Last week we dropped by the Jenison softball game at home against Hudsonville! The weather was perfect, the stands were packed, and the atmosphere was great. Check out our favorite photos from the afternoon and go softball!
Last Friday the high school’s APES class and Bauerwood 2nd graders continued their wonderful tradition of releasing salmon into the Grand River! They have been growing and developing in Mrs. White’s room since October. The high school students led groups of 2nd graders to the boat launch area and, using red Solo cups, released salmon into the wild. Strong connections were formed as interactive learning took place. Way to collaborate high school students and second graders!
Last Thursday Jenison Choirs performed its first ever A cappella show at the Jenison Center for the Arts! The lively crowd loved every minute of it cheering along to popular songs like “Turn the Beat Around” without any instrument backup. Huge shoutout to the students for an incredible performance!
The second annual Victory Day Football Game at Grand Valley State University was a HUGE success once again! Our Unified Sports students traveled to Lubbers Stadium yesterday and got to hang out with the GVSU Football team, the GVSU Soccer team, and students from the GVSU Sports Management program. They went through drills, had a lot of dance parties, and finished the day with the chance to score a touchdown. Big thanks to everyone at GVSU who made our students feel incredibly special!
Recognizing excellence across our district! Our High School Math Department is helping students achieve incredible academic growth, Zach Mendoza continues to invest in people through our strength and performance program, and Amy Schrock is being celebrated for organizing a meaningful Senior Citizen Preview Night at the high school musical. Well done, Wildcats!
Congratulations to Jenison High School Orchestra Director Dan Scott for being named the WZZM 13 Teacher of the Week! With the help of Scott’s wife and his students, Principal Michael Leiter surprised him with the news during a recent class period. Check out these photos from the special morning!
After a schoolwide, student council organized fundraiser raised more than $1,000 for Paws with a Cause, a group of younger Bauerwood Elementary students enjoyed a special reward yesterday for their efforts…an Easter Egg hunt! With help from older students, on a perfect spring day, the students went wild along the back woods trails, finding every colorful egg in sight. The eggs contained change and slips of paper that granted other special rewards. Huge shoutout to Bauerwood Elementary Student Council for such a successful campaign!
Mrs. Wise’s Challenge LA class at the Junior High has been working on “Teach the Teacher” presentations this week and so far they are pretty amazing! Students each picked something they are passionate about to teach her in a 3-minute presentation. One student taught Mrs. Wise about her dad’s service dog, another brought in her Corgi to share the history of the breed, one girl skateboarded, and so much more. Students were supportive of their classmates and cheered them on every step of the way. Cool idea Junior High!
Talk about the perfect TRIFECTA! Huge shoutout to the three Jenison Winter Color Guard teams that won state championships at the Breslin Center over the weekend. Jenison Varsity, Jenison JV, and Jenison Jr Wildcats were each undefeated this season as well! The Jenison Junior Wildcats are now three-peat state champions and the varsity team is back-to-back state champions. Congratulations on incredible seasons, Jenison Color Guard!
Congratulations to Jenison’s Unified Green and White Teams for taking home gold medals at the Special Olympics Basketball State Finals this past weekend! Big thanks to Parent Stacy Clack for the amazing photo. Go Unified!
Special shoutout to Jenison High School’s Winning Wildcats for the month of March… Rob Zeitman and Jordan Whittecar!
Zeitman, the Wildcat Prep Program Coordinator, “continuously thinks outside the box to design solutions that meet diverse needs and ensure every student has a clear path to graduation. Because of his dedication, flexibility and creative approach, many students who once felt stuck are now confidently moving toward graduation,” according to Dr. Leiter, the staff member who nominated him.
Whittecar, a business teacher and DECA advisor, helps students “develop the confidence and soft skills necessary to succeed in the business industry. She also does an exceptional job representing Jenison at DECA events and within the field of Business Education,” according Mrs. Kirkland, the staff member who nominated her.
Way to go, Rob and Jordan!
We love the JPS tradition of 6th Grade Camp! Yesterday we visited El Puente during their epic trip to Grace Adventures and couldn’t stop smiling, just like the students.
Whether it was horseback riding, obstacle courses, or the Flying Squirrel experience, 6th graders strengthened connections, built confidence, pushed themselves physically and mentally, and had so much fun with their peers.
Huge thanks to the junior counselors from the high school, staff, and parent volunteers for making the camp experience unforgettable!
Whether it was horseback riding, obstacle courses, or the Flying Squirrel experience, 6th graders strengthened connections, built confidence, pushed themselves physically and mentally, and had so much fun with their peers.
Huge thanks to the junior counselors from the high school, staff, and parent volunteers for making the camp experience unforgettable!
Last week Jenison Junior High hosted its annual Career Fair in the library! Seventh graders have been studying employability, interview skills, and resumes, while 8th graders have studied career pathways, post-high school opportunities, and careers.
During the busy, hands-on event, 7th graders listened to the 8th graders elevator pitches, picked jobs to apply for, and then interviewed with the 8th graders for those jobs. Finally, 8th graders then picked one 7th grader to hire.
Great work learning about careers, junior high!
During the busy, hands-on event, 7th graders listened to the 8th graders elevator pitches, picked jobs to apply for, and then interviewed with the 8th graders for those jobs. Finally, 8th graders then picked one 7th grader to hire.
Great work learning about careers, junior high!
Today Sandy Hill celebrated World Down Syndrome Day through the nationwide movement of “rock your socks!” Students across the school participated by wearing colorful, fun, or mismatched socks. They rocked their socks to celebrate uniqueness and show acceptance for the Down Syndrome community. Teacher Anna Norton created a special video to celebrate the Down Syndrome students and the whole school was talking about it. Great idea Sandy Hill!
With the first show tonight, we recently dropped by the set of Jenison High School’s The Little Mermaid! The students were working hard to finish up the final details and everything looks GREAT. We talked with many different departments and those behind the scenes. Check out our favorite photos and see you at the shows starting this weekend!
Congratulations to the Jenison CTE students who pitched their businesses this week at the CTE Student Pitch Competition! The event, which was held at the SURGE Center at Lakeshore Advantage in downtown Holland, provided the students a chance to present their businesses to a panel of three judges. One Jenison business made the top three, while the other business sold nearly all the product they brought to display. Way to represent Jenison well, CTE students!
Congratulations to the most recent Winning Wildcats at Jenison High School … Libby Taylor and Sommer Cain! Taylor is an athletic trainer within the district that does a great job working with athletes. “Libby is loved by all the athletes at JHS and we are lucky to have her,” Dean of Students Sam Diekevers wrote in his nomination.
Cain is a World Language Teacher at the high school. She excels at student engagement and “encourages her students to be excited about the possibilities of knowing another language,” according to Teacher Julie Oosterink.
Keep up the great work, Libby and Sommer!
Cain is a World Language Teacher at the high school. She excels at student engagement and “encourages her students to be excited about the possibilities of knowing another language,” according to Teacher Julie Oosterink.
Keep up the great work, Libby and Sommer!
Big thanks to the high school Peer Educators group for visiting the junior high yesterday to talk about making positive life choices! They performed skits about peer pressure, difficult conversations, and the workload students might face in high school. The Peer Educators also shared how they personally navigated high school and what’s next for them. The junior high health students were focused and asked great questions. Keep making a positive impact Peer Educators!
🚌 Shoutout to our Transportation Team!
At the March Board Meeting, we honored the crew that makes the bus go ‘round and round!’
From first stop to the final drop-off, thank you to our drivers, mechanic, and dispatchers for keeping our students safe and our district moving. We couldn't do it without you!
This winter Jenison High School groups made a huge difference in the lives of Helen DeVos Children's Hospital patients! The Jenison DECA program held a toy drive and two students, with the help of Business Teacher Connor Baine, delivered all the toys they collected to the hospital. They also had the opportunity to join the hospital’s internal TV show and their bingo game, passing out toys to the winners across the floors. “It was a really cool experience,” Baine said.
A group of students from Jenison Choirs also had an opportunity on a separate occasion to perform for the patients at the hospital. Senior Alicyn Palmbos, who was involved in both events, thanked everyone who participated. “I am beyond grateful that this happened, and it couldn’t have been done without your support,” she said. Way to give back, Jenison High School students and staff!
A group of students from Jenison Choirs also had an opportunity on a separate occasion to perform for the patients at the hospital. Senior Alicyn Palmbos, who was involved in both events, thanked everyone who participated. “I am beyond grateful that this happened, and it couldn’t have been done without your support,” she said. Way to give back, Jenison High School students and staff!
