Alumni
Calahan
The teachers and learning services staff at HCOS have supported me very well by helping me to understand my learning designation of dyslexia and by being flexible and adaptable in helping me to succeed and graduate. They encouraged me to explore my passions of Art and Musical Theatre, which I will hopefully continue as an adult. The flexibility of homeschooling with HCOS also helped me to be able to put time and effort into two seasonal jobs; as bird staff at the Raptors Centre and as an assistant ice technician at our local curling club. I was asked and accepted the offer to manage summer camps at the Raptor Centre this year and the curling rink has suggested they would like to support me in obtaining my Assistant Ice Technician tickets in September. I look forward to working in both of these professions for many years to come and am grateful for the time with HCOS that allowed me to discover and build on my strengths and talents.
Samuel
Graduating from Heritage (HCOS) has provided me with valuable benefits such as flexibility, adaptability, and a manageable course load, has prepared me well for my future career aspirations. Each teacher has played an essential role in my high school journey, and I am sincerely thankful for the HCOS staff who have shaped my education. Completing coursework at my own pace has allowed me to actively participate in various outdoor sports and activities along the captivating West Coast of Canada. One notable example is my involvement in Scuba diving expeditions, where I allocate specific times for coursework completion, while during the day, I explore the thriving coastal waters and marvel at the power and design of the Creator. This fall (2023), I’m enrolled to complete a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree at Vancouver Island University (VIU). After completing my BSc, I plan to transfer to UBC for the MD and neurosurgery residency program. I am incredibly grateful for the excellent and adaptable education through HCOS, and I wholeheartedly believe that it’s prepared me well for my future career path.
Edie
In the fall, I will be attending Trinity Western University to study Elementary Education as I have a deep passion to teach children about the love and power of Jesus at a young age. I have been awarded with the HCOS Character Award in recognition for my initiative in creating an online girls community group called Living Unlimited. Living Unlimited welcomes all girls in the HCOS Grad Program. In response to my entrance to TWU, I have been blessed with over $10,000 of funding through scholarships. My time at HCOS has been life changing in terms of my academic studies and faith, and am incredibly thankful to have experienced such a rich community through an online school.”.
Dania
My name is Dania – I’m one of a whole host of amazing and talented HCOS alumni, and proud to be a part of this community.
I graduated from HCOS in 2016 with my dogwood and a very unknown future ahead of me. These past five years have proven to produce so much blessing and excitement as I’ve continued to take the Christ-centered values I was instilled with at HCOS so strongly, and apply them holistically to every area of my journey. In my personal life, I got married to my absolute best friend and biggest encourager Cory, whom I love with all my heart. We moved into our first little townhome and once settled, had our adorable son Mazden. He is our whole world, beyond joyful and now almost one!
I graduated from HCOS in 2016 with my dogwood and a very unknown future ahead of me. These past five years have proven to produce so much blessing and excitement as I’ve continued to take the Christ-centered values I was instilled with at HCOS so strongly, and apply them holistically to every area of my journey. In my personal life, I got married to my absolute best friend and biggest encourager Cory, whom I love with all my heart. We moved into our first little townhome and once settled, had our adorable son Mazden. He is our whole world, beyond joyful and now almost one!
Professionally and educationally, I am so glad to have attended the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford to attain my undergraduate degree in Geography with a concentration in Urban Studies. Adding to this, I am so grateful to have received the Canadian Association of Geographers Award, as well as my TESL 2 certification to teach English as an Additional Language. I also started an art and entertainment business called Dania’s Canvas which specializes in face painting for events, lessons and parties, as well as the odd window art for Business Improvement Associations! Aside from that I have tutored early literacy and phonetics, taught in a Korean international student program, and finally, just got accepted for the 2021 intake of the Bachelor of Education program at UFV.
Home education has been one of the greatest gifts my parents could have given me and shapes so much of who I am today. Home learners grow up understanding the world beyond the classroom and how the subject matter they are engaging with comes alive and reflects itself in our societies, lives and around the globe. I am passionate about the work families are doing in melding their spiritual lives with their educational ones in this journey we call homeschooling. Once I complete the B.Ed I look forward to hopefully coming full circle and joining the staff at HCOS in continuing the god-given work of supporting our families through K-12 and beyond.
Dania
My name is Dania – I’m one of a whole host of amazing and talented HCOS alumni, and proud to be a part of this community…
I graduated from HCOS in 2016 with my dogwood and a very unknown future ahead of me. These past five years have proven to produce so much blessing and excitement as I’ve continued to take the Christ-centered values I was instilled with at HCOS so strongly, and apply them holistically to every area of my journey. In my personal life, I got married to my absolute best friend and biggest encourager Cory, whom I love with all my heart. We moved into our first little townhome and once settled, had our adorable son Mazden. He is our whole world, beyond joyful and now almost one!
Professionally and educationally, I am so glad to have attended the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford to attain my undergraduate degree in Geography with a concentration in Urban Studies. Adding to this, I am so grateful to have received the Canadian Association of Geographers Award, as well as my TESL 2 certification to teach English as an Additional Language. I also started an art and entertainment business called Dania’s Canvas which specializes in face painting for events, lessons and parties, as well as the odd window art for Business Improvement Associations! Aside from that I have tutored early literacy and phonetics, taught in a Korean international student program, and finally, just got accepted for the 2021 intake of the Bachelor of Education program at UFV.
Home education has been one of the greatest gifts my parents could have given me and shapes so much of who I am today. Home learners grow up understanding the world beyond the classroom and how the subject matter they are engaging with comes alive and reflects itself in our societies, lives and around the globe. I am passionate about the work families are doing in melding their spiritual lives with their educational ones in this journey we call homeschooling. Once I complete the B.Ed I look forward to hopefully coming full circle and joining the staff at HCOS in continuing the god-given work of supporting our families through K-12 and beyond.
Professionally and educationally, I am so glad to have attended the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford to attain my undergraduate degree in Geography with a concentration in Urban Studies. Adding to this, I am so grateful to have received the Canadian Association of Geographers Award, as well as my TESL 2 certification to teach English as an Additional Language. I also started an art and entertainment business called Dania’s Canvas which specializes in face painting for events, lessons and parties, as well as the odd window art for Business Improvement Associations! Aside from that I have tutored early literacy and phonetics, taught in a Korean international student program, and finally, just got accepted for the 2021 intake of the Bachelor of Education program at UFV.
Home education has been one of the greatest gifts my parents could have given me and shapes so much of who I am today. Home learners grow up understanding the world beyond the classroom and how the subject matter they are engaging with comes alive and reflects itself in our societies, lives and around the globe. I am passionate about the work families are doing in melding their spiritual lives with their educational ones in this journey we call homeschooling. Once I complete the B.Ed I look forward to hopefully coming full circle and joining the staff at HCOS in continuing the god-given work of supporting our families through K-12 and beyond.
Keziah
Hi, my name is Keziah and I am 18 years old. I have attended HCOS all my life from K-12. I absolutely loved being home-schooled, there were so many activities and co-ops. I also had a great group of home-school friends in my city and surrounding areas. Home education has impacted my life because I grew up surrounded by christian friends and it was a great environment to grow up in. Being home-schooled wasn’t all easy and I had my struggles but I did really love it. I am currently attending Youth With A Mission in Albania. I don’t fully know what I will be doing in the future but I want to become a teacher like my mom.
Josiah
Homeschooling for me has been a real blessing. From a young age, due the flexibility that homeschooling afforded, I was able to go on field trips to Dairy queen, the newspaper company, and a week long trip to Victoria just to name a few. I also had the opportunity to skip school and work with my dad when he needed a hand. Since graduating high school, I have been working on my civil engineering degree at the University of Saskatchewan. I am very glad my parents chose homeschooling and I am hoping that my future kids get to experience it as well.
Keziah
Hi, my name is Keziah and I am 18 years old. I have attended HCOS all my life from K-12. I absolutely loved being home-schooled, there were so many activities and co-ops. I also had a great group of home-school friends in my city and surrounding areas. Home education has impacted my life because I grew up surrounded by christian friends and it was a great environment to grow up in. Being home-schooled wasn’t all easy and I had my struggles but I did really love it. I am currently attending Youth With A Mission in Albania. I don’t fully know what I will be doing in the future but I want to become a teacher like my mom.
Keziah
Hi, my name is Keziah and I am 18 years old. I have attended HCOS all my life from K-12. I absolutely loved being home-schooled, there were so many activities and co-ops…
I also had a great group of home-school friends in my city and surrounding areas. Home education has impacted my life because I grew up surrounded by christian friends and it was a great environment to grow up in. Being home-schooled wasn’t all easy and I had my struggles but I did really love it. I am currently attending Youth With A Mission in Albania. I don’t fully know what I will be doing in the future but I want to become a teacher like my mom.
Josiah
Homeschooling for me has been a real blessing. From a young age, due the flexibility that homeschooling afforded, I was able to go on field trips to Dairy queen, the newspaper company, and a week long trip to Victoria just to name a few. I also had the opportunity to skip school and work with my dad when he needed a hand. Since graduating high school, I have been working on my civil engineering degree at the University of Saskatchewan. I am very glad my parents chose homeschooling and I am hoping that my future kids get to experience it as well.
Josiah
Homeschooling for me has been a real blessing…
From a young age, due the flexibility that homeschooling afforded, I was able to go on field trips to Dairy queen, the newspaper company, and a week long trip to Victoria just to name a few. I also had the opportunity to skip school and work with my dad when he needed a hand. Since graduating high school, I have been working on my civil engineering degree at the University of Saskatchewan. I am very glad my parents chose homeschooling and I am hoping that my future kids get to experience it as well.
Kari
Being able to be at home and do school with my siblings really strengthened and shaped who I am. I was able to learn from my older brother as well as help my younger sisters or just be with them. I found that homeschooling also made it easier for me to be strong and independent once I graduated, I personally believe that is because I was able to watch and learn from my parents rather than learning primarily from my peers. Homeschooling meant that as a family we could decide our schedule and change our day to what we most wanted to learn. With the flexibility of homeschooling, I was able to have a full-time job in my grade 12 year at a law firm, as well as continue with my studies. I worked there for 3 years. In 2019 I left to pursue my dream of working on a ranch as well as pursue post secondary education in that field. I am currently completing the Applied Sustainable Ranching program, a two-year diploma, through TRU-Williams lake as well as working on local ranches.
Kari
Being able to be at home and do school with my siblings really strengthened and shaped who I am. I was able to learn from my older brother as well as help my younger sisters or just be with them. I found that homeschooling also made it easier for me to be strong and independent once I graduated, I personally believe that is because I was able to watch and learn from my parents rather than learning primarily from my peers. Homeschooling meant that as a family we could decide our schedule and change our day to what we most wanted to learn. With the flexibility of homeschooling, I was able to have a full-time job in my grade 12 year at a law firm, as well as continue with my studies. I worked there for 3 years. In 2019 I left to pursue my dream of working on a ranch as well as pursue post secondary education in that field. I am currently completing the Applied Sustainable Ranching program, a two-year diploma, through TRU-Williams lake as well as working on local ranches.
Kari
Being able to be at home and do school with my siblings really strengthened and shaped who I am…
I was able to learn from my older brother as well as help my younger sisters or just be with them. I found that homeschooling also made it easier for me to be strong and independent once I graduated, I personally believe that is because I was able to watch and learn from my parents rather than learning primarily from my peers. Homeschooling meant that as a family we could decide our schedule and change our day to what we most wanted to learn. With the flexibility of homeschooling, I was able to have a full-time job in my grade 12 year at a law firm, as well as continue with my studies. I worked there for 3 years. In 2019 I left to pursue my dream of working on a ranch as well as pursue post secondary education in that field. I am currently completing the Applied Sustainable Ranching program, a two-year diploma, through TRU-Williams lake as well as working on local ranches.
Lydia (2021 Valedictorian)
My name is Lydia, and I joined HCOS in grade 9. My high school experience has been absolutely incredible! I can honestly say that the past four years have been the best years of my life. Homeschooling gave me so much freedom to learn at my own pace and in my own way, and even take on other jobs and learning experiences outside the classroom.
I have learned so much and really grown as a person thanks to the encouragement and guidance I received from my teachers. They helped me through some of the darkest times of my life, especially the tragic death of my older sister Catherine in 2015. Whenever I felt like giving up they helped me to get back up, and they walked alongside me every step of the way. I could not have made it through without them.
I also formed many wonderful and lasting friendships among my fellow classmates through the Breakfast Club and other student-organized events outside of school. We’ve gotten into no end of trouble together and enjoyed every minute of it! These friends, both teachers and classmates alike, have helped me to grow in my faith and given me the best possible starting point from which to embark on this new post-secondary adventure.
I have been accepted into the Bachelor of Arts program at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) and hope to eventually pursue a career as a criminal psychologist working with law enforcement to make this world a better, safer place. I am looking forward to putting my HCOS training to good use by striving to be a “gospel leader” and bringing glory to God through my work. Without the encouragement and support of my HCOS family, I would not be the person I am today, and I thank God for them!
I thank my God every time I remember you. – Philippians 1:3
Lydia
My name is Lydia, and I joined HCOS in grade 9. My high school experience has been absolutely incredible! I can honestly say that the past four years have been the best years of my life. Homeschooling gave me so much freedom to learn at my own pace and in my own way, and even take on other jobs and learning experiences outside the classroom. I have learned so much and really grown as a person thanks to the encouragement and guidance I received from my teachers. They helped me through some of the darkest times of my life, especially the tragic death of my older sister Catherine in 2015. Whenever I felt like giving up they helped me to get back up, and they walked alongside me every step of the way. I could not have made it through without them. I also formed many wonderful and lasting friendships among my fellow classmates through the Breakfast Club and other student-organized events outside of school. We’ve gotten into no end of trouble together and enjoyed every minute of it! These friends, both teachers and classmates alike, have helped me to grow in my faith and given me the best possible starting point from which to embark on this new post-secondary adventure. I have been accepted into the Bachelor of Arts program at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) and hope to eventually pursue a career as a criminal psychologist working with law enforcement to make this world a better, safer place. I am looking forward to putting my HCOS training to good use by striving to be a “gospel leader” and bringing glory to God through my work. Without the encouragement and support of my HCOS family, I would not be the person I am today, and I thank God for them! – Philippians 1:3
Lydia
My name is Lydia, and I joined HCOS in grade 9. My high school experience has been absolutely incredible!
I can honestly say that the past four years have been the best years of my life. Homeschooling gave me so much freedom to learn at my own pace and in my own way, and even take on other jobs and learning experiences outside the classroom. I have learned so much and really grown as a person thanks to the encouragement and guidance I received from my teachers. They helped me through some of the darkest times of my life, especially the tragic death of my older sister Catherine in 2015. Whenever I felt like giving up they helped me to get back up, and they walked alongside me every step of the way. I could not have made it through without them. I also formed many wonderful and lasting friendships among my fellow classmates through the Breakfast Club and other student-organized events outside of school. We’ve gotten into no end of trouble together and enjoyed every minute of it! These friends, both teachers and classmates alike, have helped me to grow in my faith and given me the best possible starting point from which to embark on this new post-secondary adventure. I have been accepted into the Bachelor of Arts program at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) and hope to eventually pursue a career as a criminal psychologist working with law enforcement to make this world a better, safer place. I am looking forward to putting my HCOS training to good use by striving to be a “gospel leader” and bringing glory to God through my work. Without the encouragement and support of my HCOS family, I would not be the person I am today, and I thank God for them! – Philippians 1:3
Annika
Annika an accomplished alumna of HCOS, has demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication in the arts. In her graduation year, Annika won a Scholastic Art & Writing Award. This prestigious honor recognizes outstanding creative work from young artists and writers across the globe.
The story of Annika’s achievement began in Grade 9, when she expressed to her mom her dream of pursuing her writing. With the support of HCOS, she was able to balance her academic commitments and creative pursuits seamlessly. By Grade 10, Annika had joined HCOS, which played a pivotal role in her journey. The school’s flexible scheduling allowed her to dedicate more time to honing her craft, participating in competitions, and building a portfolio of outstanding work.
“I joined HCOS in Grade 10 and it allowed me to spend countless hours working on my craft and writing several full length novels. Because of online school, I was able to devote my attention to my passion – Christian YA Fantasy novel writing. Two years out of high school and half way through my university degree, I had an agent ask to read my manuscript. I love how HCOS not only gave me an amazing education but that it allowed me time to work towards my dreams of being a Christian author.”
One of the most memorable moments in Annika’s journey was in 2022 when she travelled to New York to receive a medal and scholarship at Carnegie Hall and was published in Scholastics Best Teen. Annika explained, “This opened doors for other scholarships and travelling to Atlantic City and St Louis for writing conferences where I could meet more Christian authors, editors, and agents.”
