Greetings Parents,
I hope each of you are enjoying special moments with your family during our Christmas break. This season is a time to celebrate the most incredible gift of all — the birth of Jesus — and to find much needed rest from our regular routines. Personally, I feel especially blessed to have our family together during this break. With two of our daughters living out of state, it’s a wonderful opportunity to share life together for a short time with our children and grandchildren.
As we gather, we’re reminded of the amazing birth of Jesus. Galatians 4:4-5 says:
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”
This verse reveals the incredible truth that God became flesh. Jesus left heaven to live among us, and through His life, death, and resurrection, He redeemed us. His sacrifice is the ultimate gift, offering eternal hope and salvation. My prayer is that each of us will live out this truth and share God’s love with others in our daily lives.
One moment that deeply touched my heart this season came from my 2-year-old grandson, Jenson. While we were sitting at the lunch table, he suddenly asked, “Can we sing ‘Jesus Loves Me’?” So, we paused our meal and sang together. It was a heartwarming moment that reminded me of the childlike faith we’re called to have. May we all pause more often to sing God’s praises, just like Jenson.
When we return to school, one of the things I’m most looking forward to is singing “The Blessing” at the end of each chapel. Students and staff join together, hands open in a posture of surrender, as they sing these powerful words:
The Lord bless you and keep you
Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you
And give you peace
My hope is that this blessing will be true for you and your family as we step into 2025.
Wishing you a joyful and peace-filled New Year,
Tom Strikwerda
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.
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:
Parents or older siblings who drop off or pick up students at the middle school are required to use the carline lot on the North side of the building near the gym. The front loop is for buses only, and the staff/visitor lot is not for drop-offs or pick-ups, even when you are running late. We ask that all drop-off/pick-ups respect these rules. Thank you for your consideration of things running safely and smoothly here.
New Athletic Season Starts in January:
Our Winter II athletic season is scheduled to start on January 6. Please stay tuned for more information from coaches on practice times and locations. This includes 7th and 8th grade Girls Basketball and 6th, 7th, and 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 6.
Semester Date Change:
Due to logistics in planning and teaching, the middle school will be adjusting the end of Semester 1 and beginning of Semester 2 to the following dates:
End of Semester 1: January 17
Beginning of Semester 2: January 21
8th Grade News:
With the school year almost half complete already, 8th graders are beginning to prepare for high school. There are two dates to pay attention to:
- January 27 is the High School Showcase. Doors open at 6:30 and the evening begins at 7:00. This is a time for 8th graders and their parents to explore the high school and hear of the class offerings available. Please RSVP here if you are planning to attend. Feel free to invite any incoming 9th grader who may be interested in HC to attend this event as well!
- High School Course Registration for incoming 9th graders is due February 14. Our registrar, Dan Vos, will be available at the middle school on February 5 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
6- School Resumes
17 – End of Quarter 2/Semester 1
20- No School – MLK Day
21- Begin Semester 2/Quarter 3
27- HS Showcase 6:30 PM @ HCHS
February
14- No School: Day- Professional Learning
17 – No School
27 – Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30-6:30 PM
27 & 28 – MS Play 7:00 @ HCHS
March
1- MS Play @ HCHS 2:00 and 7:00
6 – Parent Teacher Conferences 5:30-8:30 PM
7 – Swingin’ the Night Away @ HCHS
19- Band Extravaganza 7:00
20- PSAT for 8th Graders- this is a ½ day for 8th Graders only
21- End of Q3
24- Begin Q4
