Welcome to Blandford School (6)
Welcome and thank you for choosing GRPS and Blandford School. It is my honor and privilege to serve as the Principal of Blandford. Our staff is dedicated to helping each child reach their fullest potential and become independent, self-driven learners. We are fortunate to have Blandford Nature Center in our backyard which invites our scholars and staff to explore learning and use nature as their classroom.
If you are interested in learning more about the rigor and zeal of Blandford School, please contact us directly at 616-819-2555. We'd be happy to show you around the school!
Principal
Karla Finn
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Blandford School
School Hours
Breakfast 7:50 a.m.
Start Time 8:10 a.m.
Dismissal 3:08 p.m.
Half Day Dismissal 11:20 a.m.
School Transparency
At Blandford, nature is your classroom!
Blandford is a 6th grade program that offers outdoor learning experiences and a rigorous curriculum. The school is designed to heighten an awareness of the environment, stimulate creative thinking, develop leadership, promote intellectual growth, and increase self-esteem. Our Blandford staff is committed to fostering your child's potential to learn and achieve through a learning environment that values hands-on, project-based learning experiences. Scholars are provided with exciting challenges and opportunities for a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience that focuses on nature and the great outdoors.
The Blandford "classroom" consists of over 100 acres of ponds, streams, woods, and fields along with a more traditional classroom that supports the outdoor theme. Attracting students from public and non-public schools throughout Grand Rapids, as well as a handful of students from nearby cities, the student body at Blandford is a heterogeneous mixture of ethnic, economic, and social backgrounds.
While we have too many special projects and programs to name them all, a few highlights include:
- chicken adoption
- International Night dinner
- performance of A Christmas Carol
- fall and spring camp
- Wildflower Tea
- BEEP Bazaar
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.
Blandford School is located in a state of the art, LEED certified facility on the Northwest side of Grand Rapids. This building, along with Blandford Nature Center’s 143 acres of ponds, streams, woods, and fields, offers students an unparalleled learning environment. Scholars will enjoy their collaborative learning experience by sharing two classrooms and a large meeting space both indoors and outside in nature.
Blandford School Photo Tour
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18 Feb
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FAFSA Workshop - Paul I. Phillips Boys & Girls Club 5:00 PM to 7:00 PMFAFSA Workshop - Paul I. Phillips Boys & Girls ClubDate: Feb 18Time: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PMLocation: Paul I. Phillips Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids, 726 Madison Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USACalendar: GRPS District Calendar
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20 Feb
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FAFSA Workshop - Ottawa Hills High School 5:30 PM to 7:30 PMFAFSA Workshop - Ottawa Hills High SchoolDate: Feb 20Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PMLocation: Ottawa Hills High School, 2055 Rosewood Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506, USACalendar: GRPS District Calendar
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24 Febthru Feb 25
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No School | No LOOP Programming | Mid-Winter BreakDate: Feb 24 - Feb 25Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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27 Feb
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FAFSA Workshop - CA Frost Middle High School 4:00 PM to 8:00 PMFAFSA Workshop - CA Frost Middle High SchoolDate: Feb 27Time: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PMLocation: CA Frost Science Academy High School, 1417 Covell Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504, USACalendar: GRPS District Calendar
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5 Mar
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FAFSA Workshop - Southwest Middle High 5:00 PM to 7:00 PMFAFSA Workshop - Southwest Middle HighDate: Mar 5Time: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PMLocation: Southwest Middle High School - Academia Bilingue, 327 Rumsey St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USACalendar: GRPS District CalendarTranslation services available in Spanish.
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14 Mar
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End of 3rd Marking PeriodDate: Mar 14Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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17 Mar
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No School | No LOOP ProgrammingDate: Mar 17Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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18 Mar
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Start of 4th Marking PeriodDate: Mar 18Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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20 Mar
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FAFSA Workshop - Ottawa Hills High School (Ottawa Hills scholars only) 12:30 PM to 2:30 PMFAFSA Workshop - Ottawa Hills High School (Ottawa Hills scholars only)Date: Mar 20Time: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PMLocation: Ottawa Hills High School, 2055 Rosewood Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506, USACalendar: GRPS District Calendar
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4 Aprthru Apr 11
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No School | No LOOP Programming | Spring BreakDate: Apr 4 - Apr 11Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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![](/downloads/_storycategories_/sam_kik_-_1st_place_conference_meet_union_1.jpg)
All three GRPS wrestling programs have made waves this season with standout performances from wrestlers throughout the district.
![](/downloads/_storycategories_/mlk_art-1_1.jpg)
Three Grand Rapids Public Schools scholars were announced as winners of the 20th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Legacy Contest.
![](/downloads/_storycategories_/board_news-largethumb_7.jpg)
The Grand Rapids Board of Education approved the following statement during its regular board meeting on Feb. 10, 2025.