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Profiles of Students, Staff, Teachers

Keeping kids in school to increase success

SNN 10th Anniversary School News Network

To celebrate our 10th anniversary, your School News Network team is re-publishing some early stories from each school district. This story, originally published in fall 2013, takes a look at Godfrey-Lee’s “All Day Every Day” initiative and its impact on absenteeism, grades and graduation rates.

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Kent City Alexis Stark

Fourth-grader Xavier Beiter isn’t waiting until he grows up to pursue his passion of writing and illustrating comic books.

Can she convince you to take a pie in the face?

Northview Morgan Jarema

This elementary school volunteer and PTC president had the confidence of the community behind her to take on another commitment to the district: school board member.

Senior shines on the soccer field, looks toward the future

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Henry Lopez-Pinedo’s plans after high school include continuing to play soccer, whether professionally or in college

Fourth-graders use their voice to lift up peers

Wyoming Erin Albanese

Delivering sack suppers, planning school improvements and helping kindergartners are all ways these fourth-graders are helping out.

Seventh-grader talks about gift of confidence provided by prosthetic arm nine years ago

Forest Hills Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

What impact did creating a prosthetic arm for a 4-year-old have? SNN talks to the people that made it happen nine years ago

Finding focus and a fresh start through auto mechanics

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

A fresh start gives a Comstock Park junior a new perspective about school and his future.

Teacher finds joy in sharing the magic of art

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

For Godwin Heights art teacher Deanne Basse, teaching is about building relationships and connecting with students.

‘Other kids look up to him’

Northview Morgan Jarema

A teacher at Highlands Middle calls this sixth-grader “very well respected” by other students and staff members.

His first mission: Honor Fighting Scots who served

Caledonia Alexis Stark

Before graduating high school, senior Brody Woodwyk is leading the effort to raise funds for a permanent veterans memorial at Caledonia High School.

District hires new special education director

Lowell Erin Albanese

Liz McCall is meeting staff, modeling instruction as the new special education director in Lowell Area Schools.

They built it, and people came

Kelloggsville Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

The KPS administration’s vision of a full-service library continues to grow with the help of Kent District Library. A 2015 millage and a grant from the Steelcase Foundation were key.

Credit to Minecraft? Student plans future in engineering

Cedar Springs Riley Kelley

Cedar Springs High School senior Joslyn Zavala is working toward a career as a civil engineer. Kent Career Tech Center, she said, helped her figure that out.

‘The best feeling’: Student growth paramount for GRPS teacher

Grand Rapids Riley Kelley

Dominic Biolchini channels the energy of his classroom into a symphony of learning.

‘It’s all about seeing the students discover something for the first time’

Comstock Park Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

For biology teacher Aaron Peoples, no two days in the world of teaching are ever the same, which is just the way he likes it.

Students connect their dreams to careers, college

Kentwood Erin Albanese

Townline Elementary students had a chance to explore their dreams with professionals who talked about cooking, music, fashion and college opportunities.

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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.

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Tour sparked interest in welding

Young musicians team up with orchestra to play recorders & do the hand jive

A career in auto repair? For some students, it starts in high school

Lightbulbs are going on thanks to Home Essentials class

New math curriculum spurs creative thinking

Paper quilt stitches cultures together as one colorful community

District addresses needs of autism students with smaller classrooms

Podcast: Schools hearing concerns from families over federal deportation plans

Podcast: ‘Serious fun’ leads to serious success

Profiles of Students, Staff, Teachers

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