HOME COMMUNICATOR
Last week was the first HCS Unified basketball game of the season. The bleachers were crowded, and our players were pumped to get out on the court. This is Hudsonville Christian’s first official year of being part of the Special Olympics Unified Sports, which is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through sports competition.
Unified helps bring students with and without disabilities together with the belief that “training together and playing together are quick paths to friendship and understanding.” Seeing these kids working together to gain skills, have fun, and most importantly, glorify God, brings such joy.
Join us when our Unified Basketball Team plays Zeelend Christian in the east gym on March 26 at 6pm.
Jenny Gorter
Director of Educational Support Services
ALL-SCHOOL NEWS
Early Release
Next week Friday, March 15 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.
Parents’ Club Board 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 Executive Board (PCB) hosts “General Assembly” meetings to provide updates and information specific to Parents’ Club support services, events and fundraisers. The spring meeting is tomorrow, March 6 from 8:00am-8:30am in the elementary west conference room. We would love to see you there!
PCB Positions
The PCB is looking to fill 3 board positions for the 2024-2025 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 2024, fill out this questionnaire. by this Friday, March 8. Email pcb@4hcs.org with any questions.
HCS Annual Society Meeting
The HCS Annual Society Meeting will be held on Monday, March 18 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. The HCS Annual Society booklet can be found at this link.
School Board Meeting
Following the annual Society Meeting on March 18, the School Board will hold their monthly meeting. Please use this as a reminder to pray for our school leadership and administrators. Thanks for your continued support!
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 15.
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. Join us for performances on March 7, 8 & 9. Tickets are $5.00 each. All seats are reserved. Learn more about the play on our website.
Families of the cast and crew, check your email for “Cast/Crew” separate ticket ordering instructions from the Directors. All General Admission tickets can be ordered HERE. Please note that HCS is not able to offer the option of selecting your own seats. However, as much as possible, tickets purchased together, will be seated together.
Moms in Prayer
The Moms in Prayer group believes that through prayer God releases His power on behalf of our children and school. Our faith is in God who hears and answers our prayers. This week Friday we 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 amazing education support staff this week. See you there!
Pig in the Blankets are Back
Pig in the blankets will be for sale self-serve in the elementary school kitchen large double door freezer for $15/dozen! Checks made payable to HCS or cash can be placed in the green box on the top right side shelf. Thanks so much for supporting HCS!
HCS Employment Opportunities
If you are interested in joining the dynamic staff at Hudsonville Christian School, there are some employment opportunities for the coming 2024/2025 school year. We are looking for some ESS staff as well as a part time middle school counselor. If you are passionate about working with students, are team-oriented, and have a strong love for our Lord and Savior (or if you know someone who is), the application can be found on our website.
Hudsonville Christian School is seeking applicants for a Full-time Head Outdoor Groundskeeper and Assistant Indoor Custodian. This position is primarily responsible for the cleanliness, preparation, maintenance, safety, and protection of the buildings, contents, and grounds of the school. The full job description and application can be found on our website. All applications must be turned in by Tuesday, March 12.
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).
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 15. Contact Lisi Remy (lremy@4hcs.org or 460-7686) with any questions.
3rd Grade STEM Activity
If you have a 3rd grader who enjoys creative thinking, problem solving, and working with others to accomplish a goal, this is the opportunity for them! 3rd grade students are invited to participate in an after school STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activity on Thursday, March 21. We will meet in the Elementary library after school and will be finished at 4:00. The cost, which covers materials and a snack, is $2 and can be paid at the STEM class or sent in ahead of time (LABELED PLEASE) to your child’s teacher. Go to the sign up genius to register your child. The STEM activity is limited to the first 24 students. We would also appreciate the assistance of a few parent volunteers. If you are willing to help, please sign up in the parent slot on the form. Registration for this opportunity closes Tuesday, March 19 or when all the available spots are filled.
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 at HCS. Lace up your sneakers and get in the game with a lineup of activities to keep your adrenaline pumping, including an obstacle course, dodgeball matches, basketball showdowns, creative plays in friendship bracelet making, temporary tattoos, and a concession stand serving victory snacks. Whether you’re a mom, dad, or someone special, this is your chance to huddle up with your young athlete for an unforgettable night of Game On! 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. Register by March 8 with the forms sent home with your student.
5th Grade Boys Sex Ed
An invitation was emailed home about an opportunity for 5th grade boys and their fathers, or male role models, to attend the 5th grade boys Sex Ed night. The event will be happening tonight, March 5 at 7:00pm. This special evening will take place at the Middle School in the library and details were included in the email. Jon Huisman and Shane Schaap will be leading this informative time that will hopefully start a conversation that can be continued with your son.
4th & 5th Grade Middle School Parent Orientation Night
The Parent orientation night for 4th and 5th grade parents will take place on Tuesday, March 12 in the library. This orientation is designed for parents having a child in middle school for the first time – although all parents are invited. The purpose of this evening is to introduce parents to the 5th & 6th grade staff and give them an overview of the year ahead. If you are unable to attend a recording of the night can be requested.
- Current 5th grade parents will meet at 5:30 pm.
- Current 4th grade parents will meet at 7:00 pm.
Summer Tutoring
A list of teachers that are available for summer tutoring can be found on our website.
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.
- Chris Lowe leading chapel – Tuesday, March 5.
- 8th grade homeroom – Lance Machiela leading chapel – Thursday, March 7.
Hot Lunch
Hot Lunch this week Wednesday will be Chick Fil A $4.50/sandwich (pickle/no pickle). Pop and chips will also be sold for $.50 each. The full menu/schedule is listed on our website.
Cookies
Cookies will be sold this Friday during break for $0.25 each (limit 4).
Absences
Please note, if your child misses school for any reason, it is the STUDENTS responsibility to connect with each teacher for missed class time content and missed work. It is important that all work is completed promptly to ensure the student does not fall behind.
Faces and Our Cultures Program 2024
For many years, our school has participated in a cultural exchange program for Guatemalan students through Faces and Our Cultures. We are excited to continue the program once again next fall. The Faces And Our Cultures program is designed to provide Guatemalan students the opportunity to spend 7 weeks in our community. Over the years, we have had a number of Guatemalan ambassadors come to our campus and many have built lasting relationships with their host families. We are looking for host families to host this fall. Each participant will attend Hudsonville Christian for seven weeks as a full-time student, have their own schedule, and will participate in all aspects of the school day. These student ambassadors are fluent in English and will arrive on Sunday, October 20th and depart on Saturday, December 14th. All the school related costs will be covered by the Faces Program. Host families kindly provide homestay and make them part of their family’s routine for 7 weeks. Each child will need a host home and the assigned child will be the same age and sex of the host child. To learn more you can register at the following link: LEARN MORE HERE
COMMUNITY NEWS
Attention Middle School Fishermen/Fisherwomen!
Do you have a child who is interested in competitive bass tournaments? Join Unity Christian’s Bass Fishing Club that competes in the Sportspersons Ministries International Middle and High School bass fishing series. The Saturday tournament dates are April 27, May 4, and May 11. Feel free to contact Chad Essebaggers at 616-209-7044 or Scott VanWyk at 616-915-3878 for more information on this club.
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!
Employment Opportunity
Hillcrest CRC is seeking a Director of Worship and Music to help lead and grow us in our worship life! This position involves planning worship services, coordinating musicians, and overseeing all aspects of our worship services and musicians. It involves working collaboratively with our pastors on worship planning. This is currently a half-time position, however we can discuss options. Please contact Kari Brinks, at Hillcrest CRC, at kbrinks@hillcrestcrc.org for any questions or to submit a resume.
