Written by BY ANN WALLACE • THE LEAF-CHRONICLE • NOVEMBER 30, 2009
Chris Travis, president of the Clarksville Christian School Board of Directors, Head of School Lisa Tucker and Ronnie Moore, general chair for the “Securing the Future” Campaign, center, along with members of the Clarksville Christian School Board of Directors and Hilldale Church of Christ elders and officials break ground Sunday during a ceremony for Clarksville Christian School’s new facility at 505 Highway 76. (Beth Liggett Cogbill/The Leaf-Chronicle)
Head of School Lisa Tucker speaks Sunday during a groundbreaking ceremony for Clarksville Christian School’s new facility. (Beth Liggett Cogbill/The Leaf-Chronicle)
Chris Travis, president of the Clarksville Christian School Board of Directors, Head of School Lisa Tucker and Ronnie Moore, general chair for the “Securing the Future” Campaign, center, along with members of the Clarksville Christian School Board of Directors and Hilldale Church of Christ elders and officials break ground Sunday during a ceremony for Clarksville Christian School’s new facility at 505 Highway 76. (Beth Liggett Cogbill/The Leaf-Chronicle)
Sunday marked a sooner-than-expected milestone for supporters of Clarksville Christian School.
Despite afternoon drizzle, a crowd gathered outside Hilldale Church of Christ to celebrate the groundbreaking of Phase I construction for what will become a $5 million education facility.
The dream to establish a pre-K-12 Christian school is becoming reality much sooner than supporters estimated.
“This is our third academic year. When I was hired in 2007, we had 23 students enrolled, and we opened school that fall with 57 students,” said Principal Lisa Tucker.
“That was really a leap of faith to hire her and four teachers then. But God has opened every door we ever prayed for, and we certainly could not have done any of this without him — it’s all him,” said board chairman Chris Travis.
The school opened in 2007 as a K-6 program. Seventh and eighth grades have been added since, and the plan includes adding a grade level each year to reach a K-12 status by 2013.
Currently, there are 140 students attending Clarksville Christian School.
The faculty and staff include 14 people and four part-time aides. Tucker emphasized all of the teachers have earned bachelor’s or master’s degrees in education.
Since opening, classes have been conducted in a wing of the Hilldale Church of Christ. Four portables, “learning cottages,” have been added for overflow.
“I feel a bit overwhelmed when I think about the blessings we have received,” Tucker added.
Since early 2009 the “Securing the Future” fundraising campaign has reached $900,000.
“Obviously, we’re well on our way to pay cash as we go,” Travis said.
“We feel when the community sees this building coming up out of the ground that God is going to be proud and add avenues to provide the rest of the funding for Phase I and later phases,” Travis said.
The school is designed by Architect Davis Stokes, based in Brentwood. Phase I, carrying an approximate $1 million price tag, includes 14 classrooms and administrative offices expected to be finished for fall 2010.
Phase II includes six to eight classrooms, gym, library and cafeteria with Phase III including more classrooms and a sports complex.
As a Christian school, the curriculum schedule contains daily devotions and chapel each Friday.
The school’s stated mission is to foster and maintain an educational Christian environment wherein God is glorified in every respect — academically, socially and morally — according to the teachings of the Bible.
The A Beka curriculum is used in teaching reading, language, spelling, writing and social studies for the primary grade levels.
And the Purposeful Design curriculum published by the Association of Christian Schools International is used in math and science.
Glenco curriculum for social studies and science was added when the middle school grades came on board.
Tucker stressed providing a Christian curriculum “doesn’t weaken the academic courses in state or national standards.”
“Our curriculum aligns with the new state standards, but doesn’t de-emphasize the spiritual aspects,” Tucker said.
Art, music, P.E. and Spanish are offered. Mobile science and computer labs are provided for hands-on approach learning.
As the Home of the Centurions continues to expand academically, big changes are on the horizon for athletic offerings.
Travis said an athletic director has been selected and future programs include tennis, golf, cross country and trap shooting.
“We have to start with sports that only require a smaller team until we grow more,” Travis said.
