Immanuel Christian Schools celebrates 60th anniversary
Wednesday’s Friends of Immanuel fundraising dinner took on special meaning this year.
The special event celebrated 60 years of Immanuel Christian School in southern Alberta, with a look back at the history books and an eye towards the future.
“Many things have changed at Immanuel Christian School over the past 60 years, but one thing has remained the same, our mission to grow our students in the fear and the knowledge of God,” said Monica Loewen, Executive Director for the Society for Christian Education in southern Alberta. “I am very excited for the future of Immanuel Christian Schools. As our school community becomes more diverse, representing more ethnicities and church denominations, we are continuing to reflect the family of God.”
Henry Heinen, who served as a teacher and vice-principal at ICS for many years, spoke at Wednesday’s ceremony, and said generations that have come through the halls and classrooms of ICS are now making a difference on all levels of Canadian Society.
“That should give all of us a great deal of satisfaction,” he said. “I’ll give you two examples: Klaas Deemter served in the office of the MP Rick Casson in Ottawa. Rick spoke highly of him. Ken Boessenkool served as a researcher and speech writer for MP and later Prime Minister Stephen Harper.”
John Kolk, whose family has been a part of Immanuel Christian Schools for four generations, also spoke about why it was important
"The school gave our kids the tools to live now in a messy Canadian society,” said Kolk, who also referenced Abraham Kuyper's quote, "There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!", saying "This is the worldview our kids heard through the teachers at Immanuel."
ICS was born in the 1960s when some local Reformed Christians formed a Christian school society. Their first goal was to create a Christian grade school. A building from the Claresholm Air Force Training Base became the school and classes were started for grades 1-6 in September of 1962. Over the next three years grades 7-9 were added. The first Grade 9 class graduated in June 1966.
Immanuel's kindergarten program was accepted in 1973 and has been in operation ever since. In 1974 plans to extend the school to include a senior high started. Then in 1975, with definite plans for a senior high wing, the society approved the concept of a Christian High School and in September of 1976, it started. The first grade 12 class graduated on June 14, 1979.
In 1977 the largest addition to Immanuel was undertaken. A regulation size gym, a typing room, a band room, a printing room, a library and six classes were added.
In 1996, the society purchased the old George McKillop School on 5th Avenue North to replace their Elementary "H" wing. Now Immanuel Christian Elementary is located on their own campus (K-6) with Immanuel Christian High School remaining at the 6th Avenue North location.
In 2015, the School Society passed a motion to sign an agreement with Lethbridge School Division to become an Alternate Christian School Program. Since September 2015, Immanuel Christian Schools have been operating as a fully funded alternate program under Lethbridge School Division.
In 2016, the Grade 6 classrooms were transitioned from the elementary campus to the high school campus. A middle school (grades 6-8) philosophy and structure was adopted that aligned with the established Lethbridge School Division school configurations.
It was decided to change the name of the high school campus to Immanuel Christian Secondary School to encompass the middle and high schools.
60 years
