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‘Their Views Have to be Heard’

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

About six minutes into their sports radio talk show, Jakhari Carroll and Joseph Spicer get into their first debate of the day: whether Indianapolis...

Welcoming Our Newest, Most Vulnerable Students, Families

Classrooms for All Charles Honey

Tula Khadka remembers what it was like all too well. Arriving in West Michigan from Nepal in 2013, he didn’t know much English or...

Demolishing Their Way to Being Better Neighbors

Grand Rapids School News Network

Before demolition of the former City High/Middle School began recently, Grand Rapids Public Schools officials symbolically smashed up the building at 111 College Ave....

‘Wet and Dirty but a Lot of Fun’

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

Strollers and bicyclists ambling through Ken-O-Sha Park this summer may notice some plants sticking up from a field behind a nearby school. Those would...

‘A Better Life, a Safe Life, a Good Future’

Grads with Grit Charles Honey

In a swirling sea of students in red and white caps and gowns who were hugging family members and being photographed, Abdulhadi Aljazaeri stood...

Mentor Program for African-American Boys Aims to ‘Create Next Generation of Global Leaders’

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

Delicious-smelling bags of Popeyes chicken lie within reach of seven boys at lunch time. But before they dig in, Robert Hurd has a few...

Parking Lot Painted with ‘Positivity & Joy’

Comstock Park Charles Honey

On a gray-grit city parking lot through some of this summer’s hottest days, a dozen students painted a bright path of hope. Their zig-zag creation...

Shiza Shahid: Empowering Girls & Women Around the Planet

Grand Rapids Tom Rademacher

"What is it," she asked, almost in a whisper, "that you plan to do with your wild and miraculous life?" And in that moment, you...

New Group Gives More Parents a Voice

Forest Hills Charles Honey

As a mother with three children in public schools, Barbara McFall wants to support her children’s educational experience. But sometimes she senses a wall...

Helping Students Love Messy, Beautiful Nature

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

On a damp and chilly morning, two dozen children follow Greg Petersen down a woodchip path toward a thick woods. He stops them by...

Hops and Hoops: Donations Strengthen Neighborhood Schools

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

Local businesses are stepping up to help the district’s students get a step ahead with two sizable donations to its schools. At Congress Elementary, school...

Pressure Builds for SkillsUSA Nationals

East Grand Rapids Morgan Jarema

In a few weeks, Dominic Krupp will be part of a two-person team tasked with coming up with an idea for a short video,...

Students Contemplate Gun Violence Through Art Exhibit

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

After spending a morning touring an art exhibit on the devastating effects of gun violence, Shamari Echols succinctly summed up his takeaway: “To know...

‘It is what I was meant to do. These are my kids.’

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

Whitley Morse greets her first-hour Monday history class with smiles at the door – “I love your glasses!” – then with a chat-around about...

State of the Schools: Sustain, Partner, Persevere

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

Throughout her recent State of the Schools speech, Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal repeatedly referred to “the GRPS way.” And she repeatedly made it clear...