Dear HCHS Families,
It is hard to believe October is already here! The first weeks of school have flown by, and as I look back on September, I am grateful for the many moments of joy, community, and God’s faithfulness we have already experienced together.
What an amazing September at HCHS! As we focused on our discipleship practice of being God Glorifying, we had so many opportunities to see God at work in our students and our community.
Homecoming week was certainly a highlight! The competitive spirit was strong and full of fun during our House Olympics. Whether students were riding a mattress across the gym, pulling with all their strength in tug-of-war, or cheering until their voices were hoarse, you could feel the joy! Our teachers and staff joined in too—refereeing, cheering, and showing plenty of school spirit! Congratulations to the Red House for taking home this year’s House Cup! The Cup will be up for grabs again next year, so Houses—get ready!
The week was about more than just fun. Together, we raised funds for Benjamin’s Hope and were blessed to welcome their participants to chapel, along with Program Director Mr. Joel Meyer, a former ZCS teacher who holds a special place for many of our students. Worship Night was especially beautiful, with more than 150 students gathered in a circle on the stage, worshiping together for over an hour. It was a truly Spirit-filled evening and a powerful picture of our students glorifying God together.
Friday night brought more than 3,500 people together for our community celebration, and we finished the week with a dance our students thoroughly enjoyed. A huge thank you to Mr. Koeman and the Homecoming Committee for the time, energy, and creativity they poured into making ALL of these events so enjoyable!
As we move into October, our discipleship focus shifts to being Word Rooted—encouraging our students to know God’s Word, be shaped by it, and allow it to guide how they live each day. We look forward to seeing how God continues to work in and through our students!
Finally, Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up on October 1 and 8. These evenings are a valuable opportunity not only to hear how your student is doing, but also to get to know their teachers a little better and to share what you know about your student.
We value the partnership between home and school and look forward to connecting with you!
Deb Feenstra, Principal
“His Love Endures Forever”
Psalm 136
General Information
Urgent reminder: Senior Pictures!
Senior pictures are due Tuesday, September 29. Please email any senior photos to footprints@hollandchristian.org. If you 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 1 from 5:30-8:30pm and Thursday, October 8 from 3:30-6:30pm. You should have received an email with instructions on how to register for conferences starting on September 22, 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 Tuesday, October 12. 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
Announcements are also posted daily on the 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 mailto:kfowler@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
Please be mindful of negative balances on your hot lunch account. We no longer allow students to purchase any ala carte items, (including an extra slice of pizza) if their balance is negative. Students may pay for ala carte items with cash or make a deposit at Family Portal We appreciate you keeping your balances in the positive!
Questions? Please email Sue Lambers
Parent University 2.0: Forming Our Kids For A Life Of Joy Rooted In Christ
What if raising happy kids isn’t about making childhood easier but making it formative?
Join us for an engaging evening inspired by The Happiness Crisis, by Jonathan Eckert, as we explore how adversity, belonging, curiosity, responsibility, and real-world experiences help form resilient, joyful, faithful kids.
We’ll laugh, reflect, wrestle with real parenting scenarios, and leave with one simple commitment to bring home.
Not simply happy children.
Joyful, resilient, Christ-centered adults.
Come discover a childhood worth having and how we can build it together.
ditto Upscale Resale
Are you looking for part-time work? Would you like to join a team that has a mission for lowering tuition for Holland Christian and Zeeland Christian students and serving our community? ditto is hiring! We are looking for a part-time Store Manager to work 2 full days, including evenings and rotating weekends. This is a flexible position! Please send your resume or interest to info@dittoresale.com for further information and a detailed job description.
Athletics Department
Winter Sports Tryouts
- Boys Basketball: Nov 11
- Girls Basketball: Nov 18
- Competitive Cheer: Nov 9 (Co-op with West Ottawa)
- Boys Hockey: Oct 26 (Co-op with West Ottawa)
- Boys Aquatics: Nov 23
Scheduling/cancellations and game information can be found on the Athletics website.
Physicals
All athletes need an approved pre-participation physical form dated after 4/15/2026 uploaded to their Final Forms account 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 each senior to make sure they have what they need to make decisions regarding next steps after high school. We are encouraging college-bound seniors to get their applications submitted by early November to have the best opportunities for scholarships and 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, is updated as we receive notices of scholarships. The Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland has a variety of scholarship opportunities for HC students. The CFHZ scholarship application opens in early December. Internal HC scholarships for full-time HC students are also available, and will be shared with students in late January. Check the Scholarship portion of the Counseling Page for more information.
College Visits, Fairs & Activities
The counseling department website has a complete listing of colleges visiting HCHS. College representative visits are also listed in the daily announcements.
Meeting with Juniors
We will be meeting with all juniors to talk about steps to take to prepare for both senior year and life after high school. We will also be offering the opportunity for parents to join with their student and his/her counselor for a junior + parent check-in meeting. Some of the information covered in the junior + parent meeting includes taking the ACT/SAT, preparing for senior year, and discussing future plans. Since this is an important and transitional time in your student’s life and you may have questions, too, we want to provide the option for parents to sit in on this meeting. Watch for more information to come about these meetings.
Testing Information
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Testing Information
- Upcoming SAT test dates are October 3, November 7 & December 5. HCHS is a testing site for these dates. To register for the SAT.
- Upcoming ACT dates and test sites can be found on ACT website. Holland Christian is not a testing site for the ACT this year.
- Test Preparation: There are free resources for SAT test preparation. There are also free resources available for ACT test preparation.
- PSAT: This test is a precursor to the SAT. It provides excellent practice for subsequent standardized tests and can provide valuable test preparation feedback and tools. The junior year is the only year a score is considered for the National Merit Scholarship consideration.
AP exam registration and payment is open on Oct 5 at 8:00am. Follow the two-step process below, be sure to complete both steps to register to take an AP test:
Step 1: Register and pay for the test through Total Registration.
Step 2: Join “AP Classroom” using the Join Code(s) shared at the end of registration. This indicates to the College Board your interest in taking the AP test. (Many students have already done this with their teacher in class.)
Complete both steps by Friday, Nov 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM and the cost of each exam is $105, which can be paid online or by check. After Nov 6, there is an additional $45 late fee for each exam. March 5, 2027 is the last day to order exams. If you have questions contact Alison Silva, asilva@hollandchristian.org, in the High School Office.
Fine Arts
Festival of Fine Arts
Celebrate Holland Christian High School’s Festival of Fine Arts! From student drawings and paintings to movie music, choral anthems, and the deep sounds of the tuba, prepare to enjoy a rich diversity of the arts:
- HS Choir Concert: Thursday, October 28 at 7:30pm in the HS Auditorium
- HS Bands & Orchestra Concert: Tuesday, November 3 at 7:30pm in the HS Auditorium
- Swingin’ the Night Away: Friday, November 13, 6:45-9pm in the HCHS cafeteria
- The Fall Art Exhibition will be on the gallery wall (along the ramp) on Main Street October 30 – November 6.
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 Friday, November 13, from 6:45 – 9pm. Admission is $5, to support the HCHS music program. Dance (or not), socialize, eat desserts, and enjoy the music of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and more!
Fall Musical: Frozen!
This Fall, we are proud to present Disney’s Frozen!
In the beautiful mountainous kingdom of Arendelle, Princesses Anna and Elsa grow up sheltered inside their castle, isolated from the world and increasingly distant from each other. When Elsa is crowned queen, the magical powers she’s desperately tried to conceal from her sister take control, and she flees into the mountains. As a ferocious winter descends on Arendelle, Anna sets off on an epic journey to find Elsa and bring her home – with the help of hardworking ice harvester Kristoff, his loyal reindeer Sven, and a happy-go-lucky snowman named Olaf. Full of magic, humor, and a stunning musical score, Frozen is a powerful tale of sisterhood, acceptance, and finding the real meaning of true love. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, October 19 on hcs.ludus.com.
PERFORMANCES: November 19, 20, and 21 @ 7pm, and an afternoon matinee at 2pm on November 19.
Important Dates
Holland Christian Schools 2026-27 Calendar
October
- 1: Parent/Teacher conferences (5:30-8:30pm)
- 8: Parent/Teacher conferences (3:30-6:30pm)
- 12: Picture retakes at HS
- 14: No school: staff development
- 15 & 16: No school, Great Lakes Unity Conference, staff development
- 14 – 16: All Tech Center students must attend Tech Center
- 28: High School Choir Concert, 7:30 pm
November
- 3: High School Bands & Orchestra Concert, 7:30pm
- 11: Veteran’s Day assembly, 9:30am
- 13: Swingin’ The Night Away, 6:45pm
- 19, 20, 21: Fall Musical, Frozen!
- 25, 26, 27: Thanksgiving vacation, No school
