About | Walnut Grove Christian School

About Walnut Grove

We provide an encouraging environment where your students can strive for more. 

Founded in 2001 on the principle of a small Christian learning environment. Our board is committed to a low student-teacher ratio with an average class size of 13 students per class in Elementary and 15 students in Middle and High School. WGCS is a Kindergarten through 12th grade school with Honors and College Preparatory classes offered at the High School level. All K-8th graders take part in a focused, formal Music and Drama program where each student may showcase their God-given skills and talents. School is in session every Monday – Thursday from 8:00 – 2:45 (K-8th) & 8:15 – 3:15 (HS) with no school on Fridays. Encouraging students to achieve their full potential academically, spiritually, relationally and in their schedule for the growth of God’s kingdom, is the goal of WGCS teachers and administrators.

Testimonials

Our four children have been at WGCS for the past 5 years and we are so happy with the Christian education they are receiving. They are involved in sports and other extra-curricular activities the school offers. We love the teachers and staff and highly recommend Walnut Grove!

Angela Braswell Quinn

WGCS is the perfect fit for our family! Not only do the children grow academically, but have spiritually as well. We were attracted to Walnut Grove many years ago because of its four day school week. My son was very involved in a sport which required weekend travel. The four-day week allowed us that freedom.
Kara Johnson

My daughter has been going since she’s has been 5 years old. She now is 12 and in there middle school. She will be going there till she graduates. She loves the school, the teachers. Your child works but they have fun as well. The sport teams are great. This school has so much to offer. The classes are smaller so they can give more one on one to your child if they need it.

Lisa Lichte Brown

Our Team

Leadership Team

Kyle Boyd

Kyle Boyd

Head of School

Ann Carol Love

Ann Carol Love

Assistant Principal

Mary Jo Shannon

Mary Jo Shannon

Director of Admissions & Human Resources

 

 

Laura Summer

Laura Summer

Director of Finance, Marketing & College Guidance

School Support Team

Sally Boyer

Sally Boyer

Facilities Coordinator

Katie Henson

Katie Henson

Front Office Coordinator

Pam Miller

Pam Miller

Registrar

Ashley Walker

Ashley Walker

Admissions Coordinator

 

 

Ashley Dilley

Ashley Dilley

Athletic Director

 

 

Teaching Team

Karen Baker

Karen Baker

High School English Teacher

Kelley Bonagura

Kelley Bonagura

Fourth Grade Teacher

Heather Cline

Heather Cline

Kindergarten Teacher

Staci Dale

Staci Dale

7th & 8th Grade Math Teacher

Chelsea Deahl

Chelsea Deahl

Third Grade Teacher

Donna Dean

Donna Dean

7th & 8th Grade Science Teacher

Vanessa Gordon

Vanessa Gordon

Fifth Grade Teacher

Maggie Hall

Maggie Hall

7th & 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher

Sophie Ingerslew

Sophie Ingerslew

High School Spanish Teacher

Teressa Jensen

Teressa Jensen

Middle School Bible Teacher

Shelly Kuhn

Shelly Kuhn

Yearbook & Photography Teacher

Julie Lang

Julie Lang

High School History Teacher

Davis Lisk

Davis Lisk

High School Electives Teacher

Donja Lisk

Donja Lisk

Sixth Grade Teacher

Nicole Manger

Nicole Manger

Second Grade Teacher

Joanna Nance

Joanna Nance

7th & 8th Grade English Teacher

Lisa Rivera

Lisa Rivera

First Grade Teacher

Eric Robinson

Eric Robinson

Sixth Grade Teacher

Letarshia Robinson

Letarshia Robinson

First Grade Teacher

Mary Rudnick

Mary Rudnick

Music & Drama Program Director

Brittany Sandy

Brittany Sandy

High School Math Teacher

Jeni Schlosser

Jeni Schlosser

High School Science Teacher

Lee Williams

Lee Williams

High School Bible Teacher

What We Believe

We believe that the Bible alone, in its autographs, is the verbal, and only infallible, authoritative Word of God, and that it is the only fit, final rule in all matters of both faith and practice.

We believe that there is only one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth and His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious atonement through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in the power and glory.

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.

We believe that for the salvation of lost or sinful men, regeneration of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.

We believe in the resurrection of life for true believers and that they who are lost will be raised unto the resurrection of damnation.

We believe in the resurrection of all men, both saved and lost. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

Each student is expected to act in a manner that reflects biblical values and to develop personal character traits that show maturity. Further, as a community of Christians, students should encourage and support others to live in a manner that pleases God. The following characteristics are representative of Scriptural standards that should be emulated.

PERSONAL CHARACTER

  • Love for God’s Word—There is no greater source for direction and encouragement than the Bible. WGCS places God’s Word in the highest regard, and every student is urged to spend personal time in it regularly.
  • Respect for God, other people, and property—God deserves reverence and respect, and our lifestyle and worship should reflect the honor we owe Him. We are also commanded to show respect to those God has given to be in authority. Further, each person should be mindful about how he treats other people and their property
  • Kindness and consideration for others—Christians are to actively seek opportunities to show kindness to others. Common courtesy and politeness are qualities to be developed. WGCS has historically been known as a friendly campus because its students promote these traits. Good sportsmanship is also expected in all athletic endeavors.
  • Honesty and integrity—It is necessary that each student deal truthfully with others and maintain a reputation for choosing to do what is right. Without these traits, it is not possible to properly interact with other people or with God.
  • Discipline and self-control—Christians are to exercise control over their emotions and desires so that behavior is appropriate and right. This is accomplished as the Holy Spirit is allowed to guide every decision and direct each action.
  • Modesty and purity—Christian men and women are expected to maintain the highest moral standards as a reflection of God’s holiness and as a protection against the effects of sin. While much of today’s culture has abandoned these precepts, the biblical principles for behavior and dress are essential. Students will maintain dress codes that reflects their “Birth” gender. In relying on the teachings of scripture WGCS prohibits clothing that show a sexual immorality of any type, including but not limited to pornography, homosexuality or any other sexual activity.
  • Diligence—The ability to work hard is important for professional life and is a characteristic that the Bible encourages. Being available and willing to work with intelligent effort is necessary to further gospel endeavors and contribute as a citizen
  • Responsibility—The Bible teaches that each person must give account for his actions; taking personal responsibility for one’s life is the beginning of real stewardship. Making it your duty to be reliable, so that others can depend upon you, is a mark of true maturity.

By virtue of enrollment at Walnut Grove Christian School, each student commits to honor the Code of Conduct. In addition to personally upholding these guidelines, students should support and encourage each other to act according to biblical principles. Any student who becomes aware of a serious offense should report it to the Head of School. A student’s vehicle may be searched if there is reason to believe that school standards have been violated. If needed, the goal of corrective measures is to encourage the student to make necessary changes in behavior, limit future misconduct, and/or to protect other students.

Our History 

Our Founders


Shannon & Kyle Boyd
with their four children

Our Founders

As founders of WGCS, Shannon and Kyle Boyd stepped out in faith when opening the doors of the school to 8 students.  With no funding or outside financial support, they were still ready to share their God given teaching talents with the families that God brought their way.  Offering a small Christian learning environment where they could instill Christian values was the goal. Eleven years later, God revealed his prearranged plan and provided WGCS with an enormous blessing…a building, a new home for the school.

A Brief History

In 2001 WGCS started out in a small rented facility in Fort Mill, SC and made a move in 2005 to a new location in Charlotte, NC.  Lakeview Church rented half of their building to WGCS for 7 years. Although this was an ideal location and facility, WGCS always hoped and prayed for a building back in South Carolina.  The goal was to keep the school in alignment with its original accreditation and roots.  There were at least 20 different locations considered during this time but each time the door would shut for various reasons.  In 2008, a financial crisis almost shut the school down, but with the hand of God and with the generosity of the WGCS staff, families & friends, WGCS made it through the trial with more wisdom and stability than ever before. As God provided for every need for the school, He taught the founders, school board and staff to lean on Him as He built back the school one lesson at a time. God was equipping WGCS to accomplish His mission and preparing WGCS to receive His blessing.

The New Building

In the Spring of 2011, after a School Board meeting, God placed on the heart of one of the WGCS board members to look up, on-line, one of the old buildings that the school had once considered for a new location. As God would have it, the building was going up for foreclosure auction the following day. The Board Member, her husband and another WGCS Board Member attended the auction. They arrived an hour before bidding was to start to tour the building along with other interested buyers. The trio ran into two men, an investor and his advisor, and started a friendly conversation about the history of the building and Walnut Grove’s interest in the building.

The friendly investor ended up purchasing the building and the Board members made it a point to introduce the gentlemen to Walnut Grove’s Principal and Co-Founder, Kyle Boyd. The Board member had urged Mr. Boyd to attend the auction but he decided at the last minute to drive over to the building and arrived just as the auction started.  Mr. Boyd was told by the new owner that his advisor had also encouraged him to attend the auction, and he too felt led to come to the auction at the last minute.  Over many months, the investor and his advisor met with the School Board to try to figure a way for Walnut Grove to make this building their new home. The School Board, at one point, felt there were too many unknowns in the expense of owning and renovating such a building and reluctantly walked away from the opportunity.  The Spirit-filled investor knew that God had provided all things for him in his life, and he wanted to help the school just as God had helped him. So this mountain, that many thought couldn’t be moved, was moved by God through the faith and the obedience of a man with a heart for Christ.

If Walnut Grove would have held onto any of the other buildings that they had considered over the prior 10 years and tried to make them work, then the school would have missed out on the biggest blessing from God.  WGCS is grateful to this investor for allowing God to work through him, by making this building affordable for the school and working in the parameters that fit for such a small school.  Even after the building deal was finalized, a separate anonymous donor purchased an additional acre of land, adjacent to the building, and donated it to WGCS so that the entire property area would be available for the school to grow for years to come!  Walnut Grove, the investor, and anonymous donor want God to have the glory in this story and together want to build the kingdom of Christ in this new home.

The Lesson with the Blessing

So many times, we as Christians hold on to things so tightly that we never get to experience the blessings that God has planned for our lives.  At Walnut Grove Christian School, God is showing us each day how He will bless us when we follow His calling, let go of control, and allow Him to work in our lives. “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” Ephesians 3:20-21

Accreditation

WGCS is accredited by:
 

Our students’ standardized test scores average 1.5 grade levels higher than the national average.