Caledonia residents Leland Austin, 7, and his twin Layla watch a science experiment during Thursday's back-to-school event at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. Leland is in for a checkup following open heart surgery. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Allen resident Tyler Harrell Jr., 9, makes a silly face during his school picture. Harrell is being treated for burns. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Holland resident Kenadee Grosse, 4, holds an apple after learning about food and healthy snacks at Thursday's back-to-school event. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Children at Thursday's back-to-school event could fill backpacks with school supplies and books that had been donated this past year. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital teacher and educational liaison Sarah Smith talks to children as they visit different stations during Thursday's back-to-school event. This Tuesday marks the start of Taking Care of Business, Smith's program for children. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Holland resident Elijah McCarry, 6, plays a kazoo at a music station during the back-to-school event at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. Elijah is being treated for muscle weakness. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Twin Lake resident Jacob Unger, 9, makes a silly face while getting his school photo taken. Jacob is being treated for kidney stones and recovering from a recent bilateral rod surgery for scoliosis. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Grand Rapids resident Emma Joyce, 6, tests a science simulation of a tornado during the back-to-school event at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. Emma is being treated for Wilms' tumors. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Children could get their photos taken and instantly printed during Thursday's back-to-school event at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Music therapist Bridget Sova sings and plays the guitar with children at the music station during the back-to-school event at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Houghton Lake resident Kaydence Gregaitis, 4, poses for her back-to-school photo at Thursday's event. Kaydence is being treated for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Tyler Harrell Jr., 9, get his new bike helmet fitted at Thursday's back-to-school program at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
It’s that time of year again—kids are trading in their summer flip flops and bathing suits for new back-to-school clothes, backpacks and school supplies.
On Thursday, teacher and educational liaison Sarah Smith organized a back-to-school event for children at the hospital, ensuring they wouldn’t miss a beat in their academic pursuits.
Even if they’re starting the school year in hospital rooms, the kids don’t have to miss out on the thrill and bustle of the first day of school.
“Here, they get to pack a bag of school supplies they might need,” Smith said, explaining the setup. “And then we have stations in the different curricular areas, to just get them curious and excited about school.”
When they’re in the hospital, the kids miss out on open houses at their schools. They miss out on events “where they get to walk around and see their classrooms, meet their teachers, meet their classmates,” Smith said.
The back-to-school event brings all the excitement right to them.
“Even though it’s not their own (school), it’s something for them to look forward to,” Smith said.
The event had a station for hands-on math, science and music, as well as offering school supplies and books that kids could stuff in their backpacks. The hospital also provided a healthy lunch and snack, and the children learned about playground safety and bus safety. They also had a school photo station.
“This time of year, they’re missing a lot of school open houses,” Smith said. “They’re getting the letters in the mail from their teachers on what supplies they need.
“We’re just trying to get them excited for the year,” she said. “We do this back-to-school event as a kickoff to our group school time that starts next week.”
Sarah Smith’s “Taking Care of Business” program for children begins Tuesday. The program is 10:30-11:30 a.m. each weekday in the 11th floor playroom.