Calvin-Parents E-Newsletter: August 23, 2011

Welcome back, moving in, etc.

Student life is welcoming students back to campus on their Welcome Back page. On this page, you'll find information about the top topics as you prepare to send your son(s) or daughter(s) to Calvin for 2011-2012. You might also check the Moving In page to confirm dates, times, what to bring (or not to bring), maps and car signs, etc.

Student orientation, PASSPORT IV, is August 29-31. If you have any orientation questions, contact orientation@calvin.edu (616-526-8507).

Parent Oasis tent

The Parent Oasis tent will be up on Wednesday, August 31, which is move-in day for first-year students. Members of the parent relations team will have beverages and snacks available at the tent, as well as a space to relax and visit with Calvin staff and other parents while your students are unpacking. The tent is "open" from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the lawn between Rooks-Van Dellen and Schultze-Eldersveld; look for the "Parent Oasis" banner by the big white tent. Read on to find out more about the Info Fair also open that day.

Info Fair

Drop into the Info Fair on Wednesday, August 31, to get your questions answered about everything from banking in Grand Rapids to the opportunities available for on-campus jobs. The Info Fair will be open from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Spoelhof Fieldhouse main lobby and a member of the parent relations team will be available to answer any question you have that has not yet been addressed. Many other campus offices will be staffing tables, as well as area banks, off-campus vendors, etc. See you then!

Convocation 2011

President Gaylen Byker, who will retire at the end of this school year, will deliver this year's Convocation address, "Near to God: To Trust and Obey," on September 6.

See more on Convocation 2011.

Read more about Dr. Byker in: "Leaving a legacy: Highlighting President Byker's 16 years of service."

Treats for your student

Parents may send their student some "love" by having the parent relations team deliver a treat to them during the school year. There are birthday, exam, holiday and special event treats to send for on- or off-campus students. The full list of treats is available on the Student Treats page and you can order online now!

For a great deal, order A Year of Treats and save $$; it includes a free birthday treat! The order deadline for A Year of Treats is September 14, 2011.

Textbook reservations

Getting textbooks can be an overwhelming part of your student's "back to school" experience. Let us make this process easy and convenient for everyone with our online textbook reservation system which is now open. You'll find a variety of textbook options aimed at saving you time and money. Options can include used copies, rentals and even e-books.

A reservation is a great way for your student to get the right books for fall semester picked and packed just for them. Avoid waiting in lines to buy the books or waiting and wondering if the books will arrive in the mail. Students have received already received two e-mail notices that they may log in, access their personal book list and place a reservation (which they can do with their Calvin Portal login). Book orders will be delivered directly to dorms before classes start, or held at the store for off-campus students.

If you are interested, parents can check out the Incoming Student Information and Gifts page. Contact campus-store@calvin.edu if you have any questions or problems.

Psalms Bible study

Students, staff, faculty, alumni and church congregations are joining together in small groups to read and study scripture together this year. We believe the all-campus bible study of Psalms can transform our lives and our community in many ways. Let's see what God will do when over 4,000 people gather together to study his word, pray and love each other! See the Psalms page (still in progress) or contact us at: psalms@calvin.edu. More information will be available soon.

Coop's Column

See a new Coop's Column this week on the Holy Spirit as revealer. Writes Dale Cooper: "Christians boldly claim that God is the font of all knowledge, the foundation of certitude about the nature of reality. God’s Holy Spirit makes (all) knowledge possible—knowledge about God, about the world God made, about humanity, and about God’s grand campaign through Jesus to rescue a world sadly distressed and broken by sin. Christians declare that without the revealing activity of the Holy Spirit, humans can know nothing. Absolutely nothing."

Campus safety notes

Calvin offers a text-messaging service for students/community members to send a text-message to Campus Safety in situations where it may be difficult or dangerous to make a call. The address is 33333@calvin.edu. It is recommended that you program this number into your phone now just in case you ever need it. The system is monitored 24 hours a day and Campus Safety will respond to any requests for assistance. You can also anonymously report a crime to Campus Safety through the Kent County Silent Observer Program. See this site for all options available for anonymously reporting a crime on campus.

Students are also encouraged to program the contact numbers for Campus Safety dispatch into their phone. The 24 hour non-emergency phone number is 616-526-6452.  The 24 hour emergency phone number is 616-526-3333 or 3-3333 for campus phones.

Events for all

Here are several alumni and friends events coming up. Parents and family members are invited--encouraged---to join us!

• Pasadena (CA) Beach Outing: August 27, 2011
• StreetFest International: September 3-11, 2011
• 42nd Annual Golf Tournament: September 10, 2011
  
• San Diego (CA) Cruise: September 17, 2011
• Newport Beach (CA) Cruise: September 24, 2011
• Calvin Around Town - Grand Rapids Symphony & ArtPrize: October 6, 2011
• Homecoming and Family Weekend (which includes 10-, 25-, 40-, and 45-year class reunions): October 21 & 22, 2011

Check the Parent Calendar for important dates

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