Type Public Superintendent Brian Davis Grades PreK-12 | Established 1848 Faculty 314 | |
Motto "A World of Opportunity." | ||
Holland Public Schools is a school district in Holland, Michigan, United States, founded in 1848. There are 314 teachers, with an average of 14 years experience each, most possessing master's degrees. They offer instruction in core curriculum along with other programs, including art, music, athletics, theater, forensics, K-12 Spanish, technology literacy, special education, English as a Second Language, and extra-curricular activities.
Contents
Schools (district web pages)
Hallmark programs
Holland Bands Directed by James Hughes, the band plays 'Tiptoe Through The Tulips' when marching in the Tulip Time Festival parades. The band has played all around the country and throughout the state of Michigan. There is a 5th grade band and 6/7th grade band, directed by Bethany VanOss. The 6/7th grade band marches in the Tulip Time parade, like the high school band.
Gifted/Talented program This is also called IDEA Lab, an acronym for Imagine Develop Evaluate Achieve. Holland Public is the only school district to have the G/T program.
The Vocal Dimensions Vocal Dimensions helps put sixteen of the best singers at Holland High in the spotlight. Vocal Dimensions is taught and led by Sarah Cox, who also teaches and directs Concert Choir, Belle Canto, and the 8th grade choir at the school. Performing opportunities for the group include the Wooden Shoe-Be-Doo for Tulip Time, the Annual Vocal Dimensions Show in March, the Jazz Festival at Forest Hills Northern, and the choir concerts. They have many opportunities to perform for the community throughout the school year.
Theatre and Forensics Holland High's competitive theatre team captured its 14th State "Class A" Championship at Grand Rapids Christian in early 2007.
In early 2009, Holland High captured the 15th state title at Chelsea High School with its production of 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'. The show received top honors in nearly every category including Acting, Costumes, Lighting, Set, and much more. The show also received the 'People's Choice Award', an award where each member school at the State festival votes for which school put on the best play. It was the first time a school had won both awards.
On February 20, 2010, Holland High captured its 16th state title at Midland Performing Arts Center with its production of "Romeo and Juliet" set in the 1920s. Holland received superior honors in nearly every category including Acting, Costumes, Set, and more. The entire cast won an excellence award for acting.
On February 19, 2011, Holland High School received second place honors at the State Theatre festival in Clinton Township, Michigan. Their production of "The Three Musketeers" received the most points at the festival with a 284 out of a possible 300 but yet fell to Livonia Stevenson and their production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" due to judges preference. Holland High School received top honors in nearly every category yet again for Acting, Costumes, Set, Lighting and Sound design, etc. This was the first time in three years Holland didn't bring the trophy home.
On February 15, 2013, Holland High School received second place honors at the MIFA state theatre festival in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Their production of "Sunday In The Park With George" received high praise and many accolades including superior and excellence in acting, costume design, scenic design, music, etc. Just one year previous, Holland High School won the Division I title with its production of "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum." Holland High School also received the student choice award as best production based on participating school voting.
The 2015-2016 academic year represents the first year that MIFA introduced a studio competition production, allowing schools to enter one or two productions into the competition. These studio shows require limited set, lighting, props, and costumes.
Summer Theatre Guild In 2009, Holland Theatre Guild presented "Footloose" featuring Skyler Adams as Ren McCormack, Kelsey Kammeraad as Ariel, Erik Durham as Chuck Cranston, Zack Lindell as Willard, Katie Colburn as Vi Moore, and Dan Thayer as Reverend Shaw. In 2010, Holland Theatre Guild presented "Grease" featuring Skyler Adams as Danny Zuko, Kelsey Colburn as Sandy Dombrowski, Aiden deJong as Kenickie, Erik Durham as Roger, Emily Gilcrest as Jan and Kenny Baker as Teen Angel. In the summer of 2011, Holland Theatre Guild presented two musicals, "Forever Plaid" and "The Marvelous Wonderettes." Forever Plaid featured Erik Durham as Francis, Skyler Adams as Sparky, Aiden deJong as Jinx, and Kenny Baker as Smudge. The Marvelous Wonderettes featured Jillian Baker, Vania Fieguroa, Elizabeth Veenhoven, and Katie Dutler-Thomsen.
FLES The district's Foreign Language in the Elementary School (FLES) program brings Spanish instruction to students in grades K-7. FLES instruction involves more than Spanish language and cultural lessons, FLES teachers work with classroom teachers to also reinforce key components of the core curriculum in Spanish.