December 2012/ January 2013 - Forest Hills Public Schools

District Web Site: www.fhps.net
Commended Students
2 On
Focus
Forest Hills Public Schools
All Learners Achieving Individual Potential
Our Stage
Two Shows Warm Up the FAC
Stage This Winter. Get Your Tickets!
4 A
Great Start!
FHPS Preschool Registration for
2013-14 Starts January 2013.
December 2012/ January 2013 Volume 18, Issue 3
Forest Hills Salutes National Merit Scholars
The National Merit Scholarship Program is a nationwide academic
scholarship competition. Of the 1.5 million entrants, approximately
50,000 qualify for recognition. Almost one-third of those are recognized
as semifinalists and slightly over one-third qualify as com-
Eastern High School
Semifinalists
Tobias Buth
Bailey Ferris
Erin Gawel
Ryan Kerr
Commended Students
Clara Cullen
Hannah Gawel
Marissa Hastings
Central High School
Semifinalists
Allisandra Stoiko
Leila Vallarino
Aditi Vrudhula
Andrea Bohne
Mounir Jamal
Ali Nasar
Northern High School
Semifinalists
Toni Divic
Sana Sohail
Commended Students
Jacob Brackmann
Danielle Ruppal
Bhavya Thamman
Akash Premkumar
Rudyard Richter
Cameron Shabahang
Casey Haverkate
Jonathan Kaufman
William McGee
Amey Vrudhula
Richard Wu
Alexandra Schmidt
Stephanie Soukar
Andrea Zandee
Robert Wang
John Weykamp
Eric Yu
Nat’l Achievement Award: Eboni White
FHE National Merit Semifinalists (left to right, back row): Erin
Gawel, Akash Premkumar, Tobias Buth, and Ryan Kerr; (left to
right, front row): Cameron Shabahang, Bailey Ferris, and
Rudyard Richter.
FHC National Merit Semifinalists (left to right): Amey Vrudhula,
Allisandra Stoiko, Leila Vallarino, Aditi Vrudhula, and Richard Wu.
FHN National Merit Semifinalists (left to right): Toni Divic,
Sana Sohail, and Andrea Zandee.
mended students. Approximately 94 percent of the semifinalists go
on to become finalists, and over half of these are selected to receive
scholarships. Congratulations to these Forest Hills students for
their outstanding academic achievement.
FHE National Merit Commended Students (left to right, back
row): Hannah Gawel, Casey Haverkate, and Jonathan Kaufman;
(left to right, front row): Clara Cullen, William McGee, and
Marissa Hastings.
FHC National Merit Commended Students (left to right):
Ali Nasir, Andrea Bohne, Mounir Jamal, Stephanie Soukar, and
Alexandra Schmidt.
FHN National Merit Commended Students (left to right, back row):
John Weykamp, Eric Yu, and Jacob Brackmann; (left to right, front
row): Bhavya Thamman, Danielle Ruppal, and Robert Wang.
8All-Conference
Athletes from FHC, FHE, and FHN
Make All-Conference This Fall!

Forest Hills Fine Arts Center
2
Sunday, December 23 at 7:30 pm
Forest Hills Fine Arts Center
Good Tickets Are Still Available
Don’t Miss Out on All the Fun This Holiday!
• This is Shrek the Musical’s last performance season on
its nationwide tour. Don’t miss out!
• Enjoy the fantastic scenery (especially the huge dragon!),
elaborate costumes, and vivacious dancing that only a live
Broadway musical can provide. Did you know that the actor
playing Lord Farquaad performs entirely on his knees?
• All ticketholders are invited to a free post-performance
reception sponsored by D&W Fresh Market. A drawing
will be held so several lucky winners can meet the costumed
Shrek characters up close. Smile for the camera!
• Get tickets in person at the Fine Arts Center Box Office,
all ticketmaster locations or online at ticketmaster.com.
Winter Artist-in-Residence Exhibits
Dianne Carroll Burdick
Photography
January 10-31, 2013, Fine Arts Center
Artist’s Reception: Thursday, January 17
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Everyone welcome!
Erik Holladay
Photography
Presenting sponsor for the 2012-13 Fine Arts
Center Exhibit and Artist-in-Residence Series:
February 8-28, 2013, Fine Arts Center
Artist’s Reception: Thursday, February 14
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Everyone welcome!
Sponsored in part by: daylily
STOMP’s Energy Wows FAC Audience!
STOMP filled the Fine
Arts Center stage with
its infectious, rhythmic
beats on Sunday, November18.
Brooms, trash cans,
newspapers, and other
usual items not normally
thought of as instruments
made entrancing
music! Tickets for all the
remaining shows of the
season are on sale now.

Upcoming District Events
Calendar Listing of Community-wide School Events
December
4 CMS Seventh Grade Orchestra/Band/Choir Concert, 7:00 p.m., Fine Arts Center
4 Town Hall Meeting with Superintendent Behm, 7:00 p.m., CW Cafeteria
5 CMS Eighth Grade Orchestra/Band/Choir Concert, 7:00 p.m., Fine Arts Center
6 NHMS Winter Band Concert, 7:00 p.m., FHN Auditorium
6 CHS Orchestra Concert, 7:00 p.m., FHC Auditorium
10 CW Sixth Grade Choir Concert, 7:00 p.m., Fine Arts Center
10 CHS Winter Jazz/Percussion Concert, 7:00 p.m., Fine Arts Center
10 EHS Winter Jazz Concert, 7:00 p.m., FHE Auditorium
11 NHS Symphony Orchestra presents Carnival of the Animals with Tom Rademacher,
7:00 p.m., Fine Arts Center
12 NT Orchestra Concert, 7:00 p.m., NT Cafetorium
12 CHS Winter Choir Concert, 7:00 p.m., Fine Arts Center
13 TH Third Grade presents Once on a Housetop, 7:00 p.m., TH Gymnasium
13 NT Sixth Grade and NHMS Winter Choir Concert, 7:00 p.m., Fine Arts Center
13 EMS Choir Concert, 7:00 p.m., FHE Auditorium
16 Community Band Concert, 2:30 p.m., FHE Auditorium
17 Board of Education Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Knapp Forest Elementary School
17 EMS Band Concert, 7:00 p.m., FHE Auditorium
18 EHS Winter Band Concert, 7:00 p.m., FHE Auditorium
18 NHS Band Concert, 7:00 p.m. Fine Arts Center
19 EMS and EHS Orchestra Concert, 7:00 p.m., FHE Auditorium
19 CHS Winter Band Concert, 7:00 p.m., Fine Arts Center
19 NHS Choir Concert, 7:30 p.m. FHN Auditorium
20 EHS Choir Concert, 7:00 p.m., FHE Auditorium
20 NHMS and NHS Winter Orchestra Concert, 7:00 p.m., FHN Auditorium
23 Forest Hills Fine Arts Center presents Shrek the Musical, 7:30 p.m., FAC
24-Jan 4 Holiday Recess – No School
January
7 School Resumes
9 Town Hall Meeting with Superintendent Behm, 7:00 p.m., NT Cafetorium
16 KF Sixth Grade Choir/Orchestra Concert, 7:00 p.m., FHE Auditorium
17 COL Second Grade Musical, 6:30 p.m., FHN Auditorium
17 Dianne Carroll Burdick Artist Reception, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., Fine Arts Center
21 Board of Education Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Central Middle School
22-24 Exams; Half-day for 7-12 Students-a.m./7-12 Record Marking/Assessments-p.m.
23 Town Hall Meeting with Supt. Behm, Community and Aquatic Center, 2:00 p.m.
24 Record Marking/Assessment for Teachers – No School for K-6 Students
25 End of Semester; Record Marking for Teachers – No School for K-12 Students
February
4 MB Fourth Grade Recorder Concert, 7:00 p.m., Fine Arts Center
5 CMS Pre-festival Orchestra Concert, 7:00 p.m., FHC Auditorium
18 Board of Education Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Northern Trails 5/6 School
19 CMS Pre-festival Band Concert, 7:00 p.m., FHC Auditorium
AAA Team Provides Resources, Support for Mental Health
The AAA Team is a Forest Hills parent-initiated
group that includes school district personnel
and community specialists. The goal of the
team is to share with parents, students, staff,
and our community the broad array of mental
health resources and knowledge that district
counselors and social workers possess
and are able to access.
The AAA Team stands for Awareness of,
Acceptance of, and Advocacy for mental
health and wellness issues.
Help us remove the stigma that too often
accompanies the issues and challenges surrounding
mental health. More information
can be found by speaking with your child’s
school counselor, at the following website:
www.familyresourceguide.info, and in
future Focus articles.
3
Tom Rademacher
Joins FHN Symphony
Orchestra in Carnival
of the Animals
The FHN Symphony Orchestra, with
financial support from West Michigan
Piano, will be presenting a complete performance
of Camille Saint-Saens Carnival of
the Animals. This concert is a joint production
of the FHS Music and Art departments.
The performance will be at 7:00 p.m. on
Tuesday, December 11, 2012, at the Forest
Hills Fine Arts Center. The FHN Symphony
Orchestra will be joined by some very special
guest musicians, including: Phil Pletcher
and Sherri Lott (from GRCC) as piano
soloists, Dave Hall (from GRSO) on percussion,
Michelle Benjamin (Central
Woodlands) on clarinet, and FHN's Henry
Bransdorfer on piccolo and flute. We also
will be joined by Tom Rademacher (columnist,
Grand Rapids Press) who will be narrating
the Odgen Nash poems for Carnival
of the Animals. On prominent display will
be art work by FHN students that was created
specially for this event. Pictures and
paintings representing the different animals
in Carnival of the Animals will be
shown throughout the performance. Prior
to the concert, starting at 6:00 p.m. in the
lobby, there will be an instrument petting
zoo sponsored by Meyer Music. Students
will have the chance to try a wide range of
string, wind, and percussion instruments.
This should be a wonderful multi-media
concert, great for the whole family. The
concert is free of charge.
Community Band Presents
Free Holiday Concert
The Forest Hills Adult Community Band,
with over 70 members directed by Greg
Christensen, will present a concert of holiday
favorites on Sunday, December 16, at
2:30 p.m. in the Eastern High School
Auditorium, 2200 Pettis NE. There is no
admission charge and everyone’s invited!
Winter Break
December 24 - January 4
School Resumes Tuesday, January 7, 2013

Preschools Start 2013-2014 Registration
Applications for Forest Hills tuition-based
preschool programs (traditional and Spanish
Immersion) will be accepted with a nonrefundable
$100 deposit. Registration for
the traditional preschool begins on Monday,
January 7, 2013. Registration for the Spanish
Immersion preschool begins on Tuesday,
January 8, 2013. Both registrations begin at
7:00 a.m., at the Child Care Office, 150 Alta
Dale SE. Registrations are taken on a firstcome-first-served
basis. Placements of all
FHPS students will be made by April 15,
2013. Non-resident registrations will be
taken after April 15, 2013, if there are openings.
Registrations will continue to be
accepted until classes are full.
Traditional Preschool
This program is housed at Ada Elementary,
731 Ada Drive SE, for children who will be
four by December 1, 2013. Child care is
also available at this site. Classes are held
Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 8:55 a.m.
to 11:25 a.m. or 12:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., and
Tuesday/Thursday from 8:55 a.m. to 11:25
a.m. For questions about registrations, call
Sharon Stiles at the Child Care Office, 493-8787.
Spanish Immersion Preschool
The Spanish Immersion (SI) Preschool
three-year-old program is open to students
who will be three by the time school starts.
Applicants for the four-year-old program
must be four by December 1, 2013. The
Spanish Immersion Preschool (SI) will be
held at Ada Vista Elementary, 7192 Bradfield
SE. The three-year-old program will run
Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to
10:45 am. The four-year-old program runs
Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to
10:45 a.m. or 11:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. For
questions about the program or registrations,
call the Child Care Office at 493-8787.
Please note: Participation in this preschool
does not guarantee admission to Spanish
Immersion Kindergarten.
Application Information for 2013-2014
Immersion Kindergartens
• Spanish Immersion Kindergarten, Fall 2013 at Ada Vista
• Chinese Immersion Kindergarten, Fall 2013 at Meadow Brook
The Spanish Immersion Kindergarten program
at Ada Vista Elementary School and the
Chinese Immersion Kindergarten at Meadow
Brook Elementary School are open to children
who will be five years old by November 1,
2013. Spanish Immersion Kindergarten is an
all-day/every day program at Ada Vista, and
Chinese Immersion Kindergarten is an all
day/every day program at Meadow Brook.
For more information about either program,
please check the district website at
www.fhps.net or call Jesús Santillán, principal
of Ada Vista (493-8970), or Tim Shaw,
principal of Meadow Brook (493-8740).
Families of current Spanish Immersion or
Chinese Immersion students will receive a
letter inviting them to pre-register siblings
who will be entering kindergarten. (This
sibling preference policy fosters the benefits
of siblings having the same second language
and using it in conversation at home.)
Applications will be available at Ada Vista
(7192 Bradfield SE, Ada) and Meadow
Brook (1450 Forest Hill SE, Grand Rapids)
beginning Monday, December 3, 2012.
Completed pre-registration materials must
be returned to Ada Vista for Spanish
Immersion siblings or Meadow Brook for
Chinese Immersion siblings no later than
Friday, December 21, 2012.
Applications for Forest Hills resident families
who are new to the immersion programs
and have children who will be entering
kindergarten next fall will be available
at Ada Vista and Meadow Brook beginning
Monday, January 7, 2013. Completed applications
must be returned by Friday,
January 18, 2013. Ada Vista’s office
opens at 7:30 a.m. and Meadow Brook's
opens at 8:00 a.m. Both schools are
open until 4:00 p.m. Parents must show two
proofs of residency along with the original
birth certificate with raised seal (from the
county clerk where the child was born) of
their incoming kindergarten child when
they turn in their completed application.
A lottery drawing for the kindergarten
spaces available in the Spanish Immersion
and Chinese Immersion programs will be
held by January 28, 2013. Students not
selected will be placed on a waiting list in
the order they are drawn from the lottery. A
letter will be sent to families on or about
January 31, 2013, to inform them if their
child's name was drawn for admission and
if not, his/her position on the waiting list.
4
Child Care for 2012-
2013 School Year
Kindergarten Kids Care
A half-day, fee-based Kindergarten Kids Care
is available for all kindergarteners and Young
Fives children who are five years old by
December 1, 2012, and is available at Ada,
Knapp Forest, Meadow Brook, Orchard View,
and Pine Ridge schools with sufficient enrollment.
Ada Elementary also includes preschool
children who are four years old by
December 1, 2013. Flexible scheduling
allows you to customize the number of child
care days you need.
Before- and/or After-School Child Care
Fee-based, before- and/or after-school child
care is available at all Forest Hills elementary
schools (with the exception of Ada Vista
Elementary), Central Woodlands, and
Northern Trails. This program runs from 6:45
a.m. to the start of school and from school
dismissal until 6:15 p.m. A supervised school
study group also is available for middle school
students who are bused to the 5/6 grade
schools when their middle schools dismiss.
Registration in any child care program
guarantees full- or half-day child care if
needed, on non-school days. Please call the
Child Care Office at 493-8787 for current fees,
availability, and information on the programs.
Information and registration forms are
available at the Child Care Office in the
Operations Building at 150 Alta Dale SE, at
all elementary schools, and on the district’s
website, fhps.net, under “Families.” To register,
please complete all four forms and
fax them to the Child Care Office at 493-
8789. A $25 registration fee will be applied
to your first bill.
In Service to Our Country
Mark Sweeney Jr. is a 2011
graduate of Forest Hills
Central High School. Mark
graduated from infantry basic
training and advanced individual
training (Fort Benning,
GA), in December 2011. He graduated from
airborne school in January and is stationed
at Fort Stewart, GA. He has recently
deployed with the 3rd ID to Afghanistan.
Mark is the son of Mark and Mary Sweeney
and has five siblings, four of whom are FHC
graduates. His youngest brother, Josh, is
attending Central Middle School. Mark’s
older brother, Patrick, is currently serving
in the Army since graduating in 2005.

Forest Hills Community Services
Youth Events Set for
February, March
Sweetheart Swirls
Photo courtesy of Terri Gillis Photography
Grades K-2: Saturday, February 2
Grades 3-8: Saturday, February 9
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Central Woodlands 5/6 School
Girls and their favorite significant adult are
invited to enjoy an elegant evening of
dancing, refreshments, and special memories.
Come and celebrate our twelfth annual
event for girls. Scott Ptak entertainment
will provide age appropriate music. Special
desserts, punch, and coffee will be served.
Photos by Terri Gillis Photography will be
taken and available for viewing the week
following the dance. Space is limited.
Register online at enjoylearning.com. Tickets
for entrance to the dance are required and
strictly enforced. Tickets must be picked up
from the Community and Aquatic Center,
located at 660 Forest Hill Avenue, on or
after January 14, 2013, between 9 a.m. and 4
p.m., Monday through Friday. The registration
deadline is January 25, 2013. No
exceptions will be made and tickets will
not be available at the door.
Competitive Game Fest
Grades K-8: Saturday, March 2
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Central Woodlands 5/6 School
Boys and their favorite significant adult are
invited to enjoy the sixth annual fun evening
out. This event will feature competitive
games and activities provided by Scott Ptak.
Casual clothing is suggested. Snacks and
dessert will be provided. A photographer
will be on hand for photos. Space is limited.
Register online at enjoylearning.com. Tickets
for entrance to the event are required and
strictly enforced. Tickets must be picked up
from the Community and Aquatic Center,
located at 660 Forest Hill Avenue, on or
after February 11, 2013, between 9 a.m. and
4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Registration deadline is February 22, 2013.
No exceptions will be made and tickets
will not be available at the door.
These events are sponsored by O’Grady
Orthodontics and D&W Fresh Market.
Learn to Swim, Play Water Polo,
or Exercise with Aquatic Classes
The winter aquatic course selections are
now available for registrations. Saturday
morning learn-to-swim classes for children
ages 5 to 17 years begin on January
12 and run through March 9. There are
also preschool swim courses such as
Little Ducks, Preschool Seahorses, and
Dolphins offered week days, as well as
various adult water exercise classes such
as Splashercise, Swimmercise, and Deep
Water Aerobics. Returning in March is the
girls’ middle school water polo program.
5
Senior Citizen Corner
The Learning Café
The following Learning Café program will
be held at the Forest Hills Public Schools
Senior Center, 660 Forest Hill Avenue. Lunch
is at 12 noon; program at 12:45. Cost: $8 per
person for lunch and program ($9 for nonresidents);
$2 for program only ($3 for nonresidents).
Please call in your reservation at
493-8950 or online at www.enjoylearning.com.
If you register through the website, you will
automatically be enrolled for the catered
lunch which you pay for at the door or be
invoiced if you do not show.
For a full listing of all Learning Café programs,
please call our office and ask to be added to
the Encore Programs Guide mailing list.
January 8
Won’t You Please Listen to Me, Dave
Often the most important part of communication
isn’t revealed in what’s being said,
it’s in the “secret” clues that surround the
message itself. Empathetic listening is a
fundamental skill that has the power to
improve the way you relate to others.
Presented by Dave Kampfschulte.
January 22
Laff, Just for the Health of It!
We hunger for humor and we long for
laughter. Yet many don’t realize how vital
these “nutrients” are for the well-being of
our body, mind and spirit. We’ll look at
benefits, practice hearty laughter and leave
energized. Presented by Sister Sue Tracy.
Exciting Classes for Youth, Teens, Adults!
New Youth Enrichment Classes
We are excited to offer many your favorite
classes this winter. Young Rembrandts
art classes, Athletes in Motion classes,
Bricks 4 Kidz LEGO ® classes, and several
Mind Boggle science classes are available.
Our after-school basketball program is
extensive this year. We have basketball
classes for grades 1-6 and for all experience
levels. These are available at each
5/6 school and Pine Ridge Elementary
School. There’s easy online registration
24/7 at www.enjoylearning.com.
(continued on back page)

The Titanic : History or Hollywood
FHN Students Uncover Details of the Ship’s Tragic Sinking
Even 100 years later, the sinking of the
Titanic remains one of the most researched
and remembered events in history. Currently,
on "Rotten Tomatoes," the film review
website, the movie Titanic still tops the list
of rental domination, with 87 percent of
critics praising it. The original movie,
released in 1997, was re-released in 3-D
and IMAX in April of 2012 to commemorate
the 100th anniversary of the sinking.
After watching Titanic, FHN students in
the History versus Hollywood class
researched the actual event and the characters
that were involved. It was their job to
discover if Hollywood had done an accurate
job portraying the people and events
surrounding this tragedy. The students
watched interviews with survivors, read
library books, did research "scavenger
hunts," and each student did an in-depth
study of one passenger or officer on board
the ship. Subjects were randomly selected
from a list that included first, second, and
third class passengers and officers.
The study culminated in a live museum/
exhibit at Forest Hills Northern High
School on October 12. The students
dressed in period costumes and had displays
about many of the passengers and
officers who were on the ship. Students
had conversation cards with the basic facts
about their characters, such as what they
did prior to sailing on the Titanic, their
ages, genders, nationalities, and whether
or not they survived. Additionally, there
was an informational scavenger hunt.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum heard
about Forest Hills Northern's study and
asked FHN to participate with them as they
prepared to open the nationwide Titanic
exhibit in Grand Rapids in a few months.
On November 13, the Grand Rapids Public
Museum staff and members of the local
media came to FHN to interact with Mrs.
Shotts-Flikkema and the History versus
Hollywood students. They brought actual
artifacts from the Titanic to FHN, and students
had a question/answer session with
experts about the Titanic. This was truly a
remarkable opportunity for students to
bring history alive.
NHMS Teacher Wins History Day Award
Mary Beth McMahon
Students from around
the country, including
Forest Hills Public
Schools, participate
each year in the
National History Day
Contest. This year it
was held June 10-14 in
College Park, Maryland.
Every year two teachers in each state
receive the Pat Behring Award. This year
Mary Beth McMahon from Northern Hills
Middle School received the the award in
Michigan’s junior division. She received a
cash award of $500 in honor of her contributions
to history education through the
National History Day program. Mary Beth
was nominated for this honor by another
Forest Hills teacher, Lea Sevigny.
National History Day in Michigan, known
statewide as Michigan History Day, is a
program of the Historical Society of
Michigan. For more information about
Michigan History Day, please visit their
website, www.hsmichigan.org.
Chartwells Honors FHPS as Be-A-Star Award Recipient
Chartwells School Dining Services has
announced the recipients of its annual “Be-
A-Star” Awards. Amy Larson, food service
director, accepted the award for FHPS. The
district’s food service operation won second
place for National Account of the Year. Over
550 Chartwells school districts compete for
these titles every year and are evaluated
on criteria such as community service,
financial performance, customer and client
satisfaction, wellness, and diversity.
Amy Larson (fourth from left) accepts the district’s
Be-A-Star Award in Orlando last October. She is surrounded
by other winners and Chartwells executives.
6
FHN Football
Benefits Building
Homes for Heroes
The season finale for Northern’s football
team was inspiring to all who were able to
attend the event. In a show of unity and
respect for our country, the Huskies honored
those who serve in our military forces
by presenting Building Homes for Heroes
with a check for over $13,000.
“Every year since 2006, Building Homes
for Heroes continues to build homes for
severely wounded soldiers returning from
Afghanistan and Iraq, and we chose this
organization because 94 percent of every
dollar goes into building Homes for
Heroes,” said Mike Hieshetter, president of
the FHN Football Booster Club.
The game was the culmination of weeks of
fundraising, lunch with local veterans at
the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, a
pep rally, and a tailgate event with many
of the veterans prior to the game. During
the pep rally, the team introduced Sergeant
Brent Hernandez, who suffered life-threatening
injuries in Afghanistan, and Andrew
McClure, representing Building Homes for
Heroes. Building Homes for Heros is currently
completing a new home for Sargeant
Hernandez and his family in Florida. In
addition to relaying his harrowing tale of
being wounded in Afghanistan and ultimate
helicopter rescue, Sergeant
Hernandez expressed his gratitude for the
work being done on behalf of our wounded
veterans.
Varsity Coach Jeff Rapelje said, “I asked
our parents and players to consider doing
a benefit game, mentioned a couple of
ideas, and they just took off and ran with
it. As a former Marine, I am so proud they
chose this very worthwhile organization,
and I hope to make it an annual tradition.”
Correction
The caption under the photo of the
Eastern High golf team in the October/
November issue of Focus included the
name “Anna Palmer.” It should have
been Anne Parlmer. We apologize for
this error.

On November 1,
the Forest Hills
community celebrated
the people,
talent, and accomplishments that make
Forest Hills a wonderful environment
where students can develop their individual
potential. The event featured student
ambassadors from all three high schools,
a stunning art auction, including a live
paint from former artists-in-residence at
the Fine Arts Center, and musical performances
by high school students. The
evening also honored four highly distinguished
award recipients:
Teacher of the Year 2011-2012:
Donna Wisse Boersma
Teacher of the Year 2012-2013:
Andrew Rundquist
This annual award is given to one staff
member chosen by the administrative
leadership based on nominations by
principals of all the district schools.
Save These Dates
in 2013!
•
•
•
December 2012/ January 2013
The Gala: Honoring Excellence in Forest Hills
Teacher of the Year
Donna Wisse Boersma
• iPads for occupational therapy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,800
• Water Modeling Kits © for science curriculum. . . . . . . . . . . $ 636
• Dogfish (shark) dissection for interactive learning. .. . . . . $1,420
• Sensory libraries for two elementary schools . . . . . . . . . . . $3,200
• Twenty-first century literacy center for interactive learning . . $2,000
• Math instruction tablets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,960
Catalyst Award: Karen Custer
This award honors a community member
whose life work has created powerful
change in our community.
State of the District Lunch at Watermark Country Club, Thursday,
March 14, 2013.
26th Annual Charlie Anderson Memorial Golf Outing at Thornapple
Pointe, Wednesday, June 12, 2013.
The Gala, a fun-filled evening celebrating excellence in Forest Hills
Public Schools, Thursday, November 7, 2013.
7
Teacher of the Year
Andrew Rundquist
Catalyst Award winner Karen Custer with Superintendent
Dan Behm (left) and Board member
Walter Perschbacher (right).
Foundation Awards Grants for Fall 2012
Legacy Award:
Becky Afendoulis Trierweiler
This award honors an outstanding Forest
Hills graduate who put down roots in
the community and whose life work
gives back to the people of West Michigan.
Legacy Award winner Becky Afendoulis Trierweiler
with Superintendent Dan Behm (left) and Board
member Walter Perschbacher (right).
Thank You to Our Sponsors
We thank all of the sponsors who played
such an important role in bringing this
celebration to life. Special thanks to
Jennifer Moss Hawkins, our emcee; and
Meg George and Renee Fisk, event co-chairs.
The evening was a wonderful success.
The Forest Hills Public Schools Foundation’s mission is to support district schools by funding grants which enhance educational programs
and activates not provided through the normal school operating budget. The Foundation approved the following requests for fall semester:
• Presentation station to present work wirelessly.. . . . . . . . . $1,936
• iPads for language arts – pilot program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,135
• Technology for science Inquiry using netbooks . . . . . . . . . $2,000
• Orchestra clinic and concert with Moxie Strings . . . . . . . . $1,850
• SmartMusic ® Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000
Grand Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $22,937

Forest Hills Public Schools
6590 Cascade Road SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Forest Hills Fall Sports All-Conference Athletes
FHC
Boys’ Soccer
Thomas Conerty
Honorable Mention
Evan Berkas
Girls’ Volleyball
District Champions
Emily Campbell
Rebecca Prouty
Honorable Mention
Rachel Bouma
Mya Udell
Football
Hunter Folkertsma
Nicholas Lamica
Collin Schlosser
Honorable Mention
Christopher Bosscher
Luke Smeester
Girls’ Golf
Conference Champions
Brooks Carey
Martha Corby
Sydney Moran
Kiersten VanBelkum
Honorable Mention
Madeleine Lorenz
Girls’ Cross Country
Alexandra DeStefano
Boys’ Tennis
Conference Champions
Team Academic All-State
Gregory Andrews
Alex Gatchalian
Samuel Kozulis
Robert Lotzar
Evan Taylor
Honorable Mention
Matthew Morrow
Girls’ Field Hockey
Division Champions
Team Academic All-State
Honorable Mention
Madison Francis
All-State Team
Awards
Jonna Dittrich
Kylie Hausch
Girls’
Swimming/Diving
Katlynn Emaus
Alexandra Hoiles
Meghan Ringler
Madeleine Wilson
FHE
Boys’ Soccer
Conference Champions
District Champions
Matthew DeVries
Nicholas Hopkins
Cameron Moule
Boys’ Soccer (continued)
Lucas Rosendall
Ryan Scott
Honorable Mention
Colton Johnson
Nicholas Robbins
Girls’ Golf
Conference Champions
Regional Champions
State Champions
Jordan DuVall
Kathryn Glazer
Anne Parlmer
Kelsey Sands
Henna Singh
Emily Smithson
Boys’ Cross Country
Ethan Carigon
Mowgli Crosby
Girls’ Cross Country
Conference Champions
Regional Champions
State Champions
Lauren Allard
Abigail Bowman
Clara Cullen
Mary Kostielney
Angela Ottenwess
Honorable Mention
Taylor Sterenberg
Girls’ Volleyball
Conference Champions
Allisondra Gutschow
Girls’ Volleyball (cont.)
Makenzie Haley
Holly Myer
Lauren Trisch
Honorable Mention
Jaclyn Goble
Football
Rylan Prafke
Honorable Mention
Jonathan McCready
Boys’ Tennis
Daniel DeBoer
Kenneth DeBoer
Nicholas Harmon
Christian Paneral
Akash Premkumar
Honorable Mention
Zachary Conrad
Girls’ Field Hockey
Division IV Champions
All-Academic Team Award
Elaine Bageris
Riley Rouse
Girls’
Swimming/Diving
Kelsey Muma
FHN
Boys’ Soccer
Nicholas Barnes
Yohanes Lees
Ramy Salhadar
Boys’ Soccer (continued)
Robert Schermer
Cameron Vela
Honorable Mention
Delano Capobianco
Boys’ Tennis
All-State
4th at State Finals
Brooks Berrodin
William Christian
Praneet Gogireddy
Matthew Holden
Eric Katz
Justin Minzlaff
Ryan Roach
Luke Schichtel
Jackson Shaver
Jonathan Vredenburg
Robert Wang
Alexander Winks
Kenji Yamada
Eric Yu
Girls’ Volleyball
Alexandra Kiekover
Paige O’Connor
Brianne Wojciakowski
Honorable Mention
Meredith Howe
Hailey Jones
Alexandra Laykova
Boys’ Cross Country
Regional Champions
Craig Hedges
Colin Jack
Exciting Classes for Youth, Teens, and Adults! (continued from page 5)
Middle School Athletics
This winter we are offering three classes
perfect for your Forest Hills seventh or
eighth grader. Girls’ water polo, co-ed soccer,
and co-ed tennis will teach the skills
required for each sport while conditioning
students for a variety of spring and sum-
James Fahner, President
Doug Josephson,
Vice President
mer sports. Visit the Community Services
website, www.enjoylearning.com, and click
on “Classes” and then “Youth” to register.
Adult Classes
New classes for adults abound this winter!
Try your hand at Zentangle, a new draw-
2012-2013 Board of Education Members
Mary Vonck, Secretary
Walter F. Perschbacher III,
Treasurer
Martha Atwater, Trustee
Maureen Fischer, Trustee
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Grand Rapids, MI
Permit No. 237
Boys’ Cross Country
(cont.)
Honorable Mention
John Dood
Cal Morgan
Andrew Wittland
Girls’ Cross Country
Morgan Posthuma
Claudia Vredeveld
Honorable Mention:
Katya Bohatch
Girls’ Golf
Melissa Cox
Kylie Hamilton
Honorable Mention
Catherine Hagenbush
Mckenzi Wright
Football
Karum Abdelqader
Justin Farah
Devin Holt
Jacob Howe
Caleb Wassenaar
Honorable Mention:
Wyatt Batdorff
Marcus Matthews
Girls’ Field Hockey
Division Champions
Megan Brownley
Girls’
Swimming/Diving
Amy Larsen
ing class that anyone can do, or enroll in
one of our new technology classes such as
Keeping It Clean, Look Mom! No Wires! or
Better Safe Than Sorry: Backing Up Your
Computer. Visit the Community Services
website, www.enjoylearning.com, and click
on “Classes” and then “Adults” to register.
Susan Lenhardt, Trustee
Daniel Behm, Superintendent
The Forest Hills Focus newsletter is published bi-monthly during the school year by the Board of Education. It is mailed to all residents of the Forest Hills School District, and additional copies are sent to every district
school for distribution to staff, new residents, and visitors. Forest Hills Public Schools is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination of all its programs in relation to race, religion, sex, age, national origin,
disability, and genetic information.