Maroon Messenger: August 2019

Dear Parents and Students:

It is with great excitement that I write this letter to welcome you to the 2019-2020 school year!  If you are returning to HCHS, welcome back! If you are a new family to HCHS we welcome you to our school family, and we pray that you find this to be a place where you can grow into the person that God has uniquely created you to be.

Staff has been working hard over the summer to get things ready for the start of school.  All staff members have been busy preparing for a new year but there is one group that I want to give a special shout out to, and that is our cleaning and maintenance crew.  Their work has included scrubbing every chair, table, counter, sink, locker, floor, wall and door in the building (and we have several!) to moving, painting, repairing and servicing anything that needed attention and all the while doing it with a smile. They have been a living example of Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,” (NIV).  Our school looks amazing and I can not thank them enough for all they have done!

As we ended last year we said goodbye to our Assistant Principal, Mr. Meckes and we wish him well as he begins his new role as Principal of South Christian.  I am excited to share with you that Mr. Jeff Keen will be joining HCHS as our new Assistant Principal this year! We truly believe that Jeff is the person that God has prepared and brought to This place at This time to fill This role and we are thankful!

We would also like to welcome the following new faculty for the 2019-2020:

Mr. Evan Dieleman – Math
Mrs. Noelle Solis – Spanish Immersion
Mr. Lito Wagenveld – World Languages-Spanish
Mr. Michael Winowiecki – Social Studies
Mrs. Sara Christner – Counselor
Mrs. Kristen Travers – School Social Worker

Through the interview process it became very clear that each of these talented educators felt a special call to serve at HCHS and for that we are grateful.

It is my prayer that EACH person that walks through the doors of our school finds a place where they are truly valued for the unique gifts they have to offer and accepted for the person God has created them to be. I pray that through our actions and our words we become a Living Testimony of what it means to live in community as followers of Jesus Christ.

If there is anything I can do to support you along this journey please do not hesitate to ask.  My door is always open!

In His Service,

Deb Feenstra, Principal

2019-20 Information

Check In/Picture Day

Check in day is Monday, August 19 and will take place on Main Street from 11:30 am to 3 pm. This is a chance for you to have your picture taken for your student ID, walk around the building and find your locker, purchase a sports pass (optional), deposit money into your hot lunch account, check out the HC gear at the Maroon and White shop, and pick up a parking permit (if driving). Returning 10th – 12th grade students, you will not get your laptop on Check in day; you will receive it during 1st hour on Tuesday, August 20.

All students (including seniors) must have their picture taken whether or not the pictures are purchased. These pictures are necessary for the yearbook, student transcripts, I.D.’s, and for our student management software. Seniors, this picture will be on your high school transcript.  If you would like to order photos, go to this website.

To help speed the picture taking process we would like to suggest the following schedule. If the times do not work for you, it is okay to come at a different time.

9th Grade      11:30 am – 12:30 pm
12th Grade    11:30 am – 12:30 pm
10th Grade    12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
11th Grade     1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Anyone          2:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Picture Make up day will be Thursday, September 5.

Senior Picture Information – Click here for details. The deadline for senior pictures is September 27.

Freshman Orientation Day – August 19

All freshmen will be part of our Freshman Orientation Day. This day is to be a transition day that creates a sense of comfort for incoming students and an overall supportive and positive atmosphere on our campus. The first day for freshmen will be Monday, August 19, at 8:00 am. Senior leaders will lead incoming freshmen in games, mixers and on a scavenger hunt around the school. Students will be given a copy of their schedule and meet their teachers for a few minutes in each class. Students will be treated to a pizza lunch and will be dismissed at 11:30 am. After this, freshmen can stop on Main Street between 11:30 am – 12:30 pm for pictures. All freshmen will also receive their laptop at this time.

August 19 Schedule – (8:00 – 11:30 am) – with pictures to follow

• Orientation – 8:00 -11:00 am
• Pizza – 11:00 – 11:30 am (in Cafeteria)
• Pictures – 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

New 10th – 12th Grade Students and New International Students: These students will begin school on Monday, August 19 from 9 am – 11:00 am in the lecture hall. Click here for additional details.

“Laptop Boot Camp” is mandatory for all students who are new to the laptop program (students coming from HCMS or ZCS do NOT attend Laptop Boot Camp). You should plan to stay from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm and attend “Laptop Boot Camp,” an introduction on how we use the laptops at HCHS (understanding Moodle, exploring PowerSchool, etc.). You will receive your laptop at this meeting.

All Students report on Tuesday, August 20, at 8:00 am. We will begin in our chapel seats for a brief welcome and time of devotions. Be sure to have your class schedule with you.

School Supplies

Holland Christian High School does not have a required list of school supplies for students to purchase. School supply preferences will vary from student to student. Math students will need a TI-83 or TI-84 calculator.

Save the Date – Parent Night

We will be hosting our annual Parent Night on Tuesday, September 3 at 7 pm. Please add this event to your calendar and make it a priority to attend.

New to Holland Christian High School?

Our New Family Information Booklet was created to help new families transition into HCHS. We hope you find the information helpful!

Schedule and PowerSchool Information

The High School uses PowerSchool for accessing student schedules, tracking grades, attendance, and family contact information. Student schedules will be available in PowerSchool on August 9 at ps.hollandchristian.org. Parents can log in with the username and password you created in a previous year. Parents of students coming from Zeeland Christian and other students new to HC have been sent information for creating a PowerSchool account.

If you detect any errors or need to make changes to your schedule, please complete this form on the web.

The High 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. The updated daily schedule can be found here.

In addition, it is important that Holland Christian has accurate contact and emergency information in PowerSchool. When you access your student’s schedule, please also check your family’s contact information and make any needed updates using the Demographic Change page. If you are unable to make changes in PowerSchool and you know that there are changes that should be made to your address, phone number, email address or emergency contacts, please contact the Administration Office at (616) 820-2805.

Parent Laptop Handbook and Check-In Day Forms

Please review the laptop handbook (which can be found on the website) and sign the required check-in day forms online. Forms need to be completed before you will be given your laptop. These forms include the laptop agreement, cheating/plagiarism, concussion awareness, and field trip/medical treatment permission. Please note that you will need to enter your student ID number in order to complete these forms. These student numbers can be found in Power School (if you are a returning HC student it is the number you already have). Please do not print off forms from the nadbook; the online forms are what need to be completed.

Hot Lunch

Lunch and breakfast options are offered daily for our students. For the monthly lunch menu and additional details about the lunch program, please visit our website. The cost for a high school hot lunch is $2.85 and milk is available for purchase daily for $.50. Students may drop off money for their lunch account at the Well or parents may pay online at sendmoneytoschool.com. If you have any questions about the hot lunch program, please contact Nancy McCarthy at nmccarthy@hollandchristian.org or (616) 820-2934. Reduced and free hot lunch are available for those who qualify. To apply for benefits go to lunchapp.com.

HCHS is a closed campus. Sometimes parents may like to take their student(s) out for lunch. Parents may take only their own student(s) out for lunch and must personally check them out of the office. Youth leaders or older siblings (out of high school) may also take students out for lunch by signing them out in the office.

Busing

Busing is available to Holland Christian students in a variety of different ways, depending on where you live. West Ottawa, Holland, HCS South Side Busing, and Zeeland cooperate with HCHS and have their own registration forms and fees. Please find additional information and busing registration forms on our website.

Extracurricular Information

There is a “Pay to Participate Fee” charge of $85 to all students involved in extracurricular activities to help offset some of the costs of the program. For athletics, this fee will be paid through the student’s Final Forms account; for all other activities, this fee will be collected by the director of the activity and must be paid immediately following the selection or determination of the activity participants.

Parents of junior and senior students

We are getting ready for Winterim 2020! Although most of our 2019 internship providers are willing to host again, we are in the process of recruiting additional employers for Winterim 2020. We are looking forward to helping your students explore the possibility of “test driving a career” by completing an internship January 6 – 10, 2020. If you are willing to host an HCHS intern in your workplace or know of someone who might be interested, please contact Greg Schemper (gschemper@hollandchristian.org).

Athletics Information

Fall Sports

Girls: Cross Country, Golf, Sideline Cheer, Swimming/Diving, and Volleyball
Boys: Cross Country, Football, Soccer, and Tennis

Please plan your vacation times according to the sport tryouts. The times and locations for each sport will be noted on the Athletic page. Contact your varsity coach for specific questions.

All athletes must have an approved pre-participation physical form (dated after 4/15/19) on file in the Athletic Office before they may try out; the form can be printed from your Final Forms account.

Athletic Parent Night

All parents of athletes at Holland Christian High School are invited to attend our Athletic Parent Night on Tuesday, August 20 at 7 pm.  The 7:00 pm keynote session will feature the executive director of the MHSAA, Mark Uyl, who will speak on “The Realities of Positively Parenting HS Athletes” followed by our individual fall sports parent meetings. A special 6:00 pm optional panel session will feature a host of college coaches and administrators addressing “The Realities of Competing at the Collegiate Level.” More information can be found here.

Athletic Passes

Anyone interested may purchase an athletic pass on Main Street during Check In Day, August 19 from 11:30 am – 3:00 pm or at any home sporting event through August. Ticket prices at all home contests will be $5 for K-Adult. This price is set by our Conference. Holland Christian charges admission at the following events: Boys/Girls Basketball, Competitive Cheer, Football, Lacrosse, Boys/Girls Soccer, Boys/Girls Swimming, Track and Volleyball.
All-Sport passes are available for Students ($60), Adults ($75), Golden-Ager ($125 – lifetime), Family ($270).

Additional information on passes including seasonal passes, family options, and golden-agers passes are available here.

Holland Christian Theatre Presents…Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!

Told entirely through song with the help of a central narrator, the musical follows Joseph, the preferred son of father Jacob. After being sold into slavery by his brothers, he ingratiates himself with Egyptian noble Potiphar, but ends up in jail after refusing the amorous advances of Potiphar’s wife. While imprisoned, Joseph discovers his ability to interpret dreams, and he soon finds himself in front of the mighty, but troubled, Pharaoh. Joseph’s solution to Egypt’s famine elevates him to Pharaoh’s right-hand man and reunites him with his family.

The magical musical is full of catchy songs in a variety of styles, from a parody of French ballads (“Those Canaan Days”), to country-western (“One More Angel in Heaven”) and calypso (“Benjamin Calypso”), along with the unforgettable classics “Any Dream Will Do” and “Close Every Door.”

AUDITION SCHEDULE:

• Wednesday, August 21 (3:00 – 6:00pm)
  Go over details and get to know each other
  Learn vocal and dance audition pieces

• Thursday, August 22 (3:00 – 6:00pm)
  Auditions: All cast auditions with prepared vocal and dance pieces

• Friday, August 23 (3:00-4:30pm)
  Callbacks: By invitation, individuals sing/dance for lead roles

PERFORMANCES: November 21, 22, & 23 @ 7pm

SIGN UP FOR AUDITIONS HERE

SIGN UP FOR CREW HERE

Email any questions to theatre director Elle Nieuwsma (enieuwsma@hollandchristian.org) or tech director Justin Dreyer (jdreyer@hollandchristian.org).

TRIP

TRIP is a tuition reduction incentive program. It is just one way to pay for everyday purchases while earning rebates for your tuition account. Using TRIP to pay for your normal weekly purchases in a school year, you can raise $500 or more per school year towards your tuition. If interested please contact the TRIP program coordinators (Kristi Lokker and Mary Wynia) at trip@hollandchristian.org or at either Rose Park or the High School on Wednesday mornings from 7:30-9:00.