This article was written by Sarah Weber for the Vibrant Orange City Magazine and published by Pluim Publishing.
Orange City Christian School is well underway in Phase Two of a multimillion-dollar expansion project. The first phase added classrooms, storage, and a music room and was completed in 2020 for the cost of $2 million dollars. The most recent updates in the first phase included spaces allowing for after-school care for kids.
On September 1, a ribbon cutting took place to open the spaces officially, known as Cubs Care and Friday Care programs. Cubs Care is an afternoon childcare option for students attending morning preschool and is available Monday-Thursday, following the same calendar schedule as the preschool program. The OCCS Friday Care program is another option available to students who attend preschool and/or kindergarten at OCCS> The program runs the same school dates and times as Orange City Christian School. Both are now an active part of the OCCS school day.
The second phase of expansion, known as Project Engaeg: Phase 23, includes more classrooms, a science lab, a gymnasium, and the renovation of a collaborative space. The expansion will create a safe and secure entrance to the school and expand administrative offices for growth. Four classrooms with specific science classrooms and labs will be added as part of the expansion. A new learning commons and collaborative space will be added outside a new gymnasium with 300-capacity bleachers. home and away locker rooms will be added, and a remodel to the existing gym will include a flexible performance space. The school kitchen will be expanded, and additional renovated spaces will include counseling offices and resource and storage spaces. As the project is completed, additional parking and a new drive for the new gymnasium entrance will be added. The cost range for the project is between $12-15 million.
Principal Jason Alons says, “We are very excited at how the Lord has blessed our school and how this plan will allow us to continue quality Christian education in Orange City.”
