Three decades ago Windsor Christian Academy opened humbly with
17 students who met in the Windsor First Baptist Church
sanctuary.
The school has come a long way in the years since. On Friday,
Oct. 29 the school will celebrates its 30th anniversary—with 226
students housed in a two-story school building—with a community
party from 5:30–9 p.m. Organizers are planning a barbecue dinner,
carnival games, raffles, a pinewood derby, and four bounce
houses.
The school has invited former students and families, and former
staff, to join in with the community’s current staff and families
in the celebration. The community at large is also welcome to
attend.
“God has blessed our ministry and we want to celebrate that,”
said school principal Tadd Theiss. “We’re teaching students who
love the Lord Jesus Christ and are living according to Biblical
principles and benefiting the community.”
Theiss, who taught at the school before taking the principal
position, said much has changed even in the 10 or so years since he
first arrived. “The physical facilities are incredibly different
than they used to be,” he said, speaking to the new classroom
building that opened in 2003. “The growth of the preschool is also
pretty significant. We have one of the largest preschools in Sonoma
County.”
Still, he believes that much has stayed constant in the school’s
history. “Presenting God’s word to the students has stayed
consistent, and the traditional education has stayed consistent,”
he said. “The rough economy has been a challenge for the schools
and private schools in general, but none the less God continues to
send students our way. We’re strong despite the economy.”
Theiss has seen firsthand as second generations have passed
through the school’s halls. “A number of years ago, a young girl in
our kindergarten class tells me ‘you were my daddy’s teacher,’” he
said. “Her teacher at first thought she was mistaken, but when I
first came here I was a junior high school teacher and I taught her
father. She was right.”
With 30 years nearly in the books, Theiss said he hopes to see
the school continue to grow in the coming decade. “We have great
facilities, and a number of our classrooms are vacant,” he said.
“We have room to grow. Maybe in 10 years we can offer a high
school. It would be a wonderful thing to see, but it has to do with
student numbers. Maybe in another decade, if the school continues
to grow, we might be able to add a high school.”
In the meantime, Theiss is hoping for a big turnout next week
for the party. “We definitely want former employees and former
families to come,” he said. “Not just former students, but the
families that made quite a sacrifice paying for their children to
be here. We would just love for them to show up.”
For more information on the event call www.windsorchristianacademy.org
or call 838-3757. The eighth grade class will be holding a silent
auction at the event to benefit their trip to Washington D.C. and
the preschool will be selling food in its own fundraiser.
