Maroon Messenger: January 2019
Dear Parents,
Happy New Year! I hope that you and your family found time to rest and relax over the Christmas Break. As we begin 2019 I am excited to begin my role as Principal of Holland Christian High School and wanted to share with you a little about who I am.
For the past semester I have been serving as Interim Principal at Holland Christian Middle School and have loved being part of this Christ centered community! After serving for 30 years as a teacher and administrator with Holland Public schools I spent a year teaching Spanish Immersion for Zeeland Christian and now it is an honor to become part of the Holland Christian family! I graduated from Hope College with a bachelor’s degree in science and a teaching certificate and then continued my studies at GVSU and completed masters’ degrees in early childhood education and in educational leadership. In 1999 my family was given the opportunity to serve as missionaries through the Reformed Church in America in Chiapas, Mexico so I took a leave of absence and we moved to Chiapas where we spent the next six years serving alongside of and learning from our Mayan brothers and sisters in Christ. God has blessed me with an incredible husband, we have been married for forty years and have two wonderful daughters. Our oldest daughter is married to an amazing man and they have three wonderful children. Becoming grandparents has been the greatest joy in our lives! Our younger daughter was born with special abilities and needs and “graduated” from the ESS program at Holland Christian in 2008. We will be forever thankful for the acceptance, love and support she received from the staff and students at Holland Christian who wrapped her in Christian love and I am so excited to be able to give back to the place that played such an important role in our lives. My prayer is that as I serve at Holland Christian, with God’s help, a true sense of Christian community is established where each staff member and student is equally valued, accepted and celebrated for the person that God created them to be as they grow both spiritually and academically. It is a privilege to partner with you in your child’s Christian learning experience and I look forward to meeting you in person over the next few months. Please keep Holland Christian students, families and staff in your prayers as we strive daily to make our school mission a reality.
In His Service,
Deb Feenstra
“Equipping Minds, Nurturing Hearts and Transforming the World for Jesus Christ”
GENERAL INFORMATION
HIGH SCHOOL SHOWCASE 2019 – January 28, 7 pm
If you know of a family considering enrollment at Holland Christian High School next year, please invite them to the Holland Christian High School Showcase 2019 event on January 28 at 7 pm. This is a great night for prospective parents to tour the school, meet the staff, and learn about the amazing things happening at HCHS! If you have any questions, please contact Courtney Lampen at admissions@hollandchristian.org or (616) 820-2804.
2019 – 2020 Class Signup
Students will be signing up for their 2019 – 2020 classes in February. Registration information for current 9th – 11th graders will come out by the end of January. All registration information will be online, and students and parents will be notified when it is available to view. All parents are encouraged to discuss with students the opportunities that are available.
Current students will submit their course selections online before 8:00 am, Friday, February 22, 2019. Scheduling information for incoming freshman will be sent home before January 31.
For a preview of what students will be receiving at school, simply go to the Registrar’s website and click on the link to scheduling information for the grade you will be in next year. Please note that some information on the web site will be updated between now and end of January to reflect new course offerings and other changes to the curriculum. By clicking on the Registrar’s website you will also find course descriptions for all classes. The links to scheduling information for each grade will direct you to grade-level-specific information that can be used with your son/daughter to plan courses for next year.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM: HOST FAMILIES for 2019/20
The international program at Holland Christian is a wonderful program. Students come from all over the world to receive a Christian education and experience American culture. We in turn are enriched by the diversity and gifts that these students bring along with the relationships that are made. If your family is interested in hosting an international student and would like more information about the program, please contact Karen DeRoo at kderoo@hollandchristian.org.
Invitation to the public
“Come, follow me” Jesus said to those he called to be his disciples. That command still echoes across time to Jesus’ followers today. “Walk as Jesus Walked” is a senior Bible elective taught by Ray Vander Laan that begins second semester at Holland Christian High School. This course surveys the synoptic gospels in depth to uncover what it means to be Jesus’ disciple based on his teaching and his life in its historical and cultural context. Jesus’ invitation to follow him still stands. If you wish to deepen your commitment to go beyond being admirer to becoming an imitator of Jesus, advancing the kingdom of heaven, you are welcome to audit this class. We meet periods 2 and 3 in the lecture hall in the High School and have reserved the back rows for guests! Grab a cup of coffee at the “Well” and join us for one period or for the entire semester.
Bittersweet Ski Club Information
Bittersweet Ski Club forms and cards are available in the office! Stop in anytime and purchase student ski club cards once your form is filled out (we are sold out of the adult cards). Student cards are $17 each. Checks MUST be payable to Holland Christian. Cash will also be accepted.
There will be a bus leaving from the High School on January 11, 25, February 8, 22, and March 1, weather permitting. Details and sign up sheets available in the office.
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Scheduling/Cancellations/Game Information can be found on our website.
July 1-July 7, 2019 is a dead week for all athletics.
Aug. 1-11, 2019 is Preseason down time until tryouts start on Monday, August 12, for football, boys soccer, cross country, boys tennis, & girls golf. Volleyball & girls swim start tryouts on Wednesday, August 14.
FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT
A Night at the Disco: Hits from the 70’s (A Living Hope Showcase Event)
Join the Living Hope Singers for an evening of song and dance as they celebrate music from the 1970’s. Showcase 2019 will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 15 & 16 at 7:00 pm in the Holland Christian High School Auditorium. Reserved tickets will be available online starting December 8. Tickets can be ordered here. Order tickets early for the best seats!
COUNSELORS CORNER
PARENTS OF SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS
On Thursday, January 17, 2019, several representatives from the Careerline Tech Center will be speaking to the students about what the Tech Center has to offer, should they be interested in attending Tech Center beginning their junior or senior year. All sophomores and any interested juniors will be attending this presentation. Parents are welcome to attend as well. It will be held in the high school auditorium from 8:55 – 9:15 am.
The PSAT score reports and test booklets are in the high school office and are available for students who took the PSAT to pick up. These students were notified in December about this. We hope you can look those over with your students at home. If your student does not already have a College Board account, he/she can make one online to learn more about the results and to link up with Khan Academy for free SAT practice.
SENIORS AND PARENTS OF SENIORS
Just a reminder that if you have improved ACT/SAT scores you would like your intended college/university to have, you MUST have your new and improved scores sent directly from the ACT or SAT organizations. Your transcript that is uploaded to Common App and Parchment does NOT list your test scores. If you did not put down the 4 digit codes for the college(s) you wish to receive your test scores when you registered for the SAT/ACT, you must log back into your account and request that your new scores be sent, and there will be a slight fee from the testing organization. If you have questions about this, please contact your counselor.
ACT/SAT PREP CLASS
Holland Christian will hold free ACT/SAT prep sessions this year for all junior students. The sessions will be held during the school day second semester during Family Flex time. More details will be coming at a later date; watch the announcements. We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to our students and hope this will help them feel better prepared for the ACT/SAT.
ACT AND SAT TESTING
- Upcoming ACT test dates are February 9 (regular deadline is January 11), April 13 (regular deadline is March 8), and June 8, 2019 (regular deadline is May 3). HCHS is a testing site for each testing date this school year. Register for the test at www.actstudent.org.
- Upcoming SAT test dates are March 9 (regular deadline is February 8), May 4 (regular deadline is April 5), and June 1, 2019 (regular deadline is May 3). HCHS is a testing site for the March 9 test date. To register for the SAT, go to www.sat.org.
FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS
When a senior applies to a college, the college will consider that student for all institution-based aid and all state and federal aid (information is obtained through FAFSA). For a listing of scholarships, visit the Counseling Department link of the HCHS webpage. This listing is updated as new scholarship announcements are received.
FAFSA4caster
FAFSA4caster is a federal aid estimator that can be used before officially applying for aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA4caster will provide you with an estimate of your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is an index that colleges use to determine what types of student aid you may receive. Using your EFC, FAFSA4caster will determine what types of federal grants, loans, and work-study you might qualify for and will provide you an estimated award amount for each. Any student, regardless of age or year in school, may use FAFSA4caster. Go to www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov. The website will provide information on next steps in the financial aid process. Also, in winter of your senior year of high school, you will receive a reminder to complete the FAFSA.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Seniors who are considering attending a Division I or II University and hope to compete on an athletic team must complete an NCAA application eligibility form. Students can apply online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. Seniors who are considering attending an NAIA member school must complete the NAIA application. For a complete listing of NAIA schools and an application visit www.naia.org. Students need to request their transcripts be sent to the eligibility centers via their Parchment account. It is the student’s responsibility to check requirements and make sure his/her senior courses insure eligibility.
Trip Information
TRIP (Tuition Reduction Incentive Program) is a fundraising program available to help offset the cost of Holland Christian tuition. The more you use the TRIP program the more you earn.
Instant TRIP is available on Wednesdays 7:30 am – 9 am at Rose Park and the High School. First come, first served!
Future TRIP dates
January 16, 23, 30
February 6, 13, 20, 27
March 6, 13, 20, 27
Upcoming Busing Information
The following are the days our public school partners will NOT be providing transportation.
Zeeland Public Schools
January 16-18 (No AM transportation)
February 1 (No PM transportation)
April 19 (No PM transportation)
May 8, 9, 10 (No PM transportation)
Holland Public Schools
February 26 (No PM transportation)
March 12 (No PM transportation)
April 26
May 8, 9 (No PM transportation)
West Ottawa Public Schools
January 18 (No PM transportation)
May 9 (No PM transportation)
IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES
January 7-11 – Winterim
January 21 – No School
January 28 – High School Showcase (7 pm)
February 9 – WinterFest Dance, HS Cafeteria (8 pm – 11:30 pm)
February 15 – Staff Development (No School)
February 18 – Winter Break (No School)
February 28 – Parent Teacher Conferences (5:30 pm – 8:30 pm)
March 2 – Spring Kids Stuff Resale (8 am – Noon)
March 5 – Parent Teacher Conferences (3:30 pm – 6:30 pm)
March 15 & 16 – Living Hope Showcase (7 pm)
March 22 – Swinging the Night Away (6:45 pm – 8:45 pm)
March 26 – Band Extravaganza (7 pm)
March 29 – April 7 – Spring Vacation (No School)
April 8 – School resumes
CALENDARS