5/22 - 5/25: No School, Memorial Day Break
5/26: Early Release day
- 2:30 - 2:45 is for students with the last name A - I
- 2:45 - 3:00 is for students with the last name J - Z
5/27: Community Meeting for 3rd - 5th feat. Celebrating the 5th grade students, 8:30 - 8:45 AM
5/28: Community Meeting for K - 2nd feat. Celebrating the 5th grade students, 8:30 - 8:45 AM
5/28: End of Year Celebration, school-wide event, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
6/3: Last Day of School, 11:30 AM Dismissal
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Dear Families,
WE GET IT. May is a lot! The month brings a long list of things to do, many events, a calendar full of end of the school year activities, and a gear up to a big transition to summer break. Children tend to get a little high strung and anxious. So do their parents! Please see below for some resources on how to end the school year peacefully and bring down some of the intensity of the month of May.
While you navigate the many demands of this month, please remember that school staff feel this, too! This past week or two, we have had a few instances of unkindness to staff members or fellow families on the drop off/pick up line and in the parking lot. We know that pick up and drop off time can be stressful, your time can feel squeezed, and you are often trying to get from one location to another quickly with very little wiggle room. However, how we show up in front of our children and for one another as a community in those moments really matters. Please remember that a safe and smooth drop off and pick up process is a community responsibility. Practice the 3 Bs- Be kind to yourself, Be Kind to others, Be Kind to the environment when you drop off and pick up your children from school.
Ways you can do this are:
- Wave to and greet the other staff and families
- Follow all the rules of the "flow" by turning only the correct way, entering the line at the entry point, walking your child all the way up to the walker spot, and entering and exiting the lot correctly
- If something dangerous or undesirable happens while you are outside, please respectfully bring it to the attention of the community member, or let Lisa or Ms. Rachel know on ParentSquare
You are ALMOST to the end of another school year. You all have done an amazing job supporting your children, supporting the staff, and participating in a dynamic, fun school year! Let's look out for each other and each other's children for two more weeks!
Sincerely,
Lisa
Resources for a Peaceful End of the School Year
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Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. While many of us experience the long weekend as a time for family, rest, travel, or the beginning of summer, the heart of the holiday is honoring the people who died while serving in the United States military.
At GRCDC, we believe children are capable of deep care, thoughtful questions, and meaningful connection. Families can support children with simple, honest language: “Memorial Day is a day when we remember people who served our country and died. We take time to be thankful and respectful.”
Children may recognize the day by noticing flags, visiting a memorial or cemetery, drawing or writing a note, learning about someone who served, or taking a quiet moment of reflection. These experiences connect to our values of Potential, Connection, Inspiration, and Equity by helping children understand remembrance, gratitude, and community care.
However your family spends the weekend, we hope there is room for rest, togetherness, and a small moment of remembrance.
If you would like to explore this topic further and observe the holiday together as a family, here are some resources that may be helpful:
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Share Your Thinking with Us for 2026-27!
Students moving into 2nd and 4th grade for 2026-27 will begin a two year relationship with a new teacher and some new peers. At GRCDC we design class lists using academic and non- academic needs, demographic data, guidance from your child's current teacher, child input and parent input. Please complete this survey to inform our class list planning for your child entering 2nd or 4th grade in the Fall of 2026-27. These survey responses will be added to other information we use to create a strong learning and growth environment for all learners. Please note: we are not able to honor requests for specific teachers. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact Sarah Cooper at coopesar@childdiscoverycenter.org.
Please fill out a survey for each child who will be in 2nd or 4th grade for the 26-27 school year. Class assignments will be communicated via email by August 1. Thank you! |
Have a great weekend!
Lisa
nuyensl@childdiscoverycenter.org
o. 616-459-0330
c. 517-2063868 (voicenote, text, or voicemail!)
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Carlandia and Trout Nation: United by Curiosity. Our unique strengths and curiosities have the power to shape a more balanced, inclusive, and inspired vision of the world. A country’s identity is built from the collective imagination, values, and actions of its people. These values guide how we live, create, collaborate, and connect with others. Our fifth graders asked, how can we reimagine what a successful country looks and feels like by using our individual strengths and curiosities? How do different perspectives shape the way we see the world? What kind of nation can we build when everyone’s ideas and passions matter? |
This event a joyful evening where our school community comes together to honor the incredible hard work, creativity, and curiosity of our children! Explore children's artwork, discover the thinking behind their projects, and experience the meaningful connections children and adults built through curiosity, collaboration, and learning. We can’t wait to celebrate this inspiring school year with you!
Projects Include:
Kindergarten / Curious Together
First Grade / Curious Time Travelers
Second Grade / Curiosity Shops
Third Grade / Collecting Meaning
Fourth Grade / Future Impact
Fifth Grade / United Nations of Curiosity
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Where to go: Please enter at the playground entrance to the school. Make a nametag and visit the classrooms. Each classroom will have artifacts and a slideshow of their project work. After visiting the classrooms, head to the playground to enjoy some cake and community. If the weather allows, this is a magical time of socialization for adults and students!
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When to come: This event is open house style, please come and go as you can between 5:30 and 7:00 PM. (*Please note the end time change to 7:00 PM)
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Parking: Please find parking in our lots or on the street. Families may need to park further away and walk in due to the limited number of spaces close to the school.
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Supervision: Families should stay together during this event. Students will not be allowed into the building without their adults.
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Rain Plan: We will move the cake serving indoors to the gym.
We look forward to celebrating the hard work of the students with you next week!
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Severe Weather Protocol: If there is severe weather (thunderstorm, tornado warning, etc.) during dismissal, we will implement a hold. During a hold, students and staff will stay inside until the severe weather has passed. No students will be released from the front door. Dismissal will operate on a delay. We will keep parents updated through ParentSquare alerts.
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Arrival Reminder: During arrival, 8:00 - 8:20, students may be dropped off on Cass Ave only. Do not let them out of your car on Lafayette, Logan or in the school parking lot. This is for your students' safety.
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- Please see this link for the latest in Lost and Found Fashion! Claim your items by commenting on the post. You may also visit the lost and found during arrival, dismissal, or the End of Year Celebration.
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- On May 26th and 27th there will be a full closure of the intersection of Wealthy and LaGrave for DTE gas main work. If you use the Wealthy going east from Division or 131, this will impact you. The construction marquee lists the closure only on the 26th and 27th, however, the City of GR closure map has this project going through May 29th.
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Summer Park Parties!
All families current and new are invited to the summer park parties at the GRCDC playground. Join us on the following dates from 1:00 - 3:00:
- Sunday, June 14
- Sunday, July 12
- Sunday, August 9th
Find Family Team on ParentSquare!
Let's Connect
We want to hear from you! If you have an idea, question, or suggestion for the Family Team email us at grcdcfamilyteam@gmail.com. |
- Extracurriculars are wrapped for the year. Congrats to all the GOTR 5K finishers! And thank you to the dedicated coaches who supported them this season!
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Art Camp Opportunity: CREATE is an art camp for children entering grades K-8. the dates are June 15, 16 and 17 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. For registration and more info, please click here.
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Sunbucks, Michigan Summer EBT: Michigan Summer EBT is a program to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. Families will get $120 for each eligible child to buy groceries during the summer. For more information, please follow this link.
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Free pool passes for City youth are back for 2026! For kids ages 17 and under who live within Grand Rapids City limits, GR Parks and Recreation will provide a free 2026 season pool pass as long as they are signed up before 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 25. Register at: grparks.info/poolpass26
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- If you are experiencing a housing crisis or issue, please contact us at 616-459-0330 and our Homeless Liaison will reach out to you.
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Families Supporting Families! We want to support our families. We are collecting the information for any family-owned businesses within our community. If you own a business, please fill out this survey. We will add you to the directory once we receive your information.
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GRCDC Threat Reporting Form: It takes everybody in the school community to keep a school safe! In short, if you see or hear something, say something! GRCDC has a team of staff that have been trained to assess and respond to any threats to the school community. Please use this form to make a report.
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OK2SAY: If you receive a threat or know of a threat of violence against your community, please contact your local law enforcement or call 9-1-1. Non-emergency tips can be submitted the following ways:
- Call: 8-555-OK2SAY, (855-565-2729 )
- Text: 652729 (OK2SAY)
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Email: OK2SAY
- Visit: OK2SAY website
- OK2SAY Mobile App: Available for download for Apple, Google and Android mobile devices.
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The Office Borrow Closet is in need of pants! Unisex sweats/joggers/athletic pants or leggings in sizes 6x-14 and adult s-xl would be appreciated. We do not need any other types of clothing at this time. Thank you! |
Spring Cleaning and donating unused items? We need a wagon and a cooler! If you have one of these items that is used but still in good condition, we would love to have them. We plan to use these items when students go on field trips. Please contact the office if you have something to donate. Thank you! |
Absence Reporting: If your child will be absent from school, please contact us by 8:20 AM if possible. There are a few ways you can contact us about an absence:
- Email office@childdiscoverycenter.org
- Call the main office, 616-459-0330
- Send a ParentSquare message
- If you contact a teacher only regarding attendance, please know that they do not always have time to inform the office about your child's attendance. Your first contact should always be the school office. If you want to include the teacher and inform them as well, go for it!
If we do not hear from you, ParentSquare will send an automated message around 8:50 AM that you may also reply to. If you do not contact the office to excuse the absence, it will be marked unexcused.
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