Portland Christian Schools celebrated our 70th anniversary in combination with our 2017 commencement exercises on June 3rd. We shared stories from the past, anticipated the future as we sent off our new grads, and enjoyed the present day with good friends after the ceremony.
Jeanne Lampi, Alumni Director, was also honored for her 50 years of service to PCS. Here are a few highlights of “Our Story” compiled by Mrs. Lampi:
“Our Story”
Celebrating God’s Faithfulness
For 70 years, the Lord has blessed Portland Christian Schools. Over the years we have seen incredible gains in the creative and performing arts programs, the athletic programs, and our academic programs from preschool through 12th grade. Some PCS highlights of our campuses include:
1946 Initial planning meetings.
1947 Doors open.
1948 Elementary school at Market Street opens.
1950s Extra-curricular activities such as basketball, baseball, and choir are offered.
1961 God provides a better structure after a fire demolishes the elementary school.
1974 Expansion of buildings with a separate addition for K-2 as the school grows.
1975 An architect is hired to draw up plans for a new gym on the Market Street high school campus; everything falls through. Yet God, in His timing, has better plans.
1981 The high school relocates to San Rafael Street. Every single thing we deem necessary for a growing high school, plus room for expansion, is on the 20-acre, former Parkrose Heights Junior High School campus.
1986 The high school International Student Program (ISP) is implemented.
1987 The Christian School Society of Portland acquires Clark County Christian School. It becomes PCS Vancouver. PCS moves the 7-8th grade students to the San Rafael campus, leaving grades K-6 and a very well established preschool on the Vancouver campus.
1993 A preschool program is added at the Market Street elementary school campus.
2003 A modular unit is purchased to house offices and to provide more space for the growing preschool program.
2006 The arts annex building (housing an art studio, computer lab and library) is completed at Market Street; the PCS Vancouver campus is sold, and families from that campus are encouraged to move their children to the Portland campuses.
2010 All programs (preschool to 12th grade) earn full accreditation.
2012 Preschool program receives Oregon’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS).
2017 Portland Christian High School ranks in the top 25 private schools in the state of Oregon.
Are we there yet? Not by a long shot. The Lord has much more for Portland Christian Schools to do and He has much more to teach us. My prayer is that we listen to Him with open hearts and minds and NEVER forget all His blessings. May we remain true, without compromise, to His word and the biblical principles upon which this school was founded. As we keep alive the rich history of this school, may the education received here by PCS Alumni around the world be valued.
~ Jeanne Lampi, Alumni Director
50 years of service to PCS