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Dear Friends,
Wasn’t that an awesome production of
Godspell last night? The kids took it so seriously, remembered tons of lines, dance steps, and places on the stage. They really put their hearts into it and did a fine job! So did the adults! Imagine that you were given a big room, 95 kids, scripts, and one term of Tuesdays to put that all together. We are so blessed to have the combined efforts, talents, and gifts of Beth Lundergan and Ethel Howard who are not intimidated by the above. This dynamic duo have been wowing audiences for years as together they create one amazing production after another. Your children were fantastic. I was so pleased to share in their joy of creating such a God honoring production. They have not only learned to work cooperatively in a multi-aged setting but, more importantly, have God’s Word imprinted on their hearts through the skits and music. Many took big personal risks by singing solos and memorizing lines. We are so proud of them! God is good to us!
Our last Pathways saddened us with letters saying goodbye from teachers we all love and will miss. This Pathways is a chance to say hello to some of the new teachers that God is calling. We knew He would send just the right people, because He is faithful, but it sure is nice to start to get to know them. We are so blessed to be able to hire Jeremiah Shea as the 7th & 8th grade LA and Humanities teacher and Kristen Butt (soon to be Heenan) as our new 4th grade teacher and Special Ed. Coordinator. You will love them. Both are enthusiastic, God loving teachers who feel called to HCA. We are very close to announcing the new 2nd grade teacher as well. Stay tuned! God is doing a new thing and bringing people who all have a vision for Christian Schools and a love for God, kids, and learning. But enough from me…I asked them to write a note of introduction for you and here they are!
Have a wonderful summer, stay safe and in the palm of God’s hand. Each and every family is precious to us and it has been a privilege to serve you this year.
In His loving care,
Susan Hayward, Principal
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Greetings!
First and foremost, I want to wish you an incredible summer break. I pray that God fills it with love, laughter and joy as you spend time with your amazing children. My name is Jeremiah Shea. I have the pleasure of introducing myself as one of HCA’s newest instructors. Next year I will be teaching seventh and eighth grade humanities, as well as serving as the seventh grade homeroom teacher.
Growing up, my answer to the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was always invariably, “I want to be a teacher!” Nothing ever changed my mind. I believe that every student has an infinite potential. My hope and focus in teaching is to help my students both see and achieve as much of that potential as they possibly can.
I am excited for next year’s focus on different world cultures. I have a number of friends around the world that make their living teaching and sharing God’s love. I am hopping and planning to arrange opportunities for students to communicate with them to learn about life in other communities and how to share Christ’s message in different cultures.
In all of this my greatest goal for the 2017-2018 school year is to prove that every student can have a real impact on the world. That they can make a difference if they try. I want to teach my students that, just like the literature I love, Christ’s love is evident in every aspect of life, and that no matter how many times a person stumbles, fails, or makes mistakes God will lift them back up and teach them how to move forward.
Lastly, I want to thank you for getting to know me through this letter. I look forward, excitedly, to meeting you next year. I feel that God has called me to be a part of something amazing at HCA. God has some incredible plans for the school and the students that it serves. I am so glad that I can be a part of that with you.
In God’s Love,
Jeremiah Shea
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Kristen Butt (soon to be Heenan)
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Hello!
My name is Kristen Butt Heenan, I am so excited to accept the position of fourth grade teacher/ Special Needs Support Specialist at Holden Christian academy! Next year will be my 30th year teaching and I am so excited to be able to use my gifts God has granted me to educate your children. Both my undergraduate and Graduate degrees are from a christian college so this position is a perfect fit for me!
Though I grew up in Rutland and went to Rutland / Holden schools, I am currently living in Northborough, but purchasing a home in Spencer. It's a great feeling to be "coming home" to the community that I was raised in and a privilege to become part of the Holden Christian Academy family! I am looking forward to meeting you all in the fall!
Blessings,
Kristen Butt
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It is our tradition that the
5th, 6th and 7th grade students and parents provide the refreshments for our
8th Grade Graduation, which will be held this year on
Thursday, June 8.
We ask all parents to provide the items for the reception; assignments are listed below.
Grade 5:
Boys: bring 2 bottles cranberry juice,
Girls: bring 1 can of lemonade or fruit juice concentrate
Grades 6 and 7:
Boys and Girls: bring a variety of finger foods, 1-2 dozen each, simple and neat to eat.
Suggestions – cut up fruits or veggies, brownies, cookies, NO NUTS
Bring your contributions to the kitchen beside the school office anytime during the day on June 8th.
We also need parents who can set up and then clean up the refreshment area for the evening. Please contact the school office at 508-829-4418 or admissions@holdenchristianacademy.org to sign up.
You are invited and encouraged to join us for the graduation ceremony at 7 p.m. on June 8th in the Holden Chapel Sanctuary. Thank you for your help creating this special evening for our eighth grade students!
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June 6 8th Grade Six Flags trip, Team A Shakespeare in the Garden
June 7 Pre-School Graduation (9am), Talent Show (1pm)
June 8 8th Grade Graduation (7pm)
June 9 Last Day of School (9am Thankfulness Chapel) (11:30am dismissal)
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A NOTE from Mrs. Suchocki
Music lessons will be offered at the school on Mondays and Tuesdays this summer. Interested students may contact Mrs. Suchocki for more information. luch43@gmail.com
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Scripture Memory Verse of the Week
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For those looking to fulfill service hours, HAVE NO FEAR! We can use your help with a deep cleaning and pack-up of the school before we close out for the summer season.
Please contact the school office at 508-829-4418
or
admissions@holdenchristianacademy.org
to sign up.
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Reminder from the Library:
Please return all books by next Thursday. Thank you!
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Team A
Kindergarten/Grades 1 & 2
Dear Team A Parents:
We are nearing the end of the school year and reflecting on all the ways that our students have grown: physically, academically, and spiritually. Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education and for helping make this a wonderful year!
The following are few things you need to know for these last days of school:
Friday, June 2nd- 1st and 2nd grade parents only~ Please send in a simple Renaissance costume for your child (based on their part in the play) for Dress Rehearsal. See note below.*
Tuesday, June 6th – Parents and Grandparents- Don’t miss our presentations of Shakespeare in the Garden! We will be meeting in the Nature Explore Courtyard for two of Shakespeare’s plays by all students in Team A. It starts at 1:45 pm and there will be light refreshments served during Intermission. Please send in $2.00 with your child to help cover the cost. (So far we’ve rec’d $2.) If we have inclement weather, the festivities will be held in the community room. Please bring your own lawn chair! (Anyone without a chair will be forced to stand in the yard with the “groundlings!”☺)
Wednesday, June 7th- You are welcome to join us for the Talent Show from 1:00-2:30 pm.
Thursday, June 8th- We are having a “Fun in the Sun” Team A- End of the Year Celebration. Please have your child wear flip flops and a bathing suit under their clothes on this day. We suggest that you apply sunscreen too. Students should also bring a change of clothes, a towel, and a water gun. PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING! The fun begins at 11:30 (We’ll have lunch outside-bring your own) until the end of the school day. We will play water games, relays, blow bubbles and enjoy a couple of fun treats. If you would like to send in a watermelon and/or popsicles on this day, it would be most welcome!
Friday, June 9th- Last Day of School - Half Day. Dismissal is at 11:30. Please join us in the main chapel at 8:30 am for our Thankfulness Chapel.
In Our Partnership - Team A Teachers -
Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Caron and Mrs. Torres
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Team B
Grades 3 & 4
What an amazing show last night. I’m so proud of each student. Our God was certainly glorified through this presentation!
Grade 3 has worked hard to earn another jammie/pizza party. They have chosen a movie and I will provide pizza for lunch. I am looking forward to a fun afternoon with them.
Next week is our last week. Wednesday, June 7th is the talent show and Thursday, June 8th is our end of year party. I sent out a list of snacks the kids said they would like to bring. If there is anything there that is a problem, just let me know. Reminder, Grade 3 is a gluten and egg free class.
Friday, June 9th is our official last day. We will have our Thankfulness Chapel in the morning and then students will be dismissed.
I am thankful to have had the opportunity to partner with you and watch your amazing children grow this year. I am incredibly blessed.
Mrs. Jorritsma
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Team C
Grades 5 & 6
Dear Parents!
I know we say this every year, but how did we get to the end of the school year already?! Time has a way of passing while we focus on the minutia of each day. In the passing of this year, Mr. Curtis and I have witnessed tremendous growth in Team C. Not only are most of the 6th graders taller than I am now, but both classes have matured in ways that have blessed us this year.
In celebration of the achievements of this year, Team C will be having their class parties on Thursday, June 8th at 1pm. The students have volunteered to bring in food for the party, and we will play games outside weather permitting. Although the students have chosen foods they would like to bring, always feel free to veto the choice and replace it with something that will work for your time and budget.
Also on Thursday, June 8th, we will commemorate the graduation of our 8th grade class at 7pm. All students are welcome to attend. Traditionally, grades 5-7 bring in food for the graduation reception to be dropped off that morning.
Grade 5:
Boys: bring 2 bottles cranberry juice,
Girls: bring 1 can of lemonade or fruit juice concentrate
Grades 6 and 7:
Boys and Girls: bring a variety of finger foods, 1-2 dozen each, simple and neat to eat.
Suggestions – cut up fruits or veggies, brownies, cookies, NO NUTS
One more note before we head off to blissful summer…
In order to reduce the ‘summer brain drain’, students will be required to complete a summer reading and math assignment. We hope these assignments are beneficial for review and mental stimulation. Please look for an email coming soon. In addition to this, please encourage your students to continually look for flowers, trees, animals and insects for their family nature scavenger hunt project, which will be due in October.
Thank you, parents, for your partnership throughout this year. It has been a blessing working with you!
Mrs. Cleveland & Mr. Curtis
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Team D
Grade 8
CONGRATULATIONS Graduates! It's hard to believe that this time next week we will be lining up in the sanctuary for our graduation ceremony. I am very proud of our current 8th grade class for all they have accomplished.
Thank you in advance for your help in making that evening extra special for our 8th grade students.
We still have a few important dates to be aware of in the coming week:
June 5th - Math Final (both 7th and 8th grade)
June 6th - 8th grade class trip to Six Flags
June 7th - Talent Show 1-2:30pm
June 8th - LA Final (both 7th and 8th grade)
June 8th - Graduation Ceremony @ 7:00PM in the Sanctuary
June 9th - Thankfulness Chapel @ 9:00am in the Sanctuary - all welcome
LAST day of the 2016-2017 school year - 1/2 day
Summer work instructions for reading and math will go home next week.
It has been an awesome adventure working alongside and partnering with all of you. Thank you for all the love and support you have shown me. I have been blessed beyond measure. While my heart is aching as I process not being here next year, I am resting in knowing our awesome God is in complete control and that His plan is perfect! My HCA memories and training are incredibly precious to me and I will take a part of HCA with me wherever the Lord sends me. Instead of good-bye, I prefer "see you soon".
Much love and adoration,
Mrs Holgate
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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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