Points of Pride

It is with great pride and excitement that we announce that Caledonia Elementary School has been named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for being an Exemplary High Performing School!  Awesome job, Caledonia Elementary!!

Press Release - September 19, 2023
National Blue Ribbon School Award Announcement

We are excited to announce that Dutton Elementary School has been recognized as a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for being an Exemplary High Performing School. Awesome job, Dutton!!

Capturing Kids' Hearts National Showcase School

Exciting News! Dutton Elementary, Kettle Lake Elementary, Paris Ridge Elementary, and Kraft Meadows Intermediate have each been named 2023-2024 Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools! This recognition celebrates their commitment to fostering nurturing and positive environments for all our students. Join us in congratulating our schools on this outstanding achievement!

CKH Convoy of Hope Recipients

Our Capturing Kids' Hearts(CKH) representative recently embarked on a district wide journey, making surprise visits to all our buildings. Her mission? To shine a spotlight on an exceptional educator and present them with a well-deserved $100 gift card, courtesy of the CKH Convoy of Hope project.

This special recognition celebrates the unwavering dedication these teachers have shown to our Capturing Kids' Hearts initiative. It's truly inspiring to witness the passion and commitment of staff who consistently go above and beyond to ensure our students thrive. Let's give a huge round of applause to these staff and all our outstanding educators who touch lives and make a difference every day!

ECC - Trisha Scott
CE - Jenny King
DE - Karlene Hantle
EL - Kelly Mulry
KL - Nancy Dryburgh
PR - Nicole Meurlin
KMIS - Becky Bravata
DLMS - Emma Ritz-Smith 
CHS - Ian Durkee
 

Rising Star Awards

Caledonia Community Schools is honored to have 7 buildings to be selected as a "Rising Star" by Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH)! This is given to a select group of schools in their first year of implementation of CKH, who have shown exemplary progress and impact of CKH practices in the building. Nice work teams!

Congratulations to Dutton Elementary for being honored with the TalentFirst Literacy Leader Award, joining a select group of five West Michigan elementary schools as recipients of this inaugural recognition! TalentFirst came out to Dutton Elementary to present a $1,000 check for their outstanding achievement in fostering a culture of literacy!

We are thrilled to share that all 9 of our schools in the district have earned the prestigious MI HEARTSafe School designation for 2023-2026! This honor, presented by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan Department of Education, American Heart Association, Michigan High School Athletic Association, and Michigan Alliance for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young, recognizes our commitment to creating a safer learning environment and helping prevent sudden cardiac death. 

This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our staff and community to prioritize student and staff safety. 

Caledonia Elementary recently earned a Bronze School Wellness Award for fostering an active school environment. With support from a grant by Building Healthy Communities, they expanded their run club, dubbed the “Recess Run Club.” This initiative, led by Mr. Huck, allows students to run or walk during recess on Tuesdays and Thursdays, resulting in an impressive 88% participation rate among students and an average of 245 miles covered daily. This program not only promotes physical activity but also instills healthy habits and educates students about the importance of an active lifestyle.

We're excited to share that Caledonia Elementary School has earned an impressive Top 25 in the state on the U.S. News & World Report's rankings for the Top Elementary Schools in Michigan!  This incredible recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and the entire Cal community. Way to go, Cal El!  

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/elementary-schools/michigan

Caledonia Community Schools is incredibly proud of Robin Trocinski, preschool teacher at Duncan Lake Early Childhood Center, for being named a 2024 Literacy Champion by the Kent District Library! Robin’s dedication to fostering a love of reading in our youngest learners is truly inspiring. Congratulations, Robin!

Sprout Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Mrs. Bravata for winning the prestigious Sprout Teacher of the Year award at the Groundswell Stewardship Initiative student showcase! Her dedication and innovative teaching methods were exemplified through her 6th grade classroom's pollinator garden project, which was presented at Grand Valley State University's downtown campus. Mrs. Bravata's commitment to environmental education and her students' success is truly inspiring. We are proud to have such an outstanding educator in our community!

GoNoodle Princi-PAL of the Year

We're thrilled to announce that our very own Shawn Veitch has been named Princi-PAL of the Year, thanks to the wonderful staff at Dutton Elementary School who nominated him! He was one of 50 principals selected around the country for this award. As a reward for their support, all our Dutton students will enjoy one year of free GoNoodle, enriching our school days with fun and engaging activities. Congratulations to Mr. Veitch and our Dutton family!

Grand Valley State University - Alumni of the Year!

Congratulations to Ms. Kastens from DLMS on being awarded the Grand Valley State University Alumni of the Year Award for Health and Physical Education! Her unwavering commitment to promoting health and wellness among our students is truly commendable. We are so proud and grateful for her dedication!

West Michigan Counseling Association - Teacher of the Year!

We're excited to announce that Andrea Hilaski, an esteemed counselor at Caledonia High Schools, has been named West Michigan Counselor of the Year by the West Michigan Counseling Association! This award is a testament to her exceptional dedication and the positive impact she has on our students. Congratulations, Andrea!

West Michigan Teacher Collaborative

We are excited to announce that Kolin Herron, Allison Siekman, and Pam Tava have been selected as members of the West Michigan Teacher Collaborative! This program is dedicated to training the next generation of outstanding educators, and we couldn't be prouder of our staff for this achievement. Congratulations! 

Learn more about this initiative at https://teachwestmichigan.org/.

Mock Trial Teacher of the Year

We'd also like to congratulate Jenny Jonkman for her well-deserved recognition as Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Center for Civic Education, underscoring her exceptional commitment to civic and law-related education.

School News Network Article about this recognition

Grand Rapids Gold - Teacher of the Night

We'd like to congratulate Rachel Campbell from Paris Ridge Elementary for being nominated by the Grand Rapids Gold as Teacher of the Night last weekend! Along with her family, she enjoyed tickets to the game, some swag, and a special presentation during halftime. It's wonderful to see educators like Rachel being recognized for their hard work and dedication. 

WZZM13 Teacher of the Week

Congratulations to Colin Nelson, a teacher at Caledonia High School, for being selected as the WZZM13 Teacher of the Week! 
WZZM13 Article/Video Link

Coach of the Year

Congratulations to Golf Coach Veronica Van Wagoner, who was named Regional Coach of the Year – a well-deserved honor! 

Social Worker of the Year

Congratulations to Scott Bont for receiving the 2023 School Social Worker of the Year award for Region C from the Michigan Association of School Social Workers. 

Caledonia Community Schools recently received recognition from the state for its work in providing students with various needs academic and behavioral strategies to help them be successful in school and beyond.  Visit our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) page for more information on MTSS. 

MTSS Data Utilization Awards:

• Caledonia Elementary School: Reading
• Duncan Lake Middle School: Reading 
• Dutton Elementary School: Reading
• Emmons Lake Elementary School: Reading
• Kettle Lake Elementary School: Reading
• Kraft Meadows Intermediate School: Reading
• Paris Ridge Elementary: Reading

MTSS Implementation and Impact Awards:

• Caledonia Elementary School
  • Tier 1 Reading: Silver
  • Advanced Tiers Reading: Silver
  • Reading Gold
• Dutton Elementary School
  • Tier 1 Reading: Bronze
• Emmons Lake Elementary School 
  • Tier 1 Reading: Bronze
• Kettle Lake Elementary School
  • Tier 1 Reading: Silver
• Kraft Meadows Intermediate School
  • Tier 1 Reading: Bronze
• Paris Ridge Elementary
  • Tier 1 Reading: Bronze
  • Advanced Tiers Reading: Bronze