Fine Arts Programs in Our Schools

18th year in Forest Hills, enjoy making great music and connecting with people.  

This is my fourth  year in teaching. I just love to create both on my own and with others. I love seeing others excited about making things and creatively problem-solving. I can’t think of any other job I would love as much as this one.

  The Forest Hills Foundation has granted Collins Elementary 28 soprano ukuleles and a ukulele storage cart as part of the 2022 fall grant cycle. 2nd through 4th-grade students are learning to play the instruments in class! They are applying concepts of harmony and melody to their playing of chords and plucking string along with […]

This is year 26 for me at FHPS! I’ve taught elementary, general music, brass instruments, one on one interventions, and of course, CHOIR!

  These articles feature Michelle Benjamin our 6th-grade band director at Central Woodlands and Nothern Trials. Michelle discusses her approach to teaching beginning band. https://www.schoolnewsnetwork.org/2023/03/10/being-fully-present/

I have had the privilege of being an art educator for the last 17 years. I am a graduate of Michigan State University and grew up near the campus in Okemos, MI. My husband and I have three children and we love to spend time playing sports, creating art, and going to our favorite place, […]

Paul Boelkins Band Director 6th Grade/Eastern Middle/High School   I am currently enjoying my 39th year of teaching, the last 35 of them having been spent in Forest Hills. I began teaching at Northern Hills Middle School in 1988 and moved to Eastern when it opened in 2004. I love sharing and making music with […]

Married to an elementary teacher. Son and daughter who are both married. Two Mini Goldendoodles named Nellie and Zoey. I love theater, movies, camping, gardening, and reading. This is my 34th year of teaching elementary music. Graduate of Central Michigan University and graduate-level work done at both Western Michigan University and Grand Valley State University. […]

The FHC Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble concert will be rescheduled for Monday, February, 27th in Forest Hills Central Auditorium at 7:30 PM.

Congratulations to the following students who earned a division one rating this past weekend at MSBOA district 10 solo and ensemble at Wyoming High School. Central High Rebecca Maddox – Violin. Abby Schnelker – Violin. Lilyann McMartin & Rosie Custudio-Prasarnsith – Cello/Violin duet. Ethan Moon & Joseph Song – Violin/Cello. Summer Wu & Abby Schnelker […]

Sarah Bruha, Elementary Arts Teacher Central Woodlands/Pine Ridge   I am in my 10th year of teaching and I love that I am able to help young artists discover their creative potential! I love problem-solving, creating new things, and learning all about the world around us with my young artists. I have always wanted to […]

Laurie Boomers, Elementary Music Thornapple/Pine Ridge. I have been teaching either privately, as a substitute teacher, or in a school for a total of 30 years. 16 of those years have been with Forest Hills Public Schools. My main instrument is the violin and I continue to play with the Calvin Community Symphony. I enjoy […]

Jenn Gregory is currently teaching k-4 art at Ada Vista Elementary! She’s been with the district for 7 years. Every day she empowers kids to find and develop their own creative voice.

Forest Hills Central sophomore trombone player Sullivan Lower was a member of this year’s MSBOA All-State Jazz Ensemble. The band played this past weekend during the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sully was one of four trombone players picked in the entire state of Michigan. Congratulations Sully.

Lian Robinson Orchestra Director Eastern 6th/Middle and High School This is my first year at Forest Hills Eastern and I am so excited to get music back into students’ lives! Music is a great way for students to let their guard down, be creative, and connect with like-minded musicians. When we are playing music, students […]

Michelle Benjamin, our 6th-grade beginning band teacher at Central Woodlands and Northern Trails, will be presenting this year at the 2023 Michigan Music Conference at DeVos place in downtown Grand Rapids on Saturday, January 21st at 10 AM. The title of the presentation is Mindfulness for Beginning Band. Description: Realistic and useful techniques to focus […]

Congratulations to the FHC Marching Band for their performance during the game and halftime of the 2022 MSHAA state football finals this past Friday in Detroit.

Congratulation to Josephine Fredlund! Josephine will represent FHPS this January as a member of the Middle School All-State Orchestra, an honors ensemble sponsored by MSBOA (Michigan School Band & Orchestra Association). Josephine auditioned along with hundreds of students across Michigan and was selected as one of the 16 violists accepted in this ensemble.  The rehearsals […]

A show for the whole family! Catch Shrek the Musical at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center on November 17-19, 2022 at 7pm with a matinee on November 19 at 3pm. Tickets are $14 for adults, and $10 for students. Purchase tickets at fhfineartscenter.com

Congratulations to the following students that were named to the MSVMA All-State Vocal Jazz Choir.  These nine students were selected from an extremely difficult video audition.  The choir has a max of 20 singers. An unprecedented 45 percent of the all-state qualifiers are all from Forest Hills Northern. They will perform at the MENC State […]

Fall Play Clue Livestream info link Fall Play Clue dates/times: $8.00 tix General Admission sold at lunches and at the door. The running time of the show is 1:15. Thurs 11/10- 7:00 PM with a Livestream option at 7:00 PM as well:  https://fhfac.anywhereseat.com/channel.phpLinks to an external site. Friday 11/11- 5:00 PM  Slice of pizza & pop for FHC students immediately […]

Eastern High School is performing  ANNE OF GREEN GABLES  November 3-5 @ 7:00 p.m.  at the FHE Auditorium. Come see this endearing tale of Anne as she becomes a part of the Cuthbert family and the Avonlea community! This show is family-friendly and a step back in time to the early 1900’s. ***Show your Staff ID […]

Performance Dates; Nov. 10, 11, and 12th, @ 7 pm at Forest Hills Central Auditorium. The cost is $8 for General Admission per ticket.

Brittany Brink Elementary Music Collins and  Pine Ridge Elementary Hello! I am Brittany Brink, the new music teacher this year at Collins and Pine Ridge Elementary! This will be my sixth year teaching music and I cannot wait to meet all of you. I am coming from Belding Area Schools, and while I loved my […]

If you are unable to make the concert live, you can view the event by simply clicking on this link. Live from the FAC

This past week, 100 students from the Central High Ranger Marching Band spent several days in Orlando Florida, participating in Disney’s Magic Music Days.  The Band was the featured performers in the parade at the Magic Kingdom on Thursday.   On Saturday, the group participated in a music workshop on how to perform and record Disney […]

Hello, Our students and music staff could not be happier to once again be performing in front of a live audience. Quite honestly nothing is more rewarding and fulfilling to the student than that interaction. However, we know that there are still some extenuating circumstances, or family who may be out of the area which […]