Dear HCHS Families,
Over Christmas break, my family and I had an opportunity to take care of a few loose ends that we’ve neglected since moving to Holland, one of them being getting a library card. After we arrived at Herrick Library, I finally made my Hoopla account and landed on one of my favorite authors, Dr. Dallas Willard, and chose to listen to The Allure of Gentleness: Defending the Faith in the Manner of Jesus. This book is a powerful compilation of several of his essays, articles, and lectures that he and his daughter gathered together until he passed away after a short battle with cancer in 2013, and in it they sought to help readers practice discipleship of Jesus in every sphere of their lives, which includes apologetics.
One synonym for disciple that I’ve latched onto in the last few years is the word apprentice, “a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer.” One important aspect of the term is that the relationship between the apprentice and the skilled employer is one based on learning how to do what the skilled employer can do, and in the case of Jesus, we are learning how to live life like he did. In Willard’s The Allure of Gentleness, he states:
The highest aim of a student of Jesus Christ is to learn to live like him in his kingdom. This involves planning to be like Jesus. What Jesus is essentially telling us in Matthew 4:17 is: “Think out your strategy for life in the light of the new fact that you can now live under the reign of God immediately present to you from the heavens.” This method for learning to fully lead a spiritual life is to do what Jesus did in his overall style of life. Follow him. (21)
What differentiates Christ-centered education from its secular versions is that apprenticeship to Jesus should encompass everything that students do, whether it be making an Adirondack chair, creating a written plan for eliminating world-wide hunger, playing Bach’s Chaconne on the violin, or debating foreign policy in forensics.
On Thursday, February 23 and March 2, we’re looking forward to visiting with you about your students’ progress once again for Parent-Teacher conferences, and my encouragement to you is to ask not only about your students’ academic work, but also about how they are doing in their apprenticeship to Jesus. Are they treating their neighbors with hospitality (Rom. 12:13)? Are they showing honor to others (Rom. 12:10)? Are they being patient in tribulation or challenges they face (Rom. 12:12)? Are they associating with the lowly instead of the proud (Rom. 12:16)? As we seek to equip minds and nurture hearts distinctively for Jesus, these sorts of questions will help our students also transform the world distinctively for Jesus.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we walk together in transforming the world for Jesus through this next generation of servant-leaders in God’s Kingdom.
With thanks,
Miles Colago
High School Principal
General Information
23 – 24 Class Signup
Registration information was presented to all current 9th-11th grade students during Family Flex on January 23 and 25. Students should be signing up for their 23–24 classes now in PowerSchool; current students should submit their course selections by 8:00am, Friday, February 10. All parents are encouraged to discuss with students the opportunities that are available. Updated information and course descriptions for all classes is on the Registrar Page
PSAT and SAT for HCHS Students
On Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 7:45am 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 showcase 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. Students will be dismissed when the testing is finished, approximately 11:45am (no cafeteria services that day). If you are a senior you do not need to attend school on March 22. Tech Center is required for seniors, but juniors will be excused from Tech Center due to the testing.
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 contact Dan Vos, High School Registrar.
Athletic Department
Registration on Final Forms for the 23-24 school year begins on April 1, 2023. The athletic department requires a pre-participation physical dated after April 15, 2023, to participate in school sports for the 23-24 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 23-24 physical form to take with you to your DO/MD/NP/PA appointment and have that individual sign the form.
- Holland Christian’s Sports Physical Night will be on Wednesday, May 31, from 6-8pm. You will be sent an email through your Final Forms account with registration details in the near future.
- For complete information about all athletic opportunities at Holland Christian, please take a look at the Athletic Opportunities page
- For information specifically about Summer camps, go to the Summer Camps page.
Important Dates
- Final Forms registration opens for 23-24 school year on April 1, 2023
- Sports Physical Night – May 31
- MHSAA Dead Week – July 2-9 (no team activities or use of facilities)
- MHSAA Fall Sports Pre-Season Downtime – August 1-6 (limited activities for fall teams)
- High School Fall Sports begin – August 7
- Middle School Fall Sports begin – August 22
Fine Arts Department
The Living Hope Showcase Event
We know you want to be where the people are! Join us for The Wonderful World of Disney: A Magical Night of Song and Dance. The Living Hope Singers will celebrate our favorite Disney songs at Showcase 2023 on Friday & Saturday, March 17 & 18 at 7pm in the HCHS Auditorium. Be our guest! Reserved seating and livestream tickets are only $10 and ticket sales begin February 13 on the Choir Page. HCHS general admission student tickets will be available for $5 online or at the door. Watch the daily announcements for more details coming soon….
Band Extravaganza
Come one, come all to the Holland Christian Schools Band Extravaganza for a wonderful night of music on Tuesday, March 21. 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 7pm. 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 24, 6:45-9:30pm in the HS Cafeteria. Free dance instructions from 6:45 pm-7:30pm. Enjoy intergenerational fun, dancing, desserts and beverages from 7:30-9:30pm. 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, 2023. 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 7 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 10. 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 15 and then June 10 and July 15, 2023. The next scheduled SAT is March 11, then May 6 and June 3, 2023. 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.
Important Dates
February
- 4: Parent-sponsored Winterfest dance (8-11pm)
- 10: 23-24 course registration deadline
- 17: Half day
- 20: No school
- 23: Parent/Teacher Conferences (5:30-8:30pm)
March
- 2: Parent/Teacher Conferences (3:30-6:30 pm)
- 17-18: Living Hope Showcase
- 21: Band Extravaganza
- 24: Swingin’ the Night Away
- 24: Half day
- 31-April 9: No school, spring break
April
- 29: Junior/Senior Prom
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