Nicole Zandstra goes above and beyond for Sprucedale students

Nicole Zandstra invites the school’s junior kindergarten class into her office for a recent fun-loving photo. She says the youngest students remain near and dear to her heart. Contributed photo

By Gary West

At Sprucedale Public School in Shakespeare, there is a familiar face in the front office who many students, teachers and parents have come to rely on.

Nicole Zandstra, the school’s office administrator, is known for going above and beyond in her role, helping wherever she is needed throughout the school day.

Whether it’s tending to minor cuts and bruises, offering comforting words – and sometimes a much-needed hug – or making phone calls home, Zandstra is often the steady presence students turn to. She also keeps daily operations running smoothly, ensuring snack orders are placed on time, helping organize pancake days and pizza lunches, and keeping the fridge stocked with individually packed hard-boiled eggs for hungry students.

When winter storms roll in unexpectedly and buses are dismissed early, Zandstra is on the phone making sure parents are informed and students are safely accounted for.

She speaks warmly about the school’s approximately 170 students and says she treats them as if they were her own.

Now in her fourth year at Sprucedale, Zandstra says she has loved every minute of her time at the school. Each June, she admits, it’s difficult to say goodbye for the summer months until September brings students back through the doors again.

Born in Guelph, Zandstra worked as a developmental service worker in that city for 19 years before coming to Sprucedale. She initially supported teachers as an educational assistant before moving into the front-office administrator role.

Beyond her work at the school, Zandstra has also spent the past decade welcoming international students into her home through the MLI Homestay student-exchange program. Hosting students in grades 9 to 12 from countries around the world, she says the experience has been both rewarding and educational.

Zandstra notes she has learned just as much from the students as they have learned from her. Over the years, she has hosted students from Spain, Japan, Germany and Italy, among others, and hopes one day to visit some of them in their home countries.

Whether at school, at home or in the wider community, Zandstra continues to make a positive difference through her caring and supportive nature.