Calvin-Parents E-Newsletter: November 17, 2009

Sports information

Four of the fall sports teams are still in competition as the winter teams begin to compete. The Calvin women's soccer team won an NCAA regional at Calvin November 14-15 to advance to the next round of tournament action to be held November 20-21 at Augustana, Ill. The men's soccer team and men's and women's cross country teams also are all still alive in NCAA post-season action and also will compete this coming weekend. See the sports information homepage for all of the details on upcoming NCAA tournament action, and watch videos from men's and women's soccer action on the News & Stories page.

WIkki Stix 2009

Each year the Calvin Campus Store hosts the Wikki Stix for Kix Contest where students receive free packets of colorful wax sticks called Wikki Stix and submit their works of art for prizes.  The competition is simply an opportunity for students to be creative and have fun.  "It’s fun. It’s wacky. It’s a great diversion from studies,” said Tom Van Wingerden, manager of business services.

Take a look at the creations from the 2009 Wikki Stix for Kix Contest.

No greater task...

The President's Report 2009, "No Greater Task: Hearts and Minds Renewing God's World," is a summary of the past school year on campus and a report on the financial situation of the college.  This report, available online, includes a Year in Review that covers events from the discovery of a time capsule found at the site of the new Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex in July 2008, to the speech pathology and audiology program introducing a new master’s degree, only the third in Calvin’s 133-year history, in June 2009. 

You can also find out more about the campaign for Calvin, "No Greater Task: Hearts and Minds Renewing God's World."

Health services information

Health Services has requested that the following information be sent to students today:

We have just received a small shipment of H1N1 influenza vaccine. We will be holding a clinic in Health Services on Wednesday, November 18, from 12-5 p.m. The H1N1 vaccine is free. Please bring your Calvin ID card for swipe access to Health Services.

H1N1 influenza vaccine doses are only being given to current Calvin College students, faculty and staff, who qualify according to the following Kent County Health Department guidelines:

You must meet one of the following criteria to receive the vaccine!
- -Health care providers
- -First responders for Campus Safety
- -Pregnant women
- -A chronic medical condition such as: diabetes, heart disease, asthma, kidney or liver disease, chronic blood disorders, cerebral palsy (through age 64)
- -Caretakers of children under 6 months
- -24 years of age and under

For those of you who qualify, these are to be received on a first-come, first-served basis. We hope to continue to receive more vaccine in the near future. We will be giving vaccine to the rest of the Calvin community as it becomes available and as we are directed by our local Health Department.

Calvin Health Services (http://www.calvin.edu/admin/health/)
phone: 616-526-6187; fax: 616-526-6548

Student treat for winter exams

The end of the semester is just over a month away, and the next student treat offered will help your student get through exams.  The Winter Exam Treat features a reusable storage box filled with tasty goodies and supplies. The order deadline is Wednesday, December 2; the treat will be delivered to on-campus students on Tuesday, December 8. (This treat is included in the "Year of Treats" packages.  Parents, please remember that these treats are delivered to the residence hall reception desk and not to the dorm room.  Students need to retrieve the treat card from their dorm mailbox and pick up their treat from their dorm reception desk). 

Remember, you can surprise your student with the popular Pizza and a Movie treat ($25), 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!  If you have any questions, you can contact Sue in parent relations (parents@calvin.edu or 616-526-6142).

Gospel Choir

The Gospel Choir's mission is to proclaim the word of God in song as members fellowship with one another. While fulfilling this mission, the choir will represent Calvin College and its varied worship styles in a diverse, Christian manner. The choir is open to all students, staff, faculty, and alumni of Calvin College.

The Gospel Choir will be on tour in Ontario this weekend, November 20-22, 2009, and has a concert on campus in the chapel on Tuesday, November 24 at 7:30 p.m.  For more information about any part of this tour, please contact Jeffrey Schra, Music Tours Manager, at 616-526-7586.  For audio samples of the Gospel Choir, visit their Web site.

There's still time to apply for free

We know that many Calvin parents are in a position to recommend Calvin to a prospective student and/or parent. We value and encourage your efforts to help us identify prospective students who are a good "match" with Calvin College. Use the student referral page to submit that information to us or contact us at parents@calvin.edu (616-526-6142).
 
And if these prospective students apply before December 1 (January 1 for Canadians), the admissions office will waive the application fee! Find out more on the admissions Web site.

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:

December 5: Christmas at the Campus Store
December 10: Judy Collins concert on campus

Check the Parent Calendar for important dates

Bookmark the Parent Calendar page to keep track of important dates throughout the year, including:
 
Nov. 20: Tuition, room and board payment due
Nov. 25: Last day to drop second-half semester courses; Last day to change second-half semester courses from credit to audit.  Thanksgiving recess begins 5 p.m; residence halls remain open during break.
Nov. 26: Thanksgiving Day (U.S.)
Nov. 30: Classes resume 8 a.m.
Dec. 1: Miscellaneous charges payment due (1st of each month)
Dec. 11: Classes end 10 p.m.
Dec. 12: Reading Recess
Dec. 14: Exams begin 9 a.m.
Dec. 18: Exams end & Christmas break begins 10 p.m.
Dec. 19: On-campus housing closes at 10 a.m.