Keeping Christ in the Classroom

LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP, N.J. (WLVT) - The classrooms are just about ready at Warren County Christian Academy (WCCA). Families visited over the weekend to learn more about the newest -- and only -- Christian school in the county.

"God has done some mighty things for us to bring us to this point," said Douglas Batchelder, the chairman of WCCA's board of directors.

For about 40 years, Warren County had two Christian schools: Phillipsburg Christian Academy (PCA) in Lopatcong Township and Good Shepherd Christian Academy in Washington Township.

PCA, which was operated by Fellowship Church, closed its doors two years ago. Batchelder, a former PCA headmaster and Fellowship Church pastor, said the demographics of the congregation had changed over time, making it challenging to keep the school open.

Good Shepherd, which was operated by Faith Discovery Church, closed in June. Batchelder said the church found it "economically impossible to sustain the school financially."

WCCA, which opens its doors on September 4, is housed at the former PCA facility at Fellowship Church.

"There are no denomination walls," said art educator Roberta Granzen. "We are all his family."

Batchelder said the idea started as Good Shepherd announced it was closing.

"There were a group of parents that really wanted to be able to continue Christian school education for their children, and there weren't really any other options at this point," he said.

"We got together, and we prayed, and we met, and we worked, and we talked, and we came up with what I think is a remarkable vision," said head teacher Patty Mercer.

The school's focus on Christian education was a selling point for Washington Borough parent Joshua Mannix, his wife and three children.

"We had a little bit of a negative experience with our local public school, and so, now in a private school, we have a little bigger role in the education," he said. "It's upholding the values that we uphold in our household."

"We wanted a place where the children would learn about their creator [and] would learn about a God who loves them," Mercer said.

"Once you're in the world, it's not necessarily encouraging or friendly," Granzen said, "and this is where they can learn that platform of being fearless."

The school is also emphasizing arts education. Mercer, who has music and theater experience, and Granzen, a freelance artist, will teach special classes and activities to inspire creativity.

"It can be anything from a book marker for your textbooks, a gift for a neighbor, friend," Granzen said.

"Children learn music from an early age, and it's just part of the joy of life," Mercer said. "It's a part of who we are."

"Our hope is, in addition to provide the Christ-centered education, [to] provide an education for our children that nurtures all the gifts that god has blessed them with," Mannix said.

The focus on art is good news for incoming students, like Mannix's 9-year-old daughter Caylee, who will start fourth grade in Granzen's class.

"I like the basics," she said, "drawing, painting, coloring [and] sketching."

WCCA is still accepting students from pre-kindergarten (PK3) to eighth grade. Batchelder estimates that about 20 students are enrolled.

"The norm for a new school to form is normally around 18 to 24 months," he said, "so, we've really compressed that down to about seven."

"We're not doing this alone. He is with us, regardless of circumstances," Granzen said, referring to God.

School officials are encouraging families in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania to enroll their children at WCCA. The annual tuition is $6,240 per child. To learn more about how to enroll, click HERE.

"Just about any school can prepare a student to make a living, but not every school can prepare a child for life," Batchelder said.

The school estimates it will need about $38,000 in donations over the year. To donate, click HERE.