March 20, 2026
------------------------- TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENTS ----------------------------
--Our 7th grade boys volleyball team is looking for a few more players to join! No experience is needed, it’s not too late to sign up. If you’re interested in learning a new sport, being part of a team, and having fun, this is a great opportunity! Again, this is for 7th grade boys. Questions? See Mr. Gontjes.
--🐝 Cityside Geography Bee
The search for Cityside’s top navigator is officially on! Mark your calendars and start studying your coordinates:
When: Tuesday, March 31st
Where: The Chix Coop
If you need more details or want to know how to prep, track down your local guides:
Mr. Gontjes
Mrs. Badran
Don't get lost—be there or be square (like a Mercator projection)!
------------------------- REMINDERS FOR STUDENTS ----------------------------
Don't get lost—be there or be square (like a Mercator projection)!
--🌊 Get Ready for Lake Arvesta! 🌊
Don’t miss out on the 8th-grade field trip!
When is it due? Next Monday, March 23rd (at the latest!).
Where do I take it? Drop your form and payment at the Main Office.
Need a hand? If the cost is a worry, just write "scholarship needed" on your form and hand it to Mrs. Huizenga.
--Do you know where the Sahara Desert is? Could you find Brazil on a map faster than your friend? And most importantly… do you know the difference between a continent and a country? (No judgment if you’re still thinking about it.)
It’s time for our Cityside Geography Bee!
If you love maps, trivia, random world facts, or just want the chance to prove you’re the smartest traveler who hasn’t even left the building yet, this competition is for you!
Interested students should sign up by scanning the QR code on the posters displayed around the school. A qualifying test is required to participate! The Geography Bee will take place on March 31st in the Chix Coop. See Mr. Gontjes or Mrs. Badran with any questions.
--Attention 6th grade readers! A new book club will start this week. Join Mrs. Badran during lunch on Tuesdays and Thursday in the month of March to read and discuss the book, A Wish in the Dark. See Mrs. Badran and hallway flyers for more information.
--Hey everyone! We’ve noticed more Chromebooks coming in for repairs lately, so here’s a quick "Pro-Tip" guide on how to avoid accidental damage and those pesky repair fees:
Clear the Ports: Only chargers and USB cables belong in the ports. Anything else—pencils, clips, or snacks—will break the device. If the port breaks, you’ll be responsible for the total cost of a new Chromebook.
Hands Off the Keys: We know they’re clicky, but please don't pull them off! Replacing just one key can cost $40.
Pack with Care: Screens are sensitive to pressure. Avoid stuffing your bag too full or dropping it roughly. A cracked screen is a $150 fix.
Replacement Chargers are available for $15.
Bottom Line: These devices are valuable tools for your education. Please handle them with care to avoid repair bills and lost study time!
--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: 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.
--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!
--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.
--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.
--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 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 ----------------------------------
--Lake Arvesta Reminder!
The 8th-grade trip forms & payment are due Monday, March 23rd at the Main Office.
Need a scholarship? Just write "scholarship needed" on the form and hand it to Mrs. Huizenga.
--The online sign up for the Transportation 26/27 school year sign-ups is now open!
All forms are due by July 1, 2026 with the guidelines printed on the top of the form & on our webpage for out of district student requests.
Here is the LINK for the transportation website that has the online form along with very helpful information under the FAQ's that should answer 99% of questions we field phone calls about.
Also on the Transportation website is a link for the My Ride app.
Thank you all very much!
ZPS Transportation
--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.
--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 ----------------------------
--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!
--Student Athletes: Just a quick reminder that shuttle buses for athletes going from Cityside to the high schools are to board buses 40 & 47 first. Once those fill up the drivers will direct you to board any other bus which will have open seats for you.