Dear HCHS Families,
Welcome to December and to the Christmas season as our community moves toward Bethlehem even while schedules speed up. Concert rehearsals, games at the Civic Center, semester projects, and finals can stack quickly, yet Advent reminds us that the center of this season is not hurry but hope in the extraordinary love of God embodied in the life of Jesus.
As we enter into this season of Advent, one of Holland Christian’s cultural values, discernment, helps provide an important frame for how followers of Jesus are to engage God’s world. At HCHS, discernment means seeking God’s truth, practicing curiosity, courage, and conviction as we wrestle with culture. Students are growing up in a world that offers many voices about what matters, what is true, and who they should become, and our hope and desire is that students listen first to Jesus as they engage these challenging questions.
When I became a follower of Jesus in high school, I remember reading through the New Testament for the first time and being struck by Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). There were a few parts that were confusing and required guidance from pastors, but much of it was so counter-cultural, that I did not think Jesus’ expectations were realistic:
- “Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment” (Matt 5:22)
- “Do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.” (Matt 5: 39-40).
- “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt 5:44).
- “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them” (Matt 6:1)
- “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or your body, what you will wear” (Matt. 6: 25).
- “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matt. 6:19).
These are only a few of the words Jesus instructed his disciples to “put into practice” as they engaged God’s world, and my first impulse was to say, “But what about [fill in with a scenario that justifies my actions if they only slightly clash with the teachings of Jesus].” Dietrich Bonhoeffer said this about the Sermon on the Mount in his text, The Cost of Discipleship:
“Humanly speaking, we could understand and interpret the Sermon on the Mount in a thousand different ways. Jesus knows only one possibility: simple surrender and obedience, not interpreting it or applying it, but doing and obeying it. […] He does not mean that it is to be discussed as an ideal; he really means us to get on with it.”
This year I have been greatly encouraged by so many of our students’ desire to grow in discernment and put Jesus’ teachings into practice. We have record numbers of students attending Public Reading of Scripture sessions at the high school and middle school, and also for our Just Show Up book clubs on Tim Keller’s book, Forgive. Our fantastic and wise teachers are guiding our students with not only academically rigorous lessons but also real-life challenges that spur students to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God” (Micah 6:8). And our co-curricular programs are explicitly guiding our students to direct their talents towards glorifying God and not themselves. While there are always more opportunities for growth in several areas of our life together, there is so much to be thankful for as we step into this season of remembering the life and teachings of Jesus. Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we continue our mission to equip minds and nurture hearts to transform the world for Jesus Christ.
With thanks,
Miles Colago
HS Principal
General Information
Student Life and Discipleship
As a school district, each campus has established a Student Life and Discipleship team that focuses on continuous improvement in how we do life together as a Christian school community. Within this subsection of our newsletters, you will see a few updates each month regarding potential updates regarding student life initiatives, like building positive reinforcement systems, and reminders concerning typical behavioral expectations. This team will also serve as a resource for providing strategies on the home front related to the latest research on the challenges young adults are facing today. Thank you, as always, for your partnership in forming the next generation of resilient followers of Jesus who are equipped to serve God and their neighbors better each day.
Maroon & White Shop Open House
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, December 3, 3pm – 8pm. You are invited to the Maroon and White Shop’s Christmas Open House! Browse the store at HCHS while listening to Christmas music and start your Christmas shopping! Each item bought directly supports the Special Olympics Unified Sports program at HCHS. Follow us on Instagram @maroonandwhiteshop to get the latest updates.
Christmas Break
The High School office will be closed during the Christmas break from December 22 – January 5. The administration office will be closed for the holidays from December 24-January 1 and will resume normal office hours on January 2.
26-27 Class Signup
Students will be signing up for their 26-27 classes beginning in late January. Students will receive information about course scheduling and registration for next year during Family Flex:
- Current juniors: Wednesday, January 21
- Current sophomores: Monday, January 26
- Current freshman: Wednesday, January 28
All parents are encouraged to discuss with students the opportunities that are available. Current students will submit their course selections online by February 13, 2026. Registration information will be updated on the Registrar page prior to January 21.
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 13, 2026
- 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 14
- 8:45-10:15am 3rd-hour exam
- 10:30am-12:00pm 4th-hour exam: Tech Center required
- Thursday, January 15
- 8:45-10:15am 5th-hour exam
- 10:30am-12:00pm 6th-hour exam: Tech Center required
- Friday, January 16
- 8:45-10:15am 7th-hour exam
- 10:30am-12:00pm Make-up slot: Tech Center required
Athletic Department
Champs Coupon Books
The 2026 Champs coupon book is now available, with coupons ready to use from when the book is purchased through December 31, 2026. In addition to the local restaurant, retail and recreation savings opportunities, there are also coupons for regional and national businesses in the greater Holland area. Each book comes with a free code for mobile app discounts across the country based on your location, including West Michigan. Pick up your CHAMPS coupon book at any HC or ZCS school office, Russ’, Quality Car Wash, or HC TRIP table.
Winter Athletic Spirit Shops
At the beginning of each season, Holland Christian offers team shops for sport specific apparel. Aquatics, basketball and general Maroons apparel are available now through December 17. Orders are shipped to home 1-2 days from the time of your order, meaning you will receive your order much faster than in the past! Take a look at our three winter shops at our spirit shop here.
Fine Arts
Christmas Concert
The High School Music Department invites you to its annual band, orchestra and choir Christmas concert Tuesday, December 16 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!
24-Hour Theater: Join the Madness!
You are invited to join our 2025 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 12-Saturday, December 13, 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 2026: MORIARTY
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 1 from 3:30-4:30 in the Lecture Hall to learn more about the play, the season, and other important information. The audition form for Moriarty can be found here.
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 3, 2026 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
- Upcoming ACT test dates are December 13, February 14 and April 11. Register for the ACT.
- Upcoming SAT test dates are December 6 and May 2. HCHS is a testing site for these dates. Register for the SAT.
- All 11th grade students will take the SAT during the school day on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Students do not need to register for this test, and there is no cost for students.
- 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. 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. On December 1, the application for Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland scholarships opens. Community Foundation scholarship applications must be submitted by February 1. More information and application links for internal HC scholarships, which are for full-time Holland Christian students only, will be available in late January or early February.
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
2025-26 Holland Christian Schools Calendar
December
- 12-13: 24 Hour Theatre
- 16: High School Christmas concert, 6:00 & 7:45pm
- 22: Christmas break begins
January
- 5: School resumes
- 13-16: Exams
- 19: No school, MLK Day
- 20: Second semester begins