He is Coming!

A long time ago … I attended a local undergraduate college. I have many memories of those years. I made many lasting friendships, learned critical life skills, and began the process of shaping my world and life view. During this time I observed almost everything, with too critical an eye, especially those things happening close to me. I would pass judgment on a person or situation. As I was sitting in chapel this week listening to one of our parents challenging us to keep Jesus first during this Advent season, I remembered a time during Advent, while I was attending college, where a gentleman carrying a huge cross (his burden) preached to us, “the end is coming!”  We needed to be ready. I did not think much of his message at the time.  Today I realize that in his way he was challenging me and the other college students much like we were our Pine Ridge students in chapel. Tim Brown reminds us in his Coming Home devotions for Advent, that “the living God is, has been, and always will be about the business of getting ready. Should we be any different?”

During this Advent season, together let’s remind everyone that He is Coming!

CHAMPS books are in!

We now have CHAMPS coupon books available in the office for the fabulous price of $25 a book. They make great gifts for the holiday season.  Come check them out!

Holland Christian Christmas Concerts for 4th-8th grade band and orchestra students!
Monday, December 7 in the Holland Christian High School Auditorium.  Show times are as follows
6 PM: 4th, 5th and 6th grade Orchestras and Bands.
8 PM: MS Jazz Band, Orchestra, and Band.

After school Community Enrichment (ACE) News
Would your son or daughter enjoy staying active or creating custom beads this winter?  Then check out the enrollment forms for the ACE classes that came home today!  SPORTS SPECTACULAR and BEADAZZLED classes will begin on Thursday, January 14th for six Thursdays. What a perfect opportunity to also include a non-HC friend!  For more forms and information, go to hollandchristian.org/enrichment  Sign up as early as Monday, December 7th!

DITTO Christmas Sale 
Have you been inside ditto’s lately? WOW! Vintage items. Home décor. Furniture. Boutique clothing. Plus, loads of items to create your own Pinterest masterpiece! Be sure to stop by ditto’s for some unique Christmas ideas! Go to our website at http://www.dittoresale.com for a coupon worth 25% OFF your total purchase for the month of December. The best part of ditto’s? Your shopping dollars support the students at HCS and ZCS. Your family wins with ditto!  Click on attached COUPON!

6th Grade HC/Bittersweet Ski Club
Information went home this week for 6th Grade Ski Club. Please see attached Documents to Print and Sign, for Ski Club Card Purchases.

1. Ski Club information and Waiver registration forms
2. Q & A Ski Club Questions.
3. HC Ski Club information Dates

Bittersweet Ski Club forms and cards are also available in the office at Pine Ridge! Stop in anytime and purchase student or adult ski club cards once your form is filled out. Students 6th - 8th Grade Ski Club Cards are $24 each. Both sibling and adult cards are $16 each. Checks MUST be payable to Holland Christian Schools. Cash will also be accepted. We also now have a handout with the ski club dates for this year.

Positive Options Collection (Formerly Lakeshore Pregnancy Center)
Just a reminder we are collecting Baby Items for Positive Options (Lakeshore Pregnancy Center) again this year.  Click here for a  List of Needs.  Please have your child bring in any of these items, before December 16.  Positive Options will be coming in to receive these gifts on December 16, at our Chapel, 12:30pm.  Thank you so much for your giving hearts.

Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run Assistant coaches are still needed to help on Tuesdays/Thursdays come Spring!  Please contact Lisa VandenBerg if you are interested or if you have any further questions. tlvand@charter.net or 616-836-4843.

World Renew Collection Program (SS)
God graciously includes us, His people, in His ongoing mission of reconciliation in the world. Every December we recommit ourselves as a community who strives to transform the world by reaching out to children and families in need to offer hope and help through the World Renew Gift Program. Each class will collect money from November 30-December 11. As the money is brought to school, students will total the donation and make decisions about how they would like to allocate the funds. Through the World Renew gift catalog, students can select items such as mosquito nets, health kits, goats, pigs, chimneys, latrines and water filters. We we hold a special chapel service on Wednesday, December 16 during which we will review what items our entire South Side community will be sending out around the world.

We invite you to participate in this program. You may encourage your child to complete special jobs around the house to earn money. Perhaps they can dig into their own piggy bank for an offering. You are welcome to attend our chapel time on Wednesday, December 16 from 8:30-9:00 as we offer our gifts as a response to God's love and grace in our lives.

Dress for the Weather
We are in that ‘in-between’ season time where it can be quite cold in the morning and comfortable in the afternoon. Please be sure to send your child with a jacket, hat, mittens, etc. as needed. We do not have enough of an inventory of these items in the office to supply all students who request outerwear when they do not have their own. Thanks for your help!

Double your online donations!
Now through December 31, 2015, all online donations to the Tuition Grant Fund will be doubled! We have received a challenge from two generous donors to match dollar for dollar the first $50,000. Click here to donate online.

Volunteers Needed: 
Pine Ridge-
Piano Players for Chapel:
We are in need of Piano Players for Chapel on Wednesday Afternoons from 12:30pm - 1:15pm.  If you are available, and would like to sign up for January 13, 20 or 27.  Please Contact Laura in the office.  616.820.3505 or lnorman@hollandchristian.org.

South Side & Pine Ridge-
Boxtop and Campbell's Label Helpers Needed:
This includes checking expiration dates, trimming and bundling these into groups using rubber bands, envelopes or baggies. Counting total points and submitting them to Laura Norman or Pat Meiste for submission two times per year.  If you are interested in helping, please contact Pat pmeiste@hollandchristian.org or Laura lnorman@hollandchristian.org.
**Just a reminder: Spartan is no longer offering reimbursement for UPC labels, Thank you for your support!

After School Program
Holland Christian offers a Before and After School Program for Rose Park, South Side, and Pine Ridge Elementary students each full day school is in session. The Before and After School Program provides children with an opportunity to develop spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially through organized group activities and play. The cost of the program is $5 per hour. Drop in care, for children who do not regularly participate in the Before and After School Program, is also available if space allows. Before School Care: 7:00 am - 8:10 am  After School Care:  3:15 pm - 5:30 pm  If you have questions, please email Amanda Brouwer at abrouwer@hollandchristian.org.   You may register for the program here.

Emergency Procedures:
As the weather changes from summer to fall, it is time for you to become familiar with our emergency procedures, particularly during a tornado watch or warning. The guidelines below are also found in our elementary handbook online.
Tornado Watch
1. All students will remain in their building under the direct supervision of their teachers.
2. The regular school schedule will be followed.
3. Classes will be dismissed at the regular time.
Tornado Warning
1. No student will be dismissed. Children may be released to a parent who personally comes to get the child (although this is not recommended).
2. All students will be assigned to the safest possible area within the school building until the warning has been lifted. Civil Defense Officials have assisted us in determining these areas.
*** It is helpful to us if you do not call the school during these times. It is not that we do not want you to know what is happening, but our attention needs to be on the safety of the children. Thanks! Fire, tornado and lockdown drills are held periodically throughout the school year according to Michigan School Guidelines. We will be practicing a tornado and fire drill soon!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
November 30- Dec. 11   World Renew Collection (South Side)
December 9 & 16           TRIP Dates
December 7                   4th - 8th Grade Band & Orchestra Concert  ( 4th -6th Starts at 6pm )
December 16                  World Renew Celebration (8:30 a.m.- SS Gym)
December 16                 Positive Options Collection Celebration (12:30pm - PR Gym)
December  21-Jan 3       Christmas Vacation
January       4                  All Classes Resume
January      14                 After school Community Enrichment (ACE) Starts

REQUESTED ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Downtown Holiday Events Brochure copies are available in the school Offices or by clicking this link at Brochure Copy.