HCS Stories

Determining what is best for our children academically isn’t a decision we take lightly.  Every spring we find ourselves asking the same question, “What are we going to do for school next year?”  As my own academic path was a predictable one– attending the neighborhood’s public schools and remaining in the same system for grades 1-12, I used to think that whatever path we chose for our children’s education would be consistent throughout their school-aged years.  I quickly learned that this is not the case, and the answer to our question would not be a one-size-fits-all answer.  This is why our three children have had a variety of experiences over the past 10 years, including attending Montessori, a private preschool, the public school where we live, and have been home-schooled. 

After five years of homeschooling, the spring of 2021 came around and we felt God prompting us to reevaluate our situation once again. We began our search by communicating with the local public school and visiting a near-by private school for our soon to be freshman, 6th grader and kindergartener.  Within a few weeks, God made it clear that we hadn’t found the right fit yet, so we scheduled a tour at Highland Christian School. 

We were instantly impressed with the school’s attempt to meet the needs of each individual (WIN time, Power Hour, and leveled reading groups to name a few) and the variety of programs available to engage and challenge students (Quest, Project Lead the Way, etc.).  As pleased as we were with the potential academic opportunities our boys would have at HCS, we were struck even more by the welcoming and encouraging Christian atmosphere of the school and the opportunity for their spiritual growth. This was the clarity we needed to move forward and felt confident enrolling our boys for the 2021-2022 school year.

Fall approached, and we quickly settled into our new routines at HCS.  It didn’t take long to reaffirm the choice we had made for our family.  Clearly, this is a place where God’s word is not only woven into all areas of the curriculum, but the school’s motto of “Just Live It!” is modeled and lived out by both teachers and students daily.  Walking down the hallway, it is not uncommon to witness a group of middle school boys learning cooperatively– fully engaged in their project, hear a first grade teacher speak affectionately to her students, or see the children skipping in through the front door voluntarily held open by a peer offering up a cheerful greeting. 

Now, a year later, instead of asking ourselves that predictable question, “What are we going to do for school next year?”, we find ourselves humbly overwhelmed with contentment and gratitude.  God has continued to affirm HCS as a unique place where our children have been able to grow not only academically, but also spiritually, physically and emotionally.  And beyond the obvious gestures one might observe of the students and faculty “Just Living It” that initially impressed, we have been privileged to learn that God’s love penetrates the HCS community even deeper than we could have realized– revealing Himself through the dedicated mom who faithfully prays for all of our children and teachers despite no longer having students herself at HCS, the sound of a chorus of recorders joyfully playing “Amazing Grace” together, the paragraphs of scripture memorized and simultaneously shared by fifty beautiful five and six-year-old voices, the artwork on the wall reflecting each child’s identity in Christ, the kindergarten teacher who has spent her entire career pouring into students at HCS, and the reassuring words to a worship song carefully chosen for this week’s chapel intended for the students but are exactly what you need to hear.   

For all of these things, and so many more, we feel so blessed to have become a part of this special community.  Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts for all of the hard work and energy that is poured into our children each and every day and for giving us the confidence that our children are exactly where they need to be.