American Legion Auxiliary Centennial Display at Howard Miller Library
Members of the Zeeland American Legion Auxiliary Gilbert D. Karsten Post, Unit 33 have set up a display in the hallway of the Howard Miller Library and Community Center with many artifacts from its 100 years of service to the Zeeland community.
The display will remain for viewing through the end of May. The auxiliary unit is so thankful to the library staff and the Zeeland Historical Society’s Dekker Huis Museum for the use of the display cabinets this month. With Memorial Day coming, it’s the perfect time to remember and recognize the auxiliary’s past contributions, care for our veterans and for our entire community.
Wendy Combs, Karen Hooker and Sally Gruppen assembled the items for display.
If you are interested in helping the auxiliary stay active in honoring our local veterans and those still serving, please note the information on the cabinet on how to join and assist.
The display will remain for viewing through the end of May. The auxiliary unit is so thankful to the library staff and the Zeeland Historical Society’s Dekker Huis Museum for the use of the display cabinets this month. With Memorial Day coming, it’s the perfect time to remember and recognize the auxiliary’s past contributions, care for our veterans and for our entire community.
Wendy Combs, Karen Hooker and Sally Gruppen assembled the items for display.
If you are interested in helping the auxiliary stay active in honoring our local veterans and those still serving, please note the information on the cabinet on how to join and assist.
Spring Peddlers’ Market This Weekend
The city of Zeeland will host its eleventh Spring Peddlers’ Market and fourth Little Peddlers’ event, an artfully curious faire, downtown on Church Street between Main Avenue and Central Avenue on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The market is sponsored by Mead Johnson Nutritionals. The event has attracted more than 100 different vendors from around the area, offering a large variety of items available for purchase, as well as special order.
The market will house a number of different curiosities, including but not limited to, locally handmade children’s clothing and accessories, screen-printed clothing, art prints, flowers and botanicals. Also available are handmade women’s jewelry, household gifts and goods, vintage furniture and décor, architectural salvage, handmade specialties including, fresh bread, handcrafted outdoor furniture, live music, food trucks, antiques and repurposed finds.
For more information on the Peddlers’ Market, contact City Events Coordinator Kerri Van Dorp at kvandorp@cityofzeeland. com.
The market is sponsored by Mead Johnson Nutritionals. The event has attracted more than 100 different vendors from around the area, offering a large variety of items available for purchase, as well as special order.
The market will house a number of different curiosities, including but not limited to, locally handmade children’s clothing and accessories, screen-printed clothing, art prints, flowers and botanicals. Also available are handmade women’s jewelry, household gifts and goods, vintage furniture and décor, architectural salvage, handmade specialties including, fresh bread, handcrafted outdoor furniture, live music, food trucks, antiques and repurposed finds.
For more information on the Peddlers’ Market, contact City Events Coordinator Kerri Van Dorp at kvandorp@cityofzeeland. com.
ZEF Awards More Than $70,000 in Grants
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Education Foundation has awarded more than $70,000 in grants to Zeeland Public Schools teachers and staff.
ZEF announced the awarding of more than 30 grants totaling $70,737 at a breakfast May 13 at the Miller Knoll Greenhouse.
Grants that were awarded included $10,000 to support the partnership between the district’s Early Childhood Center and Critter Barn farm school, and another $6,000 to help with the extended learning curriculum for upper elementary students who are looking to extend their learning but are not currently attending the talented and gifted program, ZEF Director Lisa Ghiardi said.
Other major grants that were awarded included $7,000 for the orchestra and choir programs at Creekside Middle School, a grant that was written by Christy Garcia; $4,691 for career-based learning at Zeeland East High School, written by Steve Oele; and $4,464 for physical education courses at Zeeland East, written by Matt Sattler and Ralph Neal.
Other awards included (with teacher grant applicant name and group represented, if applicable):
• Bethany DeGraaf, Z-Quest, for outdoor learning, $250
• Kayla zurBurg, Quincy Elementary, for art, $408
• Haley Dolce, Roosevelt Elementary, for English language arts, $550
• Bill Boerman, Woodbridge Elementary, for art, ELA, mathematics, science, nutrition/garden, $597
• Kip Holland-Anderson and Ali Neevel, Z-Quest, for science and outdoor learning, $708
• Brooke VanderStelt, Woodbridge, for sensory items, $805
• Tony Rheeder, Lincoln Elementary, furniture and appliances for Multi-Tiered System of Supports, $404
• Andrew Apol, Roosevelt, for recess times, $1,500
• Mary Spoelhof, Creekside, computer science/exploratories class, $360
• Amy Sluiter, Cityside Middle School, for special education, $500
• Jessica Klap, Creekside, for ELA, $529
• Heather Kraft, Creekside, for art, $1,225
• Lars Draeger, on behalf of physical education staff at Cityside, for PE classes, $2,400
• Sherrie Stefan, Katie Lamer and Chad Lloyd, Zeeland West special education, for math, science, social studies, special education, life skills cooking class, $200
• Pierce Velderman, Cityside/Zeeland East, for world languages, $500
• David Klyn, for Zeeland High School adapted physical education, $1,950
• Jonathan Van Eck, Zeeland East, on behalf of high school choir, DeWitt Auditorium staff and performers, $1,980
• Simon Fikse, on behalf of high school AP physics teachers, $2,322
• Laurie Jonkman and Matt Sattler, on behalf of high school Lifetime physical education teachers, $2,326
• Michael Reynolds, Zeeland East, on behalf of teachers in career-based learning, for science, computer science and engineering classes, $3,000
• Kyle Cooper, Zeeland West, for science programs, $3,000
• Nate Vande Guchte, Zeeland West, for work-based learning, $3,000
• Mary DeMey, on behalf of ZPS speech language pathologists for literacy, special education, speech and language programs, $475
• Lauren Moran, for ELA, literacy and special education programs, $810
• Stacy Gruppen, New Groningen Elementary, for elementary STEM teacher that could be shared with all district elementaries, $3,499
• Courtney Allison, Lincoln Elementary on behalf of elementary STEM teachers associated with East, STEM programming, $3,678
• Susan Tresemer and Eli Margaron, Early Childhood Center, for teacher, student success coordinator, $1,606
For more information about the Zeeland Education Foundation or to find ways to get involved or make a donation, visit the ZEF website at zps.org/alumni.
Zeeland Record
The Zeeland Education Foundation has awarded more than $70,000 in grants to Zeeland Public Schools teachers and staff.
ZEF announced the awarding of more than 30 grants totaling $70,737 at a breakfast May 13 at the Miller Knoll Greenhouse.
Grants that were awarded included $10,000 to support the partnership between the district’s Early Childhood Center and Critter Barn farm school, and another $6,000 to help with the extended learning curriculum for upper elementary students who are looking to extend their learning but are not currently attending the talented and gifted program, ZEF Director Lisa Ghiardi said.
Other major grants that were awarded included $7,000 for the orchestra and choir programs at Creekside Middle School, a grant that was written by Christy Garcia; $4,691 for career-based learning at Zeeland East High School, written by Steve Oele; and $4,464 for physical education courses at Zeeland East, written by Matt Sattler and Ralph Neal.
Other awards included (with teacher grant applicant name and group represented, if applicable):
• Bethany DeGraaf, Z-Quest, for outdoor learning, $250
• Kayla zurBurg, Quincy Elementary, for art, $408
• Haley Dolce, Roosevelt Elementary, for English language arts, $550
• Bill Boerman, Woodbridge Elementary, for art, ELA, mathematics, science, nutrition/garden, $597
• Kip Holland-Anderson and Ali Neevel, Z-Quest, for science and outdoor learning, $708
• Brooke VanderStelt, Woodbridge, for sensory items, $805
• Tony Rheeder, Lincoln Elementary, furniture and appliances for Multi-Tiered System of Supports, $404
• Andrew Apol, Roosevelt, for recess times, $1,500
• Mary Spoelhof, Creekside, computer science/exploratories class, $360
• Amy Sluiter, Cityside Middle School, for special education, $500
• Jessica Klap, Creekside, for ELA, $529
• Heather Kraft, Creekside, for art, $1,225
• Lars Draeger, on behalf of physical education staff at Cityside, for PE classes, $2,400
• Sherrie Stefan, Katie Lamer and Chad Lloyd, Zeeland West special education, for math, science, social studies, special education, life skills cooking class, $200
• Pierce Velderman, Cityside/Zeeland East, for world languages, $500
• David Klyn, for Zeeland High School adapted physical education, $1,950
• Jonathan Van Eck, Zeeland East, on behalf of high school choir, DeWitt Auditorium staff and performers, $1,980
• Simon Fikse, on behalf of high school AP physics teachers, $2,322
• Laurie Jonkman and Matt Sattler, on behalf of high school Lifetime physical education teachers, $2,326
• Michael Reynolds, Zeeland East, on behalf of teachers in career-based learning, for science, computer science and engineering classes, $3,000
• Kyle Cooper, Zeeland West, for science programs, $3,000
• Nate Vande Guchte, Zeeland West, for work-based learning, $3,000
• Mary DeMey, on behalf of ZPS speech language pathologists for literacy, special education, speech and language programs, $475
• Lauren Moran, for ELA, literacy and special education programs, $810
• Stacy Gruppen, New Groningen Elementary, for elementary STEM teacher that could be shared with all district elementaries, $3,499
• Courtney Allison, Lincoln Elementary on behalf of elementary STEM teachers associated with East, STEM programming, $3,678
• Susan Tresemer and Eli Margaron, Early Childhood Center, for teacher, student success coordinator, $1,606
For more information about the Zeeland Education Foundation or to find ways to get involved or make a donation, visit the ZEF website at zps.org/alumni.
Founder of ZPS Dance Program Retiring
Nancy Clyde (center) is retiring after 29 years of directing the dance program at Zeeland Public Schools. Clyde founded the program in 1996 and will be succeeded by one of her former students, 2014 Zeeland West graduate Samantha Lamer. Clyde is pictured with her son, Jason, 17, and daughter, Chloe, 25.
Photo courtesy Nancy Clyde
Photo courtesy Nancy Clyde
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Nearly three decades after launching the dance program in Zeeland Public Schools, Nancy Clyde is retiring.
Clyde, who began the district’s dance program in 1996, presided over her final concerts earlier this month. One of Clyde’s former students, 2014 Zeeland West High School graduate Samantha Lamer, will succeed her.
Clyde began her career as a history and social studies teacher in Zeeland Public Schools. She had been with the district for three years, and was working on her master’s degree in education at Grand Valley State University in the mid-1990s when she wrote up a proposed dance curriculum.
“We were asked to write a curriculum (for her graduate class) that we were passionate about, something that we were interested in,” Clyde said. “I had been writing history curriculum as part of my regular job, so I chose to write a dance curriculum because I truly believed that dance should be on a par with the other art forms.”
“You go to a high school and you always see a choir program, you always see a band program, you more often than not see a drama program. We very rarely see a dance program in our area of the country,” Clyde added.
Clyde presented her proposal to her building principal. The timing seemed perfect because ZPS was in the process of moving the high school to a new building at 96th Avenue and Riley Street – now Zeeland East High School.
“We were moving from a traditional schedule in the old building (now Cityside Middle School), and as we were doing that, we were moving to a block schedule, to an eight-period day where students were going to be afforded the opportunity to be able to take more elective classes,” Clyde said.
The school board approved adding dance as an elective, in time for when the new high school building opened in the fall of 1996. At first, the program consisted of instruction in modern dance, ballet and jazz, Clyde said.
“Most of our work these days is contemporary and jazz. We also do a little bit of hip-hop, a little bit of tap, quite a bit of musical theatre dance … We’ve explored other ethnic forms for individual pieces over the years,” she said.
The dance program began with a little more than 30 students, but exploded in growth in its early years.
“We went from 30 to 60, from 60 to 120. I think at the very height of enrollment, we had 200 students. That was back in the early 2000s when students could take a lot more electives than they can take now, because there were fewer requirements,” Clyde said.
At present, about 130 students are enrolled in the dance program, which is headquartered in the DeWitt Center For The Arts at Zeeland East. The program shares a wing with the choir, orchestra, band, fine arts and drama programs.
Clyde marvels at how the Zeeland community has embraced the dance program.
“I’ve seen dance grow in the greater community, which I would like to believe is a part of what we’ve done here in the program, that people have become more exposed to the art of dance, that they understand what it gives their children, and how dance is a vehicle for teaching much more than steps,” Clyde said. “There are life lessons upon life lessons. It’s about health, it’s about resilience and grit and commitment – all these things that we want for our kids.”
A graduate of Oakland University, Lamer returns to Zeeland after having taught dance in the Detroit and Ferndale public schools. She credits Clyde for inspiring her own career in dance.
“She helped introduce me to the world of K-12 dance education and demonstrated how much a dance program can elevate a school and community,” Lamer wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record. “She built this program from the ground up and has created something truly magical.”
“Her reach went far beyond the classroom as she was determined to know each of us as our own person and in turn helped many dancers through tough life situations. She continued to support and encourage us even after we graduated by celebrating our successes, dance-related or not, and being a listening ear during darker times,” Lamer added.
Clyde said that she is proud of the work that she has done with the program and hopes it will grow even more under Lamer’s leadership.
“I think we’ve planted a seed, and dance has changed in the Zeeland community a lot over these 29 years. I hope it continues to grow. I’m going to be the program’s biggest fan,” she said.
Zeeland Record
Nearly three decades after launching the dance program in Zeeland Public Schools, Nancy Clyde is retiring.
Clyde, who began the district’s dance program in 1996, presided over her final concerts earlier this month. One of Clyde’s former students, 2014 Zeeland West High School graduate Samantha Lamer, will succeed her.
Clyde began her career as a history and social studies teacher in Zeeland Public Schools. She had been with the district for three years, and was working on her master’s degree in education at Grand Valley State University in the mid-1990s when she wrote up a proposed dance curriculum.
“We were asked to write a curriculum (for her graduate class) that we were passionate about, something that we were interested in,” Clyde said. “I had been writing history curriculum as part of my regular job, so I chose to write a dance curriculum because I truly believed that dance should be on a par with the other art forms.”
“You go to a high school and you always see a choir program, you always see a band program, you more often than not see a drama program. We very rarely see a dance program in our area of the country,” Clyde added.
Clyde presented her proposal to her building principal. The timing seemed perfect because ZPS was in the process of moving the high school to a new building at 96th Avenue and Riley Street – now Zeeland East High School.
“We were moving from a traditional schedule in the old building (now Cityside Middle School), and as we were doing that, we were moving to a block schedule, to an eight-period day where students were going to be afforded the opportunity to be able to take more elective classes,” Clyde said.
The school board approved adding dance as an elective, in time for when the new high school building opened in the fall of 1996. At first, the program consisted of instruction in modern dance, ballet and jazz, Clyde said.
“Most of our work these days is contemporary and jazz. We also do a little bit of hip-hop, a little bit of tap, quite a bit of musical theatre dance … We’ve explored other ethnic forms for individual pieces over the years,” she said.
The dance program began with a little more than 30 students, but exploded in growth in its early years.
“We went from 30 to 60, from 60 to 120. I think at the very height of enrollment, we had 200 students. That was back in the early 2000s when students could take a lot more electives than they can take now, because there were fewer requirements,” Clyde said.
At present, about 130 students are enrolled in the dance program, which is headquartered in the DeWitt Center For The Arts at Zeeland East. The program shares a wing with the choir, orchestra, band, fine arts and drama programs.
Clyde marvels at how the Zeeland community has embraced the dance program.
“I’ve seen dance grow in the greater community, which I would like to believe is a part of what we’ve done here in the program, that people have become more exposed to the art of dance, that they understand what it gives their children, and how dance is a vehicle for teaching much more than steps,” Clyde said. “There are life lessons upon life lessons. It’s about health, it’s about resilience and grit and commitment – all these things that we want for our kids.”
A graduate of Oakland University, Lamer returns to Zeeland after having taught dance in the Detroit and Ferndale public schools. She credits Clyde for inspiring her own career in dance.
“She helped introduce me to the world of K-12 dance education and demonstrated how much a dance program can elevate a school and community,” Lamer wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record. “She built this program from the ground up and has created something truly magical.”
“Her reach went far beyond the classroom as she was determined to know each of us as our own person and in turn helped many dancers through tough life situations. She continued to support and encourage us even after we graduated by celebrating our successes, dance-related or not, and being a listening ear during darker times,” Lamer added.
Clyde said that she is proud of the work that she has done with the program and hopes it will grow even more under Lamer’s leadership.
“I think we’ve planted a seed, and dance has changed in the Zeeland community a lot over these 29 years. I hope it continues to grow. I’m going to be the program’s biggest fan,” she said.
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