Greetings GRACE Families,
As we embark on a new school year, I am overjoyed to welcome you back to the Upper Campus of GRACE Christian School! This year is especially significant as we celebrate our 40th anniversary, marking four decades of faith-filled education, academic excellence, and spiritual growth. Reflecting on our journey, we are reminded of God's faithfulness and grace. Over the past 40 years, GRACE Christian School has been dedicated to nurturing the minds and hearts of our students – equipping them to impact the world for Christ. This milestone is a testament to the unwavering support of our families, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the commitment of our students to live out their faith in every aspect of their lives.
I am excited to share with you updates for the 2024-25 school year on the Upper Campus:
- Our facilities team has constructed a new classroom from a portion of the faculty lounge, and a new faculty workroom/lounge has been created. The LEAP classroom was relocated to the former conference room space, and the new Walker Conference room was constructed near the Student Center. All the school walls have been repainted, and the floors have been stripped and waxed. We are grateful for our facilities team and their hard work, and we thank you for making these renovations possible through your generous donations to the GRACE Fund!
- Middle School has shifted to a regular schedule each day with 45-minute periods and no block schedule. Feedback from teachers and students over the past year has highlighted this as a beneficial change for our students.
- High School will continue with a modified block schedule — Block days on Tuesday (odd periods) and Wednesday (even periods). Several high school courses have created honors-only sections rather than combining honors and regular instruction.
- The first period will now include five extra minutes for morning announcements, prayer, and devotion.
- Teachers completed summer reading on Artificial Intelligence in Education. We are conducting professional development on this important topic before school starts and will share more with you in the coming weeks.
Over the summer, we said farewell to Willa Bea Coates, our Upper Campus Student Information Manager, so that she could focus on time with her family. We will miss having Ms. Willa Bea as part of our GRACE family this year. We thank her for her incredible dedication and service to GRACE Christian School and wish her God’s abundant blessings in this new season.
The Lord has provided us with talented and highly qualified new faculty and staff members for the coming school year, and He has made a way for some returning team members to utilize their gifts and talents in new ways at GRACE. Here is a comprehensive list of new additions and changes on the Upper Campus:
Please welcome the following new individuals to GRACE:
- Kristen Berry, Study Hall and AfterCare
- Grace Ann Campbell, Middle and High School Science Teacher
- David Crow, Middle and High School LEAP Teacher
- Catherine Holder, Middle School English Teacher
- Kole Koterba, High School English Teacher
- Esther Madison, Registrar
- Natalie Morreale, 8th Grade Health Teacher
- Andrew Schafer, Principles of Business Teacher
- Wilson Stauffacher, High School English Teacher (returning to GRACE)
- Alison Wakefield, Food Services Staff
- Barbara Walston, High School History Teacher
Please note the following individuals are moving into new positions this year:
- Pam Passey, Junior and Senior Seminars Teacher (previously English Teacher)
- Wendy Willard, Academic Advisor (previously High School History Teacher)
Be sure to mark your calendars now for the following events:
Monday, August 12, Parent Orientation
6:30- 8:30 p.m. | Location: Upper Campus
This is for parents only—students do not attend.
Tuesday, August 13, Student Meet and Greet
- New Students in Grades 8-12 and New Parents Meeting ~ 30 minutes | 12:30 pm | Location: Student Center
- New Students in Grades 8-12 - Computer Distribution and Training, Go over Schedules with Student Council | 1:00- 2:00 pm | Location: Chapel
- All 7th-grade Students and Parents Meeting | 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. | Location: Student Center
- All 7th- grade Students with Student Council for schedules and tours | ~3:45 p.m. | Location: Student Center and Upper Campus classrooms
- 8th - 12th Grade Meet and Greet | 4:00- 6:00 p.m.| Upper Campus
*Seniors: Stop by the front desk to make a parking lot space selection
Staggered Entry Dates with Early Release at 12:00 p.m.:
- Wednesday, August 14th: Students whose last names begin with A-G only
- Thursday, August 15th: Students whose last names begin with H-O only
- Friday, August 16th: Students whose last names begin with P-Z only
Students will only attend school on their assigned day and will not report to GRACE on the other two days listed. Returning students and 7th-grade students will receive their MacBooks on their first day.
Monday, August 19, First Full Day of School for all Students
I encourage you to stay connected and involved in our school community. Your support and partnership are invaluable to us as we work together to provide the best education for your children. Please feel free to contact your child's teachers, our administrative team, or myself with any questions or concerns.
Welcome back, and may we have a truly blessed and fruitful school year ahead as we celebrate this momentous occasion! Let us pray for a year filled with growth, joy, and blessings. May God guide us in all our endeavors and bless the work of our hands as we strive to honor Him in everything we do.
In His Service,
Julia Taylor