Welcome to the 23-24 school year!
We are so excited to partner with you as we begin another school year. Each year we strive to improve the middle school experience so each and every student flourishes. This year we will continue to work on improving our PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) framework. This has already had a positive impact on our school culture as students and staff know the expectations for behavior as we do life together at school. Additionally, we will look for ways to continue to add to our House System to improve our community (see paragraph and video below) and will continue to look for ways to integrate our faith into what we do both in and out of the class.
This year our school theme is “Faith Like a Child.” This theme is especially meaningful to me as my wife and I have entered the world of grandparenting. I currently have a grandson named Jenson who is 17 months old and a granddaughter named Eleanor who was born fewer than four weeks ago. When I hang out with my grandson, Jenson, I can see that he trusts and depends on me as he asks for things. One thing he does is ask for more food. He trusts and depends on me to give him healthy food. We are called to have that kind of dependence and trust in God. In Mark 10 Jesus commands us to receive the kingdom of God like a little child if we want to enter it.
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them
Before each meal Jenson immediately folds his hands to pray. In fact if we get up in the middle of the meal to get something he has us pray again. May we all pray continually this year.
As we begin a new school year I pray that we each have the faith of a child! Maybe we can even learn about the faith of a child as we hang out with our children (or grandchildren).
God bless!
Tom Strikwerda
Principal
23-24 Information
Food Services
Per state law, all private schools are not included in the “Free Meals for All” program that you may have heard about in the news. Families may still apply for lunch benefits on the Holland Christian Family Portal. If your students qualified for Free or Reduced benefits last year, those benefits carryover through September 30. Please apply for Free and Reduced benefits as soon as possible.
Family portal accounts will be ready to receive deposits on Monday, August 14. If you do NOT have a family portal account set up, you will need your student’s ID number. Please email slambers@hollandchristian.org for your student ID number. There is no fee to deposit money into your child’s account with a debit or credit card.
23-24 meal prices are the same as last year:
- Elementary: $2.75
- Middle School: $3.00
- High School Lunch $3.25
- Milk Ala Carte $0.50
- Free and Reduced Meals $0.00
House System
HCMS implemented our house system two years ago, and you may have heard of our four houses: Dunes, Lake, Lighthouse, and Windmill. These houses create an inter-grade community, some healthy competition, and partners with our PBIS system. Through recognizing positive behavior in our community, students can get a point for recognized positive behavior. That point is applied to their house’s overall points. Take a look at this short video to get a flavor for our House System.
First Day/Week of School Information
Orientation day is Monday, August 21 at the middle school from 1-4pm. Come have your picture taken for your student ID, walk around the building and find your locker, pick up your schedule, and meet your teachers. You can also turn in any completed physical forms during this time. If you would like to order photos, go to this website and enter your name and email address. Please note, the Middle School yearbook is included in the yearly activity fee and does not need to be ordered separately. Each student will receive one at the end of the school year.
- Our student schedules will be given to students on Orientation day, August 21. They will be available online August 11.
- Before August 22 please read and fill out our Check In and 1:1 Laptop Document that contains information about technology policies and agreements, concussion awareness, field trip permissions, and more.
- Tuesday, August 22: We start school this year with a full day starting at 8:00 am and ending at 2:55 PM. Our first day of school will be a Monday/Thursday/Friday schedule day each day.
- Picture make-up day (if students miss Orientation Day) will be Thursday, September 7; retakes and BOC pictures will be taken Monday, October 9.
- Supply List: You can find the supply list for your student’s grade here. Please note: it is recommended that students have an NIV Study Bible for their Bible class.
Immunizations
Please contact your health provider to be sure your student’s immunizations are up to date. All students’ immunizations must be up to date before the first day of school. In compliance with the Michigan Department of Health, Holland Christian Schools will not allow students whose immunizations are not up to date to attend school. Thank you so much for your help with this. Again this year, as per the Public Health Code, each student must have a copy of their most current immunization record and/or copy of their current waiver in their student file for as long as they are enrolled in school. You may email a copy to ms@hollandchristian.org. 7th grade students must turn in an official immunization record and/or updated waiver before the first day of school. If you are new to the district, regardless of grade, you will also need to provide this proof of immunization or record of waiver. Waivers must be original documents, not photocopies
Class Schedules
The Middle School runs a modified block schedule. This means students take seven classes on Monday/Thursday/Friday, and fewer classes on Tuesday/Wednesday, but for longer blocks of time. What used to be called “Achievement hour” will now be called “Homeroom.” All of our grade level daily schedules are available here.
Late Start Wednesdays
Students start school a few minutes later each Wednesday so middle school staff can attend meetings from 7:30-8:15 am. Starting on August 30, the start time on Wednesdays is 8:30am (no late start the first week of school; class will begin at 8am all week).
Medications
We realize some students need to take or have medication with them at school. All medication, both over-the-counter and prescribed, must be held in the front office in its original container. If your student needs medication at school, please have your doctor fill out and sign the required form and bring that form with the medication to school.
MS Handbook
Please take a look at our Handbook for middle school policies and expectations. We have updated our handbook to outline PBIS information, as well as attendance clarifications. Changes made are highlighted in our handbook.
Drop Off/Pick Up
- Carpool will take place on the north side of the building. In the single-lane carpool drop-off, pull up as far as you can to drop off your child. If you are first in line, pull up to the orange cone that is past the north entrance on the sidewalk. This allows room for the cars behind you to pull up as well. Have your students exit the right side of the vehicle.
- The bus loop at the front of school is not open for drop off during the hours of 7:30-8:15am and 2:45-3:15pm. School doors will be open at 7:30am for students’ arrival and students need to be picked up by 3:30pm.
- Drop-off/Pick-up Map
Athletics
- MS sports begin on August 21 at 3 pm for Boys Football (HC/ZC – 7th/8th), Boys Soccer (HC only – 7th/8th), Boys Tennis (HC/ZC – 6th/7th/8th), Girls Volleyball (HC only – 7th/8th) and Girls & Boys Cross Country (HC/ZC – 6th/7th/8th). Please see the linked sports post for information about fall sports and where the first practices are.
- Final Forms: If you haven’t registered yet, please do so as soon as possible through Holland Christian’s Final Forms athletic registration system. Athletes need to be registered with a cleared physical uploaded to Final Forms before they can participate. We are excited to get started!
- Eventlink Athletic Scheduling and Ticketing: Most families are now familiar with Holland Christian’s athletic registration and compliance system, FinalForms. Recently we began a new relationship with a scheduling and ticketing platform called Eventlink. Like FinalForms, Eventlink streamlines many of the behind-the-scenes processes for us including team practice & game calendars and game tickets & season passes. If any of your 6th-12th grade children are involved in athletics, please take a few minutes to begin connecting with Eventlink here.
Registration, Schedules & Tickets/Passes:
For information on getting registered, how to find schedules and where to purchase tickets/passes, please start with this post.
Sports Parent Night: August 15
All parents of athletes are invited to our annual sports parents night on August 15 at 7pm in the high school auditorium. Additional information can be found on the linked post.
Parent Board
Hey Parents! Want to stay connected with what’s going on in the middle school?! Join our parent team! We will be meeting once a month on Friday’s at 8am, plus a social outing or two. The time commitment is flexible throughout the year with what works with your schedule, although we do hope to have most at each Friday meeting. Heading the team this year: Kate Holloway (kateholloway@verizon.net) and Jamie Isanhart (j.isanhart@yahoo.com). Contact one of us if you are interested in joining! We look forward to a great school year with planning fabulous activities for the kids and teachers!
HCMS Parent Night
Join us for our Middle School Parent Night, which will be held on August 30th from 6:30-8:00 pm. You’ll receive more information after the school year begins.
Moms In Prayer
Moms In Prayer is a great way to connect with other moms, pray for your child, and have an impact on the Middle School. Please join us on Fridays, starting September 8th, at Providence Church from 8:30-9:30 am. Contact Nicole Shook with questions at ncshook@gmail.com.
Batons
Please make sure you bring your baton to your first hour teacher on Orientation Day or the first day of school. Thanks!
Hot Lunch
The August Hot Lunch Menu can be found here.
Important Dates
The full 23-24 school calendar is available here
August
- 21: Orientation/picture day 1-4pm; first day of athletics
- 22: First day of school, full day
- 23: No late start
- 28: 8th grade Camp Roger (more information to come); 7th grade vision screening
- 30: HCMS Parent Night 6:30-8 PM @ HCMS
September
- 1: No school: Labor Day weekend
- 4: Labor Day
- 7: Picture make-up day
- 27: Walkathon
October
- 5: Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences (3:30-6:30 pm)
- 9: Picture retakes
- 12: Fall parent teacher conferences (5:30-8:30pm)
- 18: ½ day CEA Convention
- 19/20: No school, CEA Convention
- 27: End of Q1
