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Home  Feature Articles School Bells are Ringing at Christian City
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School Bells are Ringing at Christian City |
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Friday, 30 June 2006 |
Next month brings the return of books, tests and homework for kids across the country. At Christian City, things are no different. Kids come to Christian City from families in crisis, and Christian City’s goal is to help these children by giving them a loving and caring surrogate family until they can be reunited with their own. Christian City provides a supportive, family-type environment where kids live with a Mom and Dad 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When Mom and Dad are off duty, the kids go to a relief cottage with other Christian City “family members” who care for them. The children do chores, participate in meals, and have family devotions and worship times together. Christian City’s goal is to do everything possible to help each child succeed in life and break any unhealthy cycles they have developed prior to being a part of Christian City.
One essential step toward their goal of success is for each child to be given the opportunity of a great education. In many cases, children come to Christian City with extensive educational needs. Truancy issues allowed some kids to drop back a grade level, while others have learning disabilities that require the additional aid of a learning disability school. Each child is evaluated and given the individual assistance he or she needs in order to do well. The extra time and care given to these students has helped them excel. Some go on to attend private Christian schools, and this year five girls graduated from high school. Christian City will have a total of nine students enrolled in college this fall.
Back to school is always an exciting time at Christian City. However, with supplies, uniforms and tuitions for private and specialty schools, it can also be an expensive time of year. Children that are placed at Christian City by the State have a small stipend to help cover just over 50% of the cost to raise them, but children placed there by families in need are often unable to provide any monetary support. Thanks to corporations, churches and individuals that help pay for Christian City’s necessities, these kids are given the possibility to do well in school and excel in life.
By Kate Nickell
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