News and Announcements

Two student film-making teams have been named finalists in the Meijer Great Choices Film Festival. Adrienne Duits with partner Samuel McKeown created a public service video celebrating diversity aimed at kindergarten through sixth-grade audiences and Liberty Tetzlaff and Ebbie Appel created a PSA celebrating diversity aimed at middle and high school students. The students are taking Jerry Robinson's digital media classes and will be recognized at the annual Meijer Great Choices Film Festival June 2 at Byron Center High School Fine Arts Center. More than 300 videos were entered with 60 finalists selected. The teams are guaranteed $75 gift cards for being named finalists. Top awards announced in June receive gift cards of $500 for third place; $1,000 for second place and $1,500 for first place.

The TKHS play "Cinderella" has been nominated for several awards by the Excellence Awards for local high school musical theater. TK has been nominated for excellence awards including Best Overall Performance, Best Musical Direction, Best Direction, and Best Scene Direction! Also, students Haley Bovee and Jack Schneider were nominated for best supporting actress and actor! Awards will be announced May 6 at the Excellence Awards at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center.

Jack Schneider's "Pandora's Serpentine Heart" ceramic box was selected to be among the artwork at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Juried High School Area Show. The show is May 19 to June 10. The juried exhibition celebrates works of high school artists living in Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Jopseh and Van Buren counties. Schneider, a junior, said this is his first year taking art classes at the high school. His ceramic piece is based on the myth of Pandora.

The Thornapple Kellogg School Board is pleased to announce that Rob Blitchok will be the district’s next superintendent. The Board voted unanimously on Monday night to enter into contract talks with Mr. Blitchok. He will begin July 1.

Mr. Blitchok is currently the assistant superintendent overseeing business and finance, human resources, facilities, transportation, and food service. He came to Thornapple Kellogg in 2014. Prior to coming to TK, he was a teacher, varsity wrestling coach, and principal at Forest Hills Public Schools. He has also served on the Grandville School Board.

The Board interviewed him Monday before an audience of staff, administrators and parents.

Board members agreed that he meets the expectations expressed by the Board, staff and community. Stakeholders said they want a collaborative leader who drives continuous improvement in student learning. They also said they want a transparent leader who will communicate clearly and consistently with the public and with staff to keep people informed.

Mr. Blitchok holds a law degree from Wayne State University, a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Western Michigan University, and a Graduate Teacher Certification from Grand Valley State University. Prior to going into education, he worked in corporate finance.

The Board extends its gratitude to the all who participated in surveys, focus groups, and the interview.

Mr. Blitchok will succeed Superintendent Tom Enslen, who has been an educator for 35 years and Thornapple Kellogg’s top administrator for the last six years.

Brittany Brown knows that dressing up makes everything fun, including contractions — which can be a bit tricky for 6-year-olds to understand.

Although they are just beginning their school careers, it won't be long before today's kindergarteners will be planning their futures and heading off to colleges, trade schools and other post-high school learning.

Inspired by texts from a pilot program called "Reading Street," Lee Elementary students in Nathan Fischer's class felt the need to help out their community in some way. They decided to focus on their furry friends in the community, so they contacted the Barry County Animal Shelter to see how they could help.