The Light

"Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" -John 8:12

www.harborlightchristian.org

Dear Harbor Light Christian School Family,

Last month, Harbor Light Christian School was blessed to have Biblical Worldview educator Stefan Wilson visit for a week. While with us, he trained staff in large and small groups, observed classes, met with students, delivered a chapel message, and held a parents' night. Overall, his visit was a success. His goal was to train and coach teachers and the leadership team on how we can further support students' understanding of God through having classrooms and an overall culture that helps shape students as true worshipers of Christ.

I wanted to take time and share some of the highlights from Stefan Wilson:

• The environment of HLCS is the shining star of the organization. It is evident that anyone who enters is loved by God and his people.

• The classroom environments are safe and warm.

• The school's programs and curriculum are purposeful and accomplish the school's values. Staff is positioned throughout the school helpfully and efficiently.

• Staff learned that teaching about a Biblical worldview differs from teaching from a Biblical worldview. Our goal is to start with the foundation of a Biblical worldview and trickle it into every subject we teach.

• During parents' night, Stefan discussed how parents could better support their kid’s faith development by having their actions match their convictions. See more here: Part 1: HLCS Parents Night with Stefan Wilson and Part 2: HLCS Parents Night with Stefan Wilson.

Overall, I am thankful for the visit, training, and guidance Mr. Wilson provided for myself and the staff. It is the heart of the team and leadership of HLCS to continue to develop and be the best we can be for our students and families. This opportunity helped us start the school year on a solid footing and reminded us of our purpose as Christ-centered educators.

One minor but important takeaway from his visit was the reminder that we need to do more than attach a Bible verse or story to our lessons; instead, we need to focus on the character and attributes of our heavenly Father and express those throughout our studies. It was rewarding to sift through the attributes of God and see how they manifest in the subjects our students learn each day.

In closing, I’d like to share the exciting news that long-time HLCS 5/6th grade teacher Jenny Kruger will be honored in Lansing next month as the Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools Faith-Based Educator of the Year. Please join me in congratulating Jenny! Also, we have moved into the final phase of work on the Solid Rock Center. The finishing touches, such as flooring, fixtures, and furniture, will be installed over the next month. Please join me in praying for a smooth finish and that God provides the finances needed to cross the finish line! We are excited to see students filling the cafeteria, future artists and scientists learning in the classrooms, and athletes playing on the courts.

In Him,

Kelly Dutcher

October

17- HLCS Board Meeting (6 pm)

19- Pastor Appreciation Day

20 & 21- Local Missions Days

21- End of 1st Marking Period

27- Parent Teacher Conference 4:30-7:30

28- NO SCHOOL- Professional Development

28- Parent Teacher Conferences 9-12 pm

28- Harbor Light Community Chapel Harvest Festival

November

10-13- Educational Trip- postponed until June

11- Preschool Family Night (6-8 pm)

14- Winter Sports Meeting

17- Fall Sports Banquet

21- HLCS Board Meeting (6 pm)

22- Thanksgiving Luncheon

22- Drama Variety Show

23-27- Thanksgiving Break

25- Alumni Games

Please click HERE for the school calendar, which is updated as needed.

Our HLCS Calendar is updated continually and can be viewed at http://www.harborlightchristian.org/calendar

Sports Schedule

• Please confirm events prior to attending
• "vs." indicates the game will be played at home.
• "@" indicates the game will be played at the opposing team's school.

October

17- Junior High Basketball vs. Alanson (5:30 pm)

18 - Rams Football @ East Jordan (5 pm)

18- JV/Varsity Volleyball vs. Mackinaw City (5:30 pm)

21- Rams Football @ St. Ignace (7 pm)

24- Junior High Basketball vs. Alba (5:30 pm)

25 - JV/Varsity Volleyball vs. Boyne City (5:30 pm)

27- Junior High Basketball vs. Wolverine (5:30 pm)

29 - Varsity Volleyball @ Boyne City

31- Volleyball Districts Week begins

November

1- Junior High Basketball @ Ellsworth (5:30 pm)

3- Junior High Basketball @ Wolverine (5:30 pm)

4- Junior High Basketball vs. NMCA (5:30 pm)

7- Junior High Basketball @ Boyne Falls (5:30 pm)

11- Junior High Basketball vs. Mackinaw City (5:30 pm)

14- Winter Sports Meeting

14- Junior High Basketball Girls @ NMCA (5:30 pm)

18- Junior High Basketball @ Alanson

25- Alumni Games

Please click HERE for the school calendar which is updated as needed.

The Annual Report is a way for us to tell the story of Harbor Light's previous fiscal year, with digestible statistics and memorable photos. If you haven't looked through one before, we encourage you glance through it!

Click here to see the 2021-2022 Annual Report!

Josh Ernst received his award as the Stanley Herzog Foundation's 2022 Science Teacher of the Year at the end of September. He and his wife, Stephanie (our 2nd Grade teacher) attended the awards ceremony at the Museum of the Bible, along with Jeff Jakeway (board member) and his wife Brook (Outdoor Education teacher)

The Herzog Foundation is proud to recognize the following teachers as the 2022 Christian Teachers of the Year:

• Adina Leon- Hope Christian Academy (Starke, FL)
• Annie Pettit- Des Moines Christian (Urbandale, IA)
• Dorothy Easton- Grace Christian Academy (Merrick, NY)
• Doyle Philpot- Coastal Christian Preparatory School (Mt. Pleasant, SC)
• Elizabeth Kendrex- Logos Preparatory Academy (Sugar Land, TX)
• Greg Finch- Summit Christian Academy (Lees Summit, MO)
• Jean Auxier- Faith Christian Academy (Kansas City, MO)
• Jen Chen- Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, KS)
• Marshall Ellson- Westminster Christian Academy (Huntsville, AL)
• Nancy Reid- Veritas Christian Academy (Wayland, MA)

Bible Teacher of the Year:

• Loren Hopf- Second Baptist School (Houston, TX)

Science Teacher of the Year:

• Josh Ernst- Harbor Light Christian School (Harbor Springs, MI)

The Christian Teacher of the Year awards are part of the Herzog Foundation’s Excellence in Christian Education award series. Each awardee will receive a monetary gift and a trip to Washington, D.C. for the Herzog Foundation’s Teacher of the Year Awards Gala on September 24, 2022.

“These awards are a small token of our appreciation for the amazing Christian teachers all across the nation,” said Herzog Foundation President Darrell Jones. “Christian teachers are truly changing the world, and they deserve recognition.”

We are taking a day to acknowledge all the local pastors who are also ministering to our HLCS students! If an HLCS student is one of your parishioners, you are invited to spend time with us on campus on October 19th!

We are so grateful to Barb and Frank from Uncle Frank's Apple Town in Brutus for hosting the HLCS family at their beautiful facility for our first annual Family Fall Fest at the very end of September! Kids of all ages had a blast, and parents and teachers had so many lovely opportunities to connect outside of the typical school environment. It was a special time to refresh after the buzz of the first 2 weeks of school, heading into a more predictable routine and rhythm.

Thank you to all who attended!

Mrs. Kruger was selected to receive ONE of only TWO 2022 Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools (MANS) Faith-Based Educator Awards!!!

"This award is conferred to an educator who exemplifies the very best in faith-based education. Your nominator Kelly Dutcher, and the peer review team, noted that you are a master teacher who models dedication, innovation, and flexibility while demonstrating prayer as essential to living."

We are so proud to call Mrs. Kruger our teacher/friend!! She will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the 2022 MANS Education Conference and Expo in Lansing, Michigan.

The deep dedication that our staff members have to Christ, the students, and this school is really making waves in the world around us! If you see Mrs. Kruger, tell her proud you are!

We are starting a new segment here in our monthly newsletter where we ask a parent to review a helpful parenting book or podcast, the goal being to equip our families with as many useful resources as possible to build you up as moms and dads.

This month, we start with Katie Karlson (mom of Calvin, Isaiah, Daniel, and brand new Isabel) reviewing the book Mama Bear Apologetics!

Tim and Chantel Chisholm are both alumni of Harbor Light Christian School, having graduated in '98 and '99, respectively. In July of this year they celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary!

They have three wonderful daughters. The oldest, Avarie, attends college at NCMC. Currently in her sophomore year, she plans to get a degree in horticulture. The younger two, Aliviah in 10th grade and Ansley in 6th, attend Harbor Light Christian School. Aliviah is an avid crocheter and Ansley enjoys exploring the woods and riding her bike.

As a family, they enjoy summer nights at Sturgeon Bay and skating at the Winter Sports park during winter. Tim works for Waterfront Property Management in Alanson where he enjoys a variety of different responsibilities, and Chantel is a stay-at-home mom. After living downstate for 8 years, they are so grateful to be back in the area near their families!

If you see Tim, Chantel, or their daughters, be sure to say hello!

We are thrilled to now have a play structure specifically for Preschool and Kindergarten. Thank you to N.B.M.V. Construction for installing this for our littlest Swordsmen!

The locker rooms have been tiled! Showers, hand dryers, and drinking fountains have been installed!

Crews of painters have been hard at work all over the facility rolling stairwells, doorways, and walls. We are so grateful for their dedication!

Has HLCS had a positive or life-changing impact on your life or that of someone you love? Please share these stories with us so we can keep letting others know what a wonderful difference we can make! Send your experience to jcope@harborlight.org.

At Harbor Light Christian School, we have 3 major funds with which we finance everything school-related:

1. The Beacon Fund, to handle general needs of the school
2. The Scholarship Fund, to provide financial assistance to students
3. The Solid Rock Fund, to bring our expansion project to completion

If you would like to give a gift in one of these areas to spur us on into the next season of growth, even as winter approaches, please contact Jennie Cope.

Ways to give:

1. Mail a check to:

HLCS

8333 Clayton Rd

Harbor Springs MI 49740

2. Give a gift of stock

3. Set up a recurring donation through PushPay

4. Give through your IRA

5. Text HLCSGIVE to 833-245-7331

We are grateful to partner with Oleson's and D&W this school year. Receipts collected from these grocers may be dropped off in the office at any time! This is such an easy way to help the school raise money!