HOME COMMUNICATOR
The elementary students have had some amazing opportunities to experience God in unique ways lately. Thanks to a generous donation, our kindergarten through second grade students were able to visit the FARM Science Lab, brought to us by the Michigan Farm Bureau. Inside this semi truck which was set up like a classroom, students learned about insects, plants, and forestry. It was an exciting way to learn how agriculture in Michigan affects our daily lives.
The third through fifth grade students enjoyed a chapel presentation last week from the Rehoboth Christian High School Band while they were on tour in our area. It was an impressive group of about 70 talented students. The selections they played focused on the beauty of creation and the wonder of God’s glory. A slide show that went along with the songs displayed scenes of God’s masterpieces in New Mexico, a place many of our students have never experienced.
”The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 19:1 NIV
And finally, all of the students celebrated our amazing Creator last week by learning about and watching the solar eclipse. With school-made pinhole projectors and eclipse glasses, students and staff were in awe at this phenomenon that happens so rarely. It was an incredible display of God’s plan for the celestial bodies in the solar system to work together in such intricate and detailed ways.
For His glory,
Tricia Kiepert
Elementary Principal
ALL-SCHOOL NEWS
2024-2025 Enrollment
It is now time to enroll your children at Hudsonville Christian School. If you intend to partner with HCS in Christian education next school year, please take the time to fill out the needed information to ensure enrollment for 2024-2025. Parents of currently enrolled Kindergarten – 7th grade students (those going into 1st – 8th grade for the 2024-2025 school year) please complete this online enrollment form 2024-25 Enrollment Form. If you would prefer to complete a paper copy of the enrollment and emergency contact forms, please let Linda Kellar in the admin office know (lkellar@4hcs.org) and forms will be mailed to you. Enrollment (online and paper) forms and enrollment fees are due by April 26, 2024. Thank you for your partnership in Christian Education as we strive to challenge minds and lives for Christ!
Kids’ Corner Enrollment
Kids’ Corner enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is now open! We will do our best to honor family requests in light of staffing ratios and room capacity, and we will let you know about placement by May 15. You may use this link to enroll: 2024-2025 Kids’ Corner Enrollment Form. If you have any questions, you can reach out at kidscorner@4hcs.org!
Parent Volunteering for Next School Year
On Tuesday, May 7 at 7:00 PM (note the time change) volunteering opportunities for the 2024-25 school year will be sent via email to all parents/guardians of HCS students. With hundreds of volunteer opportunities available, you are sure to find something that you will enjoy! By volunteering you help keep tuition costs lower, provide additional technology for our students and demonstrate a desire to partner with the school in the training and teaching of our students! Ranging from 5 to 25 points, the grade of your student determines the number of total points we ask that your household sign up for. Those who do not sign up for their required volunteer points will be charged an opt-out fee up to $150.00 beginning in August 2024.
- 3 School and 4 School: no points required.
- Young 5s and Kindergarten: 5 points required.
- Grades 1 – 8: 25 points per family required
- Single-parent households, Grades 1 – 8: 10 points required
You can find more information about the Parents’ Club volunteering point system on our website.
Walkathon
Please remember to turn in your pledge sheet, money and envelopes as they were due on Thursday, April 11. Thanks for your hard work in getting pledges! We are asking that all students bring a water bottle to the track and wear their HCS t-shirt. We will have water jugs at the track if refills are necessary. Encourage your children to do their best, not be the best! We are looking forward to a great day!
All parents and grandparents are welcome to walk or cheer on their students during the walk. Please note that Unity’s policy is that no dogs are allowed on the athletic campus. Let’s be good neighbors and respect their wishes so that we can continue to use this great facility.
Board Buses Walk
Grades 6, 7 8:00 8:15-9:00
Grades 4, 5 9:00 9:15-10:00
Grades Y5, K & 8 9:45 10:15-11:00(Lubbers & Seaver)
Grades K, 1 10:45 11:15-12:00(DeLong, Ymker, Yonker)
Grades 2, 3 12:15 12:30-1:15
Moms in Prayer
Find community, find purpose. We are mothers who, together, bring all our concerns before our Heavenly Father. In prayer, we know that we are not alone and that gives us reassurance and hope. Let us stand with you in prayer for your children and for HCS. This week Friday we will be meeting at the Middle School 8:00-9:00 a.m. Check in at the main office and they will direct you where to go. We will be focused on praying for the staff and students in grades 1 – 3 this week. Due to the walkathon, Moms in Prayer is canceled on Friday, April 26.
Scrap Metal Drive
A Scrap Metal Drive will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 10 and May 11, to benefit the Education Foundations of Unity Christian High School and Hudsonville Christian School. The drive will be held at the Arrowaste Storage Lot, 1600 Chicago Dr, Jenison from 1pm-8pm on Friday and 8am-2pm on Saturday.
Camp Crazee Fun 2024
Mr. Los, our elementary PE teacher, invites all students entering 3rd – 8th grade to participate in Camp Crazee Fun June 3-6. Forms have been handed out to students and the form is also available HERE. Invite your friends and neighbors to join too! Camp is located in our West gym and includes all kinds of great group games. Please turn the completed registration form in at the office by May 31. Any questions email Mr. Los at – dlos@4hcs.org
Staff Appreciation Week May 6-10
All HCS Parents AND Students: Since we certainly appreciate our HCS Teachers and Staff, the Parents’ Club Board would like to invite all HCS parents and students to express your appreciation for them during the week of May 6-10.
ELEMENTARY NEWS
Chapel
All elementary students will gather in the west gym for chapel each Friday from 10:00-10:25 AM. Parents are welcome to join us and may enter through the west gym lobby doors.
Elementary Hot Lunch
The menu as well as other information on the Elementary Hot Lunch Program provided by JenHud Food Service can be found on the JenHud Food Service website.
Cookies
This week Friday morning students will have the opportunity to purchase freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for $.25 each (limit 4).
Living Water Art Show
We are excited for the HCS Living Water Art Show this week Thursday, April 18! Come to the elementary open house between 6:00-7:30 pm to see various artwork that our elementary students have worked on this year! All students will have at least 2 pieces of art displayed in the show so this is a wonderful family event. We are excited to show off our work that has been created for God’s glory this year!
2nd Grade STEM Activity
If you have a 2nd grader who enjoys creative thinking, problem solving, and working with others to accomplish a goal, this is the opportunity for them! 2nd grade students are invited to participate in an after school STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activity on Wednesday, April 24. We will meet in the Elementary library after school and will be finished at 4:00. The cost, which covers materials and a snack, is $2 and can be paid at the STEM class or sent in ahead of time (LABELED PLEASE) to your child’s teacher.
Go to the sign up genius to register your child. The STEM activity is limited to the first 24 students. We would also appreciate the assistance of a few parent volunteers. If you are willing to help, please sign up in the parent slot on the form. Registration for this opportunity closes Tuesday, April 23 or when all the available spots are filled.
Incoming 5th & 6th Grade Students/Parents Hot Lunch Survey
In middle school hot lunch is offered one day a week, on Wednesdays, beginning on September 18th. This is an optional opportunity for your child to purchase pizza, Chick Fil A, and Mr Burger Please look for a schedule at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. A very important part of ‘how’ we make hot lunch work is student surveys on what they will and will not purchase. NEW THIS YEAR- Entering 5th and 6th grade students must complete this survey with their parents. A paper copy is available that can be filled out and returned to the middle school office or emailed to Kim Racey at kracey10@gmail.com. Please complete and or return forms by MAY 30, 2024. We really need parent cooperation with turning these in timely.
Summer Tutoring
A list of teachers that are available for summer tutoring can be found on our website.
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
Chapel
Students and staff gather in the south gym for chapel each Tuesday & Thursday from 7:55-8:25 AM. Parents are welcome to join us! If you would like to view the Middle School Chapels at a later time, you can also find recordings on our Vimeo channel- Chapel.
- Matt Borst leading chapel – Tuesday, April 16.
- 6th Grade Homeroom – Kara Helms leading chapel – Thursday, April 18.
Hot Lunch
Hot lunch this week Wednesday will be Arby’s Roast Beef sandwiches. ($3.00/sandwich) Pop and chips are sold for $.50 each. The full menu/schedule is listed on our website.
Cookies
Cookies will be sold during break this week Friday for $.25 each (limit 4).
Faces and Our Culture Program
Our school has been part of an amazing cultural exchange program for Guatemalan students for years, and we’re excited to keep it going! Faces And Our Cultures provides Guatemalan students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in our community for eight enriching weeks. Throughout the years, our campus has welcomed some Guatemalan students, many of whom have created a special bond with their host families.
To become cultural ambassadors, participants undergo a thorough selection process and extensive preparation throughout the year. Each child will be matched with a student close in age and same gender.The host family provides homestay for 8 weeks, making them part of the routine, activities, rules, curfews, house chores as another member of the family. Hudsonville Christian provides lunches, school materials, and school-related activities. For those interested in learning more about the Faces program, please register here and join us for an in-person informational meeting with Sandy Cardona, Program Coordinator scheduled for: Monday, May 20th, 10:30 a.m.
EOCS 8th Grader Mixer
Please save the date: April 26 for a night of bowling and bonding!
- Location: Hudsonville Lanes
- Time: 7:15-9:15 pm
- Cost: $10 per student (shoes and all the bowling you can for 2 hours)
- Food: Up to each student. Bring $ as the snack bar will be open.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Unity Christian New Student Co-Curricular Night
Unity Christian will hold a Co-Curricular Night for incoming freshman/new students TONIGHT, April 16 starting at 7:00 p.m. Students and parents will have the opportunity to meet with the coaches and organizers of Unity athletic teams and activities such as Student Council, Science Olympiad, Robotics, the play, the musical, and more to learn about areas where they might like to become involved at Unity. A schedule for the evening was emailed to parents of incoming 8th graders. Feel free to contact us at 669-1820 or athletics@unitychristian.org with any questions you may have!
Unity Christian Sports Physical Night
Unity Christian will host a Sports Physical Night on Tuesday, April 30 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the high school. A sports physical is required for all 7th and 8th grade Unity Christian Youth Football athletes. Per MHSAA rules, all students who wish to participate in athletics next year must provide school with a physical dated after April 15, 2024 PRIOR to tryouts/practice for their first sport. The cost for this sports physical is $15, payable that evening to Unity Christian High School. Students seeking a physical need to arrive with a physical form that is filled out with all signatures complete before they will be examined. You can find a physical form at this link or they can be picked up at Unity’s main office.
Unity Christian Youth Football for Grades 3 – 8
Registration for Unity Christian Youth Football is now open! We will have 3rd/4th grade team(s), 5th/6th grade team(s), a 7th grade team, and an 8th grade team. Practices for 3rd-6th grades will begin on August 12 and grades 7&8 will begin on August 19. To plan accurately for the number of teams we will have in the fall, we ask that you register your player by June 1. For more information and to register online, click HERE. Feel free to contact Unity’s Athletic Office at 669-1820 orathletics@unitychristian.org with any questions you may have!
Unity Christian Musical Theater Camp
Musical Theater Camp will take place at Unity Christian High School June 3-6 from 3-5pm for 5th – 8th grade guys and girls! Learn musical songs and how to sing in parts while being expressive, acting and blocking skills that will help you in future Unity auditions and productions, and common dance moves from Unity and Broadway shows. Sign up on Unity’s website. Registration is open until May 17. Payment can be made online via credit or debit card. No prior musical or theater experience required!
Unity Christian Summer Sports Camps
Registration for Unity’s Summer Sports Camps for students ages 3 – 12th grade is now open! The registration link and schedule of camps can be found at unitychristianathletics.org under “Camps & Clinics”. Please contact Unity’s Athletic Office at 669-1820 or athletics@unitychristian.org with any questions you may have!
- Register between April 10 – May 8 – Receive a 15% multi camp discount on four or more camp registrations and can pay by check/cash (due May 15) or credit card.
- Register between May 9 – June 5 – Only credit card payment accepted.
- Register June 6 or after – $10 late registration fee and only credit card payment accepted.
- Please register your child in the grade they will be entering in fall of 2024.
New this Summer!
- Boys Volleyball Camp from July 15-18 for 6th-8th graders (12 – 2 p.m.) and 9th – 12th graders (2:30 – 4:30 p.m.).
- Speed & Agility Camp for boys and girls in grades 6 – 8. The camp will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 11 – July 25 (excluding July 2 & 4; boys meet from 9-10 a.m., girls from 10-11 a.m.). In this camp participants will work on improving their ability to run faster and change direction. Workouts will consist of sprinting, plyometrics (jumping), strength training, and reaction drills. Participants will take a pre and post-test in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, and pro agility, with results showing their improvement as they prepare for sports in fall 2024.
Employment Opportunity
Post Family Farm in Hudsonville is looking to hire energetic ADULTS for seasonal work for our spring season. Our Spring season runs from May 1, 2024 – May 18, 2024. Opportunities include donut makers, tour guides, and Saturday festival workers. Donut making involves working with several others in our bakery making donuts, filling orders and running the cash register. Tour guides take a group of children, teachers and parents around the farm both on and off a tractor (training provided). Festival workers may work in donuts, office, tickets or drive tractors to the pumpkin patch. No previous experience is required for any position. Work days and hours are very flexible to fit your schedule. Please contact Julie at Post Family Farm, if you have any interest in working in a fun, farm atmosphere. Phone – 616/669-1964, email – tours@postfamilyfarm.com.
