A HAMILTON DISTRICT CHRISTIAN HIGH PUBLICATION
FALL 2026 Vol. 20 Issue 1
Taking a Step of Faith in Brazil
~Submitted by Nathan Kirk, HDCH Staff & ShareWorld Global Brazil Trip Chaperone There was a new opportunity for HDCH students this summer. After exams and graduation were in the books, a team of 14 students and 2 teachers left from Toronto airport to a city in southern Brazil called Curitiba. The trip, organized by ShareWord Global, was a few years in the making and as with most new ventures, started with a step of faith. I was asked to scope out a similar trip last summer to see if there was something good in store for our students. I didn’t initially know anyone involved and yet I came back so encouraged to see how God was working in and through young people from Canada and Brazil.
Still, because this summer’s trip was a first for an HDCH team, I have to admit my hopes were too modest. God had some amazing things in store for us. To make the trip possible, Tamara DeWaard signed on as the other trip leader having not seen or experienced what I had the year before. The same goes for the wonderful group of 14 students we took with us. They took small steps of faith. We all had to get used to the idea that even though we were going to Brazil, we were leaving summer and a heat wave behind at home. So what were we stepping into? Our home base for the trip was at a camp run by an organization called Word of Life. Our mission was to join them in offering day camps to elementary public schools, similar to a vacation bible school. This placed our students in a beautiful team of people using their gifts, skills, joy and stories of faith to share God’s love and the hope we have in Jesus. The first part of the week was cold and rainy, so we took our show on the road and visited two different elementary schools before welcoming bus loads of kids to the camp once the weather turned. All of our new Brazilian friends, including our translators, offered warm hospitality and they really know how to have fun. It didn’t take long for our students to be singing (albeit in shoddy Portuguese) and dancing along to all of the day camp songs! Some of the most impactful times were when we gathered as a large team of Brazilians and Canadians to reflect on how we had seen God at work in the events of the day. It was so good to see students step into new things and share reflections throughout our time together.
Student Reflections about the trip: • • • • • •
Do your part and rely on God for the rest Understanding Jesus’ heart for children Being courageous and stepping out in faith Offering hope and being a light to others Working wholeheartedly as service to God Recognizing God’s faithfulness in every context
By the end of our time in Brazil, students had grown in confidence to share, in a public way, what God has done in their lives. Nathaniel got us started in this regard and then in the last couple days we had 5 HDCH students share testimonies in large gatherings. Tishey confidently declared that if the God of the universe loves her, she doesn’t need to worry about what others think about her. Mekiah attested to God’s faithfulness during a difficult season in her life. Something our team learned throughout this trip is that if we are willing to get out of our own way and share our story in humility, God will use it for His glory.
A Milestone for HDCH
A group of forward-thinking Dutch immigrant families started HDCH on faith, and with prayers for a Christ-centred high school education, opened the doors to Hamilton District Christian High in 1956. Housed in the basement of Mount Hamilton CRC, HD’s first class had 16 students.
OF GOD’S GOODNESS
Thanks to that vision, HD has grown to 485 students annually. In recent years, over 100 Christ-followers graduate, going into the world to find out more about what we mean by lives of service to God.
Here are some of the ways we’ve celebrated this milestone anniversary. • Seventy anniversary cupcakes were shared with visitors to the HD table at the Spring Market. • On Seniors Day, over 300 guests enjoyed cake and watched a slide show about the changes to the school. Jack Scholtens ’69 shared warm and amusing memories from his time as an HD student. • Coming soon is our Golf Tournament, 70th Anniversary edition. We’re marking this anniversary with some special touches. There is still space available to play golf and reminisce about 70 years of God’s Goodness. www.hdch.org/golf We hope that together with us, you will look back with thankfulness for 70 years of God’s goodness, grace, kindness, faithfulness and love at HDCH. Thank you, Lord!
1959 Mr. Witvoet at Gr 11-12 students at Mount Hamilton CRC location
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1
Co-op Placement Affirms Passion for Music ~Submitted by Tina VanDyk, HDCH Staff (Marketing & Engagement)
Tyson Brown loves music. He wishes to pursue it as a career and will be studying Music Industry Arts at Fanshawe this fall. When he was making his Gr 12 course selection, he elected to participate in co-op. He was invited to a placement at the Hamilton Music Collective, located in Hamilton on Park Street N. Twice a week, Tyson participated as a music mentor for 8-10 years old students as they used Garage Band to compose and play music. He enjoyed seeing the passion in young kids and helping to develop it. HMC held bi-weekly jazz concerts and Tyson was invited to support running sound. It was invaluable to him to be mentored by a sound technician with a passion for music and decades of experience. One of the experiences that Tyson was most “jazzed about” was participating in a music production session shared on the Soundhaus instagram page. Tyson was able to anticipate needs and show initiative in his placement by setting up the learning space and familiarizing himself with the lesson content. His supervisors recognized his initiative as an asset and this contributed to Tyson’s confidence as well. When I sat down with Tyson at the end of the semester, we reflected on what a unique opportunity he had both to mentor young musicians and also to have his own passions fuelled through mentorship from talented and experienced musicians. I asked him what had the biggest impact on him. He responded: “My co-op affirmed what I want to do in the future, working as a music producer to help artists bring their vision to life.” It is our mission at HDCH to cultivate character, through learning, for lives of service to God. Tyson’s co-op learning contributed to this mission.
Get to Know Your Leadership Team HDCH is a busy, thriving community with many moving parts. Having a successful school year hinges on the collective strengths of many excellent people. Our faculty and staff are passionate, dedicated, and caring, and they are all devoted to the mission of cultivating character through learning for lives of service to God. Teachers are the “front-line” workers in a school, having the most direct contact with students daily. The rest of the staff serve to enable students and teachers to make the most of the classroom experience and to grow in knowledge and wisdom. Three of those support workers are the members of the Leadership Team. Though they each have distinct responsibilities, they work together as a team, often consulting each other on matters that impact the school. Duncan Todd - Principal Years at HDCH: 16 | Years as Principal: 7 Primary Roles: Uphold and direct the mission and vision of the organization HR leader (hiring, contracts, administration of employment agreements) Oversee advancement, admissions and stewardship of campus resources Administer the budget with fiscal responsibility Board liaison Administer policies James Harskamp - Vice Principal of Students Years at HDCH: 9 | Years as Vice Principal: Starting this fall! Primary Roles: Uphold and direct the school culture Community, Culture and Student Lead • Build opportunities for student growth and development • Mitigate conflict and restore broken relationships • Follow up on wardrobe and attendance issues • Oversee Chapel planning Lead Student Support Team Sara Whetstone - Vice Principal of Learning Years at HDCH: 13 | Years as Vice Principal: 7 Primary Roles: Uphold and direct the learning mission of the school Learning Lead • Plan school-wide PD • Support teachers in their goals and development • Ministry of Education liaison • Literacy test liaison • Oversee exams and final evaluations Create schedules Organize supply coverage If you have any questions about the areas noted above, please contact the person who heads that area. Refer to the contact information on the back page of this issue.
HAMILTON DISTRICT CHRISTIAN HIGH
GOLF TOURNAMENT OF GOD’S GOODNESS
Join us Sat. Sept 19, 2026,12:30pm at Century Pines Golf Course HDCH is celebrating our 70th anniversary and God’s goodness to us. We invite you to join in the celebration at this years’ Golf Tournament. Share a great day of laughter, food and golf. Sponsorship is a way to support the HDCH CARE Campaign and promote your business. Contact Sandra Baker for more information. sbaker@hdch.org | 905-648-6655 x 122
Mark Your Calendar
Sept 8: First Day of School Sept 10: Membership Activation Deadline Sept 11: Gr. 9 Day Sept 16-18: Gr 12 Trip Sept 19: HDCH Golf Tournament @ Century Pines | www.hdch.org/golf Oct 30: PD Day Nov 6: Midterms Nov 10 & 12: Student Learning Conferences Nov 12: Check Us Out Open House Nov 13: PD Day Nov 16: Fall Membership Meeting Dec 4: Staff PD Day | Students work from home Dec 19 - Jan 3: Christmas Break
Testimonial Thank you for the community of faith and learning you have built at HD! As both a student myself, and now as parents, we have been so encouraged by the stories our kids come home with and the obvious love, and hard work of all the staff and leadership. You have created an environment where kids are free to express themselves, stretch themselves, develop their gifts, and grow in knowledge and wisdom. Thank you for all you do! ~ Anonymous ~
Connect With Us Duncan Todd, Principal Sandra Baker, Director, Advancement & Admissions principal@hdch.org | 905.648.6655 x 105 sbaker@hdch.org | 905.648.6655 x 122 Sara Whetstone, Vice Principal of Learning Tina VanDyk, Marketing & Engagement swhetstone@hdch.org | 905.648.6655 x 103 tvandyk@hdch.org | 905.648.6655 x 110 James Harskamp, Vice Principal of Students Leanne Wrench, Events Co-ordinator jharskamp@hdch.org | 905.648.6655 x 109 lwrench@hdch.org | 905.648.6655 x 104