Home Communicator August 20, 2024

First Day of School Prayer Walk 

The Spirit Committee is excited to celebrate another year with our HCS community but before we do we want to cover our amazing staff and students in prayer! If you would like to join our prayer walk on the first day of school, please meet outside the elementary building by the pavilion at 7:50am. After praying over the Elementary building we will head to the Middle School. Stay as long as you can, littles that aren’t in school yet are welcome! 

New  HCS Staff

We are excited to welcome new staff members to HCS this year! Click HERE to meet them! 

SCHOOL STORE IS OPEN! Get your HCS & Firehawk Gear!

Exciting News, HCS Families! Our online school apparel store is now open! Check out a great selection of youth and adult items featuring the HCS logo and our new Firehawks mascot. Whether you’re looking for gear for your student or something for yourself, there’s something for everyone! The store is open until Midnight on August 30.

HCS Website

The HCS website is an important resource for parent information. From the “Current Families” section of our website you can access the Home Communicator, the school calendar, the parent handbook, homework links, current forms and much more! 

School Management Software

HCS utilizes FACTS RenWeb as our school management software program. Parent login can be found at https://hv-mi.client.renweb.com/pw/. Here you will find your child’s class list, homework and report cards. The HCS school directory can also be accessed through RenWeb.

HCS Parent Handbook

Thank you for allowing us to partner alongside you in Christian education. The Parent Handbook is intended to help you understand how our school operates and to provide information about how we can effectively communicate with each other. 

Home Communicator

The Home Communicator is the HCS weekly newsletter. It will be sent out each Tuesday via email.  The  Home Communicator can also be found on our school website by clicking on NEWS at the top right corner. Please send all requested announcements to homecommunicator@4hcs.org.  As a reminder, ALL requested announcements must be received on the Friday before the Tuesday publication to be considered.

Limited Busing

There are a few school days this year where we will not have regular busing from Hudsonville Public School.  Those days are as follows: August 21 & 22 PM only, August 23, October 21, February 10 & 11,  May 23.  On Limited Busing days the following  buses will run their regular route: 57, 60, and 78 AM/10 PM. Students riding an HPS bus that is not listed must provide their own transportation on these days. 

Limited Busing for the first week of school – 

On August 21 & 22  morning routes will run as normal but afternoon busing will be limited to the three bus routes listed above. On Friday, August 23 both morning and afternoon routes will be limited. Students riding an HPS bus that is not listed above must provide their own transportation. Unity busing is not affected by HPS limited busing, those routes will run as normal.

The Early Childhood Office has moved!

The Early Childhood Office has moved to the old Parent Lounge in the front of school off of Oak St.  Early Childhood parents and students will be able to enter the school through the Oak Street door (W) and then will be buzzed into the Early Childhood Office.  The Early Childhood office will be open school days from 7:45-3:00 pm.  We are so thankful for this beautiful new space!  

Early Release Dates

We will participate in some of Hudsonville Public’s early release dates again this year.  These dates will be on Friday afternoons and dismissal time will be at 11:10 a.m.  During these afternoons our staff will be engaged in valuable professional development.  The dates we will participate in early release are September 20, December 13, January 17, February 28, March 14, May 9. Please note these days on your calendar.  Hudsonville Public buses will be running on these early release dates, but students riding Unity buses will need to arrange for transportation home.   

School T-Shirts

In order to promote community at HCS, the Parents’ Club has once again provided t-shirts for all elementary students and staff. The shirt design is based on the school theme which is “Consuming Fire”  based on Hebrews 12: 28-29 which says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”. The school theme will be shared by both the Elementary and Middle Schools. Elise Goote, 8th grade student, created the design on the back of the shirt. The shirts will be handed out to all elementary students and to the middle school students who ordered them. Please keep them for the entire school year, as they will be worn for various events all year long. 

School Pictures

Middle School students will have their pictures taken on September 10. Elementary school pictures will be taken on September 11 & 12.  Additional information on pictures will be coming home with students soon.

Student Picture Use

From time to time we use pictures of our students on our website and in promotional publications  We do not publish names without specific permission.  If you have any objection to having your child’s image (picture only — no name) used for any of our promotions or on our website, we will cooperate with your request.  Please call the office to let us know.  

CHILDWATCH Attendance Line – 616-379-0332

If your child will not be at school when school begins each day, we ask parents to call the Childwatch line (see above) with information about the absence – whether it’s an appointment, illness, vacation, etc.  This number will connect you to the answering system and you can leave a message.  You can call this number the night before – or even in the middle of the night – to let us know your child will not be at school.  Thank you for making note of this number.

HCS Clay Shoot

Hudsonville Christian School is sponsoring its 18th annual Sporting Clay Shoot​- at Blendon Pines in Borculo on September 7. We’d love to see you come out and support the Hudsonville Christian School Tuition Assistance Fund. Last year we raised over $18,000 in this fun event. It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or an expert shooter, this promises to be a fun event with something for everyone. For more information or to register click HERE. 

HCS Car Decals

Don’t forget to stop by either the Administration office (at Elementary building) or the Middle School office to pick up your FREE HCS car decal! 

Job Opportunity

Hudsonville Christian School is seeking applicants for a part-time Mission Advancement Administrator. The  primary responsibility is to advance the mission of Hudsonville Christian School. This position will work alongside the Marketing and Communication Director to provide additional leadership and support to all public relations initiatives, including the development of internal and external messages, media coverage and special events. The full job description and application can be found in the links provided.  All applications must be turned in by Friday, September 6.

Preschool Parent Orientation

We will be having a short parent orientation for 3 School and 4 School parents on Monday, August 26.  This parent-only night will be a time to meet your child’s teacher, learn about the class, and ask any questions you have.  Please refer back to the letter you received in the mail to get the specifics for your child’s class.  

Preschool Visiting Days- August 27 & 28

3 School and 4 School Visit Days will be on August 27 & 28.  These will be special one-hour days where the preschooler and one parent (or special adult) get to meet the teacher, see the classroom, and get an idea of what preschool is all about!  Please refer back to the letter you received in the mail to get the specifics for your child’s class.  

Preschool Family Kickoff – August 28, 6:00-7:30

If you have a 3 School or 4 School child at HCS this year, join in celebrating the beginning of their school year with a fun-filled night of snacks and activities for the whole family!  This is a great way for your child to connect with his or her teacher, for you to meet other 3 school and 4 school families, and to celebrate what God will do this year.

Chapel

This Friday we will kick off this year’s school theme with an all school chapel in the west gym from 9:30-10:00 AM. 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.  Hot lunch will be offered at the elementary school starting on the first day of school.

Family Portal: https://hudsonville.familyportal.cloud/

• Apply for Free and Reduced Price Meal benefits!  If  you are wondering if you would qualify, here are the Income Guidelines.  Free and Reduced Meal Benefits are based on household size, income amount (gross), and income frequency.  GOOD NEWS:  any family that qualifies for Reduced Price Meal benefits will receive lunch at no cost.  BAD NEWS: the state budget will fund free school meals for all public K-12 students in Michigan who do not qualify for free and reduced lunch the 2023-24 School Year and does not apply to private or parochial schools like HCS.  Lunch will not be free to HCS students who do not qualify for Free and Reduced Meal benefits.   
• You will need to register a new account to monitor accounts or deposit online; Send Money to School accounts no longer exist. 
• Regardless of benefits status, Milk-only purchases remain at $0.50 per carton.  Milk is included as part of the whole MEAL benefit.  If your child(ren) qualifies for free or reduced price meals and all they want is a carton of milk, their account will be charged 50 cents. 

The Food Service Website www.jenhudfood.org is loaded with information.  Please click on any of these links for more information:

• Digital Menus by Nutrislice  (look for updates in August to Nutrislice)
• How Meal Service Works and Depositing Money
• Meal Charge Policy

Student Drop-off and Bus Loop Information

Please take note of the parking and bus loop areas so that we can work together to ensure the safety of our students.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact the office at 616-669-6689.

Bus Loop – All buses (HPS and Unity) will run through the bus loop, which is in the north parking lot off of Hillcrest behind the school.  You may see some HCS staff vehicles parked in the middle of this lot, but parents should not enter this lot to park or drop off/pick up their student(s) at all during the day.  This area is strictly for bus traffic, so please help us keep our students safe by adhering to this.  

Parent Parking and Drop Off/Pick Up Area – The parent parking area and drop off/pick up location is the circle drive off Oak Street. Parents may line up around this loop along the walkway to drop off or pick up their students.  The curb along the sidewalk is reserved for those doing a quick drop off or pick up. It is not for parking. Please do not park on the curb by the flagpoles, and please do not double park in the loop. If you do park in a parking spot to drop off or pick up your student, please walk your student across the parking lot so they are not walking alone in front of other traffic. 

West Parking Lot – Please consider this option when dropping off and picking up your older children.  Choosing to use this option helps to keep our children (and parents) safe by reducing some of the congestion near the main entrance.

Spring Street Parking Lot – The Spring Street parking lot, which runs west off from School Street is for Early Childhood parking only. Parents coming for Kids’ Corner Childcare, 3 School, and 4 School are the only ones who should use this parking lot.  

PS – 4th Grade Birthday Treat Guidelines

Students in Preschool – 4th grade are allowed to bring in a food treat for their birthday. Food treats should be individually packaged by the manufacturer and the ingredient list and nutrition facts are included for the teacher’s use. Some ideas are individual-sized packages of popcorn, Cheez-its, Goldfish Crackers, cheese and crackers, Oreos, applesauce pouches, Little Debbie snacks, fun-size candy bars, etc. In the past, a box or two of donuts has been a popular birthday treat. However, as delicious as they are, donuts “do-nut” fall within the guidelines stated above.  Thank you for following these guidelines! Doing so creates consistency across the student body.

Please note that some classes or grade levels may choose to enjoy student birthdays with a non-food celebration. If this is the case, your child’s teacher will let you know the procedures for birthday celebrations in their classroom.

Playground Volunteers 

We are in need of volunteers to help cover the elementary playground during recess! Having additional adults on the playground helps keep our kids safe. Please check out this Sign Up Genius link to sign up and earn volunteer points! Thank you for considering this important opportunity!

Cafeteria Helpers

We are in need of parent/grandparent volunteers who are dedicated to helping out two or three times each month in the elementary cafeteria. These people will be in charge of setting up the tables, helping students as needed, cleaning tables, changing trash bags after each group, and helping to put away the tables at the end of lunch. Sign up or find more information about earning your parent volunteer points by following this Sign Up Genius link.

Middle School Start Time

Due to adjustments in the schedule, the middle school call bell will ring at 7:45 with the tardy bell ringing at 7:50. Note that this is two minutes earlier than the bell rang last year.

Hot Lunch 

Hot lunch will begin at the middle school on Wednesday, September 18.  More information on the menu selections and prices will be coming soon. Until then – remember your middle school student will need to pack lunch every day. 

PE Shirts

If your child is going into 5th OR 6th grade, is new to HCMS, or simply missing their PE shirt, now is the time to order one!  All middle school students MUST wear a school PE shirt for every PE class. Please complete one of the two Google Forms below by Thursday, August 22.  NOTE:  Youth sizes are now available!  If you need to change your order, call or email the middle school office.

• 5th & 6th Grade Students: ALL parents must fill out THIS FORM. One PE shirt is included in the activity fee on your tuition statement, so no payment is necessary.
• 7th and 8th Grade Students (OPTIONAL): Please fill out THIS FORM if you wish to purchase an additional PE shirt.  All shirts cost $8.00 and money should be brought to the middle school office.

Student Drop-off and Bus Loop Information

Please refer to this very important information in the Hudsonville Christian School Parent Handbook. Your cooperation with this traffic pattern is very important for the safety of our students, staff and parents.  

• NO VEHICLES – except buses – are to use the circle drive in front of school from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on school days.
• The student loading area for students being dropped off and/or picked up by vehicles other than buses, is on the east side of the middle school building.
• All traffic must enter and exit on Van Buren Street.  The east driveway is for entering traffic only. Please use both lanes, and zipper merge into one lane as you near the parking lot. This is to avoid cars waiting on Van Buren Street.
• When dropping off or picking up students, please pull as far forward as possible to the corner/south end of the sidewalk along the parking lot. This helps keep the traffic flow moving.  
• The second driveway is for exiting traffic. There is both a right and left turn lane exiting onto Van Buren Street. 
• Parents may NOT drop their children off on the south side of Van Buren in front of school.
  

Robotics

V5 Robotics – 7th and 8th grade students interested in participating in V5 robotics this year need to complete the sign-up process by August 23rd.  A mandatory parent meeting will be held on August 26th and 27th at 7pm and shouldn’t go any more than an hour.  Meeting will be held in the Robotics Room at the Elementary (old band room).  Please enter through the West Gym doors. Parents need to select one of the two sessions and plan to attend. 

IQ Robotics – The 5th and 6th grade IQ robotics program has been pushed back a couple of months to align us with scheduling of other area schools.  Tentative season schedule is November-February.   Official sign-ups will be due in October, but students may sign up now.  

Aerial Drones – Aerial Drone competition will be open to students in grades 5th-8th this year.  Tentative season schedule is November-March.  Official sign-ups will be due in October, but interested students may sign up now.

Click HERE to sign up for V5, IQ, or Aerial Drones. Don’t forget that parents volunteering as coaches can sign up to fulfill their Parent Club Volunteer points. No experience or robotics knowledge is necessary to volunteer as a coach.  Robotics is a student-centered program and the adults are there to support the students. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer at robotics@4hcs.org.

Welcome!

The Parents’ Club Board (PCB) greets you and welcomes each parent to this new school year! All HCS Parents are members of the Parents’ Club! We are grateful that parents volunteer their time and talents to bless students, serve the teachers, promote and build the HCS community, and help raise funds to reduce tuition costs.

Room Parent Volunteers

Thank you to everyone that has volunteered to be a room parent for this school year! You should have received an email from the Parents’ Club Board if you have been selected for your child’s classroom. We are still in need of a few more room parent volunteers in the following classrooms: 

• Young 5s – Mrs. Havert, Mrs. VanderStelt, 
• Kindergarten- Mrs. Seaver, Mrs. Lubbers, Mrs. Ymker
• First Grade – Mrs. Brinks, Ms. Nyeholt, Mrs. Pettinga
• Second Grade – Mrs. Neher, Ms. Ritsema
• Third Grade – Mrs. Schramm
• Fourth Grade – Mrs. Buikema, Ms. Brinks, Mrs. Miedema, Mr. Sills, Mr. Terpstra
• Sixth Grade – Mr. Huisman, Mrs. Sietsema
• Seventh Grade – Mrs. Heerspink, Mrs. Roode

Now that you have your class lists, if you have a child in one of these classrooms please consider volunteering as a room parent. Email pcb@4hcs.org for more information or to sign up. Thank you!

Harvest Family Fun Day- Save the Date!

October 5 from 3-5 is Harvest Family Fun Day. Plan on attending rain or shine (will be held in  the West gym if it rains). We would love to see everyone come out for food, fun and community. Even if you cannot come the entire time please stop by anytime between 3 and 5. There will be a small cost of $5 per child (adults are free) to enjoy cotton candy/donuts/cider/popcorn, bounce house, tons of fun games and awesome prizes! 

Parents (or Grandparents) We REALLY could use your help to run a game or serve food.  Please go to the sign up genius page for our event to sign up as soon as possible! The success of the event is only possible through the help of our HCS families! Plus if you’re still looking for a way to earn points, this is a fun event and is worth 5 points. Please email jenniwalters@sbcglobal.net with any questions.

Auction Committee Members

The Parents’ Club Board is asking you to consider volunteering on the Auction committee! We are in need of at least 4 additional volunteers to help plan and facilitate the Auction that will take place in the spring of 2025! This is an important event for our school and a great way to build community!  If you are willing to serve in this way click HERE to sign up! Questions? contact pcb@4hcs.org or auction@4hcs.org.

Bonus Box Tops offers for August

• Earn 5 Bonus Box Tops on Totino’s when you buy any 3 participating Totino’s Party Pizza products in a single transaction.
• Earn 6 Bonus Box Tops on Epic when you buy any 2 participating Epic products in a single transaction.
• Earn 6 Bonus Box Tops on Progresso Soup when you buy any 3 participating Progresso Soup products in a single transaction.
• Earn 6 Bonus Box Tops on Pillsbury Pie Crusts when you buy any 3 participating Pillsbury Pie Crusts products in a single transaction.
• Earn 4 Bonus Box Tops on Wheaties when you buy any 2 participating Wheaties products in a single transaction.
• Earn 40 Bonus Box Tops at Walmart when you buy any 4 participating products in a single transaction.
• Earn 10 Bonus Box Tops at Costco when you buy any 1 participating product in a single transaction through 9/30/24.
• Earn 40 Bonus Box Tops at Meijer when you buy any 4 participating products in a single transaction.
• Earn 40 Bonus Box Tops at Sam’s Club when you buy any 2 participating products in a single transaction through 9/15/24.
• Earn 40 Bonus Box Tops at Target when you buy any 4 participating products in a single transaction through 9/21/24

Remember to scan your receipt into the Box Tops app within 2 weeks of purchase. Thanks for your help in earning money for HCS!

Revive Volunteer Opportunities

• Student Opportunities: Would your student be interested in volunteering at Revive this school year? We have opportunities for students in 8th grade and older to be cashiers as well as volunteer in many other areas such as technology, electronics, clothing, toys, and donation sorting. Or how about taking photos and creating listings for us on eBay, Amazon, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace? Past Unity students have found Revive to be a great place to gain work experience as well as add substance to any resume and have a lot of FUN while doing it! So if you’d like to give your son or daughter a positive work experience that will reap benefits for years to come, contact Jenny to find out how to get involved: 616-662-3375 or revive@unitychristian.org!
• Parent/Grandparent Opportunities: How about you? Are you interested in volunteering at Revive this fall? Stop in and fill out a volunteer form. The hours are very flexible…come and go as you please! We’d love to meet you and help you find your special niche at Revive as we all work together to raise funds for Christian education! Contact Jenny for more information or questions: 616-662-3375 or revive@unitychristian.org!

Employment Opportunity

Post Family Farm in Hudsonville is looking to hire energetic ADULTS for seasonal work for our fall season. Our Spring season runs from September 4, 2024 – November 2, 2024.  Opportunities include donut makers, tour guides, Weekday Festival workers 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, drive the pumpkin train or drive the tractor 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.