RCS Celebrates 55 Years of Ministry
Superintendent Emeritus Bruce D and Linda Lee Johnson with Esther and John Stallnecht (front row) and Keith and Phyllis Holmlund and Nikki and Bent (RCHS 2014) Holmlund (back row)
Pictures by Cathy Breslow/BreslowImaging
On October 21, Redwood Christian Schools celebrated fifty-five years of ministry at their 55th Anniversary Annual Dinner in the Bruce D Johnson Gymnasium on the Redwood Christian Middle School and High School Campus in San Lorenzo. More than two hundred Founders, longtime supporters as well as past and current parents and students were engaged as Dr. Al Hearne, RCS Superintendent, and his Principals, Justin Redemer (Redwood Christian High School), Dr. Albert Castaneda (Redwood Christian Middle School) and Megan Sinisi (Redwood Christian Elementary) shared notable student achievements and campus events. The evening also featured performances by the Redwood Christian High School Concert Choir, directed by Rachel Chow as well as the Redwood Christian High School Band directed by Azeem Ward.
The evening was wrapped up by comments by Superintendent Al Hearne including an update on Revitalize3 where last year’s goal to raise $333,000 of the $999,999.99 three-year goal resulted in more than $542,000 being raised. Funds raised were invested in campus upgrades and student programs. “The work we’re doing through Revitalize3 is about much more than maintenance or upgrades. It’s about ensuring that RCS remains a place of miracles, where every student who walks through our doors is given the opportunity to flourish academically, grow spiritually, and experience God’s love.” Redwood Christian Schools Board Member April Nunez closed in prayer.
Elementary Principal Megan Sinisi reported “Our students had an incredible year of growth as they learned to read, mastered math problems, discovered artistic talents and approached each challenge with enthusiasm and determination. This past year we also hosted Slow Tech: a parent education night on creating a tech-ready home. We followed that up with a one week screen-free challenge for our students. They had a bingo board of activities to complete and if they made it the full seven days, they got invited to a Glow in the Dark party in the gym. It was a huge success and we had more than 70% of our student body complete the challenge. After completing the challenge students were asked, “Do you want to change your screen time habits moving forward? Miss Sinisi shared a few of their answers: “YES! (lots of this answer!)”; “ I would rather play board games than watch TV”; “At least two hours less because it felt refreshing”; and “No I do not. But thanks.”
Middle School Principal Al Castaneda reported “Academically, 65% of our middle school students earned a spot on the Principal’s Honor Roll for both semesters! This is a testament to how seriously our students take their academics. I want to give a special shout-out to our teachers for the incredible work they do day in and day out. They work diligently to prepare their lessons, and we ask them to use our schoolwide student assessment tools to track progress and inform their instruction. Thank you, teachers, for your dedication and commitment to our students’ success. You truly make a difference.”
“Lastly, and most important, I want to emphasize that our work here is rooted in ministry, with the ultimate goal of bringing glory to God. I am thrilled to share that 55 of our students have made commitments to the Lord this year—whether that was to receive salvation or to stay committed to their walk with Christ. It’s moments like these that remind me why we do what we do. God is using Redwood Christian Middle School to minister into the lives of students and families, and I feel deeply honored to be a part of this.”
High School Principal Justin Redemer reported “It’s an honor to stand before you tonight as we reflect on the incredible achievements at Redwood Christian High School this past year. These accomplishments aren’t just numbers or trophies, but powerful examples of how God is at work in our students, guiding them toward excellence.
“Let’s start by celebrating our Class of 2024. These seniors have shown tremendous determination and academic success, with acceptances to 63 four-year colleges and universities. Among these are eight UC campuses, including Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSB. Every Christian college in California also welcomed our graduates. Additionally, two student-athletes earned scholarships to play sports at the college level.”
“We’ve also excelled in athletics, earning the NCS Sportsmanship Award and making the North Coast Section playoffs in Boys Soccer, Girls Basketball, Boys Volleyball, Baseball, and Softball. Our Varsity Girls Tennis team finished first academically in their division with a team Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.94 (out of 4.0), while Boys Soccer tied for second with a 3.63 GPA. Varsity Baseball took second with a 3.56 GPA, and Softball tied for third at 3.54. In total, 156 athletes earned the Scholar Athlete award, 40 were named to the Scholar Athlete Honor Roll, and an amazing 88 varsity athletes made the President’s List with Grade Point Averages between 3.80 and 4.0.”
“Our Fine Arts programs continue to flourish. Our Band took first place at the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Music in the Parks Competition, winning both their category and the Overall Award. Six band members were chosen for the Association of Christian Schools International NorCal Honor Band, and our Choir earned a Command Performance, further showcasing the strength of our performing arts.”
“In STEM, our students have also shone. Our STEM Club, not a class, but a voluntary association of students, took second place in Scientific Innovation at the Grand Canyon University 2024 International Science Competition. Our students are using their God-given talents to push boundaries in fields that will shape the future.”
“But the heart of our school remains missions and service for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. Twenty-three of our seniors served the city of Hayward, planting trees and cleaning up trash. Meanwhile, 18 students from Christian Ministry spent 10 days on a mission trip to the Navajo Reservation, and eight students spent a week in Puerto Rico in the humidity and heat replacing roofs on homes devastated by hurricanes from years before.”
Pictures by Cathy Breslow/BreslowImaging
