MR.  RICHARD NOORMAN, PRINCIPAL
April, 2010

This will be the last Parent Communicator of this school year. That means that we are quickly approaching the end of another year and the end of high school education for our seniors, soon to be graduates. It has really been a great year for us as a school. We have had a group of students this year that have been cooperative, hard working in their work with teachers, and caring and encouraging to their classmates and peers. Problems that require discipline have been minimal and the response of students that have to be dealt with has been good. Parental support and cooperation has been evident in many ways. Without hesitation as teachers and staff we can say that this year has been good and we look forward to having that continue right through the end.

Having declared that this was a good year does not mean that we have not had our trials and difficulties. Most recently our sympathies go to Chad Rutgers, one of our sophomore students, and his mother Ruth and the family in the loss of their husband and father, Mr. Bill Rutgers. Our prayers are that Ruth and Chad and the family will be comforted by the promises of God’s Word and the assurance of the Holy Spirit working in their hearts giving them the sure knowledge that these promises are true. Chad joins Tom and Suzie Kuiper and Erin Compagner as students who have lost a parent during this school year. This will most certainly remind these students and families of their losses also in this year and we pray for their comfort as well. We also have students struggling with illness, injury, and other issues that demand our care and prayers. It is our hope always that the community of people that are together here at Covenant will be means used by God to be a blessing to those who need help in so many ways. By God’s grace alone this can happen and we give Him thanks for providing this means.

Following are some items of information for you and your students.

2010-11 Academics and Staffing--We are happy to report that all of our staff will be returning next year and working in nearly the same capacity. Mr. Haveman has been busy gathering course request information from next year’s 11th and 12th grade students and I have met with and received information from our incoming 10th graders. Based on these requests we will be assigning our teachers and setting up a Master Schedule.

Senior Activities—We recently sent a mailing to the homes of seniors with information about end of the year activities and a request for forms to be returned. We ask that if these have not returned yet that you do that as soon as possible. Please refer to the calendar at the end of this newsletter for a reminder of the dates.

Choir Program—Our final end of the year Choir concert for our two choirs is scheduled for May 27 at Grandville H.S. On Thursday, May 6 there will be a program featuring the choirs of all of our area schools singing separately and combined. This program will be held at Fair Haven Ministries at 7:30 p.m.

Spring Sports—Our Spring sports teams are reaching the midpoint of their seasons. Schedules and results are available from the school website. Our coaches are all the same this year:
Varsity Baseball—Mr. Jim Schimmel and Mr. Dan Decker
JV Baseball—Mr. Tom Bergman
Softball—Mr. Travis Van Bemmel
Soccer—Mr. Mike Noorman
On Friday, May 14 we would like to invite everyone to our annual Spring Sports Cookout. The Girls’ Soccer team will be hosting North Muskegon, the Softball team will have a doubleheader with defending Class B state champion Hudsonville, and the Baseball team will have a double header with Zion Christian. This will be a great time to enjoy the games, the fellowship, and some good food.

Chapels—Our recent chapels included a speech on modesty in dress by Joanna (Rutgers) Leep. It is sometimes hard to judge how the students receive speeches like this but hopefully they were led to give some thought to how they make decisions in this area. Our hope always is that as our young people make decision about their life, including the clothes they wear; it will reflect the fact that they are children of God striving to live a sanctified life and also helping others to do the same. Other speakers were Sem. Nathan Decker who spoke about practicing and exercising in godliness and Jon Van Overloop who spoke on the idea of how we ought to view the prevailing philosophy of redeeming this world for Christ.

Exam Policy—For Seniors to be exempt from taking second semester exams their grade must be a B+ or better in that class as well as having no grade lower than a C-. Students should check with their teachers to make sure that they have met the requirements before assuming that they do not have to take the exam.

The Annual Society Meeting—At our annual held on March 29 Mr. Phil Baas, Mr. Sid Miedema, and Mr. Karl Van Oostenbrugge were elected to the Board. The budget was also approved as presented with tuition next year set at $5,600 per student. Thanks were expressed to our retiring Board members, Mr. Nick Kleyn, Mr. Mark Ophoff, and Mr. Al Van Dyke. Reports were also given by the various committees working toward the transition of 9th grade. The information of these reports can be found in the latest edition of the Courier.

Davenport University Credit—We have recently completed an “Articulation Agreement” with Davenport University. This agreement will allow our graduates who go on to Davenport to receive university credit for learning and skills accomplished as part of the educational program here at Covenant. There are 12 courses that we teach that could be counted toward the university program if certain requirements are met. The requirements are that the student must have successfully completed all course requirements and received a “B” or better grade in the course and the credit must be applied within 27 months of graduation. There is paper work that the students must complete and turn in to the Registrar’s office at Davenport. The classes that are eligible for credit are Accounting, Business Law, English Literature, Spanish I, Chemistry, Physics, American Government, United States History, Modern World History, 20th Century World History and 20th Century US History, and World Geography. More information on this can be received from our Counseling office.

Choir Trip--The Choir had a great trip to Northwest Iowa last week. We traveled through the night on Wednesday arriving at Trinity Chr. High in Hull about 11:30 Thursday morning. After having some lunch we went to Hull PRC for rehearsal and then back to the school for some activities. Thursday night we had a great concert with the Trinity Choir and then went back to the school for some activities with all of the area young people. Friday we were at Dordt College all day for clinic sessions, rehearsal, and then the main concert at night. The first part of the concert consisted of each high school choir presenting one number with the various Dordt College choirs also performing. For the second part the high school and college choir members all combine for five songs that they have practiced before coming to the festival. The Combined choirs this year was over 800 students and it was a truly awesome sound. We left for home after the concert on Friday and arrived at CCHS just after noon. The students were well behaved, cooperative, and performed well in the concerts.

State Band Festival-- Last Friday the Band performed at the State Band Festival at Otsego H.S. They received a #1 rating from one of the three judges and #1 in sight reading but they got a #2 overall. They did well and were happy to be able to make it to the State level. Please don’t forget the annual All Schools Band Concert on May 26 at Allendale and the visit of Dr. Ken Austin from Trinity Chr. College. Dr. Austin will perform a special work for trumpet and band at the concert.

Commended Students—We were recently informed by Kent Career/Technical Center that two or our students were honored as Student of the Month in their programs. Erin Compagner, a junior, was honored in the Graphic Design Program. Senior Tyler Wassink was honored in the Diesel Equipment and Technology Program. We congratulate these students and we are thankful for the good work that they do in these programs.

Physicals—We will be offering physicals to all of those who intend to participate in athletics next year. Physicals will be given at Covenant on May 4 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. We are now scheduling times after 7:00 p.m. Please call the office to schedule a time. Cost for the physical is $15 and the CCHS physical form must be completed prior to taking the physical.

Book bills—We still have a fair amount of outstanding book bills. These are included with this mailing. We are asking that these be paid or arrangements made by May 17.

Calendar
May 6 All Schools Choir program
May 7 Junior/Senior Banquet
May 20-21 Senior Class Trip
May 26 All Schools Band Concert @ Allendale 7:30 p.m.
May 27 CCHS Choir Concert at Grandville H.S. 7:30 p.m.
June 3 Senior Chapel (11:25a.m.) and Senior Honors Convocation (7:30 p.m.)
June 7-10 Exams
June 11 Sr. Breakfast and Graduation
September 1 Sophomore Orientation
September 2 Faculty Meeting
September 7 School starts

In His Service,

R. Noorman