17 Feb DALLAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL BY JAMIE ENGLE

Look around Dallas Christian School in Mesquite and you might be surprised to see many familiar faces. Quite a few of the staff and students are from Forney.

As word gets around, we see more and more people from Forney here at Dallas Christian School,” said Greg Losher, Vice President of Operations for the school.

Forney resident Keith Jones, father of Carlie, Taylor and Tori, said they were searching for an educational environment for the girls that provided high academic standards while offering opportunities for them to grow and become well-rounded adults.

“We wanted a school that affords a greater spiritual foundation as well as high academics. The goal of Dallas Christian School’s administration and teaching staff is to grow the entire student- socially, academically, spiritually and emotionally,” Jones added.

“In a small class, we can treat students individually. Parents coming from larger schools, especially high schools, tell us that their students don’t get individual attention,” Losher explained. About 600 students attend DCS currently for grades pre-K through twelve.

“Our teachers look at their job as their mission. They value Christian education. Some  are  also  coaches;  some  sponsor extracurricular activities. Our teachers are vested in our school spiritually and academically,” Losher said.

Next year, DCS will celebrate their 60th year.  As a fully accredited K3-12th grade college preparatory school located on a 60 acre campus, they are committed to providing a nurturing environment that is emotionally safe, intellectually engaging, and spiritually formative.

“We were looking for a school, but what we found is that DCS has become our extended family,” Jones said. “Being a member of the DCS family has opened so many doors and is allowing our daughters to bloom and discover their talents in a safe and nurturing environment. There is an open flow of communication between faculty and family in such way that we feel like we are a part of campus.”

CHRISTIAN-BASED EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY

“Our students are prepared academically and with a biblical worldview. Community service is part of their educational experience,” Losher said. “We offer Honors, AP and dual credit courses. Plus there is a full slate of extracurricular such as athletics, fine arts, theatre and visual arts.”

Beginning in sixth grade, each student receives an iPad to use, loaded with digital  textbooks and homework apps – and they research online with the device. Bible is a core subject for all grades, pre-K through twelve. Lower school (pre-K and elementary) have chapel every day while grades six through twelve have chapel three times per week.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES

With many buildings on the same gated campus, DCS does their best to integrate the buildings; for example, seniors adopt first graders. Students are required to have 25 service hours per year for grades nine through twelve as a graduation requirement. They can find their own service opportunities, and the school works with local organizations such as the Salvation Army to provide those opportunities.  In high school, a mission trip is scheduled yearly.

“DCS offers so many opportunities for students to be involved in various activities ranging from fine arts to sports,” Jones said. Students are not limited to being involved in only one or two areas. Students give back to the community through community service projects and are invited to participate in mission opportunities.”

Parents are invited to participate in the very active Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), the Dallas Christian Athletic Association, and the Patrons of Fine Arts.

TOURS AND SHADOW DAY

Parents and students interested in DCS are invited to tour the facilities, said Jolie Clevenger, Director of Admissions for DCS.  Facilities include the Early Childhood Learning Center for pre-K through first grade, the elementary building for grades two through five, the middle school building for grades six through eight, and Dallas Christian High School for grades nine through twelve.

“Parents and students can step into the classroom and observe, and almost always meet the principal. Then they have an opportunity to sit down and ask questions.” Clevenger noted.

Prospective students are given the opportunity to schedule a “Shadow Day,”

where they are paired with a current student with similar interests and spend

the day going to classes together.  “When you come here, this becomes your community, and Shadow Day is only the beginning,” Losher said.

“We have been at DCS since 2014, and there has not been a day we regretted the move!” Jones added.

DCS is about a 20 to 25 minute drive from Forney, located at 1515 Republic Parkway in Mesquite. For more information call DCS at 972.270.5495.