Northwest Christian School Expands
The Future Plans for Casas Christian School
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Casas Christian School, a K-8 Christian school located in the town limits of Oro Valley, continues its 38-year legacy with plans of expansion.
For the past 38 years, thousands of children have benefited from a Christian education at Casas Christian School (CCS).
As an outreach ministry of Casas Church, CCS exists as a mission school to serve the church and the surrounding community.
Under the current arrangement, the school and church share their space. Despite some logistical issues with transforming the rooms from school to church and back again twice each week, the relationship between the school and church has served the community well.
Principal Eric Dowdle believes “The Lord is doing some wonderful things here at Casas Christian School, and He has created something very special.” In addition to high academic expectations, the children receive a quality Christian education with a spiritual emphasis in a safe and nurturing environment.
However, the school and church have both grown to a point where sharing has become rather complicated. Both have begun looking for new ways to improve, yet every step of improvement and growth presents a new layer of shared challenges.
Successfully managing this growth requires looking at the long-term vision for Casas Christian School. For that reason, the church has plans to establish a new school campus on the undeveloped portion of the church’s property that runs along La Cholla Boulevard, just south of the current church entryway. This relocation will give the school plenty of room to grow while still keeping them in close proximity to the church, which is of huge benefit to both parties. Being located along La Cholla will have the added benefit of providing high visibility for the school which will increase public awareness and hopefully enrollment as well. The new, larger school will create an environment that better meets the needs of current students and allows for the continued growth as additional students enroll in the school in the next few years.
The new facility will enable teachers and staff to accommodate a greater number of learning needs in a variety of children. For example, the school would like to add programs for the struggling learner and the gifted child, and expand its fine arts opportunities, because part of its purpose is to help children discover the gifts God has given them. Additionally, the new facility will provide space for an indoor gym, a media center (library and dedicated computer lab), a fully equipped science lab, an art room, and a cafeteria. Also, the new school will include additional classrooms to allow for growth in the K-8 program.
The leadership of both the school and church has sought God’s voice for the past five years concerning this project. Every step along the way has been covered with prayer. In addition, the school conducted a feasibility study last fall to determine if school families (past and present), as well as church members and community friends of the school, agreed with the idea of building a new school campus. The overwhelming majority of those surveyed acknowledged the need and many committed financially to support the project. As Eric Dowdle has observed, “It is an amazing experience to watch God bring people together to make something like this happen. We definitely cannot take any credit for what He is doing here.”
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The fundraising campaign will begin this spring and continue for the next three years. After much prayer, school leaders are calling the campaign, “Building for All Generations,” based on Scriptures in Psalms. “One generation will commend your works to another ... they will tell of the power of your awesome works ... and proclaim your great deeds.” (Psalm 145: 4-6) “Your faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 119:90)
It is evident that God is honoring the 38–year legacy of the school’s mission to touch children’s lives for Him through the academic environment, and He is establishing a way for the school to continue to bless future generations in a brand new environment.
For more information on school enrollment, contact Genetta Holt at genettah@casaschurch.org or call (520) 297-0922. Ask about the tuition assistance program and other ways to defray or eliminate tuition costs. The school can be visited online at www.casaschristianschool.com.
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