Wildcat Pride
Jenison High School Newsletter - July/August 2023
Jenison High School
Assistant Principal: Kelly Carque
Assistant Principal: Amanda Alverson
Dean of Students: Karen Dame
Athletic Director: Tim Ritsema
Assistant Athletic Director: Todd Graham
Email: mleiter@jpsonline.org
Website: https://www.jpsonline.org/schools/secondary/jenison-high-school/
Location: 2140 Bauer Road, Jenison, MI, USA
Phone: 6164573400
Summer Updates
Jenison High School Families,
I hope this newsletter finds you well. It has been a busy summer at JHS as we prepare for another great school year. Over the summer our construction crews finished installing the last of the new HVAC units to keep our classrooms comfortable and safe. We also refinished the student parking lot over the summer, reorganized the spaces, and added raised walkways and a new oneway lane to create a safe and more efficient parking/traffic space. In addition to building updates, students were on campus participating in numerous summer learning opportunities, athletic camps, and visual/performing arts activities.
Starting with the Class of 2024, we will be honoring our students that excel academically a little differently. All students with a G.P.A. over a 4.0 will be considered to have achieved High Honors status. This status replaces our top 10 designations and will be signified with a special cord for graduation. The valedictorian and salutatorian awards will remain a separate designation. Students earning a 3.5 to a 4.0 will be awarded a gold cord and students earning a 3.0 to 3.499 will receive a silver cord.
Please review the important information contained in this newsletter. We have included information on the following:
Student Orientation and Student Parking Passes
2023-24 Jenison High School Calendar of Events - Click here
Student Door Access Keycard/IDs
New Geskus School Picture Process
Student Handbook Policy Changes
Athletics
Technology - Response needed prior to orientation. (Please see Technology news below)
Hand2Hand Program
Food Service
Transportation/Bussing
Parent Open House - August 28, 2023 - 6:30 pm - 8:15 pm
Staff Changes
Jenison High School Daily Schedules - Click here. Please note that 5 minutes has been added to the daily schedules and the end of the school day will now be 2:50 p.m.
JHS Website - Click here. To stay up to date on current events and school information, please visit our website.
I hope everyone enjoys the last few weeks of summer. It’s going to be a great year to be a Wildcat!
Student Orientation
Orientation will include schedule pick up, school picture, parking passes, and more. Please dress appropriately for your photo as we plan to increase the use of photo IDs at JPS. If you're planning on purchasing a Student Parking Pass. Please bring $25 and fill out this form.
Click here for Freshman Orientation Letter
Click here for 10-12th Grade Orientation Letter
Orientation Dates:
Seniors
August 11, 11 am - 1 pm, Kamstra Gymnasium
Arrive anytime between 11-1, plan on 30 minutes.
Juniors
August 14, 11 am - 1 pm, Kamstra Gymnasium
Arrive anytime between 11-1, plan on 30 minutes.
Sophomores
August 15, 11 am - 1 pm, Kamstra Gymnasium
Arrive anytime between 11-1, plan on 30 minutes.
Freshman - August 16, 9:00 am - 12 pm
Report to the Auditorium according to last name.
Plan on roughly an hour and a half for orientation.
Class split by alphabet
Last Name A-E - 9:00 am
Last Name F-Las - 9:30 am
Last Name Lat-Scho - 10:00 am
Last Name Schu-Z 10:30 am
International Students Orientation - August 22, 9 am - 1 pm (Revised 8/15)
Report to the Triple Conference Room in the media center @ JHS.
Building Access/KeyCard/ID
All returning 10th-12th grade students must bring their door access keycard/Student ID to orientation with them that they were issued last school year. Student IDs will be required to pick up class schedules. If your student has misplaced their ID/keycard that was issued last year, then please have them bring another form of picture ID with them.
Freshmen and New Students will be issued a new door access keycard/ID at orientation.
Every student will be given a lanyard and plastic sleeve to insert their keycard/student ID into at orientation. Keycards/IDs are necessary for access to the Senior High building and will be needed for the remainder of high school.
If your student has misplaced or has a damaged keycard/ID then there will be a station in the Kamstra gym during orientation to request a replacement ID/keycard. A $10 fee will be charged for a replacement keycard/ID. This fee will be collected at a later date when the replacement ID/keycard is ready for pick up from our technology department.
Geskus Picture Process - New this year!
Student Handbook Policy Changes
The handbook has been updated for the 2023/24 school year. The complete handbook is available on our website, www.jpsonline.org.
Policy Updates (New)
Earned Credit Received (ECR). Students will forfeit the ability to earn a grade based on the following criteria: ECR (Earned Credit Received, 0.0 GPA) will be applied to classes with 15 absences and a passing grade or passing exam grade. All absences (UA, EA, A) count toward this total. In addition, for every 6 tardies a student accumulates, it will result in an unexcused absence (UA). Administrator approval is required for exceptions.
Tardies: New tardy policy will be in place for the 23/24 school year. This includes increased parent contact, lunch detentions, and progressive discipline up to out-of-school suspension. Please review the linked student handbook for more details.
Lunch detentions will be served 1-2 days after the detention is assigned. Failure to serve lunch detention will result in one day of in-school suspension.
Loss of Privileges/Dances. Students with unserved detentions are not allowed to attend school dances. Should they not serve the detentions before the last day of ticket sales, they will not be allowed to purchase a ticket. Students who spend 12 or more class periods in the Student Responsibility Center (SRC) during the quarter shall not be allowed to attend dances. Students that are placed on Out of School Suspension or actively serving a behavior consequence shall not be allowed to attend dances within the same quarter (marking period) as the offense. Students that are chronically absent (10 absences in a semester, A, UA, EA) and/or chronically tardy (6+ in a class or administrator determination) will not be allowed to attend dances. Students who miss Friday School or other assigned discipline will not be allowed to attend dances, per administrator discretion. Administrator approval is required for all exceptions to these guidelines.
Technology Updates
All NEW students (including 9th graders), must follow the steps below (with their parent/guardian) to secure a device for new the school year:
Read the Student Technology Handbook
A Parent/Guardian MUST fill out the Technology Agreement Form (one per student)
We recommend this be filled out at least 1 week prior to orientation. Students who arrive at orientation without an Agreement form on file, will not receive their device that day - Students with late form submissions will have to wait until the first day of school to receive their device.
Review the new Technology Protection Plan. The average cost per repair without this plan is $70.00, and this plan covers up to 3 accidental damage repairs per year! To enroll in this plan, payments must be received by September 15, 2023*
Students who currently have their JPS device at home for the summer, have a Technology Agreement Form on file (from the 22-23 school year) that renews each year until graduation. For the 23-24 school year, students (with their parents/guardians) should follow the steps below:
Read the Student Technology Handbook
Review the new Technology Protection Plan. The average cost per repair without this plan is $70.00, and this plan covers up to 3 accidental damage repairs per year! To enroll in this plan, payments must be received by September 15, 2023*
Pay for any unpaid Technology invoice from the previous school year. These invoices must be paid or a payment plan initiated in order for the student’s device to be unlocked for the start of school*
*Students or parents/guardians will have the ability to purchase the Technology Protection Plan or pay Technology invoices at orientation via cash, check, or credit.
For more information, please visit the Technology Resources webpage.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Sabrina Vanderlugt at svanderlugt@jpsonline.org or call 616-667-3402.Hand 2 Hand
The “Hand2Hand” program helps provide students with food for the weekends and is intended for families who currently may be experiencing a financial burden. We would like to give your student the opportunity to participate beginning on August 31, 2023 before Labor Day weekend. If interested, please complete the response form at the bottom of this letter and return it to school by September 8. To learn more about Hand2Hand, please visit their website: http://h2hkids.org.
Parent Alert - Vaping
Our goal is to partner with parents/guardians in support of students. To support this goal, we will periodically share information that is relevant to you based on trends that we see in our school. Thank you for taking the time to discuss and/or consider if appropriate for your family!
Vaping
Vaping has become a serious danger for teens and young adults. Vapes are devices that are used to dispense nicotine, flavors, and/or illicit drugs in vapor form. Ten years ago, vapes were large, expensive devices that produced significant clouds of vapor. In the current day, vapes come in all shapes and sizes, are readily available for purchase in many retail stores and produce much less vapor to help avoid detection.
The level of nicotine delivered through vape pens is contributing to nicotine addiction. Unfortunately, there are also options to purchase cartridges for vape pens that contain illicit drugs. Students may purchase or use vape pens or cartridges without really understanding what they are buying and how it can impact their bodies/minds in the short or long-term.
What can parents/guardians do?
- Talk to your student about vapes, drugs and alcohol. Help them understand the nature of addiction and the impact of unknown substances on growth and development in youth.
- Be sure your student knows that vaping is not legal for anyone under 21.
- Coach your student about how to handle it when someone offers them a vape, drugs or alcohol. Every student should know this could happen and have a planned response. This will help them avoid falling into peer pressure.
- Monitor your student's spending. What money do they earn and what do they spend it on?
- Pay attention to your student's habits. Things as simple as going to multiple walks during the day can be an indication of a student getting away to use nicotine.
- Be honest and engage in communication about this issue. If you suspect that your student may be using or spending time with those who do, confront the issue.
Food Service
Transportation / Bussing
Parent Open House - August 28, 2023 - 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Student Pick-up
Thank you
Welcome New Staff!
Staff Changes
Mr. Zeitman - Wildcat Prep Coordinator
New Hires - Welcome to the Wildcat family!
Mr. Baine, Business Teacher Mr. Cable, PE Teacher Ms. Engelsman, Special Ed. Teacher Ms. McMurray, Asst. Choir Director Ms. Stulpe, Social Studies Teacher Mrs. Han, Choir Accompanist