High School Newsletter – October 2022

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into this harvest.” Luke 10:2

Dear HCHS Families,

Welcome to October! The fall season has officially begun and, with it, the time to break out the flannel, vest, Carhartt beanie, jeans, and boots, and head out to the apple orchards, the pumpkin patches, and the hayrides. This is one of my favorite seasons of the year, not only because I love cider, but also because it is an important reminder that we, as followers of Jesus, are called to head out into the field to collect the harvest.

As a Christian school community, our mission is clear: equip our students’ minds and nurture their hearts to transform the world for Jesus Christ. Thus, as we enter this season of harvest, let us be reminded of the way Jesus commissioned us to participate in this bounty: “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). What I really appreciate about the passage from Luke 10:2 is that Jesus follows his exhortation on collecting the harvest with a list of difficulties to be prepared for. This is not easy work, but through the power of the Spirit and this community, I am thankful for your partnership in living into this calling.

There are a couple of events that are happening this month that I would like to highlight:

• Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 6, 5:30-8:30 and Thursday, October 13, 3:30-6:30. This is a time for parents and teachers to come together and discuss how to make your child’s experience the best it can be.
• Tuition Grant Fund Auction will be held on October 8. It will be a wonderful evening of food, fellowship and friendly competitive bidding. You can walk away with amazing items as well as providing tuition support for families who value Christian education and would love to be part of the HC community, but for whom financial support is needed for that to become a reality. Sign up on the Auction page.
• Grandparents Day will be on October 19. Students will have the opportunity to share with their grandparents and grandfriends a window into their daily life in school. Chapel, coffee, and a tour will be provided.
• CEA Convention will take place this year on October 20 and 21. Students do not have school these days while teachers gather with other Christian educators from other states to learn, worship and grow together in their profession. We know that having days off school is not always easy for families, but please know that we believe that time together is valuable and students will benefit. Thank you for your support of this professional development.

Thank you for your partnership as we turn the soil, plant the seeds, pray with earnestness, and collect the harvest together with great joy and earnestness.

Your partner in Kingdom work,

Miles

General Information

Urgent reminder – Senior Pictures

Senior pictures were due September 23. Email picture to footprints@hollandchristian.org. If you still have questions view the Senior picture guidelines & FAQ’s.

Parking Permit

All students who drive to school are required to display a parking permit on their vehicle. They are available in the office at no charge.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences are in person, and are scheduled for Thursday, October 6 from 5:30-8:30pm and Thursday, October 13 from 3:30-6:30pm. You should have received an email with instructions on how to register for conferences on September 26, and you can also find that information in the general newsletter introducing this high school newsletter. If you have questions regarding sign-up, please call the main office.

Grandparents & Grandfriends Day

Please invite your Grandparents & Grandfriends! At Holland Christian we teach our students to be wisdom seekers and to faithfully listen to the Word of God as it guides our path. As wise influences in their lives, you are invited to Grandparents & Grandfriends Day at the high school, a day where you are able to go to class, experience chapel, enjoy conversations over coffee and cookies. Join us on October 19, 2022 from 8-11:15am. See you then!

Picture Retakes

Picture retakes will be October 10. If you have not taken a photo yet please plan to have your photo taken. If you are unhappy with your school photo just return the package you purchased and  a new photo will be taken.

High School Daily Announcements

All students and parents are emailed the high school daily student announcements. Please help us by keeping your contact information up to date in PowerSchool. When you log in to PowerSchool, click “SwiftReach SwiftK12”; under “Contact Information,” you can make sure your demographics are up to date. Announcements are also posted daily on the HS Announcements Google Doc.

Attendance Reminder

All students need to sign in or out at the office when coming and going throughout the school day for appointments, illness or whatever else may be the case. Parents should notify the office ahead of time by phone 616.820.2905, email kvaneerden@hollandchristian.org, or a parent-written or doctor note sent with the student. Thank you for helping to keep all of our students safe and accounted for during our school day!

Athletics Department

Winter Sports Tryouts

• October 31: Ice Hockey
• November 7: Competitive Cheer (co-op with West Ottawa)
• November 14: Girls Basketball
• November 21: Boys Basketball
• November 21: Boys Aquatics

Scheduling/cancellations and game information can be found on the Athletics website.

Physicals

All Athletes need an approved pre-participation physical form (dated after 4/15/2022) on file in the Athletic Office and completed registration on Final Forms. See the Athletics Registration page for complete details.

Counselors’ Corner

Senior Meetings

We are currently meeting individually with the seniors to make sure they have all the information they need to make decisions regarding their futures. We are encouraging college bound seniors to get their applications in by Thanksgiving vacation to have the best opportunities for financial aid. We also assist non-college bound seniors with career exploration, vocational opportunities and job search skills.

Scholarships

Throughout the school year, various scholarship opportunities will be posted online through the Counseling Department. A listing of outside scholarships, both regional and national, will be updated as we receive notices of scholarships. Coming soon, there will be information online about the Holland/Zeeland Community Foundation Scholarships that are open to Holland Christian students and also internal HC scholarships, which are for Holland Christian students only. Be sure to check the Scholarship portion of the Counseling Page.

College Visits, Fairs & Activities

The counseling department website has a complete listing of colleges visiting HCHS. College rep visits are also listed in the daily announcements.

Meeting with Juniors

The counselors will be meeting with all juniors to talk about steps students should be taking to prepare for senior year and beyond high school. We will also be offering the opportunity to meet with your student and his/her counselor for a junior check-in meeting. Each year, we meet one-on-one with students to discuss the current school year and begin exploring future plans. Some of the information covered in the junior meeting will be taking the ACT/SAT, preparing for senior year, and discussing plans for life after high school. Since this is such an important and transitional time in your student’s life, we want parents to have the option to sit in on this meeting. Watch for more information to come about these meetings.

Testing Information

• Upcoming ACT test dates are October 22 and December 10, 2022, and also February 11, April 15  and June 10, 2023. HCHS is a testing site for the October, December and February dates. You can search for other testing sites in our area when you go to the ACT website to register.
• Upcoming SAT test dates are November 5, December 3, 2022, and March 11, May 6, and June 3, 2023 HCHS is a testing site for the November and March dates. You can search for other testing sites in our area when you go to the SAT website to register.
• Here is a chart of the upcoming ACT and SAT dates, including the registration deadlines. This covers the 2022-2023 school year, so we hope you find this helpful as you look ahead for possible testing dates that work for your student.

Fine Arts

Festival of Fine Arts

Come and celebrate Holland Christian High School’s Festival of Fine Arts! From student drawings and paintings to movie music, from choral anthems to the deep sounds of the tuba, prepare to enjoy a rich diversity of the arts. The fall choir concert is on Tuesday, November 1 at 7:30pm in the HS auditorium. The HS band and orchestra fall pops concert is on Thursday, November 3 at 7:30pm, also in the auditorium. The fall art exhibition will be on display in Main Street November 1-3. Come eat cookies, listen to music, and soak in the art!

Swingin’ The Night Away

The Holland Christian Jazz Bands and the Old Timer’s Jazz Band are proud to present Swingin’ the Night Away in the HCHS Cafeteria on Friday, November 4 from 6:45-9pm. Admission is $5 and goes to support the music program at HCHS. New to swing dancing? No worries! Dance instructors will be on hand from 6:45-7:30pm to teach us the basics steps of swing, so the evening can be enjoyed by novice and experienced dancers alike. Not in the mood for dancing? Come socialize, indulge in some delicious desserts and punch, and enjoy the music of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and more.

Matilda: High School Musical Performance

HCHS’s Theatre Department is proud to present Matilda for the fall musical this year! Based on the book by Roald Dahl, Matilda is the inspiring story of a girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, psychokinetic powers, and an extraordinary imagination who dreams of a better life. You won’t want to miss this incredibly fun musical. Performances are November 17-19 at 7pm. Due to licensing restrictions ,we are unable to livestream this Fall’s production, but you can get your in-person tickets on the Theatre page beginning October 17.

Important Dates

Holland Christian Schools 2022-2023 calendar

October

• 6: Parent/Teacher Conferences (5:30 – 8:30pm)
• 8: Tuition Grant Fund Auction
• 10: Picture Retakes
• 13: Parent/Teacher Conferences (3:30 – 6:30pm)
• 19: 1/2 Day,  Grandparents/Grandfriends Day
• 20 & 21: CEA Staff Development (No school)
• 20 & 21: All Tech Center students must attend Tech Center

November

• 4: Swingin’ the Night Away, 6:45pm
• 11: 1/2 day, Veteran’s Day assembly, 9am
• 17, 18, 19: Fall Musical Matilda
• 23, 24, 25: Thanksgiving vacation, no school