Calvin-Parents E-Newsletter: March 10, 2009

College chaplain chosen

In 1996, Mary Hulst became the first woman in the United States to be ordained in the Christian Reformed church. This week, she became the first woman chaplain of Calvin College.  You can read more about her and watch a video of her preaching at a L.O.F.T. (Living Our Faith Together) service---Calvin's Sunday evening worship time.

Annual verification of health insurance

During the month of April, each student is asked to submit information about their current health insurance coverage.  Students will be asked to submit this information through an online waiver system offered by UnitedHealthCare Student Resources, the company who underwrites Calvin’s Student Health Insurance Plan.  This online system may be accessed beginning April 1st at www.srstudentcenter.com/calvin.

Students will have the opportunity to enroll in or waive out of the KnightCare Student Health Insurance Plan for the 2009-2010 academic year. If a student chooses to waive out of KnightCare, they must be prepared to answer questions about their current health insurance coverage.  Occasionally, this insurance information is something that a college student will need to obtain from a parent or guardian.

Students who enroll in the plan and students who do not fill out a waiver form by May 15th will have the KnightCare premium posted to their Miscellaneous Account in July.  The 2009-10 premium is $999. Plan coverage begins August 15, 2009 and expires on August 15, 2010.  

For additional information about student health insurance, students and parents can visit Health Services.

For questions or concerns, please contact Kelly Moore (Immunizations and Insurance) at 616-526-6568 or health@calvin.edu.

Women's Chorale tour of Pacific Northwest

Calvin Woman's Chorale, an honor choir founded and led by Dr. Pearl Shangkuan, will tour Oregon, Washington and British Columbia during the college's spring break, March 21-28, 2009.

The Calvin Woman's Chorale has already performed at festivals throughout Michigan and sings at the annual Fall Music Festival, the Festival of Lessons and Carols, and presents a full concert each spring. The chorale toured the East Coast in 2005 and, following that tour, the choir released its debut recording, Music Down in My Soul. In 2007, the chorale spent three weeks on an tour to South Korea, China and Southern California.

Dr. Shangkuan also leads the Calvin Alumni Choir, a choir of the highest musical caliber and comprised solely of Calvin alumni. Members of the Alumni Choir will perform with the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus on March 13 and 14 in John Adams' "On the Transmigration of Souls," a work commissioned to mark the first anniversary of 9/11. This work has been called a "memory space" and a "spiritual journey."

Student Treats:  Popcorn

The next installment of student treats to order for your student features popcorn!  Your student can dive into a bag of popcorn to help get back into school after spring break.  They'll also need some snacks (and maybe more to share?) to help with the last push until exams.  The Popcorn Treat features three bags of deluxe, flavored popcorn—caramel, cheese, and butter—and includes a personal-sized bag of the fruity favorite "Monster Munch."

The order deadline is March 24 with delivery on March 31 (PLEASE NOTE date correction from the brochure).  And don't forget your off-campus student!  Students living off-campus will receive an e-mail notifying them they have a treat to pick up, within two business days, at the appointed location on campus.  If you have questions about the treats, contact parents@calvin.edu at 616-526-6802.

Visiting? Stay on campus at Calvin's Prince Conference Center

Are you making plans to visit your Calvin student and looking for lodging in Grand Rapids? Did you know that there is a quality hotel right on campus?  Please consider the comfortable accommodations in any of one of 69 guest rooms at Calvin's Prince Conference Center.  All reservations include a deluxe continental breakfast.  Make your reservations today by calling toll-free at 866-526-7200 or online. Planning a wedding in Grand Rapids?  Check out our online menus and facility pricing!

Spring break trips

Every year when spring break rolls around, a large number of Calvin students passes on the conventional trek to the beach for a chance to work in some less relaxing locales.  The Service-Learning Center sponsors work trips which sends groups around the country to serve alongside worthy non-profit organizations and to learn about cultures other than their own. Calvin students and mentors will spend spring break doing everything from urban ministry to hurricane relief.  See what trip opportunities are available this year.

Calvin Annual Fund donors support vital Calvin programs

Calvin parents, alumni and friends are invited to consider a gift to the Calvin Annual Fund. Your gift of any amount helps Calvin provide daily resources for students that help bridge the gap between tuition and the actual cost of a Calvin education. Donors who provide annual gifts of $1,000 or more to the Calvin Annual Fund are recognized by the college as members of the Knollcrest Circle. Through these leadership gifts, Knollcrest Circle donors support vital programs and resources that benefit Calvin students every day including scholarships and financial aid, state-of-the-art facilities, and educational opportunities that prepare our students for their own work of renewal.  With gratitude to God, the college celebrates with our members at annual Knollcrest Circle events.  If you would like more information about the Knollcrest Circle, please contact the development office (development@calvin.edu; 616-526-6090 or 800-968-4363).

Events for alumni, friends and families

Bookmark the alumni events calendar to keep track of important dates throughout the year, to which you are warmly invited, as a parent, alumni and/or friend of the college.  More information is found there for each of the following events:

Mar. 5: Calvin Around Town at the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts in Muskegon, Mich.
Mar. 9: Athletics luncheon featuring coaches and athletic directors in Zeeland, Mich.
Mar. 20-29: Women's Chorale Pacific Northwest tour
Mar. 20-26: Baseball team in Phoenix
Apr. 25: Calvin 5k Spring Classic