Back-to-School Musings by the WSCS Staff

By: WSCS Staff

It’s hard to believe, but school is officially in session for many of our students and teachers! We asked our staff what they’re most excited about this school year. Check out their responses!

I am so excited to spend each day with the new little ones coming to school and their families! —Mrs. Elliott, 3s Preschool Teacher

I am looking forward to exploring God’s world at Blandford Nature Center with my preschoolers! —Mrs. Egnatuk, Nature Preschool Teacher

I’m excited for all the fun field trips and activities we have planned, and to welcome all of our new Little Sprouts friends! —Miss Van Vels and Miss Marisa, Little Sprouts

I’m excited that the 1st through 5th grade teams will be learning about their team’s own missionary!  They will get to know the missionaries, pray for them and send them words of encouragement! —Mrs. Groenboom, 1st Grade Teacher

I’m excited to see my daughter at school every day! —Mr. Vander Wal, Physical Education Teacher

I can’t wait for January when Mrs. VanderWall and I will be learning with our third graders at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. —Mrs. VanTil, 3rd Grade Teacher

I am excited that we have a newer bus added to our fleet. We have handheld radios on all of the buses to be in contact with the base at all times! And also, that we now provide transportation to any students who want busing through our own WSCS buses! I think it is so exciting! —Mrs. Folkerts, Transportation Coordinator

I can’t wait to see and greet all the excited students getting off the bus or out of the car these first few weeks of school. It’s going to be a great year! —Mrs. Kurosu, Head of School

I’m excited to get to know my very first group of students and to grow and learn right along side of them! —Miss DeMeester, 6th Grade Teacher

I am excited for our students to make new discoveries growing in their relationships with each other and with God! —Mrs. Alvarez, Office Administrative Assistant

I’m excited to get to know all of the new middle school students! —Mr. Elzinga, 6th Grade Teacher

I’m excited to use our new website and blog to connect with WSCS families and our community. —Mrs. Kuiper, Director of Marketing and Communication

I’m excited to spend my days and share God’s love with my favorite people and their parents. —Mrs. Zeck, 3s Preschool Teacher

I’m excited to see our students faces when they walk in the library and see all the new books we have to read this year! —Mrs. Mulder, Library & Office Assistant

I am excited to watch all the 5th-grade students learn and grow as leaders of the elementary. —Mrs. Geers, 5th Grade Teacher

I am excited to see the smiling faces of my Kindergarteners and spend each day with them learning, loving and growing! —Mrs. Roberts, Kindergarten Teacher

I’m excited about our combined 7/8 orchestra concert on November 4 with special guest ESME at the new South Christian Performing Arts Center. —Mrs. Meekhof, Orchestra Teacher

I’m excited about having all four of my kids full time here at West Side this year and trying some new ideas in ELA with 7th & 8th grade students! —Mrs. Marsman, Middle School Teacher

I am excited to be going back to work after spending 11 years as a stay-at-home mom. I am also excited to be working where all four of my children attend school! —Mrs. Bootsma, Paraprofessional

I’m excited to get to know my new students and watch them grow in so many ways! —Mrs. Pott, 2nd Grade Teacher

I am excited to dive into all of the new books that were purchased! —Mrs. VanderWall, 3rd Grade Teacher

I am excited about all the hands-on STEM activities we can do together in science class. —Mr. Jacobs, Middle School Teacher

I am eager to continue working with our WSCS community in the area of fundraising. —Mr. Burghgraef, Development Director

I can’t wait to meet my first bunch of students and figure out fourth grade together! —Miss Brook, 4th Grade Teacher

I am very eager to see all of the beautiful smiles of excited children ready and eager to begin school! I miss them in the summer! —Mrs. Kryger, 4th Grade Teacher

YAY! It’s time to come back to school! I love that we get to share God’s story, and I am looking forward to witnessing moments our students, Christ followers, share their own AWE of God and WONDER at God’s amazing grace. Our whole school will observe how salmon start from a small egg and wriggle as it hatches. God teaches us as we make discoveries! I am excited to see how God works through each of us as we learn more about how to care for creation and equip students to live out the Great Commission (our theme verse this year). —Mrs. Staal, Director of Nature-Based / Outdoor Education