As Superintendent of The Godwin Heights Public School District, I am thrilled to welcome our students, parents, community members, and staff to the 2024-2025 school year. Over the summer, our team has been working diligently to ensure that our students have the resources and tools they need to succeed academically, become workforce-ready, and grow into productive citizens.

We are committed to finding innovative ways to ensure our students are successful. However, we cannot do it alone. We need your support more than ever to ensure our students read and study at home. The beginning of each school year is always an exciting time, as it presents opportunities for new beginnings and fresh starts - new classes, new faces, new expectations, more choices and often new materials. Your students' time is now. A time to grow, challenge themselves and enjoy the adventure ahead, the adventure of learning. Our goal is to help your family, not just your child. To help your child achieve creative potential, explore technology and challenge themselves to enjoy the adventures of learning.

We look forward to a great year! We believe in our students, and we believe in you. Let's have a fantastic year at Godwin Heights!

Together, we can all make it yet another "Great Year to be a Wolverine"!

With Deep Respect.

Bill Fetterhoff

Superintendent

There are many new faces in and around our district. We are lucky to have the following new employees join us this school year.

High School

• Megan Serin - Art Teacher
• Moo Paw - Custodian
• Carmen Centeno - Food Service

Middle School

• Bonnie Ratzer - ASD Paraprofessional
• Yoland Brown - EL/ML Paraprofessional
• Shane Cox - Paraprofessional
• Morgan Oakes - Media Clerk
• Lluvia Saucedo - EL/ML Paraprofessional
• Breasia West - TEAM 21 Group Leader

North Godwin

• Jessica Worm - ASD Teacher
• Hayley Carlisle - Library / Intervention Specialist
• Emily Dean - Premier Sub
• Samantha Sebright - Premier Sub
• Emariliz (Emma) Colon - TEAM 21 Site Coordinator

West Godwin

• Carolyn Becera - ASD Paraprofessional
• Jenifer Bement - ASD Paraprofessional
• Michelle DuBuis - Kinder Connect Teacher
• Denise Martin - MTSS Coordinator
• Alana Denton-Walsh - Premier Sub
• Jennifer Lardie - Reading Paraprofessional
• Vickie Wilkinson - Special Education Paraprofessional
• Sophia Bieri - TEAM 21 Group Leader

Early Childhood Center

• Tiffani Grady-St. Clair - Custodian
• Kathleen (Katie) Murphy - Speech/Language Pathologist

On Tuesday, November 5, voters in our district will have the important task of electing school board members who will help shape the future of our schools and the education of our students. This election will fill three seats on the Godwin Heights Public Schools Board of Education, including one partial term and two full terms. The board is instrumental in guiding the district’s policies, setting goals, and ensuring the success of our schools and students.

The candidates:

• Colleen Anderson seeking a six-year term.

• David Drake seeking a six-year term.

• LeeAnn Platschorre is running to fill a partial term ending on December 31, 2028.

To run for your local school board, on the date of election, you must be a U.S. citizen; at least 18 years of age; a resident of Michigan for at least 30 days; a resident of the school district on or before th 30th day prior to the date of the election; and a registered voter in the school district where you intend to run.

• The board governs the district's work at the highest level by establishing policies and overseeing the superintendent's performance.
• The board adopts and enforces all necessary rules for the district's management and governance. However, it can delegate many of its powers and duties to the superintendent through board policies.
• The board approves the district's budget.

The leaders you elect will help set the priorities for Godwin Heights Public Schools in the coming years. We encourage all eligible voters to participate in this election and make their voices heard on November 5.

A brief bio of the candidates can be found below.

Lee Ann Platschorre was elected in 1991 to serve on the Godwin Heights Board of Education. She currently serves as the Vice President and has held the positions of Secretary and President in previous years. Prior to her involvement with the board, Lee Ann was very active in the Godwin Heights School community. She, her husband Dan, and three children are all Godwin alumni. Throughout the years she has served on several committees in the district and in the community. She is presently a member of the Friends of the Wyoming Public Library organization, and the Wyoming Youth Violence Initiative. Lee Ann takes her board membership very seriously. "I understand the trust the community has put in me to make the right decision(s) to ensure that their child(ren) have every advantage when seeking out their career paths. "It is our responsibility, to help them realize their potential & to achieve it."

Colleen is a graduate of East Kentwood High School in 1996. She has lived in the Godwin Heights district since 2001. Colleen has worked in the dental field for many years doing many different duties. Colleen and her husband have 3 children, one of them is attending the high school. She has always wanted to be a voice for the children of Godwin. She is an eager learner and hard worker with a passion for supporting our students and helping them be successful. Colleen is currently serving as the board secretary.

David Drake was elected to the Board of Education in August of 2013. As a lifelong resident of Godwin Heights, David and his wife Libbie have four children that attended and graduated from Godwin Heights Public Schools. David is very active in the community as the Pastor of CrossWinds Church. He has served on the Board of Executive Directors for the Michigan Baptist General Conference. David has also volunteered at every level of education in the Godwin District as well as coaching football. David is very committed to the Godwin Heights community and believes that greatness is available and possible for all of our students.

We are pleased to inform you that students aged 3-21 enrolled in any Godwin Heights Public School are welcome to receive services regardless of their ability to pay. Walk-in appointments are available for a variety of medical services, including sports and wellness physical exams, prescription medications such as antibiotics, treatment for injuries and illnesses, immunizations, and tests for illnesses like strep, flu, or COVID-19. Additionally, we ensure to share information with your primary care provider.

Our on-staff counselors are also available to assist with mental health needs, including family and relationship issues, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and more. All students ages 3-21 enrolled in Godwin Heights Public Schools are welcome, regardless of ability to pay. Per school policy, the person bringing the child to/from the appointment must be on the release form. Cherry Health accepts all Medicaid and Healthy Michigan plans, Medicare, and many other insurance plans. A sliding fee payment scale and interpretation services are available.

Call 616.965.0435 to make an appointment.

For further information and clinic hours, please refer to the flyers linked below:

On Monday, September 23, Godwin Heights Public Schools celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Cherry Health school-based health center. This facility will provide essential healthcare services to students, ensuring they have easy access to medical and mental health care. Community leaders, staff, and board members gathered to mark the occasion, emphasizing the importance of this partnership in promoting student wellness and success. Two video stories highlighting the event and its impact are linked below.

Are you a superfan? Don't miss out on seeing the Fighting Wolverines in action. Visit our new athletic website for up to date games, scores, purchase the latest Wolverine apparel and shout outs to our athletes.

Exciting updates are coming from the athletic department!

Our boys' soccer teams are excelling, with both JV and Varsity enjoying great success. Meanwhile, our JV and Varsity volleyball teams have advanced to the semi-finals in recent tournaments, and both secured impressive victories against Lee as they aim to improve their records. Despite some injuries, our football team triumphed over Comstock Park and is gearing up to take on Fruitport in our highly anticipated Homecoming game on Friday, October 4th!

Join us on Friday, October 4, 2024 for the Godwin Heights Wolverines fall homecoming parade and football game!

The Wolverines will take on Fruitport High School at 7:00 PM on the Carl P. Bahre Football Field, located at 3501 Hillcroft Avenue SW. The exciting homecoming parade will begin in front of the high school before the game with a 6:00 PM start time.

Show your Godwin Pride and support the team!

#WeAreGodwin.

The Wyoming Friendly Invitational brought together the marching bands from Kelloggsville, Wyoming, Godwin Heights, and Lee high schools for a spirited Saturday afternoon of music and camaraderie on September 14 at the Wyoming High School football field. Unlike traditional competitions, the event focused on showcasing each band’s hard work and progress so far this season. The event opened with each band playing their school fight song, followed by performing their halftime shows to an enthusiastic crowd. Students had the chance to connect, share tips, and celebrate their collective love for music. For the full article, click here.

Then on September 21, the band kicked off their competition season in spectacular fashion, securing 1st place in their division with an impressive score of 64.5! This achievement is especially notable as many of the band members are new to the activity, making this a tremendous first performance. The students received valuable feedback from the judging panel, which will help guide their growth as they prepare for future performances. The band is excited to continue refining and expanding their show in preparation for their next competition at Rockford High School on October 12th.

Great job, Wolverines!

Godwin Heights Public Schools has a proud partnership with Feeding America West Michigan. They provide mobile food truck pantries to our school district once a month.

One in every 9 people. At least 261,000 people in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula are food insecure—meaning they don't have consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity exists for a variety of reasons, and anyone can experience a bout of it. Feeding America West Michigan, believes hunger is unacceptable and that their community has the power to change lives—one meal at a time. That’s why they've assembled a network of partners that they work alongside on their mission to relieve hunger and increase food security in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

Our Feeding America truck distributions will now be every month on WEDNESDAYS!

Location: Godwin Heights High School - 50 35th Street SW (4:45 - 6:00 pm)

• October 9, 2024
• November 13, 2024
• December 3, 2024 - Note: Date change

This fall, Godwin Heights High School juniors are diving into their future through the schools NextSteps program, which provides students with hands-on college and career exploration. The program aims to inspire and guide students in their post-high school journey by offering campus visits and exposure to higher education options and industry.

The first stop on the full schedule is Ferris State University. Juniors explored the campus, attended informational sessions, and enjoyed lunch at TheRock to get a taste of college life. These visits are designed to help students envision their future and make informed decisions about their educational paths.

With multiple campus visits lined up this season, students will experience diverse learning environments and academic programs, empowering them to take confident steps toward their future. The NextSteps program at Godwin continues to be a pivotal resource in helping students reach their goals.

In Mrs. Mardis’ ongoing discussions with her scholars, she emphasizes the importance of understanding both our differences and our shared humanity. This past summer, she attended a professional development event where a speaker introduced a lifelong project that resonated deeply with her. Inspired by this idea, she decided to implement a similar initiative in her classroom this year.

During the first week of classes, they explored their diverse cultures and traditions and marked their birthplaces on a map. This activity sparked meaningful conversations about various customs and their theme, "Celebrating Our Differences and Sharing Our Similarities."

To enhance this project further, she would like to continue adding new students to the map as they join her class. She believes this will not only foster a sense of belonging but also enrich our collective understanding of each other's backgrounds.

Thank you for your support as we embark on this journey of exploration and connection.

On Tuesday, September 24, students, parents, and families enthusiastically gathered for an engaging and fun-filled STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Night! The event offered a wide range of interactive activities that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. Participants had the chance to dive into hands-on projects like budgeting challenges, constructing bridges sturdy enough to hold stuffed animals, exploring the world of Computer Coding, and even experimenting with Robots!

The night was buzzing with energy as families moved from one activity to another, learning together and testing out different tools and technologies. With over 100 attendees, the event was a resounding success, providing a dynamic space for students and their families to experience STEM education in a fun and interactive way. Everyone left with smiles, having gained new knowledge and memories.

H.O.P.E. Gardens is a Michigan-based 501(c)3 dedicated to addressing food insecurity by teaching people a simple, affordable way to grow their own food. This organization continues to partner with North Godwin's T.E.A.M. 21 program and kicked off the 2024-2025 school year with a harvest lesson. Our North Godwin T.E.A.M. students were able to harvest and weigh tomatoes, various types of basil, swiss chard and peppers from the school's garden. Their kickoff activity also included a salad tasting station where some of our students had heirloom tomatoes and ranch for the first time. collaborative, hands-on, experiential approach reinforces concepts and teaches students practical life skills.

H.O.P.E. Gardens brings garden education to the classroom and as part of after-school and summer programs. Students experience all stages of gardening including planting, tending, harvesting, and winterizing a garden on school grounds. Their experiential lessons meet academic science standards. They also provide a seed-saving and seed-sharing program where students give seeds to surrounding schools and the community.

We are grateful for the opportunity to provide our students enriching experiences through T.E.A.M. 21 at North Godwin.

The School Safety Program has a long tradition at North Godwin Elementary. Near the end of each school year, students completing their 4th grade year may apply to be a school safety for 5th grade. Interested students are asked to write a letter expressing their interest in the program and why they should be considered to serve as a safety. They must also have a recommendation from their teacher, or our Principal, Mr. Minard.

Students are chosen based on their history of showing PRIDE throughout the school, positive attendance, staff recommendations, and how well they have expressed their interest and abilities in their application letter. Being chosen as a school safety is considered a privilege for 5th graders, and those who serve enjoy the responsibility. They are each given their own safety belt so that they are easily identified while on duty.

Our school safeties are assigned to specific positions in the building. There are those who are responsible for putting the flag up each day, and properly taking it down and folding it at the end of the day. There is a morning team that greets visitors and late students. They are responsible for handing out tardy passes, collecting tardy passes from classrooms, and securing the vestibule doors before they go off duty. The bus team is assigned to work with a staff member checking students onto buses at the end of the school day. The car dismissal team assists students as they are picked up in the car line. The snack/food team of safeties is responsible for delivery Kids Food Basket sacks and Hand 2 Hand meals. They are also present at other events and during activities throughout the school year.

When asked why some of our current safeties wanted to be in the program, here are some of the responses:

• Laylah Joiner, 5th (Miss Shannon) - "I have been dreaming about doing it since 3rd grade. Also, my mom really wanted me to do it."
• Jerray Collier, 5th (Ms. Meyers) - "My reason for applying to be a safety is that I like being responsible and I really like our Safety Coordinator, Miss Fetterhoff. Also, and I am just being honest, I like being able to take a break from class to hang and lower the flag."
• Jeronimo Soto, 5th (Mrs. Hill) - "My older brother, Jesus, was a safety in elementary school. He is in high school now and I look up to him. I want to be just like him someday. I have been waiting since I was at West Godwin to be a 5th grade safety!"
• Jaliyah White, 5th (Miss Shannon) - "I applied because I want to be a good leader for kids. I like being a role model. I especially love helping kids. My favorite thing is to work directly with people because I am a people person."

We are very proud of our safeties at North Godwin. The program is supervised by Miss Rachel Fetterhoff, our Speech and Language Pathologist. Miss Fetterhoff has a detailed list of safety duties and expectations, and she holds the students accountable for their actions and responsibilities, not only while on duty, but also throughout the school day. Her safety team members are role models to other students and they must maintain and project positive PRIDE behavior expectations. Safeties are rewarded at the end of the school year with a special celebration. Thank you, 2024-2025 North Godwin Safety Team! We are so proud of you!

Chronic absenteeism is at an all time high nationwide. What does it mean to be chronically absent? When a student misses 10% or more of the school year, they are considered chronically absent. Research has shown that being chronically absent has numerous negative effects on students, including not reading at grade level, being retained, and even graduation rates.

This year at West Godwin, we are working hard to bring awareness to the importance of good school attendance! Our Kent School Services Network (KSSN) Community School Coordinator and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Success Coach visited each classroom and talked to students about how important it is to come to school every day, unless you're sick, and they taught some routines and tips as well. Then they told students about all of the awesome prizes they can win just for coming to school! The attendance team will be monitoring students' attendance and doing a drawing every month from students who have had 2 or less absences to win a prize! At the end of the semester and at the end of the school year, they will do an even bigger drawing for some grand prizes like sleds in December and bikes and scooters in May for students with good attendance! Parents of students will also be entered into the monthly drawings to win some amazing gift card prizes as well! Each classroom is also participating in a classroom challenge to work together to earn prizes. Each class has a Perfect Attendance color-in sheet and they get to fill in a letter each time everyone is present for the day. When they fill in the whole sheet they will get a class prize!

Our goal this year is to raise awareness, so talk to your friends and your kids about the importance of good attendance!

The Early Childhood Center has a new phone number 616.252.2005. Please use this number when reporting a student's absence or have general inquiries about the program.

We are happy to be back in session at Godwin Heights Early Childhood Center learning and playing together again! A special thank you to our facilities team for building our awesome new sandbox!

The Learning Center has been happy to welcome lots of new faces this year! We are thrilled to have Mr. Roy (English) with us, in addition to many new students across grade levels. We are looking forward to another exciting year together!

Human Resources Department

15 - 36th Street SW

Wyoming, MI 49548

Phone: 616.252.2090

Fax: 616.252.2232

Our Human Resources department is always available by email, feel free to contact us at Humanresources@godwinschools.org if you have any questions.

Online applications can be found here.

School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent County, which enroll more than 90,000 students. Founded in 2013, they are an editorially independent news site funded by Kent ISD, local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and photojournalists. They specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues that enhance or discourage student success, and highlighting the educaiton magic that happens each day in our public schools.

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There are three categories, Youth, Teen and Adult. Each category has three cash prizes of up to $500. You can find more information here.

Godwin Heights Administration Building -

Superintendent William Fetterhoff

Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and HR - Michelle Krynicki

Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Finance - Matt Hickson

15 36th Street SW

Wyoming, MI 49548

616.252.2090

Godwin Heights High School -

Principal, Chad Conklin

50- 35th Street SW

Wyoming, MI 49548

616.252.2050

Godwin Heights Learning Center -

Principal, Chad Conklin

3529 S. Division Ave. SW

Wyoming, MI 49548

616.252.2040

Godwin Heights Middle School -

Principal, Kim Urbanski

100 Wexford St. SE

Wyoming, MI 49548

616.252.2070

North Godwin Elementary -

Principal, Steve Minard

161 - 34th St. SW

Wyoming, MI 49548

616.252.2010

West Godwin Elementary -

Principal, Mary Lang

3546 Clyde Park Ave. SW

Wyoming, MI 49548

616.252.2030

Early Childhood Center (ECSE) -

Director, Dr. Derek Cooley

28 Bellevue St. SE

Wyoming, MI 49548

616.252.2005 (note...this is a new phone number)

Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

Location: 15 36th Street SW, Wyoming, MI 49548

Phone: 616-252-2090

Fax: 616-252-2232

Website: https://godwinschools.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GodwinHeightsPublicSchools

The Godwin Heights Public Schools Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis or religion, race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its program, activities, or employment. Further, it is the policy of this District to provide an equal opportunity for all students, regardless of race, color, creed, age, disability, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, place of residence within the boundaries of the District, or social or economic background, to learn through the curriculum offered in the district. For concerns or questions regarding the above discrimination statement, contact the EEOC Compliance Officer at 15 – 36th Street SW, Wyoming, MI 49548. Telephone: (616)252-2090. If your questions are not adequately addressed, refer your concerns to the President of the Godwin Heights Board of Education, 15 – 36th St SW, Wyoming, MI 49548.