Sheldon Christian School

SHELDON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 100 YEAR CELEBRATION

A centennial celebration to mark 100 years of the Sheldon Christian School, was held on Friday, April 28, 2017, with a theme of “Planted in Trust – Rooted in Faithfulness” at the First Christian Reformed Church, in Sheldon, Iowa. A program included a prelude by the Christian School and Alumni Bands, with current principal Peter Van Velzen welcoming the crowds with an opening prayer. Scripture readings and songs by alumni were concluded with a closing prayer by former Principal Douglas De Vries. Following the Centennial Celebration at the church, an open house was held at the school to finalize the celebration.

HISTORICAL BOOKMARKS:

1914: First meeting to establish a Christian School was held on January 16, 1914. On January 19 the society board met and began working on a constitution.

1917: On April 6, $2,115 had been collected and plans to construct a two story, two room frame school house were confirmed. The cost would be $2,516. Mr. A. Bremer from Chicago became the principal and janitor at a salary of $1,150. Additional costs were $279 for a furnace and $312.72 for benches for the classroom.

Forty children were enrolled, with tuition set at 50 cents a week per child. On July 29, the Acts of Society for Christian Instruction were incorporated, with a dedication service held on September 10. Students were granted a month's reprieve to assist with corn picking. This practice continued until October 1923.

The new school building was erected with a round cylinder fire escape descending one side of the school. Many a student enjoyed the practice fire drills using it as a form of escape from the building.

1929: The depression years challenged keeping the school open. Teachers were forced to take a cut in salary. The Christian Reformed Church was vital in keeping the school open during these lean years. 1936: A new board was elected on August 6. Tuition was increased to $1.00 a week.

1937: A school bus was purchased and put into service. A second bus was purchased in 1940. The school bus was designed so that students sat with their backs to the sides of the bus. The exhaust pipe ran from the back of the driver's seat, the entire length of the bus, to about four feet from the rear of the bus, when it channelled through the floor to the outside of the bus. This provided heat in the winter time for students (and also a bit a fun as students would put crayons on this pipe so that they melted from the heat).

1948: Construction by Herman Schumacker began on a new building located just south of the Christian Retirement Home at a cost of $56,000. The lot itself was purchased at a cost of $8,000. 1949: Dedication of the new facility, to include four new classrooms, was held on September 12.

1956: Approval of a new four classroom addition onto the existing building was given to DeStigter Brothers of Sioux Center, for a bid of $51,825. Dedication ceremonies were held on December 16. 1967: Andringa Construction was awarded a contract for a gym to the estimated cost of $41,000.

1971: Additional classrooms were needed. Approval of a two room addition was awarded to Poppema-Sikma Construction.

1985: Use of the Sheldon Community School buses was approved to meet transportation needs.

1987: A bid of $161,000 was awarded to Poppema-Sikma Construction for an additional two classrooms in the basement and a computer room with related equipment and storage remodeling. Two existing classrooms were converted into an 8th grade home room and all purpose room and a central library.

1991: 157 students were enrolled from 82 families from eight different churches. Tuition was set at $2,444 for one student.

2014: Funds were utilized to update Chromebooks and ipads were purchased.

2015: Accreditation was obtained from Christian Schools International instead of the Iowa State Board of Education.

1917: Sheldon Christian School continues to prepare God's children for a lifetime of Kingdom service by providing quality God-centered education (Mission Statement)

PRINCIPALS THROUGH THE YEARS:

1917-1919 A. Bremer
1919-1920 G. Hoogsteen
1920-1924 C. Kuiper
1924-1926 Dick Tolsma
1926-1927 C. Offeringa
1927-1928 H. Wierma
1928-1934 C. Faber
1934-1936 Grace Vandrager
1936-1941 Peter Dekker
1941-1942 H. Rikkers
1942-1949 Lester Landaal
1949-1951 Philip Elve
1951-1955 Calvin Heronimus
1955-1960 Gary Vreeman
1960-1963 Arnold Christians
1963-1977 Douglas De Vries
1977-1983 Virgil Baker
1983-1990 Jack Schueurs
1990-1996 Vince Bonnema
1996- Pete Van Velzen

From Sheldon Prairie Museum