Tag Archives: Wyoming Schools

Local high school sports schedule: March 6-13

Area Education, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Education, Kentwood Public Schools, Sports,
The high school hockey playoffs are in full swing this week.

Looking for a Wyoming and Kentwood area high school varsity sports event to get out to? Here is your weekly list.

 

Monday, March 6

Boys Basketball

MHSAA State Districts @ Godwin Heights – Grand River Prep vs Kelloggsville

MHSAA State Districts @ Godwin Heights – Godwin Heights vs South Christian

MHSAA State Districts @ Zeeland East – Wyoming @ Zeeland East

MHSAA State Districts @ Zion Christian – TBD

MHSAA State Districts @ Ottawa Hills – TBD

 

Tuesday, March 7

Girls Basketball

MHSAA State Regionals @ Zeeland East – TBD

 

Wednesday, March 8

Boys Basketball

MHSAA State Districts @ Godwin Heights – TBD vs Wyoming Lee

MHSAA State Districts @ Zion Christian – Holland Calvary vs Zion Christian

MHSAA State Districts @ Ottawa Hills – East Kentwood vs Ottawa Hills

MHSAA State Districts @ Zion Christian – Tri-Unity Christian vs Potter’s  House

 

Thursday, March 9

Girls Basketball

MHSAA State Regionals @ Zeeland East – TBD

 

Friday, March 10

Girls Gymnastics

MHSAA State Team Finals – @ Plymouth-Canton

Boys Hockey

MHSAA State Semifinals – Division 1 @ Plymouth 5:00 PM

MHSAA State Semifinals – Division 1 @ Plymouth 7:30 PM

MHSAA State Semifinals – Division 2 @ Plymouth 5:00 PM

MHSAA State Semifinals – Division 2 @ Plymouth 7:30 PM

MHSAA State Semifinals – Division 3 @ Plymouth 11:00 AM

MHSAA State Semifinals – Division 3 @ Plymouth 1:30 PM

Boys Swimming

MHSAA State Finals – Division 1 @ Oakland University

MHSAA State Finals – Division 2 @ Eastern Michigan University

MHSAA State Finals – Division 3 @ Holland Aquatic Center

Boys Basketball

MHSAA State Districts @ Godwin Heights – TBD

MHSAA State Districts @ Ottawa Hills – TBD

MHSAA State Districts @ Zion Christian – TBD

 

Saturday, March 11

Girls Gymnastics

MHSAA State Individual Finals – @ Plymouth-Canton

Boys Hockey

MHSAA State Finals – Division 1 @ Plymouth – 6:00 PM

MHSAA State Finals – Division 2 @ Plymouth – 10:00 AM

MHSAA State Finals – Division 3 @ Plymouth – 2:00 PM

Boys Swimming

MHSAA State Finals – Division 2 @ Eastern Michigan University

MHSAA State Finals – Division 3 @ Holland Aquatic Center

 

No scheduled local team events March 13-16

Butterflies, borrowing books part of new life

3-bottom, Area Education, Our Cities, , ,
School News Network - Butterflies
What to see next? Erik and Isaac Alfaro study butterfly species.

By: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

Parkview Elementary first- and second-graders Erik and Isaac Alfaro spotted monarch caterpillars on milkweed plants at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, in Grand Rapids Township.

 

“How many are there?” asked Lisa DeMaagd, Wyoming Public Schools English Language-Learner coordinator. “Cuatro!” shouted Erik, counting to four in Spanish. Then he saw another, adding up to “cinco” caterpillars.

 

The brothers and their mother, Erika Garcia, soon entered the Butterflies are Blooming exhibit, where hundreds of colorful butterflies fluttered by in the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. It was a highlight of their visit to the 158-acre botanical garden and outdoor sculpture park.

 

Eric, Isaac and their 4-year-old brother, Israel, spotted butterflies amid the leaves and flowers. Their smiles spread wide as they chatted excitedly in Spanish, spying butterflies landing on fresh fruit.

 

School News Network - ButterfliesThe family is taking part in the district’s annual community resource workshops, during which immigrant district students and their families are invited on community outings.

 

As of fall, 858 students at Wyoming Public Schools — just below 20 percent of the district’s population — are ELL students from countries including Puerto Rico, Mexico, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Nepal, Guatemala and Rwanda. Sixty-one students, including 11 exchange students, qualified for the workshops this year as students not born in the U.S. and living here for fewer than three years.

 

Welcome to Grand Rapids

 

The community resources program, which the district has hosted for more than 10 years, is funded by a sub-grant of Title III federal funding for immigrant education allocated by Kent ISD to meet the needs of new families and help them get accustomed to U.S. culture.

 

“We focus very much on community and opportunities for experience,” DeMaagd said.

 

The group, which varies each year from 10 to 40 participants, focuses on things they need to know for life in the U.S., from information about public safety to leaving tips at a restaurant. Wyoming Intermediate School counselor Christine Karas, who helps lead the program, said families find joy in new experiences and learn things Americans take for granted or don’t often think to explain.

 

School News Network - Butterflies“We teach them what a fire hydrant is, how to walk across the street, why Americans throw pennies in water, how to call 911,” Karas said. “It’s a lot of  basic things.”

 

They tour the Wyoming Branch of Kent District Library and learn how to find books and check them out, as well as about free resources and programs for card holders. They visit to the Wyoming Police Department and head downtown to the Grand Valley State University campus, the Downtown Market, Rosa Parks Circle and Van Andel Arena.

 

In past years, depending on funding, the program has included a summer session as well, allowing more opportunities like kite-flying, Lake Michigan trips, cookouts, dune rides, zoos and dairy farm tours.

 

The memories created spill over into the school day, DeMaagd said.

 

“Teachers have shared with me that tons of the students’ writing pieces have included elements from our program,” she said. “They are asked to write about an experience and all of the sudden they have something more fun to write about than ‘I sat on my couch and played video games.’”

 

Mom Erika Garcia said she values the opportunities the program provides. The family moved from Mexico six months ago.

 

“It’s great for the kids to learn new things in the community and to learn about the things we have in the United States,” she said in Spanish, translated by DeMaagd.

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

2015 Year In Review – City of Wyoming

Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Hard News, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Volunteers, , , , , , ,

Pinery Park Sign WyomingAnother year has come and gone. Here at Wyoming-Kentwood NOW, we take a look back at the year that was with some of our favorite, and most memorable, stories from here in Wyoming.

Wyoming Deputy Manager Receives Heartfelt Farewell – January

After almost 15 years on the job, former Wyoming Deputy City Manager Barbara Van Duren retired. Her retirement was celebrated at the Wyoming Public Library to make room for all the people in attendance! 28th West, the re-development of 28th street, was a project close to Barbara’s heart. In the words of Barbara Van Duren, “28th streets needs a facelift.”

One Wyoming 1 on 1 mentors make a difference – January

One Wyoming 1 on 1 offers mentors the opportunity to make a difference in children’s lives. Not only that, but the children will make just as big–if not bigger–of an impact on you! Deb Havens shares her story on mentoring Amber and the bond they’ve created.

Wyoming Public Safety Honors Top Employees – February

The Wyoming Department of Public Safety recognized their top employees. Among those honored was Jason Caster for Officer of the year, Brian Illbrink as Firefighter of the Year, Terra Wesseldyk as Civilian of the Year, and Lt. Kirt Zuiderveen received the Chief’s Award of Professional Excellence.

High School March Madness
Wyoming and Kentwood Area Basketball Teams Feel the Magic of March – March
Survive and Advance: Two Wyoming-Kentwood Area Teams Still Left – March

March is a special time for basketball lovers of all ages! The MHSAA playoffs kicked into full gear with multiple schools from the Wyoming area vying for a State Championship.

Wyoming’s Landscape Sees Positive Changes – May

Harriet Sturim, a proud Wyoming homeowner since 1977, highlights some new and positive building in the city. From the new Veterans Clinic in Metro Village to the new businesses on 28th and 36th street, the City of Wyoming is continuing the city’s growth of vision and progress.

Wyoming’s Oldest Home, ‘Rogers Mansion,’ Up for Sale – June

Wyoming’s, and most like Kent County’s, oldest home was put up for sale in 2015. For the first time in 179 years, the ‘Rogers Mansion’ was put on the market for someone outside the Rogers family. The house comes with the original skeleton key to unlock the front door. History is all around us.

GM Bringing New Jobs
General Motors announces 300 new jobs and a $119 million dollar expansion at Wyoming Plant – June
GM Set to Invest 43 Million into Wyoming Plant – December

General Motors used 2015 to invest in their Burton location with capital and full-time job opportunities. $119 million and 300 jobs were announced in June and another $43 million 55 new jobs were announced later in December! A reinvestment in West Michigan manufacturing is sometime to get excited about.

Wyoming Memorial Day Ceremony in Pictures – June

Citizen Journalist Harriet Sturim took pictures to capture Wyoming’s Memorial Day celebration at its core.

New Business Construction in Wyoming – September

Wyoming continues to add new businesses to the area. Three new businesses found a home at the corner of Clyde Park and 44th Street. A four-story WoodSpring Hotel, a Fox Powersports, and a J&H Mobil Station with a Tim Horton’s right next-door broke in the dirt.

Wyoming Residents in ArtPrize
Wyoming, Michigan Artist’s ArtPrize Entry Shines Light on Peers – September
Wyoming, Mich. ArtPrize Artist Explores Interpretation of Structures – October
ArtPrize Entry by Wyoming, Mich. Artist Makes the Final 20 – October

Artist’s from right here in Wyoming, Michigan entered their work into ArtPrize 7. One of the artists found themselves in the top 20!

Pinery Park Little League
Time is Running Out on Pinery Park Little League – September
Pinery Park Little League on the Right Track – October

The Pinery Park Little League was in troubled water as they risked losing their contract to the fields at Pinery Park with the Wyoming City Council due to a lack of transparency and losing their 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. Fortunately, the league was able to get it together but will need to run more efficiently going forward.

Wyoming’s New ‘Sinking Fund’ Will Keep School Infrastructure Afloat – November

Wyoming Public Schools found themselves on the winning side after election day with the passing of a sinking fund to help the school. The sinking fund works a little differently from a bond issue and will end up raising over $400,000 per year with little, if any, increase to Wyoming tax payers.

The Great Candy Cane Hunt – December

The Great Candy Cane Hunt had another successful season with Santa being delivered by the fire department and then leading the children on a candy cane hunt throughout Pinery Park. The event continued at the Wyoming Senior Center with “life-size” jenga and connect four that families could enjoy!