November 25, 2025

------------------------- TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENTS ----------------------------

--If you're interested in joining the Cityside Ski Club this year, information and liability forms are available on the table outside of the CBC room. Please try to return ski club liability forms and a $32 check or cash to Mr. Navetta in the CBC by today, November 25th. Questions? Find Mr Blacquiere.

--Last night the 7th Grade Gold Boys Basketball team traveled to Hudsonville Baldwin to play the eagles, securing another solid win. The Chix are going into Thanksgiving break 6-0, undefeated! Hudson Exo led the team in scoring with 8 points, followed closely by Val Alvarez with 6. The Chix played well as a team with each member scoring last night. We are 1/2 way through our season, and excited to finish the second half after break. Go Chix!

--The 7th Grade Brown Boys Basketball team hosted Muskegon on Monday. After a very slow start the Chix found themselves down by as many as 22 points in the second half. The Chix didn't give up and fought all the way back to within 6 points with a minute left in the game. The final score was Muskegon 44, Zeeland 36. Max Leeson had a double-double in the game with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Bryce Meyer added 10, and Charlie Zweering had 5. Foster Knapp hit a huge 3-pointer late in the 3rd quarter to begin the run. The Chix enter Thanksgiving break with a 3-3 record and look to improve when the play at Holland on Monday, December 1.

--The 8th Grade Gold Basketball team lost to a solid Hudsonville Baldwin team yesterday 32-40. Baldwin had 8 three pointers and the ball wasn't going in the basket for the Chix. All 10 players who finished the game scored for the team. Drew Taylor, Bo VanderZwaag, Hudson Keefer, and Charlie Rogovich competed hard on the defensive end. The team hosts Creekside today for a 4:00 p.m. tip-off start time.

--The Zeeland Cityside 8th Grade Boys Brown Basketball team faced Muskegon last night in a hard fought game. Muskegon’s full court pressure and three pointers got the best of the Chix in the end. Landon Zinke, Preston Vanderkamp, and Jackson Payne all maxed out their efforts on both ends of the court all game. Go Chix!

--The Zeeland Girls Middle School Swim & Dive team put on an outstanding performance last night against Spring Lake, showcasing depth, teamwork, and impressive individual efforts across the entire lineup.

Zeeland opened the meet with a dominant win in the 200 Medley Relay, led by Yuli Fregene, Bryna Greene, Jovy Edwards, and Clara Lauritzen. Strong swims from the B, C, and D relays added valuable momentum and demonstrated the depth of our team.

In the 200 Freestyle, Allie Sanchez took first place, with strong supporting swims from Sophie Young, Maggie Stack, and Autumn Young.

Zeeland swept the top three spots in the 100 IM, with Bryna Greene powering to first, followed by teammates Yuli Fregene and Ella Conover in second and third.

Clara Lauritzen sprinted to victory in the 50 Freestyle, with big efforts from Charlee Holthus and Charlie Vonk helping add crucial points.

Zeeland divers absolutely shined, claiming the top six spots in diving. Maddie Klaasen led the way, followed closely by Elise Hoeksema and Reese Grassmid, with outstanding performances from Sylvie Wyngarden, Riley Walker, and Lucille Smead rounding out an exceptional sweep.

Clara Lauritzen added another win in the 50 Butterfly, with Maggie Stack and Charlie Vonk securing additional strong finishes.

The 100 Freestyle was a Zeeland one-two punch, with Jovy Edwards taking the win and Allie Sanchez touching in right behind her for second.

ZGMS swept the top three places again in the 100 Backstroke, thanks to standout swims from Bryna Greene, Yuli Fregene, and Sophie Young.

In the 100 Breaststroke, Jovy Edwards captured another first-place finish, with teammate Ella Conover close behind in third and Claire Diekema helping secure more points.

The meet concluded with a strong win in the 200 Freestyle Relay, with Maggie Stack, Charlie Vonk, Sophie Young, and Allie Sanchez bringing it home for Zeeland.

Overall, it was an incredible night of racing and diving. Congratulations to all athletes for your teamwork, grit, and great sportsmanship. Go Zeeland!

------------------------- REMINDERS FOR STUDENTS ----------------------------

--The holiday season is here and the middle school dancers are ready to kick it off with some fun, festive dances! Please join us for our holiday concert, Holiday Dreaming. The middle school dancers are performing several dances on Thursday, December 4 at 7:00PM at DeWitt Auditorium (Zeeland East High School). Tickets can be purchased at zpsarts.ludus.com. We hope to see many students, staff, friends, and family in the audience! It's going to be a great show!

--Toys for Tots Pickup for Zeeland Families

Thanks to a partnership with Grand Rapids Harley-Davidson, unwrapped toys will be available for pickup for Zeeland Public Schools students on Saturday, December 20.

Families must sign up in advance by scanning the QR code on the flyer. Pick-up details will be sent directly to your email by the Toys for Tots team.

Pickup Location:
Grand Rapids Harley-Davidson
2977 Corporate Grove Drive, Hudsonville, MI

Click this link for the flyer: Toys For Tots

Questions? Call 616.896.0111

Let's help spread a little extra joy this season!

--Christmas Assistance Available for Zeeland Families
The Salvation Army Holland & Zeeland is now accepting applications for Christmas assistance for the 2025 season. Families with children ages 0–17 can apply for holiday gifts and a Christmas meal. Applications open October 13 and close December 12, 2025, or when spots are full.

Required documents include:

Head of household ID
Proof of address
ID for each child being registered (birth certificate, passport, medical card, or student ID)

Apply online at saangeltree.org or scan the QR code on the flyer.
Questions? Call 616-392-4461

Let’s help make the holidays a little brighter for all Zeeland families!

--Students: Just a reminder that backpacks aren't allowed in classrooms during the school day. They must be left in your locker; that includes during 6th hour. They must stay in your locker until after school. Thanks so much!

--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.

--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.

--Hey everyone! We've been seeing a bunch of issues with Chromebooks lately, so let's go over a super important reminder to keep your device safe and working. Here are the rules to remember:

DON'T stick anything into the ports. That means no paperclips, no pencils, no snacks—nothing! Sticking things into the charging or USB ports will break your Chromebook, and you'll have to pay the full replacement cost for a brand new one.

DON'T pull the keys off! We know those little keys might look tempting, but pulling them off the keyboard damages them. Each key we have to replace is a charge.

Also, be careful when packing into your backpacks. The screen can get broken if something pushes too hard against the outside. Replacement of the screen is $150.

Let's treat our Chromebooks like the valuable tools they are so we can all keep learning!

--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 gently used clothes by simply putting them in the box. Thank you for your help!

-------------------------------- FOR PARENTS ----------------------------------

--Toys for Tots Pickup for Zeeland Families

Thanks to a partnership with Grand Rapids Harley-Davidson, unwrapped toys will be available for pickup for Zeeland Public Schools students on Saturday, December 20.

Families must sign up in advance by scanning the QR code on the flyer. Pick-up details will be sent directly to your email by the Toys for Tots team.

Pickup Location:
Grand Rapids Harley-Davidson
2977 Corporate Grove Drive, Hudsonville, MI

Click this link for the flyer: Toys For Tots

Questions? Call 616.896.0111

Let's help spread a little extra joy this season!

Required documents include:

Head of household ID
Proof of address
ID for each child being registered (birth certificate, passport, medical card, or student ID)

Apply online at saangeltree.org or scan the QR code on the flyer.
Questions? Call 616-392-4461

Let’s help make the holidays a little brighter for all Zeeland families!

--Parents: Please check your emails to see if you've received any emails from Final Forms about any incomplete items for you children. They will not be able to participate in the upcoming winter sports season if they are not cleared in Final Forms. Thanks!

--Great news! Every ZPS student will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch each school day!

--If your child will not be in school, for any reason, you MUST call the attendance line at 748-3205. Thank you!

--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!

--If you are picking your child up from school for any reason you must call the office (616-748-3250) 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. Thank you!

--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.

--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. Visit Z for Me to sign up.

--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. For more info: ZPS School Messenger

--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.

--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.

--The 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 WEBSITE 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!

--Any athletes needing to get to the high school for practice can ride either Bus #47 OR #40 to the High School.

November 25, 2025

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