The first day of school this year looked quite different from any other we have experienced, but in the midst of uncertainty and change, we were celebrating God’s goodness. By God’s grace, we were able to bring our students back on campus Aug. 19 for in-person, full-time learning.
Returning to in-person learning was our top priority. Students cannot thrive in isolation and need to be with the community they love. They also need the hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ and which is taught in our classrooms.
The coronavirus pandemic brought a temporary halt to life last spring, but our school experienced growth in spite of it. In fact, Dayton Christian has experienced a rebirth in the past three years. The number of new students coming to DC has increased by 30 percent each year over that time period and our retention rate of existing families continues to strengthen each year.
We achieved many accomplishments over this 2020-2021 school year including the launch of new academic programs, the opening of additional classrooms, the honor of regional awards, and the funding for capital improvements to our campus. We also were able to complete the final phase of the Warrior Center, an athletic facility housing the school’s first gymnasium, locker rooms, and athletic training room.
Here are just a few highlights from our year:
· Named Dayton Magazine’s Best of Dayton in Education and Preschool
· Opened a new outdoor play center for our elementary students
· Was one of the first schools to unveil their Return to Community Plan in Fall 2020
· Numerous athletic achievements such as the first boys’ cross-country individual state qualifier in six years
· Awarded one of top 37 schools in Ohio for STEM by Governor DeWine
· Ranked second-largest private school in Greater Dayton
· Created media broadcasting class
· Saw high school more than doubled the total of AP 4’s and 5’s
· Launched one-to-one device program across entire school
· Created junior high STEM class focused on Quest for Space with NASA
· Increased our annual parent satisfaction score by 50 percent
It’s hard to believe that it was just a year ago when our students were forced to finish out the year through online learning. Now, they are back on campus with a renewed sense of appreciation for what it means to learn together.
It’s obvious that the pandemic has taught our students that in-person learning is a gift that should not be taken for granted. More than 95 percent of our junior high and high school students engaged in athletic and arts programs this spring – evidence that students crave community with one another.
We will continue to respond to this recent momentum by investing in projects that support wholistic education. This summer, we begin work on a dedicated preschool and kindergarten wing, which will allow us to increase our capacity in lower grades where we are seeing a growing interest.
There’s a lot taking place on our campus situated on the corner of Spring Valley and Washington Church Roads. And while the pandemic has limited the number of visitors who come into our building each day, I’d like to personally welcome any chamber member who’d like to stop by for a tour.
We are grateful for the opportunity to be open when our students needed us most and thankful for a community that supports our mission to serve families throughout the Greater Dayton area.
Dr. John Gredy, Ed.D
Head of School