DEAR FRIENDS,
We are excited to embark on our 44th school year at The Potter’s House! With over 600 students currently enrolled, and more enrolling daily, we remain committed to our mission: To provide a Christ-centered education for students of all ethnic heritages and income levels, equipping them to serve God and society to their fullest potential. We continue to offer our students a quality education in an environment where they feel safe, well known, and loved. We envision students encountering the presence of Jesus, becoming disciples of Jesus, and embodying the kingdom of God.
As we prepare for the new school year, we’ve highlighted specific areas of need in the Back-to-School Catalog. These items are necessary resources for the expansion of several programs. Please consider becoming involved in a significant way–your partnership is essential to our work at The Potter’s House.
With great appreciation,
John Booy
FIRST GRADE CLASSROOM REMODEL
“I am thrilled for the opportunity to teach in this newly designed classroom. I love helping first graders develop a passion for books and reading, and I envision this space as a haven for learning and growing. Interestingly, this is the same classroom where I taught kindergarten for a decade, 20 years ago. I’m excited to return to it.”
- Mrs. Riegler, 1st Grade Teacher
Thanks to your generosity, over the summer we have been remodeling the former Wonder Academy classroom to be a new 1st grade classroom. Now, we ask you to help fund outfitting this room with beautiful furnishings and functional features. This crucial renovation allows us to go from combined kindergarten and first-grade classes, to having two separate kindergarten and first-grade classes and provide spacious learning environments for students as we continue to grow.
Anticipated Costs:
CLASSROOM AND TEACHER SUPPLIES
Classroom supplies are one of the most fundamental and basic needs for our teachers and students. Items every classroom needs to make it safe, clean, and student-friendly include: antibacterial wipes, tissues, whiteboards, dry-erase markers, pencils, wall-size charts and maps, stickers, and reward giveaways.
Teachers often purchase or use their own household items to create a comfortable and inviting environment for students like rugs, lamps, small appliances, storage bins/tubs, and shelves.
“Having a classroom supply budget allows me to buy everything my students need for school! On the first day, all they need to do is walk in ready to learn. It’s a joy to be able to lighten the load for all our students so they can be even more excited about the start of a new school year!”
-Mrs. LaPlaca, Elementary Teacher
CYBER SECURITY UPGRADES
While technology is a powerful tool, we also must protect our equipment and students from the associated risks. Adding a Next Generation Firewall appliance will provide Network Intrusion Prevention, Web and DNS Security, Malware protection and improved internal communications. Firewall Appliance $16,000
EARLY ELEMENTARY IPADS
We provide our Early Elementary students the best start in their academic journey. iPads have touchscreens and intuitive functionality that make them the preferred device for our Young 5, Kindergarten, and 1st grade students. Applications for math, literacy, and standardized testing have proven positive results with our students. As we continue to provide a quality education in a Christ-centered environment, we strive to offer the best tools in current technology.
$300 each 70 needed $21,000 total
BIBLES
From academics to extracurricular enrichment to athletics – every aspect of The Potter’s House is rooted in the Word of God and bathed in prayer. Some students have never opened or used a Bible before entering our community.
As students learn the Word of God, we are training them to be resilient followers of Jesus. Providing our students with the right tools and teaching them how to use them is essential to their spiritual development.
Lives are transformed and futures are rewritten as we lean on God’s wisdom to direct us.
Bibles for 4th Grade Discipleship Groups
$20 each 40 needed $800 total
Bibles for 8th Grade Classrooms $50 each 24 needed $1,200 total 8th Grade Graduation Gift Bibles
$50 each 48 needed $2,400 total
CHURCH AND GYM SOUND SYSTEM UPGRADES
Whether it’s a game-changing moment in athletics or a lifechanging message in Chapel, we need to make sure our parents, students, staff, and speakers can communicate effectively without distractions.
The Potter’s House, with your help, will be upgrading and replacing microphones, antennas and amplifiers in the PK-8th grade gym and chapel to improve sound quality during events. This includes adding wireless microphones in the Gym, updated wireless receivers in the Chapel, and re-tuning and re-calibrating the systems.
Total cost: $15,000
ELEMENTARY ROBOTICS
Implementing an elementary school robotics program will engage young students in STEM education, develop essential life skills, and prepare them for future academic and career success. Robotics fosters a holistic learning environment where creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking are nurtured –laying the foundation for a generation of innovative thinkers and problem solvers.
Total Anticipated Costs: $85,064 Grades 2-3
ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT
We continue to offer excellence in athletics as well as academics. Our teams are setting records and soaring to new heights at The Potter’s House, building team spirit and enhancing the school’s reputation. Our students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of athletic teams, with over 30 different teams in middle school and high school competing each year. Our teams build community with one another and glorify God through physical movement and competitive play.
Being around school athletics is such a privilege and joy. I love seeing students work incredibly hard with their peers at achieving a common goal. But most of all, I love seeing students use their God-given ability to glorify Him as their creator by participating in a wide variety of athletics.”
-Mr.
Hoogstrate, MS Principal and Coach
School Power volleyball system w/ posts
School Basketballs
NonProfit Organization U.S. Postage P A I D
Grand Rapids, MI Permit No. 886
810 Van Raalte Dr SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49509
616-241-5220 tphgr.org
