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By Peter Biggs
BRITISH COLUMBIA Christian Academy (BCCA), now firmly
established in its new location in Port Coquitlam, is poised to enter a new
phase of growth.
It is now located on the 10-acre campus of the old
Lincoln Elementary School building on Fernwood Avenue; over its 15-year
history, the K – grade 12 school has had to move four times.
Although the move has inevitably disrupted enrollment
somewhat, Allen Boolinoff, development director for the school, told BCCN the present facility is
secure and perfectly suited for growth.
Wide range
BCCA is remarkable for the range of services they
offer, with full sports and music programs for its 200-plus students.
‘Kids Club’ provides both pre-school
programs and after-school care. There is also a busing program in the
Tri-Cities area.
Special needs kids are accommodated, with full funding
and special needs assistants employed as necessary.
Principal Ian Jarvie encapsulated the school’s
philosophy: “We are preparing students to think from a Christian
perspective, to analyze various perspectives and be able to debate them
from a Christian worldview.”
Elementary principal Travis Bryerton added: “We
are supportive of parents’ values, and faith expressed in the home.
If school is contradictory [to those values], it can set up a conflict. We
want to bring continuity and consistency into kids’ lives.”
Parent perspective
Parent Arlene Johnson also spoke to BCCN. “Eight years ago, when my
son was five, I wanted to instill Christian values in him. It’s been
unbelievable. Being at BCCA has done more for my child than I ever
imagined.”
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The school is concerned to help students experience a
sense of serving others. To that end, last Christmas, 15 grade 10 –
12 students helped with ‘Share,’ a community program for the
poor. And during Spring Break, a missions trip is planned to Guatemala.
During last year’s public meetings regarding the
required re-zoning of the property, some 300 neighbours were invited to air
their thoughts.
Some expressed concerns about people loitering around
the empty, unused facility; but they gave overwhelming and encouraging
support to BCCA’s application.
For more about BCCA contact:
bcchristianacademy.ca.
February 2009
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