2022–2023 Impact Report

2022 – 2023 IMPACT REPORT

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Nearly 30,000 graduates of Grand Rapids Christian High School are putting their Christ-centered education to work in communities and professions around the world.

Among our graduates are leaders in every walk of life – making an impact within their communities. They make us proud, and set a great example for the next generation of Grand Rapids Christian graduates.

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A LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT Dear parents, alumni, and friends: It is with an awestruck sense of gratitude that I share the 2022-2023 Impact Report with you. Throughout the year, our efforts were immeasurably blessed by God’s grace and goodness! We have so much for which to be thankful and to build upon as we go forward this year.

As many of you know, our 2022-2023 faith theme was “Come, follow me” (Mark 1:17), Jesus’ invitation as he spoke to his disciples by the Galilean Sea. Such short, simple words but with such profound, far-reaching implications for us as a Christian institution of learning and school community.

By focusing intently on this theme, we have been reminded anew that discipleship is meant to be shared, that faithfulness gains strength in numbers. We have been led to a deeper understanding of our shared commitments and responsibilities that are embedded in Christ’s call. What is more, a great many of us have personally experienced how unity in Christ leads to a deepening faith and an ever-strengthening witness to others.

In 2022-2023, I witnessed countless occasions of students being guided toward authentically exploring and answering Christ’s call. I also saw firsthand many occurrences of faculty, staff, and parents joined together in discipleship through focused, faithful activities such as moms’ prayer groups, prayer walks, and small groups of students discovering how their faith is developing.

Our values – Christ, Community, and Commitment – continue to inspire and guide us to lead the way to Christ by following His call. Throughout this report, you will discover real-life stories of our “3 Cs” in action.

I hope you will be as encouraged and uplifted as I have been by these tangible demonstrations of what it means for us to be rooted in Christ, better together in community, and committed to lives of purpose.

Please join me in celebration and thanksgiving for the opportunity to serve you and prepare our students to be effective servants of Christ.

Tom DeJonge Superintendent

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Our Mission Preparing students to be effective servants of Christ in contemporary society

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CORE VALUES:

Our foundation... The enduring pillars and cultural framework that shape everything we do in service to the mission.

Christ

We are rooted in Christ.

We believe our world belongs to God, and we actively seek to grow deeper in our knowledge of Him, our love for His word, and our understanding that everything we do is for His honor and glory.

We are disciples of Christ, prepared to follow Him with faithfulness, resilience, and humility in a broken but hopeful world.

Community

We are better together.

We are a community of belonging, connected through relationships, and reflected in the love and respect we show one another. We believe that all people are made uniquely in the image of God. We are committed to creating a redemptive environment that reflects the rich differences of God’s creation.

Commitment

We lead lives of purpose.

We believe that character matters, and we are serious about our own and others’ growth. We are committed to excellence as God defines, giving our best for His glory. We believe that strength is for service, not status, and we carry that mindset in the classroom, in competition, and in our community.

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While the theme for the year arises from Jesus’ call to discipleship found in the gospels, the call to follow is the story of faith found throughout all of the Bible. God calls; His people follow.

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2022-23 THEME VERSE

2022-23 THEME VERSE “Come, follow me” is Jesus’ call to discipleship and is found at the beginning of each of the four gospels (Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:27-28; John 1:43). In each case, Jesus seeks out and calls someone by name and that person responds in faith and obedience. God calls; people follow. That is the Christian life in summary: God’s gracious calling leads to a life of obedience.

The call to “follow me” is a call to discipleship. In the New Testament, this is the major theme of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Whereas the term “Christian” is only used three times in the New Testament, the word “disciple” is used 269 times! But what does it mean to be a disciple? Quite literally, it means to be a student - or better yet, an apprentice.

“Come, follow me,” said Jesus. He said it to His disciples along the Galilean shore and he continues to say it today. Come, learn from me. Come, walk in my ways and not in the ways of this world. Individually and as a school community, there was no better way for us to step into a school year, and a second century, than to respond in faith to Jesus’ gracious call: “Come, follow me.”

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

— Mark 1:17 «Vengan, síganme — les dijo Jesús—, y los haré pescadores de hombres» — Marcos 1:17

And there was no better theme to instill in the hearts and minds of our nearly 2,350 students.

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EAGLE IMPACT / 100 YEAR

OUR TEACHERS MAKE AN IMPACT The Eagle Impact Award was established in 2020 and is presented annually to recognize individuals and groups who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and service in advancing the mission of Grand Rapids Christian Schools.

Eagle Impact Award recipients have used their gifts and resources to enrich our programs and strengthen our schools. In doing so, they have made lasting contributions to the Grand Rapids Christian Schools community and impacted thousands of students for generations to come.

This past spring we had the honor to present this award to past and present teachers of Grand Rapids Christian Schools. For more than 100 years, our teachers have demonstrated relentless commitment to the education and faith development of our students. Their passion for each and every student has been and continues to be reflected in the relationships they have established and the Christ-centered communities that have been built within their classrooms and throughout our school communities.

Grand Rapids Christian teachers do far more than teach. They guide. They support. They pray. They love. In all ways, our teachers prepare students to learn to discover the plans that God has for them, overcome challenges, recognize the evidence of His work, and be inspired to rise to new heights.

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WE ARE ROOTED IN CHRIST

LEADING WITH FAITH

By David Mostard, Grand Rapids Christian High School Bible Teacher

Our hike started early in the morning. We were six days into walking the land of Israel. The goal of our study trip was to learn about the Holy Land by experiencing it on foot, as it had been for centuries before and after Christ.

We spent the first five days in the desert, studying the unfolding of the biblical narrative and the relentless pursuit of God to redeem all of creation. We had now made our way north to the Sea of Galilee.

It was hot. It was humid. There were 60 people in our study group, eight of us from Grand Rapids Christian.

There we were, putting our feet in the same ancient earth that once held the sandal prints of Jesus. We stood on Mount Arbel and could see the entire lake and the surrounding area where Jesus spent almost 70% of his ministry. It was in this very location that He walked along and invited fishermen, a tax collector, and a Zealot to give up everything and come follow Him. I imagine they were not fully aware then of all that saying “yes” to that call would entail, that following Jesus meant they would be sent out to deliver a wider and more beautiful vision of the Kingdom of God wherever they went.

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As I walk the halls of our high school, I am witness to the same story being lived out right here.

I attend professional development sessions and am challenged to think deeply and create intentional times in class to hear God’s call. Faith is at the forefront of the process, not an afterthought. When I refill my coffee mug (yes, for the fourth time) in the teacher’s lounge, I hear the conversations of awe and wonder that were manifested in a class because of intentional faith integration. As we worship together in chapel, we collectively humble ourselves at the foot of the cross to be renewed and resurrected in Christ. When I receive emails sent to a team of administrators, counselors, support services, and teachers informing us all about a tragedy that has come upon a student, we collect in prayer groups and engage in that chaos from a posture of the hope and light that Jesus has given us.

All of this matters. It matters deeply. At Grand Rapid Christian Schools, faith is the vehicle of the content we teach and the way we operate. It’s at the forefront of everything we do.

I am witness to this as both a teacher and a dad. My wife and I have five boys ranging in age from 2 to 11 years old. Our

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WE ARE ROOTED IN CHRIST

“Every day, at school and at home, I see such awesome evidence that Grand Rapids Christian is relentlessly steadfast in its mission.”

—David Mostard GRCHS TEACHER

youngest is at the newly opened Olivia Haverkamp Early Learning Center, our middle three are at GRCES Iroquois campus, and our oldest is at GRCMS. Our family spans four of the five Grand Rapids Christian campuses! As we ride home in our minivan, unpack our backpacks, and talk around the table, it is abundantly evident that the content being taught in reading, science, math, language, arts, and PE is top-notch excellence. Moreover, the stories my kids tell, the Seesaw updates we receive, and the questions they ask are infused with the seeds of faith and the call to follow Jesus.

Every day, at school and at home, I see such awesome evidence that Grand Rapids Christian is relentlessly steadfast in its mission. This is the mission that Jesus framed for us when He walked this earth -- the same mission that now empowers us to live through His Spirit. It’s a mission that invites students every day to say “yes” to following Him, finding direction in His footsteps. It is a mission that, in time, will send these students out into the larger world, carrying with them both a robust education and a faith-inspired message of hope, redemption, and salvation.

What a privilege it is to answer the call and be an active participant in this!

“ This experience has changed how I

read and engage with the Bible. Now, my class starts the day with saying the “Shema” and centering ourselves on our purpose – to love God and to love others. Going to Israel was an experience that changed the deepest parts of me and has made me a better person and teacher.”

– STEPHANIE TANIS GRCMS TEACHER

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“ The Israel trip was a transformational experience. I was quickly challenged by how Jesus lived and called us to live. I was motivated to live differently and see others as Jesus does so that I can truly know them more fully.”

– CRYSTAL STRICKALND GRCHS TEACHER

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When Grand Rapids Christian High School revamped its student congress, its student representatives and principal, Brad Mockabee, created “The Eagle Blueprint.”

Mockabee and the student leaders looked at our core values, the “3 Cs” of Christ, Community, and Commitment, and sought to define the ways faith and commitment could continue to spill out in every classroom, in every interaction, and in everything we do.

Mockabee said the blueprint is an agreed-upon list of shared behaviors that “help us thrive as a Christian school community by articulating how we live together in alignment with our core values.”

The blueprint helped define GRCHS as more than just another Christian school, according to Rona Das, school culture coordinator.

“Prayer and devotion time are all norms of a Christian school, but weaving our faith into daily lesson plans and student interactions is what truly sets us apart,” Das said.

You can see and hear the impact of The Eagle Blueprint on students and adults.

“This year, the Eagle Blueprint has allowed me to connect students to the Christian faith while learning,” said Das. “Instead of just focusing on Bible verses or biblical stories, we have expanded how we communicate about faith and God’s standards for how we live to the students.”

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“We had so many discussions about faith with our teachers. Not in your face discussions but where they steered the conversation to give us space to articulate our own faith and to respectfully disagree with other students.”

– GRCHS SENIOR

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“Getting my Adenture Bible was special to me because it is like having a piece of God’s love in my hands.”

– ADDISON

IROQUOIS STUDENT

THE GIFT OF A BIBLE At Grand Rapids Christian, we strive to instill in each child a love for learning, a love for Christ, and compassion for others. For second-grade students at our Iroquois campus, we take one important step in fulfilling that mission each year by giving Bibles to our second graders.

According to teacher Sue Van Timmeren, the gift of the Bibles comes just as children are beginning to read on their own. The NIV Adventure Bible is chosen as the Bible because it brings gospel stories alive, with text and visuals designed for young readers. Teachers use the Bibles in class, giving students the chance to navigate God’s Word. “Second graders study many stories of Jesus found in the gospels, and those stories are shorter to read and easier to find,” she said.

For their faith journey, students highlight themes and memory work passages as they learn them. Parents and grandparents are encouraged to highlight and sign favorite verses to show kids God’s faithfulness in providing His word to generations of followers of Jesus. The second graders keep their Bibles through third grade and fourth grade. After that, they take them home – they are theirs to keep.

Principal John Barkel said, “GRCS has given NIV Adventure Bibles to second graders for several years.

We gift them in both English and Spanish. Giving students a Bible to read, write in and learn from is a special and important foundational act that further supports our GRCS mission. Being a Disciple of Christ is an attribute of our Portrait of a Graduate, and making sure the Word of God is in our students’ hands is not only a tradition, but is also a way of helping our kids become Disciples for God’s Kingdom.”

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WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER

WELCOMING STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Students come to GRCS from around the world for an excellent education and a cross-cultural experience. Their presence enriches our school community. Everyone is impacted.

Cross-cultural experiences are transformative, especially when set in the context of a supportive Christian community. Ludovica enrolled at GRCHS planning to study for only the fall semester. Recently, she came into the International Student Program (ISP) office to talk about her experience. Her plans had changed: she now wants to stay for the entire year. Why? She encountered something special at GRCHS. In her words, “I feel more supported and that I am learning in a more caring and engaging environment than in any of my previous 12 years at home.” Rather than returning to Rome to complete her high school studies, she now plans to graduate from GRCHS before pursuing a degree in international law in the Netherlands.

We welcome students from across the world.

“I feel more supported and that I am learning in a more caring and engaging environment than in any of my previous 12 years at home.”

— Ludovica

ISP STUDENT

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International students study with our children, they make music and art together, they perform in productions, they play sports, they live with and become members of our families. Along the way they are transformed by the culture of our school, by the relationships they are in, by our love for Christ.

Some come as believers, some have no faith background, others are culturally Christian. All of them, we believe, take one step closer to Christ while here as we pursue our 3 Cs: Christ, Community, and Commitment.

One way we work to grow as disciples of Christ and thoughtful neighbors is the Global Ambassador (GA) club. This club has at its heart serviceleadership, creating activities that have an impact by broadening global perspectives, developing cultural understandings – our own and those around the world, – cultivating friendships, and creating a passion for God’s people. In short, it embodies our 3 Cs. Each year GA chooses a project to support. Past projects have sent aid for dental care for tribes in the Brazilian jungle, helped pay for summer camp for students in Cuba, and in the spring of 2022, students raised scholarship funds for Ukrainian students to attend

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAM •

The GRCS community has included international students for decades; the ISP was formally established 12 years ago.

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Students from around the world spend between one and six years as part of the GRCS community, immersing themselves in American culture, learning in English, building friendships, and fostering an understanding of or deepening their faith.

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The program plays an important role in sharing culture and language, while also living out the values of GRCS and Christ’s kingdom.

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Pictured above are the 38 ISP students currently studying at GRCS from China, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, South Korea, Spain, Germany, Uganda, Ukraine, Switzerland, Italy, and Mongolia.

GRCHS. This year, thanks to the generosity of the GRCS community, we were able to offer scholarships to several international students, including two Ukrainian students. It is a gift to be able to provide these young people a space to grow and develop in ways that would not likely have been possible at home.

It is not only the international students’ lives that are changed during their studies. Welcoming students from different countries encourages the entire student body and faculty to grow as culturally competent disciples of Christ, allows for cross-cultural relationships and understanding, and fosters critical conversations while raising awareness of what it means to be a follower of Christ in contemporary society.

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WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER

TASTE OF SOUL NIGHT

“I was excited to be a part of it. The energy was so high that night! I loved seeing the diversity there and learning more about a different culture through the dances and stuff.”

– CHARLOTTE GRCMS STUDENT

In February 2023, Grand Rapids Christian Middle School hosted its inaugural Celebration of Gospel. Organized by Juanita Davis, K-8 cultural competence coordinator for GRCS. The evening, themed Amazing Grace, explored the spiritual experiences of African Americans, with a focus on Sunday morning worship.

“I always wanted to share the experience of a typical Sunday in a black church,” Davis said.

The event featured an array of soulful music, cultural dancing, and insight into the historical context of the spirituals that were performed.

Among the many highlights were the Grand Rapids Christian Gospel Choir’s performance of Hallelujah, Salvation, and Glory and Justin Johnson’s rendition of Wade in the Water, which was the first spiritual Davis learned as a young girl.

“I always wanted to share the experience of a typical Sunday in a black church.”

— Juanita Davis

K-8 CULTURAL COMPETENCE COORDINATOR

Those who attended learned about the deep significance of spirituals, how they encouraged black people in America with personal messages of faith and helped them endure the dark days of bondage with assurances that God would not leave them.

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WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER

BLESSING BAGS FOR MLK DAY 2023

To honor Martin Luther King Jr. and educate students, fourth grade teacher Sue Pluymert organized a Blessing Bags project at GRCES, Iroquois

“This act of kindness really impacted my family.

It led us to conversations around giving, serving our community, and invited my children to ask questions about community needs.”

Campus. For the event, students and families donated individualized

— John Barkel

The impact was felt beyond the classroom. John Barkel, principal at GRCES

IROQUOIS CAMPUS PRINCIPAL

snacks, hand wipes, and health and beauty products. These were packed in bags and students stored the filled bags in their families’ cars.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, students handed out hundreds of bags to those in need. The children were transformed by the project, which demonstrated one of many ways Grand Rapids Christian Schools students lead by their faith and are committed to serving the community.

Iroquois campus, put it this way: “This act of kindness really impacted my family. It led us to conversations around giving, serving our community, and invited my children to ask questions about community needs.”

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“Helping others, helps my heart grow stronger” – GRAEME GRCMS STUDENT

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“In order for a plant to grow it can not grow by itself. And we need God in our lives to help us become more like Christ.”

– ELISE

GRCMS STUDENT

LEARNING GARDEN

What started as a dead-of-winter conversation about a garden for Grand Rapids Christian Middle School became an exciting project and learning experience when principal Sara Seth said, “Go for it.”

With Seth’s approval, GRCMS teachers Amy Worden and Derek Katerberg went to work. They met with Farmer Jason at Kids’ Food Basket, a Grand Rapids organization working to increase access to healthy food for children and families. That meeting generated considerable excitement among teachers and students. Soon, staff members were gathering materials for the GRCMS garden and students in each sixth grade homeroom were volunteering at Kids’ Food Basket.

There they planted seeds, harvested vegetables in the green house, and prepared outdoor beds for the spring planting.

As spring came, the garden began to feel real for students. They integrated what they were learning in math class to plan the project. Students calculated the critical details: everything from how much fencing would cost to how much gravel we would need for the fully accessible pathway to the garden.

On Saturday, May 6, members of the GRCMS community came together to make the dream a reality. The garden boxes were assembled, pathways were dug, a shed was built and layout of the garden was determined.

As the leaves begin to change, students are ready to enjoy the fruits of last spring’s labor during the GRCMS garden’s first harvest.

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5TH GRADE – PICKEREL LAKE PARK

6TH GRADE – VERSLUIS PARK

“If we love the Giver, we will love the gift even more.”

— Phil Warners, Director of Outdoor Education rockford christian school

7TH GRADE – SEIDMAN PARK

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8TH GRADE – HUFF PARK

“We do outdoor education because we get to see what God has done around here and maybe why he did it. Every time you go outside, you will learn something new...every time.”

– MASON

RCS STUDENT

A PARTNERSHIP WITH KENT TRAILS Rockford Christian School continues to partner with the Kent County Parks and Trails Department in a longstanding outdoor education program. This partnership continues to have an impact on students and their families, as well as the parks themselves. Under the program, each middle school grade adopts a county park. The current breakdown goes like this: 5TH GRADE — Pickerel Lake Park 7TH GRADE — Seidman Park

6TH GRADE — Versluis Park 8TH GRADE — Huff Park

Director of Outdoor Education, Phil Warners works with the Parks and Trails Department staff members to learn how each park is used and the challenges they face in maintaining it. He then brings this knowledge back to his classroom and teaches the value and importance of these public spaces.

Three times each year, students visit their adopted park to pull weeds, build benches and do whatever is needed to give back to the community.

THE BENEFIT: getting kids outdoors teaches and promotes curiosity in problem solving, perspective, and output.

“I want our students to look, smell, hear, and notice things outdoors which promotes wonder and imagination,” Warners said. Some of the parks are familiar to participating students and families, others have no personal connection to them until the work begins. The advantages of building that connection are obvious. For one thing, it inspires kids to care. “If we can see all that God has created for us, we will take care of it,” Warners said. For another thing, it lays the foundation for greater social awareness. “Outdoor education and social justice are linked, as are how we care for our world and how we care for each other,” he said.

“The future is bright for the program,” Warners said. The plan is to continue to expand it to include daily outdoor learning opportunities, off campus trips, and other meaningful events.

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“This place changed me. I literally didn’t know the Bible, and now I feel like I know it pretty well. The teachers and other adults stayed after me and I finally gave in and thrived. If I hadn’t come to GRCHS, I’d be in trouble right now.”

– GRCHS SENIOR

WITH REV. REBECCA JORDAN HEYS Grand Rapids Christian Schools Board of Trustees President, Minister of Worship and Pastoral Care | Calvin Christian Reformed Church and Current GRCS Parent 30

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WE LEAD LIVES OF PURPOSE

Q: For over 100 years, Grand Rapids Christian Schools has held fast its commitment to its mission: preparing students to be effective servants of Christ in contemporary society. How have you seen our mission be more than a phrase, but a way of being at GRCS? REBECCA: The service of Christ is not just

here and now. For example, our technology staff teach students to use the internet in safe and savvy ways, aware of false information and attentive to the truth, while supporting families in the boundaries they set around technology use. I am so impressed each time I see our staff finding creative ways to engage this work of Christian formation today.

campus engages in a regular pattern of worship

Q: Our teachers are at the heart of our mission. Is there any better reflection of our commitment to excellence than our teachers?

with staff and students together. But our service

REBECCA: No, there is not! Our teachers exhibit

something we talk about at GRCS; it is deeply embedded in everything we do. Worship is a Christian’s central act of service, and every

of Christ goes far beyond our chapel services. We show students the ways that every area of study is an opportunity to serve Christ and His Kingdom of restoration in the world. Since the first graduating class of 40 students in 1923, our students have flourished under the guidance and example of dedicated Christian educators. The result has been over 30,000 alumni around the world, all taught to recognize God’s call in their lives and see the wonder of our Creator’s handiwork.

a beautiful dedication to the mission of GRCS. They love Jesus and they love their students, and nothing makes them happier than to see their students flourish. They are among the strongest in their field. They are leaders among their peers in other educational settings, and 72% of GRCS staff hold a Master’s degree or higher. With a 14:1 student to teacher ratio, our expert faculty take the time to develop strong relationships with each student and their family. Their commitment

It is central to our mission that we prepare students

to inclusive education means ensuring that every

to engage this service of Christ in contemporary

student flourishes and building communities where

society. We do not close our eyes to the problems

each learns from the unique, God-given attributes

and tensions of the modern world, but we teach

of others.

students, in age-appropriate ways, to serve Christ

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WE LEAD LIVES OF PURPOSE

Q: Over and over we see a commitment at GRCS to each other and to the unique community we create. How have you seen our community come together?

because of our differences, not just in spite of them.

God-given passions and interests. A place where diversity of thought is encouraged, ethnic diversity

REBECCA: A commitment to excellence is

is celebrated, and students from diverse financial

a commitment to always asking how we can be

situations have the opportunity to flourish. In fact,

better. It is equally valuing what should not change,

district wide 24% of students identify as an ethnic

like our mission. But to meet the challenges of an

minority. We serve over 180 students who benefit

evolving world, we know our schools must continue

from additional support in meeting their individual

to evolve, lead, and innovate. The opportunities for

academic and social goals by offering a variety

Grand Rapids Christian Schools’ students go well

of personalized academic support services. And

beyond the classroom and extracurricular activities.

35% of students receive some level of financial

Winterim, for example, is a two-week learning

assistance from Grand Rapids Christian Schools.

experience where high school students choose

We live in a time of deep division, polarization, and

from unique on-campus courses, domestic travel,

Rapids Christian Schools is more than a school.

We are a place where students connect with their

mistrust. Even in the church, people become more entrenched in their own tribe and only engage with those on their own side of many cultural divides.

In this climate, GRCS is a very special place. It is not always easy, and we do not always get it right, but we are a community with a deep commitment to remain together across lines of difference for the sake of Christ’s mission. Because of this

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these challenges, and we are better together

Q: A commitment to excellence is a commitment to innovation. How have you seen GRCS respond and lead in an environment that is rapidly evolving and changing?

REBECCA: The simple truth is that Grand

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commitment, we grow in Christlikeness through

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international travel, professional internships, or dual enrollment at one of seven four-year colleges or universities. And iXplore offers our middle schoolers opportunities to learn beyond our core curriculum, deepening our students’ awareness of their own spiritual, intellectual, and emotional growth as they develop and pursue new interests and passions.

Q: As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, what makes you so excited about the future of GRCS? REBECCA: The spirit of this 100th anniversary celebration is so fitting. We are looking back with gratitude, and we are looking forward in hope. God

GRCS 10 or 15 years in the future, which is when my children would be graduating! I am optimistic about that future, and eager to be a part of the school community that we all are shaping together, not only for our children today but for generations to come.

has been faithful to GRCS for 100 years, using this place and these people as part of God’s mission of restoration in the world. God promises to be faithful in the future, even as we grow and change with the needs of our students and the needs of the world, remaining steadfast and true to God’s mission amidst that change.

Our staff is enacting our most recent strategic plan, and to see it lived out on each campus is so encouraging to me. We are eager to continue to grow in ethnic diversity and in our appreciation of that diversity as a gift from God, and we are willing to do the hard work to move in that direction.

We are ready to continue building our reputation for innovation and excellence, and to build a community that lives out the love of Christ in everything we do.

When I was invited to allow my name to be considered for service on the Board of Trustees, my children were just starting as students at GRCS. The person who invited me noted that by serving on the Board, I could have a voice in the mission of

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“I liked how we learned that pollution can go in the water and stay there for a long time – we have to be careful with our actions and be respectful to our spaces.”

– JANAE

EVERGREEN STUDENT

FOR THE LOVE OF WATER

Evergreen partners with Van Andel Institute for an enrichment week saturated with hands-on learning.

In addition to having completed its first year of being accepted as an International Baccalaureate candidate school, our Evergreen campus has many exciting learning opportunities for the students!

In the summer of 2018, an eager and excited Evergreen teaching staff walked through the doors of the Van Andel Institute in downtown Grand Rapids. Little did they know their visit to VAI’s first-ever Science on the Grand Conference would lead to many more years of partnership.

Since that summer, Evergreen has partnered annually with Van Andel Education Institute (VAEI) to deepen students’ hands-on experience with science topics ranging from watershed health and severe weather to local animal conservation, and many others.

The partnership embodies the education approach you will find on the Evergreen campus today: inquirybased learning in a multiage setting. For instance, this past March, Evergreen’s gym was filled with students, parents, teachers, and VAEI staff members listening to student presentations on watershed health. The focus was on what we can do to improve our community. Kindergartners through fifth graders worked together as they toured adults through their various watershed models, eager to showcase their learning from the week-long program.

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2022 - 2023

CHAMPIONS

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PHOTO KEY (left to right) 1. Luke Rowland Thespian of the Year Award 2. Forensics 4 time State Champions 3. Natalie VanOtteren Girl’s Track 3200m MHSAA State Champion 4. Meredith Ivory Thespian of the Year Award 5. Aidan Rozema Informative Speaking and Claire Kooy Oratory State Champions 6. Abby Christians Senior Theatre Tech Award 7. Brynn Uchman 1st place Girl’s Tennis Singles, Natalie Poortenga 2nd place Girl’s Tennis Singles, Olivia Cook and Avah Jerke 3rd place Girl’s Tennis Doubles MHSAA State Champions 8. Ben Sytsma Boys 5m Freestyle MHSAA State Champion

PHOTO KEY (left to right) 1. Zeke Heerema Boy’s Bowling MHSAA State Champion 2. Varsity Baseball MHSAA State Champion 3. Boys Varsity Golf MHSAA State Champion 4. Team 63600C “July” Aaron Wildschut, Rowan Jansen, Zach Hartemink, and Emma Blankespoor Worlds Innovate Award 5. Gabi Mora Senior Theatre Spotlight Award 6. Rueben Wiering, Jonah Knoester, Ethan Lenters, Jordan Rodgers Boy’s Track 4 x 400m MHSAA State Champions 7. Vivian VerHulst Outstanding Senior Thespian Award

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CLASS OF ‘23 STATS

90% 4-YEAR COLLEGE

5%

2-YEAR COLLEGE

1118 SAT

3%

DEFERRED/GAP YEAR

2%

WORK FORCE/TRADE

AV E R AG E C O M P O S I T E S C O R E

AV E R AG E C O M P O S I T E S C O R E

23.8 ACT

$4,340,300

1050 SAT National Average

19.8 ACT National Average Score

Awarded in Scholarships

This mural was painted to represent the graduating class of 2023, as diverse, expressive, and collaborative. The class of 2023 operated on large and individual scales with one steady, unifying element – their desire for community. This is shown by the blue ribbon that weaves in and around the figures in the mural. The variety of colorful, facing silhouettes illustrates how the class of 2023 worked together to explore multiple viewpoints to reach their common goals.

– Mural painted by Sophia Leonard ‘23, Olivia May ‘23, and Grace Padilla ‘23

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2022-23 GRCS IMPACT REPORT

2023 SENIOR AWARDS

Outstanding Student in Physical Education: Cooper Hutt Outstanding Student in the Sciences: Priscilla Chen Outstanding Student in Social Studies and the Recipient of the Dr. Howard J. Wiarda Scholarship: Aidan Rozema Senior Theatre Drama/Spotlight Award: Gabriella Mora Senior Theatre Tech Award: Abigail Christians

Outstanding Student in Art: Sophia Leonard

Outstanding Senior Thespian Award: Vivian VerHulst

Eagle Athlete Award: Katelyn LaRue and Luke Selfe

Outstanding Student in ASL: Ashley Mendez-Gutierrez

Scholar Athlete Award: Kaitlyn Aupperlee and Ethan Lenters

Outstanding Student in French: Stella Booydegraaff

Baarman Award: Mason Werdon

Outstanding Student in German: Megan Szotko

Brother Lawrence Award: Ashley Mendez-Gutierrez and Aidan Rozema

Outstanding Student in Spanish: Breanna Lane

Outstanding Student in English: Audrey Hester

Outstanding Student in Spanish Immersion: Lauren Mockabee

Outstanding Student in Family and Consumer Sciences: Kidist Nelson

Spanish Immersion Program Completers: Victoria Mejia, Lauren Mockabee, Gabriella Mora, Payton Nol, Greta Vance, Brooke VandenBerg, Jordan Zondag and Peyton Zondag

Heart for Inclusion Services Award: Alexander Williams Outstanding Student in Mathematics: Ethan Lenters John Philip Sousa Band Award: Ethan Lenters and Katelyn Mersman National School Orchestra Award: Allison Groenenboom National School Choral Award: Luke Rowland Arion Music Award: Meredith Ivory

National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students: Abigail Christians, Allison Groenenboom, Lauren Mockabee, Aidan Rozema, Benjamin Skillin and Noah Ting Olivia Haverkamp Eagle Blueprint Award: Aondover Amough, Rowan Jansen, Payton Nol, Caleb Ross and Grace Winkle Top Ten Seniors: Kaitlynn Aupperlee, Rowan Cebulski, Priscilla Chen, Ethan Lenters, Olivia May, Lily McGowarn, Caleb Ross, Noah Ting, Lelaina VanderPloeg, Ashley Wolfe 2022-23 GRCS IMPACT REPORT

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EAGLES FUND

GIVING THE GIFT OF OPPORTUNITY For over 100 years, GRCS has provided a world-class, distinctively Christian education, that is rooted in Christ, Commitment and Community. With your gift to THE EAGLES FUND, you provide a lifeline to families allowing the gift of a world-class Christian education to over 35% of current families.

The Eagles Fund opens our doors to families who are not able to afford the full cost of a Christian education on their own, along with investing in enriched educational experiences for all of our students. Through its backing of innovative programs and student support services, the Eagles Fund ensures that students not only have access to enroll at GRCS, but that every student has the best opportunity to flourish here.

TO LEARN MORE:

Visit grcs.org/give or call Amanda Matthews | Director of Development | 616.574.6007

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2022-23 GRCS IMPACT REPORT

METHODS OF GIVING Cash, Check, Credit Card, Electronic Funds Transfer

Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, or Other Securities

Name GRCS in your Will or Trust

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2022-2023 BUDGET

2022-2023 Budget REVENUE 07.01.2022 – 06.30.2023 Net Tuition | 68.3% Parents

$

17,460,631

Churches and Other

$

2,095,514

Eagles Fund

$

1,702,326

GRCS Foundation

$

959,850

New 2 You

$

750,395

$

5,654,035

Charitable Resouces | 11.9%

Thank you for supporting

Christ-centered education.

It’s a big deal.

Other Revenue | 19.8% Other

TOTAL REVENUE

Preparing students to be effective servants of Christ in contemporary society.

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2022-23 GRCS IMPACT REPORT

$ 28,622,751

EXPENSES 07.01.2022 – 06.30.2023 Instruction | 57.6%

$

16,249,365

Operation and Maintenance | 24.6%

$

6,940,839

Administrative | 16.4%

$

4,614,221

Fundraising | 1.4%

$

395,702

TOTAL EXPENSES

$ 28,200,127

LEADERSHIP

2022-2023 Volunteer Leadership Board of Trustees

Rev. Rebecca Jordan Heys, President Dr. Debbye Turner Bell, Vice President Caleb Doezema ‘94, Secretary Mike Meeuwsen ‘94, Treasurer Jonathan Kok Jamie Kuiper Dr. Khan Nedd Leroy Stegink Chris TerVeen Nancy Triezenberg Dave VanWingerden Dr. Sarah Visser

Board Committees

executive committee Rev. Rebecca Jordan Heys Dr. Debbye Turner Bell Caleb Doezema ‘94 Mike Meeuwsen ‘94 governance committee Rev. Rebecca Jordan Heys, Chair Rita Buitendorp LaRissa Hollingsworth Paul Jeltema Jonathan Kok ‘93 Dr. Khan Nedd Dave VanWingerden finance and operations committee Mike Meeuwsen ‘94, Chair Eric Boender ‘88 Caleb Doezema ‘94 Cindy Haverkamp Jeff Kladder Tom Prince Chris TerVeen Jason Zylstra ‘91

development committee Afton DeVos ‘01 Jamie Kuiper Kara VanDrie Dave VanWingerden Dr. Sarah Visser Joint Committees of the Board

Joint Committees are composed of members of the Board of Trustees, administrative team, and teaching faculty from each of our Grand Rapids Christian Schools’ five campuses.

Compensation Committee Cultural Competence Committee Education Committee Professional Status Committee

GRCS Foundation Board of Directors Larry Bos Jr. ‘83, Chair Cindy Brink ‘97 Jordan Bush ‘98 Tom DeJonge ‘76 Philip Haan ‘96 Greg Jeltema ‘75 Jamie Kuiper Dave VanWingerden

Merle Peterson Jim Rauwerda Ruth Witte ‘74

GRCS Eagle Impact

Formed to oversee the operations of Eagles Ice Center and serve as the employer of designated support staff employees of Grand Rapids Christian Schools.

eagles ice center board of directors Dave Tuit, President Jim Stevens

Staff Leadership

Tom DeJonge ‘76 Superintendent Jim Primus ‘82 Chief Financial Officer Amanda Matthews Director of Development

GRCS Eagle Partners Inc.

Formed to own and operate New2You as a supporting organization for Grand Rapids Christian Schools. board of trustees Ken Baker, President Ed Stuursma, Vice President Betty Jo Bast, Secretary Tom Nobel, Treasurer Laura Corell Ruth Damon Dan Jonker John Kwekel

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GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS

2400 Plymouth Avenue SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506

616.574.6000 616.574.6010 www.grcs.org

Preparing students to be effective servants of Christ in contemporary society

If the addressed alum has moved or is no longer at this address, please contact the Development Office at 616.574.6022 to update our records. Active and engaged alumni make a huge difference at Grand Rapids Christian Schools. © October 2023, Grand Rapids Christian Schools