GRANVILLE – The Community Christian School held their first day of school on Monday at their new location on 409 Main Rd.
After spending 12 years in Westfield, The Community Christian School signed a five-year lease on July 23 to become the new occupant of the former Granville Village School.
With the first bell ringing at 8 a.m. on Monday, students, staff, and parents piled into the gymnasium for the morning assembly, which symbolizes the start of the school day. School Administrator Tim Sheranko sang a few songs on the piano, followed by the pledge of allegiance. The bell would then ring at 2:45 p.m. to notify students and staff that the school day has concluded.
The first day at a new location was not only important, but was rather successful.
“It was a very exciting day for everybody,” said Sheranko. “There were lots of smiles.”
A major advantage of the new location is the great amount of recreational space that the students will now have available, including a playground and sports fields.
Students, staff, and parents gathered for the morning assembly at the Community Christian School on Wednesday. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
“This is a real treat, we love to be able to look out the window and see green,” said Tammy Stevens, a fifth-grade teacher at the school.
Bethany Footit, a kindergarten teacher at The Community Christian School, noted that many children since orientation had been looking forward to the first day of school.
“They’ve been excited all along,” said Footit.
A first-grade teacher, Paula Schalker, remembers what her students were saying on Monday when they discovered the benefits of their new school.
“They were yelling, “we have a playground, we have a library,”” said Schalker.
Older students at the school have also enjoyed their new school thus far.
“It was a little different from what we’ve had before,” said Jack, an 11th grade student. “Everything has gone smoothly, we just have a lot more room.”
While Liara, a 10th grader, pointed out that although there was some confusion as to where to go for classes, she’s very pleased with the new building.
“It’s amazing that we’ve got a much more proper space,” said Liara.
A non-denominational school that isn’t affiliated with any church, the Community Christian School is a three-day model but a five-day school. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, students attend the school and are in classrooms. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the students complete their assignments and schoolwork at home with a parent to supervise them. This type of schooling is under the USMI (University Schools Model International) approved method of learning.
Besides needing a parent with the student on days at home, at least one parent needs to be a Christian in order to have their child attend the Community Christian School. According to Sarah Mestre, the Office Manager at the school, there’s no cutoff day for kids to attend the school, they’ll take new students right up to halfway into the school year.
The school consists of preschool to 12th grade and there are currently around 90 students enrolled with 24 staff members with 19 of them being teachers. For the days that students are at the school, the day begins at 8 a.m. and children are dismissed at 2:45 p.m.
Students at the Community Christian School come from all over the area, including Westfield, West Springfield, Belchertown, Granby, Conn. and the surrounding hilltowns. The largest class at the school last year was their 5th grade class with 13 students.
Tuition at the Community Christian School is scaled based on the grade. Sheranko said that the tuition ranges anywhere from $3,200 to $7,200 per year.
Some students only attend the school for a short period of time in order to take a couple math or science classes.
The Community Christian School added that they plan on setting up field trips for the students to experience the Granville community by going to the local orchards, The Gran-Val Scoop, and letting the older high school students go out to lunch.
