9/21: GRCDC Board Meeting, 6:00 -7:30 PM
9/22: Early Release Day, 2:30 Dismissal
- 2:30 - 2:45 for last names A - I
- 2:45 - 3:00 for last names J - Z
9/24: Family Team Meeting, 8:45 - 9:45 AM
9/28: No School for Students, Staff Professional Development Day
10/2: School Picture Day - more info coming soon
10/3: Fall Fest Family Team Event @ GRCDC, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
10/8 & 10/9: Parent/Teacher Conferences, No School for Students
What's for Breakfast and Lunch? Click Here, then click on Grand Rapids Child Discovery.
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Dear Families and Community,
Michigan state law requires that each school district provide families with important information about safe firearm storage practices in order to help protect the children in our community. Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center will provide information in this memo and this information can also be found on our website childdiscoverycenter.org
Michigan's Secure Storage Law
Michigan law requires the secure storage of firearms when minors may be present. This includes storing firearms in locked containers or using locking devices to render them inoperable when children could have access to them.
Key Requirements:
- Firearms must be stored securely
-Secure storage includes locked containers or locking devices that render firearms inoperable
- The law is designed to prevent accidental access by children and reduce the risk of firearm-related injuries
Complete Legal Information
For comprehensive information about Michigan's secure storage law, including detailed requirements, definitions, exceptions, and penalties, please visit:
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has developed this resource to help families understand their legal obligations and learn about best practices for firearm safety in homes with children.
Free Gun Locks Available
- Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD): The GRPD is a Project ChildSafe partner and provides free gun locks to the public.
- Kent County Sheriff's Office: You can pick up free gun locks at the Kent County Sheriff's Office front reception area, located at 700 Fuller NE.
- Michigan State Police: The MSP reminds residents that free gun locks are available at their posts throughout the state.
These gun locks are provided as a community safety resource to help families comply with secure storage requirements and protect children from accidental firearm access.
Annual Notice Requirement
State Law Compliance: Michigan law (Section 380.1313b) requires all schools to distribute firearm safety storage information to families annually beginning October 1, 2025, and every October thereafter. This ensures that all families receive current information about safe storage practices and legal requirements.
Questions or Additional Information
Legal Questions: For specific questions about Michigan's firearm storage law, contact the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or consult with legal counsel.
Emergency Situations: If you become aware of unsafe firearm storage that poses an immediate risk to children, contact local law enforcement immediately.
Please see below for additional resources:
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Parent/Teacher Conferences 10/8 and 10/9: Sign ups for conferences will be ready on 9/25. Students do not have school on 10/8 and 10/9 to allow teachers to meet with each family. More info to come next week.
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School Pictures: All students will have their picture taken for school records on 10/2. You will have the option of ordering school pictures and you will be able to view the photo online before placing your order. More info to come next week.
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Our fifth-graders collaboratively designed and created dragonflies as part of the Heritage Hill Neighborhood ArtPrize Project. Working in teams, students developed unique designs inspired by the neighborhood and the ideas they hope to represent within their community. Each finished dragonfly celebrates both the history of the neighborhood and hope for its future.
Dragonflies were a popular motif in art and design during the Victorian era, when many of Heritage Hill’s historic homes were built. They are also powerful symbols of transformation, change, resilience, hope, adaptability, and new possibilities.
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Hope In Action: Grand Rapids
Leo, Branch, Harrison and Finley
Our team’s design represents the resilience and new possibilities of our city. We used patterns inspired by the Heritage Hill neighborhood to celebrate its unique history, character, and community.
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Hope In Action: Dragonfly
Nykrian, Adrian, Nicole, Vivian, Lula
Our design celebrates nature and the connection between plants, animals, and the Heritage Hill neighborhood. It shows how nature brings beauty to our community and inspires us to explore, discover, and have fun.
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Hope In Action: Teamwork
Hannah, Stella, Jade, Reagan
Our design represents the importance of protecting nature in our city. We used patterns and symbols to celebrate the natural world and remind others that caring for nature helps our community thrive.
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Hope In Action: Holy Dragonflies
Peter, Kalin, Nathin, Odin
Our design represents peace, community, and hope for the future. We used color and stained-glass-inspired patterns to connect to the history and beauty of Heritage Hill and to show how we can all work together to make the neighborhood an even better place to live.
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Hope In Action: Slow Bros
Joey, Reuben, Eddie, Kodi, Harvey
Our dragonfly represents nature, life, and the importance of protecting our environment. We used recycling symbols, turtles, and shades of green and blue to show our connection to nature and remind others that we all have a role in caring for the living things around us.
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Hope In Action: Kitty Cats
Maxine, Walter, Everett, Joey, Sam
Our design represents our love for cats and our hope to help stray cats in our neighborhood. We used patterns, colors, and markings inspired by a calico cat to show how animals are an important part of our community.
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Hope In Action: Willowdragons
Bea, Esme, Esmay, Elsa, Conor
Our design represents growth and the beauty of nature. We used rivers, rainbows, flowers, and trees to show how nature grows, changes, and brings life and beauty to our community.
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Hope In Action: Sports Are For Everyone
Joe, Marlena, Kat, Sasha, Charis
Our design represents sports and teamwork in our neighborhood. We wanted to show an inclusive community where everyone belongs and works together toward a shared goal.
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Hope In Action: Sports Are For Everyone
Joe, Marlena, Kat, Sasha, Charis
Our design represents sports and teamwork in our neighborhood. We wanted to show an inclusive community where everyone belongs and works together toward a shared goal.
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Hope In Action: Lil Kidz
Mason, Jayden, Cassidy, Mekhi, Josiah
Our design celebrates the plants and animals that make Heritage Hill a beautiful and lively neighborhood. We used nature-inspired symbols, patterns, colors, and words to show our connection to the natural world and the importance of appreciating and caring for it.
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Part of the role of the Family Team is to work with the school to provide extracurricular after-school clubs for GRCDC students. |
Book Club for 3rd - 5th grade is FULL: If you would like to add your student to the wait list, please email burdette.justine@gmail.com
The first Book Club meeting is this Monday, September 21, from 4:15 - 5:30. If your child is in this club, please check the ParentSquare group post for more details.
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Drama Club for grades 3rd - 5th is FULL: If you would like your student to be placed on the waiting list please email: hoonhorstl@childdiscoverycenter.org.
The first Drama Club meeting is this Tuesday, September 22 from 3:00 - 4:15 PM. If your child is in this club, please check the ParentSquare group post for more details.
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Fall Fest
Join other GRCDC families for an afternoon of festivities as we enter the autumnal season. Volunteers will be needed to set up, run stations, and clean up. Sign up on ParentSquare starting September 23.
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities
- Our monthly meetings are held on Thursdays after the K-2 Community Meetings: Sept 24, Oct 29, Nov 12, Dec 3, Jan 14, Feb 11, Mar 11, Apr 15, Apr 29, May 13
- Book Swap at Fall Conferences: Oct 8-9. Leave a book, take a book! Don't have a book to leave? Take one anyway! Volunteers will be needed to help sort books ahead of time. Signup on ParentSquare starting September 30.
- Winter Gear Drive: Launching October 9. Help Family Team collect cold weather essentials to ensure every student stays warm and comfortable through the winter season.
- Winter Wreath Sale: Launching October 9. Orders due October 30.
Let's Connect
Family Team regularly shares information through the weekly Link Letter, Friday Folders, and on the Family Team GRCDC Narwhals group on ParentSquare.
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Heads Up: Street closure on Logan St. between Cass and Jefferson in the morning on 9/21, 9/23 and 9/25. |
- 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.
- Want to support GRCDC family owned businesses in the local community? Check out the GRCDC Business Directory
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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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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 and include Jessie Hammond + Rachel Harth
- 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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Lunch Count FYI: Did you know that the GRCDC lunches are ordered by 8:30 AM from the central kitchen at the Aviation High School? Once the order is in, the food is prepped and delivered to GRCDC. It is very important that all lunch orders are in at arrival time so that we can provide the lunch that is on the menu for the day. If your child is late, we will do our best to ensure they receive a lunch; often, we may have to provide a different lunch than the menu in these instances. It would really help us out if you contact the office by 8:30 AM if your child will be late or out for the day, so we can have an accurate count. |
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