Cedar Springs — In the spacious, souped-up media center of the new and improved Beach Elementary, two generations came together to puzzle out some math problems during the recent Forever Red Hawks event.
Forever Red Hawks is a relatively new initiative that invites community members, ages 55 and older, into schools to see what life is like for students and what’s happening in the district.
Hunched over tables with dice in hands, Beach third-graders paired up with a group of about 15 adult counterparts and engaged in a spirited round of Loops and Groups — an addition and multiplication game that’s part of the Bridges math curriculum at Cedar Springs.
The third-graders showed their partners how the game works: two players roll two dice, multiply the two numbers they get, and list the product in a column on a corresponding worksheet, taking turns until each player’s column is filled. Then they add up their results; the player with the largest number wins.
‘It gives people firsthand accounting of what our students are experiencing now, and they can then share that story.’
— Superintendent Scott Smith
Third-grader Carson VanDonkenaar had played the game many times, but he’d never taught anyone how to play until he was paired up with Jeff Gust, 1986 Cedar Springs graduate and former school board trustee.
“He’s doing great,” Carson said during the pair’s first game. “I’m losing by a lot. Like, a lot.”
“Well, I got pretty lucky so far,” Gust said.
Making Connections
As they played, Carson and Gust got to know each other, chatting about their favorite school subjects and what they like most about the new Beach Elementary.
“I just like that it’s super nice and it’s brand new,” Carson said of the school. “(The playground) is so fun, especially with the double swings.”
Gust, who recently retired from a career in construction, is also a fan of the new building.
“I like it. I like the two stories,” he said. “I like the extra-wide hallways. … When you get to winter and you get all the kids changing boots and coats and stuff, having that extra space is going to be awesome.”
At other tables, more friendships were forming. Community member Dianne Sabinas faced off in the math game against third-grader Canaan Steeder, who impressed her with how well he played.
“He’s a much better dice-roller than I am,” Sabinas said with a chuckle.
“Normally I’m not lucky, but I guess I’m lucky today,” Canaan said modestly.
Having lived in Cedar Springs for more than 40 years, Sabinas has close ties to the district.
“My children went to school here, my husband taught at the high school, and both of my daughters were teachers here — and one still is — and my grandchildren go to school here,” she said.
Sabinas said she attended the Forever Red Hawks event because she was keen to get a closer look at the newly renovated Beach.
“It is more than I thought I would ever see in Cedar Springs,” she said. “It’s just a beautiful, beautiful building.”
Cheryl Tacoma, a former kindergarten teacher with the district, concurred, echoing Sabinas’ statements about the beauty of the building. Tacoma said she was also touched that the district invited her to attend the event.
“It feels very sweet, to be remembered and thought of,” Tacoma said.
Sue Wolfe and Deb Allen both graduated from Cedar Springs, and Allen was a secretary at the district for more than 20 years. Both said they appreciated being included. Allen said she valued the opportunity to connect with the kids.
“It was so fun and so interesting,” she said. “It was such a good feeling.”
Added Wolfe, “It’s a generational reconnection, and it’s so important.”
Seeing Investments in Action
Community members also got a tour of the new building, which Superintendent Scott Smith helped lead.
Smith underscored the importance of staying connected with the larger community, and bridging the gap between generations.
“It’s important to engage and invite people in with a purpose. It gives people firsthand accounting of what our students are experiencing now, and they can then share that story,” Smith told SNN.
He added that the Forever Red Hawks event allows voters to see how their tax dollars are being used in bond projects like the one that funded the reconstruction of Beach.
“Getting positive messaging out there is good for all,” Smith said. “It helps people see that their investment was well-respected and well-utilized, and they can see firsthand that our students are pretty neat people doing cool things.
“And this is just fun. Who doesn’t like to hang out with kids doing fun kid things?”
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