Grand Rapids Christian High School

Infobox Education in the United States
name= Grand Rapids Christian High School


imagesize=
motto=
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streetaddress= 2300 Plymouth Avenue, S.E.
city= Grand Rapids
state= Michigan
district=
zipcode=49506
areacode=
phone=
fax=
email=
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schoolnumber=
schoolboard=
affiliation=
superintendent=Thomas De Jonge
trustee=
principal= James Primus
viceprincipal=
administrator=
schooltype= Private
grades= 9-12
language= English
area=
mascot=
teamname= The Eagles
colors= Columbia Blue and Black
founded= 1920
enrollment=1058
enrollment_as_of=

Grand Rapids Christian High School (GRCHS) is a parentally-controlled, private, intentionally-Christian secondary school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1920, "Christian High" is a member of Grand Rapids Christian Schools and Christian Schools International. The school was first accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in 1925-26--one of the first six high schools in Kent County to receive that honor. GRCHS is also a member of the Michigan Association of Non-public Schools

History

The history of Protestant Christian secondary day school education in Grand Rapids, Michigan dates back to the founding of Calvin College and Seminary in 1876 and its seven original students. In that year the Christian Reformed Church in North America (a denomination in the Dutch Calvinist, or Reformed, tradition that had broken off from the Reformed Church in America) adopted a six-year curriculum for ministerial training. The first four of these years were spent in the Literary Department and the last two in the Theological Department.

In 1894 students who were not pre-theological students were admitted to an expanded curriculum comparable to that of a present-day high school, and thus the school became a preparatory school or academy. In 1900 the curriculum was further broadened and made more attractive to students interested in teaching or in preparing for preprofessional courses in the universities.

By 1906 the Literary Department, which provided the four years of college preparatory and two years of college work, became known officially as John Calvin Junior College. The two-year college in time became the four-year Calvin College, awarding its first Bachelor of Arts degree in 1921. In 1920 the preparatory department stopped admitting new students with the opening of Grand Rapids Christian High School, and 1924 was the last year for college prep students at Calvin College and Seminary.

Grand Rapids Christian High School continued at its Franklin Street, S.E. location until 1964, when in response to demographic trends, the school was divided by the Grand Rapids Christian School Association into two new high schools, Central Christian and East Christian. Central Christian High was established at the previous Grand Rapids Christian High campus on Franklin Street, and a new campus on Plymouth Avenue, S.E. was built for East Christian High.

When realization set in that the baby boom had ended in 1964, the two new high schools merged in 1972, and the reconstituted Grand Rapids Christian High School utilized both the Franklin Street and Plymouth Avenue campuses. When the Franklin Street campus was sold, Christian High housed its tenth grade at the former Seymour Christian Junior High School on Nevada Street, S.E. for two years until facilities were expanded at the Plymouth Avenue campus. Some years later Grand Rapids Christian High was expanded again to accommodate the ninth grade.

Traditions

"School Colors:" Columbia Blue and Black

"Athletic Teams' Nickname:" Eagles

"Fight Song:" "Cheer, Cheer for Our Christian High" - Tune: Chorus, Notre Dame Victory March, written by Michael J. Shea (public domain in the United States)

Athletics

Grand Rapids Christian High School is a member of the Ottawa-Kent Conference athletic league and also competes in statewide competitions of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, the Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association, and the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association.

After GRCHS was divided into two high schools in 1964, the new Central Christian Eagles joined the Grand Rapids City League immediately for the 1964-65 school year while the new East Christian Panthers were independent for a year before entering City League competition in 1965-66. The Central Christian and East Christian football teams played as independents from their first years in 1967-68 through their last seasons in 1971-72. The reunited Grand Rapids Christian High began participation in the City League in 1972-73, with the football team starting league play a year later in 1973-74. To help overcome the fierce rivalry between the Central Christian and East Christian communities, the reconstituted Grand Rapids Christian High competed under Central Christian's Eagles nickname and East Christian's Columbia blue and black school colors.

Grand Rapids Christian Schools announced a $25 million Get Healthy fund raising campaign in 2006. Part of the plans for this campaign call for the construction of a new wellness center and north gymnasium and a new athletic stadium to be built on the site of the old stadium. The stadium was completed for the start of the 2007-08 football season, with the new Quest Center (North Gymnasium) slated for a September 6, 2008 opening, in time for the start of the 2008-09 school year.

In 2007 arrangements were finalized for the Grand Rapids City League high schools to join the Ottawa-Kent Conference beginning in the 2008-09 school year. The initial divisional alignment had Grand Rapids Christian High School competing in the Ottawa-Kent White Division with East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Creston, Grand Rapids Northview, Greenville, and Lowell high schools.

"State Championships (all MHSAA unless noted)"
* 1938 - Boys' Basketball - Lower Peninsula Class B - Claus Beukema, Coach
* 1966 - Boys' Basketball - Class B (East Christian Panthers) - Cornelius Bykerk, Coach
* 1966 - Boys' Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Class B (East Christian Panthers) - Dennis Gabrielse, Coach
* 1979 - Girls' Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Class B - John Warners, Coach
* 1980 - Girls' Track & Field - Lower Peninsula Class B - Kenneth Bokhoven, Coach
* 1997 - Girls' Basketball - Class A - Al Vanden Bosch, Coach
* 1998 - Boys' Soccer - Division 2 - Larry Klaasen, Coach
* 2001 - Girls' Team Track & Field - Division 2 (MITCA) - Kenneth Bokhoven, Coach
* 2001 - Boys' Soccer - Division 2 - Larry Klaasen, Coach
* 2002 - Girls' Team Track & Field - Division 2 (MITCA) - Kenneth Bokhoven, Coach
* 2003 - Coed Equestrian - Division C (MIHA) - Jane Bolen & Carrie Werkema, Coaches
* 2005 - Girls' Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Division 2 - Douglas Jager, Coach
* 2006 - Girls' Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Division 2 - Douglas Jager, Coach
* 2007 - Girls' Team Track & Field - Division 2 (MITCA) - Kenneth Bokhoven, Coach

"State Runners-up (all MHSAA unless noted)"
* 1939 - Boys' Basketball - Lower Peninsula Class B -
* 1963 - Boys' Cross Country - Class A -
* 1973 - Girls' Basketball - Class A -
* 1978 - Boys' Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Class B -
* 1986 - Girls' Track & Field - Lower Peninsula Class B - Kenneth Bokhoven, Coach
* 1987 - Girls' Track & Field - Lower Peninsula Class B - Kenneth Bokhoven, Coach
* 1988 - Girls' Tennis - Lower Peninsula Class B (tied) - Kenneth Zandee, Coach
* 2003 - Girls' Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Division 2 - Douglas Jager, Coach
* 2004 - Girls' Cross Country - Lower Peninsula Division 2 - Douglas Jager, Coach
* 2005 - Boys' Baseball - Division 2 - Matt Vriesenga, Coach
* 2008 - Girls' Team Track & Field - Division 2 (MITCA) - Arnold Baker, Coach

"Individual State Champions (all MHSAA unless noted; some championships are Lower Peninsula only)"
* 1969 - John De Jonge - boys' long jump - Class B (Central Christian)
* 1970 - Rick Van Dellen - boys' 500-yard freestyle swim - Class B (East Christian)
* 1971 - Don Tamminga - boys' mile - Class B (Central Christian)
* 1977 - Julie Boerman - girls' 220-yard dash - Class B
* 1978 - Bob Krikke - boys' high jump - Class B
* 1978 - Sandy Van Sponsen-Lori Van Essen-Amy Boerman-Julie Boerman - girls' 880-yard relay - Class B
* 1978 - Julie Boerman - girls' 220-yard dash - Class B
* 1979 - Bob Krikke - boys' high jump - Class B
* 1980 - Tanya De Vries-Gayle Heyer-Amy Boerman-Dawn Walstrom - girls' 1600-meter relay - Class B
* 1980 - Joan De Maat - girls' 1600-meter run - Class B
* 1980 - Joan De Maat - girls' 800-meter run - Class B
* 1983 - Takens-Andrsn-VnDrager-Honderd - girls' 1600-meter relay - Class B
* 1985 - Gwen De Maat - girls' 200-yard freestyle swim - Class B
* 1985 - Gwen De Maat - girls' 500-yard freestyle swim - Class B
* 1986 - Start-Griffioen-Stapert-Prince - girls' 3200-meter relay - Class B
* 1988 - Cathie Vos - girls' high jump - Class B
* 1996 - Brad Flikkema - boys' 500-yard freestyle swim - Class A
* 1997 - Jennifer Meekhof - girls' floor exercise - Division 2
* 2000 - Missy Smith - girls' pole vault - Division 1
* 2002 - Missy Smith - girls' pole vault - Division 2
* 2002 - Heather Scholten - girls' golf - Division 2

External links

* [http://www.grcs.org/highschool Grand Rapids Christian High School]

"Unofficial Athletics Websites"
* [http://highschoolsports.net/defaultcal_300.cfm?ct=2d&school=MI495069399&spt=-1&lvl=-1&division=-1&timezone=240 Sports Schedules and Maps]
* [http://hometeamsonline.com/visit/?u=GRCHS&sport=basketball&t=c Grand Rapids Christian Boys Basketball]
* [http://www.eaglesrunning.com Grand Rapids Christian Cross Country]
* [http://www.grchsfootball.com Grand Rapids Christian Football]
* [http://www.flyhigheagles.com Fly High Eagles (primarily Ice Hockey and Boys Soccer)]