Maroon Messenger: March 2019
Dear Parents,
As I write this letter we are setting up for one of my most favorite events of the school year, Parent Teacher Conferences. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to take time out of our busy schedules to partner with you to provide your child with the most successful learning experience possible. Each child is a unique creation of God and our goal as a staff is to create a school environment where they can be their true selves as they grow academically, spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically. I wish I could tell you that we would never make a mistake and that every decision that we made would be the right one, but we know that would not be the truth. What is the truth is that we prayerfully enter each day striving, with God’s help, to do the best we can for each student that God has placed in our care. I hope your time talking with teachers is valuable and that you walk away with a better understanding of how this school year is progressing for your daughter or son. As always, if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the teacher so that together you can make this year the best it can be for every student.
On February 15 students did not have school so that the full Holland Christian staff could gather for professional development. We know having a day off school is not always convenient for you as parents so we want to say thank you for supporting us as we brought staff together for training around this year’s theme, “Preparing a Table”, our book study “Everyone Always”, and our school improvement goal of Diversity and Inclusion. All HC staff have now been trained through the Cultural Intelligence Center whose goal is to provide research-based tools, training and assessments to build Cultural Intelligence(CQ) which they define as “having the ability to relate and work effectively with people from different nationalities, ethnicities, age groups and more.” We also studied God’s Word together and reviewed Biblical Principles that guided our discussion through a lens of “Everyone Always”. As a staff we look forward to continuing and applying our learning here at HC.
With as cold as it is outside, it is hard to believe that it is March and that Spring Break begins 4 weeks from today!! Hang in there everyone; warm sunny weather will return soon!
In His Service,
Deb
GENERAL INFORMATION
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
February 28 (5:30 pm – 8:30 pm)
March 5 (3:30 pm – 6:30 pm)
Spring Break: March 29 – April 5
If you are planning on leaving early for Spring Break please send a note, email Kelli Van Eerden at kvaneerden@hollandchristian.org or call the office at (616) 820-2905 before you leave. This will help us greatly with attendance.
Parents and Guardians of the 2019 Senior class
Help make your child’s end of their high school career even more memorable by surprising them with a message in the yearbook! Click here for your Senior Graduation Ad opportunity. We can accept submissions only until March 18, 2019!
Reminder senior exam exemption policy
During the second semester, seniors may work towards being exempt from their final exams. Our policy allows seniors to be exempt from taking the exam in that course if:
- they have either a B average through the final day of a course
- or have handed in all homework on time with a passing grade, and have no more than two days absent the whole semester (for any reason).
Summer Online Ed Course Sign-ups
Last chance to sign up for Summer Online Credit Advancement [taking an HC class early], Enrichment [taking a non-HC elective], or Recovery [making up a not-passed class]. Click HERE for advancement/enrichment course options. Click HERE to register–this does not guarantee your participation. Sign ups will be open through March 22. Details will be emailed to all who have registered in the weeks following spring break. You may also email clagerwey@hollandchristian.org with more questions.
Grandparents and Grand-Friends Day at the High School
At Holland Christian we teach our students to be wisdom seekers and to faithfully listen to the Word of God as it guides our path. As wise influences in their lives, you are invited to Grandparents/Grand-Friends Day at the high school, a day where you are able to go to class, experience chapel, enjoy conversations over coffee and cookies, and go out for lunch. Join us on May 8, 2019 from 8:00 am – 11:15 am. See you then!
2019-2020 TUITION GRANT APPLICATION
The 2019-2020 tuition grant application is available at www.factstuitionaid.com. Applications are due by April 15. If you have questions regarding the application process, contact Terry VanDerKolk at (616) 820-2807 or tvanderkolk@hollandchristian.org.
2019 Living Stones Lecture Series and Dinner
This year’s Living Stones Lecture is Thursday, April 25, with featured speaker is Randy Alcorn. Randy is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries and a New York Times best-selling author of over fifty books, including Heaven, The Treasure Principle and Safely Home. As a personal friend of Kirk Cousins, he and Kirk will engage in an interactive and meaningful dialogue during this year’s event. Interested in Tickets? Contact Leanne Halma at lhalma@hollandchristian.org, call (616) 820-2811 or register online at https://www.hollandchristian.org/living-stones-fundraiser/
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Spring sport tryouts start the week of March 11. Please check the website for details about the spring season.
Holland Christian Schools athletic department will offer athletic physicals for the 2019-2020 school year on Tuesday, April 30, from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm at Lakeshore Health Partners South Washington facility. The cost is $15 and signups will once again be online through SignupGenius. Stay tuned for more details!
Down Time: July 1-July 7, 2019 is a dead week for all athletics. Preseason down time is August 1, 2019 until start of season, which is August 14 for swim and volleyball, August 12 for all other sports.
FINE ARTS
A Night At The Disco: Hits From the 70’s
Join the Living Hope Singers for an evening showcase of song and dance that will transport you back to 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. Tickets are available online. All reserved tickets are $10. High school student tickets are available in the student section for $8.
DOUBLE FEATURE: Steel Magnolias and The Yellow Boat, presented by Holland Christian High School Theatre
We are excited to announce that this spring in place of one show we will be performing two one act shows, Steel Magnolias & The Yellow Boat. The productions each run 1 hour and will be performed as a joint experience with an intermission in-between. Recommended for ages 8+ due to heavy content.
Deemed “the funniest play ever to make you cry”, Steel Magnolias follows the lives of 6 witty women in rural Louisiana and their friendship through the ups and downs of life. The Yellow Boat tells the true story of an 8-year-old boy born with congenital hemophilia and the power of imagination and family in dealing with health crises. Through moments of great humor and great weight, both plays trace the cycle of life and death, and how community comes together in dealing with tragedy.
Tickets are available on hcs.ludus.com starting March 11, 2019. Performances are April 26 and 27 at 7:00 pm.
Band / Orchestra
Congratulations to the 50 HCHS band and orchestra students who participated in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) District Solo and Ensemble Festival on February 9, 2019! All of these students received one of the top two ratings.
These 37 individuals qualified to perform at State on March 16, 2019. Congratulations to Aidan Baggech, Elise Bol, Ryan DeWitt, Julius Dykhuis, Matthew Dykstra, Ashley Greydanus, Jacob Heeres, Jackson Horjus, Quinten Huffman, Mallory Jackson, Andrea Jenosky, Daniel Koning, Kendra Koopman, Aaron Kwon, Elaina Laarman, Elise Laarman, Parker Lambers, Anna Larsen, Jenna Ly, Jaclyn Meyer, Alex Mitchell, Chloe Moralez, Sam Nicely, Will Overway, Savannah Page, Paul Quinn, Nathan Rogalske, Jack Rutherford, Brandi Statema, Tucker VanRegenmorter, Joel VanZanten, James Viel, Justin Vikstrom, Rachel Vroegop, Ben Walters, Karis Walters and Elizabeth Winn.
The Biannual Swingin’ the Night Away is Friday, March 22 from 6:45-9:00 p.m. in the HCHS Cafeteria. Free dance instructions from 6:45-7:30 p.m. and from 7:30-9:00 p.m. there will be dancing, vocal soloists and HC Jazz Bands. Enjoy desserts and beverages. Tickets are $5 at the door. All ages are invited to join the fun!
Don’t miss this must-see concert on Saturday, March 23, at 7:00 p.m. in the HCHS auditorium. The evening will feature both the HHS and HCHS jazz ensembles, as well as Rodney Whitaker and friends with vocalist Rockelle Fortin. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students. Purchase your tickets at the door or purchase your tickets at this link.
Come one, come all to the Holland Christian Schools Band Extravaganza for a wonderful night of music on Tuesday, March 26. HC’s 5th, 6th, Middle School, and High School Bands will perform at the Jack H. Miller Center for the Musical Arts on Hope College’s campus at 7:00 pm. Hear a wide variety of musical styles and sounds, and you won’t want to miss the closer, featuring over 200 musicians combined!
COUNSELORS CORNER
SENIORS/PARENTS OF SENIORS:
FAFSA & FINANCIAL AID
If you have filed your online FAFSA you will receive your SAR (Student Aid Report) by email. The SAR explains your eligibility for student aid and lists the calculation for your EFC (Expected Family Contribution). Some colleges require an Aid Package from each college that you listed on your FAFSA application. This package is usually made up of (a) grants and scholarships (gift money you don’t need to pay back), (b) work-study (money earned by the student on campus), and (c) loans (you need to pay back + interest). The package may cover all of your need or a portion of it. The balance is your responsibility. You are encouraged to compare packages from similar colleges. If you want to attend the college that did not offer you the best financial aid package, contact the college financial aid officer to see if they will match the best package.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Internal scholarships offered to current, full-time Holland Christian seniors (this includes Tech Center seniors) are available. There have been details in the daily announcements and also posted on the HC website under the counseling section. These are listed on Google Classroom under the course “HCHS Internal Scholarships.” The due date for these is March 28, 2019 by 3:00 pm. There is still a list of outside opportunities listed on the HC website under the counseling section.
HONORS NIGHT/GRADUATION PROGRAMS
We would like to celebrate the accomplishments of your seniors by including a list of all merit scholarship recipients in the Honors Night & Graduation Programs. If your senior son/daughter is receiving a merit scholarship (not financial aid) from a college you know he/she will be attending, please provide Mrs. VanderLaan in the high school office with written verification of the award. You may copy the letter or the email notifying you of the award. Once a student turns in scholarship(s), he/she will receive an invitation letter to Honors Night. Please reserve the evening of Monday, May 13 for this event. It is a special night to acknowledge the hard work of our seniors.
ACT/SAT
Suggested ACT test dates for juniors are: April 13 (registration deadline March 8), June 8 (registration deadline May 3), July 13, September 14, October 26, and December 14. SAT test dates are: May 4 (registration deadline April 5), June 1 (registration deadline May 3) and August 24, October 5, November 2, and December 7. The ACT and SAT may be taken more than once; colleges accept the highest score for admission and scholarships. The Holland Christian High School code used in registering is 231965. To register visit www.actstudent.org and also www.sat.org/register. Holland Christian High School is a testing site for all ACT dates except for the July test.
AP EXAMS
Sign ups for 2019 AP exams are now open. The link is here and also on the Holland Christian website in the counseling section and in the announcements. You must sign up and pay online; the cost is $98 per exam. The registration will close on March 6 by 5:00 pm.
COLLEGE VISITS
We encourage juniors to begin exploring specific colleges. Juniors and seniors may use parental approved absence days to visit colleges during a school day. For seniors, college visit days DO count toward the minimum of two absences for exam exemption. Spring break of junior year is an ideal time to visit colleges.
Service Hours Opportunity
Your help needed at South Side / Pine Ridge’s Family Fun Night! Friday, March 8 at Pine Ridge – This is a fun night for kids and families, but we can’t do it without your help! Please go to: www.hcfunnight.blogspot.com to see where you can volunteer. Opportunities are available to make cupcakes, help set up/clean up, serve supper in the gym, or volunteer at a game. This is a great way to get your service hours!
Students, do you remember participating at Fun Night as an elementary student? Now is your chance to be a part of Fun Night again! Come volunteer at Rose Park’s Fun Night on Friday, March 8. Shifts are 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm and 6:30 – 9:00 pm. Volunteers during the first shift will be fed pizza. For one shift you will receive 2.5 service hours but sign up for both shifts to receive 5 service hours in one evening! Volunteers will help with games, set up/take down, etc. If interested, please contact Michelle Dannenberg at mdannenberg62@gmail.com. If you’d like to volunteer with a friend, please include that friend’s name in your email. Have that friend email as well to confirm they’re planning on joining you!
Trip Information
Remember your TRIP certificates for spring break – get gas, hotel, restaurant, even Disney and others, and have the rebate go toward your tuition. Thinking ahead to banquet? Dunhill in Holland will gladly accept V.I.P. certificates, or there is Men’s Warehouse. For dresses there is West Coast Cash and others, or for hair there are salons like Bombshell. Also a Visa card will cover all your needs.
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
March 6, 13, 20, 27
April 10, 17, 24 (No trip April 3 – Spring Break)
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Upcoming Busing Information
The days our public school partners will NOT be providing transportation. Transportation information can be found here.
Zeeland Public Schools
May 8, 9, 10 (No PM transportation)
Holland Public Schools
March 12 (No PM transportation)
April 26
May 8, 9 (No PM transportation)
West Ottawa Public Schools
May 9 (No PM Transportation)
IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES
March 2 – Spring Kids Stuff Resale (9 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 – 9:30 pm)
March 26 – Band Extravaganza (7:00 pm – Jack Miller Center)
March 29 – April 5 – Spring Vacation (No School)
April 8 – School resumes
April 13 – Oratorio (7 pm)
April 25 – Living Stones Dinner and Fund Raiser
April 26 & 27 – Spring Play – (7 pm)
April 30 – Sports Physicals
May 2 – World Cultures Events
May 3 – Junior/Senior Banquet
May 7 – Tuition Grant Fund Golf Outing, Wuskowhan Players Club
May 8 – Grandparents Day
May 9 & 10 – Tulip Time (11:15 dismissal)
May 13 – Senior Honors Evening (7 pm) with Art Exhibition
May 14 – Spring Orchestra Concert (7:30 pm)
May 14 – Women’s Golf Event, Diamond Springs Golf Course
May 15 – Spring Choir Concert (7:30 pm)
May 16 – Band Concert (7:30 pm)
May 16 – Last Day for Seniors
May 17 – Senior Serve Day
May 20 – Senior Exams
May 21 – Commencement, Central Wesleyan (7:30 pm)
May 27 – Memorial Day Vacation (No School)
May 28 – 31 – High School Exams