Third grade students show their Compliment Collage’s they made to instill confidence through compliments.

Staff and students with one of the fleece tie blankets they made during the day of service projects.

This year CTA students have been able to work with an AmeriCorp Vista representative through the Heart of West Michigan United Way. Our high school students crafted tie blankets for Degage Ministries plus tie hats that they gifted to others. Some of the organizations that received the hats were Degage Ministries, North Kent Connect, and The Bridge. Elementary students read books with our high school students, and talked about the power of compliments.

Elementary students also decorated lunch bags for Kids Food Basket. We all enjoyed being able to give back to our community to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

Dennis J. Hayden, Sr. age 60 of Grand Rapids, died Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Dennis was born January 18, 1957 in Grand Rapids, Michigan the son of Earle and Ruby (Beach) Hayden. He graduated from Cedar Springs High School in 1975 and served in the U.S. Air Force. Surviving are his children, Dennis Jr., Brandi and Billie Jo; father, Earle Hayden; sisters, Earla (Phillip) Alber, Donna Johnson; brothers, Owen (Nancy Czyzewski) Hayden, Aaron (Kelly) Hayden; many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother. The family will greet friends Thursday, January 25^th from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m. at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. Pastor David Fernlund officiating. Interment Elmwood Cemetery, Cedar Springs. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Degage Ministries or Mel Trotter Ministries.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs

Student Leadership Council is focusing on “giving back” and “family engagement” at the Middle School. Students brought in over 1,000 food items for a Food Drive. Students were able to build 10 baskets for our local families. Food Baskets included everything needed for a Thanksgiving Day feast and then some. Additional items were donated to North Kent Community Services, which also helps to support our families from the Cedar Springs and neighboring areas.

The group of students also suggested more opportunities for family nights. Their wishes were answered, and thanks to our partnership with En Gedi, Craig Owens was able to help us kick off a Family Fun Night at the Middle School. Parents, students and their siblings competed in Bubble Soccer. Pizza was provided. It was a great night with lots of laughs.

Students are working to coordinate the following for future give-back opportunities:

• Taking a “field trip” to Degage Ministries to help out

• Visiting the residents at Metron of Cedar Springs

• Volunteering some time to help support St. John Paul II Community Dinners

• Writing letters to our Veterans

If you or your child have any ideas for Family Fun Nights or Giving Back, please contact Jodi West at jodi.west@csredhawks.org or (616) 696-7326. Student Leadership is not an exclusive group. All students are welcome to drop in. Meeting are every other Thursday from 2:20-3:15, resuming on January 5, 2017.

When the 4th grade Student Leadership Team contemplated how they wanted to improve their school this year, they decided they were going to look outside of the school walls and into their own community.  By starting a “Penny War” between classrooms, they managed to raise more than $840 dollars to which they donated to the North Kent Service Center!  Each classroom had a jar and students from their home classrooms could fill the jar with pennies.  However, students from other classrooms could offset the amount of pennies by contributing quarters, nickels, and dimes.  The only way to make up the difference was to add more pennies!  Fun was had by all and best of all, they were able to contribute to a great program!  Awesome job, 4th graders!

The 5th grade Student Leadership Team was not far behind with their own idea of having a food and clothing collection for those in need.  During a two week period, they managed to collect five totes of clothing and a large amount of food!  Donations will be delivered to Degage Ministries in Grand Rapids, where the team will spend some time during the dinner hour helping out and meeting some of the staff and clients.

We are very proud of our Leadership Teams and their dedication to helping others!