NHA, West Michigan Schools Sponsor In the Image SHOES Event, Hand Out Free Moral Focus Books
NHA Communications TeamNHA Communications Team
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National Heritage Academies (NHA®) and 11 West Michigan partner-schools sponsored In The Image’s SHOES event, which helped Grand Rapids-area students start the school year on the right foot with a new pair of shoes.
The event was held at DeVos Place where students could pick up a free pair of shoes and school supplies. Admissions Manager Carri Bronkema said In The Image also gave away 10,000 backpacks to equip local students for success. With the crucial impact SHOES has on students, it’s no wonder NHA was on board to sponsor again in 2025.
Representatives from NHA and its 11 Grand Rapids-area schools were at the community event with resources for families, including fun free items. All-in-all, Bronkema said her team handed out over 1,000 Ollie The Owl books to students. Admissions representatives also gave away Ollie The Owl Croc Jibbitz™ and trading cards, spreading the word about NHA and its Moral Focus™ curriculum.
About 10,000 students and their families came to DeVos Place for a new pair of shoes, giving NHA the opportunity to connect with area families.
“It was amazing to tell families ‘We’re not only interested in your kids’ education, but we’re also interested in their character development,’” Bronkema said. “That resonated with families and pushed our mission forward.”
Admissions representatives were able to share more about NHA, its character-based Moral Focus curriculum and each school in the area. Seeing families in person allowed for conversation that was tailored to each family and provided guidance for the application process. Through this organic engagement, NHA became more visible to Grand Rapids families.
“We’ve realized that some families might not know about all of our schools,” Bronkema said. “Even within our own families, they might get lost in the shuffle and not realize all our schools are under the same umbrella. But it was so important to have been visible at this event. We were visible in front of the whole city not just certain communities, and the reach was amazing.”
In The Image also gave away 10,000 free backpacks and scholars who visited NHA’s station were able to take home an Olle The Owl book.
While students got their new shoes for the year ahead, parents were learning more about NHA and its mission. Bronkema said it was great to be in front of families and spark connections in-person.
“It’s amazing when we can have families in the schools seeing it,” Bronkema said. “Some parents were hesitant for a tour because they thought they weren’t allowed to, and we encouraged them to come in the building to meet the principal and the deans and the teachers.
“It’s so important for us to have that face time with families. The internet is an amazing tool, but there’s nothing that beats that relational piece.”
Representatives from NHA and 11 Grand Rapids-area schools spoke with families about NHA and the organization’s mission.
What a fantastic way to spread the word about NHA and support the community. Keep up the great work, NHA Admissions Team!
About National Heritage Academies
National Heritage Academies (NHA®) is a network of more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find a charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.
The event was held at DeVos Place where students could pick up a free pair of shoes and school supplies. Admissions Manager Carri Bronkema said In The Image also gave away 10,000 backpacks to equip local students for success. With the crucial impact SHOES has on students, it’s no wonder NHA was on board to sponsor again in 2025.
Representatives from NHA and its 11 Grand Rapids-area schools were at the community event with resources for families, including fun free items. All-in-all, Bronkema said her team handed out over 1,000 Ollie The Owl books to students. Admissions representatives also gave away Ollie The Owl Croc Jibbitz™ and trading cards, spreading the word about NHA and its Moral Focus™ curriculum.
About 10,000 students and their families came to DeVos Place for a new pair of shoes, giving NHA the opportunity to connect with area families.
“It was amazing to tell families ‘We’re not only interested in your kids’ education, but we’re also interested in their character development,’” Bronkema said. “That resonated with families and pushed our mission forward.”
Admissions representatives were able to share more about NHA, its character-based Moral Focus curriculum and each school in the area. Seeing families in person allowed for conversation that was tailored to each family and provided guidance for the application process. Through this organic engagement, NHA became more visible to Grand Rapids families.
“We’ve realized that some families might not know about all of our schools,” Bronkema said. “Even within our own families, they might get lost in the shuffle and not realize all our schools are under the same umbrella. But it was so important to have been visible at this event. We were visible in front of the whole city not just certain communities, and the reach was amazing.”
In The Image also gave away 10,000 free backpacks and scholars who visited NHA’s station were able to take home an Olle The Owl book.
While students got their new shoes for the year ahead, parents were learning more about NHA and its mission. Bronkema said it was great to be in front of families and spark connections in-person.
“It’s amazing when we can have families in the schools seeing it,” Bronkema said. “Some parents were hesitant for a tour because they thought they weren’t allowed to, and we encouraged them to come in the building to meet the principal and the deans and the teachers.
“It’s so important for us to have that face time with families. The internet is an amazing tool, but there’s nothing that beats that relational piece.”
Representatives from NHA and 11 Grand Rapids-area schools spoke with families about NHA and the organization’s mission.
What a fantastic way to spread the word about NHA and support the community. Keep up the great work, NHA Admissions Team!
About National Heritage Academies
National Heritage Academies (NHA®) is a network of more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find a charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.