The Weekly Update #4

It’s hard to believe that 2025 is already coming to a close. The year has gone by quickly and has been filled with so many moments worth celebrating. This time of year always reminds me how important it is to slow down, give thanks, and appreciate the people around us. I hope you and your family enjoy a season full of peace, joy, and connection.

As we move into the new year, one of our main priorities will be developing a new three-year strategic plan for Hudsonville Public Schools. Our current plan, SOAR V, concludes at the end of this calendar year, and we are preparing to launch SOAR VI. This process will help us identify priorities and guide decision-making as our district continues to grow and evolve. Throughout the winter, we will gather feedback from many different voices in our community. In February, we will host focus groups that include parents, staff members, community leaders, senior citizens, booster members, and representatives from local businesses. Their input will help shape a districtwide survey that will be distributed later in the spring. The survey will invite all members of the Hudsonville community to share their thoughts on topics such as building capacity, financial planning, and educational opportunities. The results will help guide our Board of Education as it plans for the future of our district.

Although we have yet to experience our first snow day of the season, winter weather is right around the corner. When the snow begins to fall, please know that the safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We monitor road conditions closely and work with local officials before making a decision. Our goal is to announce any closings or delays by 5:45 a.m. Families will receive a phone and email notification, and updates will also appear on local media outlets. For those who prefer social media, I will post weather-related updates on X (formerly Twitter) at @dvanderjagt70. These updates will also be posted on Facebook and Instagram.

Recently, several of our school leaders attended a safety conference focused on protecting children from sextortion and human trafficking. These are serious topics, but learning about them helps us keep our students safe. Sextortion happens when someone online tries to trick or scare a child into sending pictures or personal information. Human trafficking is when someone is forced to do work or activities they do not want to do. We encourage families to talk often about online safety and to remind children never to share personal information or pictures with people they do not know. If something online ever feels wrong or uncomfortable, it’s important to tell a trusted adult right away. This could be a parent, teacher, counselor, or police officer. To help support these conversations at home, our district website includes a short podcast and helpful links for families to learn more.

Thank you for making Hudsonville such a special place to live, grow, and learn. I am grateful for our students, staff, and families who make this community so strong. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a great start to 2026.

Dr. VanderJagt

Superintendent

Open House:

Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Early Childhood Center, 5535 School Ave. (main entrance off Madison Ave.)

This is a chance to gather information about our programs, meet staff, and visit the Early Childhood Center. There is no formal presentation and children are welcome.

Programs:

• 3 Year Old Preschool

• 4 Year Old Preschool, including 4 Year Old “PreK for All” FREE Preschool

• Before/After School Care

• Summer Care

Online Registration:

Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.

Registration link at hudsonvillepublicschools.org under “Schools/Early Childhood Center”

A $50 fee per child is due if enrolling in a tuition-based program.

For more information, please email eccoffice@hpseagles.net or call the Early Childhood office at 616-797-0842, ext. 1.

We are beyond proud to announce that Forest Grove Elementary has been named a Blue Ribbon School for 2025! In order to achieve this high honor a school is nominated by the Michigan Department of Education, which means Forest Grove is one of the state’s highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.

On Thursday, November 13, 2025, HPS Board of Education President Greg Chanski, Superintendent Dr. Doug VanderJagt, former Forest Grove Principal John Gillette, current Forest Grove Principal Joe Szymanski, Instructional Coach Katherine Farrell, Third Grade Teacher Kim Mulder, and Student Support Specialist Jill VanDenend traveled to Lansing to receive this prestigious award on behalf of Forest Grove Elementary.

On October 31, Hudsonville Public Schools hosted a full day of professional learning for all PK–12 teachers and certified staff. The morning began at the high school, where participants learned together about the Dyslexia legislation (Public Act 146), and the district’s implementation timeline. Together, we also explored the topic of addressing incidences of bias or derogatory behavior and how to respond to those incidents from a trauma-informed and restorative lens.

Following the morning sessions, the day split into elementary and secondary learning. PK–5 teachers collaborated by grade level to review assessment/grading practices, explore the district’s new data platform Forefront, and see how it supports differentiation and parent communication. Grades 6–12 staff participated in principal and coach-led choice sessions designed to strengthen Professional Learning Community (PLC) work.

The afternoon featured EagleU—festively nicknamed EagleBOO—a self-selected learning platform with sessions ranging from classroom engagement strategies to restorative practices, AI, and grit development. Special Education staff collaborated within departments to explore topics specific to Special Education eligibility and evaluations, Special Education service delivery and best practices, and supporting students with diverse needs.

Teacher feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with each portion of the day rated above 4 out of 5. As one teacher shared, “I left feeling like I have a ton of great resources to implement in my classroom.”

Thank you for being an important part of Hudsonville Education Foundation (HEF)! We are grateful to the 230 fans who joined the tailgate and game for Hudsonville Eagles Day at GVSU’s Lubbers Stadium in October. The November Eagles of Excellence Gala was a powerful evening celebrating 275 alumni, students, and the educators, families, and business leaders that support them. You can see photos from the evening at Eagles of Excellence Gala : Events & Fundraisers : Get Involved : Hudsonville Education Foundation.

The last few weeks of 2025 are an opportunity to rally our HEF supporters and prepare for an impactful 2026. Two key updates and dates to save for 2026 include:

SUPPORT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS: APPLICATIONS LAUNCHING JANUARY 15

We look forward to launching the student scholarship application early in the new year. Applications and additional details will be available via the HEF website on January 15. We are currently raising support to expand this opportunity from four $1,000 scholarships to five.

How can you help?

On Giving Tuesday (December 2), you can help us reach our $5,000 goal to expand student scholarships. Your gift supports Hudsonville students in achieving their post-secondary dreams. Donate HERE.

HELP BUILD THE LINKEDIN, FACEBOOK SOCIAL COMMUNITIES
When you follow, like, and share videos, event news, and updates on HEF's Facebook and LinkedIn pages, you make a difference in raising awareness for great work and great people. NEW: Follow the new "HEF -Hudsonville Education Foundation" on Facebook and alert friends to the updated name.

SAVE KEY 2026 DATES

• 5/6/26 SPRING SOAREE AT FARMHAUS CIDER
• 10/3/26 HUDSONVILLE EAGLES DAY AT GVSU GAME
• 11/2/26 EAGLES OF EXCELLENCE GALA

Thank you for your continued support. Together, we’re building a brighter future for Hudsonville students. Reach out to HEF Executive Director Lacey Dixon at ldixon@hpseagles.net with any questions.

Our elementary schools and the 5/6 Building are wrapping up the PE C.A.R.E.S. Non-Perishable Food Drive. This is an annual tradition for our HPS students to show their caring and compassion for others in need. During their Physical Education classes, students and PE teachers organize and count the items, then prepare them for donation. The PE teachers take advantage of this opportunity to teach students about nutrition using real-world examples. The food collected during the drive is then donated to many of our local food banks throughout our community. So far, the elementary students have brought in close to 20,000 items to share with those in need.

We want to thank Hudsonville Lanes for their continued support of this fantastic community service project. Hudsonville Lanes donates a bowling party to the classes from each school with the highest total number of items donated per student. The kids love having the opportunity to help others in their community, and receiving positive reinforcement from Hudsonville Lanes shows our students that when we all work together, our Hudsonville Community can accomplish some amazing things.

Hudsonville High School is proud to announce that Hudsonville Public Schools has been selected as a recipient of the Michigan Universal FAFSA Challenge Grant, a statewide initiative designed to increase student access to financial aid and postsecondary opportunities. The district was awarded $435,018.84 to strengthen FAFSA completion efforts for all seniors—an investment that will directly impact Hudsonville High School students and families.

The Universal FAFSA Challenge, launched by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), supports schools that implement policies ensuring every graduating senior has the opportunity to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The grant provides funding for additional staff support, outreach efforts, technology, and family and student engagement resources to remove barriers that often prevent students from accessing financial aid.

“At Hudsonville High School, we’re committed to opening as many doors as possible for our students,” said school administrators. “This grant will help us provide personalized guidance, dedicated FAFSA support events, and more one-on-one assistance for students and parents navigating the financial aid process.”

The grant enabled the high school to hire two part-time FAFSA Coordinators, David Howard and Sarah Keranen-Lopez, to coordinate activities and to meet with students and families. Both coordinators have extensive experience leading college access programs, student programming, and community outreach in public school settings.

Among the advanced educational credentials of the FAFSA Coordinators, they also hold the FAFSA Specialist Certification from the Michigan College Access Program. With the added support of dedicated staffing, the program has launched best-practice FAFSA completion strategies, including: family FAFSA completion nights; walk-up and drop-in support sessions every week in a seminar with a dedicated FAFSA Lab; classroom FAFSA and financial aid application workshops; and encouragement campaigns with FAFSA step completion incentives. Additional funding will allow the school to streamline support systems further, track FAFSA completion data, increase communication resources, and ensure that every student—regardless of background—has access to financial aid information.

So far this school year, Howard and Keranen-Lopez coordinated the Michigan Financial Aid office to host an information table at parent/teacher conferences, a parent and student FAFSA night with dinner hosted by the Michigan Financial Aid office, bi-monthly newsletters for seniors and parents, promotional contests for Federal Student Aid Account creation completion, college visit field trips to Calvin University and Grand Valley State University, and multiple Free Application for Federal Student Aid guidance workshops for students to complete steps of the application.

The FAFSA Coordinators also attended the Michigan College Access Network Annual Conference in Lansing in November to gather information on successful college-access financial aid programs. Keranen-Lopez added, “It was a great opportunity to learn more about effective financial aid strategies that other Michigan high schools are using and to build connections with state financial aid staff.” She added, “We often talk with the Michigan Student Aid office, but it is great to meet with them in person for more discussion.” She added, “Establishing personal connections with college admissions representatives and others in the field of college access programs helps to build more opportunities and connections for students.”

Keranen-Lopez explained the importance of finishing a FAFSA and the effects that it has on college and career program entrance in the fall after graduation. She said, “According to the National College Attainment Network, ‘FAFSA completion is: 92% of seniors who completed the FAFSA enrolled by the November following graduation vs. 51% who did not complete a FAFSA’.”

With college costs rising and financial aid rules evolving, Hudsonville High School sees this funding as an essential step toward increasing postsecondary enrollment and ensuring students graduate with a clear understanding of their options.

“We want every senior to feel confident about their future,” the school shared. “This grant helps us empower families with the tools and information they need to make informed decisions.”

The district had a smaller FAFSA completion grant in the 2024-25 year, and Howard and Keranen-Lopez worked limited hours throughout the school year. Despite starting in mid-October of 2024 and ending mid-May of 2025, Howard stated, “Hudsonville’s 2024-25 FAFSA completion saw a remarkable 31% increase for the Class of 2025 compared to the Class of 2024—demonstrating our students’ growing commitment to their futures and the community’s strong support for expanding opportunity.

Howard stated, “By students completing their FAFSAs, they are unlocking the financial aid for which they are qualified, including federal, state, and other forms of financial aid which colleges and skills schools have available for students with a Student Aid Index number.” He said, “In fact, when students The FAFSA unlocks the Michigan Achievement Scholarships which included the Michigan Achievement Scholarship for SAI indexes 30K and less, good for $5,500 per year at a Michigan College, free tuition for a community college certification or associates degree in district at a Michigan community college and up to $2,000 for an approved Michigan certification program.”

Hudsonville High School will share updated FAFSA support schedules with students and families in the coming weeks. Staff encourage all seniors and their parents or guardians to participate in upcoming events and take advantage of the resources now available through the grant.

During October, all students at South participated in a classroom community circle focused on a page from the book I Am We by Susan Verde. The page we read in October stated, "My friends, my family, my community. Because I do not exist alone; I am part of something bigger than myself." We discussed what it means to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

Students took turns sharing something unique about themselves. As students shared, they tied a fabric piece onto another classmate's fabric to show that we are all linked. All of the fabric links are now hanging in the cafeteria, and students are making cross-grade-level connections during lunch in November.

In 2026, ODC Network is leading a movement to help West Michigan find a healthier balance with technology, beginning with the Unplugged Speaker Series and continuing throughout the year-long "The Future Lives Outdoors" campaign.

Unplugged is a free, 4-part speaker series taking place in early 2026 that explores how excessive screen time is reshaping our lives and offers practical ways to restore balance and connection for individuals, families, and our community.

Grounded in ODC’s mission to advance outdoor education and conservation, and our vision to build a better community by connecting people, land, and nature, Unplugged connects national expertise with local knowledge and nature-based solutions for community well-being.

Learn more and register:
Unplugged Speaker Series Event Page

The high school special education class is building essential life skills and gaining vocational experience by creating dog treats. Each treat is handmade and packaged with care by the Eagles Barkery team, a group of students with special needs, who gain valuable skills at every stage of production. Students learn to follow sequential steps and read recipes, mix dough to build strength, and fill molds with precision to develop fine motor skills through repetition. They also count, fill, and seal bags during the packaging process.

The treats will be sold in the high school main office and the high school café from December 1–12 for $2.00 a bag. The money earned from sales goes toward additional community outings for students, providing further opportunities to practice social, functional, and independent skills in real-world settings. Through this hands-on work, students build responsibility, confidence, and vocational readiness in a meaningful and engaging way.

Over the next few years, schools across Michigan will begin implementing Public Act 146, also known as the state’s Dyslexia Law. The goal is to ensure that all students—especially those who struggle with reading—receive high-quality, research-based instruction and early support.

The law requires schools to screen students for reading difficulties three times a year, provide targeted interventions when needed, and adopt reading curricula aligned with the science of reading (K-5). It also includes professional learning expectations for teachers to strengthen reading instruction across grade levels.

Hudsonville Public Schools has been preparing for these changes through professional learning on structured literacy, the collaborative work of our district-wide PK–12 ELA Committee, and the creation of a clear adoption timeline. The Michigan Department of Education will release approved curriculum lists in January 2026, with district review and piloting in 2026–27 and full implementation by 2027–28.

During our October 31 Professional Learning Day, teachers explored the characteristics of dyslexia, clarified misconceptions, and learned how this statewide work connects to Hudsonville’s ongoing literacy efforts.

Our commitment remains the same: every child deserves strong, evidence-based reading instruction that leads to confidence and success—and every teacher deserves the training, tools, and support to make that possible.