Calvin Christian School

with the Purpose and Basis. How is the school governed? Calvin Christian School is owned and operated by a parental society incorporated as the Greater Winnipeg Society for Christian Education. It is not directed or financed by a church or denomination. Members of the school society elect a board of directors that is entrusted with the governance of the school. Is the school funded by the government? Independent schools receive about 50% of the Manitoba per student education cost in the form of a government grant. Our History

Calvin Christian Schools comes out of a Reformed religious and philosophical tradition dating back to the eighteen hundreds. That might cause you to wonder if it has strong denominational connections with a church in the Reformed tradition. Originally it did—it was in the late 50s that a group of Dutch immigrants worked together to establish a Christian school. All of these families involved in establishing the school were from the Christian Reformed Churches in Winnipeg and that gave the school a Dutch Calvinist flavor. However, the Reformed tradition and philosophical perspective is very clear about church connections and that is why Calvin Christian Schools has been interdenominational from the beginning. This dedicated group of parents associated themselves in The Greater Winnipeg Society of Christian Education and set about planning what would become Calvin Christian Schools. At considerable personal sacrifice they built a seven room school that opened its doors in September of 1960 to 65 students. Today more than 80 different churches are represented within the student body. The philosophy that remains today is often characterized as small “r” reformed because it isn’t about a connection to a Reformed Church; it is about a philosophical rootedness to the reformed thinkers through many generations who have laid down so much of what we think as Christians. The early years were years of sacrifice and struggle, but year by year the school grew in size and began to earn a reputation as a school where Christ is honoured and students are loved. A growing team of dedicated teachers, administrators with vision, and school boards with courage laid down the foundation for what Calvin Christian Schools have become today. By the late 80s, portable classrooms had multiplied around the original building and it was time to build in order accommodate the growth. Extra property was acquired to the east and construction began in 1989. An 8 classroom wing was added to the east. A new library, multipurpose room, administrative area and gymnasium were added to the west. That sandwiched the original building between two new wings and led to the complete renovation of the old building in the summer of 1990. God continued to bless the work at Calvin and space became a problem again in the latter half of the 90s. In 1997, that gave rise to the north wing which included a computer lab, two more classrooms and a staff room. The need for more space and the desire to establish a high school program lead us to search for more space. Through God’s providential leading we found the former Park Circle School in Transcona. In September of 2002, we opened the doors to Calvin Christian Collegiate, our second campus, housing our Grade 7 to 12 program. Testimonial

The two greatest gifts parents can give their children are roots and wings. Calvin Christian Schools is more than just an excellent academic environment -it is a place where we as parents are blessed to find partners to help us provide these gifts to our kids. The schools’ faith-based orientation and the solid academic curriculum are significant contributors to our kids' secure roots. At the same time the safe environment at Calvin Christian Schools provides a tremendous opportunity to encourage our kids to 'stretch their wings' -to explore a world of possibilities, to grow and mature in character, in relationship, in skill development and in faith. We as parents are wholeheartedly and passionately committed to our kids. It is very clear that the staff at Calvin Christian Schools is equally invested in the kids with whom they share their days- far beyond what is required to merely "do their jobs". Albert Einstein once said that "Education is what remains after once has forgotten everything he learned in school". The staff at Calvin Christian Schools doesn't just impart knowledge...they mentor and model, they provide practical wisdom, they engage with the students even over personal dilemmas and difficult situations, they challenge students to strive and to see that they can reach beyond status quo, and they champion and encourage our kids to be all that God intends them to be. Calvin Christian Schools doesn't seek to shelter our kids from the difficulties of the real world, but rather prepares them to face reality with a Biblical worldview- to be responsible and responsive to a suffering world, to be 'difference makers'...THIS is the kind of "education" that will remain for a lifetime and transcends generations.
-Parent