OUR HISTORY

In the early 1960’s, the general cry across the country was, “Johnny can’t read.”  Substituting the “Look and See” method of teaching reading and other methods of  “Progressive Education” for the traditional ways of doing things was becoming alarming.  About the same time, the public schools were frowning on or actually limiting the use of the Bible, even in their Christmas and Easter celebrations. As a result, private schools, particularly church-related ones, were multiplying.

When Walter Lepp became pastor of Santa Maria’s First Baptist Church, he had a vision of a Christian Day School as one of its ministries. The church agreed with him, and a committee was appointed to study the feasibility of starting a school. One of the members of that committee, Cathy Reed is still an active member of the church. When the committee decided it was wise to start a school, definite plans began to take shape, including the hiring of Wally Bourgeois, who brought with him several years of Christian school experience. A search committee was appointed to find a suitable site. Louis Holbrook and Don Bonebright were members of the committee.  The committee consulted with a local relator, Mr. Tesene, who became very helpful. A number of conservatives in the community, attracted by Pastor Lepp’s Sunday morning radio broadcasting, became interested, resulting in community backing as well as church support.

Finally, property became available on Santa Maria Way, and the church voted to purchase 25 acres on which to build a school. Ground was broken in the summer of 1967. However, there was a strong desire to start the school immediately instead of waiting for the buildings to be erected.  A decision was made to use the facilities of Pine Grove Baptist Church, a mission church of First Baptist, for the first year to house a kindergarten through fourth grade school. The church elected its first school board, which included Monty Davidson, Harold Lytle and Dale Butler. Valley Christian Academy was chosen as the school’s name.

Pastor Lepp insisted on having an experienced faculty.  Miss Isabel Palm, with a number of years’ experience teaching kindergarten in Christian schools, was hired as a kindergarten teacher. Miss Julia Rose, who had just retired after many years as a public school teacher, became the teacher for first and second grade; and Mrs. Nellie McLain, who had resigned from the steering committee when plans became more specific, and resigned her position with the Santa Maria Elementary Schools to teach the third and forth grades. Thus it was, that in September, 1967, Valley Christian Academy opened on the Pine Grove property with three teachers and 52 students.

Pastor Lepp desired that Valley Christian Academy have first-class facilities instead of the temporary or make-do buildings, which were used by many of the new schools started.  Consequently, the first three buildings at 2970 Santa Maria Way, built by contractor Lloyd McKean are still fine facilities after over three decades of use, and those structures built later are of similar quality.

The new buildings were ready and Valley Christian Academy moved onto their own campus in September, 1968.   The plan was to add a grade a year, but parents of children who were ready for sixth grade persuaded the board to add two grades that year with Mr. Bourgeois teaching the fifth and sixth grades.  A preschool was also added with Mrs. Bourgeois as director. 

At the close of the school year, Mr. and Mrs. Bourgeois resigned and moved away.  Mrs. Cathy Reed, a teacher in the Santa Maria Schools, accepted the position of principal-teacher.  The following year, Mr. Pat Doney became Pastor Lepp’s assistant and took over much of the oversight of the school.  Mrs. Doney became principal of the school and director of the preschool.  By that time, the classrooms had all been filled, and the preschool building had been erected across the parking lot.  Valley Christian was off to a good start.

1971 and 1972 were exciting years as the school took the step of expanding into seventh and eighth grade.  Each year new classes were added.   Mr. Don Blackburn joined the staff as principal in 1972 and oversaw the expansion of VCA through eleventh grade in 1974.

1975 marked the eighth year of operation of VCA and the first year in which classes were offered from preschool all the way through twelfth grade.  It was also the first year of Mr. John Brock’s five year tenure as Principal/Administrator.  By this time the school had grown to an enrollment of 331 students in grades K-12 and 96 students in the Preschool.  In addition, it was the first year in which band was incorporated into the VCA music program.

1976 saw the initiation of the high school athletics program.  This program, pioneered by Walt Retzlaff, would prove to be an important avenue of ministry to VCA over the years.

By 1979, the Lord had blessed, and VCA had its highest enrollment ever of 484 students in grades K-12.  This was also the first year of Mr. Charles Mason’s tenure as Principal/Administrator.  At this point in its history, the VCA property had been developed with eleven buildings.  These buildings housed eighteen classrooms, the office, a chapel, a library, a garage, the preschool, and a mobile home.  However the facilities were not completed.  1979 witnessed the next big addition to the campus with the completion of a 900-seat auditorium much needed by the church and school.  This was followed in late 1980 by the construction of the VCA gymnasium.

In 1982, a Talent Development class was initiated to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities.  These students were not able to keep up with the rigorous academic demands of the A Beka curriculum currently being used in the school.

Prompted by the death of Alan Rebel, a long-time teacher at VCA, a scholarship program was adopted in 1984 for needy families who were members of First Baptist Church.  This was followed in 1986 by the adoption of another financial aid program.  In an effort to promote Christian education among gospel preaching churches in the area, a number of Church Scholarships were made available to pastors to use within their congregations.  These two scholarship programs along with the Work Assistance Program adopted in 1983 proved to be a tremendous help in establishing a broader base of support for VCA  within the Christian community.

In 1989, a new tradition was started.  The first four days of school were devoted to spiritual emphasis.  Secondary students were taken to Ironwood Christian Camp for a time of spiritual challenge and school orientation.  It proved to be a great way to start the year both spiritually and socially and has become a lasting part of the program at VCA.  Spiritual Emphasis Week, along with Senior Missions Trips, which started in 1990, and Ezra Leadership Camps, to which the school began sending students in 1994, have helped maintain and enhance the spiritual focus of VCA.  As at its inception in 1967, the purpose of this ministry remains to lead young people to a saving knowledge of  Jesus Christ, and train and equip them to serve Him.

In 1999, VCA began offering Advanced Placement classes in English.  With the expansion of course offerings, the pursuit of accreditation from the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) began.  In April of 2000, VCA learned that it had received a three-year interim accreditation status from WASC.  During the next three years, the faculty and staff worked diligently to complete the self-study.  Using the expansion of class offerings and recommendations from the accrediting commission, First Baptist secured permits from the city to build a science lab in the high school and to expand the gym to include a lobby, youth room, and additional changing rooms.

The Spring of 2003 marked a new experience for VCA.  In March, a WASC visiting committee was on campus to give a recommendation regarding a term of accreditation.  In May, VCA was granted a six-year term.  The self-study focused three major areas:  strategic planning, writing and critical thinking, and spiritual supports.  During the 2003-2004 school year, expansion began in various areas including AP classes, modular buildings, and the intranet/internet in all classrooms.