PE Aquatics Swim Unit

Please open this letter that introduces the PE Aquatics Swim Unit program that all students will participate in this year. A permission form is required and linked in the letter. 

PE Aquatics Swim Program Parent Letter

Oakestown Aquatics Swim Program Permission Form

Award-winning Author Visit

Award-winning author Padma Venkatraman is coming to Oakestown!

The morning of Wednesday, April 1, 5th & 6th grade students will gather in the auditorium at separate scheduled times to hear middle grade author Padma Venkatraman speak about her journey from scientist to writer. Students who have copies of Dr. Venkatraman's books will be invited down to the library to have them signed. To learn more about the visit and her books, click here.

Sports Physicals for 2026/27 Sports Season

Why are we holding sports physicals at GMS? (2 doctors will be conducting these)
    Any student planning to participate in a sport at GMS must have a sports physical on file for the 2026–27 school sports season dated April 15, 2026 or after.

• Having a sports physical on file prior to the end of this school year will help all involved, rather than dealing with it during the chaos of back to school or forgetting to get it before a specific sports season begins.

  • Physicals must be dated April 15, 2026 or after to be valid for the 2026-27 School Sports Season

5th grade parents:
There are a select number of sports that 6th graders can participate in at GMS, so if your child will be a 6th grader at Oakestown next year and plans to participate in swim & dive, tennis, cross country, and/or wrestling during the 2026–27 school year, see info below.

6th grade parents:
If your child will be a 7th grader at GMS next year and plans to participate in swim & dive, tennis, cross country, track, wrestling, basketball, soccer, girls competitive cheer, or girls volleyball during the 2026–27 school year see below

Physical Dates: May 19 & May 20
Time: 5:30–7:30 PM
Location: Grandville Middle School
4900 Canal, Grandville (see parking and entrance details below)

Who can attend?

• Any incoming 6th grade student at Oakestown who plans to participate in MS sports (see the eligible sports noted in the section above).  

• Any incoming 7th–12th grade Grandville Public Schools student for the 2026–27 school year.

Cost: $25 (cash or check only – checks made payable to Dr. Diana Dillman). Credit cards not accepted.

No appointments – walk-ins only.  

There will be at least 2 doctors performing the physicals.

Important Reminders:  

• These physicals will be valid for the entire 2026-27 school sports season at GMS

• Per MHSAA rules, only physicals dated April 15, 2026, or later will be valid for the 2026-27 school sports season

What to Bring:

• Bring a MHSAA approved physical form - Filling this out ahead of time will help speed up the process  

  • Click here for a blank physical form:  MHSAA Physical Form   (2 pages)

    • Physical forms are also available in the middle school and Oakestown main offices

    • Blank forms will be available onsite at the event

Completed Sports Physicals:

The sports physicals are collected by the doctor performing the physical and they give them to the MS athletic department.  

•   Middle school and high school forms will be separated, and high school forms will be forwarded to the high school athletic office.  

Parking & Entrance Information: 

• Enter Grandville Middle School (4900 Canal) from Canal and Jacob Streets

• Use the Athletic Entrance to enter the building

The FinalForms registration link is also available on this site; registration won't open until mid-May 2026 for the 2026–27 school year

Alternate Option:

If you prefer, your child may get their physical completed with your family physician. Be sure to bring the correct MHSAA-approved physical form (see link above) to that appointment. The physical must be completed on or after April 15, 2026.   

• Upload the completed physical to FinalForms BUT REMEMBER:  FinalForm registration won't open until May 11, 2026 for the 2026–27 school year

Yearbook Orders

Online ordering is available to anyone who would still like a yearbook. Please contact Geskus using the link below, the school office or your student's homeroom teacher if you need to know if a yearbook has already been ordered.

Personal webcodes are required for online ordering. Please use the lookup tool link below or contact our customer service department.

Order site: https://gpi.portraitpics.co/login

Look up tool: https://www.geskusphoto.com/lookup

Customer Service: https://www.geskusphoto.com/contact-us

Attendance Policy

Parents:  Absences and appointments can be called in at any time to 616-254-6881 or e-mailed to oakesattendance@gpsbulldogs.org.  Please leave your name, your student's name, your student's grade, your student's teacher, the date, and the reason for their absence. (If no reason is given, the absence will be entered as unexcused). 

If calling for an appointment, please let us know if they will be arriving to school late or if you will need to pick them up at a certain time.  If you need to pick your student up prior to afternoon dismissal (2:35), please make every effort to call/email at least 1 hour before the release time.  This helps us to cut down on the number of times that we need to call into classrooms for student early releases. Thank you!

All students leaving prior to our 2:35 dismissal time must be signed out by a parent before leaving the building.  If you need someone else to pick your child up, please leave that person's information on the attendance line as well.  Thank you!

Drink Policy

Students should not have energy drinks, pop or specialty coffee drinks at school. Please make sure all drinks are finished before entering the building. Water is the only drink allowed in the classrooms and gym. 

Community Events