Christian Academy’s Rock Creek Campus Offers Diverse, Inclusive Educational Experiences
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In education, the secret is to develop a passion for learning in students. In today’s society, the pressure to succeed at school can lead to anxiety and frustration even in our youngest children. In order to develop an environment that nurtures the spirit and provides excitement about success, leaders at Christian Academy of Louisville (CAL) developed the perfect mix at their Rock Creek campus.
Serving students from age two through fifth grade CAL’s Rock Creek campus provides a unique mixture of hands-on learning, high-tech approaches and a higher purpose.
“When you commit to provide Christian education, you commit to excellence in everything,” Principal Krystal Morrow says. “There is a higher accountability. This is not only in what we teach, but in how we teach. We provide a biblical worldview in every class, showing how God’s design is not only the basis for science, history, geography and math, but also in how each student learns and perceives him or herself. When students understand their place in God’s love, they want to develop their talents and their abilities with a personal perspective.”
Parents see that difference as well.
“There’s something different when you walk in the doors here,” says Brandt Davis, a parent of two Rock Creek students. “Everyone – teachers, parents and students – knows everyone’s name. Our children love the special facilities, and that they get to start music and Spanish as early as kindergarten. There’s a spiritual thread that is consistent in everything that happens. It all adds up to a school that our kids want to go to every day.”
Founded in 1976, Christian Academy moved into the Rock Creek facility in 1978. In 1998 a larger campus known as English Station opened, and the organization’s leaders planned to move all students to the new location and eventually sell the Rock Creek facility.
“But the demand continued for Christian education in this area,” Superintendent Tim Greener says. “So we converted this campus to an elementary school, and it became a special place to serve the elementary years. The small class sizes, the open-campus environment, and the vision to support all students, including those with learning challenges and learning gifts, made this campus a special place for exceptional Christian education.”
Rock Creek currently offers a wide scope of programs that have received local and national attention. Last year, Christian Academy received Louisville’s only distinguished designation for middle school and high school STEM programming. The program begins in kindergarten for all Christian Academy students. Rock Creek is an official STEM launch school.
In 2012 the Rock Creek campus became one of the first Louisville elementary schools to receive the Blue Ribbon of Excellence from the U.S. Department of Education. The school is an open-air campus – this, combined with a separate Collaboratory space and an outdoor garden, gives students the chance to refresh and explore their creativity.
There are unique Rock Creek facilities for special classes including separate art, music, technology, physical education, media, and Spanish facilities. In addition, each classroom has separate teaching and engagement areas. A dedicated Sensory Gym opened this year to support all students by incorporating hands-on movement activities. Speech therapists and occupational therapists, as well as teachers addressing different learning needs, work in the Sensory Gym.
The Association of Christian Schools International, which oversees 23,000 Christian schools, awarded CAL its first Exemplary Accreditation in 2017, underscoring the school’s ability to integrate spiritual and academic experiences at the highest level.
In 2014, CAL’s Providence School opened for students with Down syndrome. These students are mainstreamed with their classmates for the majority of the day, which creates an inclusive, empowering and supportive community benefiting all students.
Erin Castleberry, a parent of a Rock Creek student, feels the sense of community at Rock Creek is special.
“There is a sense of family here,” she says. “We all support each other, and we love what our teachers are doing to help children develop to be all God wants them to be. They build on their strengths and help them with their challenges. We’ve seen our daughter’s self esteem and self worth flourish in this environment. We watch our children grow as leaders and servants even at this young age. This school at Rock Creek is just a unique place.”
For more information on Christian Academy of Louisville’s Rock Creek campus, call 502-897-3372 and go to caschools.us/rock-creek-campus. The campus is located at 3110 Rock Creek Drive in Louisville.
