Preparing Next-Generation Leaders for Christ
"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
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Dear Harbor Light Christian School Family,
You may or may not know that before becoming the administrator, I was a high school social studies teacher in Harbor Springs. One of my favorite classes to teach each year was economics. I would teach apprehensive students that Economics is not difficult, it is really just the study of how people make decisions. By a month into the semester, students would learn economics is all around them and is fairly easy to study!
One of the most basic concepts in economics is creating a cost-benefit analysis. As we enter the season of re-enrollment, open house, and new enrollment, many families find themself praying about the right decision for next year. These families, especially new families will likely make a cost-benefit analysis. Pondering this had me thinking of the value of Christian education at Harbor Light Christian School.
Sending our children to HLCS is a sacrifice. It’s a shared sacrifice. Parents sacrifice, staff sacrifices, and students sacrifice, as we say, it takes a little more to be a Swordsmen.
But,I believe the sacrifice is worth it for my family. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Here at Harbor Light Christian School, we believe in the transformative power of Christian education. It's more than just academics; it's about nurturing student. Teaching and guiding their hearts and minds while using the light of God's truth.
In our school, we seek God's guidance and wisdom for each student. Psalm 119:105 reminds us, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." We pray with students, we pray for students. Students memorize scripture each week and read daily from God’s word.
Christian character is not merely taught in classrooms; it's modeled and reinforced by our dedicated staff. Through a biblical worldview, our students have the extraordinary opportunity to explore God's creation, understanding the world around them through the lens of faith.
Lastly, at Harbor Light, we understand that mistakes and wrong choices are inevitable, but it's how we respond that truly matters. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 13:6, "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth," we approach errors with love and truth, fostering an environment of grace, forgiveness, and growth.
I am deeply grateful for each parent who entrusts us with the privilege of partnering in their child's educational journey. I am also grateful for each staff member who has been called to serve in this ministry and give of themselves so fully. Together, let us continue to walk in His truth and grace.
I am looking forward to a strong end to the school year!
In His service,
Kelly Dutcher
Mark your Calendar!
April
19- Elementary Education Fair 1:30-3:00pm
25-26 Local Missions Days
May
3- PD Day (No School)
11- Jr/Sr Banquet
17- Swordsmen Olympics
17- Shakespeare and Sweets (5:30 & 7:30 pm)
18- Dorothy Gerber Strings Concert @ PHS (5 pm)
21- High School Awards Night (6 pm)
22- Jr. High Awards Breakfast (7:30 am)
23- Senior Chapel
27- Memorial Day (No School)
30- Kindergarten Graduation
31- End of Year Prayer and Blessing (11 am)
June
2- Graduation (3 pm)
Our HLCS Calendar is updated continually and can be viewed at http://www.harborlightchristian.org/calendar
- 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.
April
4/19 Softball/Baseball vs. Pickford (4:30 pm)
4/22 Softball vs. NMCA (4 pm)
4/25 Softball/Baseball @ Wolverine (4 pm)
May
5/2 Baseball/Softball @ Mackinaw City (4 pm)
5/4 Baseball/Softball Tournament @ Pellston (TBA)
5/6 Baseball/Softball vs. Boyne Falls (4 pm)
5/9 Baseball/Softball vs. Alanson (4 pm)
5/10 Baseball/Softball vs. TC Christian (4:15 pm)
5/11 GSM Tournament (TBA)
5/21 Baseball/Softball @ Posen (4 pm)
5/24 Baseball/Softball @ Ellsworth (4 pm)
Please click HERE for the school calendar, which is updated continually.
We want to give special recognition this month to Miss Elsa, who is such an asset to our school community! Not only does she assist in the Preschool and Kindergarten classrooms regularly, but she also steps in anywhere as a substitute when needed, and runs our amazing aftercare program. She works very hard to help us keep things running smoothly at HLCS- thank you Miss Elsa
I had the privilege of taking 11 HLCS high school students on a Mission Trip to Nashville Tennessee in March. To say that it was a life-changing experience doesn’t do it justice. I would like to start by bragging about the students who were able to go. Our amazing team poured 110% of themselves into the entire trip. They worked tirelessly without complaint, walked miles and miles each day to minister to the homeless community, and were continuously sharing the love of God with those around them. We also had the privilege of having Brandon Beckman and Pastor Alex Norton as our additional chaperones, which was such a huge blessing to all of us. God used Brandon and Alex in incredible ways to minister not only to the people of Nashville but to our students as well.
During our time in Nashville, we worked at 2 different gardens that supply over 55,000 pounds of fresh produce to the Nashville Food Pantries each year. We worked at a diaper facility where we sorted and wrapped 13,450 diapers that were then sent to the Nashville Food Pantries as well, this will help 279 babies in the area with diapers. We also worked with Green Interchange which is an environmental company that improves the area by planting trees and cleaning the road areas to bless the Nashville Area. We spend most of our time ministering to the homeless community. We were able to serve at the homeless shelter Room at the Inn, minister on the streets by handing out food, spending time with others, and praying for those we encountered.
For Brandon and I, this was a life-changing trip. We were blessed to be able to see the people of Nashville with the eyes and heart of God. We didn’t see the poverty, the dirt, the substance abuse, or mental illness, what we saw was God’s people! People who just wanted to connect, to get a hug, to talk, and to pray with you, but most of all people who poured into us and blessed us in ways that I will never forget. Our team went to Nashville to be a blessing to those struggling with homelessness, however, it was the people of Nashville who blessed us.
We are incredibly thankful for the life that God poured into us, the inspiration that He gave us to continue serving Him, the passion to pour His love and compassion into those around us, and a fire to serve Him each and every moment of each and every day!
This school year Harbor Light students have partnered with a small Christian school in the Mathare slum of Nairobi, Kenya called Chosen Vessels Academy. In the fall, HLCS students were introduced by Pat Wendt, who had visited the school In Kenya earlier in the year, to the students at Chosen Vessels over a live video call–allowing our students to meet and interact with the 200+ students at Chosen Vessels in real time. Since then, HLCS students have been presented with a short ‘missions moment’ at chapel once a month, helping them grapple with the concept of students living in such extreme poverty- most living on less than one dollar a day.
It is estimated that 800,000 people live in Mathare in an area of less than one square mile; starvation, crime, drug and alcohol abuse, and diseases wreak havoc on the people that live there leaving little hope for a better life. The headmasters at Chosen Vessels know that God-centered education will empower these children to rise up out of these circumstances that they’ve grown up in.
The students at Chosen Vessels learn Bible memory verses and sing praise songs very similarly to Harbor Light students, but they learn in a tin-walled building with just a few textbooks, a broken chalkboard, limited writing utensils and paper, and one barely functioning computer for the teachers. Many of the students survive on the one meal a day provided by the school.
Since HLCS has partnered with Chosen Vessel, $2744 has been donated by students and sent to this little school. With this money, they have been able to purchase a computer and projector, desks, install a toilet and running water, purchase curriculum, and pay teachers. Additionally, our HLCS students made Christmas cards which were sent to the students to be opened at their Christmas party along with a gift of 36 Bibles. For many of them, the cards and party were the only celebration of Christmas that they had.
Charles, the headmaster at Chosen Vessels, wrote to us: “[Harbor Light] has brought light to our school, [and our] children have been motivated in so many ways from the live video, and sharing songs together. It’s amazing and life-changing. Through the donations, we have been able to do a lot of things: repair school desks, buy books, provide porridge [breakfast], laptops, and so many things. It has blessed us to have Harbor Light as our sister school. So many blessings.”
Next year, Pat and Craig Wendt will lead a small team to visit this school in Kenya and have opened an application process for HLCS students who are interested in joining them. We are excited for all God has in store for this sister school partnership.
