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Area districts receive EPA funding for electric buses

Multi Districts Riley Kelley

Grand Rapids Public Schools, Kent ISD and Kentwood Public Schools will each receive federal funds to bring electric buses into their fleets.

Southwest’s first graduation marks a victory for the community

Grand Rapids Riley Kelley

Southwest Middle High School’s first-ever graduating class reflects on the impact of the school.

Fourth-grade slam poets well versed

Grand Rapids Alexis Stark

Fourth-graders imagined their classroom at Coit Creative Arts Academy as a stage for performing original poetry.

Celebrating environmental education, one plant or pollinator at a time

Caledonia Alexis Stark

The Groundswell Stewardship Initiative student showcase featured projects from over 25 West Michigan schools, celebrating hands-on environmental teaching and student-led, community-based stewardship.

Montessori educator talks passion, challenges & upsides of profession

Grand Rapids Riley Kelley

Though the job is tough, this upper elementary teacher says the ‘rewards in the field of education are sterling.’

Union High juniors receive Impact Award

Grand Rapids Riley Kelley

The Women’s City Club presented the honor and a cash prize to two juniors in April.

Fourth & fifth-graders share lessons from Species Explorers program

Forest Hills Riley Kelley

Students pitched improvement ideas for John Ball Zoo as part of the Species Explorers program at Van Andel Institute.

Community partners bring field trips to Burton’s backyard

Grand Rapids Riley Kelley

Seventh- and eighth-graders at Burton Middle School explored the outdoors through cross-curriculum activities offered during recent field days.

For some families, FAFSA delays are only the beginning

Grand Rapids Riley Kelley

From language barriers to glitches in the new FAFSA form, first-generation college students are facing extra difficulties in completing their federal financial aid information and having it processed.

Middle-schoolers empowered to be the most ‘Beautiful U’

Multi Districts Alexis Stark

Girls from across West Michigan learned how to care for their minds, bodies and souls at the 14th annual “Beautiful U” event, hosted by WOOD-TV8/WOTV kids and family expert Maranda.

Making an impact: Tutoring center empowers kids through literacy

Grand Rapids Riley Kelley

The director of the tutoring center at Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy reflects on the program’s growth and impact.

Counselor who overcame challenges clicks with middle-schoolers

Podcasts School News Network

Study Hall chats with Jordan Poisson, a Godfrey-Lee alum whose story we’ve followed for 10 years.

Building trust critical to preventing school gun violence

Multi Districts Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Twenty-five years after the horrific mass shooting at Columbine High School, Kent County school districts invest millions in protecting students and preventing gun violence.

His heart is in the health care field

Grand Rapids Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

It was people in the healthcare field who noticed his caring nature and encouraged Union High junior Josaiah Robertson to consider pursuing healthcare as a career.