Dear HCHS Families,
Welcome to May, arguably the most action-packed month of the school year. If you happen to be around the school grounds while the sun is shining from Monday to Saturday, you will see a Maroon either rehearsing for Dutch dancing in the parking lot, blocking Ottawa Ave with band instruments, running around the block, jumping over hurdles, or throwing, catching, hitting, or kicking some type of ball. During the spring season, HC has the most student participation in co-curricular activities than any other season, and seeing them shine in and out of the classroom is inspiring. All that being said, these opportunities for our students can only happen with the commitment and valuable time of our teachers, coaches, directors, and conductors, who pour themselves into our mission of equipping minds and nurturing hearts to transform the world distinctively for Jesus Christ. If you see any of them in action, please take a moment to give them a hearty thank you.
Our school theme this year has been to “seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness” (Matt. 6:33), and when revisiting the surrounding text, I was reminded that Jesus shared this exhortation within the context of not being anxious:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than them? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matt. 6:25, 26)
Personally, I used to struggle with this passage quite a bit. First, I like to plan and in most cases think it wise to have a plush rainy-day fund and insurance plan for worst case scenarios. Second, my wife just cleaned the windows of our house, and a beautiful, young variegated woodpecker flew into the spotless window and fell to its death. Needless to say, seeking God’s kingdom and his righteousness—as Jesus depicted in his teachings and through his life—does not mean that we are immune from the trials of this world. Rather, seeking God’s kingdom and his righteousness allows us to participate in the redemption and restoration Jesus was bringing into this broken world, emboldening his followers even more so with the hope of his resurrection from the dead.
During the month of May, worry can enter into our students and, if we’re being honest, us adults with all of the deadlines and final competitions coming our way. AP tests, final exams, projects, performances, competitions are closing in, and it’s easy to forget this important reality: Jesus rose from the dead. This does not mean that all of our efforts are meaningless and that we should take it easy, but rather Jesus’ love for us and victory over death should embolden us to participate with even more thankful vigor, “working as unto the Lord and not for men” (Col. 3:23). This allows us to try our best at anything, and possibly fail, without that fear of losing Jesus’ love for us. This allows us to change life trajectories if we don’t get into our desired college or job because our identities are not dependent on what we do, but rather we are defined by God’s love for us as his children and image-bearers. As we enter into this exciting season, our deep hope remains that your children may become resilient followers of Jesus who are equipped to do what God desires for them in this world, and we could not be more thankful for the privilege to partner with you as we seek first God’s kingdom in Holland together.
With thanks,
Miles
General Information
Tulip Time Week Schedule
-
- Monday, May 5 – Friday schedule
- Tuesday, May 6 – normal Tuesday
- Wednesday, May 7 – normal Wednesday
- Thursday, May 8 – 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 9 – normal Friday
Grandparents & Grandfriends Day
Your student’s grandparents and grandfriends are invited to join us on May 8 from 8-11:10am. Grandparents & Grandfriends Day at the high school is a wonderful morning where they will join you in class, experience chapel and enjoy conversations over coffee and cookies. Thank you in advance for sharing these special people with us! Students will be dismissed at 11:10am on this half day for Tulip Time.
Host an International Student in 25-26
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 25-26 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
Spring Theatre Production, The Play That Goes Wrong
We invite you to experience a night of laughs, drama, and a murder mystery gone wrong! May 1-3 at 7pm HC Theatre presents The Play That Goes Wrong, including everything from poisoned actors, falling sets, exploding props, mutinous set crew, and much worse! Despite the catastrophe, the cast fights to keep the play on the rails…after all, “the show must go on!” Tickets are available on the HC Theatre page. We hope to see you there.
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 Monday, May 12, at 7:30pm. See the wonderful progression from 4th grade 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 Tuesday, May 13, 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 14, 2025 at 7:30pm at the Holland Christian High School Auditorium. Enjoy a variety of music in song and a tribute to our seniors.
Athletic Department
Registration on Final Forms for the 25-26 school year begins on April 1, 2025. The athletic department requires a pre-participation physical dated after April 15, 2025, to participate in school sports for the 25-26 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 25-26 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
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 2025, the Holland Hospital & Shoreline Orthopedic Sports Medicine are collectively offering a second evening for all partner schools, including HCHS, on May 15 at Shoreline Orthopaedic in ZEELAND from 6-8:30pm. Families can register for a physical slot at maroonsathletics.org/Registrations. Holland Christian has 15 available slots every 15 minutes on both evenings.
Important Athletic Dates
- Final Forms registration opens for the 25-26 school year on April 1, 2025
- MHSAA Dead Week: June 30 – July 6 (no team activities or use of facilities)
- MHSAA Fall Sports Pre-Season Downtime: August 1-10 (limited activities for fall teams)
- High School Fall Sports begin: August 11
- Middle School Fall Sports begin: August 18
Seniors & Parents of Seniors
Seniors End-of-the-year Schedule
- May 9: All library fines paid and materials returned (seniors only).
- May 14: 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 15: Honors Evening, HS Auditorium, 7pm (by invitation only)
- May 19: Senior Exams for students who are required to take them
- May 20: Graduation Rehearsal (required) – 10am
- May 20: Graduation Ceremony – 7pm at Central Wesleyan Church
- June 9-13: Diploma pick up (in the high school office)
After Graduation Party
The “Senior All-Night Party” is May 20. The 2025 graduation party committee has emailed information to parents of seniors. Tickets to the event will cost $20.
Senior Exam Exemption
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.”)
Diploma pick up
Diplomas will be available for pick up from the High School office from June 9-13. 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!
Counselors’ Corner
Seniors/Parents of Seniors
Honors Night
On Thursday, May 15, we will hold an Honors Night for full-time seniors who have been awarded scholarships from colleges or private agencies. Parents are invited to this special evening, which will begin at 7pm in the High School Auditorium and will include refreshments. The due date for turning in scholarships was Friday, April 25. Just a reminder that if you submitted scholarship information to the counseling office, please make sure to RSVP for Honors Night by May 2.
College Athletics
Students who are considering a Division I or II University and hope to compete on an athletic team must be registered with the NCAA eligibility center. You can access and complete the process on the NCAA Clearing House website. NCAA rules require that official test scores come directly from ACT or SAT. The NCAA code is 9999.
Students who are considering an NAIA member school must complete the NAIA application. View a complete listing of NAIA schools & an application. Students should request their transcripts be sent to NCAA Eligibility Center via their Parchment account. NAIA does not accept transcripts via Parchment, so contact the counseling office about submitting transcripts to the NAIA eligibility center. It is the student’s responsibility to check requirements and make sure their high school courses meet NCAA or NAIA eligibility requirements.
Juniors/Parents of Juniors
ACT & SAT Registration
The registration deadline for the June 14, 2025 ACT is May 6, 2025. Registration is done on the ACT website. SAT registration for the June 7, 2025 SAT is May 22, 2025. Registration is done on the SAT website.
Summer College Visits
Many students visit colleges in the summer, especially those that are a far distance from home. The counselors recommend that you look at online guides beforehand that can help you prepare for and schedule a productive college visit.
Exam Schedule
- Friday, May 30
- 8:45am – 10:15am – 1st hour
- 10:30am – 12:00pm – 2nd hour
- Monday, June 2
- 8:45am – 10:15am – 3rd hour
- 10:30am – 12:00pm – 4th Hour
- Tuesday, June 3
- 8:45am – 10:15am – 5th hour
- 10:30am – 12:00pm – 6th hour
- Wednesday, June 4
- 8:45am – 10:15am – 7th hour
- 10:15am – 12:00pm – Makeup slot
Exam Notes:
- Students are not required to be at school unless they have an exam.
- You will not be allowed to take your exams until all detentions have been served, and you will not receive credit for your second semester courses until you take your exams.
- All books must be returned and fines paid in the Media Center before exams may be taken.
- All lunch accounts must be paid up before exams may be taken.
9th-11th Media Center and Textbook Returns
The deadline for returning materials to the Media Center for freshmen, sophomores and juniors is May 28.
- All Media Center materials and replacement fees for lost library books are due
- All textbook damage fees and replacement fees for missing textbooks are due
- Textbooks must be turned into the wire rack in Media Center.
- If you need a textbook for an exam, let Mrs. Hekman or Mrs Lokker know.
Calendar
May
- 1-3: Spring Show, The Play That Goes Wrong
- 8: Grandparents Day, special schedule, Tulip Time (half day, 11:10am dismissal)
- 12: Orchestra Concert at Jack Miller Center 7pm
- 13: Band Concert at Jack Miller Center 7:30pm
- 14: Spring Choral Concert, HS Auditorium, 7:30pm
- 15: Senior Honors Evening 7pm
- 16: Last day for seniors
- 19: Senior exams
- 20: Commencement for Class of 2025
- 26: Memorial Day vacation
- 30: HCHS exams begin
June
- June 2-4: HCHS exams
