Dear Parents,
Welcome to February! I know we are in the middle of winter, but in the life of a high school, February is the month when students register for their classes for next year. Last week Wednesday, students began the registration process during Family Flex and it needs to be completed by February 11. The Registrar page on our website has more information about the process so if you have any questions please refer to our Registrar Page. If you have additional questions please use the link to contact the Registrar or email your child’s counselor.
This past week we held our Holland Christian High School Showcase event. This is an opportunity for families of incoming 9th graders to learn more about HCHS and what it means to transition to high school. It is a privilege to walk alongside students and their parents as they begin thinking about the next chapter in their school journey. As a Christian school, we experience the joy of supporting students not only in their academics but more importantly in their faith journey. The Welcome and Registration 101 portion of the evening was recorded and I thought the information presented that evening might be beneficial to all of our parents, not just those new to HCHS, so I am sharing the video with you. If you know of anyone who might be interested in HCHS please do not hesitate to share the link with them!
Parent partnership is vital to the success of our school. One of the ways we connect with parents is through parent-teacher conferences. This year our conferences will be in-person February 24, 5:30-8:30 pm, and March 3 will be virtual from 3:30-5:30 pm, and in-person from 5:30-6:30 pm. Sign up will take place through Virtual Paragon and a link on how to register will be emailed to you. Conferences are only one way that we can partner with our parents. Please know that we are always open to ongoing communication with parents via email over the course of the school year.
Journeying together,
Deb
General Information
2022 – 2023 Class Signup
Registration information was presented to all current 9th – 11th grade students during Family Flex on January 26. Students should be signing up for their 2022–2023 classes now in PowerSchool – Class Registration; current students should submit their course selections by 8:00 am, Friday, February 11. All parents are encouraged to discuss with students the opportunities that are available. Updated information and course descriptions for all classes is on our Registrar Page
PSAT and SAT for HCHS Students
On Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at 7:45 am at HCHS, 9th graders will be taking the PSAT 8/9, 10th graders the PSAT 10, and 11th graders the SAT. The PSAT and SAT showcases the classroom skills and knowledge that are essential for college and career readiness. In addition, this benchmark data helps Holland Christian to continuously improve its strong approach towards academic excellence. If you are a senior you do not need to attend school on March 23.
The reasons Holland Christian is giving the P/SAT are to:
- An aid for students on their educational path and to continuously improve Holland Christian’s strong approach and design of education.
- Projections and practice for the SAT
- A time and place set aside for the SAT, including coverage of costs
- Ability to connect students to colleges and scholarships.
If you have questions contact Doug Greer, Director of Learning, or Dan Vos, High School Registrar.
Athletic Department
The athletic department anticipates the requirement of a pre-participation physical requirement dated after April 15, 2022 by the MHSAA to participate in school sports for the 2022-2023 school year. Athletes will not be allowed to participate in tryouts until a current physical form is on file with the athletic department. If you have any questions please contact the HCHS athletic department.
All families with 6th-12th grade potential athletes need to be registered with our online registration system, Final Forms. For those already registered for the current year, you simply need to login, select the sports your child is interested in and update any changes to your and your child’s information. This is also the place where you print the updated 22-23 physical form to take with you to your DO/MD/NP/PA appointment and have that individual sign the form. Registration for 22-23 sports will be open and available on Final Forms beginning April 1.
Dead Week (no team activities or use of facilities): July 2-9
Preseason Downtime (limited activities for fall teams): August 1-7
FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT
The Most Excellent ’80s: A Living Hope Showcase Event
All are invited to enjoy a blast from the past as the Living Hope Singers celebrate song and dance from the 1980s! You won’t want to miss Showcase 2022 on Friday and Saturday, March 18 & 19 at 7 pm in the HCHS Auditorium. Reserved seating and high school student section tickets will be available through Ludus beginning February 12 with $1 of each ticket benefiting our HC Special Olympics Unified Sports teams.
Band Extravaganza
Come one, come all to the Holland Christian Schools Band Extravaganza for a wonderful night of music on Tuesday, March 22. HC’s 5th grade, 6th grade, Middle School, and High School Bands will perform at the Jack H. Miller Center for the Musical Arts on Hope College’s campus at 7 pm. Hear a wide variety of musical styles and sounds and you won’t want to miss the closer, featuring over 200 musicians combined!
Swingin’ The Night Away
The HCHS music department and jazz ensembles invite you to Swingin’ the Night Away on Friday, March 25, 6:45 pm-9:30 pm in the HS Cafeteria. Free dance instructions from 6:45 pm-7:30 pm. Enjoy intergenerational fun, dancing, desserts and beverages from 7:30 pm-9:30 pm. Tickets are $5 at the door. Enjoy Afro-Cuban influenced music, funk tunes, the blues, and a vocal soloist!
Counselors’ Corner
Scholarship Listings
For a listing of scholarships available, go to the scholarship section on the Counseling Page. Check out the listing of local and regional scholarships sent to us. Also read about the Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland, whose scholarship application is open until March 1, 2022. The Internal HCHS Scholarships will be available later this month; these are scholarships open just to HCHS seniors, so be sure to watch the announcements and your email to read about these!
Careerline Tech Center
Careerline Tech Center is hosting an Open House for 10th and 11th grade students and families on Tuesday, February 8th from 5:30-7:30 pm. If you are considering a Tech Center program, this would be a great opportunity to see things in person prior to applying. If you are a 10th or 11th grade student interested in attending Careerline Tech Center next school year, please fill out the application for Tech Center before Friday, February 11! The online application is open and available on the Tech Center website. Please see your counselor if you have any questions!
ACT/SAT
Students may take the ACT/SAT as often as they wish; colleges accept the highest score. The test is also used for scholarship purposes. Juniors are encouraged to take one of each test to see which one is stronger for them; they are then encouraged to focus on which test better suits them. The next scheduled ACT is April 2 and then June 11 and July 16, 2022. The next scheduled SAT is March 12, then May 7 and June 4 2022. Check with your son’s/daughter’s possible colleges to see if the optional writing section of the ACT or SAT is required for admission. To register and view all upcoming testing dates and testing locations visit the ACT website for ACT registration, and go to the SAT website to register for the SAT. A fee is charged for testing. Students who qualify based on family income may receive a fee waiver in the guidance office.
College Athletics / NCAA & NAIA Eligibility
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 Eligibility Center. NCAA rules require that official ACT scores come directly from ACT (www.actstudent.org) or SAT (www.collegeboard.com). Test scores on a transcript cannot be used. The NCAA code is 9999. 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 NAIA’s website. It is the student’s responsibility to check requirements and make sure his/her senior courses ensure eligibility. Students need to request their transcript be sent to NCAA via their Parchment account; for NAIA, students need to request that their transcript be uploaded to the NAIA portal by the counseling secretary.
College Financial Aid
All students seeking financial aid (institution based, state and federal funds) must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at the Federal Student Aid website. Be sure to check the financial aid link on each college website for their deadline. The final deadline for consideration of state financial aid in Michigan is March 1.
Calendar
February
- 11: 2022/23 course registration deadline
- 12: Winterfest Dance (8-11:30 pm)
- 21: Winter Break (No school)
- 24: Parent/Teacher Conferences (5:30-8:30 pm)
March
- 3: Parent/Teacher Conferences (3:30-6:30 pm)
- 18-19: Living Hope Showcase
- 22: Band Extravaganza
- 25: Swingin’ the Night Away
April
- 29: Junior/Senior Prom (7 pm, Jrs. and Srs. dismissed at 10:50 am)
