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Our Spring Concert / Book Fair / Art Show will be this Thursday, May 18, starting at 6pm. Students are to to bring all instruments to school on Thursday for our last rehearsal and leave them here for the concert. The school will be open at 6pm for students to show off their artwork to their families and shop the spring book fair together. Parents are asked to escort their children up to the sanctuary at 6:50 (no earlier) for the spring concert. Students will sit with their class for the concert. (Team A students will sit with their parents after they finish performing.) All students are asked to wear their dressy, Sunday best, clothes. (no jeans, shorts or t-shirts)
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The entire school is participating in the production of Godspell occurring on May 31st at 7pm. More information to come!
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- The school is in need of donations of paper towels.
- We need parent volunteers for refreshments for: the spring concert, and the 8th grade graduation.
Thanks In Advance!
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Dear Families,
Every year the School Committee and staff seek the Lord for His ideas and plans for His school. This year we have been sensing transition coming. I have been discussing this with the School Committee and staff all year and we’ve been asking God for His direction and will for HCA. We have also spent much time discussing HCA’s negotiables versus its non-negotiables- what makes HCA uniquely HCA and what can be changed.
As we collectively listen to God, there is a consensus that He has good plans for His school and He is the one who puts transitions into motion. There is also a consensus that we need to bring some younger teachers on board whose training is more in line with the current culture’s needs, desires, and styles.
Because I plan to retire in the next five to seven years, I would like to slowly mentor the next principal over a number of years in order to make the transition as smooth as possible for all. My desire is to maintain the unique and innovative aspects of HCA that we feel are critical to preserve and share with other schools. I have been asking God to bring that person or persons to us and start to reveal the next chapter for HCA. The very difficult part is that sometimes God allows dear friends and colleagues to transition out in order to move the next generation of teachers and administrators in! We trust it is all part of His good plan for us as individuals and for His school.
This year, we have to say goodbye to four fabulous teachers who are all being called elsewhere for four completely different reasons. I am teary to tell you that Mrs. Torres, Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Hamilton and Mrs. Holgate will be leaving at the end of this school year. It seems a bit much at one time to me, but I need to trust that our Father knows best. Below, please find a brief personal letter from each one.
Interviews are scheduled to begin this week for new teachers and I have been impressed with their transcripts, courses, and experiences. I couldn’t help but notice the differences in teacher preparation over the years and I can see how well equipped they will be for the challenges of today’s complex student body. God really does know what He’s doing! Please pray with us for God’s leading in this process. We have received many applicants for all the positions except 7th and 8th grade Science and Math. Please pray specifically that God would send the individuals that He is calling.
We trust Him!
Joyfully in His Service,
Susan Hayward, Principal
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Dear HCA family,
What do you do when God calls you? For the past two years God has been calling my husband, Alfonso and I to minister abroad. Moving is not new to us, Alfonso’s career in the Marine Corps has had us pick up and go many, many times. It was through that avenue that God brought us to Ft. Devens, Massachusetts. And five years ago, when it was time for Alfonso to retire, we heeded God’s call to stay here. It hasn’t been easy being away from our families (who live in California), but we have found that everywhere we go, we are part of the family of God. For the past five years, HCA has certainly been family to me.
Two years ago the Poirier’s invited us to attend a Perspectives course. (Dawna Poirier was the former second grade teacher. She and her family are now serving in Korea.) I needed to take a course to keep up with my professional development, and I was interested in the cultural aspect of the course since we were in our year 4 cycle at HCA which, as you know, has a Cultures theme. Alfonso joined me in the course, and as we were there God began to soften our hearts toward missions. This was the start of our calling. God has since shown us through a series of events that we need to step out in faith and go to Spain. We believe God has called us to somehow minister to refugees and immigrants coming from Morocco across the Gibraltar Straits into Spain. We are still in planning stages, and have a lot to do logistics wise, but part of the planning involves getting the house ready to sell, and volunteering time with an organization that teaches English to refugees in Worcester.
We are a little nervous, but also excited about what God has in store. We visited southern Spain over Easter break to “scout out the land.” It’s a beautiful place, and we loved interacting with the locals. There are still many unanswered questions for us, but our hope is that God will use what little we have to offer to bring the message of hope and salvation to those He puts on our path.
As with all of our moves, it is most difficult to say goodbye. I would rather say “adios” which translates “be with God” in Spanish. These past few years the school has been an instrument in my spiritual growth. I am blessed by the examples of love, grace, faith, trust, perseverance and mercy that I have found in the staff, parents and students. I thank each of you for your faithfulness in living out your faith in Christ; I pray that you are blessed all the more for your diligence. I hope that you will share in this venture with us and pray for us. There is power in prayer! We will do our best to send updates to the school.
By His grace,
Mrs. Maggie Torres
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Dearest HCA staff, administration, parents, students:
It is with MUCH prayer, consideration, & deep grief that I am resigning from my position as the fourth grade teacher. This decision has not come easily. God has faithfully provided for me and blessed me immensely during my 17 years at HCA. This is where I had family to carry me through some pretty dark days and gave me the opportunity to use my love and gifts for teaching under the safety of His Word.
There are two reasons why I have come to this decision: financially and being called into the mission field of public schools. As most of you know, I have been a single mom for the last nine years. God has mightily provided for me and my kids - through your generosity and me holding multiple jobs, I have been blessed!!! But, as I grow older, I am seeking a more stable retirement plan.
Also, I am a city girl and I have a heart for inner city kids. I have accepted a position at Quinsigamond Elementary School in Worcester for an intermediate position for 4th, 5th, &/or 6th grades. I will know more details 5/16.
To say that it has been an honor to love & serve your children and your families, seems so trite. I am who I am today, because of the experiences I have had with my HCA family. Now, it's time for me to love on children who have so little.
I cherish your prayers for me. That God will keep me safe physically, emotionally, & spiritually, so that I can work to bring glory to His Kingdom!
I love you all, and weep as I write these words. Thank you, Sue & Sue for seeing my kindred spirit & growing me into being a better educator, thank you staff for being my sisters & brothers, thank you Gary for leading me to challenge & strengthen my faith in Jesus, thank you Pastor Tom for your tender leadership that was unwavering, thank you Judy B & Judy G for patiently answering every question with grace & mercy, thank you parents for encouraging, supporting, & caring for me, and thank you students who are forever etched on my heart!!! Please don't forget me and know that I am ALWAYS there for you...no time or distance can change that!!! I love you all.
All because of Him,
Denise/Ms. Reed
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Dear HCA Family,
Even though I have only been a member of the HCA staff for a short while, it has been a valuable experience. I have never worked with a more dedicated and welcoming staff. I can honestly say that I have grown to love each student God has entrusted me with this year. It has been a privilege to be a teacher at HCA. I will miss you all.
However, I feel the Lord calling me to be more active in ministry at the church my husband pastors and within my community. I also feel the need to be more accessible to my 5 children, all of whom still live at home. To this end, I will be searching for part-time employment. I am excited to see what the Lord will do in this new phase of my life. As unnerving as the unknown is, I am confident the Lord will bless my step of faith as I seek to follow His will. I am also confident that God will provide an amazing new teacher to serve an amazing student body. May His hand continue to guide Holden Christian Academy and all who enter it.
In Christ,
Mrs. Hamilton
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Dear HCA Community,
It was with a heavy heart that I have submitted my resignation to Sue Hayward.
HCA has been an important and critical part of our family for 12 years. Needless to say, the decision to resign from teaching at HCA has been incredibly difficult and comes after much prayer and reflection.
Evolving concerns for different family members and a change in needs unrelated to HCA have had my husband and I on our knees for months and the Lord has led us to this decision. It is extremely difficult, but we have been hearing loud and clear that obedience is not always easy.
It has been an amazing blessing to serve alongside a talented and dedicated staff and community of believers. We all know how special and unique HCA's family is and I am confident God is going to continue to move in amazing ways. HCA has a way of making a lasting impression on everyone who knows "her" and for me I will take away the many skills the Lord built and refined in me, and a special memory of every single student I had the privilege to lead and instruct.
Much love,
Heather Holgate
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May 18 Spring Concert / Book Fair / Art Show
May 29 Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
May 31 Godspell
June 6 Grade 8 - Six Flags
June 7 PreK Graduation
June 8 8th Grade Graduation (PreK last day)
June 9 Last Day of School (half day) - Thankfulness Chapel
September 1 Meet Your Teacher Day (K - 8)
September 5 First Day of School (PreK - 8)
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Scripture Memory Verse of the Week
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