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Students, teachers and parents climb the virtual learning curve

School 2.0 Charles Honey

A year after schools statewide were forced to close their doors by a rampant virus, teachers and students alike have learned a ton about how to do online learning...

All student groups continue steady climb in graduation rates

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

Graduation rates continue to provide good news at GRPS, which has seen yearly improvement since 2012...

School library renamed in honor of ‘a true educator’

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

In her 12 years as principal of the former Henry Park Elementary School, she fixed many problems – both academic and material – for her largely impoverished students...

District’s newest school is a winner in green design

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

Southwest Middle High School - Academia Bilingue is a state-of-the-art, $20 million project that has earned LEED silver certification...

Districts ready to spend COVID relief dollars — once state allocates them

School 2.0 Erin Albanese

Area school districts are waiting for federal relief funding to address the year-long impact of the COVID-19 pandemic...

A shirt with a message: Black history is happening ‘right now’

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

A GRPS student’s T-shirt design is in 220 Meijer stores in six states for Black History Month...

District launches virtual choice expo for theme, neighborhood schools

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

An annual school choice expo for GRPS schools will expand to include neighborhood schools and be held virtually on Feb. 18...

How one school reached out to missing students

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

Union High School principals and teachers tracked down missing students to see how they’re doing, where they’re learning and whether they’ll come back...

Food service manager honored for work in pandemic year

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

A GRPS employee is honored by the School Nutrition Association of Michigan as Manager of the Year...

Longtime volunteer does whatever’s needed for school: ‘I love being here’

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

A 24-year parent and grandparent volunteer tends to student and family needs at Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy...

Back to classrooms for GRPS students — finally

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

After 44 weeks and 4 days, GRPS students were back in their classrooms Tuesday...

Online poetry, multimedia course encourages mental well-being for middle schoolers

All Districts Morgan Jarema

A Grand Rapids nonprofit has made online writing and mental health materials available free of charge. At least one local middle-school teacher says the series is powerful and helps build community among classmates...

Equity and inclusion leader named interim director of UPrep association

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

The founding director of the Bob and Aleicia Woodrick Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Grand Rapids Community College is the new interim director of Grand Rapids University Preparatory Association...

Through screens and technical glitches, learning goes on

Empowering Abilities Charles Honey

In a year of forced online learning, teachers themselves have had much to learn in keeping students engaged and progressing...

Schools, organizations step up to feed students, families

All Districts Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Area schools continue to provide free grab and go meals at regular distribution events and community partners are helping to fill in the gaps to make sure everyone is fed during a very challenging time...