Dear Holland Christian Family,
I pray that you all have had a delightful and rejuvenating Christmas break and have experienced great joy in celebrating the hope that we have in Jesus. This season is one loaded with great anticipation and preparation, and after all of the Christmas services have concluded and the meals are cleaned up, the new year arrives, and the social phenomenon of the new-year-resolution comes to fruition. Gym memberships soar, new Bible-in-a-year plans ignite, and homework assignments land on-time into Google Classroom. In a lot of ways, the new year rhythm feels quasi-baptismal, annually catalyzing a renewed sense of hope for the year ahead, which stands strong at least until the end of January.
Very recently, my third child (Mariyaah Galilee Ruakh Colago) was baptized within the Christian Reformed Church (CRC). As someone who was baptized twice, once as an infant in the Catholic church and again at a non-denominational church when I consciously decided to follow Jesus at seventeen-years-old, I viewed baptism as an important practice for the individual to mark dying to the old self and being born again as an apprentice of Jesus. One important element that I’ve come to really appreciate about the CRC’s practice in baptizing children is the denomination’s view that “baptism is a sign and seal of entering the community of Christ, the community bought with Jesus’ blood and given life by his Holy Spirit.” For my daughter’s baptism, my wife and I were not the only ones who made vows to guide our child in her walk with Jesus; the congregation also made the “promise to love, encourage, and support [her] by teaching the gospel of God’s love, by being an example of Christian faith and character, and by giving the strong support of God’s family in fellowship, prayer, and service.” This is the significant lesson I learned more deeply this season: that the community of Jesus is essential in following Jesus, and any renewed hope in improving our walk with him must be done with others.
My prayer for our students for this new year is that they all might find camaraderie and community in accomplishing the work that God has established before each of them in this portion of his kingdom. May they pick up one another after a tough loss, offer encouragement after a challenging academic season, and expand the community of Jesus beyond their social circles together.
I hope you all have a peaceful and joyful rest of your break. Thank you for your continued partnership in equipping our students’ minds with rigorous academics, nurturing their hearts to love Jesus and their neighbors, and transforming the world for Jesus one person and one square-inch at a time.
Shalom,
Miles
General Information
Exam Schedule
- Students are not required to be at school unless they have an exam.
- Students will not be allowed to take exams until all lunch detentions have been served and will not receive credit for first semester courses until exams are taken.
- 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 10
- 8:45-10:15am Period 1 Exam
- 10:30am-noon 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 11
- 8:45-10:15am Period 3 Exam
- 10:30am-noon Period 4 Exam; Tech Center Required
Thursday, January 12
- 8:45-10:15am Period 5 Exam
- 10:30am-noon Period 6 Exam; Tech Center Required
Friday, January 13
- 8:45-10:15am Period 7 Exam
- 10:30am-noon Make up slot; Tech Center Required
2023 – 2024 Class Signup
Students will be signing up for their 2023-2024 classes in February. Registration information for current 9th-11th graders will be presented to students by grade level by the end of January–see the planned schedule below. 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 23
- Current 10th graders – Jan 25
- Current 9th graders – Jan 25
Current students will submit their course selections online before 8am, Friday, February 10, 2023.
For a preview of what students will be receiving at school, simply go to the Registrar Page 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 the end of January to reflect new course offerings and other changes to the curriculum. Each grade level has a section with specific scheduling information that can be used with your son/daughter to plan courses for next year.
Athletic Department
CHAMPS Coupon Books
The 2023 CHAMPS coupon books are available in the HS office for $30 and support athletics at HCS and ZCS 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!
All Athletic Information
All information about athletics can be found on the Athletics page of the Holland Christian website. Learn more about our new registration process which is the best way to register for athletics, see schedules and purchase tickets or passes.
Upcoming Fine Arts Events
Living Hope Showcase 2023: The Wonderful World of Disney
SAVE THE DATE! Join the Living Hope Singers for an evening that celebrates our favorite Disney songs! Showcase 2023 will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 17 & 18 at 7pm in the HCHS Auditorium. Tickets will go on sale in February. Stay tuned for more information!
Counselors Corner
Parents of Sophomores & Juniors
We hope to 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 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 & 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.
Testing Information
- Upcoming ACT test dates are February 11, April 15 and June 10, 2023. HCHS is a testing site for the February test date. 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 11, May 6, and June 3, 2023. HCHS is 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 22-23 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.
Important Dates
January
- 3: School resumes
- 10-13: Exams
- 16: No school
- 17: Second semester begins
February
- 17: Half day
- 20: No school (Professional development)
