Christian School marks 40th anniversary with gala

Four decades of education will be the focal point of a birthday party at a local school this Saturday. Georgetown District Christian School (GDCS) on Trafalgar Rd. will host an Anniversary Gala 40 years after it commemorated its first graduation. The school's gym will be filled to its capacity as 300 people have confirmed their attendance for the gala, which organizers say will include tributes to the school's modest beginning. "We'll be celebrating as what we see as God's hand evident in the planning that took place to build the school," said Dawn Kalsbeek, one of the event's organizers. "We'll bring the school's founders together with graduates of the last 40 years." Georgetown resident George Miehm managed the local Royal Bank from 1966 to 1971 and remembers working with GDCS board members during the school's infancy. "I guess you have confidence in the borrowers," said Miehm, who had previously loaned money to some of the school's founders to build the church next door. "(They) had all kinds of loans and they all took care of them." GDCS opened its doors with 90 students from Grades 1 to 8 in just three classrooms. Today the school has 12 classrooms and educates 190 students beginning with its Harmony Preschool program.

The anniversary has special improtance to 1989 graduate Andrea Kamminga, who is part of a three generation family at the school. Kamminga's mother was one of the school's first students, and her daughter will soon finish Grady one. "I just have a real love and passion for that school," said Kamminga. "I can attach a lot of my childhood memories to that school and I hope for the same for my kids."