This week Friday is Pajama Day. Come to school in your cozy PJs and slippers!
FAMILY SURVEY
Each year we ask Quincy families to complete a survey to help us identify areas of strength and to plan for areas for growth. It is helpful to have as many parents as possible complete the survey. It takes just a few minutes and you can follow this link to access it. Thank you so much! We love our Quincy families!!
Each year we ask Quincy families to complete a survey to help us identify areas of strength and to plan for areas for growth. It is helpful to have as many parents as possible complete the survey. It takes just a few minutes and you can follow this link to access it. Thank you so much! We love our Quincy families!!
SPIRIT DAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 24
Next week Friday is Pajama Day. Come to school in your cozy PJs and slippers!
HALF DAY OF SCHOOL
As a reminder, we will have a half-day on Friday, January 17 with dismissal at noon. Teachers will spend the afternoon learning together during professional development.
ART CLUB 2019-2020
3rd-5th Grade students are invited to join Mrs. Arens’ Art Club on Tuesdays, from 3:45 – 5:30 pm for 6 weeks, starting on January 21.
Cost is $10 for 6 dates. January 21, January 28, February 4, February 11, February 18 and February 25. Info packets will be available in the office starting on Tuesday, Jan 14. Your payment of $10 will sign your student up.
Below is a quick update from the music room! Quincy will host the High School Wind Ensemble on February 20th. We look forward to hearing the band play for us!
First graders are beginning to explore “Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint Saens. This fun collection of music will help us begin to learn about the instruments of the orchestra.
Second graders are singing some Broadway favorites, as well as learning about Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf.”
Third Graders are so excited to share their folk dance night with their special guests. Third graders and their guests are invited to join us on Thursday, February 27th, at 6:30pm in the Quincy gym. Third graders are also learning about sixteenth notes and eighth/sixteenth note combinations.
Fourth Graders are working hard to prepare for our Link Up concert with the Holland Symphony on March 23. All of the music for the concert can be found online. Google “Carnegie Hall Link Up The Orchestra Sings.” Using this site makes practice at home much more enjoyable.
Fifth Graders travel to Grand Rapids to hear the GR Symphony on February 28th. We are currently learning about the music the orchestra will be sharing with us. We are grateful to Michigan Youth Arts for the transportation grant they’ve provided for our trip.
ZPS Third through Eighth Graders are invited to join the West Michigan Children’s Choir. Rehearsals for second semester are just getting underway. The choir meets on Monday evenings from 6:30pm-7:30pm at 14th Street CRC in downtown Holland. There is a $100 fee per semester. Contact director, Kristin Baron, for more information: thewmcc@gmail.com
Z-KIDS BEFORE AND AFTER REGISTRATION AND 2020 SUMMER CAMP
It is hard to believe, but it is time to think about registration for Z-Kids for next year. Z-Kids Before and After School registration for 2020/2021 school year takes place February 3rd.
As a reminder, we will have a half-day on Friday, December 13 with dismissal at noon. Teachers will spend the afternoon learning together during professional development.
IS YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK COMPLETE?
In preparation for holiday festivities at the Q, it is a good idea to make sure that your background check is complete for this school year. If you have not updated since July 1, 2019, it is time to renew. Please make sure you renew at least 48 hours before the event. Thank you! Please visit https://v2ms.zps.org/Login.aspx to renew or complete a new profile. Thank you!
SPIRIT DAY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20th
Please feel free to have your child dressed in HOLIDAYS colors or sweaters. Be creative!
WINTER WEAR
Now that colder weather is upon us, it sure can get cold on the Quincy playgrounds! Students benefit from time outside, even when it is chilly. Our students go outside for recess unless the temperature is below an actual 10 or the wind chill is less than -10. Please be sure to send your student with a warm winter coat, hat, boots and gloves. When snow arrives, snow pants will be needed. Avoid searching through the “Lost & Found” by remembering to label everything!
WINTER BREAK
School will be closed from Dec 23 – Jan 5. School will resume on Monday, Jan 6th.
Thank you to everyone, all of our awesome students, Mrs. Apsey, parents, grandparents, teachers, staff and volunteers that helped make our Arctic Adventure Book Fair a great experience and success! We raised over $6,800 for our library! The profit from your purchases will be used to buy new books and resources for our school library. In addition, thank you for helping build classroom libraries through our “Classroom Wish List” program.
I would also like to say a very special thank you to all of my amazing volunteers who made the book fair so wonderful! I couldn’t have done it without each and everyone one of you! It was snow much fun! Thanks again! 😊 Mrs. Pearson
HALF-DAY ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13
As a reminder, we will have a half-day on Friday, December 13 with dismissal at noon. Teachers will spend the afternoon learning together during professional development.
IS YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK COMPLETE?
In preparation for holiday festivities at the Q, it is a good idea to make sure that your background check is complete for this school year. If you have not updated since July 1, 2019, it is time to renew. Please make sure you renew at least 48 hours before the event. Thank you!
Laura Eisen has been at Quincy for eleven wonderful years! Although she loves the students, staff and families at Quincy, she has accepted a new position at the administration building. She will be at Quincy through Thanksgiving break and then she will start her new position on December 2. Anna Braymer, a beloved Quincy paraprofessional, will be taking her place. We wish Laura the best and we will miss her very much!
NOON PLAYGROUND HELP NEEDED
Are you looking for a fun way to make a little extra money while having fun with our terrific Quincy students? We have the perfect job for you! We are in need of a lunch/recess supervisor.
The hours are 11:45am-1:15pm, Monday through Friday.
If you are interested, please email Allyson Apsey at aapsey@zps.org.
DONATIONS OF HAND SANITIZER NEEDED
We could use your help! We need some hand sanitizer for our students to use when they are on their way to the lunchroom. Donations from families would be very much appreciated (especially the giant bottles of hand sanitizer!).
SCRIP ORDERS AND SPIRIT WEAR ORDERS
Our PTO is offering the opportunity to order Quincy Spirit Wear and Scrip (gift cards) for all who are interested. Scrip order forms should have come home late last week. Spirit Wear forms should be sent home either today or tomorrow. If you need a form, please stop by the office to pick one up or you can call us at 616-748-4700. Due date for Spirit Wear is Monday, November 25. Scrip due date is Tuesday, November 26.
3rd-5th grade students – we could use your help to Paint the County Snow Plow!
Two “Art Nights” are being scheduled for this week Tuesday, Nov. 12 and Wednesday, Nov. 13. from 6-8pm. Meet at the Bert’s barn, 9066 – 88th Ave. All art supplies will be provided as well as Hot Chocolate… Please email Mrs. Arens if you are able to help – harens@zps.org. Let’s get this thing on the road!
PERSEVERANCE
This month we’re talking about the trait of Perseverance. The dictionary defines it as: “Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” The definition we are using in class is:
Perseverance: the ability to work through situations even when there are obstacles or challenges in the way.
Angela Duckworth is an author and researcher who discovered that the most successful people in our world right now have one big thing in common: their ability to persevere through tough situations. She calls it Grit! In fact, she found that Grit is a higher indicator of success than SAT scores, IQ, or GPA. This month, we are talking about how we respond when things get really hard or when we feel like we’ve failed or can’t do something. Over the next few weeks, there will be stories of inspiring and resilient role models. We will talk about what happens and what our thought process is when we feel frustrated or stumped. We will talk about having a Growth Mindset instead of a Fixed Mindset—to see challenges and failure as an opportunity to learn or try a new path instead of thinking, “I’m just not good at this” or, “If I failed this time, I will fail again next time.” People that persevere are people that know failure is just the beginning of new growth or learning!
Check out these ideas to learn about perseverance with your family:
The Scholastic book fair is coming, and we have a blizzard of books! It will be held in the media center on November 12th-13th from 8:45 am-3:15 pm and November 14th from 8:45 am-4:15pm. It will be “snow” much fun at Quincy’s Scholastic Arctic Adventure! We hope to see you there!
Attention Skiers and snowboarders!!! Bittersweet Ski Resort Discount Card registration forms for students and adults are available in the school office. Stop in and pick one up, call or have one sent home, or email mgroneve@zps.org to have the forms emailed to you. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to save money on downhill skiing and snowboarding at Bittersweet. Return the completed form(s) to the school office by December 9th. The cards will be sent home before Christmas vacation. If you have any questions, please contact Mark Gronevelt, mgroneve@zps.org.
LOST AND FOUND
Our lost and found is very full! It is always good to stop and check our lost and found during conferences. All items left will be donated to charity sometime next week.
WINTER WEAR
Now that colder weather is upon us, it sure can get cold on the Quincy playgrounds! Students benefit from time outside, even when it is chilly. Our students go outside for recess unless the temperature is below an actual 10 or the wind chill is less than -10. Please be sure to send your student with a warm winter coat, hat, boots and gloves. When snow arrives, snow pants will be needed. Avoid searching through the “Lost & Found” by remembering to label everything!
Please watch our 3:42 Spanish video! Lots of your precious children are in it. It’s a pleasure teaching your children at Quincy.
BOOK FAIR IS COMING SOON!
Quincy’s Book Fair is right around the corner and we are so excited for the Scholastic Arctic Adventure. Spread the word – there are “snow” many books! It begins with a preview day on Monday, November 11th for teachers and students to write their wish lists. On Tuesday and Wednesday, November 12th & 13th the fair will be OPEN from 8:45 am – 3:15 pm as well as on Thursday, November 14th from 8:45 am – 4:15 pm. We hope you join us!
We are also looking for volunteers to sign-up to help make this a wonderful event. You can sign up at: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/quincyelementaryschool2
ATTENTION SKIERS
Attention Skiers and snowboarders!!! Bittersweet Ski Resort Discount Card registration forms for students and adults are available in the school office. Stop in and pick one up, call or have one sent home, or email mgroneve@zps.org to have the forms emailed to you. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to save money on downhill skiing and snowboarding at Bittersweet. Return the completed form(s) to the school office by December 9th. The cards will be sent home before Christmas vacation. If you have any questions, please contact Mark Gronevelt, mgroneve@zps.org.
