KDL Kelloggsville Branch Library Cameron Holmes hopes area residents will stop by to check out the branch during its Birthday Bash on Aug. 2. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor
This Aug. 2, Kent District Library hopes area residents will swing by to check out the books and materials at its KDL Kelloggsville branch as the branch marks its fifth anniversary.
Located in the Kelloggsville High School, 4787 Division Ave. S., the branch was opened in 2018 with a state-of-the-art media center at the high school was transformed into a community library. KDL manages the two-story facility, which is open to the community members after school hours and during the summer.
Even through the facility has been open for five years, there are still people in the community who are not aware of it, said KDL Kelloggsville Branch Librarian Cameron Holmes.
The KDL Kelloggsville branch’s entrance is located on the north side of the Kelloggsville High School. (Courtesy, KDL)
“The event is designed to provide a service to the community but also to help create awareness about the facility and that it is open to the public,” Holmes said, adding that the library entrance is tucked into the north side of the school and is not easily visible from the road.
The Birthday Bash, which starts at 1 p.m., will be outside, which Holmes said he hopes will attract people to come in and check out the event. The event will include a foam party, take and make crafts for adults, goodie bags for children, tours of the branch and, of course, ice cream. The KDL Bookmobile also will be there.
The branch is full service, providing an arrange of materials for children to adults along with the Beyond Books program and other KDL services.
For the summer, the KDL Kelloggsville branch is open 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.Mondays and Wednesdays and noon-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. During the school year, the branch is open from 3-6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
For more about the KDL Kelloggsville branch or KDL offerings, visit kdl.org.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
Along with the passage of the Wyoming Public Safety millage, districts in and around the cities of Wyoming and Kenwood also had positive outcomes on individual ballot proposals.
Kelloggsville Public Schools – non-residential operating millage
Kelloggsville Public Schools, which is in both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, was seeking a renewal of its non-residential (non-homestead) operating millage, would generates about $3.7 million or 13% of the district’s annual operating budget. The request was renewed for two more years with 544 to 340 in favor.
Kelloggsville Public Schools’ non-residential millage request was approved by voters for another two years.(WKTV)
“On behalf of the Board of Education, Kelloggsville Administration, and all of our staff members, we sincerely thank you for supporting this millage,” said Kelloggsville Assistant Superintendent Eric Alcorn to a letter to the community. “Your support demonstrates a commitment to our schools and the education of our students. We are fortunate to have such dedicated staff and community members who value education and understand the importance of investing in our schools.”
The money will be used for the day-to-day operations of the Kelloggsville schools such as staffing costs, instructional programs, instructional materials, transport and maintenance.
Grandville Public Schools – non-residential operating millage
Grandville Public Schools, which includes the Wyoming panhandle, also was seeking a renewal of its non-residential (non-homestead) operating millages. The proposal was for the 18-mills on non-homestead property plus one additional mlll, for a total of 19 mills, for four years.
GPS has had a “Headlee Rollback” for the past seven years, with its millage now 16.8 mills. The additional mill will offset up to one mill of Headlee Rollback and make up the different over the four years to keep the district as close to 18 mills as possible.
The proposal passed 3,422 to 2,112.
Caledonia Community Schools – supplement bond proposal
Caledonia Community Schools’ supplemental bond proposal for $61 million pasted by a small margin, 2,790 to 2,715. The funding will be used to complete the 2020 vision that voters approved a bond issue on in that same year. Due to construction costs, the district needed to seek the supplemental bond issue.
The funding will be used for construction of a new Dutton Elementary, football stadium renovations, repairing roofs, upgrading parking lots, and providing parking and youth athletic fields at Calplex.
“We want to thank the voters in our community for supporting this bond proposal,” said Dr. Dedrick Martin, superintendent of Caledonia Community Schools. “Our continued investment in our schools will help Caledonia stay competitive and enable our students to receive real-world, hands-on experiences in upgraded facilities so they can better compete in the global marketplace.”
The Caledonia School Bond, which is located south of the City of Kentwood, will not raise tax rates for residents. It is a fiscally responsible investment in which all funds will be available on CCS’ website to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and transparently. All bond funds will be subject to regular independent audits to promote accountability and the best fiscal practices.
South Christian QB Jake DeHaan highlights the MHSFCA All-Region selections in the Kentwood-Wyoming area. (Courtesy, Eric Walstra)
By Zach Fanko
WKTV Contributor
The Michigan High School Football Coaches Association released their All-Region teams for the 2022 season as voted on by members of the MHSFCA.
Here are the following selections for players in the Kentwood-Wyoming area:
Division 1, Region 1
Stellan Bowman, JR, LB, East Kentwood
Division 4, Region 1
Camerson VanSolkema, JR, OL, South Christian
Carson Vis, SO, WR, South Christian
Seth Ritsema, SR, WR/TE, South Christian
Jake DeHaan, SR, QB, South Christian
Cam Post, SR, LB, South Christian
Nate Brinks, SR, Specialist, South Christian
Division 5, Region 2
Will Howard II, SR, DL, Wyoming-Kelloggsville
As you can see, South Christian was well represented in Division 4 with six total selections. The undefeated Sailors are preparing for their state semifinal matchup with Edwardsburg on Saturday.
East Kentwood’s Stellan Bowman, who played both halfback and linebacker this season, represented the Falcons on the All-Region team. (WKTV/Nathan Piers)
Stellan Bowman had a standout season at linebacker for the Falcons as East Kentwood made a return to the playoffs. Coach Tony Kimbrough mentioned Bowman as one of the returning players that the Falcons will rely on in 2023.
In Division 5, Kelloggsville senior Will Howard II was named to the All-Region team as a defensive lineman.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma WKTV Managing Editor joanne@wktv.org
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety is seeking help to identify a person of interest in an assault case that took place at 800 Burton St. SW.
On Oct. 9, 2022, at 4:20 a.m. officers from the Wyoming Department of Public Safety responded to a report of an assault that occurred at the Citgo Station located at 800 Burton St. SW.
A female store employee was allegedly assaulted by a male customers in the store. The male arrived with numerous individuals in black “party” bus. The male customer engaged in argument with employees and began throwing items in the store and at employees. The female employee was attempting to get the male to leave when she was stuck in the head causing her to fall. The male suspect returned to the bus which then left the scene.
The female store employee had significant but non-life threatening injuries from being struck and falling to the floor.
The male involved in this incident is described a a black male, 20-30 years old, 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a skinny build and short hair. He was seen wearing a dark-colored North Face hoodie sweatshirt with dark-colored jeans.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Wyoming Police at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or 1-866-774-2345.
Kentwood Police
Last week, the Kentwood Police Department was able to identify a 16-year-old male believed to have been involved in the theft of a vehicle in which a 2-year-old was inside. A juvenile petition was forward to the Kent County prosecutor’s office and the following charges were issued: child abandonment, unlawful driving away of an automobile, lying/obstructing police and malicious destruction of property under $1,000.
Courtesy, Kentwood Police Department
“I would like to commend our Kentwood Police officers and the officers from our neighboring communities on their tireless work to identify and locate this individual,” Kentwood Police Chief Byron Litwin said. “I would also like to thank the bus drivers form Kelloggsvillee Public Schools for their quick actions in locating the missing child and returning him to his parents.”
On Oct. 4 at around 8:10 a.m., the Kentwood Police Department was dispatched to a stolen vehicle with a 2-year-old child inside. The vehicle was stolen form the area of 48th Street and Marlette Avenue in Kentwood.
According to media reports, the parents were able to flag down a Kelloggsville bus driver. The driver alerted 911 and then got on the bus frequency radio and alerted the other drivers in the area. Another Kelloggsville bus driver realized she had just seen a 2-year-old child wrapped in a blanket. The driver went back, picked up the child and returned the baby to its mother.
The stolen vehicles was found in the city of Grand Rapids shortly after it was stolen. Multiple agencies assisted the Kentwood Police Department including the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Department of Public Safety and the Grand Rapids Police Department.
Ionia senior Ethan Bowen made the most of his first varsity start at quarterback as he threw two touchdowns and ran for two more in the Bulldogs 44-8 win over home team Kelloggsville Thursday.
Bowen, who filled in for the injured Travis Tucker, Jr., had 101 yards in the air and 82 on the ground.
“He’s one of our captains, a wide receiver and the backup quarterback,” said Ionia coach Chad Rhynard, whose team improved to 1-1. “He did a great job and the kids rallied behind him tonight. I was surprised, but not really surprised. He’s a great leader for us and does what we ask of him.
“I think he was pretty excited for the opportunity.”
Rhynard said once they took a 14-0 lead his team settled in offensively.
“I was happy with the way we ground it out,” said Ryhnard, whose Bulldogs led 28-8 at the half. “We want to possess the ball and gain first downs. Overall, not too many complaints for us.”
Receiver Mason Doty scored two touchdowns for 88 yards total.
Kelloggsville coach Brandon Branch said his team came out and played hard all night long.
“Their mentality, aggressiveness and willingness was all there,” said Branch, whose Rockets fell to 0-2. “Early on, our defense held tough. We fumbled on our first possession and our defense stopped them. If we capitalized on the first two drives it could have gone a different way.
“I’m proud of their effort; they played together and they got after it.”
Cam Townsend scored the lone touchdown for Kelloggsville in the first quarter on an 80-yard pass from senior quarterback Zach Zerfas. Townsend led with 113 yards receiving on four catches.
Despite Kelloggsville’s offensive struggles, Zerfas ended up with 188 yards passing. As a junior last year, Zerfas passed for over 2,400 yards and threw 24 touchdowns.
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Located between the Godwin School district and Wyoming Park School district was Kelloggsville. Formed in 1856, the school’s first building was built on land given by Francis William Kellogg in 1859. The one-room school house (pictured above) was located on South Division where the high school now stands. Kelloggsville was between the Godwin School district and Wyoming Park School district. Godwin schools were organized in 1843 and Wyoming Park schools in 1850.
Kelloggsville in the only school district in Kent County split evenly between two cities, Wyoming and Kentwood. The area was named after Francis William Kelloggs, who was a logger and later became a U.S. House of Representative for Michigan.
Francis William Kellogg (Photo by Mathew Benjamin Brady – Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Brady-Handy Photograph Collection.)
)Originally from Worthington, Mass., Francis William Kellogg moved to the Paris Township area in 1855 where he engaged in lumber business with the firm Kellogg, White & Co. He would help to establish the Kelloggsville School district which was named after him. Kellogg was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served from 1863-1865. During the Reconstruction, he was appointed by then U.S. President Andrew Johnson as collection of the U.S. internal revenue for the southern portion of Alabama. Kellogg moved to Mobile, Alabama and event served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Alabama.
There was so much hope at the start of the 2021 school year as school started with in-person learning but 13 weeks in and the toll of the year is starting to have an impact.
Wyoming Public Schools announced it would be closed Monday and Tuesday, giving students and staff a full five days off for the Thanksgiving holiday.. (WKTV)
Rising COVID cases and teacher shortages have forced both Wyoming and Grand Rapids Public Schools to take “wellness days” in November and December.
“Over the past year and a half, I have encouraged our families, students, and staff to find time for self-care, as you are all continuously riding a rollercoaster of changes, challenges, and opportunities,” wrote Wyoming Superintendent Craig Hoekstra. “In thinking about how to drive encouragement and a way to put my words into action, we have decided to close the entire week of Thanksgiving.”
The district was scheduled to be open only two days next week, Nov. 22 and 23, but will now be closed the entire week. Kelloggsville Public Schools, on its school page, also has made the announcement that it will be closed those days as well due to rising COVID cases and staff shortages.
Earlier this week, Grand Raids Public Schools announced it would be closed two Fridays in December, Dec. 3 and 10 due to a combination of factors related to COVID.
No other schools in the Wyoming or Kentwood communities have made any announcements of closing for mental health or wellness. Godfrey-Lee officials stated they have been asked but have not made any decisions at this time. Kentwood officials stated they are planning to be open Monday and Tuesday the week of Thanksgiving.
Cases on the rise
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Michigan now leads the country in community spread of COVID. Nationwide, the cases per 100,000 are 176 where in Michigan it is 503. In Kent County, it is 591 cases per 100,000, higher than both the state and the national numbers. The 7-day positive rate is 21 percent in Kent County while it is between 10 – 14 percent in the state and about 7 percent nationwide.
According to a letter from the Region 6 Healthcare Coalition, which Kent, Ottawa, Newaygo, Muskegon, and Ionia counties are a part of, the health care systems within the region are at a tipping point. The hospitals and EMS systems in the region are operating at extremely high capacity and have been for weeks.
According to the CDC, Michigan leads the nation in community spread of COVID. (pxhere.com)
“It is important to note that the strain on our systems is due to the COVIDE-19 response, plus the many other demands our teams are facing to care for seriously ill patients,” said Jerry Evans, MD, MMM, FACEP, medical director for the Region 6 Healthcare Coalition. “If more people were vaccinated, that would help reduce the number of COVID-19 patients, as most of the COVID-19 patients in the emergency department and admitted remain unvaccinated.
“This is impacting our ability to care for those who are seriously inured in a car accident, suffer a heart attack, stroke, or experience another medical emergency issue.”
Another concern is a wave of influenza with hospital officials encourage people to get the influenza vaccine along with any COVID vaccines and boosters that are available. Residents are encouraged to wash hands frequently, wear a mask when indoors or outdoors when unable to socially distance and practice healthy behaviors such as socially distancing, getting good sleep, eating well, and exercising.
Working to stop transmission
In his letter to parents, Hoekstra said that by closing Wyoming Public Schools for the week of Thanksgiving, it is the hope that it will help to interrupt COVID transmission.
“This is especially important as we deal with continued challenges brought on by COVID-19, including staffing shortages in the classroom,” Hoekstra said.
In fact, Grand Rapids school officials said they selected Friday dates for its wellness days because finding subs for Fridays and Mondays can be challenging. There is a nationwide teacher shortage — along with bus drivers and support staff — with school districts putting out signs in front of facilities along with ads, job fairs, and other talent searches to fill vacancies.
Wyoming, Kelloggsville, and Grand Rapids are not alone in the decision to have wellness days. Schools in Muskegon also have announced decisions to be closed over the Thanksgiving holiday. Schools that due decide to close for mental health and wellness are pulling from their six stated-allotted emergency days, which are usually used for snow days. According to Rep. Tommy Brann, while open to the idea of adding emergency days, it is too early to determine if the state will do so to help schools.
The first Tuesday of November is election day with residents in both the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming having candidates to consider as well as a $11.3 million bond proposal from Kelloggsville Public Schools.
Kentwood Elections
The City of Kentwood residents will be voting on several Kentwood City seats. The races that are contested are Mayor, 1st Ward Commissioner, 2nd Ward Commissioner, and a Commissioner-at-large seat. Click the links below for the candidates.
The City of Wyoming residents will be joining those in the northern Kent County communities to determine who will be the next state senator for the 28th District. Four candidates are vying for the spot left by Peter MacGregor who became the Kent County treasurer last year. Those candidates are Alex Avery (L), Keith Courtade (D), Theodore Gerrard (US Taxpayers), and Mark Huizenga (R). For more on the candidates, click here.
Kelloggsville Bond Propoal
Residents living in the Kelloggsville School District will be voting on a $11.3 million bond proposal that will allow the district to build a S.T.E.M. building at the high school as well as other building and technology projects. For more information on the bond proposal, click here.
If you are interested in improving your English skills, make plans to attend the English Language Learners enrollment session presented by the Literacy Center of West Michigan. The program will take place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, at the Kelloggsville Branch of Kent District Library. Any adult who wants to learn English or improve their skills is invited to attend.
Attendees will learn about and can sign up for a free, 15-week community English class that will take place at the Kelloggsville Branch of KDL. The class will meet from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 10 – June 18. Anyone interested in taking the class should attend the enrollment session.
“Our goal in holding an English class at the Kelloggsville Branch is to provide English literacy instruction to adults in a context that is immediately relevant to their lives,” said Chad Patton, Director of Customized Workplace English for the Literacy Center of West Michigan. “We are excited to help adults in this community reach their literacy goals, and we think that this partnership with Kent District Library only makes sense.”
Grand Rapids Community College is the recipient of a $2.1 million, six-year grant from the U.S. Education Department to boost chances for all students to succeed in college and beyond.
The competitive federal program provides resources to promote college awareness; improve performance in math and writing; increase high school graduation rates; and improve students’ transitions from middle school to high school, and from high school to college – particularly for at-risk, low-income and first-generation students.
GRCC is the only Michigan college to receive the federal grant this year.
The funds will serve a cohort of seventh-graders, following them from middle school to high school and off to college or career training. GEAR UP funds also can provide college scholarships to low-income students.
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
There are still a few days left to help area students get ready for school this fall by donating school supplies to the annual School Supply Santa campaign.
Set to wrap up on Aug. 8, School Supply Santa is actually the idea of Byron Center resident Denise Kooiker. In 2007, Kookier, a hair stylist, decided to hold a drive to collect school supplies when one of her clients told her about numerous families not being able to purchase backpacks, crayons, pencils, notebooks and other items that students need to start the school year.
Eleven years later, the program has grown, helping students in several school districts such as Kelloggsville, Godwin Heights, Wyoming, and Godfrey Lee. Now the organization collects boxes of school supplies that are distributed to the various schools.
There are numerous sites throughout the West Michigan area that are collecting items such at Kellogg Community Credit Union at the Metro Health Village and at its Patterson Avenue location; the YMCA Spartan location on Gezon Parkway; Byron Center’s South Harbor Church; Peach Wave along with several businesses in the Metro Health Village; For the Kids Gymnastics on 44th Street; and several local Starbucks. For a complete list of locations, visit the website, schoolsupplysanta.com.
Items that are needed are backpacks, crayons, colored pencils, dry erase markers, ear buds, folders, glue sticks, Post-it notes, Kleenex, pencils, markers, notebooks three-ring binders, and composition notebooks. Monetary donations also are accepted.
A Kelloggsvile is among 60 Michigan high school students who were named as finalists in the Meijer Great Choices Student Film Festival. More than 300 videos were submitted for the annual film festival.
Tiler DeWitt, who attends Kelloggsville High School, is in the running for the 60 awards totaling $21,150 in prizes that will be awards to students on Saturday June 2, for the winning entires in the 2018 Meijer Great Choices Film Festival. The 10 a.m. awards presentation will be at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center, 8500 Burlingame Ave. SW, Byron Center.
High School students from throughout the state, submitted more than 300 :30 public service announcement videos promoting positive choices in the areas of Character Education, Healthy Living, and Celebrating Diversity. There are two different audiences that the young filmmakers targeted in their PSA’s: Kindergarten through 6th or 7th through 12th grades. DeWitt submitted his film in the K-6 Celebrating Diversity category. The Meijer Great Choices competition was designed for Michigan student film makers to exhibit their creative talent in audio/visual communications and to share their messages with K-12 schools throughout Michigan.
High school students working on a film. Photo courtesy of School News Network.
Audio/Visual/Advertising students and professors from Compass College of Cinematic Arts, Ferris State University, Cornerstone University, Grand Valley State University, Northwood University and Western Michigan University were the preliminary judges and choose the anonymous finalists based on specific criteria. High school students throughout Michigan have been notified that they are finalists and are invited to participate in the June 2nd awards presentation activities. There are eighteen 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners that will be announced at the awards presentation who will receive prizes of $1,500, $1,000, or $500 in the form of a gift card to Meijer. The 42 runners up (fourth through tenth place winners) will each receive a gift card for $75. All of the finalists in attendance will receive an award and gift at the awards presentation.
All 60 of the top PSA’s will be shown at the Awards Reception at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center. In September, the winning PSA’s in each category will be reproduced on DVDs and distributed to schools across the state as tools for their Character Education, Health Education and Diversity programs.
The Meijer Great Choices Film Festival also awards 12 classroom grants totaling $3,300 to K-8 classrooms who submitted video entries in the Meijer Great Choices Junior Film Festival competition. These PSA videos will also be recognized at Saturday’s Awards event.
The purpose of the film festival is to highlight the talent of the state’s audio/visual students while allowing these students to make a positive impact on Michigan’s K-12 youth in the areas of Diversity, Character Education, and Healthy Lifestyles. The festival is in partnership with Meijer, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, The Vander Laan Family Foundation, and the Van Singel Fine Arts Center.
Alexandrea Groters munched on an apple. Sam Resendez walked on his knees and prepared to stand up dramatically, and Israel Juarez-Perez flopped on the floor. Other cast members rehearsing the play “Honor Bright” practiced their own parts onstage, within a half-circle created by 13 traditional school desks.
Things were coming together. After five years without a program and, now, with a renovated auditorium, a stockpile of props pulled from storage and two enthusiastic new hires, Kelloggsville High School theater has been resurrected.
The district, which spent the last few years on construction and renovation at the high school, had closed the curtains on the theater program. But it’s showtime once again.
Sixteen students are learning the ropes of play production, from character development to improvisation, while rehearsing to put on the school’s first play under new directors. “Honor Bright” is scheduled to be performed May 18 and 19 at Kelloggsville High School.
Junior Sam Resendez and senior Kayla Kern rehearse
“My brother and sister had both gone through Kelloggsville and were in theater. I always loved going to the plays and musicals,” said Alexandrea the apple-crunching senior, who was one of the first students to sign up for theater. The program started in September with an after-school drama club. “It’s just fun; it gives me something else to do,” he added.
Students and directors are learning as they go. English teacher Shannon Dahlquist and social studies teacher Jeff Malinowski, both new hires this year, were asked to restart the program, though neither has a background in drama or performing arts, aside from Malinowski’s roles in theater as a high school student.
“What’s been challenging is we don’t have much experience so we are learning on our feet, but we’ve had a lot of student interest,” Dahlquist said. “What’s been really exciting is to see how excited the students are. They don’t have any experience, but they are willing to try and jump in with both feet.”
The fledgling troupe is starting small. “Honor Bright,” by Alan Haehnel, is about students contemplating cheating in school. The cast is performing just one 45-minute act.
Junior Sam Resendez plays a character who faces a tough decision
More Plays to Come
Future plans are to perform a fall play and spring musical each year. A drama elective class, to be taught by Dahlquist, is also starting in the fall, with about 75 students signed up for two sessions.
Alexandrea said she’s already learned how to “bring out my sass more” in playing Robin, a cheeky character. “I’ve learned more about trying to act a certain way, trying to make my emotions show.”
Jackson Johnson, a freshman who plays a character named Brian, said it’s nice to have a chance to perform.
“It’s a way to express yourself without being judged and you can be whatever you want to be. It’s a good escape,” Jackson said. “I noticed that the key is emotion and how you present yourself. You have to discard who you are and become this new person in the play, which is kind of cool because it’s being someone else.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
Sophomore Israel Juarez-Perez flops on the floor during play rehearsal
When eighth-grader Jaden Delosh started attending the middle school right after spring break, he was happy to have Ke’Waun Blackmon show him around.
“It gave me a friend,” said Jaden, who moved from Waterford, near Detroit.
Ke’Waun made the transition a little easier, showing him around to classrooms introducing him to teachers and classmates, and inviting him to join him at lunch.
About 30 students in grade six through eight are assigned as mentors to befriend and welcome new students, making sure they feel welcome.
Counselor Michelle Barrows started the mentorship program, which involves twice monthly meetings, to build a team of students that reach out to others, whether that’s new students or anyone appearing isolated or upset. Teachers recommended students to serve as mentors who have showed good leadership skills and the ability to take initiative.
“They are a force for positive change in this school,” Barrows said. “If they see someone being made fun of or who is crying, they are supposed to step up.”
Ke’Wau Blackmon is helping new student Jaden Delosh around Kelloggsville Middle School.
They have welcomed 41 new students this year, and many have formed relationships. Sixth-grade mentors will also help fifth-graders during Move-Up Day in May, when the younger students visit to tour their new school building.
Mentors participated in “Start with Hello,” part of the Sandy Hook Promise campaign, which equips students with skills needed to reach out to and include those who may be dealing with chronic social isolation. The goal is to create a culture of inclusion and connectedness within their school.
The Sandy Hook Promise is a national non-profit organization founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012. It provides programs and practices that protect children.
“I really want it to make it a little more than just showing a new kid around,” Barrows said.
Ke’Waun said mentoring Jaden and another student earlier this year has helped him learn how to “be friends with everyone.”
“I learned how to respect different people and to have good relationships,” he said.
“I said, ‘If you need anything, you can come to me and ask me. I just made them my friends… It was really fun helping other students come to our school and know they are going to be safe and have a good time here.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
WKTV’s high school sports coverage crew was at Monday night’s tipoff of the opening round of the MHSAA district tournament at Godwin Heights. We will be there for the finals Friday. (WKTV)
WKTV Staff
This week WKTV’s featured Friday night high school sports event will be the finals of the boys MHSAA Basketball Basketball District 50 tournament at Wyoming Godwin Heights.
In Monday opening-round games, tournament host Godwin Heights had an easy time in a 80-32 win over West Michigan Aviation Academy, and (in WKTV’s covered feature game) Wyoming Kellogsville scored a 87-49 win over Kentwood’s Grand River Prep.
Tonight (Thursday, March 9) games will find Kellogsville (now 18-3) trying to avoid the upset by Wyoming-Lee (10-10) in the 6 p.m. game. Then Godwin Heights (20-1) will face off with Grand Rapids South Christian (10-10) at 8 p.m.
The winners of those games will play Friday, with WKTV cameras on hand, for the District title and a berth in the Region 11 Regional Tournament next week.
Th game will be aired that night on Live Wire 24 at 10:30 p.m. and repeat Saturday at 11 a.m. on WKTV 25 and AT&T U-verse 99.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action in January, see now.wktv.org/sports/
DVDs and Blue-Rays of each game are also available for purchase at $20 including shipping. For more information, visit WKTV.org
After school on Mondays through Thursdays, more than 40 middle school students participate in TEAM 21, where they do homework, eat, play sports and participate in activities.
But a recent night was all about fun, complete with doughnuts and apple cider, slime-making and pumpkin ring-toss. Students participated in Lights On Afterschool, a national event that celebrates after-school programs.
TEAM 21 is run through a partnership between the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department and Godfrey-Lee, Wyoming, Godwin Heights and Kelloggsville Public Schools. Fifteen schools offer programs for more than 2,000 students ranging from kindergarten to ninth grade.
Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool promotes the role of after-school programs in keeping kids safe, inspiring them to learn and helping working families. The effort has become a hallmark of the after-school movement and annually sees more than 1 million Americans celebrate at more than 8,000 events nationwide.
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
High school students have learned many interesting tidbits about the residents they are getting to know at American House Senior Living Community in Kentwood.
Each resident has a story, they’ve learned: Betty Reynolds was the first teacher at Battle Creek Christian School; Lois Laffey was a pilot. Margie Halstead is an artist who has 10 children, 35 grandchildren and 53 great-grandchildren. Margaret Gazella’s husband had to leave on their wedding day to fight in World War II.
“I love talking to the residents,” said Kelloggsville freshman Miles Thomas-Mohammad, while crafting glittery cardboard flowers with several ladies, and learning even more details about their lives. “They are so nice.”
They’ve learned other things as well while joining residents for crafts, games and snacks. Kelloggsvile senior Thu Nguyen, who is from Vietnam, said special moments happen over Bingo and just getting to know each other. “I want to make them feel happy so they don’t feel lonely,” she said.
And residents like it too. “It makes you feel young again,” said Elaine Wigger.
Added Ginger Kay, “It’s nice to have young people here, because they are so positive.”
Kelloggsville freshman Miles Thomas-Mohammad sets up crafts for senior citizens
A group of about eight Kelloggsville students, many who are English-language learners, visit the assisted-living and memory-care facilities monthly to spend time with seniors. Coordinated by EL teacher Susan Faulk, the volunteering opportunity is a way for students to give back and step out of their comfort zones and get to know others.
“The students gain patience and confidence as they work with the seniors,” Faulk said. “Many students are really shy and feel awkward around the seniors at first. I see their confidence grow as they realize that they are able to help someone else. I also see them having to learn patience, as a game of Skip-Bo and Rummikub can take a long time with a senior who has to think for a long time before taking action.”
For the past two years, Faulk has also coordinated a volunteer group at Women At Risk International Volunteer Center, a Grandville-based nonprofit organization that unites and educates women and children in areas of human trafficking and sexual slavery.
American House staff said the visits are very meaningful to residents.
Kelloggsville High School senior Dim Ciin eyes her Bingo board
“It’s always exciting to see people cross age barriers relationally,” said Susan Faulk’s husband, Steven Faulk, American House chaplain.
Activities assistant Betty Torres said the residents “love relating to the younger crowd. They have a lot of good stories to tell, our residents. They get so exited about a group coming in. It fulfills their whole being.”
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Every student at West Kelloggsville Elementary School has an invisible bucket. Johana Cruz explained the importance of keeping everyone’s full.
“If you’re a bucket dipper, you’re not going to have any friends,” explained the second-grader.
Students at the second- and third-grade school are thinking a lot about “bucket filling” and “bucket dipping” as they interact with one another.
“The bucket has one purpose: It holds your good thoughts and good feelings about yourself,” said counselor Lisa VanKampen. “When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it’s empty, we feel awful. Yet most children, and many adults, don’t realize the importance of having a full bucket throughout the day.”
When students fill buckets with kind words and actions, almost magically their own fills up too, she explained. But, alas, say an unkind word or act in a hurtful way, and buckets sink low. VanKampen’s “Have You Filled Your Bucket Today?” program, based on Bucket Fillers 101, is all about spreading kindness to benefit everybody.
Compliments are free and anyone can give them
She says it’s creating a common language at school, a way for students to express their feelings and teachers to state expectations using the bucket as a symbol. Smile at someone: Buckets fill. Scowl? Buckets empty. Students learn everybody has a bucket, regardless of age.
“Bucket filling is inviting someone to play when they are all alone,” Johana said.
“It’s being nice!” said second-grader Scarlett Shepard.
“It’s giving high fives and fist bumps,” added second-grader Angel Gomez.
Filling Buckets
VanKampen has conducted two lessons in each classroom on bucket filling and bucket dipping. The idea is based on the book, “How Full is Your Bucket?” by Tom Rath, which tells of a boy who begins to see how every interaction in a day either fills or empties his bucket. The children’s book is a spin-off of an adult version written by Rath and Donald Clifton. Both books emphasize that it hardly takes any time and it’s all free. “Everyone, no matter if you are 1 or 101, can fill buckets,” VanKampen said.
VanKampen passed out cards with behaviors written on them for students to categorize under “Bucket Fillers are people who…” and “Bucket Dippers are people who…” Each class received its own bucket with blue slips of paper that read, “I’m filling your bucket.” Students write positive feelings, comments or compliment to someone in their class. Teachers read out of the classroom bucket to reinforce the lesson.
“I wroted one to my BFF Eaden,” Scarlett said. “I wroted that you’re the bestest friend anyone can ask for.”
VanKampen also has an interactive bulletin board about bucket dipping outside her office. She hangs bucket-filling “tear-offs” around the school for kids to have for themselves or give to others.
Third-grade teacher Bethany Kamps took the program a step further and hung buckets for each child on her classroom wall.
“I wanted to add it into the classroom because I feel like the whole culture and environment of the class really affects how they learn,” Kamps said. “When kids are treating each other positively and getting along, it makes it easier to get learning done.”
VanKampen and East Kelloggsville counselor Hillary DeRidder are hosting a parent night in May to introduce, educate and model the bucket story with the hope that it will be extended to students’ homes.
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Kelloggsivlle High School students Melody Szatkowski and Analise Cabrera were part of a handful of students who recently led a silent protest against violence in their community.
While some were getting ready for prom and others were just enjoying a beautiful Saturday, a handful of Kelloggsville students were silently protesting about the violence in their community.
“I don’t like living with the violence,” said Analise Cabrera, a Kentwood resident who is an 11th grader at Kelloggsville High School. Cabrera, like all the students holding signs on the corner of 44th Street and Division in front of the RiteAid, has personally been touched by violence. Her friend, Michael White, a former Kelloggsville student, was killed in March by two out-of-district students.
“There are a lot of people sitting back and just watching what happens,” Cabrera said. “We need people to step up and do something.
“We are doing what we can do and we want to just make an impact on others. You have to start somewhere.”
Kelloggsville student Rebecca Minier with D.O.C.K director Laurie Zuverink and GRIL leader Jordan Seebeck..
Interns for the after-school program D.O.C.K., Discipling of Christ’s Kids, the four students participated in the leadership program GR Initiative for Leaders (GRIL U). A faith-based training for teens, the nine-month program is designed to help students find their passions and then show them the tools they have available to share that passion, said Noele Stith, who is part of GRIL U.
“It is designed to show them they have a voice and how they can use that voice in a positive way to encourage change in their community whether that community is home, school, a place of worship, or a neighborhood,” Stith said.
In the GRIL U program, students set aside two hours of service for their church or organization, in this case specifically for D.O.C.K. The students meet with a mentor once a month and with that mentor, work on learning about the causes that interest them. The topic of violence came to the forefront after Kelloggsvile student Isaiah Blue was shot in January and then the murder of White a couple of months later.
Kelloggsvile student Alexandrea Groters and Calvin College student Morgan VonThaden were part of the silent protest last Saturday.
“For me, it was important for people to understand what violence is,” said Melody Szatkowski, a Wyoming resident and 11th grader at Kelloggsville High School who stood on the corner holding a sign with the definition of violence. “It is behavior involving physical intent to hurt, damage or kill.
“I hope this creates a better understanding of what violence is because it is not just killing, but hurting and damaging someone or something as well.”
The students stood out on the corner from about 10 a.m. to noon holding signs and saying little. Cars drove by, beeping their horns in support and a few students stopped to chat with the protestors.
The event was one of three that took place within a week all organized by students who participated in the GRIL U program. There was one on human trafficking at RiverTown Mall on April 20 and another on voter registration on April 27.
Colorful slime gelled and circuits connected recently during Rocket Family Night at Kelloggsville Middle School.
Five classrooms were set up with hands-on science experiments for students of all ages to experience. Each allowed youngsters to create something to bring home, such as paper airplanes and slime. Rocket Family Night is a district initiative to offer the community a free meal and an evening tied to academics.
“We want parents to get into the buildings and the district. We also want our students to know how fun some of the subjects can be if you give them a chance,” said Middle School Principal Jim Alston.
Along with going through lots of science supplies, staff served more than 250 plates of food.
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VanKampen passed out cards with behaviors written on them for students to categorize under “Bucket Fillers are people who…” and “Bucket Dippers are people who…” Each class received its own bucket with blue slips of paper that read, “I’m filling your bucket.” Students write positive feelings, comments or compliment to someone in their class. Teachers read out of the classroom bucket to reinforce the lesson.
By: Erin Albanese – 