Weekly Good News
October 26th - 30th, 2026
Community Partnership Helps Wildcat Grounds Take Shape
On Friday, October 23rd, Mrs. Moore’s school store management class at Wayland Union High School met with Sweetgrass Moon Cafe to explore a community partnership as students prepare to launch their coffee shop, Wildcat Grounds.
Sweetgrass Moon Cafe has offered hands-on barista training, support with drink menu development, and lessons on ethical sourcing and supply chains. Through this partnership, students can learn firsthand from local business owners about the day-to-day work of running a bakery and cafe. The meeting also included cookies and muffins for students to sample, with the possibility of offering these treats at the high school.
Thank you to Sweetgrass Moon Cafe for investing time and expertise in our students. We look forward to seeing this partnership grow as our Wildcats bring Wildcat Grounds to life!
Theatre Students Explore Shakespeare on Stage
On Friday, October 23rd, Mrs. Black’s Theatre Production class enjoyed Bard to Go: Excellent Falsehood, presented through the Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival’s educational outreach program.
Designed to introduce students to Shakespeare, this new production explores disguise, deceit, and trickery through scenes from Twelfth Night, Hamlet, Henry IV, and Much Ado About Nothing. Characters reveal their plans to the audience while hiding their true intentions from others on stage.
The performance offered students an engaging opportunity to experience Shakespeare’s storytelling brought to life!
A Heartfelt Celebration of Reading at Pine Street
Mrs. Dare’s fourth graders at Pine Street Elementary brought their shared reading text, Love, Amalia, to life this week with a celebration of family and connection.
Inspired by the main character, students wrote and mailed letters to special family members. Some also brought homemade treats, made with love, to share with their classroom family.
A beautiful rainbow appeared during the celebration, adding a little extra magic to a memorable day!
Harvest Hop
On Thursday, October 29th, Wayland Union High School Student Council hosted its annual Harvest Hop party, welcoming Level II students from Wayland, Byron Center, and Thornapple Kellogg, along with peers and staff.
Students enjoyed games, dancing, lunch, and a variety of activities, filling the celebration with smiles and laughter.
Thank you to Student Council and everyone who helped create a memorable day of friendship and fun!
Learning Takes Flight in Ms. Kupres' Class
Ms. Kupres’ class recently completed Great Migrations: Butterflies, exploring informational text to learn about the monarch butterfly’s life cycle and migration journey.
Along the way, students studied nonfiction text features, including the table of contents, photographs, captions, labels, diagrams, maps, glossary, and index. The activity helped students practice using these features to find information and deepen their understanding of these remarkable butterflies.
Serving Up Smiles in the Hallway
Mrs. Black brought a little extra fun to the hallway by stepping into the role of a sample station worker from a store that shall remain unnamed (IYKYK). Students passing by could stop for a sample and a smile, adding an unexpected treat to their school day.
A Hands-On Look at our Bones
Mrs. Nykerk’s class explored the question, “Why do our skeletons have so many bones?” during a recent Mystery Science lesson. Students considered what their bodies would be like without bones and learned about the role skeletons play.
During the “Skeleton Hand” activity, students combined science and art by tracing their hands and adding see-through bones to their pictures, creating their own skeleton hand designs!
Wildcats Explore Opportunities at GRCC
A group of Wayland Union High School juniors and seniors visited Grand Rapids Community College this week for a guided campus tour and a closer look at life after high school.
Students explored academic programs, connected with college staff, and learned how community college can support their education and career goals.
Experiences like this help students explore their options and make informed decisions about their futures, reflecting our district’s commitment to preparing every student for life after graduation.
Thank you for representing our school so well, Wildcats!
