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High School Newsletter

High School Newsletter – April 2024

Dear HCHS Families, Happy Easter!

This declaration was a phrase I heard often around this time last year from our High School Chaplain, Mr. Bryant Russ. It was a timely exclamation of this joyful season when followers of Jesus celebrate his victory over death and the hope that we have in the resurrection of the dead. Weeks later after Easter Sunday had passed, I was walking behind Mr. Russ without him knowing and heard him still greeting students with a loud, “Happy Easter!” In response, they gave him an endearing smile—they’re used to hearing him say interesting things—and continued on their way to class. What I learned later about Mr. Russ was that he celebrates the entire Eastertide season, which technically lasts for 50 days, representing the time from Jesus’ resurrection and Pentecost.

Oftentimes, after this annual season of contemplation and thanksgiving for Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, it becomes easy to hustle back into the hurried rhythm of the spring school season. Seniors are getting ready to graduate, musicians are getting ready for spring concerts, thespians are preparing for the spring play, athletes are competing, and dancers are rehearsing for the Tulip Time parade. Likewise, I personally get caught up in the hurry of life and forget the importance of the time after Jesus rose from the dead when “he appeared to [his apostles] over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). During this time with Jesus, his disciples were not checking the tasks off of their to-do lists, nor were they in a hurry to be anywhere else. They centered their lives for that time on dwelling with Jesus for as long as they could, not knowing how long that time would last.

During this season of Eastertide, may we do likewise, setting time apart to be with Jesus and abide with him, as it was always meant to be. One of the most tragic but beautiful scenes in scripture is when Adam and Eve had already eaten from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and the author portrays the level of intimacy God had with them: “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” (Genesis 3:8). God was walking with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, and they knew each other well enough that Adam and Eve knew the “sound of the Lord God.” This was the way it was meant to be. We were made to walk with him; we were made to dwell with him in the Garden and be known by and know him well enough to recognize his voice. Praise God for his goodness and mercy as we get to bask in his presence through the power of the Holy Spirit today.

As we enter Holy Week and this season of Eastertide, I pray that you and your families may experience God’s presence in an overwhelmingly joyful way as we celebrate the invitation to enter the dance with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Once again, I leave you with the poem with which Dr. Dallas Willard ends his book, The Divine Conspiracy:

Now is the shining fabric of our day

Torn open, flung apart, rent wide by love.

Never again the tight, enclosing sky,

The blue bowl or the star-illuminated tent.

We are laid open to infinity,

For Easter love has burst His tomb and ours.

Now nothing shelters us from God’s desire—

Not flesh, not sky, not stars, not even sin.

Now glory waits so He can enter in.

Now does the dance begin.

With Thanks,

Miles Colago
HS Principal

General Information

Junior/Senior banquet: April 26

The Junior-Senior Banquet is Friday, April 26 at the Grand Rapids Public Museum from 7pm to 10pm. Dinner will be provided. Tickets are $75 each and can be purchased online via the link provided until April 14 at 10pm.  The link to purchase the tickets will be emailed out to all seniors and juniors. If you have any questions, please contact Mr Koeman.

If you are bringing a NON-HC guest or an HC underclassmen as your guest, you need to turn in a Guest Form (available in the office) and have it approved before you purchase your tickets. You may purchase up to two tickets.

Important Reminders:

  • Bring your ticket confirmation (printed or on your phone).
  • Please dress appropriately. Remember we seek to honor our God as we celebrate.
  • Because this is a school activity, all school rules apply. There is a zero tolerance for all tobacco, alcohol and marijuana products.
  • Students will not be allowed to re-enter if they leave the facility.

Tulip Time Week Schedule

  • Monday, May 6 – Friday schedule
  • Tuesday, May 7 – normal Tuesday
  • Wednesday, May 8 – normal Wednesday
  • Thursday, May 9 – Grandparents Day/ Half Day for Tulip Time
    • 8-8:35 – 1st hour
    • 8:45-9:10 – Chapel-9th & 11th & Tour/Coffee 10th &12th
    • 9:20-9:45 – Tour/Coffee 9th & 11th & Chapel 10th & 12th
    • 9:50-10:25 – 2nd hour
    • 10:35-11:10 – 3rd hour
  • Friday, May 10 – normal Friday

Attendance Reminders for All

Once at school students are required to check out in the office before leaving school. Students must obtain parent and office permission before leaving school at other than normal times. Students must sign in when coming into school after the school day has started.

After 8:10am students must use door A on the east side of the building, as we are a secure campus with all doors locked during the school day. Remember to check in the main office to come and/or go during the school day.

Holland Christian High School operates as a closed campus. Students are not allowed to leave the grounds, especially during their lunch period. Friday is an exception to this rule, as seniors are allowed to leave for lunch. Parents who want to take only their student(s) out for lunch must personally check them out in the office. Youth leaders or older siblings (out of high school) may also sign them out. Students who leave campus unexcused for lunch will receive an after-school detention.

Host an International Student in 24-25

Do you have a passion for other cultures? Do you have a gift of hospitality? If so, please prayerfully consider hosting an international student for the 24-25 school year. Please fill out an interest in hosting form. For more information and to turn in a completed form, please email Kyle Kempster or email Chanho Song our International Coordinators.

Fine Arts

Holland Christian Spring Band Concert

Join the Holland Christian High School Bands as they present their Spring Concert on Monday, May 13, 2024 at 7:30pm at the Jack H. Miller Center for the Musical Arts. Enjoy concert band, symphonic band, jazz music, the Holland Christian drumline, and a tribute to our seniors.

Holland Christian Spring Choral Concert

Join the Holland Christian High School Choirs as they present their Spring Choral Concert on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 7:30pm at the Holland Christian High School Auditorium. Enjoy a variety of music in song and a tribute to our seniors.

Holland Christian Spring All Orchestra Concert

You are invited to join the Holland Christian School Orchestras in the Jack H. Miller Center for the Musical Arts on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 7pm. See the wonderful progression from 4th to high school orchestras, a beautiful picture of education at Holland Christian.

Oratorio Concert

The Holland Christian High School Choirs and Orchestra invite you to their annual oratorio concert as they perform Franz Joseph Haydn’s Creation on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 7pm at Dimnent Chapel, Hope College. (277 College Ave, Holland, MI 49423).

Spring Theater Production: Little Women

We’re delighted to welcome you to Little Women, based on the beloved novel by Louisa May Alcott. Set in New England during the American Civil War, Little Women tells the coming-of-age story of the four March sisters: practical Meg, self-conscious Amy, timid Beth, and headstrong Jo, along with their male neighbor and partner-in-crime, Laurie. The play, which spans several years of their lives, follows the sisters as they grow up, fall in love, heal from tragedy, and struggle to find their place in a wide and changing world. This American drama is full of humor and heartbreak, as well as timeless themes of courage, empowerment, and family love.

Performances are on May 2, 3, and 4 at 7pm. We will also have streaming rights for each show if you would like to watch virtually. Tickets will be available soon on the Theatre Page.

Athletic Department

Registration on Final Forms for the 24-25 school year begins on April 1, 2024. The athletic department requires a pre-participation physical dated after April 15, 2024, to participate in school sports for the 24-25 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 24-25  physical form to take with you to your DO/MD/NP/PA appointment and have that individual sign the form.
  • 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.

Athletic Physicals

Although it is preferred for athletes to obtain a sports physical from their primary care physician, we realize this is not always possible due to insurance restrictions and the MHSAA requirement for a completed physical between April 15, 2024 and the start of a student’s sport for the 2024-25 school year. Therefore, we offer athletic physicals for Holland Christian students each spring. At the request of the physicians and medical staff who donate their time, the Holland Hospital & Shoreline Orthopedic Sports Medicine Collaborative schools are collectively offering two evenings for all partner schools. Additional information, including registration for specific time slots and cost, will be coming out soon. For now, please save the following dates and times for student athletic physicals for the 2024-25 school year:

  • Monday, April 29, 6-8pm at Shoreline Orthopedic
  • Thursday, May 9, 6-8pm at South Washington Clinic

Important Athletic Dates

  • Final Forms registration opens for 24-25 school year: April 1, 2024
  • MHSAA Dead Week: July 1-7 no team activities or use of facilities
  • MHSAA fall sports pre-season downtime: August 1-11 limited activities for fall teams
  • High school fall sports begin: August 12
  • Middle school fall sports: Football begins August 19, all other Middle School sports begin August 26

Counselors’ Corner

Testing Information

College Financial Aid

The FAFSA process continues to be riddled with delays and frustration this year. At this point, many college financial aid offices have communicated with prospective families regarding the delays. Most estimate that FAFSA related information should be available to families who filed by mid to late March.  The financial aid office of the college(s) you are considering is the best place to go if you have specific FAFSA or financial aid questions.

Seniors’ Honors Night

We would like to celebrate the accomplishments of our seniors by including a list of all merit scholarship recipients in the Honors Night and graduation programs. If your senior son/daughter is receiving a merit scholarship (not including need-based financial aid) from a college you know he/she will be attending, please provide Mrs. Silva, asilva@hollandchristian.org, in the high school office with written verification of the award. You may copy the letter or the email notifying you of the award. Please have all scholarships turned in by Friday, April 26, 2024. Once a student turns in scholarship(s), he/she will receive an invitation letter to Honors Night. Please reserve the evening of Thursday, May 16, 2024 for this event. It is a special night to acknowledge the hard work of our seniors, and we want to celebrate their accomplishments!

College Visits

We encourage juniors to begin exploring specific colleges. Students are allowed two school-related absences per semester for college visits provided certain criteria are met. School-related absence means the absence does not count toward the ten absences allowed. There is a form that the student must fill out, and it must be completed and signed by the college official and returned to the high school office in order for the absence to be cleared. college visit permission form is available in the high school office and the counseling office. We hope this helps encourage students to explore college/career options without worrying about accruing too many absences. Please note that parents do need to call in the absence ahead of time. Once the completed form is turned in to the office, the absence will get coded as a college visit and will not count against the student.

End-of-Year Information for Seniors

Reminder Senior Exam Exemption Policy

During the second semester, seniors may work towards being exempt from their final exams. To earn this exemption seniors must meet at least one of the following:

  • Have a B average in the course for which there is an exam through the final day of that course;
  • Have handed in all homework on time with a passing grade, and have no more than two days absent in that course for the whole semester (for any reason except “school activity.”)

End of the year schedule

  • May 15: All textbooks returned and all library fines paid and materials returned. If you need any books for your exam return them to the office after your exam.
  • May 16: Honors Evening, HS Auditorium, 7pm (by invitation only)
  • May 20: Senior Exams for students who are required to take them
  • May 21: Graduation Rehearsal (required) – 10am
  • May 21: Graduation Ceremony – 7:30pm at Central Wesleyan Church
  • June 10 – 14: Diploma pick up in the high school office

After Graduation Party

The “Senior All-Night Party” is May 21. The 2024 graduation party committee has emailed information to parents of seniors. Tickets to the event will cost $100.

Diplomas

Diplomas will be available for pick up from the High School office June 10-14 anytime between 8am and 3pm.

Your tuition balance and all other financial obligations must be taken care of before you may receive your diploma. If your senior is the only child enrolled at HC, or if you have not made previous arrangements with the business office, please contact Terry VanDerKolk at 616.820.2807. Final transcripts will be sent after these arrangements are made. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Exam Schedule

  • Friday, May 31
    • 8:45am – 10:15am – 1st hour
    • 10:30am – 12:00pm – 2nd hour
  • Monday, June 3

    • 8:45am – 10:15am – 3rd hour
    • 10:30am – 12:00pm – 4th Hour
  • Tuesday,  June 4

    • 8:45am – 10:15am – 5th hour
    • 10:30am – 12:00pm – 6th hour
  • Wednesday,  June 5

    • 8:45am – 10:15am – 7th hour
    • 10:15am – 12:00pm – Makeup slot

Calendar

2023-24 HCS School Calendar

April

  • March 29 – April 7: Spring vacation (No School)
  • 8: School resumes
  • 20: Choir and Orchestra Oratorio at Dimnent Chapel, 7pm
  • 26: Junior/Senior Banquet (Grand Rapids Museum)

May

  • 2-4: Spring play: Little Women
  • 9: Grandparents Day, special schedule, Tulip Time (half day, 11:10 dismissal)
  • 13: Band Concert at Jack Miller Center (7:30)
  • 14: Orchestra Concert at Jack Miller Center (7pm)
  • 15: Spring Choral Concert, HS Auditorium
  • 16: Senior Honors Evening (7pm)
  • 17: Last Day for Seniors
  • 20: Senior Exams
  • 21: Commencement for Class of 2024
  • 27: Memorial Day Vacation