HOME COMMUNICATOR
In Michigan during this time of the year, we crave the changing of seasons as we look for hints of spring. The warming temperatures, the sight of the first bud on the trees, and the signs of plant life poking through the ground give us such hope and promise for a welcomed change from the cold winter. Another “season” that I experience at HCS is what I’ve deemed the “hiring season.” A season where many staff members are involved in the process of talking to individuals who are interested in working at Hudsonville Christian. During this season, we have the opportunity to meet with candidates, hear their excitement for God and for students, and also share with them how God is working at HCS. While it’s a busy season, it’s a season that brings me so much joy for so many reasons.
One of my favorite parts of this process is hearing our candidates share their faith and how they bring their faith into their teaching. I recall one recent conversation with a potential candidate where we discussed one of the best parts of working at a Christian school – that God’s story is in everything we’re learning. Every academic goal, every conversation, every activity, is part of God’s story and fits within the creation, fall, redemption, restoration model. We can discuss texts and the fall of characters, and how they are restored. We can discuss how God is in every aspect of creation and how we are called to care for our earth. We look at student behavior through the lens of this model as we work to restore our relationships. God’s story is absolutely in every single detail at Hudsonville Christian.
Another favorite part of the interview process is when candidates ask questions about our school. One common question is when they ask our interview team to describe the community at Hudsonville Christian. This year, my answer to that question was that our community is life-giving for me. It’s life-giving as a professional as I work with our amazing staff who work so diligently to grow in their knowledge of content and students. It’s life-giving personally as I value the relationships I’ve established with colleagues whom I am grateful to call friends. But most importantly, it’s life-giving spiritually. Overhearing hallway conversations with students, worshipping in chapel together, observing lessons in classrooms where God is brought into every detail – those moments strengthen my relationship with God in ways I never would have expected.
My prayer is that you find our community at Hudsonville Christian to be a place where you see God’s story in everything as well. That when you walk through these doors and partner in the work that we are doing, you find it brings life to you and your family in many ways, and that you see your children growing both academically and as children of God.
Partnering with you,
Jen Rysdam
Director of Curriculum & Instruction
SCHOOL-WIDE NEWS
Report Cards
The 3rd nine-week marking period ended on Friday, March 21. Report cards will be posted to RenWeb this Friday, March 28 for students in 1st-8th grade. If you experience problems or have questions about accessing this information through RenWeb, please contact Terry Steenstra at tsteenstra@4hcs.org.
Spring Break
Spring Break is April 3-11. School will resume on Monday, April 14. If you plan on taking your child out of school early prior to spring break, please make sure that you notify your child’s teacher and the school office via the Childwatch line 616-379-0332.
Employment Opportunities
With a few teachers shifting into new roles, we have some early childhood staff openings! We are looking for people who love the Lord and love working with our youngest learners. These are our current openings:
- Tuesday / Thursday morning 3 School
- Tuesday / Thursday / Friday Nature-Based 4 School
Click here to find out more information on our website!
URGENT Volunteer Need
A Scrap Metal Drive will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 2 and May 3, to benefit the Foundations of Unity Christian High School and Hudsonville Christian School. The drive will be held at the Arrowaste Outlot, 1296 Chicago Dr. Jenison from 1pm-8pm on Friday and 8am-2pm on Saturday. WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS! If you’re able to help click HERE to sign up! Thank you for supporting our school!
HCS Walkathon
Please encourage your children to collect their pledges! Please fill out the forms for each one of your children, including per lap and any online straight donations that they may have. They are due back on April 15. Don’t forget to encourage online donations through this link. A room mom may be contacting you soon to see if you are able to help out with counting laps (for grades 4th-8th) at the track. This is the schedule for the Walkathon this year:
Elementary Chapel @ 8:15-8:40
Grades 6, 7 Board Buses: 8:00 Walk: 8:15-9:00
Grade 4, 5 Board Buses: 9:00 Walk: 9:15-10:00
Grades Y5,K & 8 Board Buses: 9:45 Walk: 10:15-11:00 (Seaver & Lubbers)
Grades K, 1 Board Buses: 10:45 Walk: 11:15-12:00 (DeLong, Ymker, & Yonker)
Grades 2, 3 Board Buses: 12:15 Walk: 12:30-1:15
Please note that Unity’s policy is that no dogs are allowed on the athletic campus. Let’s be good neighbors and respect their wishes so that we can continue to use this great facility. Thank you for your support of this important fundraiser!
Moms in Prayer
The Moms in Prayer would love to have you join them at the elementary school to pray for these sweet Early Childhood, Young 5s and Kindergarten students and teachers this Friday. Please check in at the office and they will direct you to the third grade classroom where we pray. We always have room for you!
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!
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, March 28, Ms. Brinks’ 4th 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.
Cookies
This week Friday morning students will have the opportunity to purchase freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for $.25 each (limit 4).
Consuming Fire Art Show
Save the Date for the Consuming Fire Art Show on Thursday, April 24 from 6:00- 7:30. Every student from Y5-4th grade will have art displayed throughout the school, including the much anticipated Black Light Exhibit! We cannot wait to celebrate the artistic abilities in every student!
Lost and Found
Please remind your child(ren) to check out the lost and found items in the hall by the lower elementary office to see if anything belongs to them. Parents – please check out the lost and found when you are at school.
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 Friday. Parents are welcome to join us! If you would like to view the Middle School Chapels at a later time, you can find recordings on our Vimeo channel- Chapel.
- Tuesday, March 25 – 6th grade Homeroom – Mr. Huisman
- Friday, March 28 – Student Praise Team
- Tuesday, April 1 – 5th Grade Homeroom – Mrs. Bronson
Hot Lunch
Hot lunch this week Wednesday is Pizza Ranch Pizza (Bacon/cheese) $2.50/slice.
Cookies
Cookies will be sold during morning break on Friday for $.25 (limit 4 per student)
Consuming Fire Days (AKA Spirit Week)
Consuming Fire Days begins this Friday, March 28!! There will be special dress-up days, hidden objects, and games at breaks on March 28, 31, April 1, and 2. Grades will compete for points and prizes.
- Friday, March 28- Dress-up: Black Out / Break Game: Spread the Fire
- Monday, March 31- Dress-up: Stuffed Animal day / Break Game: Hot Potato
- Tuesday, April 1- Dress-up: Fictional Character / Break game: Blowout the Fire
- Wednesday, April 2- Dress-up: Western Day / Break game: Jump the Fire
Unity 8th grade Bowling Mixer
Date: Friday, March 28 7:00-9:00 pm
Location: Hudsonville Lanes, 5775 Balsam Dr, Hudsonville, MI 49426
Details: 2 hours of bowling and shoes for $10 per person! Pay when you arrive. Full snack bar and drinks will be available for purchase. Students need to have a ride to and from Hudsonville Lanes please.
Faces and Our Culture Opportunity
Our school has been part of an amazing cultural exchange program for Guatemalan students for years, and we’re excited to keep it going! Faces And Our Cultures provides Guatemalan students with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in our community for eight enriching weeks. During their stay, these ambassadors will fully integrate into our school community and participate in all school activities. The program runs from Sunday, October 19 – Saturday, December 13.
To become cultural ambassadors, participants undergo a thorough selection process and extensive preparation throughout the year. Each child will be matched with a student close in age and same gender. The host family provides homestay for 8 weeks, making them part of the routine, activities, rules, curfews, and house chores as another member of the family. School kindly provides lunches, school materials, and school related activities. For those interested in learning more about the Faces program, please register here for more information.
Earth Day PaperGator Contest
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.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Middle School Tennis Team
Unity Christian is pleased to offer a Middle School Tennis team for boys and girls in grades 7 & 8. This program will run from April 14 – May 20, and will consist of practices and matches against other schools. All experience levels are welcome! The cost to participate is $65, and the deadline to register is March 27. Please go to Unity Christian High School (unitychristianathletics.org) for more information and for registration link.
Employment Opportunity
Immanuel CRC in Hudsonville is looking to fill the Administrative Assistant and Business Manager/Bookkeeper positions. Responsibilities include office management, record keeping, publications, staff support, accounting/payroll, etc. For more information, please contact Allen Vedders 616-581-8943, avedders@att.net
A weekend away, a world of difference!
JH Outback Grand Rapids is an adventure packed weekend that is life-changing for parents and their teen children(13-20 years old). Immersed in an undistracted environment that focuses on building connection and communication to last a lifetime!! You will bond through shared goals, challenges and a deeper understanding of life purpose and biblical values. May 16-18, 2025 at TimberWolf Lake Lodge in Lake City, Michigan. Watch this video for more information, and sign up at www.jhoutback.com. Please contact Danielle DeSmit @ 616.299.3067 if you have any further questions.
