Dear Parents/Guardians-
At our school, Flourishing means helping students grow as whole people—heart, mind, soul, and strength—as Jesus calls us to do (Mark 12:30). Middle school is a key time for this growth, and when students flourish, JOY follows.
Heart: Learning empathy, kindness, and responsibility—encouraging peers, resolving conflicts, and taking ownership of choices.
Mind: Exploring God’s world through math, Science, English, and Social Studies—seeing that effort leads to growth.
Soul: Chapel, Bible, prayer, and discipleship practices remind students they are loved, created in God’s image, and called to live out their faith with joy.
Strength: Through PE, the arts, service, and daily responsibilities, students care for their bodies and use their gifts to serve others. Our recent band, orchestra, and choir concerts showed students using their talents with discipline, teamwork, and joy.
Flourishing also includes our partnership with you. We appreciate working together to help each student grow and serve—for middle school and for a lifetime.
When students grow in all these areas, flourishing leads to JOYFUL service—helping classmates, serving others, and blessing the world.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
— Mark 12:30
Wishing your family a Merry Christmas and a JOY-filled New Year!
Tom Strikwerda
HCMS Principal
January at HCMS
Thank You from the Staff:
Parents – thank you so much for showing such love and appreciation to our staff this Christmas. We appreciate all you do for us and for sharing your child(ren) with us each and every day. Thank you.
We’re Invited!
One of our local partners in education, Outdoor Discovery Center, is hosting a 4-part speaker series featuring nationally-renowned experts who will explore how technology is reshaping our lives. Please see the attached flyer to register for these free opportunities!
Front Office Communication Reminder:
Whenever a student is absent for any reason, whether for one period or a whole day, we need an email or a phone call to explain the reason for their absence. Parents can call 616-820-3205 or email ms@hollandchristian.org to report these absences. Students have many orthodontic appointments; a note from the orthodontic office is sufficient. Thank you so much for your help with this.
Carline Procedure Reminders:
All students need to be dropped off in our north lot between 7:30-7:57 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Wednesdays, students should be dropped off in the north lot 7:30-8:27. Carline has been clogging up the last 10 minutes of the morning. Please plan for the weather and potential backups, and if your child is going to be late for any reason, contact the office at 616-820-3205 or ms@hollandchristian.org to excuse them.
New Athletic Season Starts in January:
Our Winter II athletic season is scheduled to start on January 5. Please stay tuned for more information from coaches on practice times and locations. This includes 7th and 8th grade Girls Basketball and 6th-8th grade Boys Swimming and Diving. A bus will leave from the MS and take athletes to practice. If your student would like to participate, you can still sign them up via Final Forms. Please make sure they have a current physical on file before January 5.
8th Grade News:
High School Course Registration for incoming 9th graders is due February 13 at noon. Our registrar, Dan Vos, will be available at the middle school on February 2 during Homeroom to answer any questions students or parents may have. He can also be reached via email at dvos@hollandchristian.org
Important Dates
January
5- School Resumes
16 – End of Quarter 2/Semester 1
19- No School – MLK Day
20- Begin Semester 2/Quarter 3
26- HS Showcase 6:00 PM @ HCHS
February
6- Ski Club
13- No School: Day- Professional Learning
16 – No School
20- Ski Club
-Science Club 3:00-4:00
26 – Parent Teacher Conferences 5:30-8:30 PM
March
5 – Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30-6:30 PM
– The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe 7:00 @ HCMS
6 – The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe 7:00 @ HCMS
– Ski Club
7- The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe 2:00 and 7:00 @ HCMS
17- Band Extravaganza 7:00 @ West Ottawa Performing Arts Center
19- PSAT for 8th Graders- this is a ½ day for 8th Graders only
20- End of Q3
– Swingin’ the Night Away @ 6:45 HCHS
23- Begin Q4
27- Science Club 3:00-4:00