// NEW INFORMATION //

ZCS Grandparents’ / Grandfriends’ Day // Friday, April 24th // 9:00-11:10 am

Parents: For Your INFORMATION:

• Y5-8th Student Transportation Information: April 24th is a half-day of school. There is NO p.m. busing. Bus transportation FROM school is NOT available.
• Y5-8th Students may be dismissed with Grandparents at 11:10 a.m.   OR   Y5-8th Students may be picked up by parents using the regular car pick-up line at 11:40 a.m. 
  • Parents, please let your teacher know how your child will be dismissed on this morning. 

 Grandparents/Grandfriends: For Your INFORMATION:

• Grandparents’/Grandfriends' Invites
• Grandaprents'/Grandfriends' FAQ
• Parking Map
• Middle School Grandparent Visiting Schedule - if you have a middle school grandchild

 ________________________

Support Our Odyssey of the Mind Team // Buy a CandyGram! // Our school's Elementary Odyssey of the Mind team has qualified for the World Finals and needs your help getting there! To raise funds for the trip, we're selling CandyGrams that will be delivered to student lockers on May 1st.

Order online via the Google Form linked here: https://forms.gle/WrBKbwDwDYHAxNJf8 , or stop by our table during lunch recess on April 21, 22,or 23. 

To place an order, simply provide:

• Your child's name, grade, and classroom
• A brief note to include (we'll transcribe it for online orders!)
• Your candy selection

Payment: $4 per CandyGram: Venmo, Zeffy (for tax deductible donation), Cash or Check

*If paying via Zeffy, you can bypass the transaction fee by selecting "other."

All CandyGrams will be delivered to lockers the afternoon of May 1st. Thank you for supporting our team!

 ________________________

// REPEAT //

Spring Champs Book Sale Alert! // Get ready to SAVE big with our Champs Coupon Book - now only $15.00! Starting April 1 you can grab your book packed with amazing Lakeshore coupons and regional and national discounts!  Don't miss out on this deal!  Champs booklets can be purchased through the school office or ZCS trip office. 2026 coupons are valid from when the book is purchased through December 31, 2026.

 ________________________

If your child WILL NOT have a Grandparent or Grandfriend with them on Grandparents/Grandfriends’ Day on Friday, April 24th // Grandparents’/Grandfriends’ Day is scheduled for April 24th. We recognize that for various reasons, some students will not have a grandfriend/grandparent able to be with them on that morning. We have a wonderful parent volunteer who would love to help find grandfriend surrogates for our students who might otherwise be alone this morning. 

If your child will not have a grandparent/grandfriend with them, and you would appreciate your child having the opportunity for a volunteer grandfriend, please submit this simple GOOGLE FORM by Wednesday, April 15th at 4:00 pm.

 ________________________

Mark your calendar for ZCS Fun Night! // Join us for a fun evening hosted by our 8th Graders on Friday, May 1 from 5-8 PM. All proceeds from the night go toward supporting the 8th grade class trip. Bring the whole family and invite friends to enjoy a night of games, food, and fun! Keep an eye out for fliers coming home with your students with more details regarding tickets. Tickets will be available for sale ahead of time as well as at the event.  We hope to see you there!

 ________________________

TOTALLY FREE Car Wash //  Saturday, April 18, from 9 am - noon (rain or shine) in the parking lot in front of Dollar General and Ace Hardware. Yes, it is free! We will not take donations at the car wash. 7th-grade students are collecting pledges for each car washed, so we need you to drive through! The pledges will support Grace Community Christian School in the Philippines and a local charity that the students choose. Tell your neighbors!

 ________________________

Attendance Reminder // If your student will be absent from school please email the homeroom teacher and attendance@zcs.org. Please list the reason for the absence as well as the date (s) they will be absent in your email. This is especially helpful for those leaving early for Spring Break.  

 ________________________

Parents Partners is excited to be hosting Muffins with Moms! This event is for elementary students and their mom/special lady. Please click on here to sign up and get all the details! This is the last week to sign up! 

 ________________________

Summer Camps + Tutoring // Sign-ups are still active for various camps and tutoring! Please note that some camps have changed dates due to work being done in the gym over the summer! To sign up or view choices, visit: https://ExpandED.regfox.com/summer-camps-tutoring-2026 

 ________________________

Faces & Our Cultures // For nearly 20 years, Faces & Our Cultures has enriched students' lives through cultural exchange programs between Guatemala and the U.S. Our school has been part of this  program and we're excited to continue offering global experiences to our students! *If you are interested in LEARNING MORE about either program, please complete THIS FORM.

*Please feel free to select a time to CONNECT VIRTUALLY with Lucía Viteri, Faces Coordinator at: lucia.viteri@facesandcultures.com

*If you are interested in LEARNING MORE about either program, please complete THIS FORM.

________________________

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.

________________________

2026-27 Academic Calendar: We’re happy to share that the 2026–2027 school calendar has been approved by the Board. Thank you to Katy Rozema, Director of Teaching and Learning, for leading this process with input from teachers across all grade levels.

You’ll notice that in the 2026–2027 calendar, some of our typical rhythms are shifted a bit later, as both Labor Day (September 7) and Memorial Day (May 31) fall as late as possible. Here are a few highlights and things to note:

• August Launch Week: Meet-Your-Teacher and RAMS FEST will take place on August 25, with school beginning on Thursday, August 27 for Elementary and Middle School.
• September: Preschool will begin on September 8. 
• CEA / Fall Break: As previously communicated, the CEA Convention will be held one week earlier than normal, so Fall Break will be October 14–16.
• Fall Conferences: Conferences will be held Thursday evening, October 22, and Friday, October 23 will be a half day of school with conferences in the afternoon.
• Grandparents and Grandfriends’ Days: Preschool - April 21 & 22, Y5-8th - April 23
• Last Day of School: School will end with a half day on June 9.

View the 2026-27 School Calendar.

________________________

REMINDER: ZCS Apparel Store is NOW ALWAYS OPEN

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

________________________