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State of the Arts

Educators have long recognized the value of music, art, drama and writing for students’ creative development and academic success. This series highlights the many enriching ways students are experiencing the arts.

Musicians take on anything but classical

Kentwood Erin Albanese

Forty-four students become immersed each morning in music styles ranging from bluegrass to alternative rock in the Anything But Classical Orchestra...

Artist speaks out against hate in competition

Cedar Springs Cris Greer

Four art students won top honors out of 127 competitors at the third-annual Cedar Springs High School Art Competition...

Students supplement learning with ballet, clay creatures & Billie Holiday

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

A grant-funded partnership between Brookside Elementary and the Salvation Army Kroc Center sees third, fourth and fifth grade students make a trek twice a week through their backyard for classes in ballet, clay and jazz...

Third graders learn to listen — with help from drums, other noisemakers

Comstock Park James Harger

Students from schools throughout West Michigan get introduced to the big world of percussion instruments through presentations by Bill Vits, principal percussionist for the Grand Rapids Symphony...

‘Doing art well is what matters’

Kent City Janice Holst

A young artist took home a national award and has pledged to put his winnings toward his family’s future home...

Creating a picture of community and kindness

Rockford Charles Honey

Students’ drawings were incorporated by artist Mary Bent-Buist into a mural expressing a moving message: 'One kind word can change someone’s entire story'...

Fourth graders from across city cross lines with pictures on ‘Flexible Fence’

Arts and Academics Charles Honey

A collaboration of GRPS, artist Eliza Fernand, ArtPrize and PNC Bank, the 6-foot-high 'Flexible Fence' features more than 1,000 pictures by fourth graders from 26 schools...

Thanks to dedicated artists, city snowplows will be hard to miss

East Grand Rapids Morgan Jarema

Over the past couple weeks, art teachers led third and fourth graders from all three elementary schools in decorating a trio of city snowplow blades...

SmartArt competition winner finds inspiration in art, science classes

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

C.A. Frost Environmental Science Academy junior Cindy Mazariegos-Barrios was so sure she wasn't going to win the 2019 SmartArt competition, she forgot to mention the big event where they announced the winner to her parents. Oops...

Not one, but two local high school bands to play Detroit Jazz Fest

State of the Arts Charles Honey

The pair of West Michigan jazz bands will be two of just six high school ensembles to play at the internationally renowned four-day festival, in its 40th year...

Students learn skills the fun way: making music

Empowering Abilities Morgan Jarema

A group of Alto Elementary students took part in 10 one-hour sessions with a music therapist at the Franciscan Life Process Center, thanks to a grant from the Lowell Education Foundation...

Young actor headed to Big Apple stage

Rockford Charles Honey

Eric Liu qualified for a national musical theater competition by being named Best Leading Actor in the state of Michigan at the Sutton Foster Ovation Awards at the Wharton Center in East Lansing...

‘From absolutely nothing to this full production’

State of the Arts Erin Albanese

It was three months before the spring play. There was no script and no plot, just the shadow of personalities students would soon embody as their own creations...

GRCC to host summer camp with musicians who mash classical, popular genres

Grand Rapids Community College Erin Albanese

ESME band members are challenging middle and high school students to blend modern and classical music during intensive summer experience...

Local students recognized nationally for innovative artworks

State of the Arts Charles Honey

Three students from Kent ISD high schools were awarded Gold Medals for their art entries in the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards...

Creating their own Christmas story

Comstock Park Hannah Lentz

Fifth grade students at Pine Island Elementary put their acting skills to work for Christmas play...

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School News NetworkA Window into Your Public Schools

ABOUT US

School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent ISD, which enroll more than 102,000 students. Founded in 2013 as an initiative of Kent ISD, we are supported by local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and multimedia journalists. We specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues facing students and highlighting the education magic that happens each day in our public schools.

Budding birder brings energy, passion to job tending school’s bird feeders

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Kent County Cup winner finds new career focus through esports

Student broadcaster pushes for positive coverage in advisory role

Second- & third-graders learn how things work by doing

Marshmallows & math make for a sweet multiplication lesson

Senior makes artistic mark on snowplow

Initiative aims to double enrollment in career & technical education by 2030

What’s in store for federal education dollars?

Student journalists look at what’s next for tech in West Michigan

Eating disorders topic of Jan. 29 community event

High-schoolers share thoughts on school safety, engagement & more

State of the Arts

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