Johnstown Christian School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Johnstown Christian School (Holsopple, PA)
native_name =

motto = "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life..." -Proverbs 4:23
established = 1944
address = 125 Christian School Rd
city = Holsopple
state = Pennsylvania 15935
province =
country = United States of American
campus =
type = Christian School
affiliation = Mennonite
affiliations =
president = Dan Hunsberger, Board of Directors
principal = William Bridgewater (High School Principal), Barbara Bantley (Middle School Principal)
headmaster =
rector =
dean =
founder =
chaplain = Kristen Lloyd (Music Director)
chairman =
head_label =
head =
faculty = 46
students = 300
enrollment =
enrolment =
grades = K-12
district =
oversight =
accreditation = ACSI
mascot = Blue Jay
colors = Blue and white
colours =
newspaper =
yearbook = "Blue Jay"
free_label_1 = Phone
free_1 = 814-288-2588
free_label_2 =
free_2 =
free_label_3 =
free_3 =
website = [http://www.bluejay.org www.bluejay.org]
footnotes =
picture =

Johnstown Christian School was established in 1944 by a group of Mennonite families who were concerned about the spiritual growth and development of their children. The school was reorganized in 1973 as the Johnstown Christian School to better reflect the broader Christian community of the Johnstown area that was being served.

The school describes its mission as follows: "Johnstown Christian School provides Christian families with a Christ-centered education which prepares their children spiritually, academically, and socially to live for the glory of God. Students leave JCS as adults who are prepared spiritually in their commitment to Christ and their development of a Christian world and life view, academically with a quality curriculum, and socially through the development of Godly character traits." [http://www.bluejay.org/mission.html]

Graduates from Johnstown Christian School often attend Pennsylvanian colleges and universities. The school's student body and faculty represent various Christian denominations, though the vast majority come from families that profess Protestant Christian faith. As a private school, JCS draws students from a wide range of area school districts, though most teachers and students reside in the Greater Johnstown area.

tatement of Faith

The school states its mission in its Statement of Faith as follows:
* There is one God, eternally existing in three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
* The Holy Scriptures are verbally inspired by God and are our only infallible rule of faith and practice. (John 1:1)
* Jesus Christ died, shedding His blood for our sins, and was bodily raised from the dead, thereby breaking the bonds of death and assuring us of eternal life. (I Corinthians 15:14-18)
* Jesus Christ will return visibly and bodily with power and great glory. (I Thessalonians 4:16)
* Man is by nature and practice a sinner separated from God and can become God's child only by personal faith in Jesus Christ, and as a result, live in submission to God's will as revealed in the Scriptures. (Romans 3:22-24)
* Those who are thus born into God's family have eternal life (John 3:16) and those who are not remain in spiritual death and will be separated from God forever in hell. (II Thessalonians 1:7-9)
* The Holy Spirit lives in the believer, enabling him to walk in purity of life and submission to the will of God. (Romans 8:13-14)
* The believer, in response to his faith in and commitment to Christ, is an active part of the local Body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:1-16

Campus

The current Holsopple campus is located in the Davidsville/Holsopple area of Somerset County, just over 2 miles from Conemaugh Township High School, and a 20-minute drive from downtown Johnstown. Johnstown Christian is one of the smallest schools in the area, but prides itself in its athletics, traditions, and ministries that are recognized and regarded highly around the area. The single-campus school has the following physical features:
*two parking lots,
*one soccer field
*two playgrounds,
*one gymnasium (also serving as the auditorium),
*one library,
*one computer lab,
*individual classrooms for all of the students from Kindergarten through 12th grade,
*a quiet, hidden campus,
*and a beautiful setting.

One notable campus area is the soccer field and upper parking lot area. Flanked by archaic trees, the quaint Soap Hollow neighborhood, and the Johnstown Christian School gymnasium, the area serves as a congregational location for high-school and middle-school students between classes and after school. Annual events are often held in this area, including the Senior Soccer night and the annual, locally renowned, JCS Arts and Crafts Festival.

The school is undergoing renovation, tentatively schedules to starting in 2009, to upgrade the elementary buildings and the high school and the library and to upgrade the school's athletic facilities. The school is currently holding a fundraising drive titled "Legacy for His Kingdom" to provide the monies needed to make these renovations. Those interested in donating to this drive should contact the school's office.

Dorms

Johnstown Christian School has not yet expanded to the point where dorms or a boarding school atmosphere would be a compliment to the school's mission.

tudent Body

Currently, Johnstown Christian School accommodates about 300 students. The school is subdivided into three schools in accordance to the American school system: Elementary School (Kindergarten to Fifth Grade), Middle School (Sixth Grade to Eighth Grade), and High School (Ninth Grade to Twelfth Grade).

At the head of Johnstown Christian School administration is the Johnstown Christian School Board of Directors, a nine-member board chosen to foresee the daily operations of the Johnstown Christian School system.

The current ratio of students to faculty at the school is about 6:1.

Academics

School Alumnae would describe its academics as thus:

"Because JCS is a Christian school, a Christian worldview is integrated into all areas of the American-based curriculum. Bible class and weekly chapel attendance are required for all students. Instruction is held in all academic areas and is college preparatory in focus. The school year for students extends from the first week of September to the first week of June, for a total of 180 school or education days."

Elementary, Middle School, and High School all begin at 8:10 AM and end at 3:15 PM. Elementary classes are occasionally dismissed prior to 3:15.

High school daily schedule is generally structured into eight periods of 42-minute classes, with a 25-minute lunch period that is scheduled bases on the grade level of the students. Physical Education is a required course for all students with females taking class primarily on Mondays and Wednesdays and males on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Friday as a study period. Seniors follow the same structure with males taking Typing Class on the off-days during the first semester and Health Class during the second semester. Female students follow the same scheduled with the semester class order reversed.

At JCS, over 95% of all graduates attend higher education within the first three years after graduation. Advanced Placement level courses are offered formally in five subjects.

Extracurricular Activities

Johnstown Christian School provides a fair selection of extracurricular activities for the schools size to develop individual student interest and abilities. At JCS, students can choose to participate in one or more of the following:

Music and Drama

*Concert Band (est. 2004)
*Tour Choir
*Chorale
*Vocal Ensembles
*PMEA District, Regional, and State Choirs
*Praise and Worship Team
*Drama

Art

*Art Classes
*Art galleries and showcase presentations

tudent Government

*Class Government
*Banquet Comittees

Publications

*Yearbook
*Journalism
*Yearbook Ads
*School Website

tudent Organized Clubs

*Various clubs organized and conducted by high school students.
*Cooking Club
*Bible Club
*Small Study and Bible Study Groups

Athletics

Possessing an athletic program over 30 years old, Johnstown Christian School offers its students the opportunity to play in two main sports. Men have the option of Basketball and Soccer on the Junior High, Junior Varsity, and Varsity levels. Women have the option of Basketball and Soccer on these levels as well with the additional offer of Softball which was added as a girl's sport in the 2007-2008 school year. Johnstown Christian School was a longtime member of the Allegheny Christian Athletics Association (ACAA) for many years taking home numerous men's and women's titles in the championship tournaments for both Soccer and Basketball. Since 2005, JCS has been a member of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association, or PIAA, and schedules most competitions versus local public school and is now eligible to participate in District, Regional, and State level competitions. JCS still maintains ties with some former Christian Schools and still holds the tradition of attending the annual Erie Christian School Invitational at Family First Sports Park in Erie, PA.

tudent Activities

Arts and Crafts Festival

Occurring every year in May, the Arts and Crafts Festival is conducted by students ranging from all class levels. The Festival serves as a time of community fellowship, recognition for the talents and gifts of students and their parents, and also serves as fundraising opportunity for each class to maintain their fund. Included ay this event are multiple food, craft, and art booths; a silent auction; and the annual JCS 5k.

Missions Trip

Each year, students participate in their local youth groups and attend summer missions trip to represent God and their organizations in evangelizing the un-reached people of those areas.

piritual Retreat

Every year, the high school invites different Christian speakers and missionaries from around the country for a half-week visit to stay with the students of Johnstown Christian School at the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center as they experience a time of personal reflection and devotion with God.

Intramural Banquets

Each year two banquets are held for high school students. These include the annual Christmas Banquet as well as the Junior-Senior banquet, which replaces the traditional prom held in most high schools.

Drama Productions

Although JCS does not have a Drama class, school thespians and musicians sacrifice their after-school free time to work on plays and musicals to be performed at the end of the year. Musicals and plays occur annually, alternating from musicals in one year and plays the next. The music department works closely with the drama department for musicals and plays.

References

External links

* [http://www.bluejay.org/ Official Site]
* [http://piaa.org/ Official Site, State Athletics]