There’s a new sense of optimism and excitement at Reeths-Puffer, and they’re throwing a big community party to celebrate it.
The 2022 Rocket City Kickoff will happen on Thursday outside of Rocket Stadium, beginning at 5 p.m.
There will be all sorts of attractions for adults and children, including food vendors, a bounce house, and tables occupied by representatives of R-P’s various school buildings, student programs and teams, school district partners and vendors, and community-based businesses and non-profits.
A total of 45 vendor tables will be set up for the public to sample and enjoy.
Here's a vendor map so you can find your way around Rocket City Kickoff!
The event will immediately precede Reeths-Puffer’s season-opening varsity football game against Grand Haven. All members of the R-P extended family are invited to attend. Admission is free and there is no requirement to purchase a football ticket.
There will be a special incentive for all Reeths-Puffer K-12 students to check out all the attractions. Each student will be given a card that will be punched every time they visit a table or participate in an activity, and 20 punches will get them a free football ticket.
Part of the reason for the celebration is the annual beginning of the school year, which is always an exciting time, according to R-P Athletic Director Cliff Sandee.
“I’ve been in education since 2005, and it’s the only profession I know of where you go, go, go and then stop,” Sandee said. “Then you have three months to breathe before you regroup and rebuild. There’s an excitement to it.
“This is bigger than just the football. We use football as the platform, but the big aim is to get kids here and get them excited about school.”
Reeths-Puffer Athletic Director Cliff Sandee
This year the excitement is even stronger than usual, and part of that has to do with R-P athletics, Sandee said.
There’s a buzz around the Reeths-Puffer varsity football team after a string of disappointing seasons. That’s because there's a new head coach, Cody Kater, who was a state championship quarterback at Montague High School in 2009-10, then a state champion offensive coordinator at his alma mater in 2020.
While immediate miracles are not expected, spirits are high in the football program and steady improvement is expected.
The rest of the R-P athletic program has been on an upswing in recent years, and that has continued in the early days of the fall season.
The boys varsity soccer team, which is expected to be very good this year, opened its season last week with a win over powerful Western Michigan Christian. The boys tennis team opened up by winning the Fruitport Invitational.
Rocket Stadium is spruced up and ready for Thursday's celebration!
The volleyball team reached the finals at the Coopersville Invitational, and R-P golfer Paige Anderson kicked off her season by winning the Mona Shores Invitational.
“The success of the athletic season sets the tone for the entire school year,” Sandee said. “There’s a buzz this year, a different feeling. Just look at what the fall sports teams have done in just one week. We’re having early success and people are showing up for the events.”
The overdue need for a school district celebration also involves the larger community, Sandee said.
Obviously COVID cast a shadow over the nation and the world, and the pandemic prevented a lot of community members from visiting campus and enjoying various activities and events.
The R-P varsity football team prepares for Thursday's opening game against Grand Haven.
With the worst of COVID hopefully behind us forever, R-P officials though it was time bring the extended R-P family back together.
That includes students, staff members and their families, graduates and their families, and all residents of the townships that comprise the Reeths-Puffer district.
Really, anybody who loves R-P and wants to join in the fun is invited to participate.
“We’ve been through some pretty tough times and there were restrictions on who could come to campus, so we decided that it was time to welcome everyone back and create a carnival-like atmosphere,” Sandee said.