Heritage Christian High School

As we are approaching the end of this school year, work is being done to prepare for next year. The Education Committee thankfully reports that our entire staff and administrator will be returning next school year. We have added another teacher to our staff, Miss Caroline Huizenga. Miss Huizenga has taught for 5 ½ years in Redlands, California and is planning to move here in late June.

With four grades and five full time staff members, the full course workload is upon us. Next year we expect to have over forty students enrolled. As we grow, we still see the need for an additional staff member in the future. We must be patient for the present, as the Lord has answered our prayers and provided for our present need. We would also like to add that we see the need for teachers in other of our Protestant Reformed Schools and urge our young people to consider this profession.

One might ask how we became a four-year high school. The answer is prayer and hard work. Untold hours have been spent in searching for staff, developing curriculum, course preparation and the like. Plans have been made for the summer of 2003 to develop courses not previously taught. Work assignments are again being handed out. We will begin to teach for the first time a spoken foreign language – Spanish. The most important part in this development is an excellent well-grounded staff, which has truly been a gift from God. A school board can make policies and lay out the best plans available, but without qualified staff, we have nothing.

This year the juniors at Heritage have participated in a Career Opportunities Program. Mrs. Mary Terpstra, our career counselor, set up interviews. The students have an opportunity to see if a particular career is right for them and determine if additional training or schooling is necessary.

Our first and second year Latin students took the ACL/NJCL National Latin Exam. This exam gave us an idea of how our students compared to others in the nation. Over 127,000 students from all fifty states and nine foreign countries participated in the exam. Six of our thirteen students were recognized and received special honors. We would like to thank Mrs. Looyenga for her dedication and congratulate the students for their achievement!

Although Calvary Church has been very accommodating, our high school has had to refrain from implementing its entire curriculum due to the lack of properly equipped rooms and space. It is becoming urgent that we as an association see the need to move forward with our own building. The building fund is presently at $465,331 and our goal is $1,600,000. With this urgent need before us, we ask for your support prayerfully and financially.

In His Service,
The Board