Welcome to Brookside Elementary (PK-5)
My name is Wayne Hill, and I am excited to serve as the Interim Principal this year at Brookside Elementary. Brookside is truly a treasure—home to an incredibly diverse and vibrant community of scholars, dedicated teachers, supportive families, and strong community partnerships.
This year, our shared mission is to work together to ensure that every scholar is seen, valued, and given the tools and encouragement they need to thrive. We will meet each student where they are and help them grow academically, socially, and emotionally in a safe, loving, and inclusive environment.
I believe that when schools and families work hand-in-hand, there is no limit to what our scholars can achieve. Together, we will cultivate a culture of respect, curiosity, and perseverance, empowering our students to not only succeed in the classroom but also develop the character and confidence to be leaders in their own lives.
I look forward to getting to know each of you and working side by side to make this a year full of growth, joy, and memorable moments for every scholar at Brookside.
If you would like more information about Brookside Elementary, please call us at 616-819-2242.
School Apps
Brookside Elementary
School Hours
Breakfast 8:10 a.m.
Start Time 8:30 a.m.
Dismissal 3:28 p.m.
Half Day Dismissal 11:40 a.m.
School Transparency
At Brookside, we pride ourselves on positive relationships and academic growth.
Beautiful, walkable, and surrounded by green space, Brookside Elementary combines a strong academic program with a consistent focus on restorative practices in a safe, vibrant learning community.
Located on the southeast side of Grand Rapids next to the Gerald R. Ford Nature Center and the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, our scholars benefit from learning in their own neighborhood. At Brookside, we are committed to ensuring all scholars experience an engaging curriculum and high achievement. Our staff work with each scholar to identify their needs and help them take their learning to the next level. We also partner with local organizations to ensure that our scholars can bring their learning to life.
The partnership between school staff and caregivers at Brookside Elementary builds a positive, collaborative learning environment. Families are welcomed and encouraged to be involved in various aspects of their scholar’s growth, resulting in a partnership that benefits the Brookside community.
Brookside is proud to offer:
- Parent Teacher Community Council
- Community-based Mentoring
- English as a Second Language (ESL) Services for PK through 5th grade students
- A partnership with the Kroc Center that includes:
- Fine Arts and Movement Education
- Swim Lessons
- A Brookside Community Garden Plot
- A partnership with Groundswell, LGROW, Plaster Creek Stewards, and EGLE, resulting in a student-cultivated rain garden
- Recipients of the Green Schoolyard Grant, resulting in the addition of natural play structures and an outdoor classroom
We have incorporated distance learning for years and are poised to be a leader in the district as a blended model of new technologies and old practices, giving our students the best of both worlds. Our 1-to-1 student technology device approach ensures that every student has the opportunity to learn inside and outside the classroom.
Our newly modernized building is a hidden gem on the west side of Grand Rapids featuring updated entrances, classrooms, air conditioning, and an athletic wing, surrounded by sprawling green space for outdoor education and athletics.
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26 Novthru Nov 28
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No School | No LOOP Programming | Thanksgiving BreakDate: Nov 26 - Nov 28Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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17 Decthru Dec 19
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Half-Day for Scholars | No LOOP ProgrammingDate: Dec 17 - Dec 19Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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22 Decthru Jan 2
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No School | No LOOP Programming | Winter BreakDate: Dec 22 - Jan 2Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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19 Jan
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No School | No LOOP Programming | Martin Luther King, Jr. DayDate: Jan 19Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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16 Febthru Feb 17
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No School | No LOOP Programming | Mid-Winter BreakDate: Feb 16 - Feb 17Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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5 Mar
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2026 LatinX Youth ConferenceDate: Mar 5Location: Grand Rapids Community CollegeCalendar: GRPS District Calendar
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3 Aprthru Apr 10
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No School | No LOOP Programming | Spring BreakDate: Apr 3 - Apr 10Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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18 May
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CA Frost Middle High School Graduation Ceremony 5:00 PM to 6:00 PMCA Frost Middle High School Graduation CeremonyDate: May 18Time: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PMLocation: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USACalendar: GRPS District Calendar
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Union High School Graduation Ceremony 7:00 PM to 8:00 PMUnion High School Graduation CeremonyDate: May 18Time: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PMLocation: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USACalendar: GRPS District Calendar
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19 May
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Southwest Middle High Academia Bilingue Graduation Ceremony 5:00 PM to 6:00 PMSouthwest Middle High Academia Bilingue Graduation CeremonyDate: May 19Time: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PMLocation: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USACalendar: GRPS District Calendar
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The 3Rs Program at Ottawa Hills: Teaching rights, responsibilities, and the realities of the law November 21, 2025
Ottawa Hills High School is home to a unique learning experience that brings the legal world directly into the classroom. The 3Rs Program—Rights, Responsibilities, and Realities of the Law—partners scholars with local lawyers, judges, and civil rights experts for monthly sessions designed to help young people better understand the laws that shape their lives.
Principal Profile: Meet the leader who decided to be an educator in first grade November 20, 2025
Grand Rapids Montessori Academy and Middle High School Principal Kerri Reed has known she wanted to be a teacher since she was a child.
SNN: Couple shares ‘a calling’ to make a difference for students in urban schools November 18, 2025
Whitley and Dan Morse met as new teachers in Grand Rapids Public Schools. Fifteen years later, the married couple are still there, Whitley as a teacher at Ottawa Hills High School and Dan as principal of North Park Montessori Academy.
