1. Welcome from Head of School:

As a parent, you have many wishes, hopes and dreams for your child. We know that a major component in these dreams includes your child’s education. Calvary Christian School is committed to educating your child in a manner that grows them into adults who are confident, competent and well-prepared. We are dedicated to modeling lives of leadership and service through our words and actions.

Your choice of an educational environment is a significant component in your child’s future. At Calvary Christian School, your child will find a rigorous curriculum that stimulates their mind, a staff that cares passionately, friends who encourage and people who give their time, energy and resources generously.

Calvary Christian School is a special place where you will find your “home away from home” with the friendship of other Calvary families. These families have similar values in raising their children and they take care of one another in ways that extend beyond the school day.

Calvary is devoted to providing the “best opportunity” available as your child to allow them to go as far as they possibly can in life. We look forward to helping you make the “perfect decision” for child and your family in selecting a school. It is an honor to serve you in preparing your child for their future!

Sincerely,
Teresa Roberson
Head of School

2. Calvary Christian School Mission:

Calvary provides an exemplary high school preparatory education for preschool through eighth grade students in a Christian day school environment. Calvary attracts families who seek an educational experience for their children that balances rigorous academic preparation with activities, athletics and an emphasis on Christian moral and ethical development. Calvary's program is designed to provide opportunities for each student to develop to his or her fullest potential, academically, physically and spiritually. The goal of the school is to develop leaders with a Christian world view who integrate their faith into their daily lives. The school is committed to helping children develop Christian values and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Our Mission Statement
Calvary Christian School is dedicated to the pursuit of academic excellence and Christian values preparing student for leadership and service.

3. History of the School

Humble Beginnings
Calvary Christian School began as a small preschool in 1963 in the heart of the town of Pacific Palisades. There were only two classrooms and approximately 20 children attended. In the late 1970’s Calvary Church began the search for land where the church and school could grow. In 1989 with great celebration, the Elementary School opened its doors on the present site at 701 Palisades Drive to an expanded program with 42 students and five teachers in kindergarten through fifth grade, in addition to the existing preschool program.

Growth of the School
The preschool grew quickly and filled six classrooms the following year while the elementary school grew to an enrollment of 90 students. By the 1992/93 school year the enrollment had grown to 200 elementary students who were served by a staff of twenty teaching professionals.
In 1995 church and school families dedicated an expansion of the school facility to include a Middle School and to grow to two classes per grade in the elementary school. This decision would postpone the building the Church’s sanctuary, which would not be completed until December, 2000.

Sports Field
In August of 1997, well before construction was to begin for the sanctuary, the church and school commenced plans for a new sports field, an alternative to the interim grass area on the sanctuary site. After an extended entitlement process (15 public hearings), the $2.5 million field was dedicated six years later in December, 2003. This was the first active capital campaign that included CCS school families.

Calvary Christian School Today
Today Calvary Christian School is in its eighteenth year of providing a high quality education for children in preschool through eighth grade on the Westside of Los Angeles. CCS has grown to become the second largest private school on the Westside with two classes per grade. Academic excellence and personal attention to students are ensured with no more than 20 students in a class with a full time teacher and an aide. Nestled in the beautiful canyons of Pacific Palisades on a seven acre site with scenic vistas, the school is a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the busy life on the Westside of Los Angeles. The modern campus with its spacious classrooms, state of the art computer, science and language labs, sports field, gymnasium, play areas and fully equipped art and music studios provides a secure and pleasant location for students to achieve their full potential.

4. Chrisitian Values

Calvary Christian School’s mission of developing “Christian Values” in each child is the hallmark of our school. Christian values are emphasized across our curriculum, in Bible classes, Chapel and school assemblies. Our students apply these values in the classroom, on the playground, in sports competition, on filed trips and in the community.

The religious studies program at Calvary is rooted in the historic Christian tenets: that Scripture is the inerrant Word of God, that God exists in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and that personal salvation is dependent upon personal acceptance, through faith, of Jesus Christ as Savior.

Calvary students receive a connection between the academic and the spiritual nature from reading simple Bible stories in the elementary classrooms to rich, deep study and conversation at the Middle School level. In addition to the religious studies program, students participate in weekly corporate worship at Chapel. Students are encouraged to develop as leaders with a Christian world view, integrating their faith into their daily lives. Calvary students are not required to be members of Calvary Church, and about a third of the children at Calvary have no church affiliation.

Calvary students are actively involved in community service, seeking ways to help those who are less fortunate people in our city. Students see serving as a privilege, preparing them to impact their world in a positive and meaningful way.

5. Calvary Christian School Facts

• CCS has approximately 430 students in preschool through eighth grade.
  
  
• Preschool classes are limited to 12 students with a full time teacher and an instructional aide.
  
  
• Elementary and middle school classes have a maximum of 20 students per class with two classes per grade. All classes have a full time teacher and an instructional aide.
  
  
• Calvary Christian School eighth graders matriculate to the top high schools in Los Angeles including Archer School for Girls, Brentwood School, Crespi, Harvard Westlake, Loyola, Marlborough, Marymount, Oaks Christian, Pacifica Christian High, Notre Dame, Viewpoint, and Windward.
  
• CCS draws students from several cities on the Westside of Los Angeles including Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Malibu, Brentwood, Marina Del Rey and West Los Angeles.
• About 30% of Calvary Christian school students’ families are members of Calvary Church. Another 45-55% attend other local churches, while the remaining 15-25% of families have no church affiliation.
  
  
• CCS has a rigorous academic curriculum that exceeds? the State of California requirements?
  
  
• CCS has an outstanding staff with over ___ % of teachers holding advanced degrees.
  
  
• Calvary Christian School is fully accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
  
  
• The School has 300+ computers and is fully networked with computers in every classroom. There are seven portable carts with a classroom set of wireless computers for use in fourth through eighth grade. One third of all computers are replaced each year. Each classroom his equipped with a digital projector to show audiovisual presentations, DVD/VHS and video clips which are downloaded from United Streaming – a library of educational clips on the internet.

The CCS mascot is the Cougar and the school colors and dark blue and green.

6. Meet the Staff

Calvary Christian School is committed to hiring high quality teachers and administrators of academic excellence. All the teachers and administrators have deep Christian values and a heart for children. Teachers, administrators and all educational assistants are screened carefully and selected on the basis of their Christian values, integrity, commitment and love for children.

With the belief that children do not care what you know until they know that you care, CCS teachers and administrators go well beyond the classroom to encourage, support and show love to the students. From attendance at student’s activities and sports outside of school, to calls and notes of encouragement, teachers and administrators show that they care on a continual basis. The opportunity for academic excellence is accessible for each student.

All of our classroom teachers hold California Teaching Credentials, and many have advanced degrees, including several with Masters, Reading Specialist Credentials, and two with PhDs. All of our highly qualified teachers are fully committed to generosity of time and heart in their interactions with students and families.

See Staff member´s e-mail.

7. Matriculation

Will be a link to the matriculation section which is part of admissions

8. Boards and Associations

A. School Board:
The School Board of Trustees consists of twelve members who are active members of Calvary Church and who have an interest in or an ability related to the area of Christian education.

The School Board of Calvary Christian School consists of six members-at-large, two parents, two members of the Calvary Church Board of Elders, one Calvary Church Deacon, and one Calvary Church Deaconess, all of whom are voting members.

The Head of School, Assistant Head of School, Middle School Director and Admissions Director attend all board meetings.

B. Parent Association
Believing that parents and school are partners in a child’s education, Calvary Christian School encourages active family involvement. There are many avenues for parent participation. The Parent Association serves the school in a variety of ways from helping in the classrooms, assisting with outreach opportunities, planning Grandparents Day and spearheading fundraising events. There is a place for every parent to connect at Calvary, and their involvement greatly enhances life at the school. Parent participation is welcomed, appreciated and celebrated at Calvary Christian School.

The Calvary Christian School Parent Association (PA) is a service and support organization that focuses on three main objectives. First, we seek to provide an effective communication link between the parents, the faculty, and the administration at Calvary Christian School (CCS) by hosting three general meetings each year. Second, we work to promote CCS in our local community through, among other things, submission of articles highlighting academic, athletic and community service activities in our local paper. Third, we plan and produce fundraising events to supplement and enhance our curriculum and facilities. Last year from our annual Holiday Boutique, Book Fair, weekly Pizza Day, and through our Scrip program the PA gave in excess of $130,000 to the School for a number of projects and “wish lists” including:

• Canopy for the New Patio Lunch Area
  
• Scoreboard for the Gym
  
  
• Trophy Case for the Gym Lobby
  
  
• Digital Cameras and Camcorders
  
  
• An Additional Mobile Computer Lab
  
  
• Computer Upgrades and Software
  
  
• An Elementary Spanish Teacher
  
  
• Instructional Aides
  
  
• Musical Instruments
  
  
• Library Books

We are delighted that you are considering Calvary Christian School for your children. We welcome your involvement and support in all of our PA-sponsored events. From serving as a “Reading Mom/Dad” in our lower school, providing home baked goods for our Holiday Boutique, assisting our teachers as a “Room Mom/Dad,” selling books at the Book Fair, identifying and coordinating our Community Service field trips, overseeing our weekly “Pizza Day” lunch program, serving on the PA Executive Board… we have a place for you that matches your talents and interests. Come and join us as we work together to provide a special place of learning and growth here at Calvary Christian School. I look forward to meeting you and your family.

Warm Regards,
Pamela Bowman
Parent Association President

C. Foundation
The Calvary Christian School Foundation is an independent, charitable, tax-exempt foundation formed to provide funding for capital needs and the enrichment of the program at Calvary Christian School.

Presently, it is composed of 47 trustees who are parents of students at CCS or who otherwise have an abiding interest in its success.

The Foundation sponsors an annual Golf Tournament to raise funds for the Scholarship Endowment Fund. Every other year the Foundation sponsors a dinner and auction as a major fund-raising event. Church families, school families and guests attend this wonderful, gala occasion.

The Foundation trustees and others conduct the fund-raising activities of the Foundation without charge on a voluntary basis.

9. Fundraising

CCS Fund Raising Mission Statement
• Calvary Christian School Fund Raising bridges the difference between what tuition provides and what the school needs to fulfill its mission, by working with our school community in a positive way that values each family’s contribution.

CCS Financial Traditions

• Reasonable Tuition Levels
  • Maintain as reasonable of a tuition structure that we can without ever compromising our commitment to academic excellence.
    
    
• Confidentiality and Anonymity of Giving
  • Do Not Acknowledge People based on the Size of their Gift.
  • No “Platinum, Gold, Silver” lists.
    
    
• Giving Based on Means
  • Encourage our families to give as generously as possible, recognizing that some of us can give more and some of us cannot give as much.

CCS Fundraising Entities

The School – Annual Fund Campaign

• The Annual Fund is used to cover basic operating costs that are not covered by tuition.
  
  
• By Design, Tuition does not cover the full cost of our program.
  
  
• The Annual Operating Costs of the School are approximately $5,000,000.
  
  
• 74% of the operating costs are salaries and benefits of the employees of the School.
  
  
• Tuition, Fees, and PA gifts cover about $4,650,000 of the Budget, leaving a $350,000
  “Tuition Gap” that must be funded out of the Annual Fund contributions.

Donations in excess of $350,000 will be used for teacher retirement benefits, teacher training, curriculum enrichment, technology enhancements and campus improvements.