School Update

As we prepare to start the 2026-27 academic year next week, there are a few updates that HCS families should be aware of. 

Wednesday, October 14 – No School

There will be no school for K–8 students on Wednesday, October 14. HCS and the School Board are beginning our strategic planning process in partnership with The Champion Group, and an important part of that process includes a full day of work with our faculty.

Unfortunately, this date was not known when the school calendar was created and approved last spring. I recognize that adding a day without school creates an inconvenience for families, and I appreciate your understanding. This work is important as we seek to provide intentional direction for HCS and faithfully carry out our mission in the years ahead. Please add this change to your calendar.

Every Other Wednesday Afternoon – Limited HPS Busing

Hudsonville Public Schools has added Teacher Team Time to its calendar this year, which will result in limited HPS afternoon busing on designated Wednesdays. Because HCS relies on HPS transportation for many of our students, this change will impact some HCS families.

We have secured a transfer bus between the Elementary and Middle School buildings for students who need transportation between campuses. Unity busing will continue as normal. We recognize that this change will require adjustments for some families and, unfortunately, the HPS transportation schedule is outside of our control. The following link identifies the Wednesdays when HPS afternoon busing will be limited: Limited Busing Dates for 2026-27

Free Breakfast/Hot Lunch Update – Elementary Building

The recently passed state budget includes funding to provide free breakfast and lunch for K–4 students beginning October 1. However, we have since learned that the total amount allocated for private schools statewide is limited. Based on current estimates, HCS Elementary students alone could use approximately 10% of the entire statewide allocation.

Because of this, it is unclear how long the funding will last or what options will be available once those funds are exhausted. Additional meetings are scheduled in the coming weeks to clarify these details. For now, no action is needed from families. We will communicate additional information as soon as it becomes available.

Safety Update – Elementary Parent Loop

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve safety and security, we have added designated crosswalks in the parent loop on the south side of the Elementary building. The crosswalks are marked with paint and signs, and designated staff members will be positioned at both ends to help manage traffic while students and families are crossing. For everyone’s safety, students and adults should only cross the parent loop using the designated crosswalks. Please help us reinforce this expectation with your children, particularly when walking to or from vehicles parked in the center of the parent loop.

Communication Process Update

This year, our weekly Home Communicator newsletter and event communications will be sent through Mailchimp to the email address(es) your family has provided in FACTS. As with any email service, messages from Mailchimp may occasionally land in your Promotions or Spam/Junk folder. We tested our system when we sent the School Store announcement on July 23. If you didn’t see that email, be sure to check those folders and move it to your Inbox while also marking it as “Not Spam.” It can also be helpful to add “info@4hcs.org” to your contacts list.