A Glimpse of Vision
that became FCVCS
by Robert C. Thayer
French Creek Valley Christian School actually began as Pro Rege Christian School in 1979. The phrase was taken from a Dutch Christian devotional, which believed that all life should be lived for the King, including schooling. Education therefore was a gift of God for children and families. Learning was and is a gift that discovers the wisdom of God in creation and in the Scriptures. It is a gift which illuminated the role of people as the stewards of God's handiwork. This was evident in the creation, and is redeemed by Jesus in the New Creation. In learning about the ecosystems, and the myriads of life teeming within the systems, we discover the beauty and love of God. These creatures, resources, and patterns of activity can all be touched for good and for blessing to all people on earth, for all things have come from God. At the end of every school day, everyone would also know that there is no learning process and no learner who could exhaust or comprehend the wonders and marvel of all that has been made.
French Creek Valley Christian School began as the labor of three families. But the mission soon exceeded their ability. Soon family upon family shouldered the sacrifice and tasted the immense blessing which became French Creek Valley Christian School. The school could not have flourished without this outpouring of labor and love. In fact, individuals and churches began giving gifts and resources for the King's service and for the nurture of children. God was at work in a very special way as evidenced by the many churches that came together for this project. There simply isn't enough time or energy to recount the miracles, or the overwhelming beauty of the faithfulness of teachers, parents, grandparents, pastors, children, and community members, who invested so much joy, and sweat, and hope, and talent into this project. God began and still is at work within us. . . both to work and to will His good pleasure.
From ancient times the Scripture has commanded us to love God with all our heart, and mind, and soul, and strength. We are called to be His workmanship and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We are called to train up our children when they are young, so that when they are old, they will not depart from God's ways. Such can be undertaken by parents and churches. We also believed that schools were and are an unfolding gift of God. As knowledge and technology has unfolded, so has the vast scope of algebra, microchips, communications, and micro and telescopic wonders (it's staggering to think!). As the need for knowledge expanded, so too can Christian schools, cirriculum, and teachers expand the resources and knowledge to equip students in the challenges and competencies of our age. We wanted French Creek Valley Christian School to be God's partner and gift to children in this task. As the school grew, the staff and administration grew in number and in professional development to meet this task.
French Creek Valley Christian School also had a unique calling to create a learning process that reflected meaning. No fact, no creature, no plant, no micro-organism, no institution, no event, and no activity, no matter how ingenious, or fascinating, or how utterly riveting was meaningful in itself. Every fact, every field of study, and every human activity has an integrated relationship with other things, and beings, and systems. All things and beings have meaning in belonging to God and His kingdom. And so French Creek Valley Christian School decided to design curriculum around integrated thematic units. Yes, we studied English, Math, Science, Literature, Social Studies; similiar to other schools, but we employed these subjects around a unifying theme, such as the five senses, the rain forest, water, or a thousand topics. There is a science of trees and forests in composition, habitat, and life form; there is the economy of trees in human labor of lumber, carpentry, process, and renewable resource; there is the poetic and literary way in which trees influence us with shade, romance, adventure; the color and shape of trees inspire creativity and artistic passion; whole industries are made in paper, furniture, and chemistry; measurement and geometry can be used in knowing trees; and governments and regions make treaties according to this resource and gift. Trees can be studied by all these ways and more. Trees are a gift from God to be treasured and preserved. It is said that Jesus was crucified upon a wooden cross that we might have life and life in all its fullness. Meaningful learning is integrated learning.
French Creek Valley Christian School also had a vision of the learner. Each learner was made in the image of God and therefore is a special creation too. All students can learn and can express their knowledge in a way in which both the learner and the community of learners are blessed. As there is a formative purpose for schools to promote knowledge and express culture, so there is a purpose and a calling for the student. The education of French Creek Valley Christian School was to equip and inspire students for responsible service. Each student possessed unique talent and gifts. No one was an exact copy of any other. Each student could deepen their ability and apply their knowledge for responsible service, both now and in the future. We believed in education for responsible service.
Many dreams were realized over the course of the original vision: a full academic and cultural program preschool-12th grade, day care, a permanent location to expand and sustain the program, additional funding and remodeling, additional technology to keep pace with educational needs, curriculum that reflected the creation and calling of wisdom, cultural exchange interscholastic participation, and so many more dreams. But we had more dreams of creating a teacher's college, a commmunity youth symphony, adult and children's theatre, recreational facility both inside the facility and upon the grounds to enhance family and community activity for adults and children. We had dreams for high school senior projects in local and foreign missions. Still we prayed for more dreams that may yet be; the dreams yet unborn in the dreams of French Creek Valley Christian School graduates and of their chilren's visions.
In this short glimpse of memory, I must admit that I have aged and no doubt have forgotten many important aspects, which deserve equal attention. But I haven't forgotten the cherished memories of so many people who also carried the yoke of Christian education. Each person was a treasure and a gift to know and to labor beside. Each person made our burdens light through the love and generosity of Christ. I hope that every child and every student will remember the debt they owe to their Saviour, and to their parents and teachers, who endured much for their education. But my present prayer would be that present and future visions for FCVCS would surpass and excel any accomplishments of our meager beginnings, and that the youth, who study and learn at FCVCS, would ascend in faith and deed, on the wings of eagles.
(Bob Thayer was Administrator of FCVCS for 20 years.)
