Home Communicator April 30, 2024

Early Release 

This Friday, May 3 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.

2024-2025 Enrollment – past due!

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 were due Friday, April 26. Thank you for your partnership in Christian education as we strive to challenge minds and lives for Christ!

Parent Volunteering for Next School Year

Last Friday, April 26 an email was sent to all parents/guardians explaining the volunteer requirements, sign-up process and a link to the Sign Up Genius Form for the 2024-25 school year! Next week Tuesday, May 7 at 7:00 PM volunteering opportunities will unlock for signups. With hundreds of volunteer opportunities available, you are sure to find something that you will enjoy! 

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. 

HCS Walkathon was a HUGE Success! 

We praise Him for the overwhelming support of the HCS Community in helping us raise $168,442.00 at the Walkathon!  The preschoolers raised $14,210.00, to be used for our Early Childhood Program. We had a great day and were blessed with no rain!  The Walkathon Committee would like to express appreciation to the following people for their help in making the event a success:

• To our great students for working hard at getting pledges and hitting our goal of over $100,000.
• To our teachers for challenging and encouraging kids to get pledges.
• To our parents for supporting their kids in this event, and to many who came to encourage the kids out at the track!
• To all the staff members who helped the committee get things ready.
• To our business sponsors whose support helped make this event possible; Arrows Restaurant, Ascent Wealth Partners, Bareman and Associates, Inc, BlueTrust, Bolhouse LLC, Complete Roofing & Repair, Cottage Home, DHE, DeYoung Developments, DC Storage Sales & RV Services, DeWent Redi-Mix LLC, Dean Boiler, Elite Electrical Services, Friends of HCS, Fusion Properties LLC, Gebben’s Concrete & West Michigan Poured Walls, GenLogic LLC, Grassmid Transport, Greenline Inc, Gemmen’s Ace Hardware, Haworth Helps, Healthy Choice Family Chiropractic, Higher Health Chiropractic, Hudsonville Family Dentistry,Dr. Matthew Lubbers, Dr. Heather Holton, Hurst Mechanical, HT Auto Service LLC, Inontime Inc, Jim and Deb Mol, Kessel & Bouwens Orthodontics, Kroll Furnace Co., Koleaseco Inc., Lakewood Construction, Langerak Roof Systems Inc, Legacy Steel, MBK Corporate Promotions LLC, Micandy Gardens, MOXIE Real Estate & Development, New York Life Insurance-Tim Vrieland, Peak Exteriors, Powell Orthodontics, Pichler Realty, Post Family Farms, Ralph Meyers Trucking & Excavating, Royal Sheet Metal INC, S&G Properties, Scott Anderson Concrete LLC, TMI Supply Company, VanTimmeren Family Dentistry, PC, West Michigan Cabinet Supply, West Michigan Community Bank, West Michigan Shredding.
• Above all, to our Heavenly Father who has placed us in this place at this time with a wonderful community to raise our children!  

Students who have money due will be coming home with their envelopes and forms today.  Please collect all remaining pledges and return pledge forms, envelopes, and money to the school by Wednesday, May 8.  If you know that someone is sending the money directly to school, please include a note in the envelope and still return the envelope and pledge form to school. Thank you again for your overwhelming support of Hudsonville Christian School through the Walkathon this year!

Piano Needed 

As we begin moving into the new addition at the middle school, we are looking for a piano to be added to the new choir room. If you have a piano that is in good shape that you are looking to get rid of, please contact Anna Schreur (aschreur@4hcs.org) with details.

Job Opportunities-7th Grade Science; General Music; Choir Accompanist 

7th Grade Science

The Middle School at Hudsonville Christian School is seeking applicants for a full-time 7th-grade teacher with primary teaching responsibilities of Bible and Science for the 2024-2025 school year. Interested applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree in education with a Science certification. We are looking for someone who is passionate about working with middle schoolers, is team-oriented, and has a strong love for our Lord and Savior.

If you or someone you know are interested in joining our dedicated and passionate staff, please complete the application form. If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please reach out to middle school principal, Mr. Chris Achterhof, at cachterhof@4hcs.org. 

Music Teacher and Accompanist 

The Middle School is looking for someone to teach two General Music classes next school year. Classes will be taught every other day after lunch (approximately 12:15-2:40) to 6th and 8th graders. This is a part time position.

The Middle School is also looking for someone to accompany the choirs during their rehearsals throughout the year. Hours are flexible, but will likely be 8-10 hours a week. This person is passionate about music and can support choir director Anna Schreur by playing the piano and helping teach our choir students.

If you are interested in, or know of someone who is, please contact middle school principal, Mr. Chris Achterhof, at cachterhof@4hcs.org.

Moms in Prayer

We live in a culture that seeks to blind our children to the reality of God’s love for them. Praying with other moms for our children and our school breaks through these barriers, impacting them for Christ.  This week Friday Moms in Prayer 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 6 – 8 this week.  See you there!

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

Summer Hiking Trips

If you are interested in going on either the Manistee or UP hikes this summer, please go to this link where you will find more information and can sign up.

Chapel

This Friday we will have an all school chapel in the elementary West gym at 9:00 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. 

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 this survey even if you do not plan to participate in hot lunch. Forms must be filled out or returned by MAY 30, 2024. 

Summer Tutoring 

A list of teachers that are available for summer tutoring can be found on our website.

Lost and Found 

Our elementary lost and found is bursting with items. Please remind your child(ren) to check out these items in the hall by the lower elementary office to see if anything belongs to them. Parents please check out the lost and found when you are at school. All unclaimed items will be donated to REVIVE at the end of the school year. 

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.  

• Tuesday, April 30 – 6th Grade Homeroom Schaap leading chapel
• Thursday, May 2 – No chapel 
• Friday, May 3, 9:00 AM – All School Chapel in the elementary West gym

Hot Lunch

Hot lunch this week Wednesday will be Mr. Burger (Cheeseburger/Hamburger) $4.50 each.  Pop and chips are sold for $.50 each.   The full menu/schedule is listed on our website. 

Robotics 

Current 6th grade students and parents interested in the 7th-12th grade robotics club next year are invited to join us on April 30th at 7:00 in the elementary band room to learn about robotics and next year’s game.  Questions regarding robotics can be sent to robotics@4hcs.org.

Current 6th Grade Students

Just a reminder, there are additional immunizations required for incoming 7th grade students prior to starting 7th grade next year.  An email with additional information including which immunizations are needed was sent out last week.  We wanted to give you a heads up so that you can keep this in mind when scheduling your child’s future appointments.  Contact the Middle school office with any questions 616-379-0338. 

Concession Sales

Concessions will be sold at the middle school sporting events after school today, Tuesday, April 30, and also on Monday, May 6.  Plan now to come to the games and buy candy!  All proceeds will be used to support HCS families in need.

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.

Unity Christian Sports Physical Night

Unity Christian will host a Sports Physical Night tonight, 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. 

Calvin University Football Camp

Calvin University Football is hosting its first ever youth football camp! Come learn the basic fundamentals of football, general movement skills and have a ton of fun! There are different sessions correlating to your age group. Please click HERE for more details. Direct all questions to Ben.Dixon@Calvin.edu