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Principally Speaking

Library Update

August 27, 2023
By Lynette Van Der Kooi

After remaining in the same location for more than five decades, the HCS library has finally moved to a new room. The move became necessary due to increasing class sizes, and everyone is thrilled about the change. A big THANK YOU to the Mothers' Club for funding the move, and special thanks to Mrs. Schmidt for her guidance and direction. Mr. Reil and Mr. Marshall were also instrumental in making the move possible, alongside several committed parents who helped in packing books, shifting shelves, and organizing the new space.

The new library is a sight to behold, with fresh paint, new carpeting, and window blinds. There's also a circulation counter and a computer for student use, in addition to over eighty new books added to the collection this summer. Students can look forward to enjoying the state-of-the-art library for years to come. The library will officially open its doors in early September, and everyone is eagerly anticipating it. This move will undoubtedly provide a more conducive learning environment, making it a significant improvement for the school.

 

First Grade Leaders!

August 20, 2023
By Sarah Swett

Welcome back, everyone! It has been so good to begin getting back into a routine.  Friends get to see each other again more regularly and get to play during recess together.  Students are beginning to get used to their new classrooms, teachers, and classmates.


In 1st Grade, students get their own desks, workbooks, supplies, and classroom jobs and begin learning a new level of responsibility at school.  I am always impressed at how quickly students pick up these new routines and are able to begin implementing them, independent of the teacher having to model each step every morning. It has been such a pleasure to watch students take ownership of these routines. and students are learning quickly that they have more time for STEM bins when they follow their routines right away and do their best!  It has been a joy to get to know our students and begin teaching them how to be responsible leaders in First Grade!

 

 

Warrior Athletics

January 29, 2023
By Coach Bergen

As the K-3 PE teacher, it has given me so much joy to teach our youngest warriors about fitness. From educational lessons about why physical education is so important, to teaching, and sometimes playing, rock paper scissor battle with our littles, we have had many laughs and lots of learning happening in elementary PE. Currently, we are learning about basketball and building a firm foundation in the basics skills of the game from dribbling to passing. My favorite quote so far in this unit of study is “Mrs. Bergen we all sound like a herd of cantaloupes when we dribble!” although the kids are ecstatic about the game of basketball, it is I who is excited about our future here on campus.


As the Junior High Girls' coach this year has been an amazing experience. I have coached multiple sports and multiple grade levels before coming to HCS, however, due to medical complications while pregnant with my daughter Emmie and my son Cole, I had to take a step back and stop coaching. Fast forward to the Spring of 2023, I reflect on the three years I had spent away from coaching and look at the girls I get to coach now and I am amazed. God answered every prayer I made while away from coaching, and the answer to those prayers was the HCS Lady Warriors. I can't even begin to express how thankful I am to coach them and how much joy they bring me. The drive, determination, grit, strength, and effort they show me day in and day out is phenomenal and although we have had some losses and hard lessons learned since August, we've also had some amazing victories. But the tournament championships aren't what makes coaching here at HCS so special, it's the culture that the girls and I are building together. We set goals and we work hard for them. We pick each other up, not tear each other down. I hear the girls laughing and cheering for each other, I see the girls reaching out to me and to each other to try and be the best athlete they can be. I see the love of the game developing, I see their passion growing, I see their confidence growing. I see my girls being Christ-like in everything that they do. And that's the culture that makes HCS so special. That's what makes being a Warrior so great.


I'd like to thank all the parents for supporting me, the girls, and the athletic program we are building. It takes commitment, community, and sacrifice and I appreciate that so much. Thank you for believing in us and our vision. Thank you to Athletic Director Flores for always going above and beyond to ensure we have everything we need to be successful.


Although this is my first year on campus, HCS feels like home to me. I am proud to be a part of something bigger that serves our God and I am proud to be a Warrior!

 

Kindergarten News

January 15, 2023
By Cydne Anderson

We rang in the new year last week in kindergarten by making “Happy New Year” hats and talking about our goals for 2023. My students expressed wanting to be good friends, obey their moms and dads more, be kinder…and the list goes on! Everyone was excited to grow in the new year.
 

The best part of celebrating the new year was getting to tie in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” As a class, we talked about how although it is a great thing to want to grow and be “better,” we can’t do it apart from the power of Christ. No matter how hard we try, we sin and fall short (Romans 3:23, Romans 3:20, Romans 3:10-12). When we trust in Christ alone–his perfect life, atoning death for our sins, and resurrection, we are forgiven and become a new creation. The Holy Spirit changes our hearts and empowers us to live differently (Galatians 5:19-23)! 
 

 My students made scribbly, dark caterpillars showing the state of their sinful hearts before they are “in Christ.” Then, they decorated beautiful butterflies to show the new creation they become when they trust in Jesus alone to save them. They had so much fun embellishing the butterflies with jewels and glitter. My prayer is that the Lord uses the lesson we shared to plant the seeds of the gospel down deep in their hearts.

 

Kindergarten News is “Owl”ways fun!

January 08, 2023
By Beth Morse

Happy New Year from our Kindergarten class to you! 
We have had a very busy and productive 2022, and are excited to see what the next year will bring as well!  Our Kindergarten students have enjoyed learning about Fire Safety from our sweet Firefighter and HCS parent, Gabe Martinez. We also have had a blast learning about how pumpkins grow with the Bettencourt family at their Pumpkin Patch. We have learned how we can shine Jesus’ light to the world, just like how a carved pumpkin with a candle shines. Our Kindergarten students absolutely love to share the Christmas story with others and have gone Christmas caroling around the whole school campus.  Our class also enjoyed hunting for the Gingerbread Man who ran from class to class, and ended up getting caught by our principal, Mrs. Schmidt, and our secretary, Mrs. Atsma!  We enjoyed eating the Gingerbread Man after we found him in the office!  We also had fun learning about the history behind the first candy cane! Our class has enjoyed so many fun and exciting activities this year!

We have learned how to add, subtract, count, identify shapes, read sight words, and several simple sentences, all while learning about the Lord!  We have grown to love each other very well, and I am very blessed to be a part of this very sweet and special-class family.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

1 John 4:7-8

 

 

Hanford Christian Preschool

August 28, 2022
By Julie Bakker

The youngest Warriors at Hanford Christian began their school year last week. It was exciting to welcome them and their families on campus and to see those sweet faces again. Ms. Robinson is beginning her 4th year as the director of the HCS Preschool, and there are 11 staff members assisting her that have 182 combined years of teaching experience! Wow! That’s amazing, and God has been gracious to HCSPS by providing wonderful, caring teachers to guide and take care of the littlest Warriors on campus

The Preschool at HCS has grown tremendously under the leadership of Ms. Robinson. The enrollment has gone from 34 (mainly part-time) students to 75 full-time and 15 part-time students. One of Ms. Robinson’s goals was to meet the needs of the community and provide a program that assists working parents. There are waitlists for several classes (last year there were 78 students on that list!), and Mrs. Atsma takes inquiries from new families to the preschool often during the week. Ms. Robinson has many more goals for growth and improvements to the Preschool program.

Many families have been exposed to Hanford Christian and enrolled their students in the K-8 program because of the Preschool. They see the value of Christian education and want that to continue for their children and family. The Kindergarten and 1st-grade classes are a testimony to the commitment families have made to Christian Education because of the Preschool program, and the growth of the HCS Preschool has directly impacted the enrollment in K-8th grade.

Enjoy the pictures from the first few days of Preschool, and please share the wonderful things happening at HCS and the Preschool with your friends and family!

Faithfulness

August 21, 2022
By Julie Bakker

There may be some families and kids out there that will recognize these 5th-grade faces from 7 years ago! These kids are now in their Junior year of high school! They were in the first class of my first year teaching at HCS and it was my first year coming back to teaching after a 14-year hiatus. To say these kids and their parents gave me grace was an understatement, as most days I was only about 10-15 minutes ahead of the students! Another word that comes to mind as I reflect on that school year, the years in between, and the school year we have ahead of us is faithfulness. God has been truly faithful to Hanford Christian through the highs and lows. I feel like I have gotten a front seat to view the faithfulness of the Lord and his perfect timing over the last 7 years, and what a privilege that has been. The school has flourished under the leadership of Mrs. Schmidt. HCS has attracted top-notch educators, and they are teaching a rigorous curriculum with a Christian emphasis. So many new families have been drawn to Hanford Christian and continue to come!

I have moved into a new role this year, and Miss Bok has taken over the fifth grade. I haven’t moved far though! My “office” is in Room 4, and it has morphed into a meeting room, gathering place and a spot where teachers can rest and put their feet up. This year, I will be working with the teachers who have just joined HCS, supporting Mrs. Schmidt, teaching K-5 computers, preparing to begin the accreditation process with Christian Schools International, and supporting the entire teaching staff. It’s been a great transition, and I am thankful for the opportunity to serve HCS in this new capacity.

God’s timing is never our timing, but it’s always perfect, and as I reflect on the beginning of a new school year, that has never been more clear. We can go forward, firm and secure in the knowledge that Jesus is our anchor and the Holy Spirit will always be with us. I will be praying for the staff, students, families, and supporters of HCS, and I hope everyone has a great school year! If you are ever near Room 4, please stop by and say hello.

All Posts

8/27/23 - By Lynette Van Der Kooi
8/20/23 - By Sarah Swett
1/29/23 - By Coach Bergen
1/15/23 - By Cydne Anderson
1/8/23 - By Beth Morse
8/28/22 - By Julie Bakker
8/21/22 - By Julie Bakker