WKTV Journal

When Ken Olson was a junior, he left Lee High School to enlist in the Army, where he spent two years stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. While enlisted, he earned a GED which, he was told, he could bring to his alma mater in exchange for a high school diploma.

Years after his discharge, he went to the then-principal at Lee and said he was told no — you can’t get your diploma until you take 12th-grade English.

The years slipped by Olson settled in Lowell where he worked for CSX. He met and married his wife, Sherry. He retired from the railroad after 44 years. But he never did get that diploma.

Ken Olson’s basketball picture, taken his junior year of high school. (School News Network)

‘We’ll Help You With Yours’

Last summer, however, Sparta Adult Education opened a location at the Alpha Family Center in Lowell. During one of their outreach efforts, Sherry was talking to Tom Bratt, a teacher at SAE. She asked if he might help her husband get that diploma. They figured that he might just have to take the English course, and he’d be all set.

Bratt loves detective work, making connections and putting pieces together, so he got to work figuring out how to make this happen.

“We tell diploma-seekers, ‘Each student has their own story and we’ll help you with yours,’” he said. Although this story was certainly unique.

“This was a completely new scenario for us,” said Heather Holland, director of education for SAE. Nevertheless, Bratt and Ken began piecing together the information they needed.

Many of Olson’s service records were gone, casualties of a July 12, 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in Minneapolis, which destroyed 16-18 million military personnel files.

Olson produced assorted discharge papers and records that he would have pitched, but that Sherry had kept stored away. They connected with the Department of Veterans Affairs and found a program that allowed service members who had enlisted during certain dates during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and who had earned a GED, to obtain diplomas. Ken missed the timeline by two weeks, but the VA said if Olson could secure permission from his former high school’s district superintendent, that would work.

Godfrey-Lee Superintendent Kevin Polston presents Ken Olson with his diploma for the class of 1952. (School News Network)

Finally, the Diploma

When Bratt contacted Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, he immediately found an ally in Leela, executive assistant to Superintendent Kevin Polston. Her father, who served in World War II, had earned his diploma in his 70s, and she remembers him bursting with pride when he finally received it. The district just needed to verify that Olson attended Lee. The high school had no records of Olson, so Polston suggested checking yearbooks. It took just a few minutes to find all the evidence needed, and Leela got the go-ahead to order the diploma, complete with the likely graduation date: the Lee High School class of 1952.

On Nov. 12, Olson was invited to the Godfrey-Lee Public School District’s Board of Education meeting. There, at age 85, he received that piece of paper he’d been hoping for.

“It was great getting that diploma,” he said, adding that he was especially pleased that it made him a graduate of the class of 1952. “They gave me pictures of all my classmates from that year, and I remember a lot of them. It was just great.”

“Now what I should do is go and get a college degree,” he joked.

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Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood weekend news you want to know

November 30, 20183-bottom, Citizen JournalismAnnual Holiday Music Festival, Brian Jirous, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, East Kentwood High School, Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Jennifer Lewis, Lee High School, Legacy Christian, Santa Parade, Sesame Street, South Christian, The Potters House, Wyoming High SchoolJoanne

WKTV Staff

Quote of the Day

"Sing, sing a song,
Make it simple to last your whole life long
Don't worry that it's not good enough for anyone else to hear,
Just sing, sing a song..."
        - "Sing" by Joe Raposo, written for "Sesame Street" in 1971

The airport is alive with music

Several Wyoming and Kentwood high school choirs will be performing at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s Holiday Music Festival, which is Dec. 3 – 7. Some of the groups scheduled are Potters House, Legacy Christian, South Christian, Wyoming High School, Lee High School, and East Kentwood High School. Performances are daily from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. andJe are free.

And the winner is…

Jennifer Lewis and Brian Jirous were declared the newest members of the Wyoming Board of Education this week. Both ran in the Nov. 6 election. Jirous was the only candidate who filed for one of the two open seats on the board. Lewis was one of two write-in candidates. It took a couple of weeks for the write-ins to be hand counted, according to school officials. The two will be sworn in at the Wyoming Board of Education meeting set for Jan. 14 at 6 p.m.

Santa is coming to town

While it is still a week yet until Kentwood hosts its annual tree lighting and parade, set for Dec. 7, and the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the Santa Parade, Dec. 8, you can get your celebrating started at Byron Center’s community festivities this Saturday, Dec. 1. The parade portion has been cancelled due to the weather but the chili dinner and holiday concert at Pathway Church, 8350 Byron Center Ave. SW, is still taking place.

Fun Fact:

Light It Up

Ever wonder how many lights you can fit on a Christmas tree? Well a group in Belgium did, managing to get 194,672 lights on a real tree on Dec. 10, 2010. Seven years later, Universal Studios Japan was not about to be out done, so they managed to place 570,546 lights on an artificial tree. You have to admit, that is a lot of lights. (Source)

Local schools participate in airport’s 24th annual Holiday Music Festival

November 28, 20183-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of WyomingEast Kentwood High School, Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Lee High School, South Christian High School, Wyoming High SchoolJoanne

By WKTV Staff

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) will soon be filled with festive sounds of the season. The 24th Annual Holiday Music Festival will take place the week of Dec. 3-7 in the Grand Hall. Daily performances run from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Some of the groups scheduled to perform are Potters House at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3; Legacy Christian 7th and 8th Grade Choir at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5; Wyoming High Concert Choir at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6; East Kentwood Varsity Voices at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6; South Christian High School Madrigals at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec.6; and Lee High School Varsity of Voices at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 7. A full schedule is available on the Airport’s Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/FlyGRFord.

A total of 18 West Michigan schools are scheduled to sing a variety of carols during the Festival. Local choirs representing public and private schools will sing 20 minute song sets throughout the day.

“We love having the schools here during the Holiday Music Festival. The music helps to put passengers and guests in the holiday spirit around the airport,” said GFIA Marketing & Communications Director Tara Hernandez. “We hope to put smiles on passengers’ faces as they listen to the carolers.”

All Festival performances are free and open to the public.

Chamber scholarship recipients offer a little advice to the upcoming Class of 2019

June 21, 20183-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of WyomingEast Kentwood High School, godfrey Lee Public Schools, Lee High School, Wyoming High School, Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of CommerceJoanne

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

In April, the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce awarded its Brent VanderKolk Scholarship to four area high school graduates.

VanderKolk was a chamber member and the chamber’s legal council along with being a freind to many, said Bob O’Callgahan, President/CEO of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce. VanderKolk passed away in 2011 at the age of 37. The chamber decided to honor VanderKolk by naming the annual scholarship award after him.

This year’s award recipients are: Maria Aguirre from Godwin Heights High School; Adriana Sanchez-Parada from Lee High School; Shontiana Jackson from Wyoming High School; and Allison Biss from East Kentwood High School.

We were able to catch up with two of the students before they walked down the graduation aisle. These students offered a few words of wisdom to those coming into high school and to the Class of 2019.

Adrianna Sanchez-Parada

Lee High School

Godfrey Lee Public Schools

Parents: Gallina Parada and Alejo Sanchez

When Adrianna Sanchez learned that one out of three freshmen at her school were failing one to two classes, she decided to do something about it.

“That was a big number of students failing,” Adrianna said. “When I was a freshman, there was a freshman transition class that was helpful to me so I decided to bring that program back.”

Adrianna pulled together members of the upper classes to serve as mentors, offering words of advice and to be there to help guide the freshmen.

“I’ve learned a lot about leadership especially through band,” Adrianna said. “I’ve been a drum major and have gone to a leadership conference where we learned about leadership through service. Through this program, our upper classes were able to show a different type of leadership through service.”

Adrianna has loved being involved at Lee High School and admits her involvement has prevented her from having a job. She has participated in soccer, National Honors Society, Spanish club, drama club, and student council, where she served as president. She plans to attend Western Michigan University in the fall.

Her advice for those entering high school: Try different clubs that you have never thought of and do not be afraid to be different.

Her advice for next year’s seniors: Don’t stress about the little things but also don’t let the assignments slide because it will come back at you. And lastly, watch out for every opportunity that you might have.

Allison Biss with Chamber President/CEO Bob O’Callaghan

Allisson Biss

East Kentwood High School

Kentwood Public Schools

Parents: Cheryl and Brian Biss

“Some people have sports, but I am not the sporty type,” said Allison Biss when thinking about her search for a high school activity that encourage her creativity. She was not a performer and some hobbies she didn’t felt she had started early enough to participate in. But once she discovered film and video, she knew she had found the passion that allowed her creativity to shine.

“You could be given a video and create five clips with the end product being different depending on lighting or how you edit it,” she said.

A WKTV intern, Biss was awarded Central Michigan University’s Lem Tucker Scholarship for broadcasting and journalism, which covers a 100 percent of her tuition, room, and board.

At school, Biss participated in the broadcast program serving as an anchor and primary editor. Outside of broadcasting, Biss has been very active serving as a class officer for three years, on the National Honor Society, Student Council, and JV sideline and competitive cheerleading.

Her advice for those entering high school: It is not as bad as it seems. Always introduce yourself. Be that someone who cracks the joke and eats lunch with new people. Also don’t be afraid to try new things because high school is short.

Her advice for next year’s seniors: Don’t think of the moments as being the last ones, but new beginnings. Enjoy the moments while you have them because it goes by super quickly.

School News Network: Songs in the key of school

June 19, 20183-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyominggodfrey Lee Public Schools, Lee High School, School News NetworkJoanne

Sophomore Elijah Kibbe said he has learned to write songs to express his feelings

By Erin Albanese

While Valentino Savala has gone through the normal rigors of reading writing and math to tally his credits for graduation, he discovered his passion by tinkering inside the Lee High School recording studio when he had time outside of class.

“I try to get in here as much as I can during the day and after school,” said Valentino, while in the studio messing with rhythms and beats to create original recordings.

Valentino is the perfect example of a student who learned a skill and discovered a potential career by being given the space and equipment to experiment, say Lee High School educators. He wants to become a music producer and researched the recording industry and job for his senior capstone project, which all seniors take as preparation for furthering education, training or work.

He said he planned to ask judges during his capstone presentation to write down how his tunes makes them feel, “connecting music to emotion.”

The studio is in a former office within the media center, transformed with all the necessary equipment and software, and painted to serve as an inviting, creative space. The brainchild of former Director of Technology Dan Townsend, the studio has been used by dozens of students since it opened about a year and a half ago.

Senior Valentino Savala and sophomore Elijah Kibbe play some of their recordings

Music As Creative Outlet

Students pop in after school and during lunch, recording song and raps and adjusting beats and bass. They partner up for duets, sing and record songs, and even write tributes. Sophomores Elijah Kibbe and Darvia Beene are producing a song in memory of Elayna Durso, a Spanish teacher who died of breast cancer in December at age 35.

Sarah Wood, technology and media integration specialist, said she loves seeing students create inside the studio without much adult interference. Using music as a creative outlet is meaningful for many teenagers, she said. And while they can use the studio for school work, that’s not its main purpose.

“We never intended this to be used as a class. It was meant to be a place for student passion projects and alternative ways to do assignments. It was really student-led,” Wood said. “It really has spread by word of mouth and students sharing their projects. We don’t monitor everything in here because this is their space, not ours.

Kelly McGee, media specialist and theater director, said students try to stay as late as possible after school to use the room. “The kids know more than we do about any of this stuff,” he said, adding that he’s noticed students improve a lot, through trial and error, in making music.

Elijah, who wants to someday be a software developer, said he goes to the studio to express his emotions.

He first used it to record a rap for a school history assignment, but learned the studio was a great place to hang out and create on his own. He said he works to sound a little like popular rapper Drake.

“A lot of times I use the studio to make beats, Elijah said. “With the software, it’s really easy to do.”

He posts his music on social media. “A lot of my things aren’t school related… I talk about my life, learning how to get better, working to find my voice. I use it to better myself.”

Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.

Students gravitate to the Lee High School Recording Studio to use the equipment

5 Local Things You Need to Know: Headlines for the Week

May 29, 20183-bottom, Citizen JournalismActive Commute Week, ArtPrize, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Lee High School, Roger B. ChaffeeJoanne

Roger B. Chaffee By NASA/photographer unknown – NASA [1] Great Images in NASA Description, Public Domain

Wyoming and Kentwood: WKTV Journal Newscast

The latest WKTV Newscast takes a look at the new Roger B. Chaffee statute that was dedicated in May along with celebrating Older American Month with Holland Home. To get residents ready for the summer, we take a peak at the summer concerts in the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming and look at the summer exhibits that have opened at the Grand Rapids Public Museum and the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

For the full broadcast, click here.

Wyoming: Lee High School’s Top Ten

University of Michigan, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, these are just some of the places that that the top 10 of Lee High School’s Class of 2018 are heading.

For more on the story, click here.

Wyoming: Active Commute Week Challenge

It’s that time again when many area residents will take the challenge and leave their vehicle at home. June 11 – 15 is Active Commute Week, where commuters are encouraged to consider how they get to work and seek other ways that help benefit the environment.

For more on the story, click here.

Viewed from left and right, “Let Go” by Pamela Alderman. (Courtesy of the artist Alderman)

Kent County: ArtPrize Top 25 artists donates piece

When Pamela Alderman created “Let Go” for ArtPrize in 2017, she was looking to impact the audience with a large interactive piece. Alderman‘s work, an ArtPrize Top 25 finalist, is a beautiful seascape on five large wood panels that includes three Plexiglas figures that transform as you move around the artwork. The work was installed this month on the fifth floor of the Kent County Courthouse.

For more on the story, click here.

Kent County: Students get the chance to be the change

A local radio group is teaming up with local organizations and businesses to provide Grand Rapids area students with funding, resources and mentors to implement the change they want to see in their community.

The #GRSummerProject is open to area students from sixth grade to college freshmen. The project is a collaboration led by Townsquare Media and includes the support of Level One Bank, Start Garden, Experience Grand Rapids, Amplify GR and Grand Rapids area schools.

For more on the story, click here.

Lee High School’s top ten

May 22, 20183-bottom, Citizen Journalismgodfrey Lee Public Schools, Lee High School, top tenJoanne

Lee High School graduates 150 students on May 22. Here is the top ten for the school’s graduating class of 2018.

Mariah Lowry is Valedictorian of the Lee High School Class of 2018. Her parents are Shauna Warren and Edward Lowry. She has served as Vice President of Student Council and has participated in Track and Cheerleading. Mariah plans to attend the University of Michigan where she will study Psychology.

Avelycia Yesenia Ortiz is Salutatorian of Lee High School’s Class of 2018. She is the daughter of Yesenia Ortiz. She has been an active member of National Honor Society, Student Council, Spanish Club, Softball, Marching & Concert Band, and Winter Guard. Avelycia’s future plans are to attend Wayne State University and study Biomedical Science so she can become a Forensic Pathologist.

Maira Hurtado ranks number three of the Lee High School Class of 2018. Her parents are Rosa Hurtado and Jesus Hurtado. Maira is an avid participant of National Honor Society, Be Nice, Lee’s Student Leader Program, JV Soccer and Spanish Club. Maira plans to attend Grand Rapids Community College where she will study Nursing, and wants to specialize in pediatrics.

Adriana Sanchez-Parada ranks number four in Lee High School’s Class of 2018. Her parents are Alejo Sanchez and Gallina Parada. Adriana’s activities awards include serving as Student Council President, National Honors Society, Founder of Footsteps for Freshman, Homecoming Queen, Marching Band Drum Major, Drama Club, Soccer, Karate and Spanish Club. Adriana plans on attending Western Michigan University and currently is undecided in what she plans to study.

Daisy Sarabia ranks number five at Lee High School. Her parents are Adriana Bodar and Enselmo Sarabia. Daisy has stayed busy with Volleyball (all four years), Softball and Competitive Cheerleading (2 years), Basketball (1 year), Student Council (3 years), National Honor Society and Class Vice President. Daisy plans to study Engineering at Grand Valley State University.

Monica Paniague-Ramos ranks number six at Lee High School’s Class of 2018. She is the daughter of Maria Ramos. Monica has spent her time serving in National Honor Society as Vice President and has also participated in Spanish Club, Student Leader Program and Be Nice. Monica plans to specialize in Radiology at Grand Rapids Community College.

Abigail Ibarra is ranked number seven at Lee High School. Her parents are Andrea Hernandez and Noe Hernandez. She has participated in Competitive and Sideline Cheer and has also spent much time in the LHS Band. Abigail plans on working after high school.

Maura Mendoza-Matias ranks number eight at Lee High School. Her parents are Hilario Mendoza Calmo and Nicolasa Matias Lorenzo. Her activities include Spanish Club, Be Nice, Prom Committee, Planning Homecoming Class Activities, Soccer, National Honor Society and our Student Leader Program. Maura plans on attending Grand Rapids Community College and entering the Nursing program.

Amaris Lourdes Salvatierra-Guizar is ranked nine at Lee High School’s Class of 2018. Her parents are Hector Salvatierra and Maria Salvatierra. She has participated in Track and Field — earning a Varsity Letter, Spanish Club, National Honor Society and has also been a Bible School Teacher as well. Amaris plans on attending Davenport University to go into Accounting.

Florencio Guilarte ranks number 10 at Lee High School. His parents are Noemi Gonzalez and Yanoxy Guilarte. He has been a very active participant of Band, Choir, Drama Club, Lee Talent Shows, Basketball, Wrestling, Student Council, Rotary Club and our Student Leader Program. He has also earned numerous athletic honors. In Baseball he achieved 3 Year All Conference, 2 Year All District, and All Advanced Team. In Football, Florencio earned 2 Year All Conference. In Bowling, he earned All Conference Honorable Mention. He also has spent time working in Youth Baseball Clinics as a Coach during summer and winter. Florencio plans on attending Central Michigan University where he will major in Music Performance (Voice).

More than 1,700 students set to graduate from schools in Wyoming, Kentwood

May 22, 20183-bottomEast Kentwood High School, Godwin Heights High School, Graduation, Grand River Prep High School, Kelloggsville High School, Lee High School, South Christian High School, Wyoming High SchoolJoanne

2018graduation ceremonies kick off today and run through June 4.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

More than 1,700 students will be graduating from high schools in Kentwood and Wyoming during the next couple of weeks. Here is a breakdown of when some of the local graduation ceremonies are taking place.

Tuesday, May 22

Wyoming High School has 275 students graduating. Graduation is at Grand Rapids First, 2100 44th St. SW, at 7 p.m.

Godfrey’s Lee High School has about 150 students graduating. Graduation is at Resurrection Life Church, 5100 Ivanrest Ave. SW, at 7 p.m. For the school’s top ten, click here.

Wednesday May 23

Godwin Heights High School has 144 students graduating. Graduation is at the high school auditorium, 50 35th St. SW, at 7 p.m.

South Christian High School has 170 students graduating. Graduation is at Kentwood Community Church, 2950 Clyde Park Ave. SW at 7:30 p.m..

Thursday, May 24

East Kentwood High School has around 600 students graduating. Graduation is at the the school’s stadium, 6230 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, at 7 p.m. The rain date is May 25.

Tuesday, May 29

Tri-Unity Christian School has 18 students graduating. Graduation is at Resurrection Life Church, 5100 Ivanrest Ave. SW, at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, May 30

West Michigan Aviation Academy 133 students graduating. Graduation is at Calvin College, 3201 Burton St. SE. at 7 p.m.

Thursday, May 31

Kelloggsville High School has 137 students graduating. Graduation is at Kentwood Community Church, 2950 Clyde Park Ave. SW, at 7 p.m.

Potter House has 53 students graduating. Graduation is Calvary Baptist Church, 1200 28th St. SE at 7 p.m.

Friday, June 1

West Michigan Lutheran High School has 5 students graduating. Graduation is at West Michigan Lutheran High School, 601 36th St. SW, at 7 p.m.

Monday, June 4

Grand River Prep High School has 134 students graduating. Graduation is at Calvin College’s Van Noord Arena, 3201 Burton St. SE, at 6:30 p.m.

5 Local Things You Need to Know: For the weekend, to start next week

May 11, 2018Citizen JournalismCity of Wyoming, Copa Rebelde, Fair Housing Seminar, Gravel Bottom, Lee High School, Tulip TimeJoanne

Wyoming: Lee High School hosts Copa Rebelde

At Lee High School’s Copa Rebelde and on other local fields, several local girls high school soccer teams will be in action this weekend.

The Lee High School girls soccer team, on Saturday, May 12, will host its first Copa Rebelde — Rebel Cup, for those of you not bilingual, which most of coach Gabriel Snyder’s team is.

And while the event should feature some great tournament soccer action, it will also be a community celebration of sorts.

“We are lucky to have a team and community that can embrace their cultural heritage as much as they do,” coach Snyder said to WKTV. “Copa is ultimately just a word but that word represents more than a tournament cup. It represents our small community’s strong ties with Latin America.

Wyoming: Fair Housing Seminar

Deadline for the City of Wyoming’s Fair Housing Seminar is fast approaching. Those interested in the May 21 seminar should register by May 14 by calling 616-530-3164. The event is at the Wyoming Senior Center community Room, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW from 9 a.m. to noon.

Kentwood: Brush-Drop Off Site Open

The Kentwood’s Brush Drop-Off site is open this Saturday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Kentwood residents can bring brush to the site located at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE.

The site will be open through June 7. Hours are 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday. Burning of brush materials is not allowed within the city. For more information, click here.

Local: Gravel Bottom moves into Ada

Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery will open a new facility as part of the Ada Village redevelopment project on Friday, May 11.

“We’ve put a lot of time and effort into making this feel similar to what the other Gravel Bottom was: welcoming and comfortable,” Matt Michiels, Gravel Bottom owner, said in supplied material.

The new bar will offers 20 taps, which will allow Gravel Bottom to have more “experimental styles” in rotation.

West Michigan: Tulip Time in Holland

Holland’s Tulip Time still has a lot of activities left before wrapping up this Sunday, on Mother’s Day. Tulips are blooming at a variety of locations including the Window on the Waterfront Park.

The Music Parade is this Saturday at 2 p.m. There is also an arts and craft show, carnival and a number of free activities taking place.

School News Network: Students rap, rhyme their way through U.S. history, ‘Hamilton’-style

April 12, 20183-bottomHamilton, Lee High School, School News NetworkJoanne

By Erin Albanese

Lee High School sophomore Tavien Bradley knows a good beat and flow when he hears them, but could he do justice through a freestyle rap to describe the legendary duel between Founding Era politicians Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr?

Turns out all it took was some research on the fatal event, an old-school flow and enough confidence to drop this verse: “Two politicians on a mission, Hamilton and Burr just dissin,’ everybody pistol-whippin.’” So begins his 1 minute, 40 second rap.

“I just started writing the lyrics down and they kept coming out of my brain,” said Tavien, who learned to rap from his dad, Tramaine Bradley.

Sophomores and juniors are learning American history and weaving it into raps, poetry and dramatic skits about events and people tied to the American Revolution. All is in preparation for a trip to see “Hamilton,” the Tony Award-winning musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago May 23.

Tavien’s rap caught the attention of teachers, who submitted it for consideration to be presented on stage at The CIBC Theatre the day of the matinee. He will find out if he was selected before the date of the performance, which will also include a question-and-answer period with the cast.

Juniors Nicholas Espinoza, left, and Francisco Martinez present their skit

Old Documents Become New Expression

The district applied for the trip through the Hamilton Education Program, which gives students from Title 1 high schools the chance to attend the musical for just $10 each. The program is a collaboration of Hamilton producers and the Miranda family, and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. A requirement is for students to make their own creative pieces tied to events that took place during the founding of the U.S.

“The idea behind this unit is to understand how the writer of ‘Hamilton’ took primary-source documents and turned them into creative expression,” said English teacher Lisa Britten. “It’s just the idea of digging into history in a different way and having it culminate in an experience that is something they normally wouldn’t get to have.

“It’s a pretty rare opportunity to see this show as it is because it is so popular,” she added. “I’m really excited to take our kids to experience something like this because it will just broaden their horizons.”

Brian Cahoon, department chair of social studies, is helping organize the trip. He said it’s impressive looking over students’ creative pieces and seeing all the events, people and concepts present in each piece. “It kind of makes the history come alive, but it ultimately makes them understand it better,” he said.

Juniors Gabrielle Sainz and Yuribizay Damian presented a rap they wrote together that begins, “I, Benjamin Franklin, born in Boston. … I ran away to Philly with some caution.”

They said they can’t wait to see “Hamilton.”

“It’s an amazing opportunity,” Gabrielle said. “The prices are high and I would have never been able to afford that. With this little project that we put together giving us the opportunity to go there, I’m thankful for that. Putting it together was pretty easy; we just let it flow.”

Grandville team nabs top honors at FIRST Robotics event, Potter’s House named top rookie team

April 6, 20183-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of WyomingEast Kentwood High School, FIRST Robotics, Lee High School, Red Storm, Wayland High School, Wyoming High SchoolJoanne

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It was a packed house as East Kentwood High School hosted its fourth annual FIRST Robotics event just before Easter.

More than 800 students from around West Michigan and as far away as Troy and Milan, competed at the two-day event in hopes of landing a spot in the state competition set for April 12-14 at Saginaw Valley State University.

Teams for the Kentwood and Wyoming area included home team East Kentwood’s Red Storm, Wyoming High School’s Demons, Lee High School’s Rebel Robotics, Potter House’s Tactical Hams, and the West Michigan Aviation Academy’s Team Spitfire. There also were teams from Grandville and Grand Rapids such as Ottawa Hills High School.

After 80 some qualifying rounds, the final eight teams were announced Saturday afternoon with team alliance selections made for the semi-finals. Several of the local teams including East Kentwood’s Red Storm, Wyoming’s Demons, Lee’s Rebel Robotics, and Potter House’s Tactical Hams made the semi-finals.

Top Dawgs: Code Red Robotics the Stray Dogs took home the prestigious Chairman’s Award.

But it would be the alliance of Kalamazoo’s Strike Force, Newaygo’s NC Gears, and Hackett Catholic Prep’s Irish Robotics that would bring home the win.

Several local teams did receive awards with Grandville’s Code Red Robotics the Stray Dogs taking home the Chairman’s Award. This is the most prestigious award at FIRST as it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST. Teams who have earned the Regional and District Championship Chairman’s Award can travel to the FIRST Championship to be considered for the Chairman’s Award.

Code Red Robotics the Stray Dogs along with Wayland’s Widlcats and Lee’s Rebel Robotics were a district event finalist. The Wayland Wildcats also earned the Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors.

Receiving the Highest Rookie Seed was Potter’s House’s Tactical Hams and the Gracious Professionalism Award sponsored by Johnson & Johnson went to Grandville’s The RoboDawgs.

For a complete list of awards, click here.

WKTV broadcast the event live on Saturday, March 31. Visit wkvt.viebet.com to see the broadcast or check the WKTV TV schedule at wktv.org or wktvjournal.org.

March madness comes to East Kentwood as it hosts FIRST robotics competition

March 29, 20183-bottomEast Kentwood High School, FIRST, FIRST Robotics, GE Aviation, Grand Valley State University, Lee High School, Red Storm Robotics, West Michigan Aviation Academy, William Zoerhoff, WKTV, Wyoming High SchoolJoanne

FIRST Power Up, the theme for this year’s FIRST challenge, is based on a Mario game.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

February 1, 20183-bottom, Citizen JournalismBob O'Callaghan, Festival of the Arts, Godfrey Lee School District, Kent County Emergency Dispatch, Lee High School, Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of CommerceJoanne

The energy in the gym is electric. Mascots lead the crowds in cheers as the teams take the field. Someone runs in front of the bleachers with a team flag with others in the stands holding up illuminated signs of team numbers. It only gets quiet as the match is about to start. The buzzer goes off and the place erupts with noise.

This is March Madness not for basketball, but for robotics, specifically FIRST Robotics. This Friday and Saturday, the madness comes to East Kentwood High School’s field house as the district for the fourth year hosts the First Robotics event.

“I have been superintendent for the district for five years, so I have really gotten the chance to see this event grow,” said Kentwood Superintendent William Zoerhoff, who added that watching the students work as a team to figure out a problem using their STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts, and math — skills is pretty amazing.

Color coordinated fans are ready to cheer on their team at GVSU’s FIRST Robotics competition.

Started in 1992, FIRST is an international high school robotics competition founded by inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen — the man behind the Segway — and MIT professor emeritus Woodie Flowers. In fact, Kamen often has stated that FIRST is the invention he feels most proud of.

The program began with 28 teams in a New Hampshire high school gym, according to the FIRST website. In 2018, it is estimated that more than 400,000 students across the globe will come together and within six weeks, design, build, and program a functional robot which is able to fulfill the unique and complex challenges specific to that year’s game.

“But it is much more than just building a robot, “ said Grand Valley State University’s Dean of Engineering Paul D. Plotkowski. GVSU was one of the first organizations to host FIRST Robotic competitions with the university having its event last weekend. “It’s about teamwork. It’s about students coming together and solving a problem with each student having a specific task in accomplishing the goal.”

Teams are not only required to build a robot, but they have to come up with a business plan to help cover costs for parts and travel. In the cast of Kentwood’s Red Storm Robotics, Zoerhoff said when funding for the school’s program was needed, the students pitched the team and event to Switch which signed on as a major community supporter.

In the end, it is not about winning either, according to Kentwood’s FIRST Robotics Competition organizer Wendy Ljungen, who is a chief consulting engineer for GE Aviation Systems. It is about getting students interested in the field of technology and in fact, there are a vast array of scholarships available to students who participate in FIRST.

“When GE got involved, it was looking at how to get more women involved in technology,” Ljungen said. “GE has been a strong force in creating a balance by encouraging girls and building a better pipeline.”

So nine years ago, a GE group, called Women in Technology, began to look around to see what programs there were to encourage students and specifically pull girls into the pipeline of technology and engineering. They found FIRST and had about three months —which included the two-week Christmas break — to pull together a team. They did and Kentwood’s Red Storm Robotics team became the top seeded Rookie team that year.

Mentors work with the South Christian High School team

From there, GE branched out to help with establishing three middle school teams in Kentwood — one which went to the world competition last year — along with helping with the Wyoming High School’s team the Demons and this year, re-establishing the Ottawa Hills High School team. Those teams along with West Michigan Aviation’s Team Spitfire, Lee High School’s Rebel Robotics, and Potter’s House’s Tactical Hams are among the more than 40 teams that will be at this weekend’s event.

This year’s competition theme is based on a Mario game with the robots required to be able to pick up cubes that can be placed on a scale along with passing them out for stacking. Robots also need to be able to climb a structure with some able to load another team’s robot and climb.

The “game” floor has all the bells and whistles of the Mario game complete with a giant scoreboard showcasing who has the most points. There is a few minutes before a winner is announced as final scores are tallied.

Each team is required to attend two district competitions. Those teams that earn enough points or certain awards, then advance to the state competition which will be April 12-14 at Saginaw Valley State University.

“It has been quite a journey,” Ljungen said. “When we started there was about 200 teams. There are now more than 500 teams with the goal that ever listed high school in the state will have a team.”

The growth of FIRST is evident as to accommodate all the teams with Forest Hills Central High School added to the schedule this year as a new FIRST Robotics event site. That competition is next weekend.

For more on FIRST, visit firstinspires.org. For Saturday’s live coverage, tune into WKTV Channel 25 or visit wktv.viebet.com.

WKTV Journal: Smart 911, a visit from Bob O’Callaghan, and a call for Festival volunteers

In this newscast , we join the City of Kentwood as officials and residents observe Martin Luther King Day with a special ceremony at the KDL Kentwood Branch and a food drive for its Little Free Pantry. Mayor Stephen Kepley talks about the city possibly expanding the pantry program.

The celebrations continued at Lee High School as the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools inducts three new members to its Hall of Fame.

Also, we head over to the Kent County Emergency Dispatch Center, where Emergency Communications Center Manager Matt Groesser talks to us about the Smart 911 program that was launched last year.

In studio, Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Bob O’Callaghan stops by to talk about the Chamber’s 2017 accomplishments, what’s up for 2018, and this year’s Chamber Award Winners.

Also Festival of the Arts Volunteer Chair Becky Richard comes to our studio to talk about the various volunteer opportunities available at the event which this year takes place June 1, 2, and 3 in Downtown Grand Rapids.

The WKTV Journal airs on WKTV Channel 25 Mondays at 9 p.m., Tuesdays at 7 p.m., and Fridays at 10 a.m.

Once a Rebel … Godfrey-Lee schools induct teams, teachers into Hall of Fame

January 25, 20183-bottom, Area Education, City of Wyoming, Education, SportsArt Kraai, Douglas Greenwold, Godfrey Lee Schools, James D. Skidmore, Lee High School, Patricia Camp BartlettJoanne

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools inducted four into its Hall of Fame, with the ceremony taking place Jan. 12 at Lee High School. (WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools inducted four into its Hall of Fame earlier this month, two individuals who made an impact in the classroom, one on the basketball court and in the community, and a series of cross country teams worthy of the name “Team of the Decade”.

The induction ceremony took place prior to a varsity boys basketball game on Jan. 12 at Lee High School, but as is the custom at the district, the inductees were not only athletes and athletic teams.

The team honored with entry to the Hall of Fame honor was actually not a single team, but a series of cross county teams — The Team of the Decade of the 1970s, as it is often called.

Art Kraai, himself a member of the Hall of Fame, accepted the award for his teams. (WKTV)

While the teams and team members were honored, it was their coach, Art Kraai, himself a member of the Hall of Fame, who accepted the award. Coach Kraai read off a long list of accomplishments for the Long Blue Line in dominate cross county seasons from 1971 to 1982, including the boys winning four state titles and the girls winning one — noting that it wasn’t until late in the run that girls even had state competitions.

One thing that unified all the teams, was the coach’s rallying cry, which he repeated as he closed his remarks: “Back in my day, we would say, ‘Coach, coach, open the door and let those Rebels on the floor’.”

Douglas Greenwold was a star Rebel in the class room and on the basketball team. (WKTV)

First up of the individuals on the honor roll was Douglas Greenwold, who was a star Rebel in the class room and on the basketball team — being named valedictorian leading the Rebels to the 1960 state finals — and then went on to play on University of Michigan’s first Final Four team in 1964. He earned his bachelors and two masters degrees at U-M, and went on to a long career in business and a continuing career in religious studies, including as an author and a teacher.

James D. Skidmore brought a passion for teaching and head for accounting to Lee high school. (WKTV)

The next honoree was James D. Skidmore, who brought a passion for teaching and head for accounting to Lee high school. Skidmore earned a bachelors degree from Ferris Institute and a masters from Michigan State University before joining the Lee staff in 1958. As a Rebel, he not only taught bookkeeping and accounting but also was faculty advisor for the Echo yearbook, Arial student newspaper and the National Honor Society. His late wife, Sally, was also a teacher at Lee. Skidmore went on to a long and distinguished teaching career at Grand Rapids Community College before retiring in 1999. But you know that they say: once a Rebel, always a Rebel.

Since the early 1960s, Patricia Camp Bartlett has been involved with the high school and the school district in literally all levels. (WKTV)

The final individual honored was Patricia Camp Bartlett. Since the early 1960s, she has been involved with the high school and the school district in literally all levels. She attended Lee, graduating in 1965, with four years in the band and four years in the Future Teachers of American group — a harbinger of a career to come. After getting her bachelors degree from Michigan State, she returned to Lee as a teacher in 1969, later earned a masters degree, and went ton to spend 37 years in district classrooms. In 1990, she was a state finalist for Michigan Teacher of the Year. After retiring in 2005, she remains active in the school district including as part of the Feeding America food distribution program at Lee high and currently serving on the Godfrey-Lee Education Foundation Board of Directors.

School News Network: When learners become the teachers

January 24, 20183-bottomgodfrey Lee Public Schools, Lee High School, School News NetworkJoanne

From left, Elijah Kibbe, seniorJacky Garcia, junior Luke McGee and seniors Adela Campos and Jackie Lopez participate in a student session to provide input future education efforts. (Photos courtesy of School News Network)

By Erin Albanese