Lakeland Christian, Warsaw Christian Schools Merging
WINONA LAKE — When the 2020-21 school year begins this fall, Lakeland Christian Academy and Warsaw Christian School will open their doors as one school.
The decision was reached this week for Community Grace Brethren Church to release WCS as their ministry and for the school to merge with LCA, according to a news release from Lakeland.
This idea has been discussed several times over the past few decades. According to a press release from LCA, bringing both entities together to create a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade will create a school of over 300 students under the LCA brand.
Together, this will be the only pre-K through 12th-grade private Christian school in Kosciusko County and will bring about new opportunities in Christian education to the community, the news release said.
There has been a great spirit of cooperation between all entities involved in this merger, including CGBC, WCS and LCA. There is also great enthusiasm of moving forward as one school.
“Becoming a larger part of Kosciusko County’s educational landscape is a great privilege and one we don’t take lightly,” said Joe Elrod, current LCA administrator and future superintendent of LCA. “Our desire is that LCA’S Christ-centered preK-12 education will be an essential part of the community. Having the opportunity to explore new partnerships, honor current partnerships in a deeper way and expand and strengthen our ties within our community, as well as partner with and serve our community in a greater capacity, is exciting.”
LCA is excited to partner with CGBC to lease the current WCS building to house the lower grades. LCA is already creating plans to accommodate all grades on one campus at their Winona Lake location as soon as possible. By bringing these schools together, there will be a stronger academic and spiritual culture. This merger creates continuity for parents by offering a higher level of academic excellence, competitive athletics and community engagement, all being accomplished through a biblical worldview.
According to the news release, David Goshert, WCS board chairman, is excited about the future of Christian education in the community.
“I have watched the good blessings that can come from a Christian-based education through my family and others,” said Goshert. “As a WCS board member, I have also experienced the unity, faith and encouragement that is shared within the family of teachers and staff. I believe that God’s control in all creation as taught in history, math, science, etc., provides the right focus for our young generations to live and lead. I am so excited to watch this preK-12 opportunity come to fruition in Kosciusko County.
WCS was founded in 1958 as a ministry of CGBC and over the past six decades has trained highly proficient students across math and reading standards. Founded as an independent Christian academy in 1974, LCA prepares students for the next steps in life to be lifelong critical thinkers. Both schools are strong independently and will be even stronger together.
“Merging Warsaw Christian School and Lakeland Christian Academy will allow us to be better stewards of the resources God has given us,” said WCS Administrator Doug Buller. “In addition to the conservation of resources, there is tremendous value in the synergy of aligned values and passion for Christian education here in our community. I am excited about what God is doing and will do in the future through the merging of WCS and LCA.”
Parents who will have students in seventh through 12th grade next year are invited to attend LCA’s Prospective Family Night at 7 p.m. March 24 to learn more about the middle school and high school enrollment procedures for the next school year. Parents seeking more information about enrollment for pre-K through 12th-grade students can also call (574) 267-7265.