Strategic Plan: From Strategy to Implementation
HDCH’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, launched in May 2025, lays out a purposeful roadmap which guides our growth and development. Rooted in our shared commitment to providing an excellent, Christ-centered education, the plan focuses on glorifying God in everything we do, in academics, student life, community engagement and operations.
The strategic plan can be viewed online: https://issuu.com/home/docs/1kru74wkmz0
MISSION to cultivate character through learning for lives of service to God.
VISION to see all HDCH students be a faithful presence in the communities that they serve.
We’ve featured just a few of the strategic highlights achieved in the first 9 months of implementation.
Theme One: Spiritual Development
1 | INTRODUCTION
Strategic Initiative: Focus on opportunities for rich chapel experiences through Christ follower testimony and leading.
This strategic plan for Hamilton District Christian High (HDCH) lays out a purposeful roadmap to guide our institution›s growth and development over the next three years. Rooted in our commitment to providing an excellent Christ-centered education, the plan seeks to ensure that every aspect of the school—academics, student life, community engagement, and operations—reflects our dedication to glorifying God and nurturing students› intellectual, spiritual, and social-emotional growth.
In developing this strategic plan, we have engaged with stakeholders across our school community, including staff, parents, students, and alumni, to develop a plan around 4 major themes; Spiritual Development, Resources, Community and Long Term Planning. This plan outlines our goals, objectives, and initiatives for advancing the school’s mission and vision.
Strategic Highlight: The 2025-26 chapel season has included testimonies from Christian leaders with a range of vocational callings. Students are hearing stories of God’s faithfulness from alums and others. Chapel is led by our Chaplaincy intern from Redeemer University, Malika Mutrux.
By following this strategic plan, HDCH will not only strengthen its role as a leader in Christian education, but also faithfully pursue its calling to shape students who embody Christ›s love, wisdom, and compassion. We invite our entire school community to join us in this journey as we work together to achieve our shared vision for the future.
Theme Two: Resources
2 | STRATEGIC GOALS, OBJECTIVES & INTIATIVES
The following chart identifies the four major themes of this strategic plan. The intention is to provide a roadmap to achieve the desired results of each theme and ensure accountability to specific, measurable targets for each initiative.
Strategic Initiative: Create a five-year plan for facility innovation and development.
The objective is for the responsible parties identified to create and present to the leadership team and board a detailed plan for each initiative of specific, measurable goals that will be implemented over the identified timelines.
Strategic Highlight: HD’s Facility Advisory Council has created a five-year view for our campus. This new plan covers anticipated larger projects, classroom furniture replacements and safety improvements. The plan includes a target year for completion, price, and level of urgency.
Theme Three: Engage and Build Community
Strategic Initiative: Bring classrooms to the streets.
Strategic Highlight: The Christians in Society class collected and organized winter items, including clothing and blankets, to support those in need. In January, the HDCH WATCH group distributed hundreds of items alongside the Salvation Army Soup Truck. With so many donated items to choose from, individuals selected items that met their needs.
HAMILTON DISTRICT CHRISTIAN HIGH
Theme Four: Long Term Planning/Perspectives
Strategic Initiative: Grow programs like Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM).
Strategic Highlight: HD’s two-year SHSM pilot project is gaining momentum. SHSM builds on our existing cooperative education program and includes a specific bundle of courses, workplace learning, industry specific certifications (eg. food handling, customer service, conflict resolution, WHMIS, working at heights) and specialized training like ICE (innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship). Six students are on target to graduate with SHSM this June, and an additional 7 expected in 2027.
HD staff are implementing the important kingdom work that is identified in the Strategic Plan, and are regularly reporting to the Board to celebrate progress.
Parent Testimonial
~ submitted by Peter & Judy Lampman
We are writing to share with you our perspective regarding the decision of our family to send our three children to HDCH from 1998 until 2008. As we look back on those years now, we are so thankful that we made this decision.
Our three children excelled at HDCH and grew in every area of their lives. We are also thankful for the outstanding staff at HDCH who made a virtually seamless transition from a homeeducating environment to high school. We appreciated the flexible accommodations that were executed by Mr. James Apers to make the transition take place. Our children thrived in the academic setting, music program, athletic programs, clubs and social events at HDCH. They were privileged to be educated in an environment that offered a Christian worldview. They were also able to integrate into the already established
social structure and make new friendships. All of our children are now professionally employed in various fields, including Network Engineering, Electrical and Software Engineering, Health Care and more. They all went on to graduate from various programs at McMaster University and Mohawk College. They have also taken part in mission trips to Cuba and the Dominican Republic serving both churches and schools.
Thank you to HDCH for all that took place to educate our children. May God continue to bless all that you put your hand to!
HDCH’s
mission is:
to cultivate character, through learning, for lives of service to God.
“This mission was achieved in the lives of our children and we are so thankful that we chose HDCH for their high school adventure.”
Current HDCH students on their high school adventure.
Check Us Out Open House
25 families visited HDCH to find out more about Christ-centred high school at the Check Us Out Open House in February.
To register for an upcoming group tour or to connect with our admissions team about 2026-27 or future enrollment, complete an online form or contact us directly.
https://hdch.fsenrollment.ca/portal/new_inquiry Sandra Baker: sbaker@hdch.org | 905.648.6655 x 122
HDCH Spring Market: Growing Together
Save the date for our third annual Spring Market Sat, Apr 18, 10am-3pm! We would love to have your support!
• Register as a vendor
• Be a sponsor
• Donate to the auction or market
• Volunteer to help make the day a success
Join us for a fun-filled day of shopping, food, and community, including:
• A vibrant vendor market in the gym, featuring a wide variety of items.
• A cozy coffee shop with tasty treats and drinks.
• Delicious complimentary lunch * to enjoy with friends and family
• A beautiful flower & plant sale to brighten your home or garden.
• Exciting kids’ activities to keep the little ones entertained.
• Raffles with great prizes!
• The opportunity to pick up exclusive pre-sale and online auction items. *freewill donations greatly appreciated - all proceeds support our students
Admission is FREE! Don’t miss out on the food, fun, friends and fabulous finds.
Get involved and help us make this year’s Spring Market the best yet!
For more details, contact Leanne Wrench (Events Co-ordinator): lwrench@hdch.org, 905.648.6655 x104 Vendor Registration & Sponsorship
hdch.org/events/hdch-growing-together-vendor-market
HDCH student, Lily, was a vendor in the 2025 Spring Market
Connect With Us www.hdch.org
Duncan Todd
Principal principal@hdch.org
905.648.6655 x 105
Sara Whetstone
Vice Principal swhetstone@hdch.org
905.648.6655 x 103
Sandra Baker
Director, Advancement & Admissions sbaker@hdch.org
905.648.6655 x 122
Tina VanDyk
Marketing & Engagement tvandyk@hdch.org
905.648.6655 x 110
Leanne Wrench
Events Co-ordinator lwrench@hdch.org
905.648.6655 x 104
Mark Your Calendar
Mar 12-20: Mission Trip to Dominican Republic
Mar 13-22: March Break
Mar 26-Apr 2: Online Auction Fundraiser
Apr 10: Praying Parents & Friends
Apr 18: Growing Together Spring Market Fundraiser
Apr 30-May 2: Spring Production: Arsenic & Old Lace
May 1: Praying Parents & Friends
May 7: Seniors’ Day
May 11: Membership Meeting
May 14: Evening of the Arts
May 30: Coed Alumni Beach Volleyball Tournament
June 5: Praying Parents & Friends
June 22: Graduation
June 22-26: HDCH Sports Camps
June 26-27: Mission Trip to Brazil
July 6-10, 13-17, Aug 17-21 & 24-28: HDCH Sports Camps
HDCH presents...
Thurs Apr 30 | Fri Apr 1 | Sat Apr 2
Showtime: 7pm
Recommended for audiences ages 12+ hdch.org/events/spring-play-performance
Designed for male & female athletes, all levels of ability. Experienced coaches promote teamwork, co-operation, sportsmanship in a fun, inclusive learning environment.
Registration opens March 24! camps@hdch.org | hdch.org/camps