Today is #NationalDogDay and we had to stop by our schools to see how our Paws With A Cause ® facility dogs were doing! And, wow, were they busy helping boost the spirits of students across the district, as usual. Students were flocking to them in the halls, classrooms, and on the playgrounds. Check out our top shots of Zeppelin, Mystic, and Oshie this afternoon!
We're so excited to welcome back Bursley Elementary students today! Big shoutout to staff for their hard work and flexibility to make this day happen. Students were PUMPED to see their teachers and friends once again. Have an awesome year, Bursley!
Our second wave of Fall Sports Media Days is here! Enjoy girls cross country, boys tennis, boys soccer and the boys water polo team. Good luck to all our fall sports teams this season and stay tuned for action shots throughout the season!
This summer Jenison Junior High installed a track and field and cross country school record board in the gym and it looks GREAT! We dropped by yesterday to check it out and meet some of the current junior high students on the board. Go Junior High!
Earlier this month we hosted our first media day for our Paws With A Cause facility dogs! Mystic, Oshie, and Zeppelin did such a great job posing. We can't wait to see them continue to encourage and support our JPS students throughout this school year!
Congratulations to Karis Chatfield for being named a finalist for the Detroit Free Press Preseason Volleyball Player of the Year! The poll features 10 of Michigan's top volleyball players, according to Prepdig. Vote here until Friday at noon! https://freep.com/story/sports/high-school/athlete-of-the-week/2025/08/19/who-is-the-michigan-volleyball-player-of-the-year-andrews-divita-nwabueze-pelon-sheldon-woodruff/85713370007/
This afternoon JPS welcomed back staff for our annual kickoff celebration! We loved seeing our amazing team return to campus, including the mother-daughter combo of Pinewood Teacher Sara Brower and new High School Teacher Abigail Lovins. Assistant Superintendent Leslie Philipps honored our staff members who reached the 20-year and 30-year marks plus we heard an inspiring, emotional message from Superintendent Brandon Graham about helping our students succeed this year. We're excited to see everyone for the first day of school tomorrow!
Kicking off this week’s Fall Sports Media Day photos is football!
The Jenison High School French program took an amazing trip to France earlier this summer! They spent a week exploring Paris and Northern France, including Normandy and Brittany. "I was super impressed with how our students took themselves out of their comfort zone by using the French they have learned in the classroom to order their food and ask questions in real life situations," French Teacher Becca Frandsen said. "... We are hoping to take a trip to France every other year, and are looking forward to planning a trip for summer 2027!"
Special shoutout to Jenison swimmer Eryn Drayton who is swimming a portion of a 441-mile relay to remember the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking!
Special shoutout to the Jenison Girls Golf team for an extra creative sports media day photo shoot today! For the first time ever, we had a team bring confetti. Good luck this year girls golf and watch for more sports soon!
Remember the Wildcat Festival is almost here! The annual community event takes place from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 28 just outside the football stadium.
Our Fall Sports Media Days are underway! The first team to drop by was boys cross country. Enjoy these top shots and stay tuned for more teams in the coming days! #ReadytoCompete
Thanks to a partnership with Chris Battle's building trades classes, the Jenison HS Media Center has eight new wooden bookshelves! This week library staff members have stocked the shelves with books & they couldn't be happier. #ReadytoSucceed
We are excited to announce that Zach Mendoza has been hired as the new Director of Strength and Performance at JPS! Most recently serving as an Assistant Sports Performance Coach at Grand Valley State University, Zach has led performance programming for multiple collegiate teams, overseen fueling strategies for athletes, and supervised intern development. Please join us in welcoming Zach to the Wildcat community!
The defending state champion Jenison Marching Band finished their pre-camp yesterday with an outstanding performance at the David McKenzie Stadium! Next week they begin their annual band camp, which culminates with a community performance on Friday evening. Check out our favorite photos from the afternoon and stay tuned for more information on the community performance! #ReadytoPerform
Congratulations to the Jenison Girls Swim and Dive team for six All-American times that became official this summer! Sophia Umstead placed 9th in the country in the 100 Breaststroke, 12th in the country in the 200 IM, 41st in the country in the 200 Freestyle, and 49th in the country in the 100 Butterfly. The 200 Medley Relay of Dalila Brown, Sophia Umstead, Emma Albrecht, and Layla Umstead placed 25th in the country. Finally, the 200 Free Relay of Emma Albrecht, Sophia Umstead, Kylie Coffey, and Layla Umstead placed 26th in the country. Way to go, Jenison Girls Swim and Dive!
Special shoutout to Quinn Cochran for recently being named Second Team All-State for boys volleyball! In a post by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association they shared, "we’re proud to announce that the hard work, hustle, and heart of our athletes have been recognized at the state level!" Well done, Quinn! #ReadytoCompete
Student-athletes left it all on the field during an indoor training session at the Wildcat Fieldhouse this summer! The last strength and performance day of the month was filled with running, weights, and agility drills scattered across the turf. Great effort, student-athletes! #ReadytoCompete
Congratulations to recent Jenison grad Braden Riha for receiving the Jim P. Dieleman Junior Achievement Scholarship! He was one of five Junior Achievement scholarship recipients from across West Michigan. "Each year we provide scholarships to students from across our region who we believe not only demonstrated scholastic commitment and leadership skills, but also those we feel will be contributors to our communities in the future,” said Bill Coderre, President and CEO, Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes. Great work, Braden! #ReadytoSucceed
