Dear HCHS Community,
Welcome to the 2024/2025 school year! As a faculty and staff, we are ecstatic to see you all once again for another year of equipping minds and nurturing hearts to transform the world for Jesus Christ. We are also so thankful to welcome all of our new families who have chosen to participate in the important work we are doing in this small portion of God’s kingdom. In the year ahead, we have many exciting ways we are seeking to transform the world—launching a new HC chapter of National Honors Society, reigniting student service hours to assist local nonprofit organizations this year, undergoing a rigorous accreditation process with the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA), and continuing a relentless focus on faith integration into the high quality classroom instruction our teachers deliver. As we continue to curate the garden in which God has planted us, we thank you for your continued partnership in fulfilling our school’s mission.
This year our school theme will be Seek First the Kingdom of God, and under the leadership of HC’s Director of Faith Formation, Mr. Bryant Russ, we will be exploring how we may be active participants in the good news that Jesus proclaimed: The kingdom of God is at hand and near (Matt 3:2, Matt 4:17, Mark 1:15, Luke 21:31). During our time together in chapels this school year, we will have the opportunity to hear from many Christian leaders and pastors who will help us understand the comprehensive nature of God’s kingdom and how we might serve as God’s partners within it.
When Jesus’ disciples ask him how to pray, Jesus reveals God’s kingdom is inextricably tied to wherever his will is being done; God’s kingdom comes where his will is done on earth as it is in heaven (Matt 6:10). In other words, as Dallas Willard puts it in The Divine Conspiracy, “God’s own kingdom, or rule, is the range of his effective will, where what he wants done is done.” Thus, this is our hope this year, that we might be a place where God’s will is being done, a place where we join Jesus in proclaiming and implementing good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, freedom for the oppressed, and the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18-19).
Part of this important Kingdom participation is the essential work done by our custodial and maintenance team. This summer has been a busy one for them, tirelessly deep cleaning every office and classroom, fixing anything in need of repair, applying a new layer of well-needed paint, and ensuring that the entire school is a healthy environment for all. We are incredibly grateful for their work, so please be sure to offer a word of encouragement and thanks to our cleaning and maintenance crew upon your return.
We are also excited to welcome several new faculty and staff members to the HC community:
- Mr. Tim Buteyn – SEB Coach
- Ms. Ashley Hernandez – Grade 6-12 Immersion Coordinator
- Ms. Abigail Hop – Math Teacher
- Ms. Brenda Isenga – Life Skills Coach
- Mr. Kyle Kempster – International Student Program Coordinator
- Ms. Leah Los – Life Skills Paraprofessional
- Mr. Chanho Song – International Student Program Coordinator
- Dr. Lee Sytsma – Bible Teacher
- Mr. Alex Zhou – Mandarin Immersion Teacher
Through our comprehensive interview process, we learned how deeply God has gifted these people not only professionally, but also in their faith and apprenticeship to Jesus. We are grateful for their commitment to serve in this place.
Lastly, as we start the school year, please carefully read this Back to School Newsletter so that you have the information necessary to help make the start of the school year as smooth and successful as possible.
Thank you once again for your continued support and commitment to participate in making Holland Christian a place in which God’s kingdom comes and his will is done as it is in heaven.
With Thanks,
Miles Colago
HS Principal
2024-25 Information
First Day of School
All students report on Tuesday, August 20, at 8am. Be sure to have your class schedule with you.
School Supplies
Holland Christian High School does not have a required list of school supplies for students to purchase, except that math students will need a TI-83 or TI-84 calculator. School supply preferences will vary from student to student.
New to Holland Christian High School?
Our New Family Information Booklet was created to help new families transition into HCHS. We hope you find the information helpful!
Freshman Orientation – August 19
All freshmen will be part of our Freshman Orientation Day. This day is to be a transition day that creates a sense of belonging for incoming students and an overall supportive and positive atmosphere on our campus. The first day for freshmen will be Monday, August 19, at 8am. Senior class leaders will lead incoming freshmen in small group games, mixers, and a scavenger hunt around the school. Students will be given a copy of their schedule and meet their teachers for a few minutes in each class. All freshmen will also receive their laptops at this time, if their check-in documents have been completed. Students will be treated to a pizza lunch and will be dismissed at 11:30am. After this, freshmen can stop on Main Street between 11:30am – 12:30pm for pictures.
New 10th – 12th Grade Students
New 10th – 12th Grade Students will have an orientation on Monday, August 19 from 9am-12:30pm. Lunch is included.
Check-In/Picture Day
Check-in day is Monday, August 19 and will take place on Main Street from 11:30am – 3pm. This is a chance for you to have your picture taken for your student ID, walk around the building and find your locker, deposit money into your hot lunch account, and pick up a parking permit (if driving).
Parent Laptop Handbook and Check-In Day Forms
Please review the laptop handbook and complete the required check-in day forms. These forms need to be completed before you will be given your laptop. These forms include the student handbook agreement, laptop agreement, cheating/plagiarism, concussion awareness, and field trip/medical treatment permission. Please note that you will need to enter your student ID number in order to complete these forms. These student numbers can be found in Power School (if you are a returning HC student it is the number you already have).
Laptops
Incoming freshmen will receive their laptops during freshmen orientation. New 10th – 12th students will receive their laptops during new student orientation. Returning students will receive their laptops on the first day of school provided they have completed the check-in day forms.
Textbooks
- Students will pick up textbooks from the Bookstore, located in the hallway near the Auditorium, Counseling, and Athletic Offices. Students should bring a backpack to carry their books home from school or may leave books in their assigned locker. ALL students will need to pick up textbooks.
- Bring your HC student ID (from ANY year; your barcode is the same). This will help speed up the checkout process!!!
- To help avoid long lines, students are encouraged to get their textbooks during the following times:
- 9th & 12th grades: 11:30am-12:30pm
- 10th & 11th grades: 1:00-2:30pm:
- If you have any textbooks at home from previous years, PLEASE bring them back ASAP! We need them to make sure we have enough to distribute on August 19. Thank you for your help with this. If you have lost your books, please bring in the replacement fee. If you have any questions, please email Kim Hekman. Thank you! Mrs. Hekman
Photos
All students (including seniors) must have their picture taken whether or not the pictures are purchased. These pictures are necessary for the yearbook, student transcripts, I.D.’s, and for our student management software. Seniors, this picture will be on your high school transcript. You can order online ahead of time from Geskus, or you can send the flyer Geskus mailed out and payment with your student on check in day.
To help speed the picture taking process, we will use the following schedule:
- 9th Grade: 11:30am – 12:30pm
- 12th Grade: 11:30am – 12:30pm
- 10th Grade: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
- 11th Grade: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
- Anyone: 2:30pm – 3:00pm
Picture Makeup day will be Thursday, September 5.
Senior Picture Information – Click here for details on Senior Pictures. The deadline for senior pictures is September 23.
Schedule and PowerSchool Information
The daily schedule consists of 4 block days, and on Fridays students will have all seven classes in one day; it can be found HS Schedule Google Doc. The last day of the first semester is January 13 and exams will be January 14-17. Second semester begins on January 21.
The High School uses PowerSchool for accessing student schedules, tracking grades, attendance, and family contact information. Student schedules will be available in PowerSchool on August 9 at ps.hollandchristian.org. Parents can log in with the username and password you created in a previous year. Parents of students coming from Zeeland Christian and other students new to HC will be sent information for creating a PowerSchool account. If you detect any errors or need to make changes to your schedule, please complete the schedule change form on our Registrar page.
Closed Campus
HCHS is a closed campus. Sometimes parents may like to take their student out for lunch. Parents may take only their own student out for lunch and must personally check them out of the office. Youth leaders or older siblings (out of high school) may also take students out for lunch by signing them out in the office. Seniors do have the privilege of going off-campus for lunch on Fridays only.
Food Services
24/25 Meal Prices are the same as last year:
- Elementary $2.75
- Middle School. $3.00
- High School $3.25
- Free/reduced price $0.00
To deposit money in your child’s lunch account or to apply for free/reduced lunch benefits please go to Family Portal. There is no fee to use this service. The portal will be ready to receive deposits after August 15. If you were receiving free or reduced lunch benefits in the 23/24 school year those benefits will expire on September 30, 2024 so you will need to reapply for lunch benefits at Family Portal. If you have any questions please email Sue at slambers@hollandchristian.org
Extracurricular Information
There is a “Pay to Participate Fee” charge of $100 to all students involved in extracurricular activities to help offset some of the costs of the program. For athletics, this fee will be paid through the student’s Final Forms account; for all other activities, this fee will be collected by the director of the activity and must be paid immediately following the selection or determination of the activity participants.
Athletics Information
Fall sports begin on August 12 for high school athletes and on August 26 for middle school athletes (except for MS football on August 19). Times and locations for every sport’s start date are listed on our athletics blog. The full practice and game schedule for each sport can be found through Eventlink (or maroonsathletics.org). All athletes must be registered through FinalForms along with a picture of their cleared physical uploaded to their account in order to participate. Coaches utilize FinalForms to communicate upcoming information to athletes and families. Learn more about Finalforms and EventLink.
Athletic Parent Night is scheduled for August 20 – 7:00pm @ the HS Auditorium. Parents of all middle school and high school athletes are invited to attend! In addition to athletic training and some general information, our keynote speaker is Dr. Chad Carlson of Hope College and Sport.Faith.Life. Following the opening session in the auditorium, high school fall sports will each have their individual sport parent meetings.
HCHS Theatre Presents: Singing in the Rain!
This fall, Holland Christian Theater is producing Singing in the Rain! In the glittering Hollywood of 1927, silent movie star Don Lockwood appears to be on top of the world. His charisma and intense on-screen chemistry with his gorgeous co-star, Lina Lamont, has made them both household names, as well as one of the tabloids’ favorite couples. However, the arrival of The Jazz Singer, the first “talking picture” of the ’20s, threatens to upset everything. Don can dance and sing, but Lina … well, Lina is a silent movie star for a reason. As the studio struggles to adapt to the new “talkies,” Don meets Kathy Seldon, a feisty young actress who may prove to be their salvation – as well as possibly the first person who sees beyond his fame and likes him for the person he really is. But Lina is as possessive as she is pretty, and her jealousy just might doom everyone. Anchored by witty dialogue, catchy songs, and playful choreography, Singin’ in the Rain is a joyful American classic and a comedic adventure for the whole family.
The first day of auditions is Wednesday, August 21. The Audition Signup Form and more information can be found on the Theatre page.
Ditto Upscale Resale
Ditto Upscale Resale is hiring student workers for year round positions! Shifts are primarily 3:30-7:30 during the week and 10-2:30 and 2:00-7 on Saturdays. You must be 15 to apply. Priority will be given to those not involved in a fall activity or sport. Please stop by the store for an application!
Moms in Prayer
Moms in Prayer is a great way to connect with other moms, pray for your child, and have an impact on the High School. Please join us on Fridays, starting September 6th at Providence Church from 8:30-9:30 am. Contact Nicole Shook with questions at ncshook@gmail.com.
Important Dates
Save the Date – Parent Night
We will be hosting our annual Parent Night on Tuesday, September 3 at 7pm. More details will be sent out; please add this event to your calendar.
Reserve these important dates on your fall calendar:
August
- 7: Fall sports tryouts start
- 16/17: Senior Camp
- 19: Freshman orientation day/picture day (lunch included) (8:00-11:30am)
- 19: Student check in/picture day (11:30-3:00pm)
- 19: New students (non-freshman) 9:00am-12:15pm (lunch included)
- 20: All students report (full day)
- 28: All School Convocation
- 30: Labor Day weekend, no school
September
- 2: Labor Day, no school
- 3: Parent night (7pm)
- 14: Homecoming dance
- 23: Senior picture deadline
