Jon Voss, Principal
Last Updated on September 6th, 2010
Phone -- (616) 748-3200
E-Mail -- jvoss@zps.org
Welcome to my webpage! My name is Jon Voss and I am the Principal here at Cityside Middle School. This is my seventh year in Zeeland. I am here to help, so if you have ANY concerns, please feel free to call or e-mail me and we can talk.
Contents
- IMPORTANT LINKS
- RECENT NEWS
- IMPORTANT DATES FOR STAFF
- IMPORTANT DATES FOR FAMILIES
- THE BRIDGE
- MEDICATION POLICY
IMPORTANT LINKS
- Zeeland Public Schools Home Page
- Cityside Middle School Home Page
- Cityside Athletics
- Schedules, Calenders, etc.
- Parent Advisory Council (PAC)
- Honor Rolls
WELCOME BACK! School starts Tuesday! I sent the following email to the CityTeam email group Monday evening. It has a few reminders about the new school year:
If you are like my family, you are running around tonight making sure you have everything ready for the first day of school tomorrow. We are looking forward to having students back in the building.
I want to highlight a few things for parents as you prepare for the first day. None of this is new information, but there are some good reminders here.
- School starts at 7:40. The building will be open and supervised starting at 7:10. Please do not drop off students any earlier
- We realize many students have cell phones in school. Once students arrive in the building, they should be neither seen, nor heard. Kids should turn them off and put them away. They are welcome to use them after school, as they make plans for practices, rides and other after school activities.
- Please remind your kids to be mindful of the dress code as they get ready for school. No tank tops, low cut or ripped shorts, bare bellies, short skirts or shorts, low sagging pants or ripped jeans above the knee. We want to promote a certain atmosphere in the building, and the proper dress code helps perpetuate that positive culture.
- Food is not allowed out of the cafeteria. If a teacher has a class party or an organized snack time, that is the exception. Water is allowed in class, but no pop. Energy drinks (Red Bull, Monster, etc.) is not allowed in the building.
- Remind your kids to double check their pockets and backpacks. Hunting knives or air soft guns "accidentally" left in pockets or backpacks are still considered weapons in school.
- Girls volleyball and boys soccer tryouts start right after school Tuesday. These are for 7th and 8th graders only. Girls tennis and co-ed cross country practice starts Wednesday after school. Tennis and cross country are sports that do not have tryouts.
- If you have any other questions about rules and things, remember the Cityside handbook is online at http://cityside.zps.org/content/cityside-middle-school-handbook
All these rules reminder aside, we cannot wait for the new year to begin. We are sure it is going to be a great experience for all our students. If you have ANY questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask. You can call the office at 748-3250. You can also email our Dean of Students Sarah Huzienga at shuizeng@zps.org or Principal Jon Voss at jvoss@zps.org.
Enjoy your last few hours of summer!
NEW FORM FOR VOLUNTEERS -- This year, if you are planning on volunteering at school, we would ask that you fill out a Bridge Volunteer form. In the past we used these form to link volunteers with the opportunities they were seeking. The form can still serve this purpose, but we also want to use these forms to do a simple criminal background check for the safety of our students. We do not want to discourage anyone from volunteering. This form is very simple and only will take a couple of minutes to complete. You can download the new Cityside Volunteer Form by clicking here, and you can turn it in at the office. If you cannot download a copy of the form, you can get one in the office as well.
Here is a statement from the district on this new process for parent volunteers -- Our top priority at Zeeland Public Schools is the safety of our students. With that in mind, we have adopted a policy that requires volunteers to submit to a background check prior to working in our schools. We have never had an incident that would prompt these checks, but we feel it is a prudent step to take. Many West Michigan school districts have such a policy in place. If you have questions or concerns, contact Mary Beth Timmer at 616-748-4503. Thank you for volunteering at Zeeland Public Schools.
CITYTEAM -- Once again this school year we will have an e-mail list called the "CityTeam". This is modeled after the E-Team that is used district wide. If you sign up for the CityTeam, you can receive e-mail updates on what is going on in and around Cityside approximately once per week. All you need to do to join is send an e-mail to my address (jvoss@zps.org) with your name, your student(s) and your phone number. That will put you on the CityTeam. This group e-mail keeps addresses confidential and does not allow members to reply to the group, so you do not need to worry about anyone getting your e-mail or sending you unwanted Spam. We really think this will be a helpful new tool, so sign up for the CityTeam today!
PARENT PORTAL -- All of our student documentation is kept on a secure website known as Infinite Campus. One of the great benefits of Infinite Campus is what is known as the "Parent Portal". When you sign up for the Parent Portal, you have password access to view all of our information about your child. You can view teacher gradebooks as soon as they update them. If your son or daughter takes a test 1st hour, and the teacher grades it and gets it in the computer over lunch, you can see the grade immediately. The Parent Portal also allows access to your students discipline record, attendance, and several other reports as well. If you would like to sign up for the Parent Portal, need technical support, or have any other questions, please contact Audra Clay at aclay@zps.org.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR STAFF
- Tuesday, September 7th -- First day of school
- Tuesday, September 7th -- Tryouts begin for boys soccer and girls volleyball. Students must have a physical on file before they can attend tryouts (see above)
- Wednesday, September 8th -- Girls tennis and co-ed cross country begins. Neither tennis nor cross country has any cuts, but students must have a physical on file before they can participate in a single day of practice (see above)
- Friday, September 17th -- Friday is our first Child Study Team of the year -- 8:45 -- 10:15 in my office
- Thursday, September 23rd -- Team Coordinators Meeting, 6:45 -- 7:30 in my office
- Friday, September 24th -- Sixth Grade Launch Party, 2:45 -- 5:00
- Monday, September 27th -- Fire Drills at 7:50, 10:00, 12:40 and 1:50
- Tuesday, September 28th -- Evacuation Drill, 9:00
- Wednesday, September 29th -- Pupil Count Day
- Wednesday, September 29th -- Staff Meeting, 6:45 -- 7:30 in the Chix Coop
- Wednesday, September 29th -- Tornado Drill, 12:40
- Thursday, September 30th -- Lockdown Drill, 1:45
IMPORTANT DATES FOR FAMILIES
- Tuesday, September 7th -- First day of school
- Tuesday, September 7th -- Tryouts begin for boys soccer and girls volleyball. Students must have a physical on file before they can attend tryouts (see above)
- Wednesday, September 8th -- Girls tennis and co-ed cross country begins. Neither tennis nor cross country has any cuts, but students must have a physical on file before they can participate in a single day of practice (see above)
- Friday, September 24th -- Sixth Grade Launch Party, 2:45 -- 5:00, more information to come
- Monday, September 27th -- Fire Drills at 7:50, 10:00, 12:40 and 1:50
- Tuesday, September 28th -- Evacuation Drill, 9:00
- Wednesday, September 29th -- Tornado Drill, 12:40
- Thursday, September 30th -- Lockdown Drill, 1:45
The Bridge Youth Ministry Center -- For those of you who may be new to Cityside, we have a wonderful partnership with the Bridge Youth Ministry Center in downtown Zeeland. There is a great deal that the Bridge offers that can be beneficial to middle school students. The Bridge Youth Ministry Center offers the current programs:
1. Drop-In Center
Presently the Drop-In Center is offered every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. The Drop-In Center provides a safe place for students to be where they are able to relax, play games, socialize and develop relationships with peers and adults. The Drop-In Center is staffed by adult volunteers who take time to invest themselves into the lives of the youth. This program is open to all 6th – 12th grade students. We see between 50-75 students each day. Approximately 100 different students each week.
2. Suspending Bridges
The Suspending Bridges Program is an alternative to out of school suspension which has been developed in partnership with the local middle schools. This program offers families the option of sending their child to the Bridge Youth Ministry Center instead of going home to an empty, unsupervised home in the case of being suspended. This program follows a structured schedule including time for physical activity, homework, community service, career exploration and behavior management.
3. Faith and Fitness -- The Solid Rock Lifting Team and the I am Third basketball Team
The purpose of our Solid Rock Weightlifting ministry is to increase a student’s fitness level and self esteem while at the same time teaching life skills that will be beneficial to them through out their lives. A certified personal trainer meets 3 times a week with students to assist them in their training program. This program runs from 3 to 4 pm each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The I am Third basketball team plays December through February. The team is made up of 12 – 7th grade through12th grade students who are not involved with school teams and are seeking a place to belong, as well as five high school students who provide positive peer mentoring. The team plays local non-profits such as: Barnabas, Urban, The Anchor, Young Life, as well as local church youth groups, school teachers, and employees of a local business. The team also leads two service projects through the season.
4. Bridge to Excellence
“Bridge to Excellence” is an after school mentoring program which seeks to come alongside middle school students in order to foster spiritual, educational and social excellence. Students are referred to the program by their teacher, with parental approval and support. This program picks up where Kids Hope leaves off. Currently, we have 25 students involved each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Volunteers for this program are one of our biggest needs.
5. Summer Activities
Daily summer activities for students are provided. Students engage in fun activities both on and off-site. The summer program provides an opportunity to maintain and deepen relationships with kids through the summer. Students are involved with service activities and youth trips.
You can talk to Jed Mulder (772-3843) at the Bridge for information about any and all of these voluntary programs or e-mail him at jed.mulderbmc@yahoo.com
Medication Policy Change Announced -- Zeeland Public Schools spent some time in recent months looking into our legal policies regarding student medications. Starting this school year, we will be making a change in our policy district-wide. If students need to take ANY medication at school, be it prescription or over-the-counter, we need to have a form on file in the office that includes a doctor's signature. This is a change from past precedent. We are happy to work with you and your child to meet any medical needs he or she may have, but we will have to make sure the right legal documentation is in place. You can download a copy of the form you would need to fill out and have signed by your doctor by opening the appropriate attachment below. You can also get these forms in the Cityside Office.
Take Medication in School Form
If you have questions, please give us a call, or stop by the office and we will be happy to help.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Asthma Medical Form.pdf | 9.62 KB |
| Take Medication in School Form.pdf | 33.76 KB |
| Diabetic Form.pdf | 13.28 KB |
| Seizure Plan.pdf | 10.09 KB |
| Generic Health Form.pdf | 8.43 KB |
| Allergy Form.pdf | 9.94 KB |
| Cityside Bridge Form.pdf | 14.97 KB |
| Voss_Mr.721.JPG | 50.47 KB |
| LFL_programs_offered_2009.pdf | 103.53 KB |
| Bridging Out Flyer.pdf | 72.75 KB |
| PAC Meeting Minutes.pdf | 28.83 KB |
