Dear Hill Country Families,

Homecoming is in full swing—or maybe I should say full roll, since students brought wheelbarrows, wagons, garbage cans, and rolling coolers for yesterday’s “Anything But a Backpack” day!

As a Washington State native, I’m learning that Homecoming in Texas is all about mums (a new tradition for me!), football games, and dances. But Homecoming originally began as a way for colleges and universities to welcome alumni back to campus. While high school celebrations have largely shifted away from alumni gatherings, the original purpose remains meaningful: staying connected long after graduation.

Did you know that Hill Country has celebrated 27 graduating classes in our 30-year history? As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, I’ve been thinking about what I hope we’ll be able to say about our school 30 years from now, when we celebrate our 60th anniversary.

We gathered a little over a week ago to celebrate 30 years of God’s faithfulness to Hill Country Christian School. We reflected on some of the best parts of the last 30 years and gave glory to God for bringing us to this point. But as we look ahead, I find myself considering: What do we hope will be true of Hill Country when we celebrate our 60th anniversary? Here are a few things that come to mind:

• We’ve remained faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, placing Him at the center of all we do here at HillCo. In a culture of shifting values and constant noise, our future families will need an anchor. Hill Country continues to stand as a trusted guide, refusing to drift with secular trends. By centering every classroom, athletic program, and chapel on the Gospel, we ensure that as the world steps further into darkness, our foundational truth remains unshakable.
  
• We are known for equipping students with the skills and tools they need to succeed in their next chapter of life. Our students will be well prepared for the modern workforce and higher education which requires more than basic academics. We provide them with a clear plan and the necessary tools—critical thinking, resilient problem-solving, intellectual rigor, and articulate communication—so they step into their next chapter confident and fully prepared to navigate any challenge.
  
• We didn’t just prepare them for college. We prepared them to live faithful, fruitful lives beyond school. Getting accepted into college is a temporary win, but a degree alone is not the end goal. Honestly, more important than any degree they could earn, we seek to prepare them for a lifetime of spiritual fruitfulness and eternal purpose wherever God calls them.
  
• We did more than equip them for a career; we equipped them to be good parents, good husbands and wives, and good church members. True success isn’t measured merely by a resume or a title; it’s measured by faithfulness to God and His Word, leading to a community impact. The ultimate transformation we pray for is to see our graduates step up as faithful leaders in their local churches, committed and loving spouses, and wise, nurturing parents who build strong, healthy families for the next generation.
  
• We have been graduating solidly grounded Christ followers for 60 years. Picture the celebration 30 years from today: decades of graduates living as salt and light across Austin, throughout the United States, and around the globe. This is the ultimate vision—a continuous, unbroken legacy of young men and women whose faith was forged at Hill Country and remains firm, vibrant, and active through every season of life.

Please join me in praying that God would be as faithful over the next 30 years and bring these to fruition. All for God’s glory and our good!

In Christ,
Eric DeVries, Head of School and High School Principal