September 11, 2025
------------------------- TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENTS ----------------------------
--Coach Baker will be at the 7th and 8th grade lunches tomorrow to meet prospective cheerleaders for our competitive cheer team. She will answer any questions, hand out preseason information, and will work on getting everyone signed up for tryouts. Make sure you are registered in Final Forms as well, so you receive any email communications.
--The 7th grade girls Brown Volleyball Cityside Chix fought hard against the East Rockford Rams yesterday, but ended up losing 2-1 in sets. Leading the attack for the Chix was Avery Smith with 7 aces, 2 assists, and 2 digs. Olivia McCammon contributed 6 digs and 2 aces to the team, while Lulu Vis added an ace and 2 kills. Trinity Cole had 3 aces, a dig and a block. The Chix are heading across town on Monday to face the Creekside Dux and looking to bounce back!
--The 8th grade girls Brown Volleyball team started their season last night with a tough loss to East Rockford 0-3. The girls were able to keep it close but couldn’t hold on. Highlights for the night were Lucy Gruppen with 5 aces and 3 kills, Elise Hoeksema with 7 kills, Gabby Follman with 7 assists, and Malia Vardon with a 6 point serving run that included 2 aces. The girls continue on Monday at Creekside.
--The 8th grade girls Gold Volleyball team took home a 2-1 victory in their opening match against East Rockford. The team recorded 12 kills, 14 diggs, and 13 aces! The Chix were led by Bella Chatman with 4 digs, Harper Barre with 4 kills, Holly Morley with 2 blocks, Alexis Colasanti with 2 assists and 4 aces, and Ellie Barkey who passed a 1.7 in serve receive. Kenzie Klein Horsman stuffed the stat sheet with a 3 pass, a dig, an assist, and a kill.
--Attention Cityside students! Don’t forget to keep raising that money so we can make this your best year yet!! If you need an extra fundraiser form, you can pick one up in the main office. And once you’ve raised all you can, go ahead and turn in your forms and donations there as well. Thank you for your support, and good luck! GOOO CHIX!
--Last night the 7th grade football team took on the Northview Wildcats. The Chix started off hot, with a stop on defense and then a long touchdown run by Bryce Meyer to take the lead at 7-0. After a Northview response, the Chix offense got the ball back and Meyer punched in another touchdown to give the Chix a 13-6 lead. After the score the Chix defense stepped up and stopped the Wildcats setting up the Chix offense for another score with a run by Max Leeson to make the score 20-6. After yet another great defensive stand, Leeson took off for a long touchdown run followed by an extra point pass from Bryce Meyer to Collin Byker to give the Chix a 27-6 lead. The Chix offense continued their domination, adding a long touchdown run from Joseph Neidlinger and Max Meyer to have the lead going into halftime with a score of 39-12. The Chix then started the second half with a kickoff return for a touchdown by Meyer, before adding another touchdown run from Max Leeson later in the half to win the game against the Wildcats with a final score of 51-25. Offensively, the offensive line combination of Gavin Evans, Dro Lusingo, Owen Fry, Cohen Decker, Jacob Hallifax, and Kai Glerum opened up massive holes for the running backs all game long. Defensively, the Chix were highlighted by Noah Matchinsky with two fumble recoveries and Collin Schout as the tackles leader. Next up the Chix will travel to play the Forest Hills Central Rangers.
--Last night the 8th grade football team also played the Northview Wildcats. The Chix started the game with great energy and effort, as their offense went on long drives and the defense held strong to keep the score tied at 0-0 until the Wildcats scored on the last play of the first quarter to take the lead 8-0. The Wildcats scored again and the Chix had a long drive at the end of the first half that came up just short as they went into halftime trailing 16-0. Coming out of the half the Chix surprised the Wildcats with an onside kick by Levi Nichols that was recovered by Bryson Fantin. After the recovery, the Chix offense got to work, highlighted by runs from Avett Whitmyer and Caiden Leslie as well as a long pass from Preston Vanderkamp to Leslie before Vanderkamp punched it in for the score to cut the Wildcats lead to 16-6. However, the Wildcats were just too much as the Chix ultimately lost the game with a score of 30-6. Defensively, the Chix were lead by Drew Taylor and Bryson Fantin. Next up the Chix will travel to play the Forest Hills Central Rangers.
------------------------- REMINDERS FOR STUDENTS ----------------------------
--Students: Having good ATTENDANCE and being at school as much as possible is so important to a successful education. Please make every effort to arrive to school on time, to get to class on time, and to come every day. We love having you with us here at Cityside!
--If your Chromebook needs to be repaired, please bring it to Mr. Navetta in the CBC by 9:00 in the morning so it can be sent off to the technology office the same day. Just a reminder: Mr. Navetta does NOT have any loaner Chromebooks or charging cords for kids who forget them at home. Please make sure you are charging your Chromebook fully at night and make sure you take it to school every day. If you forget it, you will need to call home to have someone bring it to you. If you forgot to charge it, bring your cord from home. Please completely shut down your Chromebook at least once a week to install any updates that are out there and please remember to fully charge it at home each night.
--Students: You must use a crosswalk when crossing the road at any time because we care about your safety. State law requires you to ONLY cross at a crosswalk. It is illegal and unsafe to cross anywhere else. Please make sure to find the closest crosswalks and use those to get where you need to go before or after school. Thank you!
--If you leave school early for any reason, you MUST go through the office and let them know you are leaving. Thank you.
--A quick reminder about Success Time: If you have been assigned success time or lunch detention, first drop off your assignments and Chromebook (if needed to complete your assignment)to the LGI room and then grab your lunch so you're ready to get to work right away. If you've turned your assignments in and have a signed slip, you have 3 options:
1. Hand your signed slip to Mrs. DenBoer in the LGI on your way to lunch.
2. Put your signed slip in the folder on Mrs. DenBoer's office door in the Media Center.
3. Put your signed slip in the Success Time Folder on the front desk in the Main Office.
--Students: There is now a donation bin/box beside the Lost and Found table outside of the office. The bin/box is for clothing donations that will go to the organization City on the Hill to help clothe homeless people. Feel free to donate old used clothes by simply putting them in the box. Thank you for your help!
-------------------------------- FOR PARENTS ----------------------------------
--Heading to the Library After a Half-Day of School? We’re glad students enjoy spending time at the Howard Miller Library after school. To ensure the library remains a safe, respectful space for everyone, please remind your student of the following expectations:
- Respect the space – Seating belongs in chairs, not in aisles or hallways. Backpacks and instruments must be kept out of walkways.
- Keep it quiet – Low voices help maintain a calm environment for all visitors.
- One person per computer – Public computers are for individual use only.
- Snacks only, please – Small snacks and covered drinks are welcome. Full meals (like pizza) should be enjoyed elsewhere.
The library is a shared community space, not a supervised gathering area. We appreciate your support in helping students use it responsibly. Thank you for helping us maintain a positive environment for all visitors.
--Still need Chromebook Insurance for your child? The details can be found HERE. Please visit this link: e-Funds for Schools and choose "Pay for Optional Fees". The enrollment period closes on 10/31/2025.
--Parents - If you need your child out of school early for an appt, etc. please call the office ahead of time and we will try to have your student waiting for you. We will then send them outside when they see you pull up. Teachers normally will not let a student leave class early unless they are called down by the office. Thank you!
--Sign Up to Receive the 'Z for Me,' our ZPS district email newsletter- Stay informed about the latest ZPS news, events, and updates, including important district announcements (school closings, etc.), upcoming events, and more. See this FLYER and visit www.zps.org to sign up.
--Parents, please make sure you have an Infinite Campus Parent Portal account set up. You will be able to check your student's bus schedule, grades, attendance, etc. with the Parent Portal. If you have any questions, please contact Heidi Wolters at hwolters@zps.org.
--If your child will not be in school, for any reason, you MUST call the attendance line at 748-3205. Thank you!
--If you are picking your child up from school for any reason you must call the office before we will let them go. You may also call their cell phone in addition to the office, but the office must hear from you. 616-748-3250. Thank you!
--ZPS utilizes the School Messenger system to deliver text messages straight to your mobile phone with important information, including school
closings, safety alerts, and more. You can participate in this free service just by sending a text message of "Y" to our school's short code, 67587. See this informational FLYER for more details.
--Any message needing to get to a student must be received by 1:20 pm. We call students down at the beginning of their last hour during announcements so we are not disturbing classroom instruction time.
--We need your help to ensure our schools receive important state and federal funding by completing the Education Benefits Form,which collects information for educational program grants. Even though all students get free breakfast and lunch this year, filling out this form can also provide your child with additional services like summer food support, help with school fees, and potential household support for internet and cable. Questions? Please see your building principal. Scan the code on this Informational Flyer for more details.
--We would like to offer your student the opportunity to participate in a program at Cityside Middle School called “Hand2Hand”. This program helps provide a student with food for the weekends and is intended for families who currently may be experiencing a financial burden. Please contact the front office if you would like to participate. Please see the attached Hand2Hand Registration Flyer which is in both English and Spanish. Print it off and return it to the Cityside front office.
**Our Miles of Smiles (MOS) mobile dental unit is scheduled to be in Ottawa County Schools during the 2025-2026 school year. Our mobile dental unit provides no cost, preventive and restorative dental services for financially-qualifying children. Unfortunately, MOS will not be visiting your school this year. However, we want parents to know that they can schedule their child to be seen on our mobile unit when we locate at another Ottawa County School. Miles of Smiles can be accessed by using the following informational application link: MILES OF SMILES
--Please do not have lunch food delivered from area restaurants to our students for lunch. We aren't allowed to sign your credit card receipts, and often the order only comes with a student's first name on it making it very difficult for us to know who it is for. Students often don't know a lunch is being delivered for them, so they don't come to pick it up and the food goes uneaten. Thanks for understanding!
------------------------- ATHLETICS ANNOUNCEMENTS ----------------------------
--SPORT SIGN-UPS: FINAL FORMS REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE 2025/2026 SCHOOL YEAR. Please see the CITYSIDE ATHLETICS WEB PAGE for information on signing up student athletes. All registration and sports sign ups will be done online in the Final Forms website for the 2025/2026 school year. Drop in locations for sports physicals are also listed on the athletic web page. If your student is planning to participate in any sports during the 2025/2026 school year, please remember that they must have a new sports physical that is dated AFTER April 15, 2025. Please bring sports physicals to Mrs. Nelson in the CBC or upload a PDF (Preferred format) into your student's Final Forms record.
--Hey Chix Families! Have you heard the big news in athletics? For the first time ever, the Zeeland Athletic Boosters are allowing you to directly support our Cityside athletics the next time you volunteer! New to Cityside or new to our Athletic Boosters? No problem! Everyone is encouraged to volunteer! The Zeeland Athletic Boosters are our biggest partner when it comes to supporting our athletes. From purchasing equipment or jerseys, to providing scholarships to our Senior Athletes, our Boosters help support athletic excellence at Zeeland Public Schools. The next time you volunteer, just write “Cityside” for the team/program you would like to sponsor. By doing this, the funds you raise will go directly to our Cityside Athletics account. Workers earn $10/hour at any ZPS athletic event! Sign up here! Go Chix!
--Boys Tennis players should take Bus #34 which will take you over to Creekside. This bus will arrive a few minutes after the other busses have left.
--Any other athletes needing to get to the high school for practice can ride either Bus #47 OR #40 to the High School.