Middle School Newsletter: December 2022

Dear Parents,

Every Wednesday morning we are blessed to do chapel together. In a chapel we had a couple of weeks ago, Mrs. Short, our school counselor, reminded each of us that God places different callings in each of our lives. One calling that both our staff and you as parents have is to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6). Paul tells us how to do live out our calling in Ephesians 4: “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

May we each walk alongside each of your sons and daughters with these characteristics on display. As a middle school we continue to work at faith integration in our classes, having each staff person share their heart for Christ in the classroom, at chapel and in their devotional and prayer times with the students.

When my wife and I were raising our three kids we appreciated the partnership we had with Holland Christian. The best teachers exhibited the qualities of humility, gentleness, patience and most importantly LOVE. I also know my wife and I had our best parenting days when we used these qualities as a guide. As we enter the Christmas season, please take time to evaluate your calling of being a parent of a middle schooler and reflect on what you do well and what you can do to improve. A Study from Barna Research revealed households that ranked high in spiritual vibrancy—measured by spiritual practices, spiritual conversations and hospitality—were also homes that spent significant family time participating in everyday, secular activities. I recommend reading through this article as you reflect on how you can improve your spiritual conversations in your house: “7 Practical Ways to Spark Spiritual Conversations With Your Children”

One of our most important callings is raising the young. I pray that each of you, and each of us at the middle school, do that well.

God bless!

Tom Strikwerda

December at HCMS

Recess Attire

During the snowy, cold days of December-March, please supply your middle schoolers with the proper clothing as we will keep going outside for our 15-20 minute breaks, even if the tundra is frozen.

Giving

Thank you for contributing to our “Food Fight” food drive for Community Action House! Together, we collected 1,947 items that will be distributed to those in need in our community. Thank you for your servant hearts and generosity to this important cause!

Concerts

You are cordially invited to our Choir and Band & Orchestra Concerts. Band and Orchestra will be performing on Monday, December 5, and Choir will be performing on Thursday, December 8. See details below:

Band/Orchestra Concert:

The HC Band and Orchestra Christmas Concerts are on Monday, December 5 in the Holland Christian High School Auditorium. The 4th-6th graders are performing at 6pm and the 7th and 8th graders are performing at 7:30pm. All band and orchestra students should dress nicely for the concert, with a Christmas theme as much as possible (red and green). We will not be wearing our maroon polos, khaki pants, etc. for this concert due to a supply issue. Parents, please watch for a concert information sheet that will come out next week with call times and more detailed information.

Choir Concert:

The middle school choir concert is Thursday, December 8 at 7pm at the Holland Christian High School Auditorium. The grade level choirs for 6th, 7th and 8th will be performing, as well as our newly formed Select Choir. Repertoire includes holiday favorites, and other pieces from the fall, such as “You Will Be Found and Glorious.” We will also have a Carol Sing-Along featuring a brass group and vocal quartet featuring students from the High School Choir and Band Programs along with the Middle School students. We look forward to spreading holiday cheer as we celebrate the reason for the season at our Christmas concert!All choir students should dress nicely for the concert, with a Christmas theme as much as possible (red and green). We will not be wearing our maroon polos, khaki pants, etc. for this concert due to a supply issue. Select Choir students will wear the dress/vest/pants black shoes. Parents, please watch for a concert information sheet that will come out next week with call times and more detailed information.

2023 CHAMPS Coupon Sales

2023 CHAMPS Coupon books are now on sale! These sales provide excellent savings to our favorite local places, and important income for HCS and ZCS athletic programs. You are welcome to buy a coupon book from our HCMS office. Students who sell paper coupon books will receive 10% of the sale ($3.00 for each book sold). Students will collect money and bring it to the office, and we will send coupon books home to distribute. Let the office know if you have any questions!

From the Parent Board

We love our HCMS teachers and staff and want to shower them with gifts of appreciation during the Christmas season. Would you like to join us? We plan to present each teacher and staff member with a gift bag on behalf of all of our Middle School families. The Parent Team will create the care packages that will bless our teachers and staff. Here’s how to donate through December 1:

Cash donations: We will have a Christmas chest in the MS office to collect donations.
Venmo: Margaret Gorno @peggy_gh

Thanks for helping us show our appreciation and bless our Middle School family at Christmas time!