District News

Holland Homecoming is September 22-28 and is full of activities for everyone in the community.

This week we talk with HHS Assistant Principal Josh Rumpsa about school safety, student engagement, and the Holland High's new cell phone policy.

Listen Now!

Help students never miss the bus again.

The My Ride K-12 app helps improve communication between parents and HPS transportation staff and provides tools that help keep parents informed about their children’s daily journey on the bus. Parents/guardians can securely use the My Ride K-12 app to see bus stop location, their child’s assigned route, scheduled pickup time, and when to expect the bus each day.

This is our first Family Engagement Event of the year!  Spend time meeting with community resources, then you'll have a chance to learn more about your student's classes.

In 2024, the Holland Educational Foundation granted a CleverTouch screen to Special Education teachers at West Elementary.

It is with a heavy heart that we are sending another communication in response to a tragedy at a school, this time at a High School in Winder, Georgia.

As you know, every HPS student gets a breakfast and a lunch at no-cost this year! 

HOWEVER, when students need a milk to go along with a sack breakfast/lunch brought from home, that milk will cost the student .75 cents. (State funding allows us to provide full meals at no cost to students, but does not pay for à la carte menu items for students.)

If your student wants an à la carte milk to go along with a sack breakfast/lunch, please be sure add funds to their student account, or bring exact change.

If you have any questions or concerns, or need help with the account, please contact our Nutrition Services Department at 616.494.2245. Thank you for understanding! 

The PowerH Shop will be open Thursday, September 5, 4:30-6pm at Maplewood.  This week, we talk with HLA Community Coordinator Ashley Golin about the shop.

Listen Now!

We welcome Martin Veliz to the Holland Schools Board of Education.

Veliz is a dad of a student at Holland Middle School and a leader in the community (LAUP, Jubilee Ministries, and Southshore Village Business Improvement District). 

Veliz will serve on the Board of Education until the general election in November 2026. He is filling the seat left vacant by Linda Falstad who retired from the Board of Education in August. 

HPS HR is hosting a Job Fair on Thursday, September 5, 1-3pm at the District Administration Building (320 W 24th). 

Positions available:

• Instructional Assistants
• Bus Drivers
• Bus aides
• Substitute Teachers

Drop in to fill out an application and for on the spot interviews. 

The Power H Shop is an initiative to support families experiencing crisis or financial hardship, by providing free household items through a dignified retail setting, and thus alleviating a family's financial hardship. 

First* Thursday of the month, 4:30-6pm at Maplewood Elementary

• *August 15 | Back 2 School 
• September 5
• October 3 
• November 7
• December 5
• *January 9
• February 6 | Give Back Event (no shopping)
• March 6
• April 3
• May 1

Sunday, September 15 at The Ravines in Saugatuck

$100/Player

• 18 Holes
• 2 carts/team
• Awards Dinner
• Player Gifts
• Raffles
• $20/Awards Dinner Only

Register now!

• Get your team together OR we can build a team for you.
• Registration deadline is September 1.

Donna Brooks helped establish an endowment for the Class of 1966 Promise Scholarship. She is a consistent financial donor to the Holland Educational Foundation. And is a 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award winner. 

Thank you Donna for all you do for the students and families in Holland.

As Holland High School prepares to host the first home football game of the season, here is a reminder about some of the rules and expectations for students and families who attend the game:

• Middle school age and younger MUST be an accompanied by an adult
• No student backpacks
• No re-entry for any spectators
• All school rules apply to events held at Hope College. 
• The stadium and parking lot is a drug free school zone which includes any vape products.

Holland will host Ottawa Hills at 7pm at the Hope College Stadium, Thursday at 7pm. #GoDutch

Dutch Football is ready to kickoff their season on Thursday night against Ottawa Hills.  This week we talk with team captain Jacob Torres.

Listen Now!

Holland Hospital and Life EMS Ambulance joined forces today to collect community donations of: 

• essential medical supplies (band-aids, gauze wraps, cotton balls, and more)  for the School Nurse Program 
• school supplies (backpacks, pencils, notebooks, crayons, tissues, and hand sanitizer) for the Power H Store.

Some facts about the importance of daily attendance at Holland Public Schools.

Before the first day of school, HPS educators heard from LAUP Executive Director Johnny Rodriguez.

Before Saturday's Battle of the Badges Charity Softball game - between the Police and Fire Departments, HPS Safety & Security Director Joe Soto was presented with a check for $7,615.  The donation will benefit HHS student athletes who need assistance to cover the costs associated with participating in athletic teams and events. #GoDutch

HHS Student Senate is showing School of Rock, 

• Friday at 8:45pm on the HHS Soccer Field
• Bring Chairs & blankets
• Concessions Available
• Open to all HPS families
• FREE!

Students and teachers head back to school Thursday, August 22. Today, we talk with one of the leaders of the Class of 2025!

Take a listen.

Trustees will interview candidates for the open seat on the Board of Education on Monday, August 26, 2024, 5pm.

• 5:00 pm   Maris von Websky
• 5:30 pm   Kathryn A. Schoon-Tanis
• 6:00 pm   Martin Veliz

Location: District Administration Building Board Training Room

Holland Hospital is excited to invite all students, families, friends and faculty to participate in the 2024 School Nurse Fun Run on Thu, Sep 19 at Holland West Elementary School. 

Students can enter the Fun Run for FREE by making a goal to improve their health! It can be a physical challenge, change in their eating habits or starting a wellness activity.

HPS is looking for volunteers that would be interested in becoming a part of a Parent Safety Committee. The purpose of this committee will be to discuss safety issues and concerns, policies that are safety-related, and ideas about steps to ensure safety. 

• Led by Joe Soto, HPS Director of Safety & Security
• Meeting on second Wednesday of every month, 6:30-8:30pm at District Admin Bldg.
• Starting in October, ending in May.

Books & Games provides students with an hour of supervised reading, homework help, and games, plus a free breakfast an hour before school starts each morning.  It also gives parents/guardians an extra hour to start their day or  to get to work on time!

• Books & Games is FREE for all HPS students to attend!
• One hour before the start of school EVERY school day
• Students must be dropped off one-hour before the start of school 
• Supervision provided by HPS Staff

We are incredibly excited to introduce you Rocky! Rocky is a Golden Retriever and a therapy dog at West Elementary.

Kids and families at Holland Public Schools are getting ready to head back to school. This week we talk with HPS Superintendent Nick Cassidy.

Listen Now!

For the 2024-25 school year, HPS will once again be participating in the Michigan School Meals Program. 

• All HPS students to have one breakfast and one lunch per school day at NO-COST to them. 
• Milk only purchases (all buildings) or à la carte items (high school only) must be paid for at the time of purchase with either cash or funds in their account.

 Any food service related questions can be directed to our webpage or 616-494-2245.

In order to help our transportation department get students to and from school safely and on time, we will stagger start and dismissal times at our elementary schools during the 2024-2025 school year.  Please notice the time changes at HLA and Holland Heights.

Holland Heights and HLA : 

• 8:15am-3:21pm 
• Half Day Dismiss 11:20am 
• Early Release 2:21pm

We are excited to announce that beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, Holland Public Schools will be implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Bus Expectations across our district's transportation services. This initiative aims to create a safe, respectful, and responsible environment for all students who utilize our school buses.

There's not much left standing at Holland Heights.  We're making way for a beautiful new school designed for Outdoor Learning!  

• Watch us grow...and get enrolled before our new facility opens in 2026.

During construction, students will attend Longfellow Elementary at State & 24th.

Holland Public Schools is looking for volunteers to join a Parent Safety Committee in the coming school year.  We talk about it with District Director of Safety & Security, Joe Soto.

Listen Now!

Please join Holland Public Schools in thanking Board of Education Secretary Linda Falstad for her service to the students and families of the City of Holland.

This week, we talk with Patty Beatty, HPS Director of Pre School about all the great things happening at HPS with our youngest learners!

Listen Now!

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

• Monday, 6-7pm
• June 10-August19

Our Kindergarten Screening Process helps us make sure we’re connecting with every student’s unique learning needs. We schedule individualized screening appointments for youngsters and parents on specific dates in May.

The results provide an evaluation resource for parents and teachers to review prior to finalizing the decision about program and class placement.

• August 1, 4-7:30pm
• August 2, 8am-4pm

at HPS District Administration Building

During construction at Holland Heights Elementary, students will attend Longfellow Elementary (24th & State). 

Transportation will be provided for students in the Holland Heights neighborhood - requests must be made by August 7 (Please complete student registration.)

Our new school will feature:

• Classrooms designed for nature-based learning and small class sizes
• designated outdoor learning spaces
• a new media center  
• expanded gym

Our new school opens in 2026!

Guarantee a spot at the NEW HOLLAND HEIGHTS!

Dear HPS Families and Neighbors in the Holland Community,

There is a buzz in our community about the great things happening at Holland Public Schools. It started in the classrooms and hallways of our schools, but it continues to grow because you are re-telling the stories of great kids doing great things at HPS. Here are a few more celebrations you can share as you run into neighbors and friends during this summer break.

This week we talk with Melissa Remillard, Associate Superintendent of School Improvement about Kindergarten Enrollment, Transitional Kindergarten, and Kindergarten Screenings.

Listen Now!

New goals & new leadership set at Holland Educational Foundation.

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

• HEF Summer_mixdown

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.

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.