Dear Friend of Christian Urban Schools,
Sometime last year, you provided your email address to FOCUS [Friends of Urban Christian Schools], which was established to advocate for Oakdale Christian Elementary in the face of proposed plans to consolidate all Grand Rapids Christian elementary schools.
Most of you know that in June the Grand Rapids Christian Schools Association approved those plans. We expect all 5 elementary schools in the system to be consolidated by the school year 2010-2011. FOCUS's advocacy has therefore run its course and this is the last you will hear from us.
We thought you would be interested to know that the Oakdale Christian district board has asked a separate group to examine the possibility of an independent, neighborhood Christian school in the area. This independent school group is committed to seeking input from current Oakdale families and anyone interested in their efforts.
If you are interested in helping or simply receiving updates from this group, please contact them at: newschoolgr@gmail.com. We will not be providing your emails to them (or anyone else for that matter). Please forward this email to anyone you know who might be interested in this effort.
If you would like to view the letter sent to all Oakdale parents last month from the district board, you may download it here (388KB PDF).
We at FOCUS ask of you what the district board has asked of its parents:
"...regardless of what you think is the best way to deliver Christian education, please pray for all those seeking to provide it to our children. Together we are the body of Christ, all seeking his kingdom. If we give one another grace in this challenging time of transition, we will remain one in Christ and we will bring glory to God."
Blessings,
FOCUS
Update:
Though "small schools" are defined in various ways (300-500 students), most experts agree that K-8 schools should not be above 500 and elementary (K-6) should not be above 350. READ MORE...
I heard GRCSA wants to consolidate to a brand new building. True?
We've heard that consolidation would involve either remodeling an existing campus or constructing a brand new building at an entirely new site. GRCSA has estimated the cost of either project to range from $10 to $20 million.
READ MORE...We recently received a wonderful letter from Don Griffioen, whose family represents four generations of Oakdale Christian School students. He has graciously permitted us to publish the letter here. READ MORE...
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