Stories
ZCS Alumni Spotlight // Hannah Smith
When Hannah looks back on her time at Zeeland Christian School, one of her favorite memories is her eighth-grade history class, where students pretended to be American settlers and eventually rebelled against “Queen Roskamp.” What could have simply been a history lesson became an engaging, memorable experience that brought the class together and made learning…
Read MoreMeet Julia VanderVeen
We’re excited to officially welcome Julia VanderVeen back to the ZCS Art Room this year! After spending three months last spring filling in for Mrs. Kelley during her maternity leave, Julia quickly fell in love with teaching art at ZCS. She loved seeing kids get excited about learning, trying new things, and helping each other…
Read MoreZCS Alumni Spotlight // Sabrina Iverson ’20
When Sabrina looks back on her time at Zeeland Christian School, she remembers the teachers who invested in her not only academically, but personally. Teachers like Mrs. Price and Mrs. Roskamp made a lasting impact through the way they cared deeply for their students. She also remembers Mrs. Zastrow’s “brain class,” where she learned about…
Read MoreZCS Alumni Spotlight // Luke Gruppen ’17
Luke Gruppen, a Zeeland Christian School alumni, looks back on his time at ZCS with gratitude for the teachers and experiences that helped shape his faith and his calling to serve others. One memory that stands out began in second grade, when Maestra Koop, now ZCS’s Head of School, took the time to teach Luke…
Read MoreMeet Sarah Klingenberg
“Faith isn’t a part-time job. We are called to more!” We are excited to welcome Sarah Klingenberg to ZCS this year! Sarah is a Holland Christian School alum from the Class of 2022 and just graduated from Cornerstone University with her degree in elementary education. We’re excited to have her joining the ZCS community! Sarah…
Read MoreMeet Maestra Capestany
Ruth Capestany is joining ZCS as a Spanish Immersion kindergarten teacher, bringing with her a deep love for Jesus, children, and the Spanish language. Originally from Panama, Ruth felt God calling her to follow Him and share His love from a young age. After earning a degree in special education and teaching in Panama, she…
Read MoreCuriosity Encouraged. Faith Deepened. A Calling Discovered.
Alumni Spotlight: Josh Parks ’10 Sometimes, all it takes is one teacher who says, “Go for it.” For Josh Parks ’10, that teacher was Mrs. Roskamp. “I loved everything about my seventh-grade English class with Mrs. Roskamp,” Josh remembers. “Not only because she let me write a 30,000-word prequel to The Chronicles of Narnia instead…
Read MoreCalled to Care: How McKenna Schafer ’16 Lives Out Her Faith in Nursing
When McKenna Schafer ’16 walks into the ICU each day, she never knows what challenges await. As a nurse serving patients and families in northern Michigan at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, she regularly encounters situations that are heartbreaking, difficult, and deeply human. Yet through it all, she carries with her a foundation that…
Read MoreDeep Joy: Ireland to Michigan
by Simon Morrow, ZCS 8th-grade teacher I love ZCS! I have known about this place for about 10 years, but I only moved to the US and started working at ZCS in July 2023. Being in a place where I can help students to explore what it means to truly experience Jesus, while also preparing…
Read MoreBrumation: God’s Naturally Amazing Design
by Katy Bosch, ZCS Nature-Rich Teacher Nature-based learning is: Learning in nature Learning about nature Learning with nature This week, we had an opportunity to learn with nature when we discovered one of our toads on the playscape in the early, cooler morning. Students were marveling at their toad friend, wondering: “Is it alive?” “Is it breathing?”…
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