Welcome to Northern Trails!
Northern Trails 5/6 School provides a superior late elementary and early middle-level experience to inspire curiosity and educational opportunities. We believe in a strong partnership with our parents, families, and the local community.
Northern Trails 5/6 School is located in the NE suburbs of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is one of 11 elementary schools in the award-winning Forest Hills Public Schools. Northern Trails 5/6 School ranks amongst the top 5/6 programs in Michigan. What sets us apart from other schools is that while we are a neighborhood school, we are also the proud home to two immersion schools fostering language development, with Spanish Immersion students taking all their core classes in Spanish, and Chinese Immersion students spending 110 minutes each day building Chinese literacy through language exploration.
Philosophically, since the school’s inception in January of 1998, our educational program has been based upon a belief of “Keeping children younger longer.” We are neither an elementary nor a middle school, but rather a 5/6 school focused on the unique needs of children ages 10-12. Students experience all aspects of a comprehensive core curriculum and participate in an entire Encore program, including world language (Spanish), physical education, art, and general music in grade 5, and may select orchestra, choir, or band in grade 6. Our 5th-grade students also produce a musical each school year, which is on the stage at our world-class Forest Hills Fine Arts Center.
Our school culture and anti-bullying beliefs extend from our immersive inclusion of the Northern mascot, the Husky. Our PBIS acronym shared across the district is P.R.I.D.E., which stands for being Persistent, Respectful, Inclusive, and Dependable, Every day! We further define our “Husky Pack Mentality” for our students as…
Highly intelligent, sensitive, and energetic. Huskies are funny, playful, athletic, and loving; they NEED to be with their pack and family. They were bred to run and need daily exercise. As part of the pack, they care for one another and visitors. The pack’s strength has origins from all over the world. Their teachers are irrationally crazy about them.
Finally, our parent community is like no other. Our families are willing to give of their time, talents, and treasures to support ALL students, and they do so by supporting our field trips, extra assemblies, a fall fundraiser, and PTO events. Still, they also do so to ensure all students in our school have what they need to be successful in sponsoring our PBIS incentive program, making donations to our Trading Post (a clothing pantry), and, when required, even stocking our food pantry. It is in all members giving of themselves and their talents that our whole PACK thrives!
Whether you are new to the community or you’ve lived here all your life, you are an essential member of our school community. Welcome to Northern Trails!
We welcome you and your family to the Pack!
Points of Pride
- When you enter our school, we want you to feel welcome. Hanging from our ceiling, we are very proud of the 59 flags that will greet you. Each of these flags represents the nation of birth of a student who is or has attended Northern Trails put into place by that student and their family. We also have two Native American flags flying as part of this collection.
- At last count, our school families speak over 52 languages, and we celebrate this bilingualism. Through the immersion programs in our school, more than ½ of the student population is at least bilingual. We are also incredibly proud to share that 16 staff members are bilingual, too!
- 5th-grade students go to Camp Roger each fall for September team-building activities. This is an excellent way for our new incoming students and our two neighborhood schools to join as classmates to start the school year.
- Every year, students can participate in either a school-wide International Fair 2024 or the Talent Show in 2025. The International Fair brings forward over ⅕ of our students and their families with exquisite booths showcasing countries, artifacts, games, food, and fun worldwide. On odd years, Trails sees so much talent that our school needs to hold TWO Talent Shows!
- Our daytime custodial team is so unique that not only have they worked to mentor students, but Sr. Lopez acts as a member of our school-wide PBIS team, and Mr. Chadderdon donates part of his lunchtime to run a painting club, joining together students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Even our Superintendent has joined in on the fun!
- As home to the district’s moderate cognitively impaired program, our school community is richly blessed with opportunities to participate as LINK buddies, assist on the playground, volunteer for academic studies, serve as peer buddies, and facilitate Special Olympics opportunities.
- Northern Trails receives an overall “A” rating in Niche for academics and teachers. Northern Trails also continues to be ranked among the top elementary schools by U.S. News.