Modesto Christian School

Private school in the United States

Modesto Christian School

Location

Salida, California

United States

Information
Type| Private
Religious affiliation(s)| Christian
Established| 1962
Principals| Cynthia Jewell (9-12)
Vicki Olson (K-8)
Grades| Preschool–12th grade
Gender| coeducational
Enrollment| 343 (2013-14)
Campus size| 32 acres
Campus type| Suburban
Color(s)| Navy and Red
Mascot| Crusaders
Website| www.modestochristian.org

Modesto Christian School is a private Christian school in Salida, California, on the outskirts of Modesto. It was formerly affiliated with the Assemblies of God;[1] it was founded in 1962 by Pastor Roy Blakeley, who had previously founded Neighborhood Church.[2] It was a charter member of the Association of Christian Schools International.[3] The school educates children from preschool through 12th grade and is divided into an elementary, a middle, and a high school, which are housed on the same campus.[3] It is a small school;[4] combined enrollment was 285 in 2009[5] and 343 in 2013-14.[1] The first graduating class, in 1976, consisted of 8 students; in 2007 there were 86.[2]

In 2016, a group headed by Glen Villanueva, a local physician, purchased Modesto Christian School and part of the campus from Neighborhood Church. The school is now under the ownership of Modesto Christian School Incorporated, and is now non-denominational.[6] A charter school, Great Valley Academy, bought the remainder of the campus.

Class sizes are small, there is a strict dress code, and in addition to Bible class and weekly church services, each class session starts with a prayer.[2]

The school values athletics highly. Greg Pearce, the athletics director and dean of students, said in 2009: "Our first goal is to prepare our kids spiritually. Our second is to prepare them academically and our third priority has to do with sports participation."[5] It offers baseball, softball, football, tennis, track and field, volleyball, wrestling, and boys' and girls' basketball, golf, and soccer. It is a member of the Trans-Valley League of the Sac-Joaquin Section (CIF).[7] The sports program has been very successful; Modesto Christian was named Cal Hi Sports Division V State School of the Year in 2006[5] and as of March 2007[update] had won four state championships, 10 Northern California championships, topped the Sac-Joaquin Section 17 times and the league 35 times.[2] In 2014 three seniors signed letters of intent to attend top-tier colleges on sports scholarships[8] and the football team was defeated in the divisional championship.[9]

The school has also been praised for its drama program.[6]

## Alumni

[edit]

* Isaiah Burse, football player[8]
* Chuck Hayes, basketball player[5][6][8]
* Richard Midgley, basketball player, former Modesto Christian head basketball coach[10]
* Reeves Nelson, basketball player[11]
* D. J. Seeley, basketball player[2]
* Nate Sudfeld, football player[12]
* Zach Sudfeld, football player[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Private school directory, 2013-14, updated August 6, 2014, downloadable at Private Schools, California Department of Education (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet).
2. ^ a b c d e Amanda Dyer, "Inside Modesto Christian", Lodi News-Sentinel, March 30, 2007.
3. ^ a b History Archived 2011-10-09 at the Wayback Machine, About Us, Modesto Christian School, retrieved December 9, 2014.
4. ^ Nan Austin, "Modesto Christian students learn retail – and larger lessons ", The Modesto Bee, November 13, 2014.
5. ^ a b c d Gus Thomson, "Placer's football championship hopes on the line Friday in Stockton", Auburn Journal, December 10, 2009.
6. ^ a b c Garth Stapley, "Modesto Christian resurrects after nearly folding", The Modesto Bee, December 20, 2015.
7. ^ Athletics, Modesto Christian School, retrieved December 9, 2014.
8. ^ a b c d Joe Cortez, "District athletes sign national letters of intent", The Modesto Bee, November 12, 2014.
9. ^ Brian Vanderbeek, "Modesto Christian falls to a team programmed to win", The Modesto Bee, November 30, 2014.
10. ^ Joe Cortez, "Modesto Christian’s Midgley steps down as boys basketball coach", The Modesto Bee, August 15, 2016.
11. ^ Brian Vanderbeek, "Away from UCLA, Modesto's Nelson says he'll go pro", The Modesto Bee, December 15, 2011.
12. ^ Richard T. Estrada, "New era at Modesto Christian", Merced Sun-Star, August 9, 2010.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

37°43′21″N 121°04′43″W﻿ / ﻿37.7225°N 121.0785°W﻿ / 37.7225; -121.0785