- Roseland Christian School
Infobox Private School
background = #f0f6fa (standard color)
border = #ccd2d9 (standard color)
name = Roseland Christian School
motto = The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
established = 1884
type = Pre–8
religion = Protestant Christian
head_name =
head = Wendi Waddy
city =Chicago
state =Illinois
country = USA
campus =
enrollment = 350
faculty = 24
class =
ratio =
year =
patron =
SAT =
ACT =
athletics =
colors = Blue and White
mascot = Knights
conference =
homepage = [http://roselandchristian.org/ Roseland Christian School]
ceeb =Roseland Christian School is a private, coeducational elementary school on the far southeast side of
Chicago ,Illinois . It was founded in Roseland as a school for the children of Dutch immigrants in the area. Today it mainly serves theAfrican American community that lives in Roseland.History
The school was founded in Roseland in 1884 [ cite web|url=http://www.roselandchristian.org/history.php#history |title=Roseland Christian School History |accessdate=2007-04-27 |last= |first= |date=None Given |publisher=Roseland Christian School This is the most commonly quoted date, but Swierenga gives the date as 1883.] by Dutch settlers in the Roseland area. These immigrants were members of the
Christian Reformed Church in North America , a Protestant Calvinist denomination.cite book | last = Swierenga| first = Robert P. |title=Dutch Chicago: A History of the Hollanders in the Windy City |publisher=Eerdmans (The Historical Series of the Reformed Church in America) |location=Grand Rapids, Michigan |year=2002 |isbn=0-8028-1311-4 |oclc= |doi=] In 1880, the Roseland community had been stirred by news that thePullman Car Company would be building a new production plant nearby. Rumors of this construction prompted many to emigrate from the Netherlands. Their arrival in Roseland swelled the population, and by 1884 theconsistory of the First Christian Reformed Church of Roseland voted to start a school to keep alive the Dutch language and traditions in the community.cite book | last = Eldersveld|first =Harriet Kuiper |title=Roseland Christian School Centennial–Celebrating 100 Years of Christian Education |publisher=Roseland Christian School |location=Chicago |year=1984 |isbn= |oclc= |doi=] The school was known originally as "De Hollandsche Christelijke" school and it was attached to the back of the church. It was located at 111th and State streets.In 1890, a public school opened at the corner 103rd and Michigan and the church fathers in the area felt that a second school was needed to provide Christian educational opportunities for the area's Dutch-speaking residents. A commission was founded to explore options for another school. It was eventually built on 104th Street as a complement to the existing school several blocks away. Classes began on
5 October 1891 with 25 students in attendance. The two schools existed separately but remarkably close to each other. The 104th Street school was controlled by the parents of the students while the 111th Street school was controlled by the principal. cite web|url=http://www.roselandchristian.org/history.php#history |title=Roseland Christian School History |accessdate=2007-04-27 |last= |first= |date=None Given |publisher=Roseland Christian School ] The two resisted many attempts to amalgamate due to the curriculum, financial, and personnel issues involved. One thing that the schools did have in common was theDutch Language . It was not until 1910 that the 111th Street school switched to anEnglish language curriculum for every subject. The 104th Street school followed the next year. The schools survived separately through two world wars and theGreat Depression before finally coming together in 1947.This situation continued as the demographic make-up of the Roseland neighborhood began to change in the second half of the
twentieth century . As the core Dutch population began the process ofwhite flight to the suburbs, the enrollment at the school began a slow but steady decline. In 1963, the new principal Marvin Hooker was watching over a school of 700 students and an annual budget of $150,000. By 1967, however, the decline in numbers had become very noticeable and the school administration began to look into the problems that they faced. After 85 years in operation, the school was faced with a student body of only 200 students. In response to this, Principal Hooker opened the doors to the African American community that had taken root in Roseland. This helped to revitalize the school as those around the school could get a Christian education. Roseland Christian had gone from a completelyDutch American student body in 1884 to a completely African American population by the mid 1980s.The school today
The school still occupies the building constructed in 1929 to replace the 111th Street campus. This has been updated and added to since its original construction, but the exterior remains much the same as it was when built. The current address of the school is 314 West 108th Street, Chicago, IL 60628. cite web|url=http://www.roselandchristian.org/index.php |title=Roseland Christian School Educating God's children since 1884 |accessdate=2007-04-27 |last= |first= |date=None Given |publisher=Roseland Christian School ]
Today, the school is governed by the Roseland Christian School Society, which owns the property and facilities. The affairs of the Society are conducted through its Board of Trustees. To maintain the Dutch Reformed theological traditions of the church, each trustee must be a member of a Reformed church.
Curriculum and extracurricular activities
The school continues to serve students from preschool through eighth grade. The preschool curriculum consists of Bible lessons, reading readiness, math, science, language Development, and socialization. At the kindergarten level adds handwriting and a more structured language arts program. From first grade through
middle school , the students are presented classes in Bible, reading, social studies, math, science, and language arts. cite web|url=http://www.roselandchristian.org/curriculum.php |title=Roseland Christian School Curriculum |accessdate=2007-04-27 |last= |first= |date=None Given |publisher=Roseland Christian School ]Roseland's students also participate in sports and other extracurricular activities. The school fields teams in
basketball ,track and field ,soccer , andvolleyball . It also performs choir and band concerts and participates in academic competitions. cite web|url=http://www.roselandchristian.org/sports.php |title=Roseland Christian School School Sports |accessdate=2007-04-27 |last= |first= |date=None Given |publisher=Roseland Christian School ]Notable alumni
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
