HOME COMMUNICATOR
Humans have a strong need to belong. As Christians, we have a desire to belong not only to our heavenly Father, but also to His family. One of the intentional ways we help students build community and feel that sense of belonging is through our buddy program at the elementary building. Students in older grades are paired up with younger buddies and the groups get together once a month for an activity. Through simple get-to-know-you interviews and games, students start the year by making connections and beginning a friendship with someone in a different part of the building.
”And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
Once the buddies know each other, they might read together, make cards for others in our school or in the community, play games, or do a project together. Sometimes the older students teach their younger buddies how to do something new, like create fancy paper snowflakes or play a fun math game. Buddies have also found ways to include each other surrounding our chapel times. For example, a third grade class invited their kindergarten buddies to join them in singing a song when they led chapel a couple of months ago. Recently, Mrs. Hoogeboom’s class made a tunnel in the hallway for their buddies to walk through on their way to the west gym for chapel, making them feel special and loved. Mrs. Beukema’s first graders made cards for their fourth grade buddies in Miss Brinks’ class when they led chapel, giving them some encouragement. Miss Brinks’ class returned the kindness when the first graders led chapel.
These are just a few small ways that children can find a place to belong here at HCS. Take some time to ask your children what they’ve been doing with their buddies!
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” –Hebrews 10:24-25
Tricia Kiepert
Elementary Principal
ALL-SCHOOL NEWS
Limited Busing
On Monday, February 12 and Tuesday, February 13 HPS busing will be limited. The following buses will run their regular route: 4 / 75, 57, 62, 74. If your HPS bus number is not mentioned in this limited busing list, you will need to provide your own transportation to and from school on these dates. Unity bus routes will run as normal.
Parent Teacher Conferences
This winter we are looking forward to conferences with our parents February 13 and 15, 2024 for students in Young 5s – 8th grade. School will be in session regular hours on both conference days. There will be no school for 3 School through 8th Grade on Friday, February 16 and Monday, February 19.
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 in the preschool lounge at the elementary building, 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 3 and 4 this week. See you there!
HCS Auction
Purchase Dinner Tickets Now for a Deal
Order your dinner tickets now and SAVE! Enjoy Wing Doozy at this year’s auction, happening Saturday, March 2. Doors open at 4:30pm. Live Auction begins at 6pm! Early bird dinner pricing through Friday, Feb 23 so don’t wait! Learn more and purchase dinner tickets NOW at hudsonvillechristian.cbo.io (login and search “dinner”).
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 hudsonvillechristian.cbo.io and you might just have your wish come true! Winner announced at the LIVE AUCTION on Saturday, March 2nd (winner does not have to be present to win).
Teacher Experiences
You each received a flyer showcasing the AWESOME teacher experiences you can win at this year’s auction! Every teacher is donating a unique experience, so be sure to check them out at hudsonvillechristian.cbo.io by searching “teacher” and buying your $5 raffle ticket!!
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, March 1 or Saturday morning, March 2, to the HCS West Gym. All decadent desserts will be available to purchase for $25 at the auction on March 2nd, but come early because they won’t last long! Questions? Email Auction@4hcs.org
HCS 3 on 3 Tournament
Hudsonville Christian School is excited to partner with our community and host the first annual HCS 3 on 3 basketball tournament on March 9, 2024. Registration is now open! Please send any questions to 3on3@4hcs.org.
The 8th Grade Presents “Haphazardly Ever After”
Get ready for an enchanting experience as our talented 8th grade students take the stage in their production of “Haphazardly Ever After”! This one-of-a-kind fractured fairy tale farce promises laughter, whimsy, and a touch of royal chaos. In “Haphazardly Ever After,” a kind king and queen deal with a royal family that’s anything but ordinary — four moody, obnoxious children who hilariously fall short of their royal titles. We invite you to see the fun unfold on stage and support our HCS students! Performance dates March 7-9. Stay tuned for ticket information.
Orchestra News
Congratulations to Evie Faasse, Olivia Vredevoogd, Sarina Beard and Lily Boverhof for performing in the district Honors Orchestra this past weekend. These students were selected from a large group of students, played with 7th/8th graders representing 22 different middle schools, learned some advanced music and performed it at Rockford HS on Saturday. They did an amazing job and deserve a round of applause for all their hard work.
7th/8th Grade Orchestra will be headed to the Band and Orchestra Festival, March 5 at Calvin University. They will be performing three pieces for different judges and be rated on how they play as a group, as well as being judged on how well they sight-read a piece of music they have never seen before. The students will be playing at 9:25 that morning, and parents/grandparents are more than welcome to attend to cheer us on and listen!
5th-8th Grade Orchestras – Fiddle Fest is right around the corner. Please mark your calendar, March 19 at 7:00, for this fun night of fiddle, folk and more. We will be taking you on a travelog through different countries and experiencing music from all around the world. The concert is open to all and is at Fair Haven Church.
Summer Hiking Trips
Mr. Schnyders will once again offer summer hiking trips for students and parents. The Manistee hike will be June 27-29. A hike in the UP will be July 17-20. If you are interested in either of these trips, mark your calendars and be watching for signup information early March.
Employment Opportunity – Finance Assistant
HCS is seeking a Finance Assistant to join our team as a part-time or full-time position. If interested, or desire to learn more about the position, please contact Devon Brinks, Superintendent at dbrinks@4hcs.org or at 616-669-6689.
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
All elementary students will gather in the west gym for chapel on 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).
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Scheduled conferences will take place at our elementary school on Tuesday, February 13 and Thursday, February 15. You should have received your conference time(s) by mail. Our full-time specialists will be available both evenings. Mrs. Kamper (Y5s/K Spanish) will be available at the middle school both evenings. Mrs. Remy (SOAR) will be available on Thursday, February 15. Mrs. Kamp (School Counselor) will be available at the middle school on Thursday, February 15. Mrs. Jager (Orchestra) and Mr. Knot (Band) will be available at the middle school on Tuesday, February 13.
As a courtesy to our parents, we will once again offer complementary childcare for potty-trained children ages 3 through 5th grade for your child(ren)’s conference time. Please sign them in at the east gym five minutes before your scheduled conference.
Valentine’s Day Celebrations
As part of an ongoing effort to support our many students with dietary restrictions, we will continue to celebrate Valentine’s Day with activities that avoid candies and treats this year in Preschool-5th grade. Making this adjustment is a gift to many in our community. Thank you for partnering with us and with one another.
Game On Extravaganza!
Get ready to score big at our sporting extravaganza, Game On! Kindergarten – 5th grade students and their champions are invited to join us for an action-packed evening of bonding and fun. Save the date for Mothers/Special Person and Daughters on March 22 from 6-7:30pm and Fathers/Special Person and Sons on March 23 from 6-7:30pm. Gear up for the competition by wearing matching colors or sporting your favorite team jerseys together. Registration flyers will be sent home soon. Let the games begin!
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
Chapel
Students and staff will gather in the south gym for chapel from 7:55-8:25 AM on Tuesday and Thursday. 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.
- Kristen Koetje leading chapel- Tuesday, February 6.
- 8th Grade Homeroom – Tyler Prough leading chapel – Thursday, February 8.
Hot Lunch
Hot Lunch this week Wednesday will be Arby’s roast beef sandwich ($3.00/sandwich). Pop and chips will also be sold for $.50 each. The full menu/schedule is listed on our website.
7th/8th Grade EOCS Band Concert
The 7th and 8th Grade band will be participating in the EOCS Band Concert this Thursday, February 8 at Fair Haven church at 7pm.
MS Parent/Teacher Conferences
There are NO scheduled conference times for middle school students during the winter conference dates. Homeroom Teachers will be available in the south gym to meet with parents in cafeteria-style conferences from 3:30 – 5:45 p.m. and from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. The cafeteria-style meetings are meant to be short 7 -10 minute discussions to allow all parents access to staff members in a timely manner. IF you require a longer conference with a particular teacher, please be sure to connect with them via email or by calling the middle school office at 616-379-0338 to make this request and set up an individual conference on a different date and time.
Core 2/ESS Parent/Teacher Conference Availability
The following teachers are available BOTH Tuesday 2/13 AND Thursday 2/15: Sarah Bolt (ESS), Matt Borst (PE), Anna Schreur (Music/Choir), Joy DeWindt (ELA), Tiffany Kamper (Spanish). Available ONLY on Tuesday 2/13: Tammy Holwerda, Sara Jager (Orchestra), Laura Mast (Art), Brian Knot (Band). Available ONLY on Thursday 2/15: Jamie Kamp, Jennifer Large (PE) Kristen Koetje (ESS/Life Skills).
7th Grade Winter Camp
The 7th Graders had a great couple of days last week exploring God’s creation and building community at Spring Hill Camp! Praising God for all the amazing memories that were made and the faith-building moments that happened. A special thanks to all the teachers and parents that helped make this such a great experience. What a blessing!
*** If your student had medications sent along to winter camp, you can pick the medication up at the Middle School office or send a signed note with your child requesting that we send it home with them.
Concession Sales
The middle school student leaders will host a concession stand after school and for the girls’ basketball game on Monday, February 12. Plan to get your snacks there and support our students!
Ski Club
Due to the warm weather and ski conditions, the ski club outing that was scheduled for this Friday, February 9 is canceled. We still have the following dates scheduled weather permitting: February 23, March 1 & March 22 (make-up date).
COMMUNITY NEWS
8th Grade Unity Christian Mixer
Future UC Saders – Our next mixer event will be this Friday, February 9th at Unity Christian High School. Join other 8th graders from local schools before the Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball games. Meet at 5:00 pm in the main gym. Pizza and Water will be provided for FREE! Plan to stick around for the basketball games, starting at 6:00 pm. All 8th grade students will get into the games for free. Please reach out to Julie Essebaggers at Unity with any questions. Thanks and see you on the 9th!
Unity Christian New Student Nights
Unity Christian is holding New Student Nights on February 7, and 12. All 8th grade families should have received a packet in the mail as well as an email with a link to sign up. If you have not received the packet and email and are interested in signing up for an evening, please contact Julie Essebaggers at jessebaggers@unitychristian.org or 616-669-1820.
Unity Christian Clay Shoot
Unity Christian’s Annual Clay Shoot is coming March 9, 2023, at Blendon Pines. This event is for shooters, wanna-be-shooters, never-thought-I’d-do-this shooters and non-shooting friends! Registration will start at 8:30am, event starts at 9am. The cost is $75/shooter ($50/student shooter). Register a team of 5 or sign up as an individual and we will put you in groups! Registration deadline is February 14.
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 10. We look forward to hosting your students at Unity sports camps this summer!
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 4 – 25, 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 $80, and the deadline to register is February 28. 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.
IF:Gathering at Evergreen Ministries
Evergreen Ministries will be hosting the IF:Gathering for the 8th year on February 24, 2024. This is a one day women’s event focusing on Because of Jesus. We want to create the opportunity for you to experience Jesus. We want you to remember His character, power, mystery, love and delight. You will be encouraged by speakers live streamed from Dallas, engaged in a time of worship, and have an opportunity to participate in a community celebrating what Jesus has done. A $15 fee will cover the event, snacks, and lunch. We invite you to join us, sign up today: IF: Hudsonville Registration
Group Therapy Coming to Love Your Neighbor
Group Therapy will now be offered at Love Your Neighbor in Hudsonville for adults in our community struggling with anxiety or depression. Sessions follow an 8 week repeating cycle, and anyone can join a group at any time. $5 per session. Learn more or register here.
Free Play Group
Ridgewood CRC (next to the Georgetown Township Library) will offer a free playgroup on Monday mornings until March (except February 19) from 9:30- 10:30 AM for children ages 0-5 and their caregiver(s). There is a bounce house, a large open space with fun toys and activities, and coffee and snacks provided. Enter through door “N.” No need to sign up; just show up! We hope to see you there!
Allendale Christian 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament
Allendale Christian School will be holding its annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament on Saturday, March 16, at Allendale High School! There will be divisions for boys and girls for each grade level in 3rd through 8th grade. Please visit www.facebook.com/ACS3on3/ for more details and to access the online registration form. Early registrations ($120/team) runs through February 4. The registration deadline is March 6. We hope to see you there!
