Happy New Year!!
I hope everyone had a restful and relaxing break that was filled with all of the love and joy that the Promise of Christmas brings! We are so excited to be in the building together as the HCHS family as of January 4!
Exams will take place as scheduled the week of January 12-15. Non AP or College Course Exams will be adjusted in style and or length to represent the difference between virtual and in person learning. Students are expected to give their best effort on exams. The exam grade will only improve, not reduce, a student’s overall grade from where it was before taking the exam. Teachers will let you know the specifics about what the assessment will look like in their class. AP and College courses have specific requirements for their exams and the teacher will communicate about those exams.
Second semester begins on Tuesday, January 19. As we begin a new semester our prayer is that the adjustment of new classes and new teachers goes smoothly. In the rhythm of a high school, January is the time when we plan activities to help students look forward to the next school year. Please encourage your student to check the Daily Announcements for information on special activities that are occurring that will help them in making decisions about what courses to take next year. Registration for next year’s classes will begin at the end of January and information about the process will be coming out soon. Detailed instructions will be posted on the website under the Registrar tab. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact your student’s counselor.
Christian education is a partnership between home and school. If you have any thoughts or ideas you would like to share with me please do not hesitate to email or call. If you would like to meet in person and have a cup of coffee, please let me know when it would work for you to come in and we will find a time that works. My door is open!
Praying for a semester filled with spiritual and academic growth!
Deb
/ General Information
2021 – 2022 Class Signup
Students will be signing up for their 2021-2022 classes in February. Registration information for current 9th-11th graders will be presented to students virtually (in small groups) by the end of January–see the planned schedule below. Each virtual session will have around 30 students and be roughly 25 minutes long during a Family Flex period. Parents are invited to join in these virtual sessions, which will run using a workshop model with students logging in to PowerSchool and going through the registration process. All registration information will be online, and students and parents will be notified when it is available to view. We strongly encourage parents to talk with their student(s) about the options and opportunities that are available. The specific date and time for your student’s meeting will be sent directly to them via email.
- Current 11th graders – Jan 20, 22, 25
- Current 10th graders – Jan 25, 27, 29
- Current 9th graders – Feb 1, 3, 5
Current students will submit their course selections online before 8:00 am, Friday, February 12, 2021.
For a preview of what students will be receiving at school, simply go to the Registrar’s website and click on the link to scheduling information for the grade you will be in next year. Please note that some information on the web site will be updated between now and end of January to reflect new course offerings and other changes to the curriculum. By clicking on the Registrar’s website you will also find course descriptions for all classes. The links to scheduling information for each grade will direct you to grade-level-specific information that can be used with your son/daughter to plan courses for next year.
/ From The Athletic Department
CHAMPS Coupon Books
2021 CHAMPS coupon books are now available for $30 at the High School Office. Learn about our new coupon book digital option on the athletics website.
Game Information
Scheduling/Cancellations/Game Information can be found on the Athletic page on the Holland Christian website.
July 3-9, 2021 is a dead week for all athletics.
/ Upcoming Fine Arts Events
Come Alive! (A Living Hope Showcase Event)
Join the Living Hope Singers for an evening of song and dance that celebrates the power of music to lift our spirits and unite us, even in hard times. Showcase 2021 will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 19 & 20 at 7:00 pm. Stay tuned to future newsletters, the HC website, and HC social media for updated information on purchasing tickets and the format for viewing the show. We look forward to sharing our music with you!
/ Counselors Corner
Parents of Sophomores And Juniors
We hope to have representatives from the Tech Center presenting in-person or virtually to our students about what the Tech Center has to offer, should they be interested in attending Tech Center beginning their junior or senior year. All sophomores and any interested juniors will be able to attend this presentation. Stay tuned for more information on the format.
Seniors And Parents of Seniors
Just a reminder that if you have improved ACT/SAT scores you would like your intended college/university to have, you MUST have your new and improved scores sent directly from the ACT or SAT organizations. Your transcript that is uploaded to Common App and Parchment does NOT list your test scores. If you did not put down the 4 digit codes for the college(s) you wish to receive your test scores when you registered for the SAT/ACT, you must log back into your account and request that your new scores be sent, and there will be a slight fee from the testing organization. If you have questions about this, please contact your counselor.
ACT and SAT Testing
- Upcoming ACT test dates are February 6, April 17 and June 12, 2021. HCHS is not currently a testing site this school year due to COVID. You can search for other testing sites in our area when you go to the ACT website to register.
- Upcoming SAT test dates are March 13, May 8, and June 5, 2021. HCHS is not currently a testing site this school year due to COVID. You can search for other testing sites in our area when you go to the SAT website to register.
- Linked here is a chart of the upcoming ACT and SAT dates, including the registration deadlines. This covers the 2020-2021 school year, so we hope you find this helpful as you look ahead for possible testing dates that work for your student.
Financial Aid and 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). For a listing of scholarships, visit the Counseling Department link of the HCHS webpage. This listing is updated as new scholarship announcements are received.
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. This website, Federal Student Aid, 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 NCAA eligibility center via their Parchment account. NAIA eligibility center requires that transcripts be uploaded directly to their website by the school (contact cvanderlaan@hollandchristian.org for that). It is the student’s responsibility to check requirements and make sure his/her senior courses ensure eligibility. Underclassmen who are considering playing college athletics should begin the eligibility process via the eligibility centers.
/ CALENDAR
January
18 – MLK Day (No School)
19 – Second Semester begins
25 – HS Showcase virtual (7:00 pm)
February
15 – Winter Break (No School)
25 – Parent/Teacher Conferences (5:30 – 8:30 pm)
March
4 – Parent/Teacher Conferences (3:30 – 6:30 pm)
