What was once ancient is making a comeback, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:17, regarding the spiritual change that takes place when an individual places their trust in Jesus Christ.
Although the New Testament verse was not displayed across the front of Vacaville Christian High on Monday, it served as a central theme as Vacaville Christian Schools—along with Marshall Road High School, the district also encompasses the middle and elementary schools located on Davis Street—celebrated its 50th anniversary and the start of the 2025-26 school year.
Even though the important milestone year started at 7:40 a.m. on the high school grounds, it seemed like a normal first day for Principal Lynda Snelgrove. She, along with math teacher Kevin Khan, managed the continuous stream of incoming cars at the main entrance, under light blue skies and cool weather that would eventually rise to the low 80s.
Snelgrove, responsible for managing 250 students and staff at the high school and an additional 190 at the middle school, led a visitor on a short tour of the campus, stopping by the room where American Sign Language instructor Kenny Ring started teaching the distinctive visual, spatial, and gesture-based language predominantly used in the United States and Canada.
First on the agenda? The alphabet letters displayed on a white screen, with the 13 students signing in the same way he did, using handshapes, palm direction, movement, and placement. After that, he moved on to numbers 1 through 10, reciting them forward and backward.
A complete silence occupied the classroom on the second floor. The only noise was the consistent hum of an air conditioning unit. Ring smiled while making a gesture.
A funny poster on a wall listed 12 Reasons to Learn ASL, which is commonly abbreviated. Some of the reasons were “You can communicate when your mouth is full”; “Meet your foreign language requirement”; “It’s always possible to sign to someone, no matter if it’s too loud or too quiet”; and “Connect with amazing individuals in the deaf community (likely the top reason).” Smaller posters featured information about Thomas Gallaudet, the namesake of a well-known university in Washington, D.C., that serves deaf and hearing-impaired individuals, as well as the founder of the American School for the Deaf in 1817.
In a different classroom, Spanish teacher Michael Ensley addressed the students in Spanish, discussing how to complete a get-to-know-you form for the nine students on the first day of school. In addition to recording the day and date (lunes, 18 de agosto de 2025), there was a mention of what they preferred to be called (como te llamas?); their age (cuantos anos tienes); and their favorite subjects (mi materia favorita es).
Outside and by herself in the hallway, 17-year-old senior Kate Edgar from Vacaville kept adorning her locker with memento photos, school essentials, and a tiny motivational poster that read “Smell the Flowers Along the Way.” Passionate about journalism, she sought suggestions for colleges to develop her skills in news writing. The recommendations featured the University of Missouri, Columbia, and the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley.
Snelgrove mentioned that the high school provides 18 Advanced Placement (AP) classes, limited class sizes, 19 athletic teams, and courses in the fine arts and vocational arts.
At around 8:20 a.m., at the elementary school, Ben Davis, the head of school at VCS, moved through the approximately 500 students who had just assembled outside their classrooms for a flag-raising event and prayer before entering their respective classrooms.
The goal of the school system’s faith-based education, which serves children as young as 2 up to seniors who are 17 and 18, has not changed since 1975, he stated.
Although there are new technologies and teaching methods in 2025, the school’s core principles “remain unchanged from those in 1975,” according to Davis.
In an email sent later that day, he stated, “When Vacaville Christian School was established in 1975, it was based on a vision of excellence in Christian education, and the foundation that set us apart in 1975 continues to define us today.”
Added Davis: “As we enter our 50th year this academic year, I am incredibly proud of who we are as a school community and the history that has defined us. This milestone serves as a reminder of our deep-rooted heritage and fills us with enthusiasm as we move forward with hope and belief in the next 50 years.”
In Wendy Horsley’s first-grade classroom, the day commenced, following the attendance check, with students seated on the floor in front of her. She read from the book “Our Class is a Family.” Her lively and articulate reading captured the attention of 21 eager learners.
Small signs on her walls showed students how to position themselves on the floor. There were also five “group guidelines”: maintain an upright posture, allow all voices to be heard, respond to a signal (likely to stop talking), keep eyes focused on the task, avoid unnecessary conversation, and obey instructions upon the first request.
And there was another one called “Room 13 Class PROMISE”: 1. We will treat others as images of God; 2. We will do our best for God; 3. We will obey immediately, completely, and with a joyful heart.” High on one wall were several more: “I am Respectful”; “I am Responsible”; “I am Prepared”; and “I am Safe.”
In the middle school, math instructor Rodney Owens, who instructs students in pre-algebra and algebra, outlined classroom rules and conduct standards for 16 pupils, who are in seventh and eighth grade. No. 1? “Students are required to behave politely, responsibly, professionally, and in a Christ-like way at all times within the classroom.”
A student raised her hand to inquire about the date of the first quiz. Owens responded that it will be on August 29.
In Louella Campbell’s advanced seventh-grade English class, 21 students attended a first-day orientation. Based on the appearance of the bookshelves, it seemed the students would be reading “The Language of Literature,” J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Hobbit,” and several other books throughout the year.
And her walls featured posters that listed “Traits of Good Writing.” These included sentence fluency, conventions (such as spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and paragraphing to improve readability), word selection, and organization, or structure.
Who might overlook other posters that reminded students of the definitions and functions of articles, interjections, adverbs, prepositions, and adjectives?
And in her own writing on a white board, Campbell referenced the Old Testament, also known as the Jewish Bible, Joshua 1:9: “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
