Fresh paint and bright decorations matched the bright smiles of the 13 students enrolled at Christian Faith Academy for their first day of school Wednesday. / Star Beacon
Published September 02, 2008 07:45 pm - Fresh paint and bright decorations matched the bright smiles of the 13 students enrolled at Christian Faith Academy for their first day of school Wednesday.
First day of school at new Christian academy
By ELLEN KOLMAN - Staff Writer - ekolman@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
ASHTABULA — Fresh paint and bright decorations matched the bright smiles of the 13 students enrolled at Christian Faith Academy for their first day of school Wednesday.
This is the first day not only for the students, but also for the newly formed academy, located at 4322 Park Ave., in the former First Congregational Church’s education center.
“A little hectic being a new school in a new year, but it is all coming together for us,” said Jeff Dreger, administrator and schoolteacher.
Christian Faith Academy is a kindergarten through sixth-grade Christian day school with a traditional classroom setting. It is open to families of all denominations.
“Our mission is to serve as an extension of the Christian home and local church,” Dreger said.
Nine-year-old Lydia Johns, of Dorset, was very excited for school to begin.
“It’s really good here, and we had doughnuts to celebrate,” she said.
The idea for a new Christian school came this spring after the announcement of the closing of Bethel Christian School in Jefferson. A core group of about six families began to work together toward a common goal: the first day of school in their own building. Initially, the Lincoln School building located in Ashtabula Township seemed ideal, and plans were made to begin Christian Faith Academy at that location. Although the group still would like to purchase the building possibly one day, the lease terms fell through, and the group was left at the beginning of August with no building, according to Joe Cole, and his wife Deana, of Pierpont Township, who are two of the parent leaders involved in forming the school.
“The Lord showed us Habakkuk 1:5 so many times, ‘Look at the nations and watch, and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if I told you,’” Deana Cole said.
Joe Cole had heard of the First Congregational Church on Park Avenue and knew the property, which includes an education center, had been given to Fellowship Bible Church of Ashtabula.
“I spoke to John Paul, an elder at Fellowship Bible Church, and he said, ‘We would love to have you here.’ So we have the building rent-free; we just have to pay the utilities,” Joe Cole said. “This is a God thing. We praise him for the opportunity to have this wonderful building. Now, we just need more kids.”
NURSING - LPN Full-time position in a 20 bed residential facility serving the MR/DD population. Apply in person: The Gables, ...>MORE
DRIVERS WANTED DEDICATED ROUTES • Consistent Home Time • $1,100 per wk./avg. • Health + 401k Class-A-...>MORE
PRODUCTION - FIBERGLASS Production - Fiberglass Must be able to transfer shift with short notice Recent verifiable fiberglass exp...>MORE
Dispatcher Needed in a fast paced busy environment. Must be available for various shifts. Apply within City Taxicab, 1753 West ...>MORE
QUALITY CONTROL Earn up to $100 a day. Evaluate retail stores. Training provided. No exp req. Call 877-218-6203....>MORE
ASHTABULA AREA CITY SCHOOLS BUSINESS OFFICE
CUSTODIAN, LAKESIDE HIGH SCHOOL 2nd Shift, 2nd Floor, 2:00PM - 10:00PM ...>MORE
Direct Care Staff Residential Treatment Center Hiring part time direct care staff. primarily evenings & weekends. Must be able to pass bac...>MORE
CLERICAL Collections $12-15/hr Customer Service $10-15/hr Office Asst $10-1...>MORE
MEDICAL DELIVERY DRIVER NEEDED Seeley Medical, a respiratory services company, has a full-time opening for a medical delivery driver to setup home resp...>MORE
SECURITY OFFICERS Come Join the World’s Largest Security Company!Securitas Security is now hiring full Time Officers for the Perry, OH Are...>MORE