Parent Note: Parent Note – March 6, 2023
Called to Be a Blessing
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
This weekend, my son and I went to the Illiana boys’ basketball game in Whiting. Stepping into our sister school’s Christian community, I was reminded of how fortunate we are to live in an area where so many individuals selflessly support and participate in Christian education. While we enjoyed Illiana’s 60-57 victory, our shared Christian community is what I left grateful for.
While the month of March can bring an aura of spring, taste of 8th grade graduation, and eagerness for spring break, here’s the top 5 ways you can experience, share, and cultivate our Christian community!
March’s Top 5:
1. Come celebrate our talented students on Thursday, March 16 at the K-5 Spring Concert and on Tuesday, March 14 at the Junior High Choir Festival at Illiana Christian High School. Let’s cheer on our students as they showcase the many gifts God has given them!
2. The walls are going up and we need your financial support to help push Highland Christian’s Expansion Project forward! We will be sending out a special update and appeal to address changes in our plan, project budget, and funding needs. In short, we have an $800,000 gap we’d like to shore up by July 15, 2023 – our target move-in date. Keep your eyes posted for this special mailer! If you would like to tour the construction site or set up a meeting to discuss how you can financially support the expansion project, feel free to reach out to myself or Jodi Lineburg. Every gift matters!
3. State testing is underway and our 2nd and 3rd graders will be participating in IREAD this month. Through effective training from our primary teachers, leveled reading ladies, and librarian, students at HCS are ready to knock it out of the park in a few weeks! Thank you for reading at home as we help students develop a love of literature!
4. Last month, I shared an update about the Choice Scholarship and legislative efforts to expand the program. Currently, the House has passed their preliminary budget that would increase eligibility to 400% free and reduced lunch and would eliminate pathways to the voucher. This translates to a family of four qualifying for the scholarship if their income is at or below (roughly) $205,000. While this is great news, our community needs to continue to advocate for this change. Before this could become law, the Senate and Governor both need to keep this language in the state budget.
The action step you can take today is completing the following Action Alert:
5. Our community ‘March Madness’ tournament is just around the corner. Let’s see who will hoist HCS’ traveling trophy this year!
We love that you are a part of the HCS community. Thank you for making HCS a great place to learn, work, and grow in community together! To God be the glory!
SCHOOL NEWS
Bob Goff tickets are still on sale and going quickly! Want to learn more about what he will be talking about?? Click this link to watch his personal video now >>> Bob’s Message
Get your tickets now >>> Event Tickets
The Art Department is collecting shopping bags with handles in order to send student’s projects home. Thank you in advance for your donations!
SGO SCHOLARSHIP
The SGO Scholarship is utilized as an eligibility track into the CHOICE Scholarship Program for families that have no other track available. If you need an SGO Scholarship and have not already been in contact with Lisa Long about your application, please contact her as soon as possible as the deadline is approaching quickly.
CHOICE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE 2023/2024 SCHOOL YEAR
HCS will begin accepting applications for next school year on April 3rd. Your enrollment contract must be complete before applying for the CHOICE Scholarship. If your student has a current CHOICE Scholarship, you will need to provide documentation of your 2022 household income and current address. Please gather your 2022 Federal tax return and any other year end documents to submit with your application. If you will be applying for the first time, you will need to provide these documents and schedule an appointment with Lisa Long to complete your application.
Please contact Lisa with any questions via email at [email protected] or by phone at (219)838-0356 x 168.
LIBRARY NEWS
The library would like to express a huge Thank You to everyone who supported the fair. It was a busy, fun time and turned out to be our best fair yet!! We are so grateful for a pack that joins together to make an event a success! If you still want to use your ewallet you may go to https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/highlandchrschool and shop at the online store.
Library Read-A-Thon: Now is the time to hand in your white envelopes to the library. Thanks to everyone who participated in this reading program!
PTO NEWS
Are you or someone you know in the market for a mattress? Mark your calendar for next school year’s PTO mattress sale fundraiser on October 7. Students will be able to earn cash prizes for anyone they refer. There are pillows, sheets and mattress protectors too! We hope to see you there!
The Family Dodgeball Night will be rescheduled to a later date due to the snow day on March 3rd. More details to follow soon!
ATHLETIC NEWS
Tuesday, March 7 – 7th & 8th boys volleyball vs. Crown Point – AWAY – 4:00, 5:00
Thursday, March 9 – 7th & 8th boys volleyball vs. Lansing – AWAY – 4:00, 5:00
Monday, March 13 – 7th & 8th boys volleyball vs. Oak Lawn – AWAY – 4:00, 5:00
Illiana Cheerleading Clinic and Try-Outs:
April 3 – 6:30-7:30 in the Commons for the parent meeting
April 10 – 6:30-8:00 Clinic
April 17 – 6:30-8:00 Clinic
April 24 – 4:30-7:00 Tryouts
TRIP NEWS
TRIP orders are due this week, Thurs. Mar. 9th by 10 a.m. TRIP will be accepting physical gift card orders on Mar. 16, Apr. 13, 20, 27. RaiseRight scrip ordering for escrip and reload cards is available 24/7. Need more information about online ordering? Contact Ann Lynch at [email protected].
March 16th is the last time you can place a physical gift card order before Spring Break. For the week of Mar. 20th look for a list of TRIP Cash & Carry gift cards available to purchase in the Parent Note.
Team B (Amy Jellema, Jamie Paul, Olivia Ridder, Karen Christoffels) will be putting the TRIP orders together on Tues., Mar. 7th. Orders will be ready for pick up in the school office on Tuesday by 2:45 p.m.
TRIP Teams for Stuffing Orders: Team C – Mar. 14; Team D – Mar. 21; Team A – Apr. 18; Team B – Apr. 25
COMMUNITY NEWS
Volleyball Camp at Highland Christian: Come get active and have fun while learning the game of volleyball! Volleykids is designed to teach kids in grades 4th through 8th the proper fundamentals of volleyball while also having fun. Whether it’s your child’s first-time playing volleyball, or you want to sharpen your child’s skills, this camp is for you. Our coaches base instruction off of your child’s skills to make it enjoyable for all. Please check out www.epicvolleyball.org/volleykids for more info.