HOME COMMUNICATOR
If you’ve had a first grader at Hudsonville Christian, you might know about the GodI don’t know what your week was like as we kicked-off the school year last week, but if it was anything like mine, it was a bit of a rollercoaster! Starting up the school routine with new faces and places takes a lot of energy. And while I would say we had a great start over here, I don’t think I’ll quickly forget the image of my 3-year old sobbing inconsolably through each bite of his pancakes on day two!
”God is light; in him there is no darkness at all!
1 John 1:5b NIV
We’d like to think we’ll soon adjust to our new rhythms of the day and find ourselves in a little more emotionally-steady place to learn and grow together. But lately, life seems to be teaching me that each year, and indeed each day, presents different joys and challenges and my emotions tend to go with it. The only thing that is truly steady, in all circumstances, is the goodness of our God! In challenging times, Romans 8:28 gives me hope. It says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Knowing God is always working for the good reminds me to look for His handiwork when the roller coaster dips. Such was the focus of our all-school chapel last Friday. If you want to build this conversation at home, you can check it out on our website (26:06-30:37)!
May our lives, as the parents and teachers who walk besides God’s children at Hudsonville Christian, boldly and humbly proclaim the words of 1 John 1:5b, “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all!”
Serving Him together,
Katie VanTil
Nurturing Faith Coordinator
ALL-SCHOOL NEWS
Limited Busing this afternoon
The following buses will run their regular route: 57, 60, and 10. Students riding an HPS bus that is not listed must provide their own transportation home from school today.
SCHOOL STORE IS OPEN! Get your HCS & Firehawk Gear!
Exciting News, HCS Families! 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 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!
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.
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.
Volunteer Needs
Room Parents
We are still in need of a room parent volunteer for Mrs. Seaver, Mrs. Lubbers and Mrs. Ymker in Kindergarten! 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!
Auction Committee Members
The Parents’ Club Board is asking you to consider volunteering on the Auction committee! We are in need of 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.
Elementary 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!
Elementary 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, which will be set up soon in the east gym. 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. The time frame is from 10:45-12:45 to cover three different lunch periods. Sign up or find more information about earning your parent volunteer points by following this Sign Up Genius link.
Harvent Family Fun Day
Parents (or Grandparents) Do you need to earn volunteer points? Want to do something fun? We could REALLY use your help to run a game or serve food. We need 40 more spots filled in order to make this event happen. It is only possible with the help of our HCS families! Please go to the sign up genius page for our event to sign up as soon as possible!
Upcoming Events – Save the Date!
HCS Clay Shoot – September 7 – 8:30 AM registration
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.
Septemberfest – September 21
Mark your calendars because Septemberfest Arts and Crafts Show is right around the corner. Come out and support our school at the annual show on September 21 from 9am to 2pm at the Hudsonville Fairgrounds. This will be your one stop shop! Come and get your donut, grab some lunch and shop our 150+ vendors. Tickets are $3; kids 12 and under free. Strollers are welcome. VIP tickets are available that will allow you early entry at 8:15am before the crowds. The VIP passes also include a shopping bag full of local business coupons. There are only 100 available so get yours soon; visit the Septemberfest Facebook page for more information! Cost for VIP bags is $10. Please help us spread the word by finding us on Facebook, liking it, and sharing us with your friends. Search Septemberfest Arts and Craft Show on Facebook. We can not wait to see you all there!
Harvest Family Fun Day – October 5
We would love to see all the HCS preschool through 8th graders, and parents come out for an afternoon of food, fun and community! Plan on attending this fun-filled afternoon rain or shine. Outside it is held on the tar behind the early education wing. (Inside would be in the West Gym) Fantastic prizes and fun games like the pumpkin walk, basketball free throw, cereal walk, plinko, bounce house. Donuts, cider, popcorn, cotton candy. Even if you cannot come the entire time please stop by anytime between 3:00 and 5:00 PM. There will be a small cost of $5 per child (adults are free). Please email jenniwalters@sbcglobal.net with any questions.
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.
EARLY CHILDHOOD AND KIDS' CORNER NEWS
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.
ELEMENTARY NEWS
Elementary Hot Lunch
Information on the Elementary Hot Lunch program provided by JenHud Food Service can be found on the JenHud Food Service website.
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.
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
Chapel
Students and staff will gather in the south gym for chapel from 7:55-8:25 AM on Tuesday and Friday. 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, September 3 – Chapel Committee: Spiritual Fuel
- Friday, September 6 – Breakfast Club
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.
Class Mixers
On Thursday, all grades 5-8 will be having class mixers. 5th Grade will spend the day at Hughes Park, 6th – Camp Geneva, 7th – Camp Roger. 8th Grade will be at Camp Henry and return to school at 5:00 pm. You should have received detailed information from your homeroom teachers. Please reach out with any questions.
Student Drop-off Reminders
- 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.
COMMUNITY NEWS
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.
