May 26, 2017
Updated 2017/2018 Calendar
You can view the 17/18 school calendar here, at the ZQ Parent Website, on Facebook or on the ZQuest Website & District Website!
8th Grade PE Course in June: Transportation Help needed
(all grade level parents can help)!
Zeeland Quest Color Run!
Join us in supporting our kids by running or walking!
Parent Informational Letter https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iPLGvC03YCWUNl2TYyVk91i7YTCFFa5Hy5UdFIGdCEI/edit?usp=sharing
Color Run Sponsor Address Form
This form is due April 21 in order to receive the discounted runner rate!!!
Registration Form
Business Sponsor Letter
Neighborhood Donation Letter (neighbors can easily donate online!!!)
June 2017 and August 2017 info
Just a quick reminder that we will be moving out to Adams TEMPORARILY on June 13 (no school on June 12). We will then start the school year up at Adams on August. 7. After our August/Sept. break week we will be all moved into our new space at ZQuest for the remainder of the 17/18 school year!
*ZKids will be available as usual at Adams for our ZQuest kiddos in June and August. You will need to make arrangements/sign your kids up for ZKids in advance by contacting Cheryl Kraker at ckraker@zps.org. If you have any other ZKids questions, please let me know and I’ll do my best to answer them or find an answer for you!
2017/2018 Creekside Sports
Current 6th & 7th graders--Fall sports will be starting before next school year starts, with practices starting in August. If you are interested in trying out for a fall sport, please sign up in the Creekside office starting this week.
2017/2018 Music/Dance Elective information for all 6th-8th graders
I have been working closely with Mrs. Bier (band), Mrs. TenElshof (orchestra), Mr. Costello (choir) and Mrs. Landes (dance for 8th graders only) the past several months on how to beef up the arts electives at Creekside moving into the high school programs. They have been thrilled with our students joining their classes and would love to see these courses become more of a commitment, especially if our kids see themselves pursuing these courses into high school! There is a break week commitment that the teachers would love to see our kids commit to in order to help progress the band, choir, orchestra and dance program at ZPS! While we all respect and know that our kids deserve the breaks that we get throughout the year, the teachers are asking for 1-2 days on break weeks so that our kids don’t fall behind and miss out on crucial learning that happens while we are gone on breaks. Of course, we cannot mandate these days on break weeks, parents will need to decide based on availability, teachers would love to have the communication gap broken in order to help develop the arts with our kids. I have a proposal all set and ready to go. I have all of this information attached here.
I am aware that this is a big commitment and it doesn’t seem to fit ZQuest, however at this time there is not any fiscal way at this time to expand the arts into ZQuest alone and into our calendar. If we want to have these “amenities” then we all need to find a common ground and meet in the middle. I feel like I’ve voiced the ideals of ZQuest when meeting with the arts teachers. I also feel like they are truly meeting us in the middle. They definitely do not want us to dissolve a family vacation on a break week because of class needs; they want ZQuest students to be a bigger part of the arts program within ZPS.
FRESHMEN DUX Athletics Info
June 6: Incoming Freshman Athlete & Parent Meeting
7pm in the ZWHS Cafeteria
You will learn everything you need to know about playing sports in high school, plus a tour & door prizes
Summer Participation Requirement: New for 2017, all students participating in summer programs at ZW are required to have a ZAC (Zeeland Athletic Card--your passport to play) prior to participation. ZACs may be picked up during posted athletic office hours beginning
May 1-June 9.
*Creekside athletes (played a school sport): pick up a temporary ZAC from ZW Athletic Office
*Creekside students (did not play a sport): Bring physical form & concussion ed form to the ZW Athletic Office to get your temporary ZAC.
*Students/Athletes from other middle schools: bring a copy of your current physical form & a concussion ed form to the ZW Athletic Office to get your temporary ZAC.
JRL Library at ZQuest!!!
Dear ZQ Families,
In the upcoming 8 to 10 months, I will be working to build a Just Right Library for ZQ students. Up until now, Roosevelt School and ZQ have shared the JRL. With the addition of space, we would like to build our own library for ZQ students. Many of you have already generously donated books and I am in the process of leveling these and getting collections organized. It is an enormous undertaking. Thank you to the PTO and other parents who are assisting with the process.
We are looking for books in Guided Reading Levels and specifically looking at levels A-N for our JRL. Our priority at this time are reading levels A-J to support our early and emergent readers. Leslie asked that I send out a few links to help you know what kinds of books we are looking for and where you can purchase them if you so desire. Here are two of the most affordable links.
Book Source
If you search under the Collections by Level in this link, you will see books at a specific level to purchase.
Book Wizard (Scholastic)
This is a teacher resource that helps teachers look for level text for classroom use.
Most Scholastic books you order have a guided reading level with them. Scholastic is a great source to use if you are ordering books for your child as well.
Thanks for all of your support. Feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas. ~Mrs. Hooker
It’s not too late!
If you haven't filled out an application for free and reduced lunch (in most cases this is a yearly renewal and you need to reapply), there is still time to do so! Even if you don't think you will qualify, filling out the application helps the school by providing us with additional funding from the government. It's simply to apply. Simply follow this link to apply online or email Leslie for a paper application!
SECURITY NEWS…
*PLEASE make sure that you are CHECKING in at the office BEFORE coming down to the rooms. This MUST be done even if you are only dropping off a lunch or walking your child to their class in the morning. In addition, you MUST wear your printed name tag at all times in the building, making sure it is visible to all teachers and faculty at all times. You will be stopped if you do not have a visible name tag! These are things that we must do in order to keep all of the kids safe! Thank you for your patience and for understanding!
What about Volunteering??
IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO CHAPERONE OR VOLUNTEER in any way, OR just VISIT at Zeeland Quest...you MUST make sure that you have had a background check online! Please go to https://v2ms.zps.org/Login.aspx and create an account (if you haven’t already). The account you create is good each year, however you MUST update it every year (so put your username and password in a safe place).
This is necessary for ALL parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. who want to attend trips or come in to visit! We CANNOT allow you down to our hall without this completed (this is not to be an inconvenience to you, but to keep ALL of our kids safe ALL the time)!
**IMPORTANT** Starting October 3, if your tag is YELLOW, you will not be permitted past the office, so PLEASE get those background checks in! If a grandparent is coming from out of town, please plan ahead so that they can participate in whatever activity they are coming to school for!
Small ways to give to ZQuest through your everyday shopping...
Family Fare Receipts
Simply drop your family fare receipts off in the white trash can outside Mrs. Leslie’s office and they will be counted toward reward money that comes back to our school! It’s an easy and simple way for us to earn money by your weekly shopping!
Box Tops
You can sign up to receive coupons and Box Tops extras by going to www.boxtops4education.com. It’s easy to sign up, clip coupons to save at stores and earn money for ZQuest!
A few things to remember BEFORE turning them into school…
*Please look at the expiration date! If the top is expired, please just recycle.
*Please cut the box top out around the dotted perimeter. This helps our parent volunteer in making sure they are all taken care of (imagine the hours it would take to cut everyone’s box tops out?!).
*Please make sure that you place them in a baggie or the collection sheet and label with your child’s name and their teacher’s name!
*PTO is working on a fun classroom challenge, so keep cutting those Box Tops!
Shoparoo!!!
What is Shoparoo? Shoparoo is a free mobile app that lets you earn cash donations for our school, just by taking pictures of your shopping receipts. It’s super easy and only takes seconds. The best part is that it doesn’t matter where you shop or what you buy--every receipt counts! If you are unable to get the app, please feel free to send your receipts in weekly and we will scan them!
Download the free app here and start snapping those shopping receipts!
**Paper Gator Recycling:
What? Please bring in your newspapers, catalogs/magazines/junk mail/phone books/office-school paper. We cannot take plastic, metal, trash, glass, or cardboard.
Where? In the back of Creekside (Look for “Paper Gator” on the bin)
When? 24-7(drop off anytime)
What will the paper become? The paper will be shredded and processed into hydro-seeding mulch, lawn establishment products, lawn repair products, cat litter, dog litter or small animal bedding. Help us become a greener world!!!! Recycle!!!
