The first Pella Christian Grade School Building located at the corner of Union and West 2nd in Pella.

Pella Christian Grade School To Celebrate 100 Years

In humble gratitude to God, Pella Christian Grade School looks forward to its 100th Anniversary in 2012. As part of the celebration, this is the first in a series of articles to commemorate the occasion. We thank the Pella community for its support throughout the years and consider it a great privilege to exist cordially alongside one of the nation’s top public schools. Whether you’re an alumni of Pella Christian Grade School or have never set foot in the door, we hope you will join us in celebration.

The year was 1912. William Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Eugene V. Debs engaged in a four-way contest for the U.S. presidency; New Mexico became the 47th state admitted to the Union; and the luxurious Titanic sank on its maiden voyage, making headlines around the world.

In small town Pella, Iowa, 37 people gathered to make a little news of their own—not the attention-grabbing type suited for national headlines, but a more meaningful kind that would quietly change lives. They formed the Association of Christian Education of Pella, devoted to the belief that a Bible-based curriculum would best prepare children for a life of Christian service. The idea of a local school that ignited young people with a passion to live out their faith to their fullest potential had been discussed for nearly 9 years, having first been documented in meeting notes from First Christian Reformed Church in 1903. Finally the timing seemed right. A lot was purchased on the corner of West 2nd and Union Street, and a two-room schoolhouse was built that same year. Total cost: $4,148. Mr. Cleveringa was hired as the school’s first principal and Miss Gertrude Bennink became the teacher. On January 6, 1913, the school opened its doors to 26 students, with 23 more joining before the year’s end. Two years later, Catrina Van Veen and Walter Van Zomeren were awarded the first diplomas as the graduating class of 1915.

Dutch was taught on Friday afternoons in the school’s early years, but in a decision that proved both controversial and divisive, the Association switched to English shortly after America declared war on Germany and entered World War I. The reason: Dutch was negatively perceived as being too similar to German. Although this decision cost the Association more than half of its 95 members and enrollment sharply declined, the remaining members continued in faith, even managing to complete a second-story addition. As World War I entered its final stages, however, the school was forced to shutter its doors for 10 weeks due to a pandemic flu that proved far more deadly than the War. (While an estimated 16 million died in World War I, the pneumonia-like symptoms of the “Spanish Flu” or “La Grippe” of 1918 killed an estimated 50 million worldwide.)

Enrollment sharply declined from 1922-1927, yet members remained devoted. Ironically, a period of tremendous growth came during the Great Depression when the breach caused by the switch to English healed, and members enjoyed a tremendous surge of support, including enough contributions to cover all expenses.

The greatest growth, however, came at the end of WWII, causing the schoolhouse to literally burst at the seams with 208 pupils. In 1952 the Association responded by raising the $132,000 necessary to purchase the current Liberty Street site and construct a brick-and-block structure. (An additional 8 acres was purchased in 1962.) Enrollment increased, and the new school’s daily kindergarten schedule alternated country kids and city kids, reflecting Pella’s status as a farming community.

Today, the student body of approximately 360 has diversified from its 100 percent Dutch beginnings to include children from Africa, Asia, and South America; from Catholic, Methodist, and Reformed backgrounds; and from various economic and social backgrounds. It is a school where faith is treasured and diversity is shared.

Throughout the past 100 years, Pella Christian Grade School has been built, renovated, relocated, and renovated again. Transportation has expanded from a lone station wagon to a yellow fleet; the school has been singled out for national honors as a prestigious Blue Ribbon school; and an exciting new Spanish immersion program has been added for 2012. Though clearly open to change, the school’s focus has stayed true to the mission set 100 years ago: Students are expected to accomplish academic excellence, respect authority and each other, and grow in their commitment to a life of Christian service.

Each spring, a new graduating class receives diplomas and has a photograph taken to add to the collection hanging in the school’s halls. And each year supporters watch the cap-and-gown ceremony and are thankful for those who envisioned and founded a school where rigorous studies are valued, but an academic life grounded in Christian service is prized most of all.

LuAnn Brandsen, contributing writer

011212

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Town Crier Ltd. or towncriernews.com.
Readers' responses are always welcomed.