Heritage Christian High School

First Semester Review

We can report that the very first semester of operation was, by the grace of God, a successful one.  The students have been learning well and the teachers and students have formed an excellent environment for giving and receiving instruction based upon the Word of God.  The school has been a great blessing and, as it continues to develop, our prayer is it will remain true to the principles of the Reformed faith and worldview.

In addition to the regular course work that would typically be given to high school freshmen and sophomores, the students were able to take two one-day trips.  One was to the Cognis Chemical plant in Kankakee, IL and one was to The Chicago Tribune Freedom Center printing plant in Chicago.  These visits provide our students with unique opportunities to see and experience things not generally available to students in large schools or classes, and give them a window on career opportunities. 

The fledgling library of the school continues to develop.  All the books on hand have been properly cataloged and additional books and materials will be added as directed by the teaching staff.  Should you have books or research materials that you believe would be a valuable addition to our small library, please contact the school. Over time, our plan is to build our library resources to become a useful tool for our students.

Members of the Board have visited classes throughout the first semester.  Reports of these visits are very positive.  Proper devotions take place, hard work by the teachers has been observed and the instruction given is biblically sound and academically excellent.  We have much for which to be thankful.

Interim Courses and Second Semester

The period between the first and second semesters was devoted to a very valuable series of classes set up to give our students instruction that they could receive no where else in a format truly unique in a Protestant Reformed setting.  For three weeks in January, the students spent time with our clergy in classes designed to teach them Reformed principles as applied to various aspects of Christian living.

Professor Hanko spent a week with the students dealing with the subject of prayer.  These classes were held in the mornings of the first interim week.  Can you imagine a more worthwhile endeavor than for our students to be instructed in a small class with an old warrior of the Reformed faith from the Protestant Reformed seminary on a topic of supreme importance to young Christians?

Following the week devoted to the topic of prayer, Reverend Allen Brummel spent two days teaching on the subject of missions.  This was followed by Reverend Nathan Brummel who devoted two days to teaching Christian Philosophy.  Reverend Carl Haak came to the school and taught on the topic of discipleship.  Reverend Ron Hanko devoted two days to the subject of the antithesis.  The Board is extremely grateful to the Professor and the Ministers who were so willing to give their time to Heritage.  The instruction given by these men is of the most important that our young people can be taught.

As we begin our second semester, we are saddened by the trial that our Administrator Mr. Medema is going through.  He entered the University of Chicago Hospital Thursday, March 7 for a final round of chemotherapy before receiving a bone marrow transplant from his youngest brother Scott.  He will remain in the hospital approximately two more weeks under close observation. Although he is in remission from Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, the goal of this treatment is long-term recovery. With doctor’s permission, he hopes to return to partial work soon after spring break. Our prayer is that God’s will be done.  We ask that you remember Mr. Medema in your prayers before our Heavenly Father.

As Mr. Medema is currently unable to teach, Mr. Lamm Lubbers has picked up some of the work that needs to be done.  He is teaching a course to sophomores called Old Testament Survey of the Bible and a biology class to the freshmen.  The Board would like to thank Mr. Lubbers for his willingness to immediately step in and help fill the void created by Mr. Medema’s illness.        

Planning for 2002/2003

The Board is busy working on details for adding the junior class to our student body next year.  Key to this expansion is attracting new teachers to our staff.  We will require an additional 1.5 teachers for next year bringing our total teaching staff to 4.5 including an Administrator.  The Education Committee is engaged in trying to secure additional teachers and in refining the curriculum for next year.  Finding secondary education instructors is a daunting task for the Education Committee.  This work involves a great deal of effort.  Please remember this need in your prayers.  Finding qualified Protestant Reformed teachers is crucial to our school.

Additionally the Board has formed a Technology Integration Planning Committee to function as an adjunct to the Education Committee.  The purpose of this committee is to determine how HCHS can most effectively utilize current computer and Internet technology in the teaching and learning at our school.  Of necessity, this process will evaluate the costs and benefits that may accrue to our program as the result of expanded use of computer technology.  This committee has been in contact with Professor Richard Snoeyink of Trinity Christian College who teaches a “Technology Integration in Education” class at Trinity.  Professor Snoeyink will be meeting with our staff and Board members to explore ways to ensure our curriculum is on the leading edge of what should be taught at the high school level.

There is also a group of mostly young people working on the development of a web site for HCHS.  It is hoped that this web site will be up and running during the course of this calendar year. 

As our school grows, the Board is aware of the building needs of our school.  Our enrollment will nearly double next year and will have another significant increase the following year when a senior class is added.  For next year we are planning for five teaching stations.  In addition to the smaller classrooms we have now, we will need at least two rooms to be able to accommodate up to twenty students each.  For the short term, our current leased space will be adequate but we are beginning to think about the long-term needs of HCHS.

The Board would like to thank all those who have helped to make this first year of operation of our school possible.  We must be thankful to God for this little school that is doing marvelous things teaching Protestant Reformed young people in a distinctly Reformed way.  We ask that you remember our school with your financial support.  We also ask that you thank God for Heritage Christian High School and remember its needs in your prayers.

In His Service,

The Board of Trustees

Heritage Christian High School