A Message from our Campaign Leaders
Dear Friends,
NorthPointe’s faculty, staff, and families are united in the desire to educate the whole child—mind, body, and soul, in Christian community. Since our founding in 1972, we’ve:
• Encouraged our students to build a faith-filled relationship with Jesus Christ and a desire to serve others.
• Committed to educational excellence, encouraging our students to reach their full potential. Hired teachers who have a strong faith and who see and know each student and are committed to their individual success
• Offered many athletic, fine arts, and extracurricular programs to reinforce Biblical values on the dignity of the human spirit, humility, perseverance, and character.
We’re guided by a belief that all children are made in God’s image and worthy of respect. We nurture our children in the love of God by emphasizing the stories and principles of scripture and by working to promote a community of love, acceptance, and care throughout the school.
We’re proud of our history, but we desire to be more.
We face several significant challenges. NorthPointe is growing and we desire a new building for our upper elementary students. In addition, our existing facilities need renovations and upgrades to ensure a quality learning environment. Perhaps most importantly, we seek to improve our teachers’ pay so we can continue to retain and attract the best educators in West Michigan. Achieving these goals will require the support of our current NorthPointe Christian families and our many longtime friends.
Over the next year, a group of committed leaders will be working hard to raise $15 million in charitable gifts to accomplish these important objectives. We’re now approaching our most dedicated supporters to seek your help in ensuring that NorthPointe Christian can continue to be one of the best schools in our region. We hope you’ll join us in moving Forward in Faith!
Sincerely,
Mark & Heidi DeKorne
Ben & Jenna Sietsema
Unwavering in our Faith
NorthPointe Christian Schools is committed, especially in this season of growth, to maintaining our Christ-centered focus and fostering strong relationships with individuals to strengthen our community. The heart of NPC lies in understanding the unique story God is writing in each student’s life, helping them grow in their walk with Him. Our partnership with families has always been, and will continue to be, built on the foundation of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Through this, we provide an excellent, Christ-centered education, fully equipping students to impact the world for Him.
Todd N. Tolsma, Head of Schools
Honorary Cabinet
Jeff & Lynn Baker
Tripp & Kelli Corl
JC & Tammy Huizenga
Jeff & Jenny Keessen
Mick & Lucy McGraw
Mark & Tami Redfield
Jon & Jodi Rudolph
Jerry & Marcy Tubergen
Lewis & Norma Van Kuiken
Campaign Co-Chairs
Mark & Heidi DeKorne
Ben & Jenna Sietsema
Campaign Cabinet Members
Jeff & Rebecca Braam
Anton & Suzette Colon
Gwen & Dan Dapprich
Dave & Lori DeHaan
Jordan & Ashley denDulk
Joey & Erin Fester
Brad & Jen Graham
Carlos & Amy Hernandez
Darren & Jill Herweyer
Chip & Ingrid Huber
Erik & Abby Johnson
Justin & Alli Kemmerer
Andy & Carol Kok
Josh & Melissa McGraw
Brandon & Holly McNally
Travis & Stephanie Menge
Eric & Jill Meulenberg
Mike & Kristen Miller
Curt & Katie Mulder
Ted & Jodi Oviatt
Rob & Gretchen Payne
Vince & Holly Scheffler
Matt & Rachel Scholten
Eric & Brittany Smith
Todd & Sheila Tolsma
Nick & Katie Underwood
Mark & Sarah Van Tongeren
Jared & Amy Watson
Mike & Sarah Wildey
Brett & Megan Willink
Rob & Kristin Wynalda
Rob & Connie Wynalda
Aaron & Stacey Ziegler
1972
School opened with 90 students, grades K-8, at Wealthy Street Baptist Church
1973
Leonard Street campus opened with 280 students in K-10
1976
First graduating class of 14 graduates
1981
Grew to four elementary schools (Crestview, Wealthy, Middleville, Freedom)
1978 The Crestview elementary campus was purchased
1999-2005
Constuction of media center, high school wing, cafeteria, new entrance, HS offices, and aux gym
1986 Library and 6 classrooms added to elementary building
2004
School name changed to NorthPointe Christian Schools to represent the majority of students
1996 Mission Statement revised: “equipping students to impact their world for Jesus
2008
The Three Mandates: Image, Mission, and Love were introduced
2022
All school debt paid off!
programs began
Immersion program began
Colt Care began; 1:1 Technology Initiative was launched 2015 Dual College enrollment began
2016
2018
New building at the elementary opens; tennis court restoration is completed
2023
First floor of the new high school addition opens; new football/ soccer stadium is completed
2024
Second floor of the new high school wing opens
Capital Campaign is launched; First Robotics team begins
2020
Nature-Based Preschool, Intergenerational Preschool, and Big Picture Learning Programs added
Home & School Hybrid expands at Frontline Church
Our History
NorthPointe Christian Schools is a place where children are physically known. We know their names, their hearts, and what drives them. Christian principles are woven throughout our entire culture and curriculum. We are intentional about seeing students equipped to understand what a relationship with God looks like and how to share it in our community and beyond.
We started in 1972 as Grand Rapids Baptist Academy, with 90 students (K-8th). The foundation was to offer a Christ-centered education for families, which is still true today. Ten years after the doors opened the school soared to 1,194 students, kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Starting in 2010, new programs started to burgeon; the Hybrid program, International Students program, Spanish Immersion, and Colt Care. Today our students participate in those programs, but also Big Picture Learning, Marketplace, and College Dual Enrollment.
The desire for a NorthPointe Christian education has vastly increased. Our reach is now over 5 counties, which is quite remarkable since there are 16 private Christian schools within a 15-mile radius of us. We know the Lord is calling families here, and we prayerfully consider every move we make, relying on His direction.
Adapting and Improving to Ensure our Future.
Upon looking to the future, we recognize a need for:
• A larger school facility to meet the demands of a growing student body.
• A renewed investment in teacher compensation to retain and attract the best educators in the region.
• Attention to critical renovations and upgrades in our existing school facilities that are showing their age.
• An intentional focus to better serve our current students and their families.
“
We’re here because NorthPointe Christian supports the same values we hold and puts faith front and center. It’s not just a class; it’s infused throughout the curriculuum and even in how students are encouraged to learn and grow.
NPC Parent, 2024 Survey
NPC is growing, but our culture remains the same.
Student enrollment trends which includes traditional PreK-12th and Hybrid students.
“
Building on the Past, Growing for the Future
Development of Upper Elementary Building at the Leonard Campus
Up to 16 Classrooms
• Education Support Services Room
Full Gymnasium with bleachers
• Kitchen
• Elevator
• Offices for Counseling and Administration and even utilizing hallways as computer labs. However, we’ve now reached full capacity! Given our growing enrollment, relocating our upper elementary grades to a new facility will allow us to maximize the potential of both campuses.
Improving Teacher Compensation
At NorthPointe Christian, we have a talented team of teachers who are passionate about Christ and devoted to serving our students, and we are committed to attracting and retaining such individuals for years to come.
• Assisting to create a better alignment with the CSI Great Lakes pay scale.
• Provide the opportunity to be more competitive in the marketplace, giving us the ability to attract and retain top notch teachers.
“
I
love teaching at NPC because I can be authentic in my faith and bring it into all
I
I
do.
love the excitement and energy of middle schoolers and find it a privilege to be a part of their stories!
Denise Bufton, 6th Grade Teacher
Renovations of Elementary, Middle & High School Spaces
• Our buildings are showing their age.
• Update and renovate the interior and exterior spaces.
“We confidently believe that students are being equipped to impact our world for Jesus Christ! ...You are truly a city on a hill, that is shining a light in hard places.
Jessica, NPC Parent
“Through all of the subjects that I teach, I want students to know that as they go through life, they can trust that God is good even in the hard times, that He loves them, and that He will never leave them.
Laurie, NPC Teacher & Parent
“I love working at NPC because of the impact this school had on me and my walk with the Lord! I am thankful to interact with students at the elementary level, and help pour into a solid Christian foundation that they can build upon as they grow.
Bailey (Wynalda) Spry, Elementary ESS & NPC Alumna
Impacting Generations to Come
Over the next year, our Campaign is seeking $15 million in charitable contributions, and we invite our most loyal supporters to join us in ensuring that NorthPointe Christian remains one of the region’s top Christ-centered schools as we move “Forward in Faith.”
Campaign Budget Summary
New Upper Elementary Building:
Expanded and Resurfaced Parking Lot
Improved Teacher Compensation:
Elementary, Middle & High School Renovations: (i.e. gym bleachers, school office remodel for safety, middle school office move to front of building, elementary nature learning space)
Campaign Expenses:
Gift may include:
• A one-time cash gift
• A multiple-year pledge commitment
• A gift of appreciated assets (i.e. stock)
• An estate gift
• A charitable donation from your IRA (only for donors 70 1/2 or older)
Your charitable gift is tax deductible to the full extend of state and federal law.
$8,000,000
$1,000,000
$3,000,000
$2,850,000
$150,000
TOTAL: $15,000,000
