HOME COMMUNICATOR
If you walked through the middle school hallways in the last week, you noticed the walls filled with pictures of 200 personalized license plates. Mixed in with the license plates were signs that said “Spiritual Emphasis Week is Coming.” One day I stopped to chat with a group of 5th grade girls who asked me about the pictures. I said that S.E.W is coming and the plate pictures relate to that. They looked a bit confused and asked me, “What is SEW?”
You may be wondering the same thing! Spiritual Emphasis Week is a special time when we pause the usual weekly routine to focus on the spiritual growth of students and staff. Throughout the week, we enjoy extra chapel time as we meet everyday together to worship, hear from God’s word and be challenged to live according to what we have learned. It’s a chance for students to slow down, ask questions, build community, and connect with God in a real and personal way. This week is always a highlight for our school and a meaningful part of helping students grow in their faith and relationships.
This year our theme for Spiritual Emphasis Week is Identity: WHO M I. The heart of this week is to discover who God is—His character, His power, His love—and how understanding His identity helps us understand our identity in Christ. We live in a world where people tell us to “find yourself” in sports, grades, friendships, social media, or talents, but all of those can change. God’s identity never changes, and when we belong to Him, our identity becomes secure. Then we are able to share that identity with the world. On Thursday, be sure to ask your middle school student what word they chose for their own license plate!
We know that this week will not be transformative for the students and staff if we do not keep in step with the Holy Spirit and listen to what He wants to teach us. We encourage you to pray for the students and staff this week! Parents are also encouraged to come pray AT school 8:00-8:30 a.m. each day during our chapel time. You still have three opportunities to come and pray this week!
Evamarie Eggebeen
Middle School Nurturing Faith Coordinatortar
SCHOOL-WIDE NEWS
Early Release
Next week Friday, December 12, is an early release day, with dismissal at 11:10 AM. Our staff will be engaged in valuable professional development during this afternoon. Hudsonville Public buses will run as normal but students riding Unity buses will need to arrange for transportation home.
Moms in Prayer
The Moms in Prayer group believes that through prayer God hears and answers our prayers. This week Friday the 5th we will be meeting in the Middle School conference room across from the office from 8:00-9:00 a.m. Please check in at the main office. We will be focused on praying for the office workers and janitorial staff this week. We look forward to partnering with you in prayer!
Christmas Blessings – Share Yours!
Some of our HCS families are experiencing struggles due to employment issues, health concerns, etc. Please prayerfully consider how your family can bless another HCS family in need this Christmas season. If you know of a family in need, please contact Devon Brinks, Tricia Kiepert or Chris Achterhof. Gift card donations in any amount to Family Fare, Meijer, Target, Walmart, and Speedway, can be dropped off in the school offices until December 17.
ELEMENTARY NEWS
Chapel
There will be no chapel this week due to the Love Bazaar. Next week Friday, December 12, the Young Fives and Kindergarten classes will lead us in a special Christmas chapel from 10:00-10:25. Parents are welcome to join us and may enter through the west gym lobby doors.
Elementary Hot Lunch
Information on the Elementary Hot Lunch program provided by JenHud Food Service can be found on the JenHud Food Service website. Make deposits and monitor your account through the Family Portal. If you have questions please contact the food service at foodservice@hpseagles.net.
Love Bazaar
The week is finally here and we are ready to get our CHRISTmas on! The Love Bazaar Committee would like to invite teachers and students to get festive and wear Christmas colors to help celebrate this special day of spreading God’s love! You will find everything you need to know in the packet that went home with your child. Don’t forget to send: Money in a baggie, complete gift tags, A large bag/grocery bag with name & complete shopping list! Please make sure that your child’s shopping list is for immediate family only.
We need help with setup on Thursday! Please use this link if you are able to help transform the gym into a festive Christmas shop for our kids!
HCS moms, buckle your seatbelts because the Love Bazaar Committee is making this the best day ever by topping the day off with the Mom Sale! That’s right! Parents and staff of current students can purchase the great items left over from the student shop! THANK YOU to all who have helped make this a great day for our school!
Christmas Celebration
The 1st thru 4th graders are excited to celebrate Christmas with you at Fair Haven Church next Monday, December 8, at 7:00 p.m. The doors will open at 6:00 p.m. We ask that out of respect for everyone attending, please no saving of seats before the doors open. Additional parking is available at Jenison ECC, please do not park on the grass.
Students may be dropped off in the gym across from the sanctuary between 6:40-6:45 p.m. There will be no supervision provided until 6:40, so please keep your children with you until that time.
If you are not able to attend in the evening or would rather come during daylight hours, you are welcome to attend our matinee starting at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, December 8. We do ask that everyone attend only ONE of the programs. Thank you for your help in making this a wonderful celebration of the gift of God’s Son.
Christmas Collections
Our elementary students will be taking collections this Christmas season for the following organizations:
- 3 School — Closet of Hope
- 4 School — Toys For Tots
- Nature Based 4 School — BLVD Church – Outreach
- Young 5s/Kindergarten — Freedom in Christ Ministry in Uganda (Shaarda Family)
- First Grade — Hand2Hand Ministries
- Second Grade — GRPS Winter Gear
- Third Grade — Family Promise
- Fourth Grade — Gateway Mission
Lost and Found
Our elementary lost and found, located in the hall by the lower elementary office, is overflowing! Please remind your child(ren) to check it out to see if anything belongs to them. Unclaimed items will be donated to revive over Christmas break.
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
Chapel
Students and staff will gather for chapel from 7:55-8:25 AM in the south gym. Parents are welcome to join us!
- December 1-5 Spiritual Emphasis Week
- December 9 – 5th Grade Students leading chapel
Hot Lunch
Hot Lunch this week Wednesday will be DJ’s Breadsticks $2.50/6 pack, pop $1.00/can, chips $.50/bag.
Donuts
Donuts will be sold this Friday during morning break for $1.75.
Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW)
This week is Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW) at the middle school. We know that this week will not be transformative for the students and staff if we do not keep in step with the Holy Spirit and listen to what he wants to teach us. We encourage you to pray for SEW (before, during and after!) as we look at the topic of identity: who God is, who God says we are, and how we are sharing that with others.
Parents are also encouraged to come pray AT school 8:00-8:30 a.m. each day during our chapel time (come once or all five days!). There will be a parent facilitator and prayer prompts in the conference room to guide your prayer time. As we keep in mind the armor God has given us to stand firm against the enemy, let’s “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests; and be alert and keep on praying.” Eph. 6:18-19
Orchestra Concert
The orchestra concert will be held TODAY, December 2 at Jenison Center for the Arts at 7:30. Please note the time of the concert. The students will need to arrive at 7:00pm, and doors will open to Jenison Center for the Arts at 7:00. We are so excited to celebrate with you all – please come and join us for a wonderful night of Christmas selections featuring our 6th -8th grade orchestras and the Unity Christian High School Orchestras.
Band & Choir Concert
The 6th-8th Grade Bands and Choirs will be performing at our annual HCMS Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 9 at Fair Haven Church. The Concert begins at 7:00 and students’ call time is 6:45. Students should be in formal concert attire (white shirt with black bottoms and black shoes). However, students MAY add a splash of color (green, red, gold, silver, or blue) with a tasteful accessory. NO santa hats or elf ears, please. Choir students will be sitting with Parents/Guardians when they are not performing. Band students will be on the stage the entire concert. We’re looking forward to a fun evening of music filled with many Christmas favorites!
Giving Opportunities:
This year the 8th grade student leaders have chosen to partner with Project Bible Runners. The mission of this organization is simple; “Gathering and running Bibles to every nation, tribe and person until every faithful follower of Christ Jesus holds in their hands the word of God.” The giving project will include a Bible collection drive. Bins will be set up around school where students can donate Bibles of any condition and in any translation that are not being used, or are collecting dust on the shelf. *Please refrain from donating your personal Bible or a family heirloom Bible!* Our school wide goal is to collect 2000 Bibles. Additionally, we will be collecting money donations through a game called Coin Wars. If you have any questions about this giving project, or would like more details about the Coin Wars game, or the mission of this organization, please contact Mr. Brower or Mrs. Roode.
HCS Ski Club
An email went out yesterday to all 6th, 7th and 8th grade parents with information regarding the ski club this year. If your student would like to participate, please complete the form and return it with cash or check made out to Bittersweet Ski Area to purchase a ski club card. The completed form can be returned to the office (with grade level noted). We hope to have our first ski club date next week Friday, December 12. Please note however, this is an Early Release date and no transportation will be provided on this date.
HCMS 6th Grade Ski Club – Sponsors -Jon Huisman/Kara Helms/Rachel Mast
HCMS 7th Grade Ski Club – Sponsors -Chris Lowe/Kevin Sills
HCMS 8th Grade Ski Club – Sponsors -Chris Achterhof/Emily Duimstra
COMMUNITY NEWS
Holly Jolly Christmas Market
Zutphen’s Holly Jolly Christmas Market is just around the corner! Join us for a festive day of Christmas cheer at the Holly Jolly Christmas Market on Saturday, December 6 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Zutphen CRC (3223 40th Ave. Hudsonville, MI 49426). Shop local vendors, find unique handmade gifts, live Christmas trees, Christmas planters, and enjoy delicious treats, hot cocoa bar, a fun raffle, and lunch. Proceeds go toward the Zutphen Youth Missions Fund. It’s the perfect way to kick off your Christmas season, bring your friends and family! Find us on facebook at Zutphen’s Holly Jolly Christmas Market for more information.
