Grand Opening Celebration featured in Claremont Courier
Posted September 25th, 2009 in Development, High School, HS Special Events, K-8, K-8 Special Events Comments Off
The Western Christian Schools feel right at home in Upland.
The oldest organization of Christian schools on the west coast celebrated the relocation of Western Christian High School from Covina to the nearby city last Thursday in a grand opening representing the turning of a new leaf in the organization’s history.
“Today, we are reminded of the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father from one generation to the next,” said Western Christian Schools Superintendent Karen Winter. “Generations of alumni and family have prayed, believing God for a special campus to preserve the legacy of future generations.”
 |
|
COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
|
| Claremont Mayor Pro-Tem Linda Elderkin speaks at the newly relocated Western Christian School in Upland. The WCS preschool through 8th-grade campus will remain in Claremont. |
Along with hundreds of students, the event included appearances by Upland Mayor John Pomierski, Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Regional Director Jerry Haddock and Claremont Mayor Pro-Tem Linda Elderkin.
The Western Christian Schools are a part of the Claremont community, with a preschool through 8th grade campus in the northeastern part of the city. The organization of Christian schools has been a staple in east Los Angeles County and San Bernardino Country for nearly 90 years.
“Claremont has a Western Christian School that’s been with us for many, many years,” Ms. Elderkin said. “We love them [and] they are a wonderful partner. Many of their graduates are doing community service in our community and many others. We are very grateful that they are there and we are overall very appreciative of this organization and how they have contributed to our town.”
 |
|
COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
|
| Western Christian School students look towards the sky after balloons are released during last week’s celebration of the relocation of Western Christian High School from Covina to Upland. |
The expansion came about when the Western Christian Schools purchased the Upland Christian Schools earlier this year. Once governed by the Upland First Church of the Nazarene, the Upland Christian Schools were taken over by the Anaheim District Church of the Nazarene when the church went bankrupt. The district church then put the Upland Christian Schools for sale in 2008.
Since acquiring the Upland Christian package, the Western Christian Schools have sought to create unity between the Christian school organizations. Though the names of the Upland schools now fall under the Western Christian brand, one of the steps toward unity has been the creation of a new logo combining the Western Christian lancer mascot and the Upland Christian eagle.
Another gesture of unity took place at last week’s “Stone of Remembrance” ceremony. The segment consisted of 12 people placing a stone into a cylinder and then a Western Christian and Upland Christian representative both pouring sand into the cylinder to create a blend.
“We want to blend 2 rich Christian heritages,” said Western Christian Schools Board Chair Ray McCormick. “We want to honor the tradition of Christian education on this campus and honor our 89 years as well.”
The new site of Western Christian High School underwent a renovation effort during the summer. A new gym floor, new coat of paint and some landscaping has helped enhance the campus.
“It isn’t really different from what I remember when we were in elementary,” said Western Christian 8th grader Helen Wood. “It’s nice.”
According to fellow 8th grader Hunter Donnan, the changes haven’t taken away the most important consideration—relationships.
“I thought the purchase was bad because I was thinking how said I would be because I wouldn’t see a lot of my friends,” he said. “But this is a pretty good school and it has a welcoming feeling.”
—Landus Rigsby
