HOME COMMUNICATOR
Each morning, when time allows, I cherish the opportunity to welcome students as they arrive at the elementary building. Helping them out of their vehicles is more than just a routine—it’s a chance to connect, offer a smile, and recognize where they are in the moment. Some students step forward eagerly with excitement, while others carry the weight of a tough morning or ongoing challenges in their life. As a fellow parent, it’s reassuring to see that my family isn’t alone in experiencing the ups and downs of getting out the door each day.
No matter how a student arrives, I find peace in knowing they are stepping into a school filled with teachers who truly care for them—not just academically, but holistically, from a Christian perspective. I continue to be inspired by the way teachers at Hudsonville Christian selflessly pour into each child reflecting Christ’s love with unwavering dedication.
My wife and I have three children at HCS currently, and like so many others, we are deeply grateful for the ways this school invests in our children. We love hearing their stories, celebrating their excitement for learning, and witnessing their growth in faith. It reassures us to see them shaped in Christ-centered ways, knowing that this kind of transformation doesn’t happen by accident.
As parents, we know we can’t raise our children to love Christ on our own. We need the Holy Spirit, our church, and the partnership of a school like Hudsonville Christian School. While we hold the primary responsibility for our children’s faith journey, we are extremely thankful for the support we receive in partnership with our church, school, and with our community.
So when I help students in the morning, it’s more than just a greeting—it’s a reminder each day of the vital role a Christ-centered education plays in the lives of families. The stakes are high, and we do not take this calling lightly. Thank you for partnering with us at Hudsonville Christian School. With God, we know our mission is bigger than us, and together, we are shaping future generations for His kingdom and His glory.
Devon Brinks
Superintendent
SCHOOL-WIDE NEWS
Childwatch
If your child will not be at school when school begins, PLEASE call the CHILDWATCH number (616-379-0332) to notify school of their absence or reason for being late. Please note the number – and make any changes to old numbers stored in your phone. Emails are less effective in getting the information where it needs to be. Thank you for helping daily attendance run smoothly!
Early Release
This week Friday, February 28 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.
The 2025 Auction is this week!
SILENT AUCTION
- Our Silent Auction is LIVE! Share this link with family, friends, coworkers, neighbors – everyone is welcome to join in the bidding & support HCS! Auction Website
- Right now, you can also buy Tuition Raffle tickets (search “Tuition Raffle”), Teacher Experience (search “Teacher Experience”) and Dinner Tickets (search “Dinner”), see Closing Times & other event info and check for new items – new items are being added every day!
LIVE AUCTION
- See you at the Live Auction this Saturday, March 1 – Doors open at 4:30 PM and the Live Auction begins at 6:00 PM.
- Golden Ticket – Back this year, we are offering a Golden Ticket raffle at the Live Auction – $100/Ticket and the winner gets to choose any item from the Live Auction!
OTHER AUCTION ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Calling All Bakers – Every year our school community helps out by donating delicious baked goods to sell at the auction. If you have the gift of baking and want to donate a dessert, please drop off your item on Friday, February 28 or Saturday morning, March 1, to the HCS West Gym. All decadent desserts will be available to purchase for $25 at the auction on March 1st, but come early because they won’t last long! Questions? Email Auction@4hcs.org
- HCS Auction Tuition Raffle – Don’t miss out! – Wouldn’t it be a DREAM to have a $0 tuition cost for ONE WHOLE YEAR? Buy raffle tickets now (1 for $25 or 5 for $100!) at https://2025hcsauction.cbo.io and you might just have your wish come true! Winner announced at the LIVE AUCTION on Saturday, March 1st (winner does not have to be present to win).
- Fund-a-Need – Tuition Assistance – This year, we invite you to partner with us to fulfill the need for tuition assistance. At Hudsonville Christian School, we are committed to making Christ-centered education accessible to all families. However, life circumstances and unexpected situations can make the ability to afford Christian education more challenging. Last school year, HCS provided nearly $170,000 in tuition assistance to support families in need thanks to many generous partners of the HCS community.
Thanks to a generous $25,000 company matching gift, your contribution will have twice the impact! Every gift helps ensure that HCS families can receive the Christ-centered education they deeply desire. With your support, we can continue providing the necessary resources to assist families in need.
Questions? Email The Auction Committee
HCS Annual Society Meeting
Save the date- The HCS Annual Society Meeting will be held on Monday, March 17 at 7 p.m. in the elementary library, and you are all invited to attend! In addition to voting on the budget and tuition scale, we will also elect school board members for the coming year.
Class Placement Requests
Soon after spring break, staff will begin constructing next year’s class lists. This is an involved process that requires input of all the staff members who know your child. Because parents have information that is important, we wish to provide an avenue for this input. If you have a request, you must fill out the online form to ensure that it will be considered throughout the process. Class Placement Request Form. Forms are due Friday, March 14.
Unified Basketball
Our HCS Unified basketball season is underway! Unified sports is an initiative of the Special Olympics that provides opportunities for students with and without disabilities to play sports together to promote skill development, friendship, and understanding. Our team includes students from grades 1-8. We are so grateful for the impact Unified has on our players and for all the support we have received from our school community! You’re invited to cheer at our Exhibition game this Thursday, Feb. 27 at approx. 6:45 (between the girls JV and Varsity basketball games) at Unity Christian High School.
8th Grade Play
The Hudsonville Christian 8th graders will be presenting the play, CSI: Neverland March 6 and 7 at 7:00 pm and March 8 at 2:00 pm in the Middle School south gym. General Public tickets are on sale now. Ticket prices are $5.00 each. All seats are reserved. Click here CSI Neverland – Hudsonville Christian School for ticket and ordering information. Tickets purchased prior to February 25 will be sent home with your student. Tickets purchased after February 25 will be available at the middle school office or at the door. Online ticket sales end March 3 at 5:00. Tickets can be purchased at the door after March 3.
Moms in Prayer
Find community, find purpose. We are mothers who, together, bring all our concerns before our Heavenly Father. Let us stand with you in prayer for your children and for HCS. This week Friday we will be meeting in the unused third grade classroom from 8:00-9:00 a.m. Please check in at the main office. We will be focused on praying for the staff and students in grades 7 and 8 this week. See you there!
Summer Hiking Trips
Mr. Schnyders will once again be leading students 5th grade and up and families on hiking/camping trips this summer! The Manistee hike will be June 26-28 and the UP hike will be July 16-19. Click HERE for more information and to sign up!
Employment Opportunities
If you are interested in joining the dynamic staff at Hudsonville Christian School, there are employment opportunities for the coming 2025/2026 school year. If you or someone you know might be interested in learning more, please visit our website.
Tuition Assistance – FACTS Program
Hudsonville Christian will again be participating in FACTS, a grant application program. Families who wish to apply for tuition assistance will need to use the FACTS application format online via their confidential website. The application fee will be paid by HCS. The FACTS organization will analyze the information of each applicant. Through FACTS, HCS has the ability to more evenly distribute available tuition assistance funds based upon factual information the families provide in the application. Please note that any additional information provided in the comments section at the end of the application is very helpful when making the decision for distribution.
Parents who have children in more than one EOCS school need only to fill out the application one time — the information will be available to the schools where their children attend. The FACTS online website application is available now. Please contact FACTS at 1-866-315-9262 with any questions. The deadline for submitting this application is March 31. For registration please go to www.factsmgt.com.
ELEMENTARY NEWS
Chapel
This week Friday, February 28, Mrs. DeJong’s 1st grade class will lead chapel from 10:00-10:25. Parents are welcome to join us and may enter through the west gym lobby doors.
Elementary Hot Lunch
The menu and other information on the Elementary Hot Lunch program provided by JenHud Food Service can be found on the JenHud Food Service website.
SOAR – Second Grade Parents
Does your child easily master classroom math? Or write for fun? Or read above grade level? SOAR is a program designed for students who easily master the goals of the classroom. Students receive additional instruction at their level with like ability peers in language arts and/or math. Each spring, 2nd grade students are identified for the program on the basis of parent and teacher nomination and additional testing at HCS. Forms to nominate your child are available to pick up at the elementary school main office. The forms are due by Friday, March 21. Contact Lisi Remy (lremy@4hcs.org or 460-7686) with any questions.
4th Grade Transition to Middle School
Middle School Orientation for parents of incoming 5th grade students is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 7:00pm in the Middle School Orchestra Room (Room 8). This orientation is designed for PARENTS having a child entering middle school for the first time, but any parent of an incoming 5th student is welcome to attend.
Campers, Get Ready for Camp Firehawk!
Attention all adventurers! “Pack your gear” for an unforgettable experience at Camp Firehawk on March 14 and 15 at HCS. This year’s Annual Father/Daughter and Mother/Son Nights are calling all campers for a night of fun and excitement. This event is open to all campers Kindergarten through 4th-grade and their special guests—whether that’s a parent, grandparent, older sibling, mentor, family friend, or another important person in their life. On Friday, March 14, the girls take center stage for Ladies Night at Camp Firehawk, then, on Saturday, March 15, it’s Lumberjack Night for the boys. Dress for the theme, and get ready for games, laughter, and special moments around the campfire. Registration forms were sent home with students, please turn in your RSVP by February 28. We can’t wait to welcome all our adventurers to Camp Firehawk!
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, February 25 – Mr. Bryant Russ from Holland Christian
- Friday, February 28 – No – Chapel (Early release)
- Tuesday, March 4 – Katie Heerspink & Kristen Koetje
Hot Lunch
Hot lunch this week is Pizza Ranch Pizza (cheese/ham) $2.50/slice
5th Grade Boys Sex Ed Night
Each year Hudsonville Christian School schedules an evening for our 5th grade boys and their fathers (or another male role-model) to meet for an introduction to sex education. The meeting will be on Tuesday, March 4, at 7:00 P.M. in the orchestra room at the Middle School building. Please reserve the night! An email was sent out on February 7th.
Earth Day PaperGator Contest
PaperGator Competition!! We have a chance to earn up to $5,000.00 for our school by collecting as much paper in our PaperGator as we can from January through April! It’s called the PaperGator Earth Day Contest! Spread the word to your family and friends to fill up the middle school PaperGator located in the west parking lot off of the bus loop.
Volunteer Opportunity
The middle school is looking for a few volunteers to help supervise students during their lunch breaks. Volunteers will wander hallways and outside supervising students to ensure safety and that breaks are going smoothly. For more information or to sign up click HERE.
Ski Club
For the month of March, weather dependent, ski club cards can be used any day of the week! On Saturdays and Sundays after 3pm and all day every other day.
Awesome Arts Day
HCMS is hosting Awesome Arts Day on Friday, March 14. Stay tuned for details.
PARENTS' CLUB NEWS
Parents’ Club Board Positions
The PCB is looking to fill 3 board positions for the 2025-2026 school year. The mission and goal of the PCB is to display good stewardship as we raise and allocate funds that benefit our children in a Christ-centered education as well as to promote fellowship and the spirit of unity among parents, faculty and staff. Our 9-seat board is composed of current HCS parents that must attend monthly meetings and fulfill various assigned tasks. If you are interested in joining the Parents’ Club Board for a 3-year term starting in the fall of 2025, fill out this questionnaire by March 14, 2025. Email pcb@4hcs.org with any questions.
General Assembly Meeting
As a parent/guardian of a student at HCS you are a part of the Parents’ Club! Two times each year the Parents’ Club Board (PCB) hosts “General Assembly” meetings to provide updates and information specific to Parents’ Club support services, events and fundraisers. The spring our meeting will be held during the HCS Society Meeting on Monday, March 17. We hope to see you there!
Staff Appreciation Week March 10-14
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 March 10-14!
COMMUNITY NEWS
Middle School Bowling Team
Unity Christian is pleased to offer a Middle School Bowling team for boys and girls in grades 6 – 8. This program will run after school on Mondays and Wednesdays from March 3 – 26, and will consist of instruction and skill building, intra-squad matches, and a match formatted like high school with individual and baker games. It will be held at Hudsonville Lanes, and all experience levels are welcome! The cost to participate is $85, and the deadline to register is February 26. Please go to https://www.unitychristianathletics.org/main/campsclinics/ for more information/schedule and an on-line registration link. Information can also be found at www.unitychristianathletics.org under the “Camps and Clinics” tab.
Unity Christian High School Play
Unity Christian High School is proud to present the play This Murder Was Staged. Performances are scheduled for 7:00pm on February 27 and 28 and 5:00pm on March 1. Performances will take place at the Hudsonville High School Auditorium on 32nd Avenue. Tickets are $8 each and can be purchased on our website www.unitychristian.org under “Parent Resources.”
Unity Summer Sports Camp Schedule and Registration Information
Unity Christian will be hosting several summer sports camps for students ages three to 12th grade. Our summer camp schedule is currently available on our website at this link, and registration will open on April 15. We look forward to hosting your students at Unity sports camps this summer!
SpringHill Day Camp
This summer, SpringHill Day Camp is bringing all the camp fun to Hudsonville. This camp is designed for current Kindergarteners through 5th Graders. It will take place at Forest Grove Reformed Church on July 28 through August 1 from 9am to 4pm. Pre- and aftercare is available as well. Registration is open now! To learn more or to register, click HERE!
Allendale Christian 3-on-3
Allendale Christian School will be holding its annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament on Saturday, March 15 at Allendale High School! All athletes grades 3-8 are welcome to participate – divisions will be created based on grade level. Please visit www.facebook.com/ACS3on3/ for more details and to access the online registration form. Registration deadline is March 5. We hope to see you there!
Hudsonville Little League
Hudsonville Little League 2025 Spring Registrations are Open! Click HERE for more information.
