History of Pella Christian High
The history of Pella Christian High School dates as far back as the year 1928. In the spring of that year a committee was appointed to investigate interest in the cause of Christian secondary education. This committee consisted of the Revs. William Vander Werp, pastor at Prairie City; Harry Blystra, pastor at Sully; and Paul De Koekkoek, pastor at Oskaloosa.
On June 27, 1928, a meeting was held in the First Christian Reformed Church of Pella for the purpose of organizing a Society for Christian education on the secondary level. Committees were appointed at this meeting to draft a constitution, to obtain classroom facilities, and to organize a society.
At the next meeting on July 6, 1928, additional members joined the society and a constitution was adopted. On October 10, 1928, the first Board of Pella Christian High was chosen. Serving on the first Board were Rev. William Vander Werp, president; Rev. Paul De Koekkoek, secretary; Jacob Pothoven, treasurer; Rev. Harry Blystra, Otto Colsman, John Wynberg, Gerrit De Graf, Tony Vander Hoek and Rev. Andrew De Vries. Plans were made for the opening of school in the fall of 1929.
During the summer of 1929 facilities were obtained in the Pella Christian Grade School building and Miss Everetta Vander Hart was hired as ninth grade teacher. Parents were contacted and everything looked promising for the opening of school in the fall.
On the opening day of the new school year only two students arrived to be enrolled in the ninth grade, although there had been several families that had promised to send their children. The Society continued to function but it was decided to postpone any further action for a Christian secondary education until more interest could be aroused.
It was during the summer of 1937 that the Board of the Pella Christian Grade School decided to add the ninth grade to its school. The Society for Secondary Education organized in 1928 disbanded, thus leaving the matter in the hands of the Grade School Board.
The first ninth grade of ten students was under the leadership of Mr. Gerrit Rozenboom, principal of the grade school. It proved to be a success and the next year the tenth grade was added. Mr. George Pals was added as a teacher to help Mr. & Mrs. Rozenboom teach the upper grades.
The problem of operating and supporting the high school had to be faced. It was decided that the high school should be owned and operated by a new society. On December 14, 1939, a meeting was called to organize a new Christian High School Society. Sixty-five charter members enrolled. At a meeting held on February 16, 1940, a constitution was adopted and Board members were chosen. The newly chosen officers of the Board were: Rev. Fred Van Houten, president; John Wynberg, secretary; and Cecil Vander Molen, treasurer. Others who were elected to the Board were Bart Bandstra, Peter Keuning, Henry Kuperus, Gerrit De Boer, and John Vos.
The Society purchased a large home on North Main Street for $6,000. The home, formerly a hospital, was remodeled and prepared for the first class. In September of 1940, the classroom doors opened and a Christian High School was in operation with an enrollment of forty-one students. The teaching staff included Mr. George Pals, principal; Mr. Adrian De Groot, Mrs. Gerrit Rozenboom, Miss Agnes Vos, and Rev. Fred Van Houten.
On May 20, 1941, the first Commencement was held. Nine students received diplomas. They were Kathryn Bandstra, Richard De Boer, Arthur J. Beyer, Dorothy De Jong, William Hugen, Irene Keuning, Wilbur Ver Meer, Clarence Vos, and Katherine Rus.
The years 1942 through 1947 were years of growth and development. During these years Mr. William Van Vliet served as principal. In 1942 there were forty-four students and eleven graduates. In 1949 the enrollment increased to sixty-one students.
Despite the removal of partitions, the addition of classrooms, the rental of gym facilities, and the juggling of classes, the remodeled house could no longer accommodate the students who crammed its tiny classrooms in 1946 and 1947. The Board saw the futility of further remodeling and sought a new site. Their search ended when they purchased property on Jefferson Street just east of Main. Although the site was uneven and posed a water problem due to the presence of a pond, the Board believed that with adequate tiling and proper landscaping the property would be ideal for a one-story structure. The site, centrally located in Pella, provided a large playing field, and offered room for expansion.
During the summer of 1948 Rev. Fred Huizenga, now principal, met with Dick Gosselink, Gerrit De Boer, and Cecil Vander Molen to plan the new school. Even though World War II had ended concrete and other essential building materials were difficult to obtain. Consequently the Building Committee, using the materials that were available, constructed a one-story frame building with brick veneer.
An uninterrupted hallway, over two hundred feet long, funneled the students into the six classrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, science room, library-study hall, offices, equipment room, and rest rooms. Opposite the kitchen was a stage and spacious gymnasium, two facilities that earlier Christian High students never enjoyed.
In November workmen laid the cornerstone, bearing the inscription, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." In February of 1949 Pella Christian High moved to its new building on Jefferson Street.
The 1951-52 Eaglette basketball team, coached by Mr. Dick Bruinooge took a 22-0 record to the State Tournament. Mr. John Brouwer became principal in 1953. During the fifties, the enrollment continued to grow. In 1955 the enrollment stood at 205.
When Mr. Michael T. Ruiter became principal in 1957 the enrollment reached 235. In 1958 an addition was added to the building which consisted of a large study hall, a chemistry-physics laboratory, music room, teacher's lounge, library, and extra classroom.
Mr. Ray Geerdes was appointed principal in 1961. In 1962 Mr. Paul De Jong became principal and an addition to the gymnasium was completed. The seating capacity was enlarged and new locker room facilities were provided.
Shortly after school had been dismissed on January 15, 1964, fire was discovered in the kitchen area. The fire spread rapidly and soon the entire structure was engulfed in flames. The original frame structure was completely destroyed, but the 1958 addition remained standing with smoke and water damage.
The Pella Christian Grade School shifted some of its classes to the Calvary Christian Reformed Church and the high school moved into the north wing of the grade school. By January 27 teachers and students were trying to adjust to the crowded conditions that would be theirs for a semester. With these classrooms and facilities opened by local churches and Central College, everyone survived the unforgettable "Spring of Sixty-Four."
By March 9 of 1964, architects had completed the preliminary sketches for a new building. The Society met and unanimously approved the plans to construct a new building at a cost of $360,000.
By September enough rooms had been completed to allow school to begin in the new building. The gym was completed in February and the 25th Anniversary and Dedication celebration was held in March of 1965.
Additional classrooms were added in 1970. In 1974 an industrial arts complex was added to the building. An art room, student activity room, music practice rooms, and learning resource room were added in 1980. In 1985 a large computer room and a new counselor's office were added.
Two organizations have helped the school with donations to purchase equipment, musical instruments, band uniforms, library books, and many other items. The Ladies Auxiliary, organized in 1937, and the Booster Club organized in 1974, have been great supporters of the total educational program of Pella Christian High.
In 1987, Pella Christian High has an enrollment of 287 students and a staff of 21 teachers. The school draws students from a radius of about thirty-five miles from Pella. Students at Pella Christian High come from Oskaloosa, Sully, Cedar, Tracy, New Sharon, Newton, and Prairie City as well as from Pella.
Throughout the years, Pella Christian High has been known for its academic excellence. In 1985, our school was selected as one of sixty-four private schools to receive the Excellence in Education Award from the United States Department of Education. Pella Christian High has been the only private school in Iowa to receive this recognition.
Paul DeJong retired after serving for forty years at PCHS with his last 26 years as the Principal. Clyde Rinsema was hired as the new Principal and served for 14 years until 2002.
In the fall of 1997, the board recognized the need to expand the facilities to better meet the mission of PCHS. In 1999 a facility study was conducted and a report was provided in the spring of 2000 indicating the structural needs of the building and cost estimates for the needed expansions. The school Society in 2000 and 2001 voted overwhelmingly to look for a new piece of property. A small group of investors called Eagle Partners was formed and worked on behalf of PCHS to identify and purchase some land for a new high school campus. A 43-acre property was identified on the SE edge of Pella and the Eagle Partners group was eventually able to purchase the property
When a replacement for Mr. Rinsema could not be found for the 2002-03 school year, the board decided to hire Ken Bootsma to serve as an interim administrator. Dr. Bootsma served for one year and Darryl De Ruiter was hired to become the 10th administrator for PCHS beginning his leadership in the fall of 2003.
At the 2004 Society meeting, a standing room only crowd gathered and voted 187-1 to purchase the land from Eagle Partners for $640,000 for the purpose of development and construction of a future new campus for PCHS. Significant work and progress took place throughout the 2004-05 school year and a campus Master Plan, building floor plan, and preliminary cost estimates were presented to more than 230 people at the 2005 Society meeting. A unanimous vote of confidence was received and the project will continue to move forward in the years ahead.
Pella Christian High is a private, parent-controlled school. The Society of parents elects Board members who serve as the governing body of the school. Students from twenty-seven churches and seven different church denominations are represented in Pella Christian High.
Pella Christian High gives Christian parents a freedom of choice as to the type of education they wish to give their children. Pella Christian High is founded upon the principle that the responsibility for the education and training of children has been placed upon parents by God. Children of believing parents are in a real sense God's children and therefore their education must be rooted in a Christian view of life and must be God-centered with the Bible as the foundation and guide.
The Word of God provides the basis for Christian education. In Proverbs 1:7 we read, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." God is therefore central to the development of character. The ultimate objective of Christian education is that God will be recognized and obeyed in all areas of life. Regardless of the class or subject, Christian education looks to the Bible for absolute truths.
To be continued...