December 18, 2025
------------------------- TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENTS ----------------------------
--Running club will not meet today.
--Please remember to empty your locker before you leave for break tomorrow. Also, be sure to check the lost and found table and racks, as the building will be closed during break.
--The 8th-grade Gold team lost a close game to Spring Lake yesterday, 20-24. Charlie Rogovich and Geo Lopez helped the team offensively. Deagan Borst, Drew Taylor, and Kaden Francis played hard defense throughout the game. The Chix ended the season 7-4 and continued to play together for the season, which is a credit to the teammates they are to each other. Well done!
--Last night the Zeeland Cityside 8th grade Brown team faced the Spring Lake Lakers away in their last game of the season. The Chix fought very hard in a physical outing. Caiden Leslie and Landon Zinke led the Chix in scoring while Colton Ras, Zane Roberts and Jackson Payne competed very hard on the defensive end. The Chix ended the season with a record of 2-9. It has been a fun season and the boys have grown so much on the court! GO CHIX!
--Last night, the 7th grade Gold Basketball team wrapped up their season with a win over Spring Lake. The final score was 37-17. The Chix started out slow with only 10 points scored in the first half allowing spring lake to trail closely with 6. Going into 1/2 time the game was tight. The Chix came out of 1/2 time, hot and ready to run away with the Win. The Chix scored 21 points in the third quarter, allowing us to hit a running clock in the 4th quarter and ultimately winning the game. The Chix were led by Bodie Klassen and Brennan Mansfield both with 6 points, Isaiah Hill, Brady Neuman, Hudson Exo, and Kai Glerum all had 4. Winning this game led the Chix to an Undefeated season with an 11-0 record. What a season, and Go Chix. P.S- Noah Matchinsky scored 10 points in our game vs. Zeeland Christian.
--The Art Charity Christmas Ornament Sale has been extended until tomorrow morning! We have dropped the Price to $3.00 for one and 2 for $5.00! What a great last minute gift!
Look for us before school, as well as the Christmas Choir Concert tonight!
--Congratulations to the Zeeland Girls Middle School Swim & Dive Team on an extraordinary season! The team finished the year undefeated and claimed the Conference Championship, securing first place in every single event at the conference meet last night.
This Championship Title was powered by both our seasoned leaders and developing swimmers and divers, all of whom rose to the moment. Across the meet, athletes showed incredible competitive spirit and determination, delivering explosive swims & beautiful dives - combining experience with growth. The result was an impressive 53 individual personal records, highlighting just how much this team improved throughout the season.
From start to finish, the meet showcased Zeeland’s depth, focus, and drive, with every event reflecting the hard work put in at practice and the commitment to one another as teammates. This conference title was truly a total team effort and a perfect capstone to an unforgettable, championship-winning season.
------------------------- REMINDERS FOR STUDENTS ----------------------------
--2026 Cityside 8th grade Art Charity Ornament Sale begins Monday, Dec. 15 - Friday Dec. 18. We will be selling before school and at 7th and 8th grade lunches as well as through our website. Proceeds will go to Lifeline of Holland. The students selected this charity because of their work with Gang intervention and counseling. Please visit our website to view ornaments and place an order. We take cash, check or Venmo. (information on the website). Please help our students support Lifeline! Questions, email Mrs. Arens at harens@zps.org.
Cityside Ornament Website: Ornament Purchase Page
Lifeline Ministries Website: https://www.lifelineministriesmi.org/
--If you are interested in playing on the Club Softball team, please sign up in Final Forms as soon as possible.
--The late Winter sports season begins immediately after Christmas break. If you are planning to participate or try out for any of the following sports; Coed wrestling for 6/7/8, Girls basketball for 7/8, and Boys swim and dive for 6/7/8, please make sure you are cleared in Final Forms. Coaches will be sending emails in the upcoming weeks, so make sure you are registered and ready to play.
--
--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!
--
--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 ----------------------------------
--2026 Cityside 8th grade Art Charity Ornament Sale begins Monday, Dec. 15 - Friday, Dec. 18. We will be selling before school and at 7th and 8th grade lunches as well as through our website. Proceeds will go to Lifeline of Holland. The students selected this charity because of their work with Gang intervention and counseling. Please visit our website to view ornaments and place an order. We take cash, check or Venmo. (information on the website). Please help our students support Lifeline! Questions, email Mrs. Arens at harens@zps.org.
Cityside Ornament Website: Ornament Purchase Page
Lifeline Ministries Website: https://www.lifelineministriesmi.org/
--Parents: The late Winter sports season begins immediately after Christmas break. If you child is planning to participate or try out for any of the following sports; Coed wrestling for 6/7/8, Girls basketball for 7/8, and Boys swim and dive for 6/7/8, please make sure they are cleared in Final Forms. Coaches will be sending emails in the upcoming weeks so make sure they are registered and ready to play.
--
--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!
--
--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 appointment, 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 ----------------------------
--If you are interested in playing on the Cityside Club Softball team, please sign up in Final Forms as soon as possible so you receive all information from the coaches.
--Parents: The late Winter sports season begins immediately after Christmas break. If you child is planning to participate or try out for any of the following sports; Coed wrestling for 6/7/8, Girls basketball for 7/8, and Boys swim and dive for 6/7/8, please make sure they are cleared in Final Forms. Coaches will be sending emails in the upcoming weeks so make sure they are registered and ready to play.
--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.