If you thought that brackets and championships were just for March Madness, you’d be wrong. Because while Mr. Zamborsky and Mr. Scott didn’t shoot hoops for these awards, the stakes and the honor that go along with them are just as high, and the applause from the crowd is just as loud.

We are thrilled to share that earlier this month, both Orchestra teacher Dan Scott and Band teacher Dave Zamborsky received word that they had been nominated by their peers and elected as District 10 Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) Teachers of the Year! 

There are sixteen MSBOA districts in the State of Michigan, and Jenison lands in district 10 which is comprised of roughly 150-200 schools spanning from Northern Allegan to Lowell.

To draw a comparison between music education and athletics, these districts could be thought of as the OK Conferences for music. One distinguishing factor in this situation, however, is that our directors were identified as outstanding by their peers, and voted on to win Teachers of the Year.

“For me, that’s what means the most. I’m really flattered to have been chosen by my colleagues,” said Mr. Scott.

“Winning these accolades speaks volumes about the reputation of Jenison’s program,” added Mr. Zamborsky.

Pushing the significance of this honor to greater heights is the fact that no two teachers from the same school have ever won before! In fact, there are some districts in Michigan (typically the smaller ones) that vote only to honor either one band or one orchestra teacher, but not both.

This year changed everything when the MSBOA members voted to recognize the work of both a band and an orchestra instructor — and both from the same high school. This has never happened before!

“This award really highlights the well-roundedness of our entire program, both in band and in orchestra,” noted Mr. Zamborsky.

Moving forward, winners from all sixteen districts will go to the “state finals” on June 3, where three finalists from each category will be chosen to be presented to the MSBOA membership in the fall. Then, from December 2013 to January 2014, these same members will vote on one orchestra and one band teacher to be recognized –not just as superior in their district – but as exemplary in the state.  Results of the final voting will be made public on January 14, 2014.

If Mr. Zamborsky and Mr. Scott earn this recognition from their peers, they will have the opportunity to conduct the All-State Honors Band and Orchestra at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival in May 2014.

Please join me in congratulating these men on this unprecedented achievement! We are so lucky to have them both leading Jenison’s music program!

Today, to help celebrate Ms. Garland’s achievements, we will be featuring Emily “in her own words.” It is worth noting that no other Jenison High School Student has ever achieved this level of success in DECA!

Dr. Clark had this to say, ” I am so proud that a student who has worked so hard, understood what it takes to compete at a district, state, and international level, and put in the time and effort needed to do all that work.  She is almost irreplaceable as one of the students I know that when handed any project, large or small, will get it done.  Beyond that she is the ideal student – intellectually curious, motivated, always positive, strong ethics, and a willingness to help wherever needed without complaining.”

We congratulate Emily’s diligence in pursuing excellence.

DECA allows you to meet people with the same passions as you from all over the country and, if you qualify for Internationals, from all over the world! I am a very shy person, but through DECA I have learned to get past being shy, to not let opportunities pass me by, and to become a leader.

DECA is a club to help develop the future business leaders of the world. One way it does this is through the competitions it has, such as the role plays where you are given an issue and you have ten minutes to plan out a solution to this.

The first event I worked for was the Stock Market Game. This was an investing simulation from September to December that was a part of my marketing class. We did research into stocks and made investments based on this. I had the 23rd best return out of over 2000 people which qualified me to compete in this event in the International Career Development Conference (ICDC).

The second competition I worked on was the School Based Enterprise in November up until January. I worked with two other people to write a 60 page paper on our new coffee shop, The Green Bean. When this got gold certification (which is the highest it could receive), I had another opportunity to compete at ICDC. I chose not to compete in this and instead give my spot to someone else who had not qualified.

Another event was THRIVE Academy which functioned in conjunction with DECA week. I helped my team mates in some of the daily events such as painting the rock, asking trivia at lunch, and working a DECA question table. In the end they chose that I would get one of the spots.

The last event I qualified in was Principles of Finance. In March I was a state champion in this role play competition along with four other people out of 70 people total. This was the final competition that I qualified for. Quadruple Qualifying means that I qualified in four separate events to go to the International Career Development Conference in Anaheim California. This means that I got to pick which event I’d want to compete in; I chose to go with the Stock Market Game.

I’d like to thank Dr. Clark for helping me so much in every project I’ve done. She allowed me to work on these projects during her classes and was always there for questions that I had. Dr. Clark has helped me become a leader and be the best I can be. This is my first year in DECA but it is because of Dr. Clark that I’ve done what I’ve done. I never thought I would be an officer and I never thought I would get the opportunity to go to California, but her support helped me to achieve so much more than I thought I ever could.

This fall I will be starting my first semester of college at Aquinas. I plan on studying business and work towards starting a collegiate DECA. I’m sad that high school DECA will be done, but I believe that the experiences it has given me will help me to excel in college and in my future career.

As if to offer a glimpse of their bright futures, the rain held off nearly completely last week Thursday, allowing the sun to poke through and deliver a gorgeous night for our 2013 graduates.

With a packed stadium filling the evening with applause, over 350 Jenison High School students filed solemnly past moms and dads and grandparents and onto center field for the last time. It was their moment to shine.

Superintendent Tom TenBrink began the evening with a gracious welcome and a reminder of how blessed our students are to attend a school as accomplished as Jenison, with teachers who care deeply, and with parents who are involved and supportive. He went on to outline the notable feats that Jenison has come to be known for, including:

• 13th best high school in the State of Michigan by US News & World Report
• Newsweek’s list of “Best High Schools in America” (only about 6% of all U.S. schools make this list)
• Grand Rapids Magazine’s 3rd best high school in West Michigan (although Mr. TenBrink argues we should be #1!)

Mr. TenBrink went on to encourage all of the graduates to pursue servant leadership in their lives — to think of others and to do more for them than you would for yourself. He admonished them to consider the words of so many great leaders and thinkers of our time, from Ghandi to Martin Luther King Jr., and live in such a way that elevates others while offering love and encouragement over selfish ambition and conceit.

Jenison High School Principal, Dr. Brandon Graham, was moved at the thought of these students beginning a new chapter, and chose to read selections from the children’s picture book, I’ll Love You Forever. He added his own take on the familiar classic with these words:

“I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as you’re living, a Wildcat you’ll be!“

Aside from these emotional words, he shared thoughts on living a disciplined life going forward:

“You can walk away from this high school knowing that you’ve cemented your legacy.  …But know there is always a price to be paid to be great, and it starts with doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. If you can keep your eyes fixed on your goals and say no to the quick fix and the easy road, you’ll reap the rewards of discipline.”

Dr. Brandon Graham welcoming Valedictorian Don Lee to the stadium. Don will be heading to Stanford University in the fall to study computer science.

This group of graduates has certainly shown discipline and determination thus far, securing over $2.3 million in college scholarships collectively! Their hard work has garnered the attention of many in our community and across our great state. Please join me in celebrating our 2013 graduates and the future that lies ahead for each of them!

We wish them the best of luck, more sunshine than rain, and the discipline to follow their dreams.

More than twenty years ago, Jenison High School student Steven Munster drew inspiration from watching the Jerry Lewis Telethon on television and became convinced of one thing: that Jenison should have its own telethon to celebrate the talents and abilities of special education students.

Now, two decades later, Mrs. Schantz, Mr. Russell, and Mrs. Grooters keep Steven’s dream alive each May when they organize this annual celebration. With guidance and input from these teachers, students are given the freedom to choose their own performances (teachers work to ensure a good variety of music and appropriate content). Classes are then given about one hour a week to work on their routines, gradually increasing practice time as the show date nears.

After weeks of determined preparation, JHS special education students perform their telethon for the larger student body. Those in the crowd learn to appreciate the unique talents and skill sets of others they may not know or understand.

“Our students have so much to offer…a genuine sense of care and concern for others, a desire to help, a strong work ethic (some of our students have to work very hard to complete tasks that most of us take for granted) and a sense of respect.  We would love to have our students recognized/celebrated for who they are and all their accomplishments,” said the teachers.

With the roar of the crowd and the beaming faces of her students still fresh in her mind, teacher Alison Schantz reflects on the experience:

“It is really fun to see the students ‘come out of their shell’ during telethon.  Sometimes our students who are often very quiet are the ones who steal the show and surprise us the most with how much they enjoy the spotlight. It doesn’t seem to matter how much we practice…performance day is always quite something!”

In a month famous for packed calendars, spring sports, and graduation ceremonies, these teachers make a point to go the extra mile for their group of learners. They set aside time for each detail and consider every nuance of a great performance. But more than anything, they set out to keep their students in the spotlight, knowing that the spotlight can sometimes be difficult for special education kids to capture.

But with loving dedication, these teachers make it happen with the support of their colleagues, the encouragement of parents, and the enthusiasm of their classes.

“There are several things that come to mind for us…the support of general education peers, other teachers and parents is amazing!  Our students gain confidence and much deserved recognition for the courage they display on stage.  Watching the parents faces as they see their student performing on stage is priceless.”

“I really enjoy introducing this project to my students every year. It’s a difficult subject to address for some of the kids but I think the message to drive safe and keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel is one worth hearing. I know my own driving habits have changed for the better since working with this program.”

At just one year old, the Green Bean in-school coffee shop is doing more than adding a splash of caffeine to the lives of Jenison High School teachers and students. It’s adding warmth, both literally and figuratively, to the lives of all who cross the threshold.

This past winter, after diligent effort by Dr. Brenda Clark and her DECA students Emily Garland, Jon Nordquist, and Anthony Lemanski, the Green Bean was awarded a Gold Level Certification for this School Based Enterprise (SBE). According to the DECA website:

“The School-based Enterprise Certification Program was developed to provide recognition for outstanding achievement by school-based enterprises and to motivate SBEs to strive for excellence and to grow. The program provides SBEs with standards for model school store operation and provides recognition for school-based enterprises at three levels: bronze, silver and gold. The number and type of activities a school-based enterprise completes in each of the twelve sections will determine the level of certification awarded.” (quote HERE)

But more than an award-winning feather in our cap, the Green Bean is helping to create community within our student body. With booths for breakfast or biology homework, students are welcomed into this space and invited to snag a muffin and a cappuccino before class.

Student employee and 2013 graduate Desiree Kennedy says that not only is it fun getting to know new people and interacting with underclassman, but working in the Green Bean is a welcome way to break up her day. She knows that making smoothies and pouring coffee prepares her for real-world work, encourages teamwork and collaboration, and creates an atmosphere of friendship.

Principal Brandon Graham is proud of the success of the shop and is quick to share credit with others.

“The Green Bean has been a terrific real-life entrepreneurial experience for our kids. They helped construct this business from the ground up — from the build out to the business plan to the execution of daily operations. Under the leadership of Dr. Clark, this has been an exceptional opportunity for Jenison High School students to grow.”

When autumn rattle the leaves again and the wind blows colder, stop in for a warm drink and tip your hat to those who are going the extra mile to bring some java to Jenison.

It’s football season again, and that means at least one thing: area news teams are busy covering high school games around Grand Rapids. This coverage is exciting not only because it gives our kids a chance to show the community their best moments, but also because it provides a captive audience to our new commercial about Jenison.

As we did last year, JPS has partnered with FOX 17 News to craft this commercial which will air throughout the fall during the 10 pm news. Dr. Brandon Graham, principal of Jenison High School, had this to say:

“We’re just trying to show our community the outstanding things that Jenison High School kids are doing. We offer a lot of amazing opportunities and we want more people to know about what options are out their for their own children, especially in an atmosphere that opens the door for schools of choice.”

(L to R: Kyle Vachon, Jesse Hayden, Daniel Wells, Jason Wesseling)

Robin Hood isn’t the only one sporting a few feathers in his cap this fall. Jenison High School has recently received word that four of our seniors have joined an elite, nationwide group of students who qualified as “National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists.”

Jesse Hayden, Daniel Wells, Kyle Vachon and Jason Wesseling were notified just weeks into the school year that their college tuition bills may be looking a lot better  (by way of scholarship monies). With dreams that range from writing and literature to physics and statistics, these young men have bright futures awaiting them at schools like Notre Dame, Brown and Wheaton.

JHS Counselor, Mr. Terry Dykstra

While they’re taking the praise in stride, counselor Terry Dykstra helped to put this achievement in perspective,  indicating that there are only 15,000 semi-finalists in the entire country—and we boast four! He explained that only the “elite of the elite” — or the top 1% — of all students in the United States who took the PSAT scored high enough to rank as semi-finalists. Of those 15,000, likely just 8,000 will be named National Merit Scholars, a decision made in part by their final SAT scores.

“Students have to take the SAT to confirm that their score on the PSAT was an accurate one and not a fluke. I fully expect that these guys are all going to be able to demonstrate that theirs were not flukes, but rather a true measure of their abilities,” said Mr. Dykstra.

National Merit Scholars receive scholarship money that is generally corporate or college sponsored and in the neighborhood of $2,500 per student, though some schools far exceed this amount. Students achieving this status are notified in the spring and recognized at Senior Honors Night.

“There was no surprise when we finally got word of these four individuals qualifying as semi-finalists!” added Mr. Dykstra.

Each of these students has been encouraged and inspired by family members and teachers throughout their educational journey, some reaching back into their elementary years to say “thank you.”

Jesse remembers being “really, really nervous” after returning to the States from Slovakia, where he had lived as a son of missionaries. But Mrs. Fales, his 4th grade teacher at Bursley Elementary, made the transition easy.

“She was just very kind and welcomed me in. I also really liked to write and she saw that early on. She let me share stories with the class, which was how I was able to connect with kids from a different country when I was a new student,” recalled Jesse.

Kyle pointed to the influence and kindness of both Mr. Weaver and Mrs. Weaver who made him feel safe and “not so nervous” to be a young student in classes of mostly juniors and seniors.

And Jason, who came to JHS from Hudsonville Christian his freshman year, said that Mrs. Wabeke was a difference-maker in his life. “She does a lot to help you make friends in class,” he said.

In the end, though, it was that magical combination of hard work and determination that has landed this group among the 1%. We tip our fully-feathered hats to them and wish them luck as they strive to be named official National Merit Scholars!

With the stage dimmed and a nuclear waste dump aglow, Zombie Prom is ready to light up the night with its off-Broadway tale of forbidden love. Set in the 1950’s at Enrico Fermi High School, bad boy Jonny and innocent Toffee star-crossed sweethearts with more than a few hurdles in their path.

As the last production in Jenison’s current high school facility, Zombie Prom is a fun spoof for students, but no less serious when it comes to the preparation required for a successful show. In fact, students began rehearsing the play just two weeks into the school year and have been working overtime in recent days to make sure everything is perfect.

Mr. Avery, director, is enthusiastic about Zombie Prom, although the thought of so many years gone by on this same stage is bittersweet for him. “Sometimes it’s hard for me to focus because I keep seeing other shows in my memory. There are over twenty years of plays and musicals scrolling through my mind when I watch these kids perform.”

A younger cast than in years past, this group is energetic and hard-working, proving that while difficult, they have been able to step into the dozens of pairs of shoes left empty by last year’s seniors.

Junior River Gibbs, Stage Manager for Mr. Avery, says that he’s feeling prepared, and that while the actors may have more challenges with song and dance, the set is manageable for the crew. Additionally, he credits the team’s preparedness to Mr. Avery’s training and equipping.

Seniors Triston Shannon (playing Jonny Warren) and Katherine Searcy (playing Toffee) are passionate about theater and about their future in film or on the stage after graduation. As for Zombie Prom, both say it’s a fun, feel-good show with music that keeps it light and lively.

“What makes this musical different is that the music never stops. It’s more of an operetta, hopping from one number to the next. At first glance, it seems like it’d be easy because it’s silly, but with all the music and choreography to learn, it’s actually quite difficult to pull off,” said Mr. Avery.

Join the cast and crew tonight for a terrific send-off performance in the Jenison High School Auditorium. Show times are:

Thursday, November 7 – Saturday, November 9

7 pm nightly

Tickets available at the JHS ticket window

With the holidays drawing near, it’s easy to focus our attention on things we’d like to see under the tree — things we’re hoping to get. This December, however, Jenison High School is focusing their attention on those who gave. 

Over the past eight months, Superintendent Tom TenBrink, Principal Brandon Graham and high school secretary Kris Banta have been working together to create a special wall honoring Jenison graduates who have served or are serving in the United States Military. The wall, which will be built of wood and hung in the high school cafeteria, is currently being constructed locally and is expected to be installed in January of 2014.

Thus far, Dr. Graham says that thirty-five graduates have come forward and have submitted their military photos to be displayed, however, they’d like to include many more!

“We have many graduates that have or who are currently serving our country’s armed forces.  We are extremely proud of them and want to celebrate their efforts publicly with our community,” said Dr. Graham.

If you or a loved-one is a JHS grad and a United States Military veteran or active-service member, please consider submitting your name, military photo and graduation year to the high school office so that you can be honored. For more information, please contact Mrs. Banta: kbanta@jpsonline.org.

The fall performance season was enriched by another year of the Jenison High School Chamber Orchestra partnership with the Grand Valley State University Symphony Orchestra.

Director Dan Scott says, “Jenison students rehearsed in class [while also preparing our fall concert and our performance for the Betty Ford Breast Cancer Awareness Event], but they also had one 90 minute rehearsal with the GVSU Symphony on the day of the concert.”

Henry Duitman, GVSU Director of Orchestras explains how the side by side aspect works:  “For the Mussorgsky piece, the GVSU Strings will sit “side by side” with the Jenison High School Chamber Orchestra strings.  This gives younger students a chance to learn from older students and gives the entire string section the full sound that this mighty work requires.  It is a lot of fun for the students as well.  Our students love to perform with the high school students and were especially looking forward to performing in the wonderful new Jenison Center for the Arts.”

Professor Duitman knows that music education is about more than performances and reading music. “This is just one more way of exposing students, parents, and the community to the exciting world of classical music, an important part of any liberal arts education.”

Thank you to both Mr Scott + Professor Duitman for bringing together these two very talented groups of musicians!  Students, we’re so proud of your talent and hard work!  Keep it up!

We welcomed many new teachers to the district this year and this week we’d like to introduce you to two new teachers at JHS!

Kyle Stumpf | Social Studies

Kyle grew up on the East side of the state and is in his sixth year of education after graduating from GVSU.  Previously, he taught US History in Houston, Texas but he was drawn back to West Michigan by several of his friends who student taught in Jenison and stressed how welcoming and passionate the teachers are. “One thing that many of the new teachers, including myself, have noticed and discussed is how family oriented and friendly the environment is in the district.”

He didn’t always know he wanted to be a teacher. “I was a strong  history student growing up and had a wide variety of Social Studies teachers [good and bad] along the way.  When I went to Grand Valley for my freshman orientation and switched my major from International Business, I knew I wanted to be involved in education since I loved working with children.  I’ve always had a passion for Social Studies and one of my old Social Studies teachers used to say “Follow your passion” on a daily basis so I figured, why not?  I have been very happy with that switch ever since freshman orientation!” This year, Kyle is teaching American Government and US History.

“One thing I would like parents to know about my classroom and teaching style is that it’s student centered.  I want each and every student to be successful in my classroom.  The lessons and ideas gained from the Social Studies discipline are with you for the rest of your life.  I want students to be life long learners of the Social Studies disciplines and I hope that by the variety of activities that we do in my class, those values can be instilled in them.”

Drawing on his vast history as an accomplished high school and collegiate-level swimmer he joins the Jenison coaching staff as the head coach for the Girls Swim Team and co-head coach of the Boys Swim Team.  When Kyle isn’t in the classroom or the pool he enjoys spending time with his wife, Caitlin, and their dog, Molly. He also competes in half marathons and triathlons.

Tony Hoffman  |  Math

Tony originally hails from the “thumb” of Michigan and graduated from Michigan State [fitting for today, Go Spartans!]. He has been teaching in Greenville for the past eleven years but a member of the Jenison community for five. “JPS attracted me as a professional because I’ve heard nothing but good things about [the district] since I moved.  I had even heard they use the University of Chicago Mathematics Program and I had been using that for several years in my previous district.  All signs pointed to a nice transition.”

Always being interested in math, his career was a natural choice. “I was a strong math student growing up, but I realized quite a bit later that I was good at it, but I didn’t fully understand what I was doing.  The world of math grew tremendously as I started to make bigger connections between what I was doing and previous things that I had done.  Once those connections become apparent, math becomes a much more beautiful thing!”

If you’re in Mr Hoffman’s classes, students can be prepared to work hard and be challenged to problem solve on their own. “My teaching style is one of getting students to realize what they are doing.  Not strictly showing them what to do.  I don’t like to shut of the many paths of problem solving by showing only a single way to do something. I believe in giving them options because there really is confidence in having several different approaches to solving the same problem.  Students will certainly earn their grade in my class.  What they put in, they will get out!”

Tony is an “avid golfer” and loves spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Thank you to all of our new teachers for bringing your passion for students and education to Jenison! Happy New Year from our families to yours!

Peyton Benac with a Pinewood STEM student!

In the fall of 2014 Chemistry teacher Alice Putti had good reason to be impressed. She had been approached by two of her former students, sophomores at the time, who wanted to start a club for high school girls to visit Jenison Elementary schools and do STEM lessons. [STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics]

Peyton Benac and Alex Stockholm wanted to take their interest and passion in STEM education to younger girls but they knew they’d need faculty support and financial assistance to do it. But their goal to inspire and encourage students who like the STEM subjects motivated them to move forward and thanks to a grant from the Jenison Education Foundation they were able to launch their group!

They began meeting with other interested high school girls to discuss possible lessons and experiments and getting their hands dirty as they made prototypes. “We tried to get activities from all the STEM fields like math puzzles and an engineering challenge.” says Peyton.  The group visited each elementary school once this fall and 4 – 6 high school students lead the groups of younger students which has varied from 10 – 30 girls!  When one young student was asked her favorite part of STEM she quickly replied “math” but after doing an experiment with conductive play-doh she said, “I like science too.”

Peyton has been involved with Junior High and High School Science Olympiad and she would like to pursue a career in science education. Speaking of her experience on the Science Olympiad team, “I remember being a seventh grade girl and wishing there were role models. The problem isn’t that girls are less interested or less talented but they try it once and it’s weird, none of their friends are there, it’s uncomfortable, there’s no role models. So we wanted to create a program that would open that door for them and make it seem a little less scary.”

Sandy Hill Girls in STEM!

In preparation for their presentations the team watched “a lot of TED Talks from women who have succeeded in STEM fields talking about what they went through when they were younger. We read parts of “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg talking about finding success in male dominated fields  and I think that gave us the background to want to do this with the elementary girls. We thought that we could provide that role model and tell them that we passionately love STEM and we think you should too…”  Ultimately, the group would love to see more female students stick it out in Science Olympiad, Robotics , AP Computer Science, AP Calculus or AP Stats.

Mrs Putti says that “from the beginning I was incredibly impressed when they came to me with this idea, to have the vision and goals they had and I thought, not only do I want to be supportive of you because you’re my students, but your goals are incredibly mature goals.”  In Jenison High School there are “more women taking life science classes such as Earth science and biology rather than physics or chemistry. There are less women in math and computer science than there are in sciences.”  With the new focus on STEM education teachers are hopeful that these numbers will change.  “I think the fact that they are being introduced to it early that is important. When we talk to girls at our STEM club meetings there are a lot of them that are excited about STEM but I would guess that at that level  those kids would have been excited about those subjects anyway. Our goal is to keep them excited.”

Peyton wants to encourage parents and other adults invested in girls’ lives to be thoughtful in how they are encouraged. “I think that everyone should be conscious of the passion that these young girls have for STEM and especially if they have young daughters to see that as kind of the best thing.”

If you’d like to encourage an elementary girl to attend the next STEM meeting please check out this flyer for the details and where to sign up!

Or if you’d like to find out how you can contribute to continuing the work of the Girls STEM Club in Jenison next year please contact Alice Putti:  aputti@jpsonline.org for information on their forthcoming Go Fund Me account!

Thank you to Alex, Peyton and Mrs Putti for being the role models our young girls need! We are so grateful that you pursued your goals and are investing in our future STEM leaders!

Pinewood Girls try to crack the code with a little encouragement from their high school mentor!

Rosewood Girls in STEM hard at work!

Pinewood girls conquer the engineering challenge!

Once again the Jenison community came out in droves to support those in our community surviving and thriving in the face of breast cancer. Eight Jenison women in different stages of their fight were honored in a gym that was filled to capacity with supporters and fellow fighters.

The women’s basketball team kicked off the athletic festivities in what seemed like it would be a dramatic come-from-behind victory against Lowell. But, despite a win not being in the cards for the women, it was still a great day to be a Wildcat!

In between the basketball games the crowd was introduced to Sister Sue Tracy who is a five-time cancer survivor and she shared a special word of encouragement meant to remind each one of us to “Celebrate Life”! She had the entire gym cheering out the letters for her message including:

Count your blessing, not your worries. Express your feelings honestly. Learn to laugh and laugh to learn. Endure what is necessary. Be open and flexible. Remain in charge, networking with family and doctors. Accept and face your own mortality. Treasure each day and each experience. Exercise your mind body and spirit as you are are able.

Sr. Sue has been fighting three different types of cancer over the last 30 years. She says that cancer has made her glad to be alive and sensitive to others. “We all belong to this club that no one would ever want to be part of but here we are. I have found cancer to be much more life-giving even in the midst of being life-threatening. There have been opportunities to deepen in wisdom and it helps us to focus our priorities, to be empathetic to others, a compassion that comes because we don’t have any certainty about a long, long life. I only have today and what can I be and do in that. An event like this calls us all together in support and the Jenison support of each other is remarkable and very special.”

The honorees of this year’s Pink Out are: Sharon Aalderink, Karen Meyers, Paula Bowen, Kristin Millard, Shirley Kerkstra, April Spohn, Jill LaMaire and Brandi Tyler [not pictured in this order]

They were all introduced to the crowd and walked across the bridge with family members by their side. Some of them were very recently diagnosed and facing the journey ahead while other honorees are survivors with cancer in their rear view mirrors and words of encouragement for those around them. Their introductions also gave them the chance to say “thank you” to friends, coworkers and family members for their love, meals, fundraisers and prayers.

Other highlights from the entire Pink Out event included: the Jenison JV and Varsity Dance Team performing to “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars, pink ice at the varsity hockey game, a raucous high school assembly at the end of the school day and, of course, a sea of pink everywhere you looked throughout the district. A special “thank you” to the Lowell community as well for sharing in our special day and we tip our hats to your Pink Arrow event during football season!

Eleven year survivor, Shirley Kerkstra, says that if she could tell those with a new diagnosis anything it is, “You make it. It’s an emotional roller coaster but you make it.”

Thank you to all of our volunteers, sponsors, supporters and of course, our honorees, for making this event such a special day for the district. And remember, no matter where you are on the journey you can Count On Me. We Are Jenison!

Last semester, students at Jenison High School were offered the chance to take a different kind of class. With teacher Jason Veeneman taking on the role of adviser, students are in the drivers seat answering Ghandi’s call to “be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Bigger Than You is a service-learning class based on the idea that students will develop empathy for the greater world by choosing a cause and creating opportunities to better it. Mr Veeneman says, “This class is designed for students to develop empathy for their fellow humans. Through visits to Kids’ Food Basket, the Women’s Resource Center, etc., they begin to see some of the ills in our society. From there, they begin to look into the places that they are the most passionate about and want to make a difference”.

The class is offered in the fall in order to allow students to include it on their college applications. This past semester, the class hosted two events as a way to bring encouragement and love to both senior citizens and adults and children with special needs.

Alyssa Vitale, Shelby Nyboer and Kayla Noreen chose to host the Prom and Mr Veeneman shares one students driving passion for this event: her grandmother.  “Alyssa had told me the story of having her grandmother living with her as she was suffering from terminal cancer. Her grandmother would tell her stories about when she was younger and how much she loved to dance. Alyssa always loved the smile that this brought to her grandmother’s face, so this “Prom” was a logical choice for her.”

Since the inception of the class, three years ago, students have gravitated towards those in the community with special needs. In previous years, the class has hosted “Miss Outstanding Pageant” and “A Night with the Stars” so hosting a “Night of Dreams” dance was a natural part of that progression.

Both events had excellent turn outs and Mr Veeneman says that all of the attendees had a great time. “The response from the seniors was amazing! They loved learning the new dances that the high school students were teaching them as well as dancing to the oldies. One of my favorite comments from one of the participants was “I never imagined that teenagers could be this much fun! It really changes the way I look at them!””

Students are responsible for all aspects of the event they chose including: fundraising, budget keeping, publicity [create a website, social media presence, invitations], donate remaining funds to the charity of their choosing and develop weekly writings on various articles and video clips and podcasts [TED Talks, Harvard Business Review, etc].

Night Of Dreams hosts: Kenzie Draper, Miki Pratt, Jake Perkey, Helana Page

The students have also presented their work on four separate occasions, including the entire student body at the high school. Mr Veeneman also fielded a call from another local school district that would like to talk about having our students present to them as well.

“At the end of the class students write a final analysis and reflection of themselves and just what it is that they took away from the class. It never ceases to amaze me the number of students that say that it was the most stressful and difficult class that they have taken, but also the most rewarding. Past students, to date, have also earned in excess of $225,000 in scholarships that can be directly attributed to the class. Overall, this class has revolutionized the way that students think about the application of what they have learn throughout their social studies classes in high school.”

Congratulations to the Bigger Than You class of 2015! We love knowing that you are acting on your passion for caring for others! You make us proud to be Wildcats!

Last week the Jenison Thespians amazed audiences with their talent and passion in their performance of Shrek the Musical!

The story in the musical version is very similar to the movie from 2001 we all know and love with a few minor changes and song additions. Shrek is an ogre who finds solace in a lonely swamp until it is invaded by ousted fairy tale characters from Lord Farquaad’s kingdom when he deems them “freaks.” But Shrek doesn’t want them either. Preferring his solitude to a overly crowded neighborhood, Shrek visits Farquaad to convince him to take the characters back. Farquaad decides to let Shrek rescue Princess Fiona who has long been trapped by a ferocious dragon in return for his swamp. Along the way, Shrek is saddled with Donkey, a chatty but charming compatriot in his adventure. Fiona is less than impressed with her rescuer and even less so with Farquaad and through a continued series of songs, fun and love, Shrek and Fiona end up together and the fairy tale characters get their new home after all. You could say “they live happily ever after…”

Director Todd Avery hopes to spread the message about individuality being accepted and celebrated which is a main theme of the production. “As the song, “Let Your Freak Flag Fly!” indicates, EVERYONE has something “freakish” about them and those traits should be celebrated and not suppressed.  People [or in this case, fairy tale creatures] are different.  However, those differences are a GOOD thing and shouldn’t be judged by others.”

There are many  behind the scenes teams including set design and construction, sound and tech, pit orchestra, costume design, hair and makeup and stage management.  Kelsey Shannon is a senior who is the crew leader for the hair and make up team and enjoys being part of productions and the ability to be yourself. “Nobody’s judged, everyone’s accepting because you share the same passion.”

Freshman, Ashley Hillson, playing the role of Princess Fiona loves being part of Jenison Theatre and makes her return to the stage after playing Arial in the Little Mermaid in last year’s Junior High musical. “The friendships you make here are so cool. Rehearsal doesn’t even feel like rehearsal anymore, it’s just everyone hanging out.”

Playing Shrek is senior Jacob Helm who says, “I feel like letting your freak flag fly is really important because it’s letting you show who you truly are, especially in theatre, which is why I think it’s so cool that we’re doing this show.  This is a place where we’re allowed to be who we really are without being judged.”

Ashley adds, “Anytime you are yourself people end up accepting you more and you end up finding  the people who are like you and when you’re yourself you’re a lot happier. No matter what you’re part of, just be willing to stay true to yourself and not feel like you need to be fake or hide.”

Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of Shrek! We are proud of your talents and we love letting our freak flag fly!

Bela, Giulia, John + Allie

When given the option to leave behind friends, family and familiarity, many of us might think twice. But for the sixteen exchange students living in Jenison this year, that is not the case. Leaving home and being challenged was just what they wanted.

For Bela Queiroz [Brazil] coming to America meant getting to know herself better as well as another country. “[I wanted to come] because I could have a different view of a country besides mine, meet new people, learn a new language, and get to know other cultures. I could also experience living by myself and learn how to take care of myself.”

Exchange students with Terry Dykstra, JHS counselor

Allie Kulakivska from Ukraine adds that she wanted to know what it was like to be outside of her comfort zone and be more responsible on her own. Fellow exchange student, John Askin from Germany agrees and says that he came to America “to experience life without your friends, without your parents, without your known environment and be on your own and see how life is and I think we’ve all changed a lot here.”

It can be easy for us to imagine that life in another country is always exotic and exciting but for Guilia Carra she had been feeling bored at home. “I live in a small town in Italy and it was really boring and I wanted to learn English better” and she wanted to experience American culture and see for herself how it compared to movies and music and can now say, “It’s so much cooler.”

During their school year students have become integrally involved in student life as well as within the community. As part of her exchange program, Allie has been spending a lot of her time volunteering with local organizations including: Love Inc, Girl Scouts, retirement homes, the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans and the Humane Society. She has enjoyed teaching groups about Ukrainian culture and traditions and looks forward to exploring some of these newly discovered passions and interests when she returns home. She also hopes to bring some ideas like Mock Rock back to her student government [where she was President].

Bela and Guila took part in the recent theatre production of Shrek and all three girls are currently on the track team. John took the idea of “challenging himself” to a whole other level by joining Jenison’s first Lacrosse team never having played the game. Without school sports as part of their education back home this has been a cornerstone of the students time here enjoying Friday night football games, Pink Out and regular season basketball games.

Being an exchange student does have its difficult moments and when those times came it was easy to lean on JHS staff and their host families. “It can be really easy to get depressed but if you’re involved in different activities you don’t have time to think about it. [The host families and teachers] give us an opportunity to have this experience and I’m so thankful” says Allie. John knows that the lessons learned here will inform who he is for many years. “I think we exchange students become more responsible, more mature and we know what our life values are after being away from family. I think we know what to appreciate in our family, little things.”

The entire group wants to encourage Jenison students to “do an exchange year” and John adds, “Take every opportunity to get out of the country to experience new cultures, meet new people, try new food, just try it. Just do it. Say “yes”.”

To all of the Jenison exchange students, we say, “Bravo!” Your bravery and adventurous spirits are an excellent reminder of our capacity to be challenged! We’re thankful for you!

This April we will be spotlighting three unique clubs offered for students at Jenison! We hope you will join us each week this month to be surprised and inspired by the talents and interests of our kids.

Jenison High School freshman, Noah Meekhof not only loves to dance but he has found himself teaching fellow students, as well as strangers, how to look good on a dance floor.  This interest in helping others become better dancers led Noah to start Jenison High School’s Swing Dance Club! “It really started when I began teaching some of my friends in theater, and even some strangers I’d meet, [dance] moves. They loved it so I got the idea to start the club.”

The club began this year around mid-winter and meets each Friday in the choir room for an hour. His goal is to have taught the group enough dances to get to the point where they can show up and “just start dancing!” Noah has been enjoying the fun of swing dancing in downtown Grand Rapids for about a year after being introduced to it at his church’s family camp. “I just happened to naturally love it.”

In order to make sure everyone is in step upon arriving Noah teaches the newest members of the club and other experienced dancers help out as well. Of course, there is always a little time to have fun with other music and types of dancing.

Thanks, Noah, for bringing swing and style back and we hope the swing dance club continues to thrive! We’ll see you on the dance floor!

Last week the Jenison Center for the Arts was the site of an oral hearing of the Michigan Supreme Court. 1300 Ottawa County high school students, nominated by their teachers, were present for the arguments presented by legal council for both parties. Although the state’s highest court will take a couple of weeks to make a ruling this was a very unique opportunity for the students and the community of Jenison to host this important part of the judicial process.

The visit came to fruition after the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office applied through Court Community Connections, a public education program begun by the Court in 2007. The case before the Court was Peter Deacon vs Pandora, the online music streaming site, whom Mr Deacon believes violated his state’s privacy rights when they sold his information to Facebook.

Superintendent Tom TenBrink was very proud to host this amazing event. “To see the Supreme Court in action right here in Ottawa County is a tremendous opportunity.” After the oral arguments were presented audience members were invited to ask questions during a Q & A session with the Justices and attorney’s and representatives from each visiting school were also able to join the justices for an intimate luncheon prior to the hearing.

185 Jenison students were invited and Celia Webers, Jenison junior, says that while they learn the basics of the court system in class “this is really good to be able to apply it and be in what we’re learning. We learn the terms but we don’t know how it works.”

Senior Parmida Davarmahesh is considering a future in law and was excited to be part of this once in a lifetime experience. “It really exposes me to how the court works and what my job and future career, if I become a lawyer, will look like.”  And junior James Groelsma adds that in class they are able to study the more well-known cases but this gave them the opportunity to study a case that’s a little more abstract, albeit timely. “It’s cool be part of something that hasn’t been decided yet. It’s not a clear decision; it’s an argument.”

Mr Abram Brosseit, Government and Social Studies teacher, sees this as a great opportunity to honor Jenison students who have shown an interest in political science. “We want to give them the chance to see what it looks like in a world outside the classroom. A lot of students have come to me over the last few months as they know more of the facts of the case, they’re understanding that there’s arguments to be made on both sides and I’ve seen students really engaging in critical thinking in a very applied way. This isn’t an abstract question on a test, this is happening in front of them.”

We are very proud to not only host the MI Supreme Court Justices at the JCA, but especially the students and teachers who gained invaluable insight into the judicial process that happens around them every day.

Thank you to the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office and the MI Supreme Court for involving our students in your work!

The skies were a bright blue as the newest class of Jenison High School graduates stepped onto the field to celebrate their graduation. After what may have seemed like four long years the class of 2016 said good-bye to high school and in some ways, to each other as they looked to their futures.

“We are so proud of our Class of 2016. This is a talented group of students that have the ability to positively impact our community, country and our world. We wish them the best!” – Dr Brandon Graham, Principal

We hope you enjoy these photos and will join us in congratulating and celebrating the Class of 2016! Go Wildcats!

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau