Sept. 11 - Hudsonville Christian Schools

Home Communicator
September 11, 2012
Dear Parents:
I am sure many of you read last week in Mrs. Broene’s opening paragraph that “God’s Spirit Alive In Me” is the theme for Hudsonville
Christian School for the 2012/2013 school year. I want you to know that while we continue to emphasize excellence in education at HCS,
we also embrace the opportunity to nurture our students’ faith both in and out of the classroom. One of the ways we do this is through
community worship experiences called “chapel”. At the middle school two times each week students and staff come together to worship in a
variety of ways. This has always been a very meaningful experience for students and staff and for others who participate.
This year this same concept is in place at our elementary school! Led by our Chapel Committee each Friday morning at 10 a.m. chapel is
happening in our elementary school gym. Some times it is an all school experience; at other times it is two or three grade levels coming
together to praise Him in song.
I would like to share with you a note from our Elementary Chapel Committee:
“What a blessing it is to come together and hear all of the students praise God as one unified body. At our first elementary school chapel of the year last
Friday, students were given an opportunity to meditate on why we have chapels as a school. In preparation, the Chapel Committee asked many students
to define chapel and worship. Many said things like, ‘When we get together to sing,’ ‘praising God,’, or ‘a time to read the Bible.’ During the actual
chapel, the students learned that chapel is actually more than that.
There is a story in John 4:13 that illustrates this point quite well. It is our hope as a Chapel Committee that students would be reminded through chapels
to fill themselves with the everlasting Spirit of God. Often times we seek things out that we think are good, but because they are not things from God, we
end up empty. Chapel helps us experience this life-giving ‘water’ from God through reading His word, prayer, and worship, which together works towards
replacing the lies of Satan with the truths of Christ.
As a Chapel Committee, we look forward to what God will do this year through the chapels He has in store. We realize that God’s Spirit is present for
each one and is constantly being breathed in and out of the students and those planning them. Please pray along side us; that we will be careful listeners
and continue to worship in truth in the Spirit.”
Dan Pott
Superintendent
“God’s Spirit Alive in Us!”
SCHOOL WIDE NEWS
FAITH CAMPAIGN
Our 2012 Faith Campaign kicked off on September 10. The goal of
the Faith Campaign this year is to raise $250,000. These funds will
be used to continue to provide for excellent facilities, upkeep, and
maintenance here at school, and also to help keep tuition affordable
and for tuition assistance needs that have risen. You will be
receiving an informational postcard in the mail followed by a phone
contact at which time you can make your pledge. Please give this
campaign your prayerful consideration.
PLAYGROUND BUILD DAY
Plans are underway to install the NEW elementary playground on
Saturday, September 22. Thank you to all who signed up so far —
WE STILL NEED 20 MORE ADULTS TO HELP BUILD THE
PLAYGROUND! Come join the fun and help build your child's
playground. Just return the flyer that came home with your child or
call or stop by the elementary office to sign up! We will start with
prayer at 7:45 a.m. and begin working from there. Lunch and snacks
are also provided, and more details will be sent to you after you sign
up. Thank you!
5TH GRADE CARD SALE
The 5 th Grade Card Sale starts on Tuesday, September 11 and ends
on Tuesday, September 25. If you have any questions or don’t
know a 5 th grader, call Amy Levering at 669-0213 or look for the
order forms and displays by the elementary office.
SAVE THE DATE!
The HCS Education Foundation Dinner will be held on Monday,
October 29 at The Pinnacle Center. Invites and information will be
going out soon, but mark your calendars to join us for a great night
out and a great message from our speakers, Laura Heyboer and Dan
Landstra. Laura and Dan are graduates of HCS and Unity Christian,
and they will discuss the value of a Christian education and how it has
benefitted Laura in her great soccer career playing at Unity, MSU, and
now as a college soccer coach. Make plans now to attend!
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS NEEDED
Our elementary school office is looking to add to its list of substitute
teachers. We need substitute teachers who would be available both
for planned in advance absences that teachers might have and for early
morning calls when teachers are ill. If you have a teaching background
or schooling in education and would be interested in serving in this
capacity, please call Linda Kellar or Michelle DeGroot at 669-6689.
SCHOOL PICTURES
School pictures will be taken on September 26 and 27. Additional
information on pictures will be coming home with students today.
AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE OPENING
Hudsonville Christian School is offering after school child care this
school year, and we still have openings for your child! The child care
is available from 2:45—6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can
email hcsafterschoolchildcare@4hcs.org. if you would like additional
information.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS
NUMBER/DAY SCHEDULE
September 12 Day #2 September 17 Day #1
September 13 Day #3 September 18 Day #2
September 14 Day #4 September 19 Day #3
COOKIES FOR KENYA STARTS FRIDAY!
Delicious chocolate chip cookies will be sold Friday morning for $.25 a
piece to benefit our school’s Kenya Partnership. Students just need to
bring in $.25 for each cookie they want and teachers will take orders
in the morning.
K—2 SINGING ON FRIDAY
This week Friday the kindergarten through second grade classes will
join together in the elementary gym for group singing from 10—10:25.
You are welcome to join us in the elementary gym!
ELEMENTARY INFORMATION NIGHT
Please plan to join us this week Thursday, September 13 at 7 p.m. for
an elementary information night. Parents will meet in the elementary
gym first and then proceed to “sectionals” to hear from their child’s
teacher, specialist teachers, etc. This evening is for parents only,
please. We are excited about sharing with parents what makes
Hudsonville Christian distinctively Christian! Look for the schedule
for the evening coming home today!
SNACK PACKAND LUNCH BUNCH GROUPS
(FORMERLY RAINBOWS FOR ALL GOD’S CHILDREN)
This is a program for K-5 students from single parent homes, stepfamilies,
or those who have experienced other loss. We have
renamed our groups this year Snack Pack (students in K—2 led by Sue
Klein) and Lunch Bunch (students in grades 3—5 led by Lori Weesies).
We will still utilize the Rainbows curriculum, which provides peer
support groups in a loving, confidential, prayerful Christian setting.
Informational letters with enrollment forms are available in the office
and are due on September 21. For more information please contact
Mr. Pott at 669-6689.
CAMP INVENTION COMING BACK NEXT SUMMER!
Camp Invention was an exciting, fun-filled learning experience for
many students this past June! It was so wonderful we are planning to
run it at HCS again......June 17-21, 2013. It will be a whole new theme
next summer for kids going into grades 1-6. Look for more
information about signing up in the next couple of months but get the
dates on your calendar as you think about next summer's plans.
Contact Sharon Leerar if you have any questions.....sleerar@hcs.org or
662-1520.
MOTHERS OF 5TH GRADE GIRLS
Save the night of Tuesday, October 2 to attend the 5th Grade Girls
Sex Ed Night with your daughter. An informational letter will come
out soon, but be sure to mark this date on your calendars!
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
SEPTEMBER 11 is a date that will always bring with it a wide range
of emotions throughout our country due to the events that occurred
11 years ago on that date. Please remember in prayer all those
impacted on that day and in the years after the event.
HOT LUNCH will begin at the middle school on Wednesday,
September 26, 2012.
COOKIES FOR KENYA
Chocolate chip cookies will be sold for $.25 a piece at break on
Friday.
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS (continued)
CHAPEL HAPPENINGS
Thursday, September 13: Matt Koets
Tuesday, September 18: Grade Levels will host their own chapels
HOMEWORK WEBSITE
Just a reminder for parents and students: Check out the homework
website for your son/daughter’s middle school homework information.
Click on school website at hudsonvillechristian.org, then click on
middle school, then homework, then your grade. Please check over
the “Policies” section of our HCMS Student Handbook for more
information on how missed homework due to absences is handled.
Thank you!
CALCULATORS are available for students to purchase in the
school office every day during morning break and noon break.
Calculators are $12.00 each. Students at HCMS need and use a Texas
Instruments TI-30X IIS calculator.
PLAN NOW TO ATTEND PARENT
INFORMATION NIGHT!
Parents are invited to attend the middle school Parent Information
Night next week Thursday, September 20. We will start our evening
in the south gym promptly at 7:00 p.m. This is a very informative
evening about upcoming school events, curriculum, homework, the
new student management program, and much more information for
your child’s grade level at our middle school. You are strongly
encouraged to attend (This is a parents only meeting – no students/
children please.)
6th & 7th GRADE STUDENT PICTURES will be taken on
Wednesday morning, September 26 beginning immediately at 8:00 a.m.
Order forms will be coming home today.
ARTPRIZE FIELDTRIP
All middle school students and staff will once again go to ArtPrize this
year. The trip is scheduled for Friday, September 28. We will leave
school at 9:00 a.m. and be back to school by 2:00 p.m. (In case of very
bad thunderstorms we will go Friday, October 5—please don’t
schedule appointments that day.) A flier with other important
information was given to students today. Some details for you to
note:
‣ must wear their school theme t-shirts from this year
‣ bring a sack/disposable lunch and beverage
‣ wear comfortable shoes for walking
‣ listen to the weather forecast – we go rain or shine – to
dress accordingly
8 TH GRADE YEARBOOK PICTURES
Parents there are several options to get pictures taken to be placed in
the school yearbook. Please see the letter mailed home last week to
parents of all 8 th grade students for additional details about the
following picture taking opportunities. 8 th grade students may have a
yearbook picture taken at the middle school on Wednesday, October
31. If parents prefer a more deluxe picture package with several proof
choices, they may schedule an appointment at John Dykstra
Photography the evenings of November 6 - 8 or November 13 – 15.
For those who wish to submit a digital photo of their choice, there are
instructions in the letter mailed home. Please return your choice form
to the middle school office by this Friday, September 14!
ADVANCE NOTICE: VISION SCREENING FOR
7TH GRADE STUDENTS
The Ottawa County Health Department will conduct vision screening
at the middle school for 7th grade students on Wednesday morning,
October 24. If possible, please avoid other appointments the morning
of October 24 for your 7th grade son/daughter. Students should be
sure to wear their glasses or contacts they wear for normal daily
vision on the testing date.

Middle School News (continued)
LIBRARY/MEDIA CENTER NEWS
NEW! The Hudsonville Christian School library is online. Please go to
http://www.hudsonvillechristian.org. Click on the Middle tab. Click on
the Library Media Center tab. Go to Library Links: Hudsonville
Christian Middle School Library. Open this link and click on the
Catalog tab to discover additional tabs to explore. Enjoy! Ask your
middle school student to show you what he or she has learned and
consider visiting the library on the evening of September 20 during
Parent Orientation for a demonstration.
TERRACYCLE AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL!
The middle school is once again participating in the Terracycle
program. Currently we are collecting for the following Brigades –
Candy Wrapper, Chip Bag, Energy Bars, Cereal Bag, Dairy tub/
Spreads, Cheese Packaging, Personal Care and Beauty. Please
remember to continue bringing in your Terracycle items!
6th GRADE BASKETBALL
Basketball opportunities were shared with 6 th grade students this week
and information/schedule sheets were sent home with interested
students. The schedules for boys and girls will also be posted online.
Check the HCS website, Middle School tab, Current Sports for the
information. Please discuss this great opportunity with your son/
daughter. The first practice for the boys will be Tuesday, September
18 and for the girls will be Wednesday, September 19. Play dates are
Monday, October 8 and Monday, October 29 at Hudsonville Christian
Middle School with game starting times to be announced.
GOLF TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
The Grand Rapids Area Christian Middle School Athletic League Golf
Tournament for 6 th , 7 th and 8 th grade students will take place on
Saturday, September 22 at the Christian Reformed Recreation Center,
3450 – 36 th Avenue, Grand Rapids with parents providing
transportation to and from the event. Students will be given the
opportunity to pick up information and registration forms Monday
thru Thursday this week in the Middle School office. The tournament
on September 22 will start at 1:00 p.m. with a shotgun start. Entry
forms and fees are due THIS WEEK FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 (no
exceptions please!) and only those students who turn in the
registration form are allowed to participate in the tournament play.
The scheduled rain date for the tournament is Saturday, October 6,
2012.)
SOCCER SCHEDULES
Soccer schedules for our 7 th grade and 8 th grade boy’s and girl’s teams
were distributed at the first practice for each team this week. The
schedules are also posted on the Hudsonville Christian Website. (Log
in and choose the Extracurricular tab, Middle School, Current Sports
sections). We will not be reprinting schedule information in the HC
each week.
PARENTS’ CLUB NEWS
MARKET DAY
Today is the last day to place your order for our September
sale! Remember that if you have never tried Market Day before, then
you can get $5 off your order of $25 or more by entering the code:
NEWFIVE in the promo codes when you check out. Other special
promotions this month: Free Apple pie with a $90 order (promo
code: SEPBONUS) and a free 9x13 carrier if you order 3 specific items
located on pages 6-7 in the handout that came home with your
child. So many delicious things to try! All orders will be ready for
pick up at the elementary school gym on Monday, Sept. 17 from 4:30-
5:30. Remember our school code is: 28356.
SEPTEMBERFEST ARTS & CRAFT SHOW!
Septemberfest Arts & Craft Show is the first fundraiser for Parents’
Club of the year, coming up this Saturday, September 15 from 9—3 at
the Hudsonville Fairgrounds. Admission is $2 for adults and free for
kids 12 and under, and lunch will be available to purchase. We have
150+ great vendor booths and the barns will be packed full of
wonderful and unique items! There are two easy ways HCS families
can help with free advertising for the Septemberfest Arts and Craft
Show which raises over $10,000 for our school! If you are on
Facebook, please search "Septemberfest Arts and Craft Show" and
COMMUNITY NEWS
click the like icon. Also, flyers announcing the show are available
outside the elementary school office. Please pick some up and bring
them into work or tape them inside your car window.
THE SEPTEMBERFEST COMMITTEE would like to thank Tricia
Bosma, Kristin DeKock, Michelle DeGroot and Lynrae Frens for three
years of service. This Saturday will be their last show. Will you
replace them This is a great Parents’ Club fundraiser that raises
funds without relying on the HCS community. If you haven't ever
been to this event, come check us out this Saturday from 9-3. We
NEED someone to join our promotions/advertising committee and an
overall chairperson. Talk to Kristin DeKock (896-3148) for more
details.
MOMS IN PRAYER GROUP
Moms in Prayer is a group of moms from HCS who meet weekly to
pray for specific needs within our school family. We will be meeting
on Wednesday mornings from 8-8:50 a.m. in the HCS Elementary
Orchestra Room (#10). Our first meeting will be September 12 th .
All are welcome to join any prayer meeting. If you have any questions
about Moms in Prayer, call Kris Michmerhuizen (#662-9150) or
Michelle Gulker (#662-9573).
COMMUNITY NEWS
The 4th annual TASTE AND U'LL C tailgater will be Friday, September
14, from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. in Revive's parking lot. Tickets are $5 and
are available in Unity's office. NO tickets will be sold at the
Tailgater. Food will be provided by Jets Pizza, Subway, Stir Fry
Express, Hudsonville Ice Cream, and Fazoli's.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT HCS
September 10-28 MAP Testing window October 2 5th Grade Girls Sex Ed Night
September 13 Elementary Orientation Night October 9 & 11 6th Grade Dunes Trip
September 15 Septemberfest Arts & Craft Show October 12 Parent Coffee/Fall Parents’ Club Mtg
September 20 Middle School Information Night October 18—19 CEA Convention — no school
September 22 Playground Build Date October 26 Grandparents’ Day
September 26/27 School pictures October 29 Education Foundation Dinner