Administration and Faculty

Transcription

1 Our Story Grace Christian School was founded in 1995 when a group of Christian leaders in the greater Bennington area recognized the need to launch a Christian school. A board was organized, funds were raised, and building sites explored with prayer and great vigor. Classes began in the fall of The school initially met at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church building in Bennington, and then moved on to the Green Mountain Christian Center on Harwood Hill, Bennington. On October 18, 1999, GCS occupied a renovated hotel at the corner of Kocher Drive and Route 7, Bennington the current location of the school. Grace Christian School began with grades Kindergarten through 5 th grade, adding a grade each year following the year of the school s founding. Grace Christian School serves pre-school through 12 th grade. Approximately 150 students now enjoy a Grace education. Students converge from the Bennington area and nearby New York and Massachusetts. Grace graduated its first senior class, comprised of nine students, in June of Grace Christian School is non-denominational. A chapel service is held on Thursdays. Christian worship, Bible readings, faculty moderated programs, music ministry, testimonies, special speakers, student-initiated programs, prayers and praise bring the school together in an expression of the school s love for Christ. Faculty and staff members begin the day with prayer, and each homeroom has daily prayer. Students are expected to dress in a fashion that reflects the virtues of Christian ladies and gentlemen. On Thursdays, students wear business casual. Grace Christian School occupies spacious grounds at the high-profile corner of Kocher Drive and Route 7 in Bennington. The multi-million dollar renovated hotel contains large, bright classrooms, a chapel, dining facility, music room, science classrooms, multi-use gymnasium, art studio, lower and upper school computer labs, a library, cheerful entrance lobby, administrative offices, and extensive storage space. The grounds also contain the Joyce Lloyd Outdoor Classroom, Furnace Brook (used as an outdoor laboratory for science classes), playground areas, and a tennis court. Plans have been developed for the construction of a planetarium/theater. Students in the Bennington area are driven to school by their parents or carpool. Some students drive to Grace where parking lots contain sufficient spaces. School districts in New York State within a certain radius offer bus service to GCS. The school offers bus service to certain points in Massachusetts and Vermont for an additional fee. Grace s dining facility has a well-appointed kitchen and dining area. Students may choose to purchase lunch at Grace or bring a lunch from home. Our school participates in the Free and Reduced Lunch Federal program. Parents are encouraged to participate in the workings of the school. Many parents generously volunteer their time in a variety of capacities. The school and its parents demonstrate a cooperative sense of communication between school and home, providing an impetus for the student enjoyment of the school. The Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF) is a supportive organization that promotes fellowship in service to Grace. This group sponsors many events such as Teacher/Staff/Volunteer Appreciation Day, First Day events, and Spirit Week. An active board oversees the operations of the school. Board members serve one, two, and three year terms. The process of an individual becoming a board member begins when the Grace Christian School Association, a group of individuals who embrace and support the goals of the school, appoints a nominating committee. This committee develops board member candidates. The Association elects board members from these candidates.

2 Administration and Faculty The school administrator is Joyce Lloyd. Mrs. Lloyd, a founder of the school, is a graduate of Houghton College, Houghton, New York, earning a B.A. in Biology with minors in French and Psychology. She holds a M.S. in Student Personnel Administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Joyce was Director of Admissions for Houghton College, West Seneca campus, and served as the Adjunct Instructor in Health and physical education at Houghton College and Adjunct Instructor in Biology and Physical Science at Southern Vermont College, Bennington, Vermont. Joyce s children attended Grace Christian School from the start. The respect and affection the Grace Christian School family keeps for Mrs. Lloyd is evidenced in the name of the Joyce Lloyd Outdoor Classroom at Grace in her honor. The lower grades are led by Elementary School Principal Susan MacDonald who has also been with Grace since its inception. Starting as school nurse, her sense of mission for Grace and her administrative ability were recognized when she was offered the position of Elementary School Principal and her acceptance of that call. Mrs. MacDonald is an alumna of the University of Delaware, graduating with a B.S.N. She has been a professional nurse for many years and has served as a clinical instructor in nursing. She continues her duties as school nurse. Grace Christian School faculty is comprised of dedicated men and women who share the Christian mission of the school. Faculty members have graduated from a variety of secular and non-secular colleges and universities. Many hold advanced degrees, Association of Christian Schools certification, and/or state certification. In-service workshops give faculty a chance to expand their educational expertise.

3 Academics and Extracurricular Activities The academic program at Grace Christian School strives to set the highest ideals of academic freedom, direction, and experience within a Christian framework. Elementary and middle school students are given a solid foundation in Bible, writing, mathematics, literature, creative arts, history, geography, Spanish as a second language, and the sciences. The school actively communicates with parents regarding a student s progress. The high school offers college preparatory Bible, English, Spanish, Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, History and Social Sciences, Health, Art, Music, and a wide variety of electives. Elective classes are offered on a quarterly basis and include a range of activities and topics for enrichment. The curriculum initiates a broad scope of study as students prepare for post-secondary school study and/or experience. Twenty five Carnegie credits are required for graduation including 4 credits of English, 4 credits of Bible, 3 credits of Bible, 3 credits of history (includes US history), and Social Sciences, 3 credits of Mathematics, 3 credits of Science, 2 credits of Foreign language, 1 Fine Arts credit, 1.5 credits of Physical Education, 1 Computer Credit, 0.5 credits of Health, and 2 credits of Electives. Grace Christian School is recognized by the State of Vermont as an independent private school for both elementary and secondary education. Grace Christian School is in the process of pursuing voluntary accreditation through the Association of Christian Schools International and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. School advisors for 7 th -12 th grades are the homeroom teachers. As class advisors, they disseminate information pertinent to those in their particular homeroom (assigned by grade level) and play a leadership role in overseeing activities associated with the class in which they are the homeroom teacher/class advisor. In addition, those advisors meet with students within their homeroom individually in order to encourage, to give advice, to share in the student s academic goals, and to address any problems or concerns the individual student, other teachers, administration, and/or the advisee s parents may have respective to their individual advisee. The Office of College Counseling at Grace Christian School assists students and their parents as students seek the next step. An experienced college counselor provides comprehensive guidance. Students wishing to explore other post-secondary school choices like missionary work, the military, the job world, and non-traditional learning experiences are also given advice and direction. Students are active participants in a variety of sports and activities. The school competes in interscholastic soccer, basketball, and track. Adjacent Willow Park provides access to paying fields. A ski/snowboarding program is held at Mount Snow, Vermont. Students also play tennis, golf, and skateboard, and a middle school/high school cheerleading team supports the basketball teams. Other activities include school trips, student government, chapel, yearbook, missionary work, field trips, fundraisers, serve-a-thon, acting and musical experiences with school theatricals and musical programs, art exhibits, band, Pastor Appreciation day, prom, learning fairs, Spiritual Emphasis Week, chaperoned socials, silent Auction, Commencement programs, and many volunteer opportunities of kindness for the Bennington area and beyond. Each class will experience an extended mission s opportunity in the 11 th or 12 th grade.

4 Our Mission Statement Partnering with parents to provide an exceptional spiritual and academic environment consistent with Biblical Truth. Our School Verse continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. 2 Peter 3:18

5 Parent Teacher Fellowship The Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF) is an organization designed to promote the active cooperation and participation of parents and teachers as we strive to provide our children with the best possible educational experience at Grace Christian School. PTF Hosted Events Family Picnic First Day Celebration Dessert Derby Spirit Week Craft Show Senior Breakfast Teacher Appreciation Week Christmas Shoppe PTF Scholarships for Seniors Flea Market/Tag Sale PTF Supported Events Silent Auction Emergency Fund Teacher Coffee Fund Field Day Last Blast Year End Closing Programs