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Shortly following the release of ZWHS being included on US News & World Report’s annual ranking of the nation’s best high schools, Newsweek published its own list, compiling the 2,000 best high schools in America. This time, Zeeland East High School made the top list, coming in at number 1,368.

“To celebrate national recognition of our high school programs twice in one month is very exciting,” ZPS Superintendent Cal De Kuiper stated. “Our positive scores reflect the overall commitment to education in Zeeland.”

For those who live in the ZPS district, two items on your ballot affect our district.

First is the 10-year renewal for Zeeland Recreation. Zeeland Recreation serves over 18,000 participants with more than 140 offerings. This is a .4 mil renewal to provide funding to improve programs, facilities and fields, maintain low user fees, and provides scholarships to underserved children in our community.

Also on the ballot is an annual renewal of 18 mills non-homestead property tax. The millage represents 10% of the ZPS budget, providing approximately $5.25 million for ZPS. If you do not have a business or second home, you do not pay this tax.

Zeeland West High School (ZWHS) is ranked among the top 5% of U.S. public high schools, according to 2013 annual rankings published by US News and World Report. 

ZWHS ranked 23^rd in Michigan and 908^th nationally. Rankings are based on data collected from more than 21,035 public U.S. high schools.

Zeeland East teacher Shawn Jacob assigned his tenth grade English class to read and analyze Chinua Achebe's classic novel, Things Fall Apart.  Each student was required to choose a theme statement and then research concepts, issues, and events that connect to that theme in the real world.

"Very few of the ten theme statements they chose from are 'Google-able,'" Jacob explained. "This challenged students to think at a higher level." 

Jacob pointed students toward instaGrok, a search engine designed for education.

"Instead of offering them easy answers, the instaGrok concept map points out more possibilites. My students had to think and dig and re-think and dig some more." 

The class' intense use of instaGrok earned them the title "Top Grokkers" for the month of February.   To learn more about this project in Shawn Jacob's classroom, click HERE.

 
Parents attending a comprehensive Curriculum Night April 9 learned about many changes on the horizon in education at Zeeland Public Schools.  For instance, the MEAP test will be replaced with the Smarter Balanced test. View this video for a summary of the changes. Breakout sessions for elementary parents and secondary parents followed the general session.The secondary breakout session is below. We will post the elementary session soon.  We wish to thank the parents who came out on a rainy night for this important event. 

Download a pdf of the slide show used in the Curriculum Night opening session HERE. 

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View the secondary breakout session:
Download a pdf of Mr. VanSoest's slide presentation HERE
 

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Check out the elementary breakout session (slides plus audio)

Zeeland West High School junior Joshua Parks earned a top composite score of 36 on his recent ACT test. On average, less than one-tenth of one percent of all national test takers earn the top score. He is the first Zeeland Public Schools student to achieve the status.

The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science. Each test is scored on a scale of 1-36, and a student’s composite score is the average of the four test scores.

Parks was not overly surprised by the results of the exam, stating he felt confident in his answers while taking the test.

 “He is an exceptional student, and such a bright person,” added ZWHS Principal Colleen Johnson. “Whether it be his humble nature, his musical talent, or his academic drive, Josh is an absolute awe – inspiring, integral part of our ZWHS student body.”

The Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association State Solo & Ensemble Festival was held Saturday, March 23 at Grandville High School. 

Earning a Division I superior rating in the orchestra section was the high school string quintet of Josh Parks, Claudia Boerigter, Caitlyn Bunce, Camden Cheek, and Eric Nessner. Claudia Boerigter also received a 92% for the performance of her Proficiency I. Joshua Parks received a 97% for the performance of his Proficiency II.

For the band, Division I ratings were attained by saxophone quartet members Josh Scott, Scott Binder, Nate Evink, and Ben Plackowski, brass quintet members Daylin Gonzalez, Mason England, Zach Wurst, Jonas Peterson, and Jake Roorda, percussion ensemble members Jaemin Wilson, Jamie Baarman, Brennon Cook, Alex Cooke, Madison Garnsey, and Evan Bright and soloists Mason England on trumpet, Abigail Williams on flute and Caroline Meister on flute.