Beach Elementary had a delivery of 52 pairs of hand knitted mittens and 8 hand knitted hats on December 3! Ruth spent many, many hours knitting these and donated them to our Beach Elementary school! Thank you Ruth!

Beach art students with their posters. Photos courtesy of Vicki Burke.

Jasmine Fankhauser and Loralee Nauta, of the Women’s Auxiliary at Glen Hill Post #287.

Congratulations to Beach Elementary third grader, Jasmine Fankhauser for winning the Cedar Springs American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Poppy Poster Contest. Jasmine won a cash prize as well as having her poster move onto the state level contest and possibly the national one, as well. All students in the participating class received certificates for their entries. 

A representative from the Cedar Springs Women’s Auxiliary visited students in art class, gave a brief history of the Auxiliary and the history behind the poppy flower as representation for fallen service men and women. Students then designed a poster using the required guidelines of the contest.  

Loralee Nauta from the Ladies Auxiliary presented Jasmine’s award as well as the certificates of participation to all the students. 

Brison Ricker (left) playing soccer for the Red Hawk Varsity Soccer team in the fall of 2015, before he began showing symptoms of brain cancer. Courtesy photo.

By Judy Reed

By all accounts, Brison Ricker, 16, was a fighter. But his fight with DIPG, a rare and deadly childhood brain tumor called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine glioma (DIPG), came to an end Saturday morning, December 23, when he passed into the arms of his Lord and Savior.

Brison, the son of Brian and Kim Ricker, of Nelson Township, and brother to Preston, 14, was a happy, athletic, well-liked teen with a strong faith in Jesus Christ. Before his symptoms began in the fall of 2015, he loved riding dirt bikes with Preston, and playing soccer. According to Kim, Brison raced motocross and supercross, and came in second place in the state for the two classes he raced in. He also was on the Varsity soccer team as a freshman that fall and voted offensive player of the year.

Brison Ricker at age 9, with his father, Brian. He played soccer and was training for the Riverbank Run. Courtesy photo.

Brison also loved to run; the Post ran a story on Brison in 2010 when he was nine years old and a third grader at Beach Elementary. He was training to run the Riverbank run—and his dad was going to run with him. 

In 2012, we reported he won first place for boys in the 55m dash at Cedar View, as well as first place in the 100m dash for 11-12-year old boys at the Hershey Track and Field meet that summer.

Brison’s symptoms started around Thanksgiving 2015—dizziness and blurred vision. By January he had a diagnosis of DIPG, which is nearly always fatal and lacks an effective treatment, according to Stanford University. 

According to a news article from Stanford’s medicine news, DIPG affects 200-400 school-aged children in the United States each year and has a five-year survival rate of less than 1 percent; half of patients die within nine months of diagnosis. Radiation gives only a temporary reprieve from the tumor’s growth. In addition, it is inoperable.

By June of 2016, their oncologist advised them to bring in hospice because there was nothing more they could do. It was then that Kim and Brian sought alternative treatment for Brison through the Burzynski Clinic. However, it was not covered by insurance. And the community then began to put on numerous fundraisers to try to help the Rickers fund the expenses related to Brison’s treatment—fundraisers which continued through this Christmas season.

Brison and his younger brother, Preston.

By December 2016, the Rickers found that Preston also had cancer—not DIPG but thyroid cancer, for which he underwent conventional treatment.

Brison had a lot of ups and downs medically, but the treatment did shrink the tumor and the area where it was located (the pons) eventually became scar tissue. Unfortunately, the cancer eventually spread to his spleen and other parts of his brain.

Toward the end, he could not hear or see, and had become unresponsive. The Rickers called in hospice last week, and a prayer vigil was held at their home on Friday evening, December 22. Brison then passed away on Saturday morning.

“He fought so hard until the end, he had big dreams with the determination, perseverence, and talent to make those dreams come true and he did not want to leave this earth,” Kim wrote on her Facebook page. “Brison had unwavering faith until the end and believed he would be healed. Now he is playing soccer and racing dirt bikes in heaven.”

She also thanked those who have supported them. “Thank You to everyone who has provided love and support to our family over the past 23 months since Brison was diagnosed. Our mission to save him did not end with success, but because of so many of you who selflessly gave we were able to provide treatment that extended his life and time with us for an extra 18 months. We made so many memories during that time. He celebrated is 16th birthday, he went to high school dances, we went on vacations, and became closer than ever before. That is time our family will always be grateful for.”

Brison’s funeral will be held on Saturday December 30 at Resurrection Life Church in Rockford at noon, with visitation from 10 to noon. See his obituary here.

Brison is the third Cedar Springs student to pass away this year. Earlier this fall, Emma Orr, a student at Beach Elementary passed away from terminal neuroblastoma; and Cora Gonzalez, a 5th grader at Cedar View, passed away after being hit by a car.

Campus Kids is a State Licensed Day Care program and we are preparing for school start.  We offer Before and After School Care throughout the school year.  Campus Kids opens at 6:00am at both Cedar Trails Elementary and Beach Elementary.  We do activities throughout the morning, and then serve a light breakfast.  We dismiss the students in time to get to their class at either Cedar Trails, Beach, or Cedar View.  Cedar Trails students may attend Campus Kids at their school, while Beach and  Cedar View students may attend at Beach.  In the afternoons, Campus Kids opens at 3:30pm for students at the same locations.  A healthy snack is served and homework help and fun activities are offered until 6:00pm.  To enroll, please complete and return a registration packet before September 1, 2017 to reserve your spot.  Packets may be picked up at Cedar Trails, or they can be found online at csredhawks.org.  There is a $20 annual registration fee for one child or $35 for a family.  Rates are $8.00 a morning or afternoon, or $15 for both on the same day.  Parents complete a schedule of days that they need care, and they are billed a month in advance for services.

For an additional charge, we also offer care on early release days and on snow days for pre-registered children. Please call (616) 696-1716 or email campus.kids@csredhawks.org for additional information.

Joyce A. (Bremmer) Empie, a lifelong resident of Cedar Springs, passed away Wednesday, July 12, 2017. She was born December 20, 1930 to Morise and Vera (Porter) Bremmer in Cedar Springs, Michigan. She leaves behind her daughter Jomay (Bob) Brand; grandchildren Dana Brand, Justin (Nikki) Brand, and Katie Brand along with great-grandchildren Gavin, Maddie, and Harper. She also leaves behind to cherish her memory her brothers Arwin “Ed” (Nancy) Bremmer, Rex (Kathy) Bremmer, and Arden (Denise) Bremmer; and several nieces and nephews. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Stanley, her brother Jack, and parents Morise and Vera. Joyce worked at Beach Elementary for many years and enjoyed camping, hunting and spending time with her family. In High School she was a member of the choir, Future Homemakers of America, a cheer leader for three years and a member of the Red Flannel Queen Court. A memorial visitation was held at Pederson Funeral Home after cremation had taken place.

book cover

April’s Baby 

Students at Beach Elementary illustrated and published a book about April the giraffe.

Second and third grade students at Beach Elementary School in Cedar Springs celebrated March is Reading Month c by illustrating and publishing a book about the internet sensation, April the Giraffe. This project, titled “April’s Baby” was the brainchild of visual art teacher Vicki Burke, after overhearing her students talking about April the Giraffe.

“When I saw the fascination the students had for the giraffe April, I just knew I had to turn this interest into a lesson,” explained Burke.

Thirty-one students, affectionately dubbed “Team April,” volunteered their drawing talents for a short story titled “April’s Baby,” which Ms. Burke penned and graphically designed. Although the project began in March, the actual publication was delayed until the celebrity giraffe delivered her calf.

“The students were onboard from the very beginning and were so excited about the entire process,” Ms Burke explained. “This lesson became much more than an art or literacy lesson; it also taught the importance of the stewardship of our world, its resources and animals, and stressed the selfless act of volunteering and giving.” All proceeds from the book will go to Giraffe Conservation Foundation and Animal Adventure Park, whose live web feed of their Giraffe April inspired this project.

This book is illustrated by children for children, however adults will find it enjoyable as well. Ms. Burke added, “If you followed the adventures of April, as so many of us did, you will appreciate the inside jokes and funny references to the giraffe watching experience.”

You can purchase your very own copy of “April’s Baby” from Amazon in soft cover or ebook formats.

From Createspace (softcover):  www.createspace.com/7057351

Kindle e-book: www.amazon.com and search for April’s Baby.

For more information please contact Vicki Burke at vicki.burke@csredhawks.org or 616-696-0350 ext. 6021.

Beach third grader Emma Orr with her mom, Michelle Crawford, stepdad Zak Fisk, and brother Tyler, 11. Courtesy photo.

Emma sleeping soundly. Courtesy photo.

March 24, 6-8 p.m. at Beach Elementary

By Judy Reed

In September 2015, Emma Orr was a beautiful, happy girl who loved sparkles, and loved being outdoors playing with her kittens and running hot wheels and monster trucks through the dirt. By the end of the month, the sweet second-grader at Beach Elementary was fighting for her life.

Emma lives here in Cedar Springs with her mom and stepdad, Michelle Crawford and Zak Fisk, and brother, Tyler, 11. Michelle related how she first knew something was wrong with Emma.

“Emma woke me up with a serious bloody nose, and as the days followed, she became very pale with high fevers and she all but quit eating. Emma was admitted to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital September 24, 2015 and a series of tests were taken including an MRI, bone marrow and blood tests. On September 25, 2015, Emma was diagnosed with stage 4 high risk Neuroblastoma. The cancer was found in her shoulders, spine, left leg, pelvic bones, in her liver and around her liver.”

Emma Orr has relapsed with Neuroblastoma in her brain and spine. Courtesy photo.

Michelle couldn’t believe what she heard. “I was an emotional roller coaster running off of 2-3 hours of sleep. I was in denial at first because Emma was always a healthy child,” she explained.

According to cancer.gov, Neuroblastoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in neuroblasts (immature nerve tissue) in the adrenal gland, neck, chest, or spinal cord. In stage 4, it has spread to distant lymph nodes or other parts of the body, and may be hard to cure.

Emma started on treatment immediately. According to Michelle, Emma completed 8 rounds of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, four cycles of antibody therapy and 12 rounds of radiation. Her treatments started September 2015 and went until August 2016. On June 10, 2016, she went into remission.

It lasted six months.

On December 12, 2016, Emma, now in third grade, relapsed with Neuroblastoma in her brain and spine. There were four tumors with the main tumor wrapped around blood vessels. Emma was given a 0 percent chance of survival.

“Emma did 17 rounds of radiation in hopes to shrink the tumors and expand her life a little longer,” explained Michelle. She said that radiation did shrink some of the tumors, however it has caused the main tumor to start bleeding. Emma’s survival chance went up slightly to 5 percent, but the bleeding will only increase as time goes on.

The Post asked Michelle how much Emma knows about this, and how is she taking it?

“Emma realizes her chance to survive is small and she understands the bleeding will continue to get worse until the unthinkable happens.”

The family is making the most of and treasuring their time together with Emma. “Emma has dropped out of school to spend more time with family as time is ticking away,” said Michelle. “It’s been a very emotional experience for all family members involved and we are all just trying to enjoy having Emma with us as long as possible.”

Recently, they attended Disney World together and made many happy memories, through a trip made possible by the Make-A-Wish foundation. “She loved every moment of it. Emma got to meet almost every princess possible and she loved the roller coasters!”

Emma’s mom said that insurance has covered about 90 percent of Emma’s medical treatments and some of the prescriptions. But they still need some financial support. There is a gofundme page set up at http://tinyurl.com/emmaorr for those who wish to donate.

Also, the Beach Elementary PTO is holding a special 25-cent sale fundraiser for Emma on Friday evening, March 24, from 6-8 p.m. Come join in a fun night of shopping to help raise money for Emma and her family. Booths will be set up with local direct sales consultants. Two raffle prizes will be available from each booth, each valued at a minimum of $25. Purchase 25-cent raffle tickets throughout the event and drop your tickets into the cup next to the raffle prize you wish to win. To make it even better, for every $10 spent at the booths, you will earn Golden Tickets. Golden Tickets get placed into a separate raffle drawing. One lucky winner will be announced at the end of the event. That lucky winner will receive a raffle prize valued at a minimum of $25 from each of the booths present. There will also be a custom Fight for Emma “No one fights alone” bracelet at the Plunder Design booth. Be sure to check that out.

To follow Emma’s fight, you can follow the Fight for Emma facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/732117343587400/.

Rain or shine, FFA members show their dedication to agriculture. Cedar Springs FFA held their annual Fall “Drive Your Tractor to School Day” on September 30. The men and women braved the storm to participate in their favorite event. Over 15 members drove their tractors to school that Friday. Those who drove received a complimentary breakfast featuring FFA made syrup and will be receiving a free t-shirt for participating. Drive Your Tractor to School Day is among the favorite events the club puts on throughout the year.

Along with braving the storm on Friday, many members were also out in the elements Saturday morning, October 1, to make last minute preparations to finish the Red Flannel Day float. With a lot of help through the two weeks prior, the float turned out wonderfully. Red Flannel Day was an exciting opportunity to get members involved with one of the oldest festivals around, with the Cedar Springs FFA chapter being only six years younger than the festival. Thank you to all members who participated in Drive Your Tractor to School Day, and those who worked especially hard on the Red Flannel Day float. Everyone knows that tractors are one of the most distinguishable tools in agriculture; they are staple in many of the FFA’s activities like Harvest Day.

On October 14, the club hosted Harvest Day—a day dedicated to agriculture—for the second grade students at Beach Elementary. While fall is typically associated with picking apples, corn mazes, and celebrating the new season, the club took this time to celebrate agriculture, educate, and have fun with tomorrow’s agriculturists. Each class was picked up by tractor and hay wagon, where they climbed aboard to travel to the corn maze. A big thank you goes out to the tractor drivers, David Schoenborn and Nathan Schoen, for keeping the students safe and smiling while traveling to and from school. Pictures soon followed as the second graders got broken into small groups; each FFA member helper on the wagon was assigned four students to lead. The high school helpers found small groups allowed them to talk and learn more about the students in the short amount of time they had together. As each group entered the FFA corn maze and wandered to its exit, they received an apple and milk as a reward. As they munched their apple and drank their milk, they were able to tour an amazing children’s barnyard put on by FFA members with help from Brayden Bigney. By the smiles on each of their faces, it was evident they had a wonderful time in the maze and the barnyard. The Cedar Springs FFA put hours into planning and setting up this wonderful event. Thank you to to FFA chairperson Madison Strain for heading up the entire event. Each second grade class spent 45 minutes going through the rotation. Before they climbed back on the wagon, each student received a coloring book -it was put together by a club member- all about crops and animals. The smiles on the second grade students showed the success of the event. A big thank you goes out to all who helped and supported the event from around the school and community.

Beach Elementary Students accept donated backpacks

Beach Elementary Students accept donated backpacks from Representative Afendoulis and Ms. Ruth from AT&T.  THANK YOU!!

Lake Michigan Credit Union donates school supplies

A huge THANK YOU from Cedar View Elementary to Lake Michigan Credit Union for donating 19 bags of school supplies to our school! Thank you for your support.

Sparta Moose Lodge donates school supplies to 6th graders

Red Hawk students wish to thank the Sparta Moose Lodge for their generous school supply donation. Patti Peterson, the person in charge of this fund raising event contacted the school to see what kind of supplies Red Hawk 6th graders needed most. She collected money and purchased some much needed supplies (folders, pencils, binders, paper, erasers, etc); then dropped them off at the front door!! Thanks to all who donated to the cause and to the Sparta Moose Lodge. Our 6th grade Red Hawks are grateful!

Teresea Schlump, Campus Kids Director

The students attending the Campus Kids Summer program are having so much fun!  We have been very active not only on campus, but by going on lots of enjoyable field trips!!  One of the goals of Campus Kids is to offer our students many new opportunities to experience different activities.  We are always searching for new places to take the students to expose them to new educational, cultural, and athletic opportunities.  To meet this goal, we have traveled to lots of places not only in Cedar Springs, but in our surrounding communities.  For example, some of our students have had a golf lesson at Cedar Chase, experienced a ninja obstacle course at Rockfit Ninja Gym, fed the fish at the Paris Park Fish Hatchery, picked berries at Krupp’s Farm, watched a baseball game at the Whitecaps, and shot bows and arrows at WM Archery Center in Rockford.  In all, we will go on 36 field trips this summer!!   Sometimes we take everyone, and other times we take a smaller group of students.  One of the other goals of the Campus Kids program is to spend a large portion of the day outside.  This summer, we have spent approximately 60% of the day outside enjoying the beautiful weather.  Some of the activities we have done when we are on campus have ranged from crafting to STEM activities to challenge our minds, walking/running club, building and playing on a giant slip and slide, growing vegetables in the Community Garden, journaling, playing charades, and preparing and eating healthy snacks.  We have also done some community service work by picking up trash on campus.

Campus Kids – Before and After School Care

Campus Kids is a State Licensed Day Care program and we are preparing for school start.  We offer Before and After School Care throughout the school year.  Campus Kids opens at 6:00am at both Cedar Trails Elementary and Beach Elementary.  We do activities throughout the morning, and then serve a light breakfast.  We dismiss the students in time to get to their class at either Cedar Trails, Beach, or Cedar View.  Cedar Trails students may attend Campus Kids at their school, while Beach and

Cedar View students may attend at Beach.  In the afternoons, Campus Kids opens at 3:30pm for students at the same locations.  A healthy snack is served and homework help and fun activities are offered until 6:00pm.  To enroll, please complete and return a registration packet before September 1, 2016 to reserve your spot.  Packets may be picked up at Cedar Trails, or they can be found on-line at csredhawks.org.  There is a $20 annual registration fee for one child or $35 for a family.  Rates are $8.00 a morning or afternoon, or $15 for both on the same day.  Parents complete a schedule of days that they need care, and they are billed a month in advance for services.

For an additional charge, we also offer care on early release days and on snow days for pre-registered children.   Please call (616) 696-1716 or email campus.kids@csredhawks.org for additional information.

Ken See and family.

By Judy Reed

Beach Elementary Principal Ken See is leaving Cedar Springs Public Schools to be principal at Grandville Middle School.

That position will take him back to what he was originally doing when he first came to Cedar Springs almost 12 years ago.

See was hired in November 2004 as the Middle School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director. “I started at the old Middle School (what is now known as Red Hawk) the day they came back from Thanksgiving Break,” he recalled.

In 2007, he became the Middle School principal, and in 2010 he moved to the high school as associate principal. Three years later, in 2013, he became principal at Beach Elementary.

“I have so many great memories,” remarked See. “Meeting the students coming from the buses every morning; middle school students and staff performing at the spring talent shows; high school and New Beginnings graduation ceremonies; all staff tailgate parties at homecoming football games; and powerful conversations with other principals around teaching and learning.”

See said he will miss the people the most. “I have made so many friendships with teachers, administrators, support staff, students and parents throughout the district. Teaching is all about relationships and I am blessed to have worked with such wonderful and dedicated people,” he remarked.

It was not an easy decision for See to make. “Leaving Cedar Springs was a difficult decision,” he explained. “I have been blessed with so many wonderful friendships, experiences and growth opportunities throughout the years. They have shaped me to be the person and professional I am today. Having a distinguished district like Grandville contact me to go through the interview process was affirming. Knowing I would be joining a team that valued my skill set and knowledge felt good. I have jokingly compared it to the feeling of being picked first for the recess kickball game. Now I am just excited to have this opportunity to start the next chapter in my professional life.”

“I feel sadness in leaving,” added See. “It’s a natural part of any change like this, but I trust that God was looking out for me with this new opportunity. I leave with best wishes and hopes for my friends and colleagues in the Cedar Springs Schools and community.”

Superintendent Dr. Laura VanDuyn had praise for See in an email she wrote to staff about his resignation. “Ken has served students, staff and families at CSPS with heart and enthusiasm. To that point, a tribute to Ken came from a graduate from 2015, Tamara Tiethoff, as she gave her graduation speech. She remarked that she always remembered Mr. See sharing each day on the morning announcements, ‘Be your best today!’ Ken’s work with students, staff and families over the years is much appreciated and won’t be forgotten,” she said. “Ken, we thank you for all you did at CSPS and we wish you the very best in your new endeavor!”

VanDuyn said plans are underway to find new leadership for Beach Elementary.

See is the second elementary principal to leave this year. Cedar View principal Andy Secor also left a vacancy at the end of the school year when he took a job at Hudsonville Public Schools.

Michigan State Attorney General Bill Schuette was in Cedar Springs on Thursday, April 14, for the kickoff of the OK2SAY program for the high school and middle school, and afterward he visited Amy Dood’s second-grade class at Beach Elementary to read “The Three Little Javelinas” to the students.

Thank you, Bill, for visiting and taking time out to read to kids!