Dear Parents and Students,
December has arrived and with it comes a time of preparation. From the academic side this year it means that we have only two weeks to work hard until Christmas break. We know staying focused this time of year can be difficult for everyone, so please join us in encouraging our students to finish well. For your family, it is probably a time to prepare how you will spend the holiday season this year. We know that there is a lot of Covid in our area, so plans may look different than we thought they would for this year, but my prayer is that in the middle of the unknown we do not lose sight of the most important preparation of all, preparing for the birth of the Christ Child and experiencing the hope, peace, joy and love that is Advent.
During this season of Thanksgiving our Family Flex groups came together and collected food and supplies to support Community Action House in their effort to feed those in our community who are in need. It was a blessing to see the boxes of food and the financial support that was collected. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus and for blessing our community.
Our first week back from Christmas break will be a time to continue our learning from first semester and to prepare for end of semester exams which will take place the week of January 11. We are thankful that we have not had to move to virtual learning this year, and our prayer is that this continues.
Wishing you all a blessed Advent and Christmas season.
In Christ’s love,
Deb
/ General Information
Christmas Break
The High School office will be closed during the Christmas break (December 20 – January 2.) The administration office will be closed for the holidays from December 24-January 2 and will resume normal office hours on January 3.
2022-23 Class Signup
Students will be signing up for their 22-23 classes beginning in late January. Registration information for current 9th-11th graders will come out by mid-January. All parents are encouraged to discuss with students the opportunities that are available. Current students will submit their course selections online by February 11, 2022.
Exam Schedule
- Students are not required to be at school unless they have an exam.
- You will not be allowed to take your exams until all lunch detentions have been served, and you will not receive credit for your first semester courses until you take your exams.
- All lunch account negative balances must be paid before exams may be taken.
- All books must be returned and fines paid in the Media Center before exams may be taken.
- All students should check with the bus driver to find out the bus schedule for exam week.
Tuesday, January 11
- 8:45-10:15 am Period 1 Exam
- 10:30-12:00 pm Period 2 Exam – Tech Center required. Students may leave 2nd hour exam when finished/Tech will be notified that you may be late.
Wednesday, January 12
- 8:45-10:15 am Period 3 Exam
- 10:30-12:00 pm Period 4 Exam – Tech Center Required
Thursday, January 13
- 8:45-10:15 am Period 5 Exam
- 10:30-12:00 pm Period 6 Exam – Tech Center Required
Friday, January 14
- 8:45-10:15 am Period 7 Exam
- 10:30-12:00 pm Make up slot – Tech Center Required
/Athletic Department
CHAMPS Coupon Books
The 2022 CHAMPS coupon books are available in the HS office for $30. CHAMPS supports all teams at Holland and Zeeland Christian schools by purchasing equipment and upgrading facilities for athletics. If you want all the coupons available on your mobile device, then our CHAMPS digital coupons are available for purchase at the CHAMPS website. We all win together by supporting the Maroons and our local businesses while saving money!
Game Information
Scheduling/cancellations/game information can be found on the Athletic page.
/ Upcoming Fine Arts Events
Christmas Concerts
The High School Music Department invites you to its annual band, orchestra and choir Christmas concert this Wednesday, December 15, in the Jack H. Miller Center for the Musical Arts, located on the campus of Hope College. We will be offering two performance times for those who would like to attend: one at 5:30 pm and one at 7:30 pm. General admission is free; no reservation necessary. We look forward to sharing in the celebration of our Savior’s birth through our music!
24-Hour Theatre
24-Hour Theatre is a celebration of theatre, four teams of students writing, memorizing, and producing a show in just 24 hours. It’s fun, a little crazy, and a great way to support the program! Join us for these fun final performances on Saturday, December 4 at 7 pm at the auditorium. $5 a pop, fundraiser for the program.
Get In Person 24 Hour Theatre Tickets
Get Live Streaming 24 Hour Theatre Tickets
The Most Excellent ’80s: A Night of Killer Jams and Moves (A Living Hope Showcase Event)
SAVE THE DATE! Join the Living Hope Singers for an evening of song and dance as they celebrate music from the 1980s. Showcase 2022 will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 18 & 19 at 7 pm in the HCHS Auditorium. Tickets will go on sale in February. Stay tuned for more information!
/ Counselors Corner
Parents of Sophomores & Juniors
We will have representatives from the Tech Center presenting virtually to our students about what the Tech Center has to offer, should they be interested in attending Tech Center beginning junior or senior year. All sophomores and any interested juniors will be able to watch this presentation during Family Flex on Wednesday, January 20, 2022. Students who are interested will receive a link to the virtual presentation.
The PSAT testing went well. According to the College Board website, students should be able to access their scores online beginning December 7.
Testing Information
- Upcoming ACT test dates are February 12, April 2 and June 11, 2022. HCHS is a testing site this school year. You can also search for other testing sites in our area when you go to the ACT website to register.
- Upcoming SAT test dates are March 12, May 7, and June 4, 2022. HCHS is currently a testing site for just the March date. You can search for other testing sites in our area when you go to the SAT website to register.
- There is information about free ACT and SAT Preparation; also, pick up a free “Preparing for the ACT” and a free “SAT Student Guide” booklet in the counseling office.
- Here is a chart of the upcoming ACT and SAT dates, including the registration deadlines. This covers the 2021-2022 school year, so we hope you find this helpful as you look ahead for possible testing dates that work for your student.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
When a senior applies to a college, the college will consider that student for all institution-based aid and all state and federal aid (information is obtained through FAFSA). The scholarships your son/daughter should apply for are those sponsored by private organizations. For a listing of scholarships, visit the scholarship portion of the Counseling Department page on the website. This listing is updated as new scholarship announcements are received. The Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland offers many scholarship opportunities for our students. Their application opens up the first week of January, but you can sign up now for scholarship reminders so that you don’t miss out!
FAFSA4caster
FAFSA4caster is a federal aid estimator that can be used before officially applying for aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA4caster will provide you with an estimate of your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is an index that colleges use to determine what types of student aid you may receive. Using your EFC, FAFSA4caster will determine what types of federal grants, loans, and work-study you might qualify for and will provide you an estimated award amount for each. Any student, regardless of age or year in school, may use FAFSA4caster. The Federal Student Aid website, will provide information on next steps in the financial aid process.
College Athletics
Seniors who are considering attending a Division I or II university and hope to compete on an athletic team must complete an NCAA application eligibility form.Students can apply online at the NCAA clearinghouse website. Seniors who are considering attending an NAIA member school must complete the NAIA application. For a complete listing of NAIA schools and an application visit the NAIA website. Students should also request their transcript be sent to the eligibility centers via their Parchment account for NCAA; for NAIA you need to request your transcript be uploaded to their portal (contact cvanderlaan@hollandchristian.org for that). It is the student’s responsibility to check requirements and make sure his/her senior courses ensure eligibility.
/ Calendar
December
3-4: 24 Hour Theatre
19-January 3: Christmas vacation
January
4: School resumes
12-15: Exams
17: No school
18: Second semester begins
