CORRECTION: The published edition of May 15, 2015 edition incorrectly stated the Santa Rosa Christian School had between 60 and 70 students attending the school. The school actually has between 260 and 270 students. Adam Watt, the school’s academy principal, also says the private school offers a higher quality of education than found in area public schools. The published version incorrectly stated the Santa Rosa Christian School offers “the same quality education found at area public schools.” The Santa Rosa Press Gazette apologizes for the errors and the inconvenience it may have caused.
As the school year draws towards the end for the teachers, administrators and students of Santa Rosa County, the private Santa Rosa Christian School will remain busy with a summer camp, which is offered to students throughout the community. The basics of education is continued even throughout their summer program.
“We have a full summer camp here,” said Adam Watt, the academy principal of the SRCS. “A lot of the kids that come in for that are from public schools.”
The summer camp program includes field trips, Bible studies and other activities throughout the entire summer, Watt said.
In addition, the school is also starting a summer swim league.
“They are going to be training kids on how to be on swim team, teaching tons of swimming lessons and they will be competing against other swim teams,” Watt said.
The private Christian school has a history in Santa Rosa County dating back to when it began in 1962, originally in Bagdad.
“We started out with 40 students and we doubled it for the next several years,” said Doris Peppard, who serves as the school’s elementary school principal and registrar. “At one time we were the only Christian private school in Santa Rosa County and we had upward of 600 students.”
Peppard is one of the original students to enroll at the school, she is also part of the SRCS’s first graduating class.
Since the school opened, other privatized Christian schools have began operating in Santa Rosa and surrounding counties. SRCS currently averages between 260-270 students in their Preschool through 12th grade curriculum, Peppard said.
Although the school has grown and changed through the school programs and sports activities, Peppard and Watt said the school continues to offer a high quality education.
“We meet all of the requirements for graduation in the state of Florida,” Peppard said. “Our kids are meeting the credit required courses and we take them as far as we can academically.”
On average, the school has a graduating class of less than ten students, Watt said. However, Watt is expecting the number to increase due to the number of students enrolled in the high school program.
The administrators take pride in stating the SRCS is fully accredited by the American Association of Christian Schools, meaning students can earn the credits needed to attend a college of their choice.
They are also proud of one of the school’s preferred teaching methods.
“One of our distinctions is that we teach children phonics,” Peppard said. “If you break up a word into the sounds of each letter and each blend, they can read anything.”
Watt said he’s witnessed the benefits of using phonics both in the school itself and with his own children.
“I would say the vast majority of our four year olds are reading by Christmas,” he said. “My sons went through that program and they were reading at (age) 3.”
The school has also recently found success in the area of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum with their Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) team. Students on the ROV team, who operate remote controlled under water vehicles have won numerous competitions against public and private schools and are expected to compete in an upcoming international competition.
“Now they are preparing to go to New Finland for an international competition with countries all over the world,” Watt said. “Our kids are trying to finish fundraising in order to make it up there.”
Watt said the competition is scheduled for June.
SRCS also offers sports programs while being involved in the Panhandle Christian Conference, along with other private Christian Schools. The school offers soccer, boys and girls basketball, volleyball and baseball. Depending on student interest, the school will offer softball, Watt said.
Like most public schools, SRCS also offers an arts program and encourages community participation amongst thier students.
For more information on the summer camp program, the summer swim league and more about the school in general, contact the school at 623-4671.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa Christian School continues following the basics