Parent Note: Parent Note – April 15, 2024

SCHOOL NEWS

This Wednesday, April 17 is a late start day. School begins at 10:00.

It’s 𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞! Join us this Saturday, April 20. There will be fun for the whole family. The doors and kitchen open at 5pm, silent auction begins at 5pm, and the live auction begins at 5:30pm. Online bidding is now 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 at https://kraftauctions.hibid.com/catalog/538965/live–highland-christian-school-benefit-auction

Last year’s spring auction raised over $165,000 and helped to fund student activities, building improvements, technology and transportation needs, 8th grade graduation expenses, and long-term strategic goals.

Moana is sailing into the HCS gym on May 2nd and 3rd! General admission tickets will be available at the door for each performance.  Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under 16. As a special treat, on Thursday there will be a photo opportunity for children to pose with Moana, Maui and other characters before the play.  Doors will open for photos and seats at 6:15.  Doors open at 6:50 on Friday night. Join us for all the fun and excitement.

Our next Saturday Serve is this Saturday, April 20, from 9-11:30am. Join us as we partner with the Highland Parks Department in the 23rd annual community park clean-up day. Spend the morning helping. Bring gloves, rakes, and energy! We will be assigned a park location this week and will let you know what park to meet at. If you’d like to sign up, please fill out the form below by Thursday, April 18.
forms.gle/GdLuqYwAk14j1GLp7

There is a group of HCS moms that meet at New Life parking lot to walk on Fridays from 2:00-3:00 p.m. They would love to have you join them!

PTO NEWS

A huge thank you to our community of family and friends for all the donations to the “Recess Roundup”. The students and teachers really appreciate the new games and supplies for indoor recesses!

Save the date! Muffins for Misses is on May 8th. More information will be coming home soon!

Save the date! The flower sale at Big John’s is during the month of May. More information will be coming home soon!

Are you interested in joining PTO or want to learn more about what we do? There are several open positions for next year. Please send your inquiries to [email protected]

National Librarian Appreciation Day is April 16th! Show your appreciation for Mrs. Zandstra by encouraging your student to draw her a picture, write a card or poem, or pick flowers from your garden.  Don’t forget to say an extra “thank you” to your local librarians as well!

etc…THRIFT STORE NEWS

This is the week we all have been waiting for…..our 15th anniversary celebration week!  Thanks be first and foremost to God for his gracious blessings that He has given etc.  Thank you to the board members, volunteers, staff and other supporters of etc.  Without them and without God’s blessing etc, we would not be celebrating our 15th anniversary!

Here is a list of the amazing deals we have going on every day this week!  (April 15-20)

Monday: 50% off media and books

Tuesday: 50% off all clothing and jewelry

Wednesday: 50% off shoes

Thursday: 50% off linens

Friday: 50% off toys

Saturday:  SURPRISE SALE!  (check our FB/Instagram page on Friday for more details)

Store Hours: Mon-Thurs 10-7, Fri-Sat 10-4

ATHLETIC NEWS

Wed., April 17 –       Track Meet at Chicago Christian High School – 3:30 start

Monday, April 22 –  Track Meet at Chicago Christian High School – 3:30 start

TRIP NEWS

TRIP Quarterly Tuition Credit:  April 18^th is the last time you can place a TRIP order for tuition credit if you are parents of a K-7^th grade student not returning to HCS for the next school year, or an eighth grader not attending Illiana next fall, or an Illiana student graduating this spring.  Coordinate your last tuition payment/TRIP credit for the 23/24 school year with Roberta Huitsing or April Vander Meyden at HCS or Kathy West at Illiana.  Contact Ann Lynch at [email protected] if you have any questions.

TRIP orders are due this week, Thurs., Apr. 18th by 10 a.m.  TRIP will be accepting physical gift card orders on April 25, May 9, 16, 23 and 30.  Online ordering is available 24/7.  Contact Ann Lynch at [email protected] for more information. 

Zandstra’s Greenhouse gift certificates are available for sale.  Each certificate is$17 each and the bonus rebate for each certificate sold will be $3.  You may purchase Zandstra’s gift certificates through the weekly TRIP orders or you can contact Ann Lynch at [email protected] to purchase these certificates at other times. 

 Team A (Julie Sitter, Larissa Vander Pol, Jessica Hiskes) will be putting the TRIP orders together on Tues., Apr. 16th.  Orders will be ready for pick up in the school office on Tuesday by 2:45 p.m.

TRIP Teams for Stuffing Orders:  Team B – Apr. 23; Team C – Apr. 30; Team D – May 14; Team A – May 21

COMMUNITY NEWS

Everybody spends too much time on social media. Most studies show the average person spends about 2 hours and 23 minutes on social media each day. This is a problem, especially for our students who could use that time studying, reading, praying, talking with friends and family, or sleeping. And much of what we are looking at on social media is destructive, corrupting, and certainly not pleasing to God. So, in a small attempt to combat the ills of social media and online content, Illiana is leading a Social Media fast from Monday, April 15 through Friday, April 19. They are inviting partner grade schools and supporting churches to join them. This is a small, initial step toward forming better habits, becoming less addicted to social media, and being more “social-wise”. Furthermore, on Wednesday, April 17, Illiana will have an evening of worship with students, parents, and community members. Starting at 7pm, worship will occur – followed by a time where Jr High and High School students will meet together and parents will gather separately to discuss these challenges. Thank you for considering joining this initiative.