- Oak Grove Lutheran School
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Oak Grove Lutheran Location Fargo, North Dakota, USA Information Type private Established 1906 President Mr. Michael A. Slette Grades Pre-K-12 Number of students 412 School Color(s) Maroon and White Mascot The Grovers Oak Grove Lutheran School is a private, Christian school for students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 in Fargo, North Dakota founded in 1906. The mission of Oak Grove Lutheran School is to express God’s love by nurturing students for academic achievement, lifelong Christian commitment and loving service throughout the world. Oak Grove began as a one building school house that housed mostly Norwegian school girls. The dormitories that housed students were closed in 2001. Students who originally hailed from outside the state or out of country may now live with host families.
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History
Oak Grove was the dream of Reverend Elias Aas, a leading pastor in the Lutheran Free Church at the turn of the century. He saw the need for a Christian high school for girls of Norwegian heritage living in rural areas. In 1906, Oak Grove Lutheran Ladies Seminary was opened in its first building, “the Castle.”
Over the years, Oak Grove has grown and changed. A second building, the current Jackson Hall, was completed by 1923. Boys were admitted for academic study in 1926. The Depression almost forced the school’s closing but a bold decision to dispense with tuition for a year kept the doors open. A junior high was added in 1978 and sixth grade in 1998. The devastating flood of the Red River in 1997 caused major damage to the campus, but resulted in unprecedented volunteer support and financial assistance. With the help of many, the school was rebuilt and opened its doors again that fall.
As Oak Grove neared 100 years of Christian education, an expansion opportunity arose. Oak Grove opened a south Fargo campus in 2005 to house a primary school. With the addition of the south campus, Oak Grove doubled the grade levels it served. The centennial mark also gave room for north campus renovations and building projects. In 2005, Jackson Hall was renovated and a concourse added between it and the Darwin Gorder Gymnasium. In May 2006, Oak Grove demolished Fossum Hall & Auditorium on the north campus to make room for a new building dedicated to the fine arts. A year later, the Scheels Center for the Performing Arts opened, a new area for the arts, rehearsal and worship. In December 2008, a complete renovation of Darwin Gorder Gymnasium was finished and the Ellig Center for Health & Wellness was added to the complex, along with a new lobby, concessions area, school store, locker rooms and more.
In the spring of 2009, Oak Grove fought against the rise of the Red River in another record setting flood. Grovers prepared and protected the north campus, but unfortunately on March 29, 2009 a breach occurred in the steal cofferdam to the north of Benson Hall. The river water caused overwhelming damage to the campus grounds, Benson Hall and Jackson Hall. School leaders did not give up, but set yet again to rebuild and open the school’s doors to educate students in a Christian setting. With the help of Fargo Public Schools and Concordia College students, the middle school and high school were relocated to a vacant wing of a nearby public school for the remainder of the year. Efforts were begun immediately to reconstruct the affected areas at the north campus and prepare for an August 2009 grand re-opening.
As one of the few schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Oak Grove serves students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. Oak Grove provides a fully accredited academic program, and studies integrate Christian faith perspectives into the curriculum, equipping students with values for lifelong Christian service.
Oak Grove maintains high academic standards, seeking to prepare students for college and service in the world. Small class sizes and a 12:1 student-teacher ratio provide students with an educational experience in which many thrive. Oak Grove students consistently score higher in local, state and national achievement tests, and more than 96% of graduates pursue degrees in higher education. The high school academic program includes Advanced Placement (AP) classes and dual-credit opportunities with Concordia College.
Athletic history
Oak Grove competes in the North Dakota High School Activities Association.
- State Class "B" Boys Basketball Champions: 1969, 2000
- State Class "B" Football Champions: 1982
- State Class AA football champions: 2007 (vs. Devils Lake Firebirds)
Fine arts
Oak Grove's theatre has done shows including:
- Seussical (2011)
- One Act: To Destroy You Is No Loss (2010)
- The Sound of Music (2010)
- One Act: Carl (2009) - won third in state competition
- Les Misérables (2009)
- Romeo and Juliet (2008)
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2008)
- One Act: Collage (2007)
- Babes in Arms (2007)
- One Act: Bang Bang You're Dead (2006)
- Pirates of Penzance (2005)
- Godspell (2004)
- Much Ado About Nothing (2003)
In 2009, an Oak Grove student competed as a young arts finalist in classical voice - tenor for the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts.[citation needed]
Music program
Students participate in choirs K-12. Choral opportunities at Oak Grove include:
- Auditioned Concert Choir, grades 11-12
- Chapel Choir, grades 9-10
- Madrigals, grades 9-12
- Oak Grove Carolers, grades 9-12
- Auditioned Honor Choir, grades 7-8
- Middle School Choir, grades 6-8
- Grover Choir Squad, grades 4-5
- Elementary School Music, K-5
Band
Oak Grove Lutheran School has a music program where students begin participating in in elementary school. Oak Grove bands have many performances through the year and join with the choir for the annual Christmas Concert.
Oak Grove students may participant in the following bands:
- Concert Band, 9-12
- 7th/8th Grade Band
- 6th Grade Band
- 5th Grade Band
Activities
Chess
The Oak Grove Lutheran School Chess team is open to anyone in grades 4-12 and is active in the winter and spring. The chess team has won the North Dakota State Chess Championship in grades 7-9 for the last three years in a row. The Oak Grove Chess Team has also placed in the top three teams at the State Chess Tournament in the last three years in grads 4-6 and 10-12.
Speech team
The Speech Team is active in the winter and spring and open to students in grades 7-12. The team has won and placed at many local and regional tournaments throughout North Dakota. They are also members and competitors in the National Forensics League.
External links
Coordinates: 46°52′58″N 96°46′21″W / 46.882899°N 96.772513°W
Categories:- Private schools in North Dakota
- Education in Fargo–Moorhead
- Lutheran schools in the United States
- High schools in North Dakota
- North Dakota High School Activities Association (Class B)
- North Dakota High School Activities Association (Class AA Football)
- Educational institutions established in 1906
- Buildings and structures in Cass County, North Dakota
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