Macatawa Bay Newsletter - West Ottawa Public Schools

West Ottawa Public Schools
Preparing Students to Be College, Career and Life Ready!
Macatawa Bay Newsletter
3700 140th Ave., Holland, MI 49424
Phone: 616-786-2000 / Fax: 616-786-2091
March 31, 2016
R.O.C.K.S.
Calendar of Events
The R.O.C.K.S. winners for the week of 3/21 were:
April
6th grade - Aaron Johnson
1-10—Spring Recess
11—School Resumes
11—Calling All Colors at HL
15—Anchor Function Night
16—MS B & O Solo & Ensemble Festival
20—2017 8th gr Washington DC Mtg @ HL
25—2017 8th gr Washington DC Mtg @ MB
28—All School Orchestra @ North HS
7th grade - Keegan Arroya
The R.O.C.K.S. winners for the week of 3/28 were:
6th grade - Heidi Lappi
7th grade - Darvin Jimenez
8th grade - Lauren Smith
Connor Williams
Amanda Hernandez
Jasmine Prins
Congratulations to all the students who received R.O.C.K.S.
tickets!
WOPS Acquires New Phone System
WOPS is getting a new phone system thanks to the
2014 Bond. The current phone system is more than
25 years old and the technology is outdated. The
new system will reduce the current telecommunication costs, allowing more money to be allocated to
educational programs. How will this new phone
system affect your family? The biggest change for
Mac Bay will be how student absences will be reported. All buildings will have one main line that callers
will use to access a menu from which choose. When
reporting absences, you will choose that menu
option. Please be sure to listen carefully to the menu
options so that your call is sent to the appropriate
staff member. There also are some new numbers
that you need to be aware of and make note. The
Administration Building has a new number as well as
the High School.
Please take a moment to see the new numbers
listed. There will be more communication the closer
we get to the phone system migration.
May
1—8th gr MacAttack 7pm
2—6th gr Band Concert 7:30pm
5 & 6—State Choral Festival
12—Tulip Time - Dismissal 11:07am
12—Male Choir Night @ White Caps
13—Anchor Function Night
24—Choir Concert 7pm
26—5th-7th Orchestra Concert 6pm
30—No School - Memorial Day
Hello Mac Bay Families,
Spring is here and in education land that means it is State Assessment time. Please be sure to review the
table below listing dates of testing by each grade level. It is very important that your child is on time and
present for all testing days. Eighth grade begins testing the Tuesday we return from Spring Break. Testing
is scheduled between 1st and 4th hour (7:50-11:30am) on test days, but will not necessarily take the entire
time. Please try to avoid any and all doctor appointments, ortho appointments, or any appointment on these
days and times. Also, please be sure to encourage a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast on test
days. No electronics after 7pm is an excellent rule during this time. Thank you for all you do to help your
child be successful.
Week Of:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
April 11-15
No Testing
8th ELA
8th ELA
8th ELA
Makeup
8th ELA
8th Math
8th Math
8th SS
Makeup 8th
Makeup 8th
Makeup 8th
6th ELA
Makeup 6th
Makeup 6th
April 18-22
Makeup
8th ELA
Makeup
8th Math or SS
April 25-29
Makeup 8th
6th ELA
May 2-6
Makeup 6th
6th Math
6th Math
Makeup 6th
Makeup 6th
May 9-13
Makeup 6th
7th ELA
7th ELA
7th ELA
Makeup 7th
Makeup 6th
Makeup 6th
Makeup 6th
Makeup 6th
May 16-20
Makeup 7th
7th Math
7th Math
7th Science
Makeup 7th
May 23-27
Makeup 7th
Makeup 7th
Makeup 7th
Makeup 7th
Makeup 7th
8th grade Washington DC Trip
On yet another cold weekend in March, 93 8 grade students from Mac Bay and Harbor Lights got out of town to
experience our nation’s Capital. West Ottawa 8th grade students took full advantage of the beauty and learning
opportunities the city offered. The tour started at The Washington Monument and the National Cathedral which
always proves to be moving for many of our students. Our second morning was spent at Arlington National Cemetery with the incredible awe of silence at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, continued with learning connections at
the Smithsonian Museum's Air and Space annex to include a 3D movie about D-Day and a dazzling tour of monuments at night. We were all impressed with the MLK, Jr. Memorial and the WWII Memorial in its representation
from all 50 states. These were just a few of the learning experiences students were a part of during this educational
travel opportunity.
th
If you would like your current 7th grade student to be a part of the trip next year, please plan to attend any one of
our informational meetings. They will be held on Monday, April 25 at 7pm at Macatawa Bay and Wednesday, April
20 at 7pm at Harbor Lights. If you sign up before June 1, 2016, the 2017 trip will have a price break incentive. There
are also fundraising opportunities if a student registers before completing 7th grade. This trip has been running in
WO for 37 consecutive years. We would love to have the current 7th grade students join the legacy experiences of
travel to their nation’s capital. Any WO student/parent can come to either meeting; they are not school specific for
attendees.
Congratulations to the Middle School Swim & Dive Team
On Saturday, March 19, the MS Swim & Dive Team concluded their season with a 3rd place finish at the conferences
championship and a record of 6-1.
Finishing in the top 8 in their events were:
Medley relay team - Bryce Zink, Max Gibson, Alex Boersema, and Tanner Wiegerink - 8th place
200 free - Tai Afrik - 5th place, Alex Boersema - 6th place
100 IM - Blake Pedersen - 2nd place
500 free—Jahmal Hogan - 2nd place, Evan Pepper - 6th place
50 fly - Alex Boersema - 3rd place, David LaDuke - 7th place
100 free - Jahmal Hogan - 2nd place, Tai Afrik - 7th place, Evan Pepper - 8th place
100 back finishing - Blake Pedersen - 1st place, Harrison Brinkman - 7th place, Bryce Zink - 8th place
100 breast - Max Gibson - 7th place
200 free relay - Jahmal Hogan, Tai Afrik, Evan Pepper, Blake Pedersen - 1st place
Congratulations Science Olympiad
The West Ottawa Science Olympiad program completed in the 31st annual GVSU SO Tournament on Saturday,
March 19. This is the largest tournament in the nation with 70 teams from Kent and Ottawa County Participating.
(26 high schools and 44 middle schools).
Harbor Lights earned medals in 11 of the 23 events and placed 6th overall. Macatawa Bay earned metals in 8 events
and placed 10th out of 44 schools.
MB Top Medalists:
Gold Medals:
Bottle Rockets - Will Truttman, Charlie DeWaard
Experimental Design - Colin Brown, Tyler Bush
Silver Medal:
Dynamic Planet - Colin Brown
Bronze Medal:
Air Trajectory - Michael Heindlmeyer, Gabe Giiddings
West Ottawa High School earned Gold medals in 6 events (a team record). Silver in one and Bronze in 3 events. In
addition, they earned medals in another 7 events. They were ranked in 17 of the 23 events.
All 3 West Ottawa Schools qualified for the state tournament.
Panther Athletic News
WO summer athletic camp registration forms and swimming
opportunities are available at www.wopanthers.com
WO Athletic Booster Golf Outing: June 20th, Macatawa Legends
More information to come
Free Athletic Physical Night- sponsored by the Panther Fund
May 25th, 5:00-9:00, Shoreline Orthopedics
All students entering grades 6-11 need a physical dated April 15, 2016 in order
to play next school year.
6th grade students will be able to participate in cross country, track, tennis,
wrestling and swimming next year at the middle school level.
Physical forms will be available at WOHS, HL and MB in late April. Forms
will also be available on wopanthers.com in late April.