High School Newsletter – October 2023

Dear HCHS Family, 

Earlier this year, our high school staff had the opportunity to hear from our Senior Capstone Discipleship teacher, Mr. Vander Laan (more commonly known as RVL), for our first morning devotion time together. He started by telling us a story of an architect who was chosen by a king to design the nation’s cathedral. With feelings of great thanks, the architect set out to search for craftsmen who could accomplish the grand task and capture the vision of what this cathedral could be. 

He came upon a person who was cleaning a window in one of the capital’s largest churches and asked him, “What are you doing?”

The man responded, “I’m cleaning the floor. What does it look like I’m doing?” 

Unimpressed, the architect moved on, and walked up to another person who was laying brick and asked him, “What are you doing?” 

The man gave him a side glance and retorted, “I’m laying brick.” The architect kindly smiled and decided to find another place to search for craftsmen. He had heard of a church that was far from the city, off the beaten path, and traveled to a small, old stone cathedral. Inside, he encountered the cathedral’s caretaker, who was slowly mopping a small portion of the expansive floor. 

The architect went to the caretaker and asked, “What are you doing?”

The caretaker stopped what he was doing, looked at the architect’s face, and said with a smile, “I’m preparing God’s house for his people to worship him in it.”

As we complete the first month of the school year, we can easily forget what we’re doing whether we’re grading an assignment, writing a paper, doing a push-up, cooking a meal, doing the laundry, or welding a pipe. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he captures the architect’s message pretty clearly: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (3:23). “Whatever you do” is a pretty all-encompassing label to place on the things that we do while living life together as apprentices to Jesus, and what a great privilege it is to be able to participate in God’s kingdom wherever He plants us.

One person whom I’ve grown to deeply admire for his long obedience in the direction of Jesus is Dr. Dallas Willard. Dr. Willard at the very end of his life on earth resolutely kept to this task:  “To reinvigorate the conversation about the ways and means of the Kingdom of God, which will cascade over the walls of our Christian institutions to inform both Christians and non-Christians alike as to the beneficial effects and wonder-working power of God’s love and goodness in every area of human existence. […] The Kingdom of God is as big as the range of God’s omnipotent will.” (The Divine Conspiracy Continued: Fulfilling God’s Kingdom on Earth, p. 7)

As we seek to equip minds through our rigorous academics and nurture hearts through our common love for God and neighbor, may we keep in sight the transformative power of following Jesus together that brings His Kingdom to bear in Holland as it is in heaven.

With thanksgiving,

Miles

General Information

Urgent reminder: Senior Pictures!

Senior pictures were due September 23. Please email any late senior photos asap to footprints@hollandchristian.org. If you still have questions view the Senior picture guidelines & FAQs.

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 5 from 5:30-8:30pm and Thursday, October 12 from 3:30-6:30pm. You should have received an email with instructions on how to register for conferences starting on September 25, 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.

Picture Retakes

Picture retakes are Friday, October 13. If you have not taken a photo yet, please plan to do so. 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’s 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 linked to the HC website.

Attendance Reminder

All students need to sign in or out at the office when coming and going throughout the school day. Parents should notify the office ahead of time by phone at 616.820.2905, email kvaneerden@hollandchristian.org, or send a parent-written or doctor’s note upon arrival. Thank you for helping to keep all of our students safe and accounted for during our school day!

Food Services

Athletics Department

Winter Sports Tryouts

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

Physicals

All athletes need an approved pre-participation physical form dated after 4/15/2023 on file in the Athletic Office and a 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 28 and December 9, 2023, and also February 10,2024 and April 13, 2024. Currently, HCHS will be 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.
• The SAT will be offered on Saturdays in October, November, December, March, May and June. HCHS is a testing site for the October 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 23-24 school year, so we hope you find this helpful as you look ahead for possible testing dates that work for your student.
• Students currently enrolled in AP courses who wish to take AP Exams: This year AP exam registration and payment will be done in the fall by Nov. 12, 2023. It is a two-step process, so be sure to complete both steps to register to take an AP test: Step 1: Register and pay for the test through Total Registration online at www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/231965. Step 2: Join your teacher’s AP Classroom and indicate you are interested in taking the AP test (many students have already done this with their teacher in class). Both steps need to be completed by Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, at 11:59pm. The cost of each AP exam is $105. It can be paid online or through a check. If you have questions contact Alison Silva, asilva@hollandchristian.org, in the High School office.

Fine Arts

Festival of Fine Arts

The Sound of Music High School Musical Performance

This fall, Holland Christian Theater is producing one of the most beloved musicals of all time: The Sound of Music! In Austria, 1938, an exuberant young governess brings music and joy back to a broken family. But as the Nazi forces take hold of Austria, Maria and the entire von Trapp family must decide between keeping their new family safe, or making a courageous and extremely dangerous stand for their beliefs. Shows will be held at 7pm on November 16, 17, and 18, with an additional matinee performance at 2pm on November 18.

Important Dates

Holland Christian Schools 23-24 calendar

October

• 5: Parent/Teacher Conferences (5:30-8:30pm)
• 12: Parent/Teacher Conferences (3:30-6:30pm)
• 13: Picture Retakes
• 14: Tuition Grant Fund Auction
• 18: 1/2 Day, CEA Convention
• 19 & 20: CEA Staff Development (No school)
• 19 & 20: All Tech Center students must attend Tech Center

November

• 1: High School Choir Concert, 7:30pm
• 2: High School Band & Orchestra Concert, 7:30pm
• 3: Swinging The Night Away, 6:45pm
• 10: Veteran’s Day assembly, 8:45am
• 16, 17, 18: Fall Musical, The Sound of Music
• 22, 23, 24: Thanksgiving vacation, No school