Calvin-Parents E-Newsletter: March 2, 2010

Lenten resources

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. The early church determined that the Lenten period of fasting and renewal should correspond to Christ’s fasting (Matt. 4:2), and by counting forty days back from Easter (excluding Sundays, which remain “feast” days), arrived at the Wednesday seven weeks before Easter.

Calvin's Web site has many resources for Lent and, soon, Holy Week.  The Faith site contains more information about Ash Wednesday and worship resources for Lent, including recommended books, devotionals and prayers.

The Calvin Institute for Christian Worship has resources on their site for worship planning, sermon series, meditations---and much more---all focused on Lent.

Women's basketball updates

After both men's and women's basketball teams lost to Hope over the weekend in MIAA tournament finals competition, the Calvin women’s basketball team has gained an at-large bid to the NCAA III Tournament. The Knights (24-4) will journey to DePere, Wisconsin, to face host St. Norbert (22-3) in a first round game Friday night, March 5, at 7:30 p.m. (CST).

Calvin will be making its 12th trip to the NCAA III Tournament, its fourth under head coach John Ross and its first since the 2006-07 season. DePere, Wisconsin, is just over an hour away from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, hometown of John Ross. Ross is a 1990 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

For the first time in the history of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, a freshman has been named the Most Valuable Player in women’s basketball, Calvin forward Carissa Verkaik.

To families of nursing students

Our senior year is well under way, and as many of you may have heard, we are keeping very busy!  While we still have much work ahead of us, it is exciting to think that, come May 20, we will be celebrating all of our efforts and our journey toward receiving a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the Pinning Ceremony.  The Pinning Ceremony is a longstanding tradition in which all of the graduating nursing students, along with their family and friends, join together to celebrate their success in nursing school.  In this ceremony, each student is traditionally and proudly “pinned” with Calvin’s own nursing pin, as a special signature of completing a baccalaureate degree in nursing and being eligible to take the state RN licensure examination.  

Thinking ahead to graduation, perhaps you would like to consider purchasing a nursing pin for your son, daughter or grandchild.  Information about cost and ordering this pin can be found at www.terryberry.net  (use security ID: 36095; password: Nurse).  While your child would not receive the pin until the Pinning Ceremony, this could be a special gift and keepsake for them, as many nurses continue to wear this pin throughout their career.

Again, receiving a nursing pin is not required, yet it is a special and proud moment for the nursing student at the Pinning Ceremony.  Although your presence and support is the most important, please consider sharing in this special day with the gift of a Calvin nursing pin.  You can find out additional information about the Pinning Ceremony on the nursing department site.

We are looking forward to seeing you and celebrating with you in May!

Sincerely, 
Nursing Pinning Committee, Nursing Class of 20101

Resources for students of all ages

Here are just a few resources available on Calvin's Web site that help "shape minds for intentional participation in the renewal of all things."

Worship:
Watch daily chapel services live at 10:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, and visit the archive for past chapel videos.  L.O.F.T. (Living Our Faith Together) services services are live at 8:00 p.m. on Sundays, and you can visit their site for video and audio archives of past services.

Minds in the Making:
Be sure to check this e-collection from Calvin for the best articles and audio presentations from writers (faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends) in the Calvin community.

Inner Compass:
This television program from Calvin explores how people make their decision about ethical, religious and social justice issues.  It airs at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Sundays on PBS station WGVU-TV throughout southwestern Michigan (subject to change).  Visit their site for the latest information, to download episodes, or to see a listing of 75 stations across the country broadcasting Inner Compass.

The Summer Academy

The Summer Academy is a real life "Calvin try-on" for ninth through 12th graders looking for an early or pre-college experience that will test and improve their academic readiness for post-high school studies.  Real college credit, real campus life---all in Calvin's distinctively Christian learning and living environment.  See all the pre-college programs that are offered, such as ACE International, Entrada Scholars Program, and Pathways to Possibilities to name a few.

-Julie Veeneman, program manager

SIblings Weekend: tie-dye care instructions

Thank you to all the Siblings Weekend visitors that came to campus over the weekend!  We hope that you enjoyed your visit.

In case you are wondering how to care for the tie-dye shirt you found in the laundry that came back after the weekend, here's that information:

Tie-Dye Care Instructions
Keep the rubber bands on your shirt until after it has dried.
Carry your shirt back to your brother or sister’s room/apartment in a plastic bag.
Hang the shirt in the shower stall to dry.
After drying, remove rubber bands.
The first time you wash your tie-dye shirt, use cold water and wash separately from other clothing.

If you have any further questions or feedback from Siblings Weekend, please contact the residence life office (616-526-6116, housing@calvin.edu).

Recommend Calvin

Alumni, help us recruit students to the school you love! Talk to high school students, parents, guidance counselors, pastors—even students already admitted to Calvin. Tell your Calvin story, and let us know who you're talking to by April 15 and you have a chance to win gift cards to the campus store.

The best way for a student to learn about Calvin is to visit.  There are many options for visiting, but Fridays at Calvin is the premiere visit program.  The admissions office has a video about a typical Fridays at Calvin experience on their page, and more information about other options like Science Visit Days, Summer Visits, and Group Visits.  Also, find out more about the Students of Color Visit Grant.

As always, you can contact the admissions office for more information (admissions@calvin.edu, 800-688-0122, 616-526-6106).

Student health insurance

Cool!

Here are some cool resources for Calvin to follow and share. 

Did you read this on Calvin College's Facebook page recently? "Two Calvin roommates take over Van Noord Arena and the Hoogenboom Center for some trick shots. The results are pretty amazing."

YouTube
Vimeo - Calvin | Alumni
Twitter - Calvin | Alumni | Calvin News | Knights
Facebook - Calvin | Alumni | Admissions
LinkedIn - Calvin | Alumni
uKnight

Wiring payments to Calvin

For those families sending payments to Calvin via wire transfer please take note that Calvin is now banking with Chase Manhattan.  Calvin will continue to keep its account open with Huntington through the spring semester but by next fall all payments should be directed to Calvin's account at Chase Manhattan. To get the current information for wiring payments to Calvin please contact the financial aid office at finserv@calvin.edu or 616-526-6127. 

Check the Parent Calendar for important dates

Bookmark the Parent Calendar page to keep track of important dates throughout the year, including:

Mar. 3:  Last day to drop first-half semester courses; Last day to change first-half semester courses from credit to audit; Last day to request a tutor from SAS
Mar. 10:  Last day to obtain refund for full semester course withdrawls/drops
Mar. 16:  Tuition, room & board payment due
Mar. 19:  Spring break begins 5 p.m.; residence halls close at 10 a.m. on March 20; First half semester courses end
Mar. 29:  Spring break ends 8 a.m.; residence halls open at 12 noon on March 28; Second-half semester courses begin