection

October 12 & 17: 4:00 - 8:30 PM // Parent/Teacher Conferences (Y5-8)

October 18-20: No School

October 25 & 26: Threeschool/Preschool Grandparent Days

October 27: ½ Day of School // Y5-8th Grandparents' Day & Chapel // No Busing // Dismissal: 11:10 if leaving with a grandparent or 11:40 for car line pickup

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Fall Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences on October 12th and October 17th sign-up begins on Monday, October 2 at 9:00 a.m. You have already received information from your child’s teacher with instructions for sign-up as well as the master password.

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Athletics Update // Winter 1 Sports Sign-ups: (Deadline is September 30)

  • 8th Boys Basketball 
  • 7th Boys Basketball 
  • 6-8th Girls Aquatics 
  • 7th-8th Girls Competitive Cheer at West Ottawa 

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Donuts with Dads/Dudes // September 27th is the last day to register! Parent Partners is so excited to host Donuts with Dads/Dudes this year again! This event is for elementary kids and their dad/special dude in their life! October 3 will be for last name beginning with A-M and October 4 will be for last names N-Z- please try to attend on your correct day. If for some reason you cannot make it on the day your last name is supposed to come, you are welcome to sign up for the alternative day!

Please see the google form linked here for more details and to sign up!  Please email parentpartners@zcs.org for any questions. Registration will close on September 29! 

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Gift and Magazine Sales Deadline // September 28th is the deadline make a purchase and support the Parent Partner community events. Top 5 sellers even score a Battle GR Pass! Let's make this sale a blast!

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Field Trip Drivers/Field Trip Chaperones/Recess Duty Volunteers and more!  If you will be volunteering in one of these areas this coming year please submit your application as soon as possible.  Thank you to over 90 parents that have already submitted their applications!  If you are already an approved volunteer, login to your portal to see available volunteer activities 

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Miles of Smiles Mobile Dental Unit  // No cost, preventative and restorative dental services for financially-qualifying children. Find information HERE.

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Destination Imagination Team Recruitment  // What is Destination Imagination? DI is, at its core, is a problem solving competition. Students work for 3 months to solve one of 6 major challenges (covering areas of engineering, science, literature, fine arts, improvisation and technical methods). In addition to working as a team to solve a central challenge, teams create a skit to creatively tell a story about their solution.
Any students, in grades 4th through 8th, who wish to apply may do so. DI is also looking for corporate sponsors as well as coaches for the team. Visit this website for more information. 

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Faces and Cultures // We are happy to share that this fall we will welcome Guatemalan students to our campus through the FACES Program. The dates for this year's program are Saturday, October 14th - Saturday, December 9th. 

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September 20, 2023

Donuts with Dads/Dudes // Parent Partners is so excited to host Donuts with Dads/Dudes this year again! This event is for elementary kids and their dad/special dude in their life! October 3 will be for last name beginning with A-M and October 4 will be for last names N-Z- please try to attend on your correct day, if for some reason you cannot make it on the day your last name is suppose to come, you are welcome to sign up for the alternative day!

Please see the google form linked here for more details and to sign up!  Please email parentpartners@zcs.org for any questions. Registration will close on September 29! 

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Field Trip Drivers/Field Trip Chaperones/Recess Duty Volunteers and more!  If you will be volunteering in one of these areas this coming year please submit your application as soon as possible.  Thank you to over 90 parents that have already submitted their applications! 

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BOARD NEWS-Sept 2023

  • Governance. We desire to be strong leaders with a healthy understanding of all of our responsibilities. We had an expert speaker join our meeting to help us understand the proper role of a board in the nonprofit’s development program. 
  • Budget. The Finance Committee and Administration are putting together a budget for next year. There are some huge blessings to celebrate but also some real challenges as we look to the future and balance affordability alongside a high-quality system. This process will also include a deep analysis into our current Tuition Assistance programs.
  • Endowment. In parallel with the previous information, we discussed the importance of having a strong and well managed endowment. We are currently taking steps to ensure a robust endowment for many years to come. The Legacy Event in November is a large part of this.
  • Communication. We spent significant time discussing the ways in which we communicate with and are accessible to the Society and the staff. It is our desire that each group have an understanding of what we are working on and how much we appreciate them.

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School Pictures // Pictures will be taken throughout the week of September 25-28. Order envelopes will come home with your child this week. Each envelope is pre-printed with your child's name and a unique QR code. Please return the pre-printed envelopes to school with your child on picture day!

  • HERE is the link with the photo schedule for the week. (Days are set. Times may vary.)
  • Threeschool: Your child will only have a group photo taken. No individuals will be taken.
  • 4's Preschool: Your child will have an Individual Photo taken and will be part of a Class Composite. They will not be included in the yearbook.
  • Young Fives - 8th Grade: Your child will have an Individual Photo taken, will be part of a Class Composite, and will be included in the Yearbook.

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Athletics Update // Winter 1 Sports Sign-ups: (Deadline is September 30)

  • 8th Boys Basketball 
  • 7th Boys Basketball 
  • 6-8th Girls Aquatics 
  • 7th-8th Girls Competitive Cheer at West Ottawa 

 

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Miles of Smiles Mobile Dental Unit  // No cost, preventative and restorative dental services for financially-qualifying children. Find information HERE.

 

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From GCCS // Last sprinng at the end of the school year, our students and community donated school supplies to our sister school in the Philippines (Grace Community Christian School in Pasay). Here is a video they emailed to us saying "THANK YOU!" for your support, love, and continued partnership in global Christian education.

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Destination Imagination Team Recruitment  // What is Destination Imagination? DI is, at its core, is a problem solving competition. Students work for 3 months to solve one of 6 major challenges (covering areas of engineering, science, literature, fine arts, improvisation and technical methods). In addition to working as a team to solve a central challenge, teams create a skit to creatively tell a story about their solution.
Any students, in grades 4th through 8th, who wish to apply may do so. DI is also looking for corporate sponsors as well as coaches for the team. Visit this website for more information. 

_________________________

Faces and Cultures // We are happy to share that this fall we will welcome Guatemalan students to our campus through the FACES Program. The dates for this year's program are Saturday, October 14th - Saturday, December 9th. 

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TRIP News //  It's time for another big bonus event! Raise Days are September 21-22. Look ahead with a sneak peek of all brands on bonus exclusively in the RaiseRight app.  Famous Dave's and Jimmy John are available with TRIP. Instant TRIP is 8:00-9:30 on Fridays.

 

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Notification of Asbestos and Pesticide Application 

Asbestos Management Plan

Pesticide Policy

September 13, 2023

Upcoming Parent Meetings //

6th-8th Grade Parent Meetings | Monday, September 18th at 6:00pm & 6:45pm

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Donuts with Dads/Dudes // Parent Partners is so excited to host Donuts with Dads/Dudes this year again! This event is for elementary kids and their dad/special dude in their life! October 3 will be for last name beginning with A-M and October 4 will be for last names N-Z- please try to attend on your correct day, if for some reason you cannot make it on the day your last name is suppose to come, you are welcome to sign up for the alternative day!

Please see the google form linked here for more details and to sign up!  Please email parentpartners@zcs.org for any questions. Registration will close on September 29! 

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MOSAIC Foster & Adoption Group // ZCS School MOSAIC, started in 2019, actively works to connect, empower, and advocate for families who choose adoption, foster care, refugee care, kinship care, or participate in Safe Families, to develop supportive relationships while celebrating their unique backgrounds, experiences, cultures and races. The heart and intent of this group is to create a community for children and families, as well as to educate staff and those in the greater ZCS community on how best to support and love those who are from these types of families. To learn more or to get connected, email zcschoolmosaic@gmail.com.

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Gift Sale // Gift and Magazine sales start Thursday, September 14! Ordering materials will be sent home with the youngest child in each family! All the profits will be put towards putting on community events through the Parent Partner committee! The top 5 sellers will each get a pass to Battle GR!

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Unified Soccer Parent Meeting // If you are interested in having your child participate in Unified Soccer at ZCS this Fall, please join us for a parent-only Unified information night at 6:30pm on September 13th in the ZCS media center. Please RSVP here. This is for parents of middle or elementary students, both athletes (students with a disability) and partners who are interested in the soccer season ONLY. At this meeting, we will share the schedules, mission of Unified soccer, and the needed information for you to determine if this opportunity is a good fit for your child. Attendance at this meeting does not guarantee your child a spot on the team, as we are anticipating a lot of interest and a limited number of spots. We appreciate your interest and understanding, and we hope to see you at the info night!

_________________________


Destination Imagination Team Recruitment // What is Destination Imagination? DI is, at its core, is a problem solving competition. Students work for 3 months to solve one of 6 major challenges (covering areas of engineering, science, literature, fine arts, improvisation and technical methods). In addition to working as a team to solve a central challenge, teams create a skit to creatively tell a story about their solution.
Any students, in grades 4th through 8th, who wish to apply may do so. DI is also looking for corporate sponsors as well as coaches for the team. Visit this website for more information. 

_________________________

Faces and Cultures // We are happy to share that this fall we will welcome Guatemalan students to our campus through the FACES Program. The dates for this year's program are Saturday, October 14th - Saturday, December 9th. 

This Cultural Exchange prepares students between the ages of 10 to 17, to be Cultural Ambassadors of their country, and their visit is designed to promote global understanding and friendship between young people from different cultures. We have a couple of host families already but the program has several more students waiting to be placed. We wanted to extend the invitation to you again in the hopes you might reconsider! If you are interested in hosting a student, please find more information HERE. 

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TRIP NEWS // It's time for another big bonus event! Raise Days are September 21-22. Look ahead with a sneak peek oif all brands on bonus–available Wednesday 20–exclusively in the RaiseRight app. 

_________________________

Notification of Asbestos and Pesticide Application 

Asbestos Management Plan

Pesticide Policy

_________________________

Moms in Prayer meets after elementary drop off (8:45-ish) every Thursday in the Prayer Room at ZCS to pray Scripture over our children, the teachers, staff, and ZCS as a whole. We've prayed through tragedy and have also seen miracles happen! We don't have childcare, but don't let that stop you. Come a few times with your little one to see if it will work! We often have littles crawling around and even crying and making noise. It is good for them to see mama pray! We start September 7! Questions? Contact Erica: (202) 316-5123 or boerman.erica@gmail.com

September 06, 2023

Upcoming Parent Meetings //

1st-5th Grade Parent & Classroom Meetings | Thursday, September 7th
NEW this year! Join us in the gym at 6:35pm for elementary-wide info shared by Dr. McAboy, Mrs. Koop, Mrs. Deters, Mrs. Rozema, and Mrs. Pierce. Specific classroom meetings at 6:00pm and 7:00pm

6th-8th Grade Parent Meetings | Monday, September 18th at 6:00pm & 6:45pm

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Board of Trustees News // 

  • Welcome. The Board celebrates the 151 students added to elementary and middle school for the 2023-24 year and the approval of financial aid distributions that result in welcoming new families to ZCS.
  • Save the Date. Please save the date for the annual Legacy Event, scheduled this year for Thursday, November 9th at the Haworth Inn and Conference Center. The Legacy Event benefits the endowment of Zeeland Christian and exists to help ensure the long-term sustainability of Christian education at ZCS. We look forward to seeing many of you there for a night of community and celebration. 
  • Board Nominations. We will begin the nomination process for new members in late fall and encourage society members to consider who might be an excellent candidate for this role. The society will be invited to submit nominations before Christmas break.

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News from Ditto // “We are excited to introduce to you our new Store Director - Josh Hauch. Josh has a wealth of experience in the resale retail world, and comes with fresh ideas and energy.” Help congratulate Josh and all of our friends at Ditto the next time you stop in! 

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Unified Soccer Parent Meeting // If you are interested in having your child participate in Unified Soccer at ZCS this Fall, please join us for a parent-only Unified information night at 6:30pm on September 13th in the ZCS media center. Please RSVP here. This is for parents of middle or elementary students, both athletes (students with a disability) and partners who are interested in the soccer season ONLY. At this meeting, we will share the schedules, mission of Unified soccer, and the needed information for you to determine if this opportunity is a good fit for your child. Attendance at this meeting does not guarantee your child a spot on the team, as we are anticipating a lot of interest and a limited number of spots. We appreciate your interest and understanding, and we hope to see you at the info night!

__________________________________________

Destination Imagination Team Recruitment  // What is Destination Imagination? DI is, at its core, is a problem solving competition. Students work for 3 months to solve one of 6 major challenges (covering areas of engineering, science, literature, fine arts, improvisation and technical methods). In addition to working as a team to solve a central challenge, teams create a skit to creatively tell a story about their solution.
Any students, in grades 4th through 8th, who wish to apply may do so. DI is also looking for corporate sponsors as well as coaches for the team. Visit this website for more information. 

__________________________________________

Faces and Cultures // We are happy to share that this fall we will welcome Guatemalan students to our campus through the FACES Program. The dates for this year's program are Saturday, October 14th - Saturday, December 9th. 

This Cultural Exchange prepares students between the ages of 10 to 17, to be Cultural Ambassadors of their country, and their visit is designed to promote global understanding and friendship between young people from different cultures. We have a couple of host families already but the program has several more students waiting to be placed. We wanted to extend the invitation to you again in the hopes you might reconsider! If you are interested in hosting a student, please find more information HERE. 

__________________________________________

The 2024 CHAMPS Coupon Books are NEW AND IMPROVED and ready for purchase.  Champs Coupon Books are available in the front office for $25.00 (Cash/Check is accepted but remember the front office doesn't have change so please bring exact amount) through September 30 and you will receive a free 2023 book with purchase.  The 2023 book is valid through December 31, 2023 and the 2024 book is valid from date of purchase through December 31, 2024.  Each 2024 book comes with a free mobile app code for access to thousands of coupons for 12 months based on your location from anywhere in the US including the greater Holland area.  Purchase now for $25 through TRIP and get 10% back for your tuition too!  More information about CHAMPS including the Coupon Book Fundraiser is linked hereTRIP is selling 2024 CHAMPS books for $25-a $5 discount through September 29. You will also get last year's book while supplies last.

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Moms in Prayer meets after elementary drop off (8:45-ish) every Thursday in the Prayer Room at ZCS to pray Scripture over our children, the teachers, staff, and ZCS as a whole. We've prayed through tragedy and have also seen miracles happen! We don't have childcare, but don't let that stop you. Come a few times with your little one to see if it will work! We often have littles crawling around and even crying and making noise. It is good for them to see mama pray! We start September 7! Questions? Contact Erica: (202) 316-5123 or boerman.erica@gmail.com

 

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ZCS VOLUNTEER/EMPLOYMENT

Volunteer/Employment Opportunities

Substitute Teachers REALLY Needed! As we enter this school year, we would love to have a longer list of possible substitute teachers who love God, love kids, and love to learn. By joining the substitute teacher list, you will be aware of when jobs are open and then choose which jobs to accept. We would love to have English, Spanish, and Mandarin subs. If you or someone you know are interested in additional information, please contact Maria Klompmaker (mklompmaker@zcs.org).

Current ZCS Job Listings