Parade Scheduled for Faith Christian School Principal

Faith Christian School invites the community to take part in a parade to honor Mrs. Linda Foster who will be retiring at the end of this school year. Mrs. Foster has been on staff at FCS since the fall of 1991 and has served as principal since 2006. The drive-thru event will take place on Wednesday, May 19, from 2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m., at Faith Assembly Church of Grand Detour, 3886 Wisconsin Street, Dixon. Parade participants are welcome to decorate their vehicles to show their love and appreciation to Mrs. Foster for her years of faithful service to the school and its students. There will be signs marking the route to the church.

For more information on the event, please contact the school office at 815.652.4806
or visit their website at www.fcsfalcons.com.

Faith Christian School

Falcon Plan, Fall 2020

“We know that we are better when we can be together!”

 

Current Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Guidelines—

• Guidelines apply to both public and non-public schools, PreK-12^th
• Face masks are required indoors even when social distancing is possible.
• Face masks are not required outdoors when social distancing is possible.
• Gatherings limited to 50 people or less in one space.

Faith Christian School’s Response to IDPH Guidelines—

• FCS will follow the guidelines set forth by IDPH. Families will provide face masks for their student(s).
• Since face masks are not required outdoors when social distancing is possible, extra times OUTSIDE are being added to the daily schedule at both buildings. Also, outdoor classrooms are being completed for the start of school.
• Classroom Desks are being spaced apart to allow for greater distance between students.
• Plexi-glass sneeze guards are being built for teachers to stand behind during whole class instruction. Plexi-glass dividers are being placed between sinks in restrooms.
• Temperature Screenings will be conducted before entering the building.
• Non-essential visitors will be limited.
• Daily cleaning and disinfection of school buildings will be done.
• Class size is limited to 14 students per grade.
• Students will attend school on campus every day.
• Pre-school time has been changed to 8:15-11:00. Kindergarten has been adjusted to a half day (12:00-2:30).
• Dismissal times have been changed to allow for extra cleaning and less time in face masks.
  • Elementary—2:30
  • 5^th-8^th Grade—2:35
  • 9^th-12^th Grade—2:40

Please know that the IDPH guidelines are ever-changing, and FCS administration is monitoring new developments as they become available. Any changes to the current plan for school in the fall will be communicated in a timely manner to parents and students.

Summer 2019

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“Excitement Grows for the New Faith Christian School Elementary Building!”

 

 

If you have driven by the old Grand Detour School just off Highway 2 north of Dixon, you have probably seen the activity taking place on the vacant building. Faith Christian School students and faculty are eagerly awaiting the opening of their new elementary campus at this site scheduled for this spring.  Purchased last September by Faith Assembly Church on behalf of the school, the facility is under renovation in anticipation of Kindergarten through 4^th grade students soon filling its classrooms.

 

On the exterior of the building, a new roof will be completed by the end of the month.  The interior of the school is being updated with a new state of the art fire and security system, new classroom floors, and other exciting improvements that will allow teachers to enhance the classroom experience for their students. The school will include classrooms for five grades, an art/music room, gymnasium and a library. “This renovation project is being done with a high level of excellence that is consistent with and complements the excellence in education that or principal and teachers provide,” states Jeremy Heller, Project Manager.

 

In addition to the improvements taking place to the physical building, families and staff are looking forward to plans for an innovative outdoor area that will be used for both play and learning.  Fallen trees have been cleared, and the ten acres of property will not only create room to build this outdoor learning center, but also will provide an abundance of space for students to play sports, games, and activities.

 

Faith Christian School is seeking financial partners for their vision to “SOAR into the Future”, which will provide Sauk Valley families an enhanced option for education that is committed to academic excellence and achievement within a strong Christian environment. For more information contact Faith Christian School 815-652-4806, or visit www.fcsfalcons.com.

 

 

Old becomes new again for Grand Detour’s Community School

GRAND DETOUR – The voices of children will once again fill the hallways of the old Grand Detour Elementary School, as it soon becomes the new home for Faith Christian School’s elementary grades.

Board members of Faith Assembly Church of Grand Detour signed closing papers Friday, Sept. 22 and acquired the building on behalf of Faith Christian School.

School Superintendent Pastor Jon Marx isaid he s excited about the future.

“We are thrilled to have made the purchase of this building,” he said. “The school has experienced steady growth over the years, and we’ve weighed many options for accommodating additional students and programs. Purchasing this former school made the most practical and financial sense for us.”

The acquisition of the Grand Detour School will provide much needed space for Faith’s elementary grades, which are currently housed in the annex of Faith Assembly Church. Not only has enrollment nearly doubled over the past 20 years, the school has also grown in the breadth of curriculum and programs offered to students and their families.

“This new building gives our teachers and students significantly more room, both inside and outdoors”, said Linda Foster, the school’s principal for the past 12 years. “We plan to use this space to create an increasingly innovative learning environment for our students. I’m excited to be a part of this vision.”

In addition to its Fine Arts and sports programs, Faith School partners with online educator Sevenstar to offer advanced courses at the high school level. And in 2015 the school partnered with CLC of Grand Rapids, Mich., to implement AIMSweb Benchmark Testing and Intervention Block, which helps staff to accurately measure a child’s academic progress and then to apply differentiated instruction to meet each student’s individual needs.

On Wednesday, Oct. 4t the school held a ceremony in celebration of the purchase of their new facility. Family and friends of Faith Christian School, along with media and the community were in attendance. The school expects holding classes by the Spring of 2018, following completion of improvements and renovations.

Randy Ortgiesen attended the Grand Detour School growing up as a child. He is currently on the board of Faith Assembly Church, and his children all graduated fom Faith Christian School.

“So many things change and even disappear over time,” he said. “It’s wonderful to know that this beautiful building will be used once again to nurture and teach children to be responsible citizens. It’s when our children learn that there is something more important than themselves – to love God and their neighbor – that they grow to be happy and content adults. This is what we desire for the students of Faith Christian School.”

Faith Christian School first opened its doors in 1980, and is a ministry of Faith Assembly Church of Grand Detour. In 1985, it built a 20,800 square foot facility which has become the main campus and houses its junior and senior high grades. Through the years Faith Christian School has pursued excellence in education, as well as fostered an environment for spiritual growth in its students. For more information on how to become a part of this growing school community, contact Linda Foster, principal, Faith Christian School, 7571 S. Ridge Rd., Dixon, IL, 815-652-4806.

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Click here to view the original Ogle County Life article.

Faith Christian School Celebrates New School

On September 22nd, Board members of Faith Assembly Church of God singed closing papers to acquire the old Grand Detour Elementary School. It will soon be the home of Faith Christian School’s elementary grades.

On Wednesday, October 4th, the school held a ceremony in celebration of the purchase of the new facility. Family and Friends of Faith Christian School as well as others were in attendance.

The school expects classes to be held by spring of 2018. Principal Linda Foster says the new building gives teachers and students significantly more room, both inside and outdoors.

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Click here to view the original WIXN News article.

Faith Christian buys old school, plans to house elementary students

School to host celebration Wednesday

BY RACHEL RODGERS rrodgers@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5529 @rj_rodgers

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GRAND DETOUR – Faith Christian School is giving new life to the town’s old elementary school.

Faith Christian’s kindergarten through fourth-grade students, now housed in the church annex, will get new digs in the spring at the former Grand Detour Elementary School, 7772 S. Clinton Ave.

“We’ve outgrown that space, and we’re excited to have this opportunity to grow,” Principal Linda Foster said.

There were 90 students when Foster first started working at the school a dozen years ago, a number that steadily grew to 164 students last year and has declined slightly to 148 students.

The expansion will mean more room for students as well as a gym, rooms for art and music classes, and a large field and playground.

“It’s going to be a blessing for our students,” she said. “Everything will be done to make it the best place it can be for our students.”

Faith Assembly of Grand Detour bought the former school, which sits on about 9.5 acres, on Sept. 22 on behalf of Faith Christian; the dollar amount for the purchase was unavailable Friday.

After closing its doors years ago, the building housed the Lee/Ogle Regional Office of Education for 20 years before consolidating with the Whiteside ROE in Sterling. Dixon Public Schools sold the building in July 2015 to retired Judge David Fritts, who bought it for $70,000.

Carrie Worrell, a kindergarten and choir teacher, said more space will mean small class sizes and more one-on-one time with students. Current classes average about 15 students.

“We’re excited about all the possibilities, and one of the best parts of this is what once was a school gets to be a school again,” she said.

There will be a community ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday celebrating the purchase at the old school.

Faith Christian first opened its doors in 1980 at 7571 S. Ridge Road and is a ministry of Faith Assembly. In 1985, it built a 20,800-square-foot facility adjacent to the church, which became the main campus and houses its junior high and high school grades. Students come from about 27 area churches.

Fulton expansion

Faith Christian is the second ministry school in the Sauk Valley announcing a purchase to expand its reach.

Unity Christian Schools in Fulton recently bought 20 acres of land between between 13th and 19th avenues North in Clinton, Iowa, for $450,000 with the goal of building a new K-12 building.

The school aims to raise about $5.7 million for the project, a price tag including the land cost and constructing a new building on 10 acres for $5.25 million

The plan is to have the school operational by August and house Unity Christian preschool and other child care services in the current school building at 711 10th St.

About a quarter of Unity’s students come from Clinton and surrounding communities, but membership is drawn from as far north as Mount Carroll and Savanna, south to Port Byron, and east to Sterling, coming from 39 area churches.

Event information

Faith Chrisitian School will host a community celebration at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the old elementary school, 7772 S. Clinton St., which will house kindergarten through fourth grade students in the spring.

The celebration will feature light refreshments, a balloon release and unveiling a new sign for the school.

Call 815-652-4806, go to fcsfalcons.com or find Faith Christian School on Facebook for more information.

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Click here to view the original Sauk Valley News article.