YOUR IMPACT 2024-25
YOUR IMPACT 2024-25
Cultivating character, through learning, for lives of service to God
Faithful Supporters of HDCH,
Thank you for your love and generosity!
This Impact Report offers us a chance to look back, to reflect with gratitude, and to look forward with hope.
Since we opened the school in 1956, HDCH has seen God’s faithfulness through every season and every wind of change. This school was founded as part of our parental promise to raise our children to know and love and serve the Lord, and He has honoured that commitment by watching over us to protect and to bless us. So as we look back on the 2024-25 school year through this report, we see yet again God’s kindness and grace to us.
He sees our desire to serve and walk with Him, and He also sees our mistakes and shortcomings. We see a patient Father who began a good work in each of us and in this school, and who carries it through to completion.
That testimony of His constant faithfulness to us is the source of our ongoing hope, based on God’s loving faithfulness and goodness to us.
“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:6
On behalf of the board and staff, thank you for walking with us in that shared hope.
During the 2024-25 school year, we reflected on our mission, Cultivating character, through learning, for lives of service to God. We placed a special emphasis on acts of service. This beloved psalm was one that we returned to throughout the school year.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 100 KJV
Our vision is to be a faithful presence
Co-op Education: Hearing God’s Call in the Workplace
A total of 46 students, or about 10% of HD’s student body, took advantage of the workplace learning that co-operative education offers.
An estimated 400-425 employers participate in the co-op program. Many are part of our faithful support community. Each employer is ready to accept an HD student when the timing is right! We are blessed to have such an array of employers who are willing to welcome a student, and to help them discern their vocation.
Co-op work terms are open to grade eleven and twelve students. Placements are for students in every academic pathway–university, college, apprenticeship and workplace.
HD is piloting the Specialist High Skills Major Program, which includes workplace learning and also adds special certifications and additional training.
in the communities we serve
HDCH-EduDeo Co-Impact Mission Trip, March 2025
Mr. Todd interviews four students who were part of the HDCH team of 16 that went on an EduDeo Co-Impact trip to the Dominican Republic. Here is what the students said:
The best things about the trip:
“Something that I’ve always been taught by my parents or in church is that you don’t need stuff to be happy. It’s always so easy to say, ‘Yeah, you don’t need things to be happy,’ but then we have so much stuff. But the people there, they don’t have a lot of things, but they’re still really happy. Maybe it’s a good reminder that the most important things in life aren’t things.
“God was just so present there in the Dominican Republic. Especially the church service... it’s just so free and maybe different from Canada, but it’s interesting to think how God is so present here and so present across the world.”
“Interacting with the kids... obviously communication was a barrier, but they all are just so comfortable with you, they run up to you and give you a hug.”
On visiting some other Christian schools in Santo Domingo and the surrounding area:
“All these schools were in very rough communities, and the school was like a beacon of hope in the community.”
On raising funds for the trip and building project:
“We did a fundraiser through our church and that was a great community builder for our church as well.”
Measuring Impact 2024-25
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CARE CAMPAIGN
This campaign began in March of 2020, and so many people have shared their time, talent and treasure with Hamilton District Christian High.
The CARE Campaign projects are now complete. How wonderful that the building is updated, with its new roof, HVAC, elevator, accessible front entrance and that we are connected at last to the city’s sewer system!
Did you know that we are operating with electricity produced by the sun!
Our new donor-funded roof is covered with solar panels. They are collecting energy, which is sold to the school at a savings over our past supplier.
The savings have a positive impact on our operating budget and help to make tuition more affordable.
DONATIONS
We are in the final phase of CARE Campaign fundraising. Our focus is the repayment of our bank loan by 2027.
Every CARE donation serves to reduce the debt burden carried by the school and our families.
Thank you for your CARE for this corner of the Kingdom!
Grant Funding for Facility Updates
Through two applications submitted to the Ontario Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant, we installed a security key fob system and replaced the outdoor security camera system. Through the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund, Youth Innovation Component, we received a grant that allowed us to replace the entire, original fire alarm system with a new system that includes both sound and light alarms.
Anneke DeWaard, in her role as a Youth Accessibility leader, has been integral to the accessibility improvements at HDCH. It is wonderful that these vital updates were funded through grant support.
Stepping Into Service
This little step stool is representative of Sophia and what it means to serve, while also living with a disability. A part of HD’s 24-25 Lifeskills Pathway class, Sophia experienced co-op work placements at Fortinos, a thrift store and at The Gleaners. She worked in HD’s cafeteria, was responsible for the school vending machines and other tasks around the school. She took gym, art, drama and Foods, learning and making connections with other HD students. While she was learning, she was also sharing her skills and serving others.
As part of the woodworking class, Sophia made this stool.
The look of pride on her face when she got off the bus to show her parents what she had made brought tears of joy. Sophia’s mother said,
”Sometimes all you need in life is a step up: not someone to do it for you. HD staff gave Sophia the loving guidance that she needed to accomplish making the stool. More importantly, she gave the stool to us, a practical gift that we can use and cherish.”
Math Contest
Math teacher, Mr. I-Hsuen Weng encourages math students to participate in the University of Waterloo Math Contest. These contests are open to high school students across Canada, and internationally. They differ in style; some take 2-2.5 hours to complete, requiring a show of work to receive full marks, and others contain only multiple choice questions and take less time.
Mr. Weng celebrates the number of enthusiastic mathematicians who sign up to participate. HDCH students Garison Dilda, Josh Speelman and Jessica Zhou excelled in these contests.
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 2024-25
To
Duncan
Principal
dtodd@hdch.org sbaker@hdch.org
swhetstone@hdch.org
Sherry
sosinga@hdch.org lwrench@hdch.org