Dear HCHS Families,
Welcome to April and the arrival of spring in West Michigan. The return of warmth, longer days, and the first buds coming through on the trees often bring a reinvigoration needed as we sprint to graduation, especially after spring break. This year, my wife and I have started our first real attempt at growing food, the edible kind. After watching more homesteading and gardening videos than I’d like to admit, I was struck by the emphasis on preparing the soil well in advance of planting. Our house literally is built on sand, so as we explored various ways to transform the ground, we discovered the Hügelkultur technique, which involves building garden beds by layering decaying logs, dead branches, leaves, and compost beneath a top layer of soil. In theory, this German method allows for the soil to hold water for longer and provide long-lasting supplies of nutrients for healthier crops. I’m not sure if this will work—I’ll let you know next September—, but this did make me think about the life we get to receive from Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the incredible hope that we have with his victory over the grave.
This month’s core value we are focusing on is Renewal: humbly participating, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. Renewal is not something we produce on our own, but rather something we step into as God restores hearts, redirects our desires, and invites us into his work. In the years that followed Jesus’ empty tomb, the early church grew in surprising ways, often during hardship rather than ease. Historians such as Rodney Stark in The Rise of Christianity and Alan Kreider in The Patient Ferment of the Early Church describe how Christian communities expanded from about 30 AD to 200 AD even as they faced persecution and disease. Their growth was not tied to political positions of authority but rather to a way of life shaped by their discipleship to Jesus, embodied with love, care for others, and a steady hope grounded in the resurrection.
When illness spread through cities, many fled while Christians often stayed. They cared for the sick, both within their communities and beyond them, sometimes at great personal risk. This quiet faithfulness stood out. Renewal could be seen in the way people lived, in the way they served, and in the hope they carried despite the suffering they endured.
As we move through April, our hope is that students begin to see renewal in this same way. Not just as a theme or a season, but as a way of life as they love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength and love their neighbor as themselves. Whether it’s on a stage, on a field, or in a classroom, we pray our students grow into people who can persevere and endure as they courageously take part in the work of Jesus with humility and trust in him.
Thank you for your continued partnership in equipping minds and nurturing hearts to transform the world for Jesus Christ. May this season be one in which you and your families experience God’s renewing presence in both ordinary and unexpected ways.
With thanks,
Miles Colago
HS Principal
General Information
Junior/Senior Banquet: April 25
The Junior-Senior Banquet is Saturday, April 25 at Post Family Farms from 7pm to 10pm. Dinner will be provided. Tickets are $75 each and can be purchased online beginning March 23. The link to purchase tickets has been emailed to juniors and seniors and can also be found in the High School Daily Announcements. Ticket sales will end on Monday, April 13 at 3pm. 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 4 – Friday schedule with Flex in place of Chapel
- Tuesday, May 5 – normal Tuesday
- Wednesday, May 6 – normal Wednesday
- Thursday, May 7 – 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 8 – 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 8am 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 only 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 26-27
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 26-27 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
HCHS Choir and Orchestra Oratorio Concert
The Holland Christian High School Choirs and Orchestra invite you to their annual Oratorio Concert as they perform Vivaldi’s Gloria on Friday, April 17 at 7:30pm at West Ottawa High School Performing Arts Center (3685 Butternut Dr, Holland, MI 49424). Admission is free.
Holland Christian Spring Choral Concert
Join the Holland Christian High School Choirs as they present their Spring Choral Concert on Monday, May 11, 2026 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 at the West Ottawa High School Performing Arts Center (3685 Butternut Dr, Holland, MI 49424) on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 7:30pm. See the wonderful progression from 4th to high school orchestras, a beautiful picture of education at Holland Christian.
Holland Christian Spring Band Concert
Join the Holland Christian High School Bands as they present their Spring Concert on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 7:30pm at the West Ottawa High School Performing Arts Center (3685 Butternut Dr, Holland, MI 49424). Enjoy concert band, symphonic band, jazz music, the Holland Christian drumline, and a tribute to our seniors.
Athletic Department
Registration through Final Forms for the 26-27 school year begins on April 1, 2026. The MHSAA requires a pre-participation physical dated on or after April 15, 2026, to participate in school sports for the 26-27 school year. Athletes will not be allowed to participate in tryouts until a current and cleared physical form (a picture or scan of it) has been uploaded to their Final Forms account. Summer and school year sport opportunities are also generally communicated to students who have already registered and selected particular sports, so please register for 26-27 sports in April! If you have any questions please contact the 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 25-26 physical form to take with you to your DO/MD/NP/PA appointment and have that individual sign the form.
- For Summer Camps information and registration, please go to our “Active Summer Camps Registration Page”
Important Dates
- Final Forms registration opens for the 26-27 school year on April 1, 2026
- Our 2026 sports physical nights will be on April 23 and May 6
- MHSAA Dead Week: June 29 – July 5 (no team activities or use of facilities)
- MHSAA Fall Sports Pre-Season Downtime: August 1-9 (limited activities for fall teams)
- High School Fall Sports begin: August 10
- Middle School Fall Sports: August 17
Athlete Physicals
Holland Christian encourages every child to see their primary care physician for their well child visit, but also understands the annual MHSAA pre-participation sports physical requirement does not always align with insurance requirements. Holland Christian’s sports physical night offers a low cost visit that meets the MHSAA requirements, but it is not an alternative to an annual well child visit. Regardless of where the MHSAA physical is performed, it must be completed by a MD, DO, NP or PA who will check for significant medical concerns that could arise through participation in sports. The MHSAA physical form must be completed between April 15 and the first practice/try-out for a student to participate in any in-season sport.
For spring 2026, Holland Hospital and Shoreline Orthopedic Sports Medicine are collectively offering two evenings for all area partner schools. The first date is Thursday, April 23 at Shoreline Orthopaedic in Zeeland from 6-8pm at 8251 Westpark Way, Suite #150, Zeeland, 49464. The second date is Wednesday, May 6 at the Saugatuck location of Holland Hospital from 6-8pm at 6490 Blue Star Hwy, Saugatuck, 49453.
Families can register for a physical slot at maroonsathletics.org/
Counselors’ Corner
Testing Information
- Upcoming Saturday SAT dates are available in May. You can search testing sites in our area when you go to the SAT website to register.
- Upcoming Saturday ACT test dates are available in April. You can search for testing sites in our area when you go to the ACT website to register.
College Financial Aid
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 related questions.
Scholarship Night
We would like to celebrate the accomplishments of our seniors by including a list of all merit scholarship recipients in the Scholarship Night and graduation programs. If your senior son/daughter is receiving a merit scholarship from a college you know he/she will be attending, please provide Mrs. Silva in the high school office with written verification of the award. You may copy the letter or the email notifying you of the award received. This does not include need-based financial aid awards. Please have all scholarships turned in by Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Once a student turns in scholarship(s), he/she will receive an invitation letter to Scholarship Night. Please reserve the evening of Thursday, May 7, 2026 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 colleges of interest. Students are allowed two school-related absences per semester for college visits. School-related absence means the absence does not count toward the ten absences allowed. There is a form that the student must fill out before the visit. This must be completed and signed by the college official and returned to the high school office in order for the absence to be cleared. The 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.”)
Seniors End of the year schedule
- May 8: All library fines paid and materials returned (Seniors only).
- May 13: Textbooks should be returned to the Media Center (seniors only). If you need any books for your exams just bring them to the media center after your exam.
- May 7: Scholarship Night, HS Auditorium, 7pm (by invitation only)
- May 18: Senior exams for students who are required to take them
- May 19: Graduation rehearsal (required) 10am
- May 19: Graduation ceremony 7pm at Central Wesleyan Church
- June 8-12: Diploma pick up (in the high school office)
After Graduation Party
The “Senior All-Night Party” is May 19. The 2026 graduation party committee has emailed information to parents of seniors. Tickets to the event will cost $30.
Diplomas
Diplomas will be available for pick up from the High School office from June 8-12. They can be picked up anytime between 8am and 3pm by the student or by a family member. 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 29
- 8:45am – 10:15am – 1st hour
- 10:30am – 12:00pm – 2nd hour
- Monday, June 1
- 8:45am – 10:15am – 3rd hour
- 10:30am – 12:00pm – 4th Hour
- Tuesday, June 2
- 8:45am – 10:15am – 5th hour
- 10:30am – 12:00pm – 6th hour
- Wednesday, June 3
- 8:45am – 10:15am – 7th hour
- 10:15am – 12:00pm – Makeup slot
Calendar
April
- 3-12: No school, Spring break
- 13: School resumes
- 17:HCHS Oratorio at West Ottawa HS Performing Arts Center, 7 pm
- 25: Junior/Senior Banquet
- 30: Spring Show, Wait Until Dark, 7pm
May
- 1-2: Spring Show, Wait Until Dark
- 7: Grandparents Day, special schedule, Tulip Time (half day, 11:10 dismissal)
- 7: Senior Scholarship Night, 7 pm
- 11: Spring Choir Concert, HS Auditorium, 7:30pm
- 13: Orchestra Concert at West Ottawa HS Performing Arts Center, 7:30pm
- 14: Band Concert at West Ottawa HS Performing Arts Center, 7:30pm
- 15: Last day for seniors
- 18: Senior exams
- 19: Commencement for Class of 2026
- 25: Memorial Day vacation
- 29: HCHS exams begin