December 2024
Dear HCHS Families,
Welcome to December and to the Christmas season! As the son of two music teachers, the month of December was not a time to lay up our feet and sip on hot chocolate with small marshmallows floating on top while listening to Nat King Cole’s Christmas album in front of a crackling fire—this may or may not have been what I aspired to do all those years. Rather the Christmas season involved school rehearsals, running up and down the pews during my parent’s church rehearsals, and attending event after event while squeezing in basketball tournaments and practices during the week and weekends. Today does not feel too different. But despite the crammed schedule of concerts, athletic competitions, musicals, and church events, Christmas is still one of our favorite seasons of the year as we gather together with family and remember the amazing act of God’s over-pouring love for us through Jesus, our King.
Both this year’s theme of seeking first the Kingdom of God and the Christmas season have reminded me that we serve a God who deeply loves us and who desires for us to love him and our neighbors as ourselves. Currently, in my read-the-Bible-in-a-year plan, one of the sections that I am in is the book of Ezekiel. In chapter 34, Ezekiel shared God’s message of what leadership should look like in his Kingdom by addressing what the “shepherds of Israel” have not done:
Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. […] No one searched or looked for them.
In this challenging rebuke, we see a foretaste of how Jesus would lead as King and what God has intended for his people as his image-bearers since the beginning. Christmas serves as an important reminder of how God brought his Kingdom to bear through a gentle and lowly Shepherd born and placed on a manger, an eating trough for cattle, sheep, horses, or donkeys.
Recently, I heard a story about a tourist who was visiting an Amish town and asked one of the local men if he was a Christian. The Amish man responded, “You’ll have to ask my neighbor.” During this Christmas season, in the midst of the beautiful ceremonies and concerts, may we embrace the call to follow Jesus, the good Shepherd, by embodying the reality to our neighbors that “there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human experience over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry: Mine!”
With thanks,
Miles
General Information
Maroon & White Shop Open House
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, December 4 from 4:30pm – 8:00pm. You are invited to the Maroon and White Shop’s second annual Mocha & Merch Christmas Open House! Browse the store at HCHS while enjoying the provided refreshments, listening to Christmas music, and start your Christmas shopping! We will have the latest HC gear available, and the first 20 people to make a purchase will receive a complimentary gift! Each item bought directly supports the Special Olympics Unified Sports program at the high school. It’s an event you won’t want to miss! Follow us on Instagram to get the latest updates @maroonandwhiteshop.
Christmas Break
The High School office will be closed during the Christmas break from December 23-January 6. The administration office will be closed for the holidays from December 24-January 1 and will resume normal office hours on January 2.
25-26 Class Signup
Students will be signing up for their 25-26 classes beginning in late January. Students will receive information about course scheduling and registration for next year during Family Flex:
- Current juniors: Wednesday, January 22
- Current sophomores: Monday, January 27
- Current freshman: Wednesday, January 29
All parents are encouraged to discuss with students the opportunities that are available. Current students will submit their course selections online by February 14, 2025. Registration information will be updated on the Registrar page prior to January 22.
First Semester Exams
- Students are not required to be at school unless they have an exam.
- Students will not be allowed to take exams until all lunch detentions have been served, and will not receive credit for first semester courses until exams are taken.
- All lunch account negative balances must be paid before exams may be taken.
- All books must be returned and fines paid in the Media Center before exams may be taken.
- All students should check with the bus driver to find out the bus schedule for exam week.
Exam Schedule
- Tuesday, January 14, 2025
- 8:45-10:15am 1st-hour exam
- 10:30am-12:00pm 2nd-hour exam -Tech Center required. Students may leave 2nd hour exam when finished; Tech will be notified that you may be late.
- Wednesday, January 15
- 8:45-10:15am 3rd-hour exam
- 10:30am-12:00pm 4th-hour exam – Tech Center required
- Thursday, January 16
- 8:45-10:15am 5th-hour exam
- 10:30am-12:00pm 6th-hour exam – Tech Center required
- Friday, January 17
- 8:45-10:15am 7th-hour exam
- 10:30am-12:00pm Make-up slot – Tech Center required
Athletic Department
The 2025 CHAMPS Coupon Book is ready for purchase! View a sample of the 2025 CHAMPS Coupon book. In addition to the lakeshore coupons regularly found in the CHAMPS Coupon Book, there are regional and national discounts as well. Each purchased book comes with a free activation code for 12 months of mobile app coupons for the greater Holland area, as well as across the US based on your location. Earn at least your $30 purchase back in only a handful of uses with discounts found in the book and through the mobile app.
CHAMPS Coupon Books are available at Quality Car Wash locations, Russ’ Restaurant locations, Community Restaurant, school offices and Ditto. You can also purchase your CHAMPS Coupon Book through HCS or ZCS TRIP to receive 10% of the book’s cost back on your tuition. 2025 coupons are valid from when the book is purchased through December 31, 2025. The coupon book sale raises significant funds to directly benefit our middle school and high school student-athletes. Thank you for supporting athletics at both Holland Christian and Zeeland Christian Schools through the purchase of a 2025 CHAMPS Coupon Book!
Fine Arts
Christmas Concert
The High School Music Department invites you to its annual band, orchestra and choir Christmas concert Tuesday, December 17 in the Jack H. Miller Center for the Musical Arts, located on the campus of Hope College. We will be offering two performance times: 6pm and 7:45pm. General admission is free and no reservations are necessary. We look forward to sharing in the celebration of our Savior’s birth through our music!
Calvin Symposium Worship Service
The HCHS Symphonic Orchestra is excited to have been invited to help lead the opening worship service for the annual conference, the Calvin Symposium on Worship. This is a conference that gathers worshipers from across Canada, the United States, and around the world to learn about worship. The orchestra will take part in the Symposium worship service on Wednesday, February 5 at 1:00 p.m.
24-Hour Theater: Join the Madness!
You are invited to join our 2024 24-Hour Theater Event, where you will work in teams to write, cast, produce, and perform an original short play in only 24 hours! This chaotic and creative event culminates in a show where all of your friends and family can come see what you created. 24-Hour Theater runs from Friday, December 13-Saturday, December 14, with our final show at 7pm on Saturday night. No previous theater experience required! If you’ve ever wanted to do theater, but have always struggled to find the time, this is the event for you.
If you are interested in joining us, check out the 24 Hour Theatre sign-up link or email Mrs. Davis (jdavis@hollandchristian.org) for more details. We hope you’ll join us in December!
MIFA 2025: The Trojan Women
MIFA, our competitive theater season, is about to begin in early December. All students who are interested in being a part of the team, whether they have participated before or not, are strongly encouraged to come to a pre-season info meeting on Monday, December 2 from 3:30-4:30pm in the Lecture Hall to learn more information about the play, the season, and other important information, and fill out the audition form for The Trojan Women
Living Hope Showcase 2025: Music Through the Decades
SAVE THE DATE! Join the Living Hope Singers on a musical journey through the decades! Showcase 2025 will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 21 & 22 at 7pm in the HCHS Auditorium. Tickets will go on sale in February. Stay tuned for more information!
Counselors Corner
Careerline Tech Center
We will have representatives from the Careerline Tech Center presenting about what the Tech Center has to offer, should students be interested in attending the Tech Center beginning junior or senior year. All sophomores and any interested juniors will be able to attend this presentation during a Family Flex in January. More information, including the presentation date/time/location will be available in the announcements in January. There is also an open house at the Tech Center scheduled for February 4, 2025 from 5:30-7:30pm.
Junior + Parent Meetings
In mid-November, an email was sent to all parents of full-time juniors. This email included an invitation to sign up for a junior + parent meeting. Please follow the links in the email if this is of interest to you.
Testing Information
- All 11th grade students will take the SAT during the school day on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Students do not need to register for this test, and there is no cost for students.
- Upcoming SAT test dates are December 7, March 8, and May 3. HCHS is a testing site for the December and May dates. Register for the SAT.
- Upcoming ACT test dates are December 14, February 8, and April 5. HCHS is a testing site for the February date. Register for the ACT.
- Test Preparation: There are free resources for SAT test preparation. There are also free resources available for ACT test preparation.
Financial Aid
All students seeking financial aid (institution based, state & federal funds) must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online via the FAFSA Website. The FAFSA will be available for you to complete beginning in December. Be sure to check the financial aid link on each college website for specific information on their timelines. For helpful information on the FAFSA, check out this FAFSA Application guide.
The federal student aid estimator can provide you with an estimate of your Student Aid Index (SAI). This index is used by colleges to determine what types of student aid you may receive. Again, the financial aid office of the college(s) you are considering is a great place to start if you have specific FAFSA or financial aid questions.
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 scholarship opportunities. Beginning in January and early February, there will be information online about the Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland scholarships that are open to Holland Christian students, and also internal HC scholarships, which are for full-time Holland Christian students only.
Helpful Resource for Financing College
The MI Student Aid website has helpful information, links, and resources for students and families to use in navigating the college financial aid and scholarship landscape.
The Sallie Mae Paying for College Resource is a helpful destination to guide students and families make a plan to pay for college. The resource is free, easy to use, and includes great information on all the important paying-for-college topics.
College Athletics
If you are considering attending a NCAA Division I or II school, and you hope to compete in athletics, the NCAA Eligiblity Center is an important place to start. It is the responsibility of the student and parents to be familiar with eligibility requirements and course specifics.
If you are considering participating in athletics at the NAIA level, check out the NAIA eligibility center.
Important Dates
2024-25 Holland Christian Schools Calendar
December
- 13-14: 24 Hour Theatre
- 17: Christmas Concert, Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts, 6:00 & 7:45pm
- 21 – January 5: Christmas vacation
January
- 6: School resumes
- 14-17: Exams
- 20: No school, MLK Day
- 21: Second semester begins
