The Light

www.harborlightchristian.org

We pack a lot into these newsletters- be sure to hit "View Entire Message" so you don't miss a thing!

Dear Harbor Light Christian School Family,

As January draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the many blessings we’ve experienced during these first few weeks back to school. It’s a joy to share with you the fruit of God’s goodness that I have witnessed or heard about within our school community—evidence of His faithfulness and love at work among our students, staff, and families.

First, I give thanks for the vibrant sense of community that continues to grow at Harbor Light. Our Mother-Son Night was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate family relationships and God’s design for nurturing bonds. The joy and laughter shared by so many young boys and their moms last Saturday remind us of the unique ways God strengthens families through intentional moments together.

I also want to celebrate the spiritual growth I see in our students. From heartfelt prayer times in the classroom to the thoughtful insights they share during chapel, it is evident that God is shaping hearts and minds here. Recently, I have been especially moved by the devotions our student-athletes have been sharing before games. In fact, Mr. Hewitt has received two letters over the last couple of months from visiting fans who thanked us for hosting such an uplifting and welcoming game that brought glory and honor to the Lord. Both letters specifically mentioned the student devotion time as a highlight.

Our older students continue to lead by example, demonstrating servant-hearted leadership. Whether it’s working with younger students, helping with chapel set-up, or organizing school events, their actions reflect the love of Christ and inspire us all. Many students, young and old, have also committed to 21 days of prayer and/or fasting. It is exciting to see sometimes over 25 students coming to school early, from 6:00-7:00 a.m., to pray at Harbor Light!

Academically, I’ve seen growth and perseverance in the classroom. Students are tackling challenges with determination and enthusiasm, embodying the biblical principle of doing all things as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). Their curiosity and commitment are refreshing and encouraging.

Last Friday, we had the privilege of welcoming back alumni Jodi Helland, Class of 1990, and Jeff Jakeway, Class of 1994, for their induction into the HLCS Athletic Hall of Fame. Jodi’s legacy of excellence and dedication as a four-sport athlete was inspiring. She reflected on the value of the relationships she formed while at HLCS, emphasizing that relationships matter more than anything you can earn or achieve. It was also an honor to induct Coach Jakeway—a current parent, coach, board member, and champion for this gem of a school. In addition to being the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder in basketball, his unwavering commitment to HLCS exemplifies the lasting impact of our community and mission.

As we look ahead, I am excited for the upcoming Daddy-Daughter Dance in February and the Jubilee in March. These events provide opportunities to celebrate and strengthen relationships within our community. I encourage you to mark your calendars for these special evenings and to invite other families who might benefit from being part of the Harbor Light Christian School experience.

Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and partnership in the work God is doing at HLCS. Together, we are sowing seeds of faith, knowledge, and love that will bear fruit for generations to come. Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to His purposes, trusting that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).

In Christ’s Service,

Kelly Dutcher
Administrator
Harbor Light Christian School

January

22 & 23 - 7th - 12th grade exams, 1/2 day MS/HS only

24 - 7th - 12th grade exams, 1/2 day for full school

31 - Beauty & the Beast Musical

February

1 - Beauty & the Beast Musical

14 - 17 No School - Mid-Winter Break

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

** Please check the athletic calendar before traveling to a game, the calendar is updated continually. Click HERE

Basketball

January

Boys

1/24 NMCA (JV, V) Away 5:30 PM

1/28 Ellsworth (JV, V) Away 5:30 PM

Girls

1/24 Alba (V) Away 5:30 pm

1/28 Onaway JV at Pellston Away 6:00 pm

February

Boys

2/3 Boyne Falls (V) Away 7:00 PM

2/7 NLC Playoffs (V) TBD 5:30 PM

2/10 Harbor Springs (V) Away 6:00 PM

2/11 TC Christian (JV, V) Home 5:30 PM

2/13 Posen (JV,VA) Home 5:30 PM

2/17 Cedarville/Detour (JV, V) Parent’s N. Home 5:30 PM

Girls

2/3 Boyne Falls (V) Away 5:30 pm

2/3 McBain NMC (JV) Away 5:30 pm

2/4 Ellsworth (JV,V) Away 5:30 pm

2/6 NLC Play-Off (V) TBA 5:30 pm

2/11 NMCA (V) Away 5:30 pm

2/17 Pellston (V) Away 6:00 pm

Elementary - All games will be played in the Solid Rock Center

1/25 HLCS vs Mackinaw and Otsego Christian

2/1 HLCS vs. Ellsworth and NMCA

2/8 HLCS vs. Alanson and Alba

2/15 HLCS vs. Wolverine

We had a great Christmas Program in the SRC this year! Thank you to Mrs. (Stephanie) Cope and all of the students who worked very hard this year for this event.

Our family includes Jeff and Michelle, and their daughters, Christe, who works at Harbor Springs Elementary, and Maddie, our senior, and also our dog, Lilly and cat, Sebastian.

Our first year at HLCS was the fall of 2012. Christe was a freshman, and Maddie was in kindergarten. Michelle’s sister, Caryn, is a graduate of Harbor Light, and we remember her telling us how gracious and loving her teachers were. She said she felt cared about and even liked as a student! Michelle’s mom, Donna Azure, volunteered at the school for several years and experienced the same love and grace from the staff. We knew we wanted our girls to attend a school where they would be loved and taught God’s Word, so we were so grateful to be able to send our girls to school here.

One thing we’ve always tried to do is make time to have dinner together around our table. It doesn’t happened every night, but most nights, we eat together and catch up on the day. That has really helped us stay connected with each other.

One great way to get involved at HLCS is to find your areas of interest and then see where those can be used to serve. If you love sports, there is always a concession stand to run, tickets to be sold, cleanup to be done. If you love teaching or mentoring, there are always teachers looking for classroom help. There are so many ways to be involved, and we are so grateful that we have had the opportunity to get to know the other parents and the staff and students through serving along side them.

We have been so blessed by the ministry of Harbor Light, and we will be eternally grateful for each of the staff members who have sacrificed time and energy to educate and love our girls and to provide godly examples for them to follow. We will miss Harbor Light!!

The 2024 tax receipts were emailed this year on Friday, January 17th. If you made a gift to HLCS in 2024 of $250 or more, you should receive a receipt. If you didn't, please check your spam folder first. If it still has not arrived, please call the school at 231-347-7859 and speak to Jennie Cope.

The 2025 HLCS Jubilee is right around the corner! We are excitedly preparing fun live auction and silent auction packages for you!

In an effort to bring fun items to the auction, we are in search of some professional tickets. Do you, or anyone you know have season passes to a professional team in Michigan? We would love to chat!

Please contact Jennie Cope at jcope@harborlight.org or call the school at 231-347-7859.

So many people enjoyed Mrs. Good's cookie recipe, she wanted to share another! If you do try this recipe, share some pictures with us!

The blueberry muffin recipe that the HLCS kids (and staff!) rave about can be found HERE.

Please bring us your Oleson's receipts, we can cash them in for money to help cover the 6th grade's Mother's Day brunch. Bring any of your receipts to the front office any time this school year! If you have many, please put them in an envelope.

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.