General FAQs

At the core of Project-Based Learning is that real-world problems capture students’ interest and provoke serious thinking as the students acquire and apply new knowledge in a problem-solving context. This learning is contextual, creative, and shared. Students collaborate on meaningful projects creating opportunities for groups of students to gather information, think critically, be creative, and communicate for them to answer challenging questions or solve complex problems.

What distinguishes us as a Christian school is that our learning is centred on Christ, with the Reformed vision of Christ’s lordship over every square inch of creation, every area of life, and learning. Our faith informs our approach to learning: we want our students to learn as apprentice participants in God’s redemptive work in all creation.

Please contact studentservices@hdch.org. You can also browse our Learning Support Program brochure here. The Course Calendar is here.

Please see our Admissions FAQ. You can also complete our on-line inquiry form, contact Director of Advancement and Admissions, sbaker@hdch.org or by phone at 905-648-6655 x 122.

An online application must be completed for every student–whether the student is part of a current family, or a new family. Here is the application link. An application does not guarantee enrollment. 

If your application is accepted, you will receive an email noting your admissions status into HDCH within 1-2 months of January 1st or after you apply (depending on when you apply). 

You will receive a re-enrollment email in December to re-enroll for the following September. Re-enrollment forms should be submitted by mid-January.

Yes. Please review the international student page, and complete the inquiry form to find out more. If you are ready to apply, please indicate international student when submitting your inquiry and application. 

Please view the Athletic Calendar here.

Announcements on sports teams and clubs will be posted in Edsby’s “SchoolTalk”. Students can join specific “groups” in Edsby when they join a team or club. 

Contact tvandyk@hdch.org to apply for or renew your membership.

To activate your membership, you must complete and submit the membership application which includes our Foundational Statement. The cost of membership is $300 annually. Your membership application must be confirmed by the Board of Directors to become a member.

Membership in good standing is required to vote at all of HDCH’s regular and special membership meetings (which are held in November and May annually). Membership is governed by the Bylaws of the Hamilton Association for Christian Education. 

Please contact Board Chair, Marty Speelman at mspeelman.board@hdch.org.

Please send them a message via Edsby. Once a semester, you will be invited to meet teachers in person at Student Learning Conferences. 

At the bottom of HDCH emails, you can click “unsubscribe” so that you will not receive emails moving forward. 

Please check the “SchoolTalk” Edsby group regularly for updates. All parents are subscribed to the school e-newsletter, KnightLights. It is sent by email every Thursday. It contains important information on current school happenings. 

If you are not receiving the KnightLights, search your email account by the sender (tvandyk@hdch.org) or the subject (Here are your HDCH KnightLights!) to see if it was diverted to your spam or promotions folder. Moving the email to your inbox will ensure that you get all future emails.

In mid-August, you will receive a September Ready email with detailed instructions regarding the first day of school. For the first day of school, please bring something to write with and something to write on, and your lunch or lunch money. Teachers will provide students with a list of materials they will need for their classes on the first day of school.

If your student has gym class they should bring comfortable athletic wear and clean, indoor running shoes. 

Yes, lockers are provided to students. Students receive locker assignments on Orientation Days at the end of August or on the first day of school.

Orientation Days occur at the end of August. Details are provided in the September Ready Email.

Orientation Days are not mandatory. At Orientation Days, students have the opportunity to pick up their locker assignment information (locker number, lock, and lock code), practice how to use their lock, receive a map of the school, find their classes, access their student email and Edsby accounts, look at their timetables, etc. If you have questions, please contact sbaker@hdch.org

Textbooks and novels are provided by HDCH. Students will receive textbooks and novels in class. Students are responsible for taking care of their textbooks and books. A replacement fee bill will be sent to parents if textbooks or books are returned damaged by students (or if a student does not return their textbooks/novels by the last day of the semester they were assigned). 

Contact studentservices@hdch.org for questions about graduation requirements or awards. For information about the ceremony, which takes place in June, contact tvandyk@hdch.org 

 info@hdch.org is our inbox for general questions. You can phone the school at 905-648-6655.

View the School Calendar here to see these dates. Please check the calendar regularly as it is updated throughout the school year. Knightlights is a handy weekly resource for upcoming events and important dates.

If your child will be absent or late for school, email info@hdch.org 

Contact tvandyk@hdch.org

Edsby is our online shared resource for students, parents, and teachers. HDCH shares announcements in Edsby, students/parents can view student grades and assignments, students/parents can send teachers Edsby messages, and students/parents can view daily student schedules.

New families will receive an Edsby invitation before the first day of school. If you need assistance with Edsby, contact info@hdch.org 

For classroom concerns, please contact your child’s teacher via Edsby.

For code of conduct-related concerns, please contact our Dean of Students, Nate VanKampen at nvankampen@hdch.org.

Contact Principal, Duncan Todd at principal@hdch.org.

To contact our Vice Principal, Sara Whetstone, email swhetstone@hdch.org 

Please see our Course Calendar. If you need further assistance, email info@hdch.org

Please contact info@hdch.org

Contact: hblyleven@hdch.org

All student vaccine requirements and information are handled by the City of Hamilton. Please visit their website for this information.

The student services team supports the academic, relational, emotional, and spiritual well-being of HDCH students. A team supports students in all kinds of ways, from an Edsby wellness page full of tips and links to learning support workers coming alongside students, to academic and pathway planning, to social and emotional support services.

HDCH students have access to on-site Christian mental health support at no cost. If you have questions about how to access support, contact studentservices@hdch.org

Contact studentservices@hdch.org for support.

Yes. Students must earn 40 hours of community service to graduate. Community service hours need to be earned outside of regular school hours. Hours are submitted via Edsby. If you have questions, please contact studentservices@hdch.org