Points of Pride

It is with great pride and excitement that we announce that Caledonia Elementary School has been named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for being an Exemplary High Performing School!  Awesome job, Caledonia Elementary!!

Press Release - September 19, 2023
National Blue Ribbon School Award Announcement

We are excited to announce that Dutton Elementary School has been recognized as a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for being an Exemplary High Performing School. Awesome job, Dutton!!

Three Caledonia Schools Named 2024-2025 Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools

Exciting News! Dutton Elementary, Kettle Lake Elementary, and Paris Ridge Elementary have each been named 2024-2025 Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools! This recognition celebrates their commitment to fostering nurturing and positive environments for all our students. Join us in congratulating our schools on this outstanding achievement!

April 24 Press Release

2024–2025 Honorees

• Dutton Elementary
• Kettle Lake Elementary
• Paris Ridge Elementary

2023–2024 Honorees

• Dutton Elementary
• Kettle Lake Elementary
• Paris Ridge Elementary
• Kraft Meadows Intermediate School

CKH Convoy of Hope Recipients

Our Capturing Kids' Hearts(CKH) representative recently embarked on a district wide journey, making surprise visits to all our buildings. Her mission? To shine a spotlight on an exceptional educator and present them with a well-deserved $100 gift card, courtesy of the CKH Convoy of Hope project.

This special recognition celebrates the unwavering dedication these teachers have shown to our Capturing Kids' Hearts initiative. It's truly inspiring to witness the passion and commitment of staff who consistently go above and beyond to ensure our students thrive. Let's give a huge round of applause to these staff and all our outstanding educators who touch lives and make a difference every day!

ECC - Trisha Scott
CE - Jenny King
DE - Karlene Hantle
EL - Kelly Mulry
KL - Nancy Dryburgh
PR - Nicole Meurlin
KMIS - Becky Bravata
DLMS - Emma Ritz-Smith 
CHS - Ian Durkee
 

Rising Star Awards

Caledonia Community Schools is honored to have 7 buildings to be selected as a "Rising Star" by Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH)! This is given to a select group of schools in their first year of implementation of CKH, who have shown exemplary progress and impact of CKH practices in the building. Nice work teams!

Congratulations to Dutton Elementary for being honored with the TalentFirst Literacy Leader Award, joining a select group of five West Michigan elementary schools as recipients of this inaugural recognition! TalentFirst came out to Dutton Elementary to present a $1,000 check for their outstanding achievement in fostering a culture of literacy!

We are thrilled to share that all 9 of our schools in the district have earned the prestigious MI HEARTSafe School designation for 2023-2026! This honor, presented by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan Department of Education, American Heart Association, Michigan High School Athletic Association, and Michigan Alliance for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young, recognizes our commitment to creating a safer learning environment and helping prevent sudden cardiac death. 

This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our staff and community to prioritize student and staff safety. 

Caledonia Elementary recently earned a Bronze School Wellness Award for fostering an active school environment. With support from a grant by Building Healthy Communities, they expanded their run club, dubbed the “Recess Run Club.” This initiative, led by Mr. Huck, allows students to run or walk during recess on Tuesdays and Thursdays, resulting in an impressive 88% participation rate among students and an average of 245 miles covered daily. This program not only promotes physical activity but also instills healthy habits and educates students about the importance of an active lifestyle.

We're excited to share that Caledonia Elementary School has earned an impressive Top 25 in the state on the U.S. News & World Report's rankings for the Top Elementary Schools in Michigan!  This incredible recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and the entire Cal community. Way to go, Cal El!  

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/elementary-schools/michigan

Caledonia Community Schools has been named one of the Top 10 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in Michigan for the number of students earning the Seal of Biliteracy in 2024-2025! This honor celebrates our students’ incredible achievement in becoming proficient in English AND another world language.

Congratulations to Mrs. Micalah Waskiewicz!  We’re proud to share that Kraft Meadows Intermediate School’s own Micalah Waskiewicz has been named the 2025 Educator of the Year by the Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan!  Mrs. W’s classroom is a place where every student is seen, valued, and supported—and her incredible impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. As one student put it: “She understands me. She takes care of me and makes me feel safe.” Thank you, Mrs. Waskiewicz, for making Caledonia a place where all students can thrive.  

Congratulations to Mary Frey, kindergarten teacher at Kettle Lake Elementary School, for being honored with the Michigan Lottery’s Excellence in Education Award!  Mrs. Frey’s incredible dedication to her students and her passion for building a strong foundation for lifelong learning have made a lasting impact on our school community. We are so proud to have Mrs. Frey represent Caledonia Community Schools!

Duncan Lake Middle School has been nationally recognized as a Model Professional Learning Community at Work® by Solution Tree—and is one of only 5 schools in the entire state of Michigan to earn this honor! This recognition celebrates the incredible work of our educators who focus on learning, collaboration, and results to help every student succeed. We’re proud of the commitment and culture that make Caledonia such a special place to learn and grow. 

Press Release

Each year the Congressional Medal of Honor Society selects one individual nationwide as the recipient of their Distinguished Citizen Award and this year our very own Heather Tornes from Caledonia High School has been chosen for this prestigious honor! Heather’s dedication to education and youth development has made a profound impact on our students, and now her efforts are being recognized on a national stage!  She received this prestigious award at the Circle of Honor Dinner held at the New York Stock Exchange on March 5, 2025. Heather attended the NYSE Closing Bell Ceremony as a guest, alongside over 20 Medal of Honor recipients being recognized for their service and sacrifice. We are beyond proud of Heather for her commitment to instilling leadership, integrity, and civic responsibility in our students. 

Congratulations to Eric Pinder, a cherished teacher at Caledonia High School, for being honored as a Detroit Red Wings "Best in Class" educator! Nominated by one of his students and winning the vote, Eric was celebrated in unforgettable fashion. His recognition included two tickets to the game, a pre-game reception, a meet-and-greet with Justin Abdelkader, and an array of Red Wings merchandise and gift cards. As a lifelong Red Wings fan, this experience was a dream come true. We are so proud to see one of our own receive such a special honor. Eric, your dedication and inspiration truly make a difference—this recognition is so well-deserved!

Big News for Caledonia Girls Basketball! The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) has named Coach Todd Bloemers as their Week 3 Coach of the Week, presented by the Detroit Pistons! Congratulations, Coach Bloemers, and thank you for your leadership and dedication to our Caledonia Girls Basketball program.  We are proud to have you represent Caledonia Community Schools!

Caledonia Community Schools is incredibly proud of Robin Trocinski, preschool teacher at Duncan Lake Early Childhood Center, for being named a 2024 Literacy Champion by the Kent District Library! Robin’s dedication to fostering a love of reading in our youngest learners is truly inspiring. Congratulations, Robin!

Sprout Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Mrs. Bravata for winning the prestigious Sprout Teacher of the Year award at the Groundswell Stewardship Initiative student showcase! Her dedication and innovative teaching methods were exemplified through her 6th grade classroom's pollinator garden project, which was presented at Grand Valley State University's downtown campus. Mrs. Bravata's commitment to environmental education and her students' success is truly inspiring. We are proud to have such an outstanding educator in our community!

GoNoodle Princi-PAL of the Year

We're thrilled to announce that our very own Shawn Veitch has been named Princi-PAL of the Year, thanks to the wonderful staff at Dutton Elementary School who nominated him! He was one of 50 principals selected around the country for this award. As a reward for their support, all our Dutton students will enjoy one year of free GoNoodle, enriching our school days with fun and engaging activities. Congratulations to Mr. Veitch and our Dutton family!

Grand Valley State University - Alumni of the Year!

Congratulations to Ms. Kastens from DLMS on being awarded the Grand Valley State University Alumni of the Year Award for Health and Physical Education! Her unwavering commitment to promoting health and wellness among our students is truly commendable. We are so proud and grateful for her dedication!

West Michigan Counseling Association - Teacher of the Year!

We're excited to announce that Andrea Hilaski, an esteemed counselor at Caledonia High Schools, has been named West Michigan Counselor of the Year by the West Michigan Counseling Association! This award is a testament to her exceptional dedication and the positive impact she has on our students. Congratulations, Andrea!

West Michigan Teacher Collaborative

We are excited to announce that Kolin Herron, Allison Siekman, and Pam Tava have been selected as members of the West Michigan Teacher Collaborative! This program is dedicated to training the next generation of outstanding educators, and we couldn't be prouder of our staff for this achievement. Congratulations! 

Learn more about this initiative at https://teachwestmichigan.org/.

Mock Trial Teacher of the Year

We'd also like to congratulate Jenny Jonkman for her well-deserved recognition as Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Center for Civic Education, underscoring her exceptional commitment to civic and law-related education.

School News Network Article about this recognition

Grand Rapids Gold - Teacher of the Night

We'd like to congratulate Rachel Campbell from Paris Ridge Elementary for being nominated by the Grand Rapids Gold as Teacher of the Night last weekend! Along with her family, she enjoyed tickets to the game, some swag, and a special presentation during halftime. It's wonderful to see educators like Rachel being recognized for their hard work and dedication. 

WZZM13 Teacher of the Week

Congratulations to Colin Nelson, a teacher at Caledonia High School, for being selected as the WZZM13 Teacher of the Week! 
WZZM13 Article/Video Link

Coach of the Year

Congratulations to Golf Coach Veronica Van Wagoner, who was named Regional Coach of the Year – a well-deserved honor! 

Social Worker of the Year

Congratulations to Scott Bont for receiving the 2023 School Social Worker of the Year award for Region C from the Michigan Association of School Social Workers. 

Caledonia Community Schools recently received recognition from the state for its work in providing students with various needs academic and behavioral strategies to help them be successful in school and beyond.  Visit our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) page for more information on MTSS. 

MTSS Data Utilization Awards:

• Caledonia Elementary School: Reading
• Duncan Lake Middle School: Reading 
• Dutton Elementary School: Reading
• Emmons Lake Elementary School: Reading
• Kettle Lake Elementary School: Reading
• Kraft Meadows Intermediate School: Reading
• Paris Ridge Elementary: Reading

MTSS Implementation and Impact Awards:

• Caledonia Elementary School
  • Tier 1 Reading: Silver
  • Advanced Tiers Reading: Silver
  • Reading Gold
• Dutton Elementary School
  • Tier 1 Reading: Bronze
• Emmons Lake Elementary School 
  • Tier 1 Reading: Bronze
• Kettle Lake Elementary School
  • Tier 1 Reading: Silver
• Kraft Meadows Intermediate School
  • Tier 1 Reading: Bronze
• Paris Ridge Elementary
  • Tier 1 Reading: Bronze
  • Advanced Tiers Reading: Bronze