On September 10th, 1945 at 9 a.m. Lacombe Christian School opened its’ doors and welcomed 27 pupils to the one-room schoolhouse which is located on Woodynook Road, west of Lacombe. Miss Alida Keegstra was the sole teacher to instruct these 27 pupils, in eight different grades.
Soon the original school room became too small and from generation to generation the school facilities expanded. In 1967, the Lacombe Christian School Society and the Calvin Christian School Society united for the strength of Christian education in the community. And so, on Sept. 5th, 1967, the ‘country school’ joined the ‘town school’ in its’ present location on 58 St. in Lacombe. At that time, the school employed four teachers to instruct the 128 pupils enrolled, compared to the 2010-2011 school year enrollment report at 342 students and 34 staff members.
Today, the two-campus school which anchors 58 St. has far surpassed the original founder’s projection of Christian education in the Lacombe area.
Reflecting on the 70 years that the school has been in operation, current principal Martin Folkerts stated: “We are thankful to God for the abundant blessings we as a school have received over the past 70 years. We also remember the many parents and grandparents who believed that their children were a heritage from the lord and that they must be trained for kingdom service. Their support and desire for Christian education have been one of the biggest strengths of our school. During these years many children have walked through the hallways of Lacombe Christian School and it is our prayer that they are a now blessing in their community and that they can also look back with pride and joy at the education they received here.”
The original one-room school house has been preserved in recent years by the Lacombe Christian School Historical Society, which has labored on the project as a public display of God’s faithfulness. Many jovial memories were made in the school, as well as many life-long friendships.
-Submitted by the Lacombe Christian School