Karl Swedberg: April 2008 Archives

(410KB PDF) In 1974, the GRCSA board opposed a recommendation to close Oakdale, citing its "unique role in the city." (Grand Rapids Press) (external link)

"[T]he purpose of the summit is to highlight the lack of educational options facing low-income urban students. And we're going to bring together educators and clergy and philanthropists and business leaders, all aiming to urge there to be reasonable legislation out of Congress and practical solutions to save these schools — and more importantly, to save the children." (external link)

(28MB PDF) Enjoy a journey through Oakdale's 115 years in our community. Photos from the first dedicated building in 1893 — at a cost of $575 — through the present. (external link)

We recently received a letter from Don Griffioen, whose family represents four generations of Oakdale Christian School students. He has graciously permitted us to publish the letter here...

But the reality for several southeast side neighborhoods is changing; residents and community organizations are establishing a higher standard for living and doing business. These neighborhoods have set a course for revitalization and renewal, and they are steadily achieving their ambitious goals. [www.rapidgrowthmedia.com] (external link)

Hello, all!

I write now for various reasons, partly to say thanks for continuing your support and for spreading the news about our mission, and to give an update on what FOCUS has been doing and what our District (Oakdale) Board is working on to further the cause of a better Christian urban school. The rest will follow!

If "it" ever becomes one group's mission, it fails.

We at FOCUS have never pretended we have one solution, or that our ideas are the only ones worth pursuing. The few who started FOCUS saw the need literally to jump-start a general movement that has eventually -- and naturally -- begun its evolution into something much bigger than we could have imagined. The ideas you've seen in the emails and website are not just ours: they come from you. Truly, it has been a communal effort, and must continue to be. Our desire at FOCUS has always been to do our best to represent the majority of opinion in our Oakdale community, never to co-opt the work. If you want to have a voice, just speak. We all need to listen to each other.

Parents! What we need are parents!

We've noted from the start that one of the main differences between a good school and a superb one is parental involvement. That involvement must happen now and it must continue for success.

More goings-on:

We're staying in touch with the GRCS Administration. We hosted a meeting last week to discuss the importance of Oakdale's existence, and to make them aware of the incredible energy shown by all of you and those who signed the website letter (btw, we're awe-inspired by the networking especially of alumni in spreading the word!). Our hope is that the Administration will see this passion as something to be capitalized on, for the good of the whole Grand Rapids Christian School Association. We will continue to press for "Innovation, not Consolidation," for all the GRCS schools. We will be having another meeting with the Administration in the next two weeks.

Related to the "Innovation, not Consolidation" idea, and in light of the possibility of a 700+ student school, many parent volunteers are researching the advantages of small school populations.

Some parent volunteers are strategizing ways to hold small-group prayer meetings with parents at the other schools. We recognize the need to build bridges and find the best ways to listen to each other (similar means/ends in mind or not).

We'll be participating in an Association-wide prayer time the week after Spring Break. FOCUS will let you know when that takes place, so that you can join all of us at the same time.

We joined a meeting with staff at Oakdale that the District Board hosted just recently.

Many sense a particular need to contact all current Oakdale parents with updated factual information, and to fulfill this need our District Board will be hosting a Community Meeting in the next couple of weeks for the Board and Mr. Bryant to answer parent questions.

Some parent volunteers are working with local CRC churches (with plans to contact area non-CRC churches very soon). Last week we hosted a community/neighborhood meeting of local church people, some of whom have Oakdale alumni children. We charged them with talking to other church members, Christian education and social justice committee folks to see how we might all form partnerships (sponsoring a few students each year, helping to recruit, and such).

We have parents involved directly with our preschool teachers to host a recruitment-for-kindergarten day. Our current kindergarten enrollment is looking promising, but we can do so much better.

Some parent volunteers are studying the workings of other exemplary urban Christian schools for ideas that can benefit Oakdale now and long-term.

And again,

Please seriously consider joining a subcommittee, if you haven't already:

1. recruitment and marketing
2. fundraising
3. ensuring continuity of Oakdale's future
4. pursuing communication and accountability within the Grand Rapids Christian School Association

With deepest sincerity for all of your concerns and actions,

Tracey