September 2026 Elementary Newsletter

CSPS Elementary Newsletter September 2026 Important Dates Sept. 4-7 Labor Day Recess Sept. 8-11 Homecoming Week Friday, Sept.11 FFA Alumni Association and Friends Homecoming Tailgate Dinner Homecoming Football Game Wednesday, Sept. 16 Beach Picture Day Cedar View Picture Day Tuesday, Sept. 22 Cedar Trails Picture Day Friday, Sept 25 Half Day for Students Walk-A-Thon Tractor Parade   Headlines and News K-5 Students 14th Annual Elementary Walk-A-Thon Get ready, Red Hawks! The Cedar Springs Elementary PTO’s 14th Annual Walk-A-Thon is coming Friday, Sept. 25! The Walk-A-Thon is the PTO’s only fundraiser of the school year, with every dollar raised going back to support our elementary students. Funds help provide field trips, classroom resources, curriculum celebrations, special events and other learning opportunities throughout the year. Students will walk with their classmates, show their Red Hawk pride and work together to earn fun classroom and school prizes! Save the date: Friday, Sept. 25 More information will be shared next week, including pledge details, donation options, prizes and ways families can participate. Get ready to walk, Red Hawks!    Picture Day Is Almost Here! Get ready to smile! Picture Day is coming up soon. Have your student dress their best. Picture Day Schedule: Wednesday, Sept. 16: Beach Elementary & Cedar View Elementary Tuesday, Sept. 22: Cedar Trails Elementary We can't wait to see all those Red Hawk smiles!    Complete the Education Benefits Form One of the easiest ways you can support Cedar Springs Public Schools is by completing the Education Benefits Form. While the form is not required, every completed form helps our district qualify for important state and federal funding that benefits all students. Funding received through this program helps support instructional staff, classroom supplies, school counselors, nurses, technology and other student programs. The form is quick to complete, and the information you provide remains confidential. Thank you for taking a few minutes to help support learning opportunities for every Red Hawk. Education Benefits Form   ParentSquare: Keeping Red Hawk Families Connected This school year, Cedar Springs Public Schools is using ParentSquare as our districtwide communication platform. ParentSquare brings district, school, classroom and group communications together in one place and allows families to receive information by email, text or the ParentSquare app. A few helpful reminders as you continue using ParentSquare: Check your notification settings: Go to My Account → Manage Account → Notification Settings. We recommend Digest for regular Posts to receive one evening summary instead of multiple notifications throughout the day. Urgent alerts still come right away: School delays, cancellations and other time-sensitive messages can be sent immediately, even if you use Digest. Use one account: Families with students in multiple schools can access everything through one ParentSquare account. Choose your language: ParentSquare can automatically translate school communications into your preferred language. Check your Home feed: This is where you can see Posts connected to your schools, classrooms and groups. Need a refresher? Visit the ParentSquare Help Center for Parents & Guardians for step-by-step help. ParentSquare offers helpful step-by-step resources for families: ParentSquare Getting Started for Parents & Guardians Remember, ParentSquare helps enhance communication, but families are always welcome to call or email their child's school or staff directly when needed. Join the PTO on ParentSquare Looking for a great way to support our elementary schools? Join your PTO! Our PTO has a dedicated group in ParentSquare, making it easy to stay connected with meeting dates, volunteer opportunities, upcoming events and ways to support our students throughout the year. Our PTO volunteers play an important role in creating memorable experiences for students. From popcorn days and ice cream celebrations to Field Day, special events and field trips, their time and dedication make a lasting impact. We are grateful for everything our PTO does to support our students, staff and schools. We hope you'll consider joining and making a difference this year!   Media Opt-Out Request Parents and guardians may request that photographs, video and audio recordings, comments, and/or names of students not be used by completing the online form. If you would like a paper copy, please email communications@csredhawks.org.   Cedar Trails News Welcome Back! Thank you for sharing your students with us! We have enjoyed an AMAZING kickoff to the school year. The energy and excitement in the building is palpable! The sweet inquisitive nature of the early childhood mind truly makes the day magical. Additionally, thank you for your patience as we've navigated a beautiful new parking lot and drop off loop plan along with a new digital check in system. We have appreciated your support as we've knocked the time from 23 minutes on day one to 17 minutes on day two, and we anticipate shaving the time down more next week. Knowing that all elementary aged students arrive to Cedar Trails a the end of the day, we ask that students stay clear of the bus area and remain with their families as they move toward your vehicle. Here's to making new memories as we jump into this 2026-2027 school year together!   Beach Elementary News Welcome to P.E. Dear Parents and Guardians, Welcome back to a new school year! I'm excited to teach your child physical education! My simplified goals this year are that all students learn to move their bodies appropriately given the activity, stay active, and learn teamwork in a safe and fun spot! I am also big on sportsmanship. Being competitive is encouraged, but only if those students know how to win and/or lose appropriately. Please try to remember to send sneakers on Physical Education days. I look forward to a great 2026-2027 school year! Educationally, Mr. Moleski   Welcome to Art Welcome back to a brand-new year of creativity!  This year, 2nd and 3rd graders at Beach Elementary are entering the art studio as true artists. We are using the TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) choice-based art approach. In a TAB classroom, the child is the artist, and the classroom is their studio. What to Expect: Studio Centers: Students will learn to manage various art centers, including drawing, painting, collage, and sculpture. Creative Freedom: Artists will choose their own concepts, materials, and techniques to express their unique ideas. Skill Building: We focus on the artistic process, problem-solving, and independence rather than making identical projects. We cannot wait to see the incredible, unique art your children create this year! Ms. Rawson   Welcome to Music Welcome to the Music 2026/2027! I have many fun and exciting plans for the school year! In general, music at Beach is about doing music as an activity, exploring different instruments, and learning about famous musicians and songs. In September, students from both grades will learn new song games such as The Letter Game, The Penny Sing, Rig a Jig Jig, and Oats Peas and Beans. We will also learn about the effects of music on storytelling, and we will start learning how to play some basic rhythm on drums. It will be a fantastic year!  Mr. Theisen   Cedar View News Welcome Back!! Welcome back to school! A new school year is an exciting time filled with new opportunities, new friends, and lots of learning. Each day brings something new to discover and explore. Let’s make this year special by working hard, trying our best, and enjoying the journey of learning together. Welcome back, and let’s make this an amazing year!   PTO Fundraisers Hungry Howie's Fundraiser | Multiple Dates Support the Cedar Springs Elementary PTO while enjoying dinner from Hungry Howie's! 15% of all sales at Hungry Howie's will be donated back to the Cedar Springs Elementary PTO to support students and schools on the dates listed below. 📅 Date: Monday, Aug. 31, 2026 📅 Date: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026 📅 Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026 📍 Location: Hungry Howie's, Cedar Springs Thank you for supporting our students while enjoying a great meal!   A&W & KFC Dining Night | Multiple Dates Enjoy a meal while supporting the Cedar Springs Elementary PTO! Bring a printed or digital copy (mailed home and on our social media pages) of the fundraiser flyer when you dine at A&W/KFC and 20% of your purchase will be donated to the PTO. 📅 Date: Friday, Sept. 4 📅 Date: Friday, Sept. 11 📅 Date: Friday, Sept. 18 🕚 Time: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 📍 Location: A&W/KFC, 14107 White Creek Road, Cedar Springs Thank you for helping support our students! Be sure to save or print the flyer before you go.   Cedar Springs Brewing Company Community Give Back | Tuesday, Sept. 15 Join us at Cedar Springs Brewing Company for a Community Give Back Night benefiting the Cedar Springs Elementary PTO and the annual Walk-A-Thon! 📅 Date: Tuesday, Sept. 15 🕓 Donation Hours: 4-9 p.m. During the event: 10% of all dine-in and takeout food sales will be donated to the PTO. Old Cedar Creek craft sodas and takeout orders also count. A donation box will be available for additional contributions. Enjoy a great meal while supporting our students!

Friday, Aug 28 2026

Cedar Springs K-5 Back-To-School Information

Let’s Soar Into a New School Year! Getting Our K-5 Red Hawks Ready for the First Day   Welcome Back from Our Principals Dear Elementary School Families, Welcome to a new school year! On behalf of our entire staff, we are delighted to welcome both our returning families and those joining our school community for the first time. We hope you have had a wonderful summer filled with rest, fun, and special memories. As we begin another exciting year, we look forward to partnering with you to provide every child with a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment where they can grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Our dedicated teachers and staff have been working hard to prepare classrooms, plan meaningful learning experiences, and ensure that every student feels welcomed and valued from the moment they walk through our doors. At our school, we believe that a strong partnership between home and school is one of the greatest keys to student success. We encourage you to stay connected throughout the year by reading school communications, attending family events, volunteering when possible, and reaching out whenever you have questions or concerns. Together, we can create an environment where every child feels confident, inspired, and empowered to reach their full potential. The beginning of a new school year brings excitement, opportunities, and new friendships. It is also a time to set goals, build positive habits, and embrace challenges with curiosity and determination. We are committed to helping every student develop not only strong academic skills but also kindness, responsibility, resilience, and respect for others. Please review the important back-to-school information regarding arrival and dismissal procedures, school supplies, transportation, and upcoming events. We encourage you to mark your calendars for our Open House and other family engagement opportunities so we can get to know one another and celebrate the year ahead. Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education. It is a privilege to serve your family, and we are honored to be part of your child's educational journey. We cannot wait to welcome our students back and begin what promises to be an amazing school year filled with learning, growth, and success. Here's to a fantastic school year! Mrs. Alvarez, Cedar Trails Elementary Principal Mrs. Cook, Beach Elementary Principal Mrs. MacDonald, Cedar View Principal   To-Do's Before the First Day of School Please complete the following before Wednesday, Aug. 26: Activate your ParentSquare account to receive district, school, and classroom communications. View the 2026-27 Academic Calendar. Review the District Handbooks. Complete your family's Education Benefits Form. If you do not want your student's name, photo, video, audio, or comments used in district communications Media Opt-Out Form. Set up or update your student's lunch account through the Family Portal (My Account) and add funds if needed. Any remaining balance from last school year will automatically carry over. Submit new medical consent form, if applicable.  Medication consent forms and emergency action plans must be signed by a physician on or after July 1, 2026, for the 2026-27 school year. Prescription medications must be current and not expired. Medications must be provided in the original container with a label that matches the medication consent form.  Over-the-counter medications must be current and not expired, have parent/guardian authorization, and be brought to the school office.  Students may not carry medication unless the school has a signed physician authorization allowing the student to carry it. Make sure medications are not expired!   Elementary Open Houses We look forward to welcoming our students and families at Open House on Monday, Aug. 24. Beach Elementary (Grades 2-3): 4:30-5:30 p.m. Cedar Trails Elementary (Grades K-1): 5-6 p.m. Cedar View Elementary (Grades 4-5): 6-7 p.m. This is a great opportunity to meet your student's teacher, visit the classroom, and prepare for a successful school year.   Welcome Letters & Teacher Assignments Kindergarten through fifth-grade welcome letters and teacher assignments will be shared through ParentSquare during the week of Aug. 17.   Suggested Supply Lists We are committed to ensuring every student has the materials they need for a successful school year. If families would like to purchase school supplies, TeacherLists provides suggested building supply lists for our K-5 students. After homeroom teacher assignments are shared, some teachers may also post additional classroom-specific supply recommendations in TeacherLists. Please note that these lists are suggested, not required, and Cedar Springs Public Schools will ensure every student has the supplies they need to be successful.   Transportation Transportation information for registered bus riders was mailed during the week of Aug. 10. If you do not receive your transportation information by Wednesday, Aug. 12, please contact the Transportation Department at 616-696-1450, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ​ Please note that transportation changes cannot be made between 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, and 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, as we prepare for the start of the school year.   Student Chromebooks Elementary students will be assigned a Chromebook to use during the school day. Devices remain in classroom carts throughout the school year.   Have Questions? We're Here to Help! If you have additional questions, please contact the school your student will attend. Our elementary buildings will reopen on Monday, Aug. 10, and return to normal business hours. Cedar Trails Elementary | Grades K-1 📧 ctoffice@csredhawks.org 📞 616-696-9884 Beach Elementary | Grades 2-3 📧 BEOffice@csredhawks.org 📞 616-696-0350 Cedar View Elementary | Grades 4-5 📧 CVOffice@csredhawks.org 📞 616-696-9102 We look forward to welcoming our Red Hawks back for a great school year!

Wednesday, Aug 05 2026

Welcome Back, Red Hawks! | 2026-27 Back-to-School In...

Cedar Springs Public Schools District-Wide Back-To-School Information August 5, 2026 Cedar Springs Public Schools is excited to welcome students back for the 2026-27 school year! The first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, and we're looking forward to another great year of learning, growth, and success. All school buildings reopen on Monday, Aug. 10, and will return to normal business hours.  As we prepare for the start of the school year, your student's school will share additional building-specific information in the coming weeks, including open house dates and times, teacher communications, and other important back-to-school details. Be sure to watch your email and ParentSquare for these updates. In the meantime, here are a few important district-wide reminders to help your family get ready for the new school year.   Back-to-School Checklist Please take a few minutes to complete the following before the first day of school: Activate your ParentSquare account to receive district, school, and classroom communications. View the 2026-27 Academic Calendar. Review the District Handbooks. Complete your family's Education Benefits Form. If you do not want your student's name, photo, video, audio, or comments used in district communications Media Opt-Out Form. Set up or update your student's lunch account through the Family Portal (My Account) and add funds if needed. Any remaining balance from last school year will automatically carry over. Submit new medical consent form, if applicable. Medication consent forms and emergency action plans must be signed by a physician on or after July 1, 2026, for the 2026-27 school year. Prescription medications must be current and not expired. Medications must be provided in the original container with a label that matches the medication consent form.  Over-the-counter medications must be current and not expired, have parent/guardian authorization, and be brought to the school office.  Students may not carry medication unless the school has a signed physician authorization allowing the student to carry it. Make sure medications are not expired!   Transportation Information Transportation information for registered bus riders will be mailed during the week of Aug. 10. If you do not receive your transportation information by Wednesday, Aug. 12, please contact the Transportation Department at 616-696-1450 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that transportation changes cannot be made between 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, and 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, as we prepare for the start of the school year.   District Office Information The district office is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. We can assist with: Enrollment Updating contact information (address - needs proper documentation) We are excited to welcome our students back and look forward to seeing them on Wednesday, August 26 for the first day of school! Cedar Springs Public Schools

Wednesday, Aug 05 2026