Join our team! 💜💛
Meet our 2025 Lincoln Heights Teacher of the Year, Robin Rowland!
Robin has been a Yellow Jacket from the very beginning and teaches 3rd grade at the same school she was once a student at! She is a proud mom of two sons, Teagan and Gavin, and was blessed with her first granddaughter last September. In her spare time, she enjoys camping along Lake Michigan, traveling south to swim in the oceans, feeding and bird watching, and tending to her flowers all summer long.
Robin says: "My highlight would be 'winning?' a coin drive contest. Students put the most money into my jar and that gave me the unforgettable moment of kissing a screaming pig well over the suggest decibel limit, including a mouth and snout covered in slime, grime, and an awful stench of who knows what. What an honor that was!"
Students think she doesn't notice them picking their nose, but when they politely place their hand over their nose and mouth to invade their nose with picky fingers, she totally knows what they are doing! She also notices them being the first person to get grossed out when they see another student doing the same thing 👃
Congratulations, Robin! 💜💛
Robin has been a Yellow Jacket from the very beginning and teaches 3rd grade at the same school she was once a student at! She is a proud mom of two sons, Teagan and Gavin, and was blessed with her first granddaughter last September. In her spare time, she enjoys camping along Lake Michigan, traveling south to swim in the oceans, feeding and bird watching, and tending to her flowers all summer long.
Robin says: "My highlight would be 'winning?' a coin drive contest. Students put the most money into my jar and that gave me the unforgettable moment of kissing a screaming pig well over the suggest decibel limit, including a mouth and snout covered in slime, grime, and an awful stench of who knows what. What an honor that was!"
Students think she doesn't notice them picking their nose, but when they politely place their hand over their nose and mouth to invade their nose with picky fingers, she totally knows what they are doing! She also notices them being the first person to get grossed out when they see another student doing the same thing 👃
Congratulations, Robin! 💜💛
Enrollment Verification - TIME SENSITIVE
Dear Baldwin Heights Parents and Guardians,
We know summer is racing by and schedules are packed, so we truly appreciate you taking a few minutes to help us finalize plans for the coming school year.
By July 30, 2025, please log in to PowerSchool and complete the Enrollment Verification for each of your students. This quick update confirms emergency contacts and lets us know your child will return to their current school.
Login to the PowerSchool Parent Portal at greenville.powerschool.com or PowerSchool App.
Select “Forms” from the navigation menu (website) or more button (app)..
Click on the enrollment tab to get started or scroll down to the reverification section. In the top left corner you’ll find student names and you can toggle between students with the drop down menu. You cannot hit submit on student address page B; you will just click over on the top tab to Form C. If you have changed your address, please contact the Baldwin Heights office at 616-754-3643 as we will need proof of residence submitted with this change.
Because several grade levels are already at capacity, we are holding seats only for students whose information is re‑verified. If the process is unfinished after July 30, we may have to release a spot and place your child in another building with available space—something we want to avoid.
Completing the form today ensures your child’s place and helps us prepare classrooms, teachers, and services without last‑minute changes. Thank you for acting promptly despite the tight timeline, and for partnering with us to give every student a smooth start to the 2025–2026 school year.
Child Drop Off and Pick Up INFORMATION
Student pick-up and drop-off times are two times of the day when our main doors are unlocked for student access. To ensure the safety of our building, we ask that no adults enter our doors during these times.
Students should arrive at school between 8:50 and 9:00 a.m. Adult supervision begins at 8:50. This is a change from last year. In order to ensure the highest level of supervision and safety, students will no longer be allowed to enter the building before 8:50 a.m. We appreciate your understanding and ask that you adjust your morning routine so drop-off occurs as close to 8:50 a.m. as possible.
We will have staggered dismissal times to allow students to exit as efficiently as possible and exit opposite ends of the building. Here is when we’ll be releasing students from the building:
3:40pm = Kindergarten, 3rd Grade, & 5th Grade
3:45pm = 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, & 4th Grade
For families with multiple children, all your children will be released when your earliest child is released. Families should make arrangements as to which location is best, communicate with all the students involved, and notify teachers, and the office.
It is expected that all students will be picked up at dismissal time. Staff are not available to provide supervision beyond the scheduled school day unless the child is signed up for after-school care through Children’s Corner.
Sincerely,
Mike Walsh
Principal of Baldwin Heights Elementary
Please register any NEW bus riders by August 1!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1Ok6bqtOly7zo2VPLpHyCoG_OVYBPIbnBI9MY1uJiPz74Eg/viewform
If your student rode the bus last year, you do not need to re-register. For more information, please visit www.gpsjackets.org/transportation
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1Ok6bqtOly7zo2VPLpHyCoG_OVYBPIbnBI9MY1uJiPz74Eg/viewform
If your student rode the bus last year, you do not need to re-register. For more information, please visit www.gpsjackets.org/transportation
Meet our 2025 Baldwin Heights Teacher of the Year, Samantha Brooks!
Samantha teaches a 1 - 2 loop at Baldwin Heights which means she gets to keep the same class for 1st and 2nd grade! She loves the relationships she gets to build. She has a beautiful blended family of 3 boys with a 4th on the way! They love to spend their time outside exploring, biking, and swimming.
Samantha says: "The highlight of my time with GPS is the academic and social growth I get to be a part of with my students. I am always so proud of their hard work, determination, and curiosity to learn."
If she could return to school as a student for the day, she would choose to be in preschool so she could have rest time every day! 🛌
Congratulations, Samantha! 💜💛
Samantha teaches a 1 - 2 loop at Baldwin Heights which means she gets to keep the same class for 1st and 2nd grade! She loves the relationships she gets to build. She has a beautiful blended family of 3 boys with a 4th on the way! They love to spend their time outside exploring, biking, and swimming.
Samantha says: "The highlight of my time with GPS is the academic and social growth I get to be a part of with my students. I am always so proud of their hard work, determination, and curiosity to learn."
If she could return to school as a student for the day, she would choose to be in preschool so she could have rest time every day! 🛌
Congratulations, Samantha! 💜💛
Meet our 2025 Middle School Teacher of the Year, Tara Hunter!
Tara is an 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher at GMS. She just completed her 16th year of teaching! She enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, reading, playing with her dog, and summer days at the lake.
Tara says: "The highlight of working at GMS is the staff and students. My teaching team is exceptional! Together, our collaboration, dedication, and innovation seeks to inspire students during their important middle school years. Middle school is a unique age, standing at a pivotal stage of growth both academically and personally. These rapid changes in students make teaching a daily adventure. Every day is a new day with new challenges and new rewards."
The best excuse a student ever gave was the classic "the dog ate my homework." However, this excuse came with physical proof as the student attempted to salvage the pieces of the assignment to turn in. They handed in a piece of paper that was torn apart, had teeth marks on it, and dried dog slobber. 🐕
Congratulations, Tara! 💜💛
Tara is an 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher at GMS. She just completed her 16th year of teaching! She enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, reading, playing with her dog, and summer days at the lake.
Tara says: "The highlight of working at GMS is the staff and students. My teaching team is exceptional! Together, our collaboration, dedication, and innovation seeks to inspire students during their important middle school years. Middle school is a unique age, standing at a pivotal stage of growth both academically and personally. These rapid changes in students make teaching a daily adventure. Every day is a new day with new challenges and new rewards."
The best excuse a student ever gave was the classic "the dog ate my homework." However, this excuse came with physical proof as the student attempted to salvage the pieces of the assignment to turn in. They handed in a piece of paper that was torn apart, had teeth marks on it, and dried dog slobber. 🐕
Congratulations, Tara! 💜💛
Happy summer Baldwin Heights community! We are looking for a couple of folks to be a part of our school family as special education paraprofessionals. It is a HIGHLY rewarding job working with some fantastic kids. If you are interested, please consider applying TODAY! If you know someone who may be interested, please share this link with them so they consider applying as well.
Click here: https://bit.ly/bhparaprofessional2025
Enjoy the beautiful weather and thank you for your help!
Click here: https://bit.ly/bhparaprofessional2025
Enjoy the beautiful weather and thank you for your help!
Meet our 2025 Middle School Support Staff of the Year, Kelly Taft!
Kelly has worked for GPS for over 20 years, with 15 in the middle school library! She is also the athletic coordinator for the middle school. Kelly and her husband Bill have three kids, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Kelly is a comfort dog handler for Jack at the middle school, and hosts Ritz from Walnut Hills.
Kelly says: "The highlight of my time at GPS has been coaching many athletes and watching them grow and improve, chaperoning many East Coast trips, and seeing how much the comfort dogs can help some of our kids. The kids relax and just enjoy touching them and it makes them comfortable to talk."
If this award came with a lifetime supply of something, Kelly would wish for a lifetime supply of maid service! 🧹
Congratulations, Kelly! 💜💛
Meet our 2025 Cedar Crest Teacher of the Year Winner, Kathy Doorn!
Kathy started teaching in 1986 before computers, white boards, copy machines, and printers! She has taught in three districts across many different classrooms, programs, and subjects and is rolling into her 40th year teaching (time flies when you love what you do)! She lives with her husband and they have a daughter, son-in-law, and three lovely granddaughters. She loves being outdoors, hiking, fishing, and enjoying nature, reading, singing, and catching up with friends.
Kathy says: "The highlight of my time at GPS has been teaching at Cedar Crest. This building does the most to wrap around and support kids. The staff cares so much and our students belong to all of us. I love that in my teaching I can impact all students and help them find their strengths. It is such a wonderful building with a clear vision from our principal and every staff member. We support our kids and we support each other. It makes teaching every day a joy."
If this award came with a lifetime supply of something, Kathy would want it to be a lifetime supply of extra time to spend with family and friends, time to recharge, relax, and have fun. 🕓
Congratulations, Kathy! 💜💛
Meet our 2025 Cedar Crest Support Staff of the Year Winner, Tayler Hoover!
Tayler is a Transitional Kindergarten Paraprofessional at Cedar Crest Elementary, which she loves! Her family includes her husband, two daughters Adalyn and Lainey, and an energetic golden retriever. As a family, they love camping, playing sports, and swimming.
Tayler says: "my biggest highlight of working for GPS has been building relationships with my students. The excitement they have when you walk into the classroom each morning is one of the best feelings, my days are filled with play, fun, and learning!"
The strangest thing Tayler has ever pulled out of her pocket after a day in Transitional Kindergarten are a rock, cedar leader chips, and a mini marshmallow 🪨
Congratulations, Tayler! 💜💛
Meet our 2025 High School Teacher of the Year, Andrew Samson!
Andrew is the choir teacher and a 2008 alumni of GHS! Andrew is married to his wife Becca, and they have four children: Isaac, Matthew, Lucy, and Sophia. In the mornings, you can find Andrew in the weight room or on the basketball court, and after school, he enjoys reading, watching Detroit sports, and spending time with his family. Fun fact: the first group of kindergarteners he ever taught are going to be seniors this fall!
Andrew says: "Taking over the program that I grew up in has been a dream come true for me as an alumnus. Some personal highlights have included seeing my students succeed as individuals in our state organization through things like Solo & Ensemble and Honors Choir, and also coordinating the Village Green Singers Alumni Choir this past January and February."
When asked if he relates more to Mr. Feeny or Mrs. Frizzle, Andrew says he's more Mr. Feeny. Teaching a high school elective means he gets the same students year after year, and team teaching the middle school choirs means he could be working with the same students for 5 or 6 years! This creates a lot of mentorship opportunities for him and his students the same way Mr. Feeny was a mentor to his students long after they left high school. 👓
Congratulations, Andrew! 💜💛
Meet our 2025 Baldwin Heights Support Staff of the Year, Sara Brimmer!
Sara is the principal's administrative assistant at Baldwin Heights. She has been happily married to her husband Gabe, for 25 wonderful years, and they are both GPS alumni! They have two children, Ashton and Ethan. They are also the proud hosts of Lola, the Baldwin Heights comfort dog, who brings so much joy to their lives! Their family loves to camp, travel, and stay active together in their spare time.
Sara says: "At Baldwin Heights, the family atmosphere truly shines - it's a place where "it takes a village" comes to life. The Baldwin staff exemplifies this by genuinely looking out for our students, staff, and community. Over the years, some of my favorite highlights have been helping implement the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, coaching Odyssey of the Mind, and, most recently, our amazing Baldwin PTO Color Run. Baldwin isn't just a school - it's a community I'm proud to be a part of every day."
One of the funniest moments Sara has ever had at school is when a student genuinely believed she had teleportation powers. She had been dropping off food and supplies to their house, often arriving before the school bus. The next day, the student told her they thought she could teleport 🛸
Congratulations, Sara! 💜💛
There will be a Special Board of Education Meeting on Monday, June 23, 2025, at 6:00pm at the Central Services Facility (1414 Chase Street, Greenville) to approve the 2024-25 Final Budget Amendments and the 2025-26 Proposed Budgets and any other necessary business.
Meet our 2025 Walnut Hills Support Staff of the Year, Morgan Gross!
Morgan has been a paraprofessional at Walnut Hills for almost two years. She is married and has two boys, Robbie and Hunter (and a corgi named Cooper). She loves to spend time with her family in her spare time.
Morgan says: "The highlight is honestly just my whole job. I work for and with the most amazing people. The kids are so awesome and it just makes it the absolute best job!"
When asked if she would rather do indoor recess with 25 kindergarteners or supervise 5th grade lunch on the last day before Christmas break, Morgan answered - "Oh, easy. 5th grade lunch time. Inside recess can get way too crazy." 🤪
Congratulations, Morgan! 💜💛
Meet our 2025 Walnut Hills Teacher of the Year, Kristin Jenkins!
Kristin is a 2nd grade teacher at Walnut Hills Elementary, and has been a teacher for 22 years! Kristin and her husband Mark have two children, Asa, who will be attending MSU in the fall, and Zoey, who is a high school junior. She loves spending time with friends and family, vacationing to new places, visiting the home they are currently building, cooking, and spending summer days at their condo in Grand Haven.
Kristin says: "The highlight of my time at GPS is the students and staff I work with at Walnut Hills. I admire my team and colleagues' high levels of dedication, collaboration, and knowledge to make the workplace a positive teaching and learning environment. Each and every day, I am helping students become successful readers and writers, all while building positive relationships with both teachers and students."
The strangest thing she's ever pulled out of her pockets at the end of a school day is jewelry that a student borrowed from his mother's jewelry box to give to the girls in her class! 💍
Congratulations Kristin! 💜💛
There will be a regular Board of Education Meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 7:00pm at the Central Services Facility (1414 Chase Street, Greenville). For more information, please visit https://www.gpsjackets.org/page/board-of-education
If you forgot to pick up your student's medications before the last day of school, they are available for pick up TODAY (Thursday, June 5) from 10:00am-2:00pm & 2:30-5:30pm at the GHS Auditorium/Gym Lobby (regardless of what school your student attends). Any prescription or nonprescription medications not picked up will be discarded/destroyed; medications cannot be stored for the following year.
Swing by your local Meet Up & Eat Up site this week to grab breakfast, lunch, or both—FREE for all children and teens 18 & under.
📍 Greenville High School, Baldwin Heights Elementary, Walnut Hills Elementary
📆 Monday-Friday Breakfast is served 8:30AM-10AM, and Lunch is served (GHS) 11AM-1PM (Elementaries) 11AM-12:30PM
Baldwin Heights school family! We are looking for an AMAZING music teacher to join our school family. If you know of someone who may be interested, please feel free to share this information with them so they can apply today!
Application: https://bit.ly/baldwinheightsmusicteacher25
If you forgot to pick up your student's medications, they will be available for pick up on Thursday, June 5, from 10:00am-2:00pm & 2:30-5:30pm at the GHS Auditorium/Gym Lobby (regardless of what school your student attends). Any prescription or nonprescription medications not picked up will be discarded/destroyed; medications cannot be stored for the following year.
