Vitale's is holding a fundraiser tonight from 4-8 pm. 15% of proceeds will go towards the ZHS Orchestra program. Click HERE for the claim ticket and details.

A 7-0 vote by the Zeeland Board of Education has named Calvin DeKuiper the leading candidate in the search for the next superintendent of Zeeland Public Schools.

Calvin DeKuiper, superintendent of Ludington Public Schools, was unanimously selected through a targeted search and will now be publicly interviewed by the ZPS Board of Education, school and community stakeholders, and the general public.  Following an in-depth process of interviews, receptions and a site visit to Ludington, the Board of Education will reconvene November 29 for a final vote on his candidacy.

In a targeted search, candidates are allowed to vie for interest in the position without making their interest public. Generally, this type of search allows for a stronger candidate field because successful applicants can consider the position without risking their current role or reputation. Consultant and retired Forest Hills superintendent Mike Washburn facilitated the targeted search for the district, which attracted nine candidates, according to Zeeland Board of Education President Tom DenHerder.  

The Zeeland Board of Education will go into closed session during the Monday, November 12 board meeting, which may result in a public announcement of a candidate from the targeted superintendent search. 

“We have been diligent in this process and believe we are ready to narrow the field down to a top finalist,” commented ZPS Board of Education President Tom DenHerder. “If the board is in full agreement, we will name that candidate Monday night.”

 The district has been using a targeted search under the direction of consultant Mike Washburn, former superintendent of Forest Hills Public Schools. Under a targeted search, interested applicants are given an opportunity to express professional interest under a confidentiality agreement. DenHerder said this method is beneficial to the district because it allows for the best superintendents from the top districts to apply without jeopardizing their current status or the work they are performing in their current position. To support the confidential process, only the top finalist will be named. Nine candidates have been reviewed to date.

In the early twentieth century, the Bureau of Indian Affairs sent agents out to Indian Reservations to apprehend children with the intent of wiping out whole cultures of Indian heritage, language and customs.  Joyce Simmons Cheeka, a young Squaxin Indian girl, was forcibly taken from her family and sent to one such government boarding school.  Come and share in her story as the Zeeland High Players stage a very meaningful show, The Rememberer, based on Cheeka’s true story on November 1, 2 & 3. 

The Zeeland Education Foundation is preparing for its annual Phone-A-Thon to families.  Volunteers will be calling Zeeland families on November 7, 8, 12 and 13 to update you on the ZPS Education Foundation activities and give you the opportunity to have a positive impact on education in Zeeland.  We will be reaching out to families to continue this opportunity to give, and support future classroom opportunities that are not funded through regular budget funds.

Pictured:  Creekside students Lauren Converse, Aubrey Wilson and Makayla Kujawa perform a skit on cyberbullying.

Students from both Cityside and Creekside Middle Schools presented a compilation of bullying response and prevention skits to all 6^th grade students in the district on Friday at Lokers Auditorium. The thirty-one students wrote, created and produced skits for two back-to-back performances.

Jill Landes, Dance & Drama Teacher for both Creekside and Cityside MS, has been leading the student based project for six years. With assistance from the Middle School Social Workers and Counselors, she has helped students create meaningful skits teaching their peers how to combat and respond appropriately to bullying.

Anti-bullying campaigns have expanded across America, with forty nine states now with anti-bullying laws in place, including Michigan.

“We try to keep the skits current and relevant to the types of bullying students in class witness on a regular basis,” commented Landis. “Cyberbullying and rumors seem to be the worst.” 

The Detroit Lions have named Derek Pennington of Zeeland East High School the week nine recipient of the 2012 High School Coach of the Week Program presented by the Michigan National Guard.

Each week throughout the 2012 nine-week high school football regular season, one coach that best develops his players’ character, discipline, and football skill in addition to emphasizing player health and safety in their program, will be recognized for his commitment to the team, school, and community.  The winner is selected by a panel of high school football media members—Mick McCabe (Detroit Free Press), Hugh Bernreuter (Saginaw News), Bret Bakita (107.3 FM-WBBL, Grand Rapids), and Scott DeCamp (Mlive.com/Kalamazoo). 

This season’s program will award $22,000 to aid in the development and promotion of high school football in the state of Michigan thanks to contributions from the Detroit Lions and the National Football League and presenting sponsor, Michigan National Guard.

Being crowned conference champion is a dream come true for any district. Today, Zeeland Public Schools is celebrating two-fold.

Zeeland East and Zeeland West both earned conference championship titles last Friday.  The undefeated Chix secured the OK Black Conference crown with a 40 to 39 victory over Muskegon.  The Dux dominated Holland 46 - 3 to clinch a playoff spot and a share of the OK Green Conference title with Holland Christian.

By Sunday night, the excitement took on a new level when the teams learned they would next face each other this coming Friday at Zeeland Stadium.

This Friday night, Zeeland East will host Zeeland West at Zeeland Stadium for the first round of division playoffs.  Game time is 7:00 PM.

“What is important to understand is how this happened,” ZWHS Athletic Director Mark Werley explained. “It is a numbers game based on factors such as geography, playoff points, and the size of the other districts who also made the cut. It is not a one- word answer.”