Grand Rapids Christian High School

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Grand Rapids Christian High School (GRCHS) is a parentally-controlled, private, intentionally-Christian secondary school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1920, "Christian High" is a member school of Grand Rapids Christian Schools and Christian Schools International (CSI). The school is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), and first received NCA accreditation in 1925-26-- along with Rockford High School the fifth high school in Kent County to receive that honor. GRCHS is also a member of the Michigan Association of Non-public Schools (MANS).

Contents

[edit] Address

  • Grand Rapids Christian High School
  • 2300 Plymouth Avenue, S.E.
  • Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506
  • USA

[edit] History

The history of Protestant Christian secondary day school education in Grand Rapids, Michigan dates back to the founding of Calvin College and Seminary in 1876 and its seven original students. In that year the Christian Reformed Church in North America (a denomination in the Dutch Calvinist, or Reformed, tradition that had broken off from the Reformed Church in America) adopted a six-year curriculum for ministerial training. The first four of these years were spent in the Literary Department and the last two in the Theological Department.

In 1894 students who were not pre-theological students were admitted to an expanded curriculum comparable to that of a present-day high school, and thus the school became a type of college preparatory school or academy. In 1900 the curriculum was further broadened and made more attractive to students interested in teaching or in preparing for preprofessional courses in the universities.

By 1906 the Literary Department, which provided the four years of college preparatory and two years of college work, became known officially as John Calvin Junior College. The two-year college in time became the four-year Calvin College, awarding its first Bachelor of Arts degree in 1921. In 1920 the preparatory department stopped admitting new students with the opening of Grand Rapids Christian High School, and 1924 was the last year for college prep students at Calvin College and Seminary.

Grand Rapids Christian High School continued at its Franklin Street, S.E. location until 1964, when in response to demographic trends, the school was divided by the Grand Rapids Christian School Association into two new high schools, Central Christian and East Christian. Central Christian High was established at the previous Grand Rapids Christian High campus on Franklin Street, and a new campus on Plymouth Avenue, S.E. was built for East Christian High.

When realization set in that the baby boom had ended in 1964, the two new high schools merged in 1972, and the reconstituted Grand Rapids Christian High School utilized both the Franklin Street and Plymouth Avenue campuses. When the Franklin Street campus was sold, Christian High housed its tenth grade at the former Seymour Christian Junior High School on Nevada Street, S.E. for two years until facilities were expanded at the Plymouth Avenue campus. Some years later Grand Rapids Christian High was expanded again to accommodate a ninth grade.

[edit] Traditions

School Colors: Columbia Blue and Black

Athletic Teams' Nickname: Eagles

Fight Song: "Cheer, Cheer for Our Christian High" - Tune: Chorus, Notre Dame Victory March, written by Michael J. Shea (public domain in the United States)

[edit] Athletics

Grand Rapids Christian High School is a member of the Grand Rapids City League athletic conference and also competes in statewide competitions conducted by the Michigan High School Athletic Association, the Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association, and the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association.

After GRCHS was divided into the two high schools, the new Central Christian High joined the City League immediately in 1964-65 while the new East Christian High was an independent for a year before becoming a league member in 1965-66. The Central Christian and East Christian football teams played as independents from their first years in 1967-68 through their last seasons in 1971-72. The reunited Grand Rapids Christian High "rejoined" the City League in 1972-73, with the Eagles' football team starting league play a year later in 1973-74.

In 2006 the Grand Rapids Christian Schools announced a $25 million get healthy campaign. Part of the plans for this campaign call for the construction of a new wellness center and auxilary gymnasium (construction to begin in Spring 2007) and a new football stadium built on the site of the old stadium (currently under construction and to be completed by Fall 07).


State Championships (all MHSAA unless noted; some championships are Lower Peninsula only)

  • 1938 - Boys Basketball - Lower Peninsula Class B - Claus Beukema, Coach
  • 1966 - Boys Basketball - Class B (East Christian) - Cornelius Bykerk, Coach
  • 1966 - Boys Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Class B (East Christian) - Dennis Gabrielse, Coach
  • 1979 - Girls Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Class B - John Warners, Coach
  • 1980 - Girls Track & Field - Lower Peninsula Class B - Kenneth Bokhoven, Coach
  • 1997 - Girls Basketball - Class A - Al Vanden Bosch, Coach
  • 1998 - Boys Soccer - Division 2 - Larry Klaasen, Coach
  • 2001 - Girls Team Track & Field - Division 2 (MITCA) -
  • 2001 - Boys Soccer - Division 2 - Larry Klaasen, Coach
  • 2002 - Girls Team Track & Field - Division 2 (MITCA) -
  • 2003 - Coed Equestrian - Division C (MIHA) - Jane Bolen & Carrie Werkema, Coaches
  • 2005 - Girls Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Division 2 - Douglas Jager, Coach
  • 2006 - Girls Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Division 2 - Douglas Jager, Coach

State Runners-up (all MHSAA unless noted; some runners-up are Lower Peninsula only)

  • 1939 - Boys Basketball - Lower Peninsula Class B -
  • 1963 - Boys Cross Country - Class A -
  • 1973 - Girls Basketball - Class A -
  • 1978 - Boys Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Class B -
  • 1986 - Girls Track & Field - Lower Peninsula Class B -
  • 1987 - Girls Track & Field - Lower Peninsula Class B -
  • 1988 - Girls Tennis - Lower Peninsula Class B (tied) - Kenneth Zandee, Coach
  • 2003 - Girls Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Division 2 - Douglas Jager, Coach
  • 2004 - Girls Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Division 2 - Douglas Jager, Coach
  • 2005 - Boys Baseball - Division 2 - Matt Vriesenga, Coach

Individual State Champions (all MHSAA unless noted; some championships are Lower Peninsula only)

  • 1969 - John De Jonge - boys long jump - Class B (Central Christian)
  • 1970 - Rick Van Dellen - boys 500-yard freestyle swim - Class B (East Christian)
  • 1971 - Don Tamminga - boys mile - Class B (Central Christian)
  • 1977 - Julie Boerman - girls 220-yard dash - Class B
  • 1978 - Bob Krikke - boys high jump - Class B
  • 1978 - Sandy Van Sponsen-Lori Van Essen-Amy Boerman-Julie Boerman - girls 880-yard relay - Class B
  • 1978 - Julie Boerman - girls 220-yard dash - Class B
  • 1979 - Bob Krikke - boys high jump - Class B
  • 1980 - Tanya De Vries-Gayle Heyer-Amy Boerman-Dawn Walstrom - girls 1600-meter relay - Class B
  • 1980 - Joan De Maat - girls 1600-meter run - Class B
  • 1980 - Joan De Maat - girls 800-meter run - Class B
  • 1983 - Takens-Andrsn-VnDrager-Honderd - girls 1600-meter relay - Class B
  • 1985 - Gwen De Maat - girls 200-yard freestyle swim - Class B
  • 1985 - Gwen De Maat - girls 500-yard freestyle swim - Class B
  • 1986 - Start-Griffioen-Stapert-Prince - girls 3200-meter relay - Class B
  • 1988 - Cathie Vos - girls high jump - Class B
  • 1996 - Brad Flikkema - boys 500-yard freestyle swim - Class A
  • 1997 - Jennifer Meekhof - girls floor exercise - Division 2
  • 2002 - Heather Scholten - girls golf - Division 2

[edit] External links

Unofficial Athletics Websites

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