Dear Friends,

When our four kids were young, like most parents we struggled with options and opportunities for them. How do we decide which sports, instruments, movies, enrichment classes, clubs, lessons etc. to choose for each child? It was overwhelming at times! Somehow God showed us how to make decisions with the end in mind. He gave us two little words to guide our thinking and show us our underlying beliefs and motives.

They are SO and THAT. 

Here’s an example:

We will let Dan play soccer SO THAT he can get good enough to earn a college scholarship SO THAT he can get a good job SO THAT he can earn lots of money SO THAT he and his family will be happy.

Wait a minute! Did I really believe that money = happiness? No, in fact I grew up in Wellesley with some of the richest folks in the country and noticed right way that our middle class family was actually a lot happier than most. So then, how could our true beliefs and motives inform our decisions and be at the end of our SO THATs?

Was soccer wrong? No, our end point was. We let Dan play soccer because he wanted to SO THAT he would get good exercise and be with friends SO THAT he’d learn life skills SO THAT he’d be better prepared to do whatever it was that God had in mind. We also let him quit soccer after a few years because he didn’t love it. This was not a problem for us because we were not invested in soccer but in the outcomes. God would lead and guide us in those though many different avenues. We didn’t have to figure it all out.

What we did know was that we wanted our kids to grow up in an atmosphere of authentic, gutsy love in Christ SO THAT each would be able to do and be whatever God had in mind for them. This required trusting in the intimacy and sovereignty of God at every step. We were not to orchestrate their lives, plan how each would make it through college, solve their conflicts for them, frantically make sure they were each in the right activities, push the college we thought was right. We could do all that or we could relax and trust God, knowing that HE has the big picture and would faithfully lead and guide us in the next decision. This freed us to focus on living each day with one another, sharing our ups and downs, resolving conflicts as they happen, laughing and enjoying life. The stress of getting things “right” was over, right for whom? For what? SO THAT what? It was never even real.

We believe that God was/is weaving a tapestry of our lives and that each thread builds on one another to create a beautiful piece of art when we cooperate with Him. Big, exciting events are a gift from God but the ordinary days of living out our lives together make up most of the threads. Being relaxed and trusting helps us focus on the present, the now, the important. It helps us be more patient with our humanness and the inevitable troubles of living on planet Earth. As we learn to take God more seriously we learn to take ourselves a little less seriously.

Now our kids are grown and making these decisions for their families. We are still trusting that God will lead and guide them as parents to trust God and make decisions based on His outcomes and plans for they are ALWAYS the best!

Have a great vacation, SO THAT….

Susan Hayward, Principal

Read-a-thon

The enthusiasm for this year's read-a-thon is palpable! Special kudos to the 8th grade who have even out-read the staff (at this point). As a whole, the kids are already breaking the 100,000 minute mark. We have also raised about $10,000. We are looking forward to the Safari Party tomorrow for the kids who met their sponsorship goal. REMEMBER: February vacation is a great opportunity to catch-up logging your minutes. (The whole read-a-thon goes from Jan 29-Feb 28. You can go back to log past minutes). Also, use the week off to read, Read, READ! Please continue to collect sponsor money! We have a goal to raise at least the $15,000 as we did last year. We can do it! All monies are due by Monday, March 5th!

Click on the picture below for a PDF version. Please print this poster and hang it in your town and/or church. Thank you!

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED to house the African Children's Choir. Please contact the school office if you can help.

How can I bless them?

While it is certainly not expected or required, some families have desired to purchase items for the African Children's Choir to bless them. Here is a wish list of what is most useful to the Choir:

The African Children's Choir has asked us to pass along their sincere gratitude for our generous hospitality to host them! They are truly grateful.

Ice Cream Fridays

Mrs. Gilbert will be here on Fridays once again! Students may purchase an ice cream treat for $1.00 after lunch on Fridays. If you would like your student to have this treat, please send them in with $1.00 cash on Fridays. 

HCA Open House:

Animal Adventures

Animal Adventures will present: African Animals, at Holden Christian Academy on Saturday, March 24th, 2018, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. FREE ADMISSION. Presentation will be followed by an Animal Safari all over the school. (PreK through 8th Grade). Please come ... and bring your friends and family!

From the Art Room

Ongoing need for art room: Styrofoam egg cartons . Please cut off the cover and flap. They are used for paint pallets. 

Term 3 Art Project for Grades 5-8

Grades 5-8 will be making African Wrap Dolls

 

Traditionally, these are make out of trash or recycled items- buying things is not allowed.

Please start scrounging for junk to make an awesome Wrap Doll (Boys usually make the coolest ones) All middle school students must bring in stuff for this project- and we will encourage sharing of the loot!

A homework sheet will be sent home for them to start to collect junk. Items are due the week of February 26. “Shopping” at the recycle center is ok.

 

We will need-

Clean out the junk drawer!

 

The students are encouraged to come up with their own ideas on what junk could become what accessory on their doll. I have a few examples from years past.

Thank you!! ~Mrs. M

Pam Mikolajczyk

Art teacher, 

Holden Christian Academy

HCA 5K Business Sponsors Needed

The third annual HCA 5K RUN/WALK will be held on May 12th, 2018 at 9 am. Please help us recruit businesses to participate as a sponsor for this fun, community event. Our school is integrating fitness, nutrition, and gardening into all aspects of our curriculum. This event brings together students, their families and the community.

We are expecting between 250-300 runners and an additional 300+ supporters and volunteers. Supporting this event is a great way to put your organization’s name in front of hundreds of families. Sponsor’s names will be printed on many of the items that runners treasure as keepsakes. There are several sponsorship levels designed to fit your organization’s budget. In addition to financial support, you can help by encouraging your employees/colleagues to

register and participate as runners/walkers. Register online at www.racemenu.com/hca.

Service Hours Opportunities

Email Jenn Jonay if you can help: admissions@holdenchristianacademy.org

Parent Prayer Team

Do you believe in the power of prayer? Has God laid a burden on your heart to pray for our school? The parent led HCA Prayer Team meets Thursday mornings immediately after drop-off at the Holden Chapel prayer room. Feel free to send prayer requests directly to the school office.

Shop Via Amazon Smile

Did you know that you can help HCA as you make your purchases from Amazon? When you shop at smile.Amazon.com, and indicate Holden Chapel, Amazon donates. Learn about all the ways to support HCA on our website.

From BoxTops, to Read-A-Thons, to running a 5K, there are many ways you can help support HCA. Even shopping on smile.Amazon.com , can earn cash for our school, with no extra effort or expense. Find out all the ways to participate on our Support HCA page!

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