District News

Holland families are welcome to come to the HMS Greenhouse for FREE produce and flowers.

• Monday, 6-7pm
• June 10-August19

The Holland Educational Foundation turns 40 this year. This week, we talk with HEF Executive Director Kate Bolt.

• HEF Summer_mixdown

We are incredibly excited to introduce you Rocky! Rocky is a Golden Retriever and a therapy dog at West Elementary. He will start learning at West during Summer Learning, and be certified in August.

Families in Holland can get FREE produce from the HMS Greenhouse.

• Podcast 4.30

The HMS Greenhouse harvest events happen every Monday 6-7pm.

HPS will provide FREE Breakfast and Lunch to ALL children under 18 in the district through out the summer.

Jenifer Jongekryg is a teacher at Holland High School.  Thanks to an anonymous donation from a family in the city and to the support of the Holland Educational Foundation, she and her husband (who also works at Holland High) will get $25,700 toward the down payment of a home in the Holland area as a part of Teachers Live Here!

The Open Enrollment Period for limited spaces begins on June 1, 2024, and ends on June 28, 2024.

Created by Ready for School and delivered by HPS teachers, the Kindergarten Readiness Camp combines the routines of a typical school day with play to build the academic and social skills that kindergarten teachers say they want to see in their students. When a child is curious, asks questions, and is comfortable in the classroom environment, it helps with being ready to learn.

• June 17-August 1 (closed week of July 4) 
• Mondays - Thursday | 8:30am-12:30pm 
• Includes Breakfast  Lunch
• Transportation Included

This week, we talk with Athletic Director Blake Muller about the 23-24 Sports Seasons, the 24-25 sports seasons, and the Summer Sports Camps that get underway next week at HHS.

Listen Now!

The $21.2 million project will take 2-years and provide new learning opportunities for Holland students and families!

There's a sports camp for every kid this summer at Holland Public Schools. 

• Run by HPS coaches with assistance from Varsity athletes 
• Everything from learning-the-basics to practicing game skills

Join us this summer for a HPS Sports Camp.

Alba jumped a personal record of 5'3'' and took 5th place in the High Jump at the State Track and Field meet!

Also setting personal records at the meet:

• Senior Madalyn Daniels ran a PR of 26.19 in the 200m Prelims.
• Freshman Miona Rodgers ran a PR of 26.33 in the 200m Prelims.

West Elementary's Bailey Brumels will recieve a $25,700 grant to help with the down payment on a home.  And, because, she's purchasing a home within the district, she'll also receive $2,500 to assist with closing costs.

June 17, 2024, 4:30  p.m., Board Training Room at the HPS Administration Building.

HPS will host a groundbreaking ceremony on June 4th at 9am for a reconstruction project at Holland Heights Elementary.  This week, we talk with Superintendent Nick Cassidy about this project.

This podcast originally aired on April 3, 2024.

The boys track team competed at the West Michigan regional meet and came away with the Regional Championship first place trophy over 33 other teams. 

This week, we replay Student Senate President Owen Ceithaml's Commencement Address to the Class of 2024: The Next Roller Coaster.

As we prepare for the start of the next school year, it's time register your student for 2024-25. This is something we ask ALL current HPS families to do EVERY year. 

Completing the registration lets us know your student(s) will be returning next year!  It also lets you:

• Review and update household contact information
• Review and update student health information
• Request transportation for the 2024-2025 school year (Deadline to request bussing is August 1)

Without this information, your student can not be added to a class list for next year OR have a class schedule created for them.

Join Exit Left Theatre Company for the Second Annual Holland Cares Benefit Concert! You will enjoy incredible performances by local talent and special guests performers from the national tour of Wicked.  All proceeds will go to regional youth mental health care providers: 

• Midtown Counseling
• Mosaic Counseling.

Holland High School has a new Alma Mater. This week, we talk with Sam Lunn (Class of 2024), the writer and composer of Here's to You, Holland High.

Holland Public Schools is celebrating the winner of the district Power H IMPACT Award!  This week we talk with Holland High Special Education Teacher, Kayla Gearring about being named this year's Power H IMPACT Award.

Members of the Holland High School Forensics team will travel to Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek for the State Competition on May 3 & 4. State competitors include:

• Yanyssa Ochoa (12th Grade) will compete in Informative
• Eleanor McMullen (11th grade) will compete in Oratory
• Leila Sundararajan (10th Grade) will compete in Prose 
• Chaza Ben (9th grade) will compete in Broadcasting.

Congratulations to the following Holland High and Holland Early College students for being awarded the CFHZA Promis Scholarship:

• Thy Tran
• Holly Byrd
• Josephine Suarez (HEC)
• Jackie Romero
• Cristal Felix-Trejo 

The Promise Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship. This means that after other grants and scholarships have been applied, the scholarship will cover the remaining cost of tuition, books, room, and board.

Graduation season is underway at Holland Public Schools where we recently celebrated 16 students who completed the Holland Early College program at Holland High School. On this week's podcast, we listen in on that celebration!

The first voice you hear in this recording is HHS Principal Andrea Meahall

Highlights of the HPS 2024-2025 Academic Calendar:

• Wednesdays | Early Release Days
• 8/22 | First Day of School
• 11/1 | No School
• 11/27-29 | Thanksgiving Break
• 12/21-1/5 | Holiday Break
• 1/20 | No School - MLK Day
• 2/21-24 | Mid Winter Break
• 4/4-13 | Spring Break
• 5/20 | Commencement
• 5/26 | No School - Memorial Day
• 6/4 | Last Day of School

Student art from all HPS buildings will be featurted in the annual District Art Show at the HHS Art Gallery.

Community members wanting to view the art show can come during the Artist Reception on Tuesday, May 14 from 4:30-6:00pm. Additional hours for viewing of the show will be:

• May 15-17 from 3-8pm
• May 20-24 from 3-8pm

Visitors should park in the HPS Administration parking lot at the corner of Van Raalte Ave and 24th Streets and enter through door #46. 

Holland Public Schools recently hosted visits from Dr. Corinne Edwards, Director of the MDE Office of Educational Supports and members of The Educational Fund Council.

• Friday, May 3 | 4:30-7pm at Holland Language Academy, 461 VanRaalte
• Saturday, May 4 | 9:30-12pm at Holland Language Academy, 461 VanRaalte

For HPS students, Grades 1-5, marching in the KinderParade on Thursday, May 9.  Cash or Check ONLY.

Debut Regional Juried High School Art Competition at the Holland Area Arts Council.

• Miranda Lemus - All Eyes on You | Art Excellence Award - 2nd Place
• Harper Schoon-Tanis - Giraffes Wear Suits | Dennis Foley Award

The Exhibit features works from students from around the area. April 12 -May 25 (Admission is free of charge.)

Holland Softball takes on Saugatuck under the lights at Matt Urban Field - Friday, May 3 at 6pm

• Admission is FREE | Bring a donation for the Power H Shop!

We're hosting an Enrollment Block Party on Tuesday, April 30, 5:30-7:30pm at HMS… Instructional Coach Ryan Harrel tells us more about it.

Congratulations to the following artists for receiving the 2024 District Art Award:

• Kat Mai Duch (4/WST) - Silhouette painting
• June Nelson (4/HLA) - Self Portrait with Flowers
• Chloe Gale (5/JEF) - Mysterious Eye Collage
• Elliot Perkins (5/HTS) - Self portrait
• Sam Bordenkircher (6/HMS) - Parrot Crayon Etching
• Alejandra Rojas Vasquez (7/HMS) - Prisma Colored Pencil Burger
• Annie Lou Howell (8/HMS) - 
• Delaney Wilson (9/HHS) - 2- Point Perspective
• Harper Schoon-Tanis (9/HHS) - Linoleum Print
• Hadleigh Hilgert (11/HHS) - Digital Art Piece

The artists' work will be displayed for the next year in the Board Training Room in the District Administartion Building.

Holland Middle School is proud to announce that Reese Weeks and Ashlyn DePoy will be advancing to the National History Day Finals in Washington D.C. Their submission in the Group Website Category Junior Division, Silencing the Pain: Discovering Comfort in Medicine, earned them a top spot at the Michigan History Day state competition this past Saturday at Central Michigan University.  

Lexi Gibson also advanced in the Individual Exhibit Junior Division with her entry, The Barbie Revolution,  earning an alternate spot to the NHD finals.  

Meet the Finalists for the Power H Impact Award.  Our winner will receive an additional $5000 and be announced on Friday, April 26!

• Prize money has been donated by The Holland Educational Foundation and an anonymous donor in the City of Holland

Big congratulations to our incredible staff members for being selected as members of West Michigan Teacher Collaborative!

• Angela Gonzalez-Urbina
• Kelly Panse
• Shonett Davis
• Veronica Salazar
• Maricela Gallegos Cisneros
• Lourdes Hernandez-Vasquez

This is a fantastic opportunity to grow and learn alongside others passionate about becoming educators in our community. Your dedication to the success of our students shines through, and we're excited to see the impact you'll make! 

Holland High Theatre is set to open their latest production April 25-28 at the HHS Performing Arts Center.  This week, we talk with cast members of Hello, Dolly!

• Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7pm
• Saturday and Sunday at 2pm

The Dutch Nerd Army concluded their season at the Class A State Tournament in Ann Arbor Saturday.  The team was composed of juniors Adam Alderson, Alan Juarez, Eleanor McMullen, and Ben Rund-Scott, sophomores Landen Butch and Wilson Lin, and freshman Harper Schoon-Tanis.  

We’ll celebrate new students and families to Holland Public Schools and offer assistance to complete online registration and enrollment.

Tuesday, April 30, 5:30-7:30pm at Holland Middle School

• EVERY family enrolled in HPS Kindergarten who attends the BLOCK PARTY will get a Summer Goodie Bag with books and fun activities for summer learning! 
• The Ottawa County Health Dept and Miles of Smiles will be there giving the required Vision, Hearing & Dental screenings for K Enrollment.  
• Current HPS families who are registered for 2024-25 by the May 1 will be entered into a drawing for $100 Meijer gift cards!

The blockbuster Broadway hit bursts with humor, romance, high-energy dancing and some of the greatest songs in musical theatre history.

• April 25-28 (Thur-Sat 7pm \ Sat & Sun 2pm) at the Holland High School Performing Arts Center

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program went on a college visit to the only Deaf and Hard of Hearing liberal arts college in the world, Gallaudet University in Washington, DC.

Holland Middle School has four 8th graders that have qualified for the National History Day State competition at Central Michigan University on April 20. 

Our school will be hosting a presentation on OK2SAY – Michigan’s student safety program for students.

• K-5 students: Thursday & Friday, April 18 & 19
• HMS students: Tuesday, April 23
• HHS students: Wednesday, April 17

The program is designed to inform students how they can help make their school and community safer by reporting dangerous and concerning behaviors to a trusted adult or OK2SAY.  

On Monday, April 8 – just after we return from Spring Break - we will be in the path of a solar eclipse. West Michigan will experience a partial eclipse from 1:55 to 4:24pm with 94% totality at 3:11pm.

While this is an amazing educational opportunity, there are also potential risks. Viewing of the eclipse without proper eye protection can cause permanent damage to vision. And regular sunglasses do not provide adequate protection. 

Kelsey Hanson and Thaddeus Le Febre are the 12th and 13th recipients of the Teachers Live Here grant since it launched in January 2023. The $25,700 grant will assist them with the down payment on a home in or near the district. 

Holland Public Schools is naming the finalists for their Power H Impact Awards… This week we introduce you to the building finalists from HMS and HHS!

Read-A-Thon Raised $26,016!  | Our readers read 241,830 minutes!!

• Top Participating School Winner is HLA!! HLA wins $500 for the school to spend as they wish. 
• Winner of the school-wide prize is HMS for the most minutes read! HMS will get a visit from the Polar Patrol in May. 

PTO chairs will soon be raffling off prizes from Craig's Cruisers, BAM, Tip Toes, Reader's World, Kilwins, Peachwave, HPS Athletic Office and the Holland Peanut Store. 

17 works of art by 13 Holland High School students will be shown in this year's juried high school student art show: Debut. This prestigious show at Holland Area Arts Council will open is in its 46th year.

Hoping to learn how to grow programs in their home-districts, Members of the Michigan Department of Education's Dual Language Collaborative toured the Two-Way Bilingual Immersion programs at Holland Language Academy and Holland Middle School this week.

This week,  we talk with Jacob Tores & Nora Frens about the upcoming Vocal Dimension show: Road Trip|Coast to Coast.

March 21-23, 7pm with a Saturday (3/23) Matinee at 2pm.

HHS Vocal Dimensions is proud to bring you their Spring Show: Road Trip | Coast-to-Coast

• Thursday - Saturday, March 21-23 at 7pm and Saturday March 23 at 2pm at HHS PAC
• $10 students | $15 adults online, at 616.494.2000, or in-person at the HHS Athletic Office (Cash Only at Door)
• ASL Interpretation at Saturday Shows

We'll connect HPS families with local community agencies and resources during our March Family Night.

• Tuesday, March 19 | 5:30 - 6:30pm at Holland High School.
• Dinner provided.
• Fun family activities
• A chance to win a prize for checking out our community partners/breakout sessions 
• Meet Community Partners who provide essential community services. 

Today, we're introducing you to the three building finalists from West Elementary and Holland Heights Elementary for the Power H Impact Award.

Artwork created by Rowen Stewart (1st Grade at West) and Enida Vong (5th Grade at Holland Heights) has been selected by judges to be in the top 100 art for their grade level in the state of Michigan!

Join the Holland Orchestras for their annual Cafe Pops Concert.

• Monday, March 11 at 7pm in the HHS Commons
• Special Guest Artist, Rodney Lamar Page. 
• Coffee/Punch and Desserts from "Say Cheesecake by Sara"
• $15 adults|$10 seniors|$5 studentS

Today, we're introducing you to the building 3 finalists from Jefferson and Holland Language Academy for the Power H Impact Award.

Lisa Gort, HPS School Mental Health Care Case Manager, has been chosen as the 2024 Michigan Association of School Nurses School Nurse of the year. 

Every child deserves a nutritious start to their day. All students at Holland Public Schools have access to a nutritious breakfast meal at school everyday, at no-cost to the student.

• From March 4-8, let's spread awareness about the benefits of a balanced breakfast at school. 

This week we talk with Kayla Geering about the Unified Sports teams at Holland High School.

This month's topic: Health, Nutrition & Exercise : February 27th, 5:30-6:30 pm at Holland Heights Elementary (open to all HPS Families)

Join us for a night of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise! We will have 4 rooms for families to visit:

• Holland Hospital/HPS Nurses- "Hygiene Tips & Tricks for Students" 
• Kids Food Basket- "Healthy Eating & Healthy Eating Resources" 
• City of Holland Farmers Market- "Double Up Food Bucks & Holland Farmers Market" 
• Holland Recreation- "Spring/Summer Programming & Scholarships"

Raffle prizes and $10 Family Fare gift cards.
We will have different organizations here at tables in the hallway to support families.

We'll serve food that is healthy and nutritious!

Childcare will be provided by First Tee (Empowering kids and teens through the game of golf.)

This week, we introduce you to the FINALISTS for the Power H IMPACT - Rookie of the Year Award.

Members of HHS' Calling All Colors visited 8th Grade students at HMS to talk about AP and Honors Courses, and Holland Early College. 

Please take a minute to set up an appointment for Parent/Teacher Conferences.

• Tuesday, February 20 | 4:15 - 7:15pm
• Thursday, February 22 | 12:30 - 3:30pm
• Wednesday, February 28 | 4:15 - 7:15pm

This week we introduce you to the five finalists for the Power H Impact - District Support Award.

Tour Holland High School | Meet your teachers | Find out about electives | Learn more about clubs & teams | Holland Early College | and more...

• Thursday, February 15, 6-8pm

For families of current 8th grade students - or students considering enrolling at Holland High School for the 2024-25 school year.

The Dutch Nerd Army will be in action again Monday, February 12 in Otsego as we finish the round robin matches of the Allegan County Quiz Bowl League.

Students and families are invited to see the Holland BPW's Visitor Center Energy Alley. The Visitor Center is a museum-style exhibit space where guests can learn more about energy, electricity, and Holland’s power plant.

• February 23, 10am-2pm | Holland Energy Park

Registration is highly recommended as space is limited. This free event is open to the public and geared towards families and students grades K-12.

Elementary Recognition Night with Holland Basketball: Come join us on Friday, February 16 for elementary recognition night!

• All HPS elementary students and their family members will get into our basketball games for FREE! (Students must be accompanied by an adult.)
• Games start at 5:30pm with the girls varsity team taking on Zeeland East, followed by a Unified Basketball Team game, and then we'll finish the night with our boys varsity basketball team playing Zeeland East around 7:30 pm. 

We hope to see you there! Go Dutch! 

Thursday, February 8, 5-7pm.

Check out all the great opportunities available for students at Holland Middle School.  You’ll love it here!

• We will have academic information meetings in the cafeteria at 5:15pm and 6:15pm
• An interactive tour with stations around the school for families to visit and learn more about HMS
• See classrooms and meet teachers!

Any Holland families interested in attending HMS are invited. All HPS 5th-grade Parents and Students are encouraged to attend.

We have limited spots available in our HPS preschool program for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year.   

• Children must have turned 4-years-old on or before December 1, 2023 to be age eligible. 
• Any family regardless of income now qualifies! (Families over 401% of the Federal Poverty Line will only have to pay $25 for preschool through the Great Start Readiness Program for the remainder of the 2023-24 school year.)

Any questions, or to start enrollment please contact Patty Beatty at 616.494.2824

Holland Public Schools is looking for some help to stock the shelves at the Power H Store in the month of February... and AAC Credit Union on 25th St. is stepping up!

Great things are happening at Holland Public Schools. Come learn all about it during events at each of our neighborhood elementary schools, middle school and high school.

• Holland Language Academy: Monday, Feb 5, 5-7pm
• Jefferson Elementary: Tuesday, Feb 6, 5-7pm
• Nature Based Holland Heights: Tuesday, Feb 6, 5-7pm *AT LONGFELLOW (our home-away-from-home during construction of our new school building!)
• West Elementary: Wednesday, Feb 7, 5-7pm
• Holland Middle School | Step Up to HMS:  Thursday, Feb 8, 5-7pm (Info Sessions at 5:15pm and 6:15pm)
• Holland High School | Find Your Fit: Thursday, Feb 15, 6-8pm

Say HI! to your principal. Meet your teachers. See your classrooms and school building! We can't wait to meet you!

We are excited to have the registration ready for the Elementary Team Tennis program we are running in April and May.  This will be run on Saturdays from 2:30-3:30pm at DeWitt Tennis Center. 

These great artists will have their work featured in the Region 9 Art Show for the Michigan Art Education Association. 

From West:

• Rowen Stewart 1st grade
• Kat Mai Duch | 4th grade 
• Samson Kordich | 4th grade

From Holland Heights:

• Enida Vong | 5th grade 
• La’Queen Parker | 5th grade

HPS and HDPS are making students more visible to drivers.

Holland Little League is excited to offer baseball and softball for kids ages 5 through 12. Get your child outside this spring and on a team. Younger levels (age-7 and below) are formed based on the elementary schools, so it is likely your child will have others they know on their team. Registration closes March 1st, so act soon and get your child signed up!

HPS is hosting a donation drive all of February!

Pick up a few extra items from the store for the Power H Shop, and your student can add them to any Give Back Box located in the front office of every Holland Public School. 

We'll also host a Give Back Event at the Power H Store on Thursday, February 15 at Maplewood. Stop by with your donations to help fill the shelves of the store!

Holland Public Schools joins the nation in commemorating Black History Month.

This week we talk with West TK Teacher JJ Porretta about Big Opportunity Week at HPS.

Holland Public Schools and the Holland Hospital nurses are excited to begin offering COVID testing for students and staff ONLY. 

Need an additional $40 per child this summer for groceries?  Find out how you can qualify!

HHS Theatre presents a sneak peak of their MIFA Theatre Competition production of The Revlon Girl.

• Thursday, January 25, 7pm at HHS PAC
• Friday, January 26, 7pm at HHS PAC

Only 100 seats available for each show. | $5 Admission at the door. | 55-minute production

January Parent/Family Night has been canceled...

• The February Family Night is set for Tuesday, February 27 at Holland Heights where we will be focusing on Health, Nutrition and Exercise.

West Teacher Abbey Koessel is the latest recipient of the $25,700 Teachers Live Here grant. The grant will assist Abbey and her husband Nick (a counselor at HMS) with the down payment on a home.  They are looking for a home within the HPS school district lines. Teachers who purchase a home within the school district using the grant are awarded an additional $2500 to assist with closing costs.

HPS parents, students, and staff, along with members of the Holland Community, are encouraged to nominate a HPS staff member for one of the following Power H Awards:

• IMPACT Award
• Rookie of the Year Award
• Support Staff Award (Transportation, Maintenance, Administration)
• Distinguished Alumni Award

The deadline for nominations is February 1, 2024

Holland Public Schools were well-represented at the Holland Human Relations Commission Social Justice Awards; a student, an alumnus, a retired teacher,  and a former board member were all recognized during ceremonies Wednesday night.

This week, we're talking with Lynette Brander about multi-lingual learners, the programs we offer to their families AND Family Night on Tuesday, January 23 | 5:30-7pm at HLA

Holland Public Schools wants your help in celebrating the great work being done by teachers and staff in our schools.

Thank you to HDPS Firefighter/EMT Angela Lound for training HPS Bus Drivers in CPR and how to use an AED, helping Holland become a Heart Safe Community!

To date, 100 HPS staff members have receive the training! Training will continued to be offered to staff members AND to students in the future!

• HPS is working toward becoming a Heart Safe district. Which means that each building will have at least 10% of staff trained in CPR. 

Kacie Williams was selected as Honorable Mention for the Daniel Pfaff Pathways to Potential Leadership Award.

HPS Students, Staff, and Families are invited to join I Am Academy for a special gathering on Monday, January 15th, as we celebrate and honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.  

• Lunch will be served at 11:20am
• Community Celebration at 11:30am - 12:30pm

There are several openings in the New Year in the Great Start Readiness Program at Holland Public Schools.  This 4 or 5-day program at each of our neighborhood elementary buildings is FREE for many families in the district.