November 1, 2017

Jenison Public Schools Parent and

Community Partnership Newsletter

Holiday Edition

Smiling is my favorite!
says Buddy in the holiday
movie Elf (a Tracy family
favorite!). The holidays
are often full of smiles and
laughter as we spend time
with friends and family
celebrating and making
memories. Even, so
holidays often add stress
to our families with busy
schedules, changes in
routine and extra
financial expenses. This
newsletter will offer some
tips, information and
resources for your family
this holiday season. Enjoy!
Angela and Mary

JPS November 23 & 24

Thanksgiving Break - No
Important School

Holiday December 22 -
January 5
Dates Holiday Break - No School
January 19
End of 1st Semester Full Day
for Students

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FAMILY TRADITIONS HOLIDAYS AND FOOD FREE ACTIVITIES

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Family Traditions Matter!
Families are often defined by the things they always do. These routines, rituals and traditions
shape you as a family.
Routines are the things your family does on a daily basis as you move through life. They happen at
times like dinnertime, bedtime and on weekends, and are important because they create a sense of
safety, structure and expectation for family members, especially children.
Rituals occur around holidays and special occasions and over generations. They communicate
This is who we are, and provide a sense of continuity and attachment to family.
Routines and rituals have been shown to improve health and behavior, especially in young children,
and can improve childrens sense of identity and family connections.
If you think about your familys habits and patterns, you can probably identify some traditions of
your own. Think about things like:
Traditional, favorite holiday meals or Family games
desserts Reading a book together before bedtime
Birthday celebrations Saying the same thing to your children
Sharing a good thing at family meals when they wake up, or leave for school in
Saturday morning breakfast the morning (You are loved, etc.)
Weekly pizza or taco night Easter at a relatives
Family vacations
Do any of these happen regularly in your family? Do you have other traditions? What makes your
family you? You might be surprised to realize the routines and rituals you already have. Or you
might want to try to design some new ones.
Sometimes family structures and systems change, and traditions change with them. Thats OK Its a
good idea to talk as a family about your traditions and when it might be time to adjust, change or
let go of any of them.
Whatever your familys traditions are, whether they have been passed down through generations,
or you are just beginning them, they are a cause for celebration because they make your family
who you are.

"A Review of 50 Years of Research on Naturally Occurring Family Routines and Rituals: Cause for Celebration?," Barbara H. Fiese, Thomas J.
Tomcho, Michael Douglas, Kimberly Josephs, Scott Poltrock, and Tim Baker; Syracuse University; Journal of Family Psychology, Vol. 16, No. 4.
Family Traditions Define Your Family http://community.today.com/parentingteam/post/family-traditions-define-your-family
The Power of Family Traditions https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/power-family-traditions/

EASY FAMILY TRADITIONS(AND MORE RESOURCES)

Have a special plate family members use on special days.
Friday night dance party
Mother-child or father-child dates
More links and resources:
https://www.thechaosandtheclutter.com/archives/easy-family-
traditions-build-connection
https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/power-family-traditions/
http://www.parenting.com/article/14-happy-bedtime-rituals
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 Food Resources

Healthy Food Donations:

From Ottawa County Health
Department
If you are donating food this season,
here is a list of Suggested Healthy Food
Donations
Canned vegetables (no salt added or
low sodium)
100% fruit and vegetable juices
Canned fruit in 100% juice
Food Availability Dried fruits and vegetables with no
added sugar or fat
Check ottawafood.org for updated
100% whole grain bread or pasta
food resources including food Brown rice or wild rice
pantries, mobile trucks, etc. It also Whole grain cereals with at least 3
includes links to healthy recipes and grams of fiber (Cheerios , Shredded
other resources. You can apply for Wheat)
SNAP online, use their food stamp Oatmeal
Canned beans with no salt added
calculator, find healthy recipes, and
Dried beans, peas and lentils
more. It is a great resource!
Low-sodium or water packed canned
meats and seafood
Unsalted nuts (peanuts, almonds,
cashews)
Peanut butter
Shelf-stable low fat dairy products
(boxed milk, dry milk or evaporated
milk)
Soup with less than 400 mg sodium
per serving

http://www.ottawafood.org/findfood/ Give the gift of healthy food

to those in need!

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 Free (or Almost) Family Fun
Movies:
Follow this link for Flick Family Fun
Movies and other free or low-cost
movies: https://grkids.com/events/
categories/free-kids-movies/
Story Time:
SATURDAY 11/04
Barnes and Noble Rivertown
Bruce's Big Move Storytime
Saturday November 04, 2017 11:00 AM
Our favorite curmudgeonly bear now
shares his home with not only his
four geese, but three rowdy mice, too!
Fed up with their shenanigans, Bruce
sets off to find a rodent-free
household. As usual, nothing goes
quite according to plan. Join us for
this hilarious Storytime that is sure to
keep kids giggling.
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GR Kids Area Calendar
Follow this link for more fun local
activities you can do as a family.
https://grkids.com/communities/west-
jenison-grandville-hudsonville-
jamestown-allendale-kids/
Game Night:
Families are invited to a fun and free
game night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Gary Byker
Memorial Library, 3338 Van Buren St.
in Hudsonville.
Games available will include old
favorites such as Sorry and Monopoly
and also newer ones, including
Settlers of Catan and Munchkin. The
program is for all ages and there is
no registration required.
Angela Tracy
atracy@jpsonline.org
(616)457-1408 ex. 2112
Bauerwood Elementary, Sandy
Hill Elementary, Rosewood
Elementary, Early Childhood
Center, Jenison International
Academy, Jenison High School
Mary Veldink
mveldink@jpsonline.org
(616) 724-6970
Pinewood Elementary, Bursley
Elementary, Jenison Junior
High School
Attendance matters as early as kindergarten.
Studies show many children who miss too
many days in kindergarten and first grade
can struggle academically in later years. They
often have trouble mastering reading by the
end of third grade.

Some absences are

Your children can suffer academically if
they miss 10 percent of the school year or
about 18 days. That can be just one day
every two weeks, and that can happen
before you know it.
unavoidable. We
understand that children
will get sick and need to
stay home occasionally. The
important thing is to get
your children to school as
often as possible

Attendance Matters
and you can make a difference

If too many absences Want help?

occur, it is still a
problem whether they Contact the
are excused or office or the
unexcused because Parent Liaison
they represent too atracy@jpsonline.org
much lost learning
mveldink@jpsonline.org
time in the classroom