Hamilton District Christian High
92 Glancaster Road L9G 3K9 Ancaster, ON, Canada

In the spring, a gardener’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of mulch. - Alfred, Lord Tennyson (maybe) If you’ve got gardening on your mind this Spring Break, you can improve your outdoor space and support HDCH at the same time! Greenhorizons Sod Farms will deliver a BigYellowBag right to your home, no lugging, no mess. And when you order with the promo code HDCH21, $10 from the sale of each bag will be donated to HDCH for our Lifeskills Pathway. ... The Lifeskills Pathway supports students with cognitive disabilities in their learning and in preparing them for participation in the wider world. Place your order at https://bigyellowbag.com/orders/new #character #learning #service #mulch #whyhdch [IMAGE DESCRPTION: This is a photo from after 2020’s Give and Grow fundraiser. A Greenhorizons staff person gives a giant cheque for $1500 to HDCH Leadership Team Members for our Lifeskills Pathway. They stand in front of the school’s main entrance.]

Today is a PA day. Students have completed their Quarter 3 classes and begun their Spring Break. Staff are wrapping up the end of the quarter and heading into Spring Break, as well. Over the break, we will continue to follow announcements from the Province, Ministry of Education and Hamilton Public Health. If there are any changes that affect the return to in-person learning, we will be in touch with HDCH families. In any case, on April 20 we will begin the final Quarter of t...he 2020-2021 school year. The magnolias in front of HDCH are starting to blossom. Spring is in the air. We pray that this week provides rest and renewal for all members of the HDCH community! #character #learning #service #magnolias #whyhdch [IMAGE CONTENTS: In the foreground is a closeup of a pale pink magnolia blossom, starting to open. In the background is the out-of-focus green grass and red brick of HDCH.]

HDCH staff have been meeting with Grade 12 classes for the past few weeks. Staff bring pizza, and give students opportunities to share some high school memories, to reflect on how they have grown since grade 9, and to suggest changes that would make HD better. This year, students with a morning spare can't meet as a group indoors-- but this afternoon the weather was perfect for pizza on the patio! #character #learning #service #pizza #relationships #dialogue #whyhdch... [IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Several HDCH grade 12 students and a few staff sit or stand in a circle, distanced, on HD's back patio. There is a table in the centre with several pizza boxes.]

Congrats to Zoe, member of HD's Class of 2025 and winner of our March Madness contest! Zoe's name was drawn from among all those whose applications and course selections for 21-22 were complete by March 31. She won this sweatshirt plus an HD t-shirt! The contest is over, but the Class of 2025 still has room. To find out more, RSVP for a Parent Forum, or sign up for a virtual school tour, complete an Inquiry Form here: https://hdch.schooladmin.ca/portal/new_inquiry #character ...#learning #service #swag #whyhdch [IMAGE CONTENTS: Zoe, a grade 8 student with glasses and long hair, stands on her back deck. She is wearing her prize from HD's application contest: a black quarter-zip sweatshirt with a red and white Knights Athletics logo.]

Registration for Sport Camps 4 Sport Champs is now open! This summer, we'll be running volleyball camps for athletes going into grades 6 through 10, and basketball camps for athletes going into grades 5 through 9. For info or to register, go to https://hdch.org/camps/... Take advantage of our early bird rates through May 14! #character #learning #service #letsplay #whyhdch [IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A bin of white and red volleyballs is in the foreground. In the background, a dozen or so kids play volleyball in yellow t-shirts. They are unmasked because they are playing in the HDCH gym before Covid times.]

Yesterday in remote learning, HD's Grade 9 Geography classes began their livable cities projects! Four city planners from Brantford "hired" the students as Junior City Planners for the next 3 weeks. Students will learn about city planning, official city plans, zoning, and more as they design proposals for empty lots in a Brantford. #whyhdch #cityplanning #character #learning #service

This month, HD's Christians in Society class organized the annual Milk Campaign. All funds raised by students go to the Neighbour to Neighbour Centre's milk fund; every dollar raised is used to purchase $11 worth of milk from Neighbour to Neighbour's suppliers. Students Alex Guetter, Elena Joosse Flikkema and Taylor Roque sent us this update: "Our 2020 Milk Campaign has raised a total of $6,212.80, which means that Neighbour 2 Neighbour will be able to give $68,340.80 worth... of milk out to all the families who utilize their services weekly! The generosity of our community will provide milk to those in need for over a year. We would like to thank everyone who has helped us exceed our goal!" #character #learning #service #whyhdch #2020milkcampaign

Join us in a few minutes for our Christmas Assembly Livestream! (Start streaming now to enjoy Alex Ciona playing us into the event.) #linkinbio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S30OL_3WoAE&feature=youtu.be

Parents, are you considering your grade 8 child's options for high school next year? We'd love to welcome you to HDCH! https://youtu.be/lcOxIHu8Xsg To find out more about HD, join us virtually on Monday, January 18 at 7:00 pm for a #WhyHDCH Parent Info Forum. Click here to RSVP: https://hdch.schooladmin.ca//public_c/whyhdch_parent_forum

Our Knights' Eatery had a record day today: we sold out 75 meals in 15 minutes! There are several reasonably-priced meal options available every day, prepared by Chef Nathan and served by our student staff. Just one more reason #whyhdch #nomnomnom #whyhdch #character #learning #service #pizza ... photo cred images 1, 2 and 3: Hank Rintjema

Now that it's 2021, we thought it would be fun to share some highlights of the school year so far. Here's post 4 of 4. The learning keeps rolling! It looks a bit different from how it did before, so scroll through and enjoy seeing our students engaged in beautiful work. #character #learning #service #beautifulwork #learninginthetimeofcovi19 #whyhdch

Today is the first day of Q2, when all HD students start their second pair of classes for this school year. Since they're just beginning, we thought we'd throw back to some beautiful work from last week when our grade 9 MegaBloc (Exploring Technology) students displayed their summative work. These projects involved several stages and techniques in getting to the final product. Here are some examples for you to enjoy!... #whyhdch #beautifulwork #megabloc

We've decked the hand sanitizer dispensers with sparkling scarves, we've strung the lights and placed the poinsettias, but it's going to get even MORE festive around here! We hope you'll join us online for the first annual together-apart virtual HDCH Christmas Assembly Livestream. Thursday, December 17 at 9:05 am. Find the stream at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoRZVwSmDPVG_hCXmF4-39Q... photo credit: Hank Rintjema #whyhdch #merrychristmas #character #learning #service #celebration

2020 certainly had some unexpected bends in the road. If you had told us this time last year that we would move to remote learning, that we would come back to in-person with masks, that we would restructure our class schedules and add Covid-19 protocols -- well, we wouldn't have believed you. But if you had told us that parents, students and staff would work together to support each other through all this change, and that God would faithfully be with us through it all -- that..., we would have believed. And that has been our experience in 2020. While we don't know what the road ahead holds for 2021, we believe that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). It is with this assurance that we look forward. A blessed new year to you from the HDCH school community. #character #learning #service #blessedassurance

A note from student Ashley Oppertshauser, a member of our WATCH (Working at Teaching Children Hope) social justice group: "Advent is a time to share the love of Christ with our neighbours. Our WATCH group organized an outdoor hot chocolate and fresh baking stand from Dec. 1- 3 to support teens and individuals in need in our community. We were able to raise $371.10, which we are giving to two student teams to help support the goals they have made for their social justice proj...ect in Christians in Society Class this quarter. The first group is working to answer the question, How can we help teens who were part of the foster care system feel cared for this holiday season? This group will use $200 to purchase items for Market 26, which is a place for youth who have started to live independently in Hamilton pick up items they need for free. The group is asking, How can we support the hungry in Hamilton through the Men's Street Ministry? This group will receive $171.10 to purchase the items this ministry needs to make healthy lunches for individuals living on the streets of Hamiton this winter. We were blessed to run this campaign on cold, snowy days because the hot chocolate helped those who purchased this to stay warm outside. On behalf of WATCH, thank you to everyone who supported this fundraiser!" #whyhdch #character #learning #service

Now that 2020 is wrapping up, we thought it would be fun to share some highlights of the 20-21 school year so far. Here's post 3 of 4. Working within the limits of Covid-19 protocols holds many challenges. But our students and staff have still been finding creative ways to get active and to build community. Here's a sample. 1. Gr 9 classes playing on our disc golf course... 2. The ice cream truck that came to serve Gr 9's 3. Student Council's Character Day 4. Student Council's Candy Jar contest 5. Athletic Council Spikeball Tournament 6. Athletic Council corn hole tournament 7. Running Club 8. Golf Team 9. WATCH Hot Chocolate Fundraiser #character #learning #service #community #whyhdch #schoolinthetimeofcovid19

To mark Remembrance Day, Mr. Apers, Mr. Blyleven and some students put together this video. We remember. https://youtu.be/y39slNI1d78

Thanks to all those who have supported HDCH's tuition fund this year. This school community is a beautiful group project! If you haven't had a chance to make a donation, we invite you to consider a gift before the close of the tax year. When we work together, we make an HDCH education accessible to as many students as possible. To give online or discover other ways to give, visit us at hdch.org/giving.... Thank you for your support! #whyhdch #community #gift

Starting to think about your high school options for next fall? Motor on over to HDCH! Prospective students and their parents are invited for a personal, socially-distanced school tour after hours. See the building, meet a staff member, and find out more about what an HDCH education is all about. Tour times are still available on Monday, Nov 9 at 4:00 or 5:00 pm.... To book, go to our website and click "inquire": https://hdch.org/prospective-students/inquire-explore/ #whyhdch #cultivatingcharacter #learning #service

Starting to think about your high school options for next fall? Come and find out more about HDCH! Prospective students and their parents are invited for a school tour. See the building in person; meet a staff member; and find out more about what our students build, create, write, paint, collaborate, play... and cook! Tours are planned for Nov. 9 at 4 or 5 pm. To book your personal tour, go to our website and click "inquire": https://hdch.org/prospective-students/inquire-expl...ore/ #whyhdch #HFN2O #foodsandnutrition #letsgetcooking

On Saturday, October 24, we were privileged to host guests at HDCH for a fundraising event recently renamed Eat, Give & Be Distanced! All proceeds raised from this event benefit the Life Skills Pathway at HDCH, helping us cultivate a place of belonging for students with cognitive disabilities. Arriving just a handful at a time, masked & distanced guests helped paint a mural, enjoyed live music performed by students, walked the red carpet, and played Plinko for prizes. Then... they took their delicious dinner to go! We want to say a big thank you to: - Nellie James and The Brown Eyed Baker, who catered dinner and dessert - everyone who attended the event, donated to support Life Skills, and bid in the Sealed Bid Auction - the volunteers who set-up, cleaned up and helped to plan, and - our event sponsors: Schilthuis Construction, Christian School Foundation, Shane Renovations and Al-Care Restoration Services We are filled with gratitude to God for his provision through the generosity of so many. https://hdch.org/event/spring-fundraising-dinner/

What a glorious fall day, today -- perfect weather for Mrs Voortman's Grade 10 Girls PhysEd class to visit Treetop Trekking in Binbrook! It was a day for sunshine and for stretching what we think we can accomplish. Thanks to @treetoptrekking and to Mrs Bloemendal who went along as 2nd chaperone. #whyhdch #treetoptrekking #sunshine