October 25, 2024

Halloween



We encourage you to celebrate Halloween at home, if you choose to do so, in a manner that you find appropriate for your family. Please do not send your children to school dressed up in costumes or with candy/treats for the purpose of celebrating Halloween. 

Our non-participation is not a judgment on the holiday itself or those who celebrate it, but rather a judgment on the best use of school time.



Thank you for your understanding

Parent Teacher Conferences - November 25-26



Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 25th and 26th. Please watch your email the week of November 4th for a signup genius link to sign up for a time with your child's teacher.

Enrollment for 2025-2026

Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year at Heritage Christian School is open to any new students, and we wanted you to be the first to know! Please note that if you would like to enroll a PreK student for next school year, please apply by December 2, as open enrollment for PreK families will begin the following day.

To apply, sign into your current FACTS Family Portal. From the left navigation menu select the following:

• Apply / Enroll
• Application
• Click to here to open Application
• Create a New Student Application

Please email Sarah Franje (franjes@hcs-nl.com) or call the office at 319-626-4777 if you have any questions.

Veterans Day Celebration Photos



If your child(ren) is new to Heritage Christian School and he/she has a relative that is a veteran or currently enlisted in the United States Armed Forces, please send a picture (preferably electronic) to Erica Wallace at wallacee@hcs-nl.com. These pictures will be added to a slide show and to a wall recognizing the families that have sacrificed for the security and safety of our nation. Please send all photos by Friday, October 25. All hard copy photos will be returned. Pictures submitted in previous years do not need to be resubmitted as we have kept electronic copies of them.

Please include the following information with your photo:

·        Name

·        Branch of Service

·        Years of Service

·        Relationship to Heritage student

Veterans Day Celebration

You are invited to join us for this very special annual community event held at Heritage on Monday, November 11th. We are thankful for our veterans, and we look forward to honoring them. The event's prelude will begin at 9:15am and will conclude by 10:45am. Please join us outside after the ceremony for an honorary flyover at 11:00am. Please note that this is a full day of school this year.

Our guest speaker this year is retired Air Force Major Kent Christen. Kent "Frag" Christen grew up in Guttenberg, Iowa and graduated from Guttenberg High School in 1988. He attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in History in 1992 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force the same day. Kent entered active duty at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas to attend the Intelligence Applications Officer Course. After graduating, he served for 20 years at duty stations in Korea, Florida, Texas, Georgia, and Illinois with temporary assignments to Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. During his career, he served as a flight instructor and evaluator, a formal schools instructor, Group Senior Intelligence Officer, ROTC instructor, and as the analyst for a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, Kent deployed twice for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and 2009 and once for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007. Along the way, he earned two Bronze Star Medals, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, Air Force Non-rated Aircrew Wings, a Master Intelligence Badge, and a Combat Action Badge. Kent retired in 2013 and worked for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for six years before moving with his family to Coralville and going to work for the City of Cedar Rapids as an analyst. Kent, his wife, and his two adult sons attend Grace Community Church in North Liberty.

Feel free to spread the word to your friends and neighbors so that we can once again celebrate and honor the brave men and women that have served our country.

All School Thanksgiving Lunch

Friday, November 22nd, will be our annual All School Thanksgiving Day Lunch. Again this year we'll have an opportunity for the entire school community to come together at the same time to give thanks through worship, eating, and fellowship. We look forward to spending time acknowledging together how God has blessed us as individuals, families, and a school.

Parents and grandparents, you are encouraged to arrive at school by 11:20am to join your child(ren) in the gymnasium for chapel, beginning at 11:30am. Following chapel, we will enjoy lunch "picnic-style" on the gym floor at 12:00pm. Recess will follow outside from 12:30-1:00pm.

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child (sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse) helps provide for needy children worldwide and is a great opportunity to give out of the abundance that God has given to us. This year, each PRE-K – 5th GRADE CLASS will be filling two shoeboxes to send, and collections will take place between October 15 and November 8. Here’s how you can help: 

• Each class will fill two shoeboxes (one for a girl and one for a boy)
• We are asking every Heritage student to bring in $3 (or MORE to cover for those students that don’t bring money in) to help cover the shipping and handling cost ($10 for each shoebox).
• Ideas for what to include in shoeboxes can be found at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-shoebox-suggestions/
• Donate any of the following items by bringing them to the school (check your child’s classroom newsletter for details):
• SMALL toys (that can fit in a small shoebox) – small cars, dolls, stuffed animals, yo-yos, jump ropes, toys that light-up or make noise, etc. PLEASE, NO WAR-RELATED TOYS OR BREAKABLE ITEMS.
• School supplies – pens, pencils and sharpeners, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, coloring books, writing pads or paper, solar calculators
• Hygiene items – toothbrush, mild bar soap, comb, brush, washcloths, etc. (NO TOOTHPASTE)
• Other miscellaneous items that a child would enjoy – watches, picture books (no words), sunglasses, flashlights (with extra batteries), ball caps, socks, T-shirts, hair clips, etc. (NO CANDY OR FOOD of any kind!)
• DO NOT INCLUDE: USED OR DAMAGED ITEMS, WAR-RELATED ITEMS, CANDY OR FOOD, TOOTHPASTE, LIQUIDS OR LOTIONS, MEDICATIONS OR VITAMINS, BREAKABLE ITEMS SUCH AS GLASS, OR AEROSOL CANS
• Please note that we will NOT ACCEPT TOOTHPASTE or CANDY/FOOD 

Missions - Mrs. Pretorious & Kossigan

Please continue to pray for global workers Michael and Mary Pretorious and for our Compassion International sponsored child, Kossigan, from Togo. Students are welcome to contribute towards Kossigan’s sponsorship (through Compassion International) by giving money in their classrooms or the office. Thank you!

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Please pray for:

·        Protection (physical, spiritual, emotional, etc.)

·        Boldness (to share Jesus authentically and powerfully)

·        Peace (people of peace to help share the Good News)

·        Assurance (that God is with them and is for them)

Basketball and Cheerleading

After gauging interest from students at school, it is looking like Heritage will have two boys basketball teams and two girls teams this season. The teams will be divided as follows to accommodate numbers:

• 5^th grade boys
• 5^th grade girls
• 6^th through 8^th grade boys
• 6^th through 8^th grade girls

In addition to the basketball teams, Heritage will also have a cheerleading team for 5^th through 8^th graders.

We are currently in need of a coach or coaches for our 5^th grade boys basketball team. Coaches at Heritage are volunteers and do not need a state certificate or license. We do ask that our coaches agree with our school’s statement of faith, pass our school’s volunteer background check, take a quick concussion course and agree to some basic coaching guidelines. Organizational skills, communication skills and background or experience in the sport of basketball help. If we do not find a coach or coaches, we will unfortunately not be able to field a team. If you are interested, please reach out to Mr. Harshman via email or schedule a meeting and we can discuss the details (harshmanj@hcs-nl.com).   

Forms/Fees: Due Wednesday, November 13 (All forms were emailed.)

• Athletic Participation Fee Form and $60 for basketball and $40 for cheerleading
• Athletic Contract
• Insurance Waiver
• Emergency Medical Authorization
• Athletic Physical (these are good for 13 months, if you do not know whether your son or daughter’s physical is still good, check with the Heritage office)
• Concussion Form

If your son or daughter is planning on participating in either basketball or cheering this season, please email Mr. Harshman (harshmanj@hcs-nl.com) so he can begin compiling rosters for the coaches.  

Sports Update

On Monday, the Heritage Eagles volleyball team played Trinity Lutheran Cedar Rapids. In the first set of the 5/6 match, the girls faced tough serving from their opponents, which got us in a bit of whole, but they persevered and dug their way out. In the end they fell in the first set 17-25. In the second set, the girls were able to hold off Trinity Lutheran and won 25-18. The Eagles worked hard in the third and deciding set, but were not able to pull of the win, falling 9-15. The 7/8 team faced a competitive Trinity team. Behind strong serving and hustle, the girls were able to create a good lead in the first set. A lapse in some communication and serve receive allowed Trinity to get back in the game, but the girls were able to figure it out and win 25-16. The second set, found the Eagles down 1-6. They worked together to climb back in it and win the second set as well 25-19. Bria Palmer had a great night for the Eagles with two kills, seven ace serves, and two blocks.  

The next day, the volleyball team traveled to Williamsburg to take on the LIS Panthers. In the 5/6 match, the girls kept both sets close, but couldn’t quite pull it off, falling 19-25 and 22-25. In the 7/8 match, the girls built an early lead with their strong serving. There were many back and forth points, and the Panthers climbed their way back in it. The Eagles were able to hold them off, winning set one 25-23. Set two the girls came out swinging with both their serves and hits, winning easily 25-8. Kaelyn Van Otterloo led the team with three kills, four aces, and two blocks. 

On Thursday, the Heritage volleyball team played Central Lutheran. The first set of the 5/6 match, the girls came out with strong serves and easily won 25-8. In the second set, the girls hustled after the ball, but fell 15-25. The third and deciding set was close at the beginning, but the girls pulled away at the end winning 15-8. The 5/6 team showed continued growth this match of controlling their passes to get the ball to the setter to go for a hit. The 7/8 match was a close one with both teams trading points for much of the game. On a night when serves and communication was not at its best, it took all three sets to decide, but the girls persevered. Midway through the first set, the Eagles built up a lead, only to face a strong server from Central, who wiped out our lead and built their own, which found the Eagles on the losing end 20-25. The girls came out in the second and third sets with improved serving, serve receive, and communication. While both sets were close, they managed to not get in a big hole and won both sets and the match 25-19 and 15-11. 

Come join us on Monday to cheer on the Eagles for their last home game of the season. 

Volleyball Schedule

Monday, Oct 28 - Volleyball Game @ Heritage 4:30 & 5:30pm

Tuesday, Oct 29 - Volleyball Game @ Central Lutheran 4:30 & 5:30pm

Wednesday, Oct 30 - 5/6 Practice 3:30-5pm

Thursday, Oct 31 - 7/8 Practice 3:30-5pm

Operation Christmas Child

October 15th - November 8th

Veterans Day Celebration

Monday, Nov. 11th

9:15-11:15am

Picture Retakes

Friday, November 15th

No School

Monday, Nov. 18th

Teacher In-Service

All School Thanksgiving Lunch/Chapel

Friday, Nov. 22nd

11:30-12:30pm

Report Cards go home

Friday, Nov. 22nd

Parent Teacher Conferences

Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 25th and 26th

No School

Thanksgiving Holiday

Wednesday - Friday, Nov. 27th - 29th

No School

Current Family PreK Registration

Monday, Dec. 2nd

Open Family PreK Registration Begins

Tuesday, Dec. 3rd



Quick Links

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