10/26/2015 11:44:25 AMRejoice Christian School Elementary students started attending class in their new building at 10701 North 129th East Avenue in Owasso on Monday.
The 87,233-square-foot facility features 50 classrooms, five classrooms per grade with 18 students per class. The state-of-the-art gymnasium doubles as a storm shelter, including restrooms and a natural gas-powered generator. Tablet-driven technology will be implemented in each classroom, providing the opportunity for teachers to instruct and interact with students through the use of upgraded technology in the classroom.“What a truly special moment for our Rejoice family,” said Superintendent Dr. Craig Shaw. “This dream has been alive for many years and to see it come to pass is a remarkable moment. I can’t wait to see the smiles and excitement on our students’ and faculty’s faces on the first day of school in the new Elementary Campus.”
The $50 million gift from the Eddy Gibbs Family Trust is the largest gift ever given to a K-12 school in the history of the United States.
“The gift from Mr. Gibbs is a tremendous blessing and we are humbled and honored by it,” Dr. Shaw said. “We recognize this unique opportunity to create a safe
place for students to grow spiritually and intellectually for many generations to come.”
place for students to grow spiritually and intellectually for many generations to come.”The middle and high school campus and athletic facilities are currently under construction. The anticipated completion of these projects is summer 2016. In total, Rejoice Christian Schools’ new campuses will cover 65 acres of land with 249,910 total square feet.
Founded in 1992 by First Free Will Baptist Church of Owasso, Rejoice Christian Schools is accredited through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). This year RCS had another record enrollment, growing nearly 30 percent from last year with 878 students. Combined the school system employs 85 full-time and 45 part-time faculty and staff.
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