The Spartan Blog

Dear Spartan Families,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! Whether your family has been part of Calvary Christian School for many years or you are joining us for the first time, we are grateful that God has brought you into our school community. A new school year always brings excitement; new teachers, new friendships, new opportunities, and new ways for our students to grow. With that being said, our mission goes far beyond preparing students academically. We desire to help students know God, understand His truth and character, develop a biblical worldview, and become equipped to serve Him faithfully wherever He leads them.

This year brings several exciting additions to our school. We are launching a new entrepreneurship course that will encourage students to think creatively, solve problems, and develop the skills needed to turn ideas into meaningful action. We are also adding a new missions course designed to help students better understand God’s heart for the nations and consider how they can participate in the Great Commission. Students will also benefit from our new computer lab, which will provide additional opportunities to strengthen skills and support learning across multiple subject areas. This fall, we will also install a new flagpole area in front of the school which will include a beautiful walking path that will enhance our campus while providing another visible reminder of our gratitude for the freedoms God has given us. 

We are also excited to welcome our Urbana families that will be joining us through our newest bus route that will meet at Life Net Christian Fellowship in Urbana. Our daily Urbana route extends access to Calvary families and becomes our second in-house route, joining the Marysville route which launched last year.

Another important focus this year will be completing our ACSI accreditation process. The ACSI accreditation team will visit Calvary next spring, marking the culmination of an intensive, multi-year process of self-evaluation, documentation, reflection, and improvement. Accreditation is about much more than earning a designation. It requires our entire team to examine every area of our school; from academics and spiritual formation to governance, student services, safety, and organizational effectiveness. The process helps us identify what we are doing well, recognize areas where we can grow, and establish clear plans for continued improvement. It is demanding work, but it ultimately makes us a stronger school and improves the experience we provide for our students and families. We are also excited to begin our first year as a Colson Fellows Academic Affiliate. We are one of only 30 Christian schools in America that have launched a Colson Fellows Academic Affiliate! Our inaugural class includes 15 dedicated staff and school parents who have committed themselves to significant spiritual formation, biblical worldview development, and personal growth. This investment will strengthen not only those involved but also the students, families, and colleagues they influence. We believe that spiritually healthy and biblically grounded adults are essential to forming spiritually healthy and biblically grounded students.

Over the past year, I have also been blessed with the opportunity to coach and support Christian schools across the country through the Herzog Institute. While I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the work of other schools, one of the greatest benefits has been what I have been able to bring home to CCS. This work has allowed us to build relationships, exchange ideas, and learn alongside some of the strongest Christian schools and leaders in the country. Those experiences challenge us to keep growing while also helping us recognize just how special the CCS community truly is. It can be easy to assume that what we experience at Calvary is normal. The reality is that a school community marked by dedicated teachers, a healthy staff culture, strong enrollment, supportive families, spiritual unity, and a shared commitment to the mission is more the exception than the rule. What God has built here is a tremendous blessing. That does not mean we are perfect or that our work is finished, but it does mean we should be grateful for the flourishing community God has entrusted to us.

We do not take that blessing, or the responsibility that accompanies it, for granted. Christian education is most effective when the home, church, and school work together. Thank you for trusting us to partner with you in the education and spiritual formation of your children. As we begin this year, my prayer is that our students will grow in wisdom, character, courage, and faith. I pray that every lesson, relationship, challenge, and success will help point them toward Christ and prepare them for the purposes God has for their lives.
 

Thank you for being part of the Calvary Christian family. We are excited to see what God will do in and through our students, families, and staff this year.
Welcome back!

1 Tim 4.12
Ryan Hyde
Head of School