Announcements
Reminders from Last Week
GR - Class Pictures!
We will be taking class pictures during each class either this week or next week. Please plan to arrive early to class. Some classes will be lining up at the beginning of class, and the sooner we have everyone there, the sooner we can get students back to class.
We are still working on a detailed schedule. We will send that out when it is finalized.
**Be sure to wear your black polo shirt to class for the next two weeks! All students must be in black polos for the photo. Sweaters/sweatshirts must be removed before the picture.
KZ - Concert Uniform Fittings
Make sure you know what your child is supposed to wear to the Christmas concert! Boys will be wearing black pants, and girls will be wearing long black skirts. Some students will wear their black polo shirts, while others need black or white tuxedo shirts. All students need all-black shoes and socks. You can see more details at wmhfa.org/concert-uniforms.
Are you new? Did your child change classes? Have they grown? If you need concert apparel, stop by the uniform fitting tables in Kalamazoo this week or next week. We have skirts, pants, and shirts available for you to borrow.
Have a piece that your student no longer needs? Please bring that in clean and ready to hand out to another student! We really need those pieces back. (This helps us keep our class fees low.)
Special order shirts
We have some special-order screen-print shirts available for sale from now through November 15. These make great Christmas presents!
There are two styles available (hooded sweatshirts and long-sleeve tees) in two different colors (Grey and Royal Blue).
Hoodies are $25 and Long-sleeve tees are $19. You can also choose to put some wording on the back (Band, Orchestra, Choir, etc.) for an additional $2.50.
You can see more details and order them online at wmhfa.org/wmhfa-special-order-apparel
This is a limited time sale that happens just a few times a year! Don't miss out!
KZ Election Day Information
Since Community Presbyterian is a polling place, classes on November 5 will look a little different. Here's what you need to know. Please read this carefully!
Students in grades 5 to 8 are invited to participate in the 200 minute practice. For each week that your student practices for 200 or more minutes, they will receive one ticket to the February 23 GRYS concert. Students will also be entered into a drawing for prizes. A number of WMHFA students have won gift cards and other prizes in the past!
You can see more information and submit your practice records at grys.org
WMHFA Prayer Team
We are working on building up a prayer team to pray for our students, teachers, and families. This would involve several facets:
We would like to start collecting names of people who would like to join the email list and commit to praying for our WMHFA community. If you would like to be added to that list when we are ready to start, you can email [email protected] to be added.
We will be taking class pictures during each class either this week or next week. Please plan to arrive early to class. Some classes will be lining up at the beginning of class, and the sooner we have everyone there, the sooner we can get students back to class.
We are still working on a detailed schedule. We will send that out when it is finalized.
**Be sure to wear your black polo shirt to class for the next two weeks! All students must be in black polos for the photo. Sweaters/sweatshirts must be removed before the picture.
KZ - Concert Uniform Fittings
Make sure you know what your child is supposed to wear to the Christmas concert! Boys will be wearing black pants, and girls will be wearing long black skirts. Some students will wear their black polo shirts, while others need black or white tuxedo shirts. All students need all-black shoes and socks. You can see more details at wmhfa.org/concert-uniforms.
Are you new? Did your child change classes? Have they grown? If you need concert apparel, stop by the uniform fitting tables in Kalamazoo this week or next week. We have skirts, pants, and shirts available for you to borrow.
Have a piece that your student no longer needs? Please bring that in clean and ready to hand out to another student! We really need those pieces back. (This helps us keep our class fees low.)
Special order shirts
We have some special-order screen-print shirts available for sale from now through November 15. These make great Christmas presents!
There are two styles available (hooded sweatshirts and long-sleeve tees) in two different colors (Grey and Royal Blue).
Hoodies are $25 and Long-sleeve tees are $19. You can also choose to put some wording on the back (Band, Orchestra, Choir, etc.) for an additional $2.50.
You can see more details and order them online at wmhfa.org/wmhfa-special-order-apparel
This is a limited time sale that happens just a few times a year! Don't miss out!
KZ Election Day Information
Since Community Presbyterian is a polling place, classes on November 5 will look a little different. Here's what you need to know. Please read this carefully!
- Polling will take place in the social hall. This room will be off limits.
- PARK in the southernmost spots to keep the spots near the main entrances available for voters
- ENTER and exit the building using the South entrance under the portico/overhang. There are stairs directly to the gym downstairs or to the office/hallway wing.
- No potluck lunch on November 5.
- All food must be eaten in the gym or outside.
- There will be no chairs, tables, or microwaves for lunch. Bring a blanket and make it a picnic!
- The gym area will be available as a quiet social hall area. It is small and will be crowded.
- Colorguard will meet in the sanctuary.
- Students need to travel quietly through the halls to access bathrooms, nursery, lessons, classes, etc.
- Students not in class will need to be WITH A PARENT and working quietly between classes. There is a study hall with tables.
- You can wear patriotic accessories (red, white, and blue), but due to Michigan law, you are not able to have any type of campaign or political materials.
Students in grades 5 to 8 are invited to participate in the 200 minute practice. For each week that your student practices for 200 or more minutes, they will receive one ticket to the February 23 GRYS concert. Students will also be entered into a drawing for prizes. A number of WMHFA students have won gift cards and other prizes in the past!
You can see more information and submit your practice records at grys.org
WMHFA Prayer Team
We are working on building up a prayer team to pray for our students, teachers, and families. This would involve several facets:
- In-person times of prayer
- Emailed prayer lists
- A link for submitting prayer requests
We would like to start collecting names of people who would like to join the email list and commit to praying for our WMHFA community. If you would like to be added to that list when we are ready to start, you can email [email protected] to be added.
Important Dates
See our Calendar.
Grand Rapids Symphonic Band Tickets
Dr. Harrison is a member of the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band. They have several performances throughout the year, and students and their families get free admission with a voucher. You can see the schedule and print a ticket voucher at their website at https://www.grsymphonicband.org/concerts--tickets.html.
Grand Rapids Symphonic Band Tickets
Dr. Harrison is a member of the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band. They have several performances throughout the year, and students and their families get free admission with a voucher. You can see the schedule and print a ticket voucher at their website at https://www.grsymphonicband.org/concerts--tickets.html.
Important Information
Weather Policy
Grand Rapids - Classes will be cancelled if Byron Center Public Schools are cancelled due to weather.
Kalamazoo - Classes will be cancelled if Kalamazoo Public Schools are cancelled due to weather.
Email, App Notifications, and Facebook posts will be sent out shortly after 6am to announce any cancellation of classes. Notices will also be posted on local television and radio websites. Please Note: WMHFA families come from all over West Michigan, therefore the weather in one area may be fine while another area may have hazardous roads. If classes are not cancelled, please use your discretion in deciding to make the drive. We want everyone to arrive safely!
Text Messages
We have a texting service for important notifications. You can adjust your texting options in your parent portal.
Parents: Go to Dashboard > Billing & Payments > Contacts > Edit > Basic Info > Contact Info, click to enable Allow text messaging? and click Save.
Students: Go to Dashboard > View (student name) > Edit (pencil) > Basic Info, click to enable Allow text messaging? and click Save.
Absences
Missing Your Work Shift
While we do take attendance in class, it is helpful for our instructors to know if your student will be absent and why. Absences can be reported through your parent portal. Under the menu, select Absences and Makeups. Our teachers will receive an email automatically if you do this, so there is no need to email them individually!
Sickness Policy
You can check on your student's progress in class through the parent portal. We use the Absence feature to make notes about participation in class. You may notice your child has an absence for a day when you know they were actually there. However, if you look at the notes for that "absence" you will find more information. They may be marked as "IT" or "Insufficient Time." This means they didn't practice enough that week. You may find that their card wasn't signed by a parent ("NS" or "No Signature".) Or maybe they never turned their practice card in and were marked as "NC" or "No Card." If your child didn't get enough practice time but there was a valid reason, please write that in on the practice card and the room parents will note that on the record as well. Illnesses, vacations, or instruments in the shop would be examples of things that are valid reasons to not have enough practice time.
Extra Performances for Advanced Groups
Our more advanced groups often participate in extra performances apart from the concerts. We expect all of our students to participate in these performances as well as the concerts. Our ensembles work together as a group, and when one member is missing, it affects the performance of the whole group. While there will be times when a student needs to miss a performance, it should be rare and only for extenuating circumstances.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child's attendance at a performance, please talk to us about it. Communication is key if there will be a scheduling conflict.
Advanced Groups which may have extra performances include:
Drop Policy
If you need to drop a class, please notify us at [email protected].
Requests for Refunds follows this schedule:
Before dropping a class:
Dress Code
Please check over the dress code before coming to class. You can view that at https://www.wmhfa.org/dress-code.html. As a reminder, boys' hair needs to be no longer than collar-length, girls are not allowed to wear leggings or other tight pants, and no jeans are allowed. In a nutshell, students must dress to be neat, modest, and uniform.
Uniform exchanges
WMHFA Mobile App
Did you know there is an App for WMHFA? This is an easy way to interact with our website and with your Parent Portal. You can also choose to receive notifications which get sent out for important updates such as cancellations. Grand Rapids parents can also use the Punch Card feature to track their meal cards and get notifications when they need to be refilled. Haven't installed it yet? CLICK HERE from your mobile phone or search for WMHFA in your App store.
Hallway/Social Hall/Study Hall reminders
Fundraising Information
Concert Program Advertising
Earn 50% of every ad sale! – Deadline will be a few weeks before winter and spring concerts. Full, half, & quarter page and 2 line ads available for your favorite companies. Ads appear in both Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids concert programs. Stop by the desk to request a form, or visit wmhfa.org/advertising-options!
Scrip Table Hours:
Tuesdays @ LAMP Homeschool Center between 10 am - 1:30 pm
Wednesdays @ Corinth Reformed between 10 am - 1:30 pm
Summer Marching Band hours are at the Grand Rapids location:
Wednesdays, June and July
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Want to start Scrip now? Simply go to your computer, go to www.shopwithscrip.com,
click on "Join a Program" and enter our ONE TIME enrollment code 9D8AF44A1551
Create a profile and read and accept the terms. Start saving money!
Lunch Information
Grand Rapids Lunch
For your convenience, WMHFA makes a pizza lunch available every week for a very reasonable price.
Lunch may be purchased as follows:
$4 Meal Deal (Pizza, 2 sides, and beverage)
$1.50 per slice of pizza
$0.50 per side, snack, or beverage
A Ten Meal Digital Punch Card may be purchased for $36
Kalamazoo Lunch
All families are invited to participate in Kalamazoo's Potluck Lunch. You can also choose to bring lunch for just your family as well. Participating families are asked to bring
1 main dish + 1 side dish each week they participate.
In addition, please bring one kitchen/table service item per semester to facilitate the potluck. See list in the Kitchen on Tues for needed items.
**Please note: ALL potluck items must be cooked/prepared beforehand. Electrical outlets & a microwave are available for food warming. NO REFRIGERATION is available at this time.
Yearbook Information
We Need Your Photos!
We'd love to get your candids from WMHFA to use in our Yearbook. These can be from the school year or from Marching Band. You can easily upload them here:
Grand Rapids Yearbook Photos
Kalamazoo Yearbook Photos
Marching Band Yearbook Photos
Grand Rapids - Classes will be cancelled if Byron Center Public Schools are cancelled due to weather.
Kalamazoo - Classes will be cancelled if Kalamazoo Public Schools are cancelled due to weather.
Email, App Notifications, and Facebook posts will be sent out shortly after 6am to announce any cancellation of classes. Notices will also be posted on local television and radio websites. Please Note: WMHFA families come from all over West Michigan, therefore the weather in one area may be fine while another area may have hazardous roads. If classes are not cancelled, please use your discretion in deciding to make the drive. We want everyone to arrive safely!
Text Messages
We have a texting service for important notifications. You can adjust your texting options in your parent portal.
Parents: Go to Dashboard > Billing & Payments > Contacts > Edit > Basic Info > Contact Info, click to enable Allow text messaging? and click Save.
Students: Go to Dashboard > View (student name) > Edit (pencil) > Basic Info, click to enable Allow text messaging? and click Save.
Absences
Missing Your Work Shift
- All workers must sign in at the Information Center when you arrive to work your assignment. If you do not sign in, it will be assumed that you did not show up for your assignment and will not count towards your minimum time. Those who are working odd jobs or offsite will need to sign-in online. Go to https://forms.gle/6oYVaCW8kcLKXYD96 to record the hours you are working.
- Call if you are scheduled to work and are not able to make your scheduled assignment.
- KALAMAZOO WORKERS: Contact Sandy Rose at (269) 657-2186 to let her know. She will contact someone to fill in for you.
- GRAND RAPIDS WORKERS: Report absences at https://forms.gle/PCp5jHiRJYbi8yo37
- Give at least a 24-hour notice if you are going to miss, unless it is an emergency or unexpected,
- Be aware that you may be called to fill in for someone during a semester you are not scheduled to work.
- There is a $20 charge for not calling in.
While we do take attendance in class, it is helpful for our instructors to know if your student will be absent and why. Absences can be reported through your parent portal. Under the menu, select Absences and Makeups. Our teachers will receive an email automatically if you do this, so there is no need to email them individually!
Sickness Policy
- If your child is sick, even with a cold, please keep them home.
- Wash hands frequently.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Don't touch other people's stuff.
You can check on your student's progress in class through the parent portal. We use the Absence feature to make notes about participation in class. You may notice your child has an absence for a day when you know they were actually there. However, if you look at the notes for that "absence" you will find more information. They may be marked as "IT" or "Insufficient Time." This means they didn't practice enough that week. You may find that their card wasn't signed by a parent ("NS" or "No Signature".) Or maybe they never turned their practice card in and were marked as "NC" or "No Card." If your child didn't get enough practice time but there was a valid reason, please write that in on the practice card and the room parents will note that on the record as well. Illnesses, vacations, or instruments in the shop would be examples of things that are valid reasons to not have enough practice time.
Extra Performances for Advanced Groups
Our more advanced groups often participate in extra performances apart from the concerts. We expect all of our students to participate in these performances as well as the concerts. Our ensembles work together as a group, and when one member is missing, it affects the performance of the whole group. While there will be times when a student needs to miss a performance, it should be rare and only for extenuating circumstances.
- Times when absences may be unavoidable - illness, family emergencies, major events that were scheduled prior to performance dates being published.
- Times when absences would not be excused - regular classes at another organization, schedules too busy, activities scheduled after the performance dates are published.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child's attendance at a performance, please talk to us about it. Communication is key if there will be a scheduling conflict.
Advanced Groups which may have extra performances include:
- Advanced Band
- Concert Band
- Big Band 1 and 2
- Brass, Woodwind, & Flute Ensembles
- Drumline
- Advanced Orchestra
- Symphony Orchestra
- Fiddles, Pops, & More
- Chamber Strings
- Middle School Choir
- Senior Choir
- Concert Choir
- Chorale
- Aurora Handbells
- Competition Guard
Drop Policy
If you need to drop a class, please notify us at [email protected].
Requests for Refunds follows this schedule:
- 75% refunded after the second week of class
- 50% refunded after the third week of class
- 25% refunded after the fourth week of class
- No refunds after the fifth week of class
Before dropping a class:
- If your student is struggling in class, please reach out to the teacher before dropping the class. They can often offer suggestions for helping students keep up with the class. Our teachers really want all students to succeed in class!
- If you or your student is having an issue with an instructor, please contact the teacher directly to discuss the issue. Our teachers are all very open to communicating with families and want to make your student's classroom experience a positive one.
Dress Code
Please check over the dress code before coming to class. You can view that at https://www.wmhfa.org/dress-code.html. As a reminder, boys' hair needs to be no longer than collar-length, girls are not allowed to wear leggings or other tight pants, and no jeans are allowed. In a nutshell, students must dress to be neat, modest, and uniform.
Uniform exchanges
- If your child has outgrown their black polo shirt, you can bring in the clean shirt any time for an exchange.
- If you are looking for extras, we have them available at the desk. Extra black polo shirts are $17 each. We also have a variety of used polo shirts in a variety of colors. Used non-black polo shirts are available for sale for $5 each. They are stored in Grand Rapids. Kalamazoo families looking for used shirts can request colors and sizes and we can check our inventory. Grand Rapids families can just stop by the desk.
- If your concert uniform shirt, skirt, or pants are too small, those can be exchanged any time. Just bring in the clean item and we will exchange it.
WMHFA Mobile App
Did you know there is an App for WMHFA? This is an easy way to interact with our website and with your Parent Portal. You can also choose to receive notifications which get sent out for important updates such as cancellations. Grand Rapids parents can also use the Punch Card feature to track their meal cards and get notifications when they need to be refilled. Haven't installed it yet? CLICK HERE from your mobile phone or search for WMHFA in your App store.
Hallway/Social Hall/Study Hall reminders
- Students must be in Social Hall or Study Hall. No wandering, running, or sitting in the halls.
- Please keep the noise level down in the hallways and areas around classes and lessons.
- Food & drink only in designated areas. In Grand Rapids, this is the Gym, the Hub, and the Cafe. NO FOOD OR DRINK in the Worship Center!
- Please clean up after yourselves! Take care of all trash, spilled food, etc. Make sure you are leaving your spot cleaner than when you arrived.
- The nursery is only for parents with small children. Older children should be in the study hall or social hall.
- Students are not to use an empty classroom for group practicing without getting permission from the information desk. If permission is obtained, a parent must stay with the students at all times. Students are not to be in any area without adult supervision.
- No students are to be outside unsupervised. If you are supervising children outside, please keep them away from windows where lessons or classes are taking place.
Fundraising Information
Concert Program Advertising
Earn 50% of every ad sale! – Deadline will be a few weeks before winter and spring concerts. Full, half, & quarter page and 2 line ads available for your favorite companies. Ads appear in both Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids concert programs. Stop by the desk to request a form, or visit wmhfa.org/advertising-options!
Scrip Table Hours:
Tuesdays @ LAMP Homeschool Center between 10 am - 1:30 pm
Wednesdays @ Corinth Reformed between 10 am - 1:30 pm
Summer Marching Band hours are at the Grand Rapids location:
Wednesdays, June and July
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Want to start Scrip now? Simply go to your computer, go to www.shopwithscrip.com,
click on "Join a Program" and enter our ONE TIME enrollment code 9D8AF44A1551
Create a profile and read and accept the terms. Start saving money!
Lunch Information
Grand Rapids Lunch
For your convenience, WMHFA makes a pizza lunch available every week for a very reasonable price.
Lunch may be purchased as follows:
$4 Meal Deal (Pizza, 2 sides, and beverage)
$1.50 per slice of pizza
$0.50 per side, snack, or beverage
A Ten Meal Digital Punch Card may be purchased for $36
Kalamazoo Lunch
All families are invited to participate in Kalamazoo's Potluck Lunch. You can also choose to bring lunch for just your family as well. Participating families are asked to bring
1 main dish + 1 side dish each week they participate.
In addition, please bring one kitchen/table service item per semester to facilitate the potluck. See list in the Kitchen on Tues for needed items.
**Please note: ALL potluck items must be cooked/prepared beforehand. Electrical outlets & a microwave are available for food warming. NO REFRIGERATION is available at this time.
Yearbook Information
We Need Your Photos!
We'd love to get your candids from WMHFA to use in our Yearbook. These can be from the school year or from Marching Band. You can easily upload them here:
Grand Rapids Yearbook Photos
Kalamazoo Yearbook Photos
Marching Band Yearbook Photos