...that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters....the sleeping child you're holding is the Great I Am.”
Those words stir my soul. To hold a baby, new life, particularly at Christmas time (particularly if said baby is not crying) moves my heart to Mary's, to the extent to which it can. What was it like to hold the tiny fingers of the Christ child? How does a human being raise, care for, feed and develop God's own Son? As Karen VanMeeteren shared with our students during Friday morning’s praise and worship time, truly, the Christmas announcement is the greatest news in the history of the world. It is the fulfillment of God's promises. The redemption of the world in the messy birth of a tiny child. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Thank you for your continuous and varied support in this process of educating and growing your child! This support takes on many different forms: prayer, volunteering, communicating openly, school work support, etc. I’d like to make mention of our parent team as well. This week, our parent team provided a table of healthy snacks for our staffs at both Pine Ridge and South Side. What a joy! Our teachers don’t regularly sit all together and talk about life in general. It didn’t take long and the staff center was filled with loud laughter. It brings joy to my heart to see the loving adults who work with our children enjoying the team of people with whom God has placed them shoulder to shoulder with in this calling.
Lost and Found Items
Please make sure you check the tables set out in the hallway near the office at both campusues for anything you may have lost. Any unclaimed items will be donated to Ditto after Friday, Dec. 18th. Smaller items: Jewelry, sunglasses, charms, earrings etc. will be in the office, please check in the office with Laura (PR) or Pat (SS).
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!
After school Community Enrichment (ACE) News
- Pine Ridge Campus: Sign up soon and join the fun SPORTS SPECTACULAR and BEADAZZLED classes! The Winter session 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
- South Side Campus: Join the fun LEGOS MOTORS & MORE class! The Winter session will begin on Thursday, January 14th for six Thursdays. Mrs. VanMeeteren will lead the snack/recess time before class begins. What a perfect opportunity to also include a non-HC friend! To sign up, simply go to hollandchristian.org/enrichment to print out and complete the enrollment form.
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.
- Ski Club information and Waiver registration forms
- Q & A Ski Club Questions.
- 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.
Ski Club Dates: All on Fridays
December 11th: Canceled Jan. 8 & 22 Feb. 5 & 19 March 4
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.
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.
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, 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.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 16 TRIP Dates
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
January 18 No Holland Public Bus Transportation AM or PM
REQUESTED ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Downtown Holiday Events Brochure copies are available in the school Offices or by clicking this link at Brochure Copy.
