Calvin-Parents E-Newsletter: April 21, 2009

Calvin 5k Run/Walk and Karen Muyskens Family Fun Run

There is beautiful weather predicted for this weekend, so join other Calvin parents, families and friends in the 5k Run/Walk and Karen Muyskens Family Fun Run on Saturday, April 25. In past years several out-of-state families participated and made a fun family weekend of this annual event. There is a 5k Run/Walk scheduled to begin at 9:00 am. A Family Fun Run for kids ages 12 and under (and anyone else who wants to join in the fun) is scheduled for 10:15 am, immediately following the Run/Walk. All kids 12 and under that register for the Fun Run will receive a race t-shirt, race number and runner packet. All ages are welcome to participate, so bring your mom, dad, grandma and grandpa. And, when your fun run is over, there will be prizes and cash give-a-ways for all registered race participants. For more information visit the 5K Run/Walk and Karen Muyskens Family Fun Run site.

Academic advising

Academic advising days are April 28 and 29. During these days, students have the opportunity to meet with their faculty advisor to discuss career goals and specific courses for the following semester.

If your son or daughter needs direction and/or advisory assistance to sort through possible options, members of the academic services office and career development office are available to meet with your student prior to academic advising days.  Have your student call 616-526-6155 to schedule an appointment with a general academic advisor or 616-526-6485 to schedule an appointment with a career counselor.  Contact the office of academic services if you have any questions or concerns.

Breakfast for parents of graduates May 23

Come and celebrate with us! Join President Byker, student-selected "2008 Professor of the Year" Dr. Todd Vanden Berg, and other Calvin administrators for this special Commencement event on Saturday, May 23 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. in the Prince Conference Center. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased from the Calvin Box Office online or by calling 616-526-6282. Seating is limited to the first 300 parents who place their order. Tickets for this event will not be sold after May 8, 2009. (Note: During this event the graduates will be participating in the annual Senior Breakfast held in the Commons Dining Hall.)

Buy a Prism for your student

Prism, Calvin's yearbook, is the only publication that captures the spirit of an entire year at Calvin College. Your student will look up past classmates, remember the professors that inspired them, relive the big game moments, and read copy written by students, staff, and professors across campus about life at Calvin College when they were here.  The 2008-2009 PRISM ($10) is a square book in full-color with 180+ pages. You can read more about the Prism in, "Prism: A Colorful Reflection," an article that was in the Spring Spark magazine, the magazine for alumni and friends of Calvin.

IMPORTANT:  You can order the book through the Campus Store now and it will be available for pick-up at the Campus Store this fall 2009, or for an additional $5 you can have your book shipped to your home.  Please feel free to contact prism@calvin.edu with any questions.

May 1 and enrollment decisions

Calvin College and the admissions staff is thankful that a record number of students have applied and been admitted for the fall. These next couple of weeks are an important time for those students to make enrollment decisions. May 1 is the date by which most colleges ask new students to submit an enrollment deposit to confirm their place in the fall's class. Please be sure to encourage the new students (and parents) who you know with a call, note, or email as they face this key decision-making time. Any family needing more information - or additional time to make a decision - should contact their admissions counselor or call the admissions and financial aid office at 1-800-688-0122.  

Did you know that you can join the Calvin Admissions Counselors Facebook page?   "We're here to answer your questions about Calvin and keep you up to date on deadlines, events, and when you can meet with us on the road. We love talking to students, so write on the wall, give us a call, or email us!"

Annual verification of health insurance

Students now have the opportunity to enroll in or waive out of the KnightCare Student Health Insurance Plan for the 2009-2010 academic year. This is done online through a waiver system offered by UnitedHealthCare Student Resources, the company who underwrites Calvin’s Student Health Insurance Plan.  This online system may now be accessed (www.srstudentcenter.com/calvin).

If a student chooses to waive out of KnightCare, they must be prepared to answer questions about their current health insurance coverage (including policy numbers, group numbers and insurance contact information).  Occasionally, this insurance information is something that a college student will need to obtain from a parent or guardian.

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.

Spring exam treat: Order deadline is May 6

Help your hard-working student jump-start spring exams with confidence. The Spring Exam Treat ($18) features a reusable tote box filled with study snacks and treats (popcorn, candy, granola bars, etc.). The order deadline for this treat is Wednesday, May 6; the treat will be delivered to students on Tuesday, May 12. Remember that you can also surprise your student with the popular "Pizza and a Movie" treat, which can be ordered anytime and often! This treat features a certificate for a large two-topping pizza, a bag of popcorn, and a Blockbuster® gift card.

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:

Apr. 23: Prof. Doug Koopman in Iowa
Apr. 25: Calvin 5k Run/Walk and Karen Muyskens Family Fun Run
Apr. 29: Prof. Larry Herzberg in Holland, Mich.
May 22-23: Class of 1959 50-year reunion
Jun. 19: Heritage class reunion