Welcome to César E. Chávez Elementary (PK-5)
Bienvenidos a César E. Chávez Elementary School! We are honored to create another joyful year of learning and growth with our new and returning families. Every day, our students’ curiosity, creativity, and kindness make Chávez a truly special place to learn and grow.
As a proud GRPS Culture Center, we celebrate the diversity, languages, and heritage that enrich our community. We believe that every scholar brings unique gifts that contribute to our shared success. At Chávez, we hold high expectations for all scholars and are committed to ensuring that every child feels valued, supported, and inspired to learn with us. Thank you for being an essential part of our wonderful school. Your partnership, trust, and belief in our shared mission make all the difference. Juntos crecemos, together we grow!

César E. Chávez 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

We are a Community School!
Connect with your KSSN Coordinator
At César E. Chávez Elementary, we believe in the endless potential of our scholars. We nurture that belief by encouraging our Little Red Hawks to see themselves as confident, successful learners who have the power to shape their own bright futures.
Rooted within the vibrant Roosevelt Park neighborhood, our school is a reflection of the community’s commitment and care. Our strength comes from the partnerships we share among our staff, families and neighbors, who help us to prepare our scholars with the knowledge, curiosity, and confidence they need to be successful. Our classrooms are places where every language, story, and culture is valued, creating a joyful and inclusive space where all scholars can belong and thrive.
Our Dedicated Educators
At César E. Chávez Elementary, our teachers and support staff are the driving force behind our school’s success. Each day, they bring passion, creativity, and deep commitment to their classrooms, ensuring that every scholar is seen, supported, and challenged to grow.
Our staff partners closely with families to create meaningful connections between home and school, recognizing that collaboration is key to each scholar’s success. We teach engaging lessons that spark curiosity and foster critical thinking, while also prioritizing the social and emotional well-being of every child. Grounded in the belief that every child can achieve at high levels, our staff continuously reflect, learn, and refine their practice. Their dedication transforms classrooms into caring communities where our Little Red Hawks can soar.
Celebrating Culture and Language
César E. Chávez Elementary thrives at the heart of a vibrant, multicultural community shaped by our families who bring traditions and languages from around the world. As a GRPS Culture Center, César E. Chávez Elementary is a place where traditions, stories, and voices from all backgrounds are uplifted and celebrated. We nurture an environment where every scholar feels proud of who they are, deeply valued, and fully supported to reach their highest potential.
We are proud of and celebrate our diversity and see multilingualism as a powerful asset that enriches learning, builds confidence, and strengthens our students’ connections to one another and to the world. Our bilingual program supports scholars in developing strong skills in both Spanish and English, allowing them to succeed academically while honoring their home language and culture.
Our Supportive Families
Our families are our students’ first teachers, and their love, wisdom, and traditions enrich every aspect of school life. The strong partnerships with our families are the foundation of every Little Red Hawk’s success. We value parents and caregivers as active partners and we encourage their involvement in classrooms, volunteer opportunities, and family-centered events that bring our community together throughout the year.
We are grateful for our “Popcorn Moms” who devote time to our school through our weekly popcorn fundraiser and also provide valuable leadership, thought-partnership and collaboration with school staff. We host monthly “Coffee with the Principal” meetings, where families come together with school leadership to share their questions, celebrations or concerns. We are very grateful for our continued partnership and collaboration.
Positive and Supportive Learning Environment
At César E. Chávez Elementary, social-emotional learning (SEL) is a cornerstone of everything we do. Every student begins the day in a community circle, fostering care, connection, and setting positive intentions. Through these morning meetings, our scholars also learn how to understand their emotions, build strong friendships, and navigate challenges and mistakes with self-reflection, and resilience.
Our PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) program complements SEL by celebrating the many ways our Red Hawk’s shine each day. Students are recognized for their achievements, kindness, and contributions to our inclusive and joyful school culture.
While following our district’s discipline policy, our approach to addressing behavior also incorporates restorative practices, where students are asked to reflect on their choices, their impact on self and others, and take steps toward repair. We understand that learning is a journey, and mistakes are valuable opportunities to grow, reflect, and deepen our relationships with one another.
We welcome and encourage families to partner with us in supporting our S.T.A.R. habits:
- S: Self-Awareness – understanding and reflecting on one’s thoughts, feelings, strengths, and how actions impact oneself and others
- T: Taking Responsibility – owning actions and choices
- A: Attitude of Gratitude – appreciating others and practicing thankfulness
- R: Respectful – showing respect for oneself, others, and the community
Meet Our Principal
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.
César E. Chávez Elementary Photo Tour
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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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Innovation Central High School & Grand Rapids Montessori Graduation Ceremony 7:00 PM to 8:00 PMInnovation Central High School & Grand Rapids Montessori Graduation CeremonyDate: May 19Time: 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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What will high school look like 10, 20, 30 years from now? Grand Rapids Public Museum High School is going to have a hand in answering that question.
NSPRA communication audit report available November 24, 2025
Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) contracted with the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for an in-depth, independent review of the system’s overall communication program.
Neil Syrek is all-in on GRPS. He has been a teacher at CA Frost Environmental Science Middle High School since it opened in 2015.






