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General Questions:
- Can my child attend a different school?
- Is there opportunity for community involvement?
- What is No Child Left Behind and Education Yes?
- Does GHAPS have preschool programs?
- What is the voyagers program?
- Do you honor schools of choice?
- How do Grand Haven's student test scores compare?
- What School Will My Child Attend?
- How do I register my child?
- What Are The Various School Buildings' Hours?
- How can I learn about the Grand Haven community?
- Can you tell me more about the Young Fives program?
- Should my child attend kindergarten or Young Fives?
- Will my Young Fives child be expected to know the alphabet?
- Will my Young Fives child be reading at the end of the program?
- Will my Young Fives child be counting at the end of the program?
- Will my child have the opportunity to ride on the school bus?
- How do I know if my child is ready for school?
- How should my child and I prepare for the first day of school?
- How old does my child have to be to enroll in either Young Fives or Kindergarten?
- What do I have to have to enroll my child in Young Fives or Kindergarten?
- Is there a way I can request information about enrolling my student at Grand Haven?
Elementary School Questions:
- How many students are in a kindergarten class and what is the average class size for lower and upper elementary schools?
- How many classes are there per grade level?
- Are there any aides in kindergarten classrooms in addition to the teacher?
- What skills should students have practiced before entering kindergarten?
- Are students screened for placement prior to entering kindergarten?
- What are the academic expectations for students by the end of the kindergarten year?
- What activities encompass the normal kindergarten day?
- Are Young Five students integrated into the regular kindergarten, or do they have a separate class?
- How is instruction differentiated for students with different levels of ability?
- In addition to the core academic curriculum, what other subjects do students have access to during their school experience?
- What extra-curricular opportunities are offered at elementary schools?
- Are the arts integrated into the curriculum?
- Do students receive computer instruction and are they able to visit the school library regularly?
- What opportunities/expectations exist for parent involvement?
- How do schools communicate with parents regularly?
- How can I learn more about the language arts, math, science and social studies curriculum taught in elementary buildings?
- Could I see a copy of school mission statements? Could I have a copy of school calendars?
- What are the start and end times for morning and afternoon kindergarten?
- How can I find answers to specific questions I may have for a certain elementary building?
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Q. Can my child attend a different school in the district?
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A. Yes, if space is available. An application for transfer of attendance must be submitted in writing to the principal of the school located in your attendance area. After contacting the receiving principal, they will submit a recommendation to the superintendent. A transfer is not automatic, however. There must be space available at the requested school, and parents must provide transportation to the requested school.
Request for Transfer Policy>>
Request for Transfer Form>>
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| Q. Is there opportunity for community involvement within the district? |
A. There are many ways the community is involved in district functions. Community members sit on committees to work on the district's budget and curriculum. Task forces made up of community volunteers have studied and developed recommendations on such issues as redrawing attendance boundaries, establishing learner expectations and determining the kindergarten schedule. PTAs, volunteer programs, and school/business partnerships also offer opportunities for the community to be involved in the district.
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| Q. What is No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Education Yes? |
A. See our NCLB page for and explanation and terms/definitions.
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| Q. Do you have a preschool program? |
A. Yes. Grand Haven Area Public Schools' preschool program emphasizes socialization, sharing and getting along with others in a group. Through the creative use of activity centers, each child is encouraged to explore many aspects of his/her world. The preschool program has kept attuned to current trends in early childhood education, providing developmentally appropriate activities for two- to five-year-olds, and are connected to the K-12 curriculum. Please contact Lynn Hawley at 850.6825.
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| Q. What is the Voyagers Program offered at Ferry School? |
A. Please visit the Voyagers Program website for a full explanation of this exciting alternative to the traditional classroom.
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| Q. Do you honor schools of choice? |
A. Yes. Under a "Schools of Choice" agreement in Ottawa County, your children can attend school in Grand Haven Area Public Schools. Click here to download the Schools of Choice application or contact Human Services at 850.5020.
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Q. How do Grand Haven's student test scores compare to other students through out Michigan? |
| A. Grand Haven students consistently score higher than the statewide average in all categories of the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test. Additionally, Grand Haven High School students score higher than the state and national average on the ACT test. |
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| Q. What School Will My Child Attend? |
A. Elementary-aged students are assigned to their neighborhood school. Parents do have the option to request a different school, however there is an application process, and openings are based on available space.
At the middle school level, if you live in the attendance areas of Ferry, Lake Hills, Griffin and Peach Plains schools, your child will attend White Pines Middle School.
If you live in the attendance areas of Mary A. White, Robinson and Rosy Mound schools, your child will attend Lakeshore Middle School.
All students attend either Grand Haven High School or Central High School. |
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| Q. How Do I Register My Child? |
| A. If you live in the GHAPS district you may contact the school building your child will attend. If you are not sure which attendance area your home is located, please look at the boundary maps or call the Human Services office at 850.5020.
Click here for a list of what information you must provide when registering you child.
Enrollment Form - English / En español
(These links require Acrobat Reader. To download, please click here.)
If you do not live in the GHAPS district you must submit a "Schools of Choice" application to the Human Services office.
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| Q. What Are The Various School Buildings' Hours? |
A. The schedule during the school year is as follows:
- All Elementary Schools - 8:55 a.m. - 3:50 p.m.
- AM Kindergarten / Young Fives
8:55 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- PM Kindergarten / Young Fives -
12:40 - 3:50 p.m.
- Lakeshore Middle School -
7:34 a.m. - 2:32 p.m.
- White Pines Middle School -
7:44 a.m. - 2:42 p.m.
- High School - 7:50 a.m. - 2:39 p.m.
- Central High School - 7:50 a.m. - 2:20 p.m.
- Administration Building - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
*Note: Summer hours may vary. Please contact the individual school for their summer schedule. |
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| Q. How can I learn about the Grand Haven community? |
| A. Visit our Area Links page to learn more. |
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| Q. Can you tell me more about the Young Fives program? |
A. The Young Fives program provides children extra time to develop social and emotional skills that prepare them for entering kindergarten.
The Young Fives program exposes children to the alphabet and numbers through a “Gift of Time.”
The major emphases of the Young Fives program are exposure, experience, and repetition. The three concepts are designed to help develop confidence in students so they are familiar with what to expect when they enter kindergarten. For more information you can view our Grade Level Brochure or visit the Early Childhood Development section of our website.
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| Q. Should my child attend kindergarten or Young Fives? |
| A.
This question is one that should be discussed with the building principal, kindergarten teacher, and Young Fives teacher. Some variables to consider are: maturity, ability to get along with others, ability to separate from parents’ supervision, fine motor skills, and attention span. |
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| Q. Will my Young Fives child be expected to know the alphabet? |
| A.
Young Fives students are exposed to letters of the alphabet in a variety of ways, but they are not expected to reach mastery level. They are involved in activities that reinforce development of the alphabet. |
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| Q. Will my Young Fives child be reading at the end of the program? |
| A. Students are exposed to different types of literature (genres). Students will develop a desire to want to read. Reading is introduced for enjoyment. |
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| Q. Will my Young Fives child be counting at the end of the program? |
| A.
Again, the emphasis is on exposure not mastery. Students will write numbers incorporating the date and other calendar activities. Shapes, patterns, and counting will be introduced. Students will be able to recognize certain numbers by the end of the program. |
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| Q. Will my child have the opportunity to ride on the school bus? |
| A.
Yes, district transportation is provided to students of this age. If your child is going to ride the bus, his or her pick up time will depend on where you live. As the new school year approaches, sometime in August, you can check the Spotlight , Grand Haven Tribune or our website for a full listing of schedules, including times. Kindergarten bus drivers will contact you regarding the noontime run. You are also welcome to contact the transportation office at 850.5150. |
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| Q. How do I know if my child is ready for school? |
If you can answer YES to these questions, your child is probably ready for school.
- Does your child know his or her name, address, and telephone number?
- Does your child know how to cross a street safely?
- Can your child use the restroom independently?
- Does your child demonstrate appropriate manners?
- Does your child sleep enough?
- Can your child dress himself or herself?
- Can your child spend time away from you?
- Does your child know not to talk to strangers?
- Will your child eat breakfast before school?
- Are your child’s immunization records up-to-date?
- Does your child know how to wash his or her hands?
- Is your child respectful towards adults?
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| Q.
How should my child and I prepare for the first day of school? |
A. The first day at the “Big School” can seem frightening to even the most confident child. Crying is a common occurrence on the first day. Stay strong; tell your child you love them dearly, and then let them go. This sometimes-rough transition is made easier when parents allow their children to become independent.
- Focus on the positive - -tell your child what a big boy or girl they are for going to school. Let them know you are proud of them.
- Make sure that your child knows that you, their room, favorite toys, and friends will be waiting for them when they get home.
- Children sometimes worry about using the bathroom at school. Reassure them that they will be able to do this on their own.
- For a week before school, practice getting up at the new time. Take a few walks to the bus stop.
- Let your child choose clothing to wear on the first day, and lay the clothes out the night before to avoid anxiety in the morning.
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| Q. How old does my child have to be to enroll in either Young Fives or Kindergarten? |
A general education pupil must turn five years of age on or before December 1 to enroll in Young Fives or Kindergarten.
Note: If the child is any younger, they may be able to enroll in a tuition-based program. Interested parents should speak with their school’s principal about this matter.
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| Q.
What do I have to have to enroll my child in Young Fives or Kindergarten? |
A. When you enroll your child for school, we will need some required information. Here are some of the things you should bring with you:
- Your child’s official birth certificate
- Your child’s immunization records
- Completed medical examination forms--physical is not required, but recommended
- Vision and Hearing screening results
- Custody verification papers for divorced parents (if this is an issue)
Enrollment forms are available in the forms section of our website. If you do not live in our district but would like your child to attend Grand Haven Schools you can fill out and submit a Schools of Choice application. |
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| Q. Is there a way I can request information about enrolling my student at Grand Haven? |
| A. Yes. There is a simple pre-enrollment form you can fill out and submit via our website. A member of our staff will respond to any questions you may have and mail out an enrollment packet to you. |
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| Q. How many students are in a kindergarten class and what is the average class size for lower and upper elementary schools? |
| A.
The average kindergarten classroom has 20 students. Overall, grades K-2 average 21 students and grades 3-5 average 25 students. |
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| Q.
How many classes are there per grade level? |
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Classes per grade level vary by building – anywhere from 2 to 4 |
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| Q. Are there any aides in kindergarten classrooms in addition to the teacher? |
| A.
Teacher assistants are provided when class numbers warrant. |
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| Q. What skills should students have practiced before entering kindergarten? |
| A.
Kindergarten students should practice basic fine motor, gross motor, social, language and counting skills |
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| Q. Are students screened for placement prior to entering kindergarten? |
| A.
There is currently no adopted district kindergarten-screening program |
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| Q. What are the academic expectations for students by the end of the kindergarten year? |
| A.
You can download academic expectations for all grade levels (through 8 th grade) by visiting the district’s website at http://www.ghaps.org/gradelevelbrochures.htm |
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| Q. What activities encompass the normal kindergarten day? |
| A.
Detailed information about what children will learn in kindergarten can be found in the Kindergarten Grade Level Brochure on the district website at www.ghaps.org . Parents may also contact any elementary building for a specific kindergarten schedule. |
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| Q. Are Young Five students integrated into the regular kindergarten, or do they have a separate class? |
| A.
Young Fives students have their own classroom, but are introduced and exposed to the kindergarten curriculum. Young Fives students are not expected to reach a mastery level. |
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| Q. How is instruction differentiated for students with different levels of ability? |
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Through Differentiated Instruction, all children are challenged at their individual level . |
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| Q. In addition to the core academic curriculum, what other subjects do students have access to during their school experience? |
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All students at the elementary level have art, music, physical education and media skills built into their weekly schedule |
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| Q. What extra-curricular opportunities are offered at elementary schools? |
| A. There are a variety of extra-curricular activities at each elementary building including; boys and girls basketball, chess, Destination Imagination, Girls on the Run, Total Trek Quest, North Ottawa Recreation Programs, Service Learning groups, foreign language, etc. |
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| Q. Are the arts integrated into the curriculum? |
| A.
Yes. In addition to having art class, there are a variety of ways the arts are included a part of the elementary experience such as; Reader’s Theatre, music performances, art shows, and drama clubs. |
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| Q. Do students receive computer instruction and are they able to visit the school library regularly? |
| A.
Grand Haven Area Public Schools has a comprehensive technology and media curriculum. All students work with a media specialist and a media assistant to learn technology and media skills as well as times to check out books. |
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| Q. What opportunities/expectations exist for parent involvement? |
| A.
Each elementary school has an active, vibrant Parent Teacher Association that provides many opportunities for parents to be involved in their child’s school. Parents are also involved in the classroom by helping with activities, tutoring and serving as chaperones on field trips |
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| Q. How do schools communicate with parents regularly? |
| A.
In addition to parent-teacher conferences, parents receive record cards, newsletters, email messages, and can log onto school webpages for up-to-date information. |
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| Q. How can I learn more about the language arts, math, science and social studies curriculum taught in elementary buildings? |
| A.
Grade Level Brochures describe curriculum expectations for all grade levels (through 8 th grade) by visiting the district’s website at http://www.ghaps.org/gradelevelbrochures.htm |
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| Q. Could I see a copy of school mission statements? Could I have a copy of school calendars? |
| A.
Each school has a unique mission statement, and individual school building calendars are available for parent on school webpages. |
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| Q. What are the start and end times for morning and afternoon kindergarten? |
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Morning kindergarten is in session from 8:50 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Afternoon kindergarten is in session from 12:40 to 3:53 p.m. |
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| Q. How can I find answers to specific questions I may have for a certain elementary building? |
| A. Elementary buildings would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Ferry Elementary: 850-5300
Griffin Elementary: 850-5500
Lake Hills Elementary: 850-5600
Mary A. White Elementary: 850-5700
Peach Plains Elementary: 850-5800
Robinson Elementary: 850-5900
Rosy Mound Elementary: 850-6700
Voyager School: 850-5300
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| Have a question? Send your request to the webmaster and our staff will consider adding your question to the FAQ. |
