Last month, over ten days, 44 soon-to-be 8th and 9th grade Spanish Immersion students used their Spanish every day in Panamá 🇵🇦 and Costa Rica 🇨🇷! Whether learning how to surf, listening to local guides, visiting a Costa Rican school, or connecting with people from different cultures, they experienced firsthand how language creates meaningful connections.
From exploring the Panamá Canal and meeting the Emberá community to rafting the Sarapiquà River, ziplining through the rainforest, snorkeling in the Pacific, and hiking near volcanoes, students gained unforgettable experiences while deepening their cultural understanding and confidence in Spanish.
Welcome back to Jenison, Spanish Immersion students, we can’t wait to hear more about your trip!
That moment when you visit Times Square with all your classmates! Big shoutout to the staff who made the annual Jenison Junior High East Coast Trip a success once again. The students visited a number of historical sites throughout New England during the experience. Special thanks to Sam Lombardo for these amazing photos!
Last week our Arietta Choir, comprised of 7th grade girls from Jenison Junior High, performed at Waterford Place Retirement Community in Jenison! The residents were hanging on every note and the girls performed so well. There also were a number of outstanding solos throughout the event. At the end, the choir recognized veterans in the crowd by singing each branch of the military’s song. Way to give back to the community, Arietta Choir!
The annual Senior Parade took place at all our elementary schools & the junior high this week! The great energy from students & staff was palpable and the #Classof2026 was celebrated as they walked through the halls of their former schools. Here are our top moments from Pinewood and the junior high!
Last week all our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders visited the Jenison Center for the Arts for the Instrument Demo Concerts! The Jenison Junior High 8th grade band and orchestra kids showcased the musical instrument opportunities by playing many popular movie soundtracks. Everything sounded GREAT. The orchestra and band directors highlighted each instrument involved so students had awareness and could make an informed decision about their future. Great work orchestra and band students!
So proud to see our Junior High Honors Band members recognized by the Board of Education last night! 🎶👏
Snow days can occasionally require adjustments to school food menus as our nutrition team carefully considers food safety, freshness, and delivery logistics. For the most up-to-date menu information, please check “Food Menus” for your school building under the “More” tab in the JPS App.
Snow days can occasionally require adjustments to school food menus as our nutrition team carefully considers food safety, freshness, and delivery logistics. For the most up-to-date menu information, please check “Food Menus” for your school building under the “More” tab in the JPS App.
This summer Jenison Junior High installed a track and field and cross country school record board in the gym and it looks GREAT! We dropped by yesterday to check it out and meet some of the current junior high students on the board. Go Junior High!
Welcome back students!
This afternoon JPS welcomed back staff for our annual kickoff celebration! We loved seeing our amazing team return to campus, including the mother-daughter combo of Pinewood Teacher Sara Brower and new High School Teacher Abigail Lovins. Assistant Superintendent Leslie Philipps honored our staff members who reached the 20-year and 30-year marks plus we heard an inspiring, emotional message from Superintendent Brandon Graham about helping our students succeed this year. We're excited to see everyone for the first day of school tomorrow!
Kicking off this week’s Fall Sports Media Day photos is football!
The Jenison High School French program took an amazing trip to France earlier this summer! They spent a week exploring Paris and Northern France, including Normandy and Brittany. "I was super impressed with how our students took themselves out of their comfort zone by using the French they have learned in the classroom to order their food and ask questions in real life situations," French Teacher Becca Frandsen said. "... We are hoping to take a trip to France every other year, and are looking forward to planning a trip for summer 2027!"
Special shoutout to Jenison swimmer Eryn Drayton who is swimming a portion of a 441-mile relay to remember the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking!
Special shoutout to the Jenison Girls Golf team for an extra creative sports media day photo shoot today! For the first time ever, we had a team bring confetti. Good luck this year girls golf and watch for more sports soon!
Remember the Wildcat Festival is almost here! The annual community event takes place from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 28 just outside the football stadium.
Our Fall Sports Media Days are underway! The first team to drop by was boys cross country. Enjoy these top shots and stay tuned for more teams in the coming days! #ReadytoCompete
We are excited to announce that Zach Mendoza has been hired as the new Director of Strength and Performance at JPS! Most recently serving as an Assistant Sports Performance Coach at Grand Valley State University, Zach has led performance programming for multiple collegiate teams, overseen fueling strategies for athletes, and supervised intern development. Please join us in welcoming Zach to the Wildcat community!
The defending state champion Jenison Marching Band finished their pre-camp yesterday with an outstanding performance at the David McKenzie Stadium! Next week they begin their annual band camp, which culminates with a community performance on Friday evening. Check out our favorite photos from the afternoon and stay tuned for more information on the community performance! #ReadytoPerform
