In Pursuit of Wisdom

WELCOME TO GCA'S FAMILY ORIENTATION

Welcome back to Grace Christian Academy! We are ready for another great school year. We have developed this orientation page as a resource for families. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office for more information.

COMMUNICATION

 We understand that when there is good communication, life is just smoother. Here are the platforms we use to communicate and inform you about all that is happening at GCA:
  • The school app quickly links you to every platform below. Also, includes quick access to various resources that we find helpful.
  • RenWeb is our Student Information System (SIS). We use this platform to record grades, attendance, behavior, etc. Parents have real time access to all of this information using their parents web account. 
  • Look for Email and Parent Alerts (texts). This includes weekly progress reports and other relevant communication from teachers/staff.
  • The GCA Facebook is consistently updated to show what is happening at Grace.

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COVID

After reviewing the current CDC guidelines, while considering Illinois' current Phase 5 Designation, and what we learned during the 2020-21 school year, GCA has determined that masks will be optional during the 2021-22 school year. We will continue other mitigation strategies and will monitor our local metrics to make additional recommendations if needed for the safety of our students, staff, and community. 

As the school year nears, and ISBE/IDPH solidify their guidelines, we will communicate further plans.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

In February of 2021, Grace Baptist Church made a decision that was years in the making. The whole roof (both the lower roof and the upper roof) would be replaced. There have been three stages to this project:
  • Remove and replace soffit around the building
  • Replace several HVAC units
  • Install tapered insulation and new roofing.
We are excited to be moving forward with this project and seeing progress throughout the summer. This is a huge project, one we are so thankful to the church for taking on. If you are interested in helping the church with this financial burden, please feel free to call the church or school office.

As with many projects across the nation, there have been shortages of the supplies needed, which has delayed the project significantly. As a result, construction will probably overlap with the beginning of the new school year. This shouldn't affect school operations too much, but we have plans if we need to move out of their way.

AUCTION 2022

Unlike many private schools, Grace does not require families to fundraise or charge a fundraising fee. Instead, we have one major fundraiser each year. 

The GCA Dinner Auction is an exciting event, with a live auctioneer, that involves the whole community. We generally auction off hundreds of silent auction items and twenty to thirty live auction items. God has used this event over the last decade to ensure we keep our tuition affordable.

Each spring, we look to our parents to help us make this event successful.  We need everyone's help.  How can we use your talents?
  • Making a donation to your student's classroom project.  
  • Joining a team that canvasses the community seeking donations for the auction.  
  • Helping the decorating committee stage the event.
  • Assisting the construction team with the event set-up.
  • Inviting your friends to participate in this really fun event!
Don't forget to mark your calendars and help support GCA at our Annual Dinner Auction.

THANK YOU

At the 2021 Dinner Auction, we raised money to remodel our front bathrooms. Thank you to everyone who donated to the Fund-A-Project.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

School hours are as follows
  • Elementary is from 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
  • Secondary is from 8:30 a.m. - 3:25 p.m.
  • Students arriving before 8:00 a.m. will go to morning care ($3 an hour)
  • Students staying after 3:35 p.m. will go to after care ($3 an hour)
Arrival and Dismissal procedures will remain the same as last year. Students will be welcomed and, if needed, escorted to the gymnasium in the morning (by really friendly high school students).
  • Elementary students will be dismissed when their parents arrive in the parking lot starting at 3:10 p.m.  
  • Secondary students will be dismissed at 3:25 p.m.
​Any parent meetings/appointments should be scheduled ahead of time for access to the building.

GCA ATHLETICS

We would like to welcome Carey Basick on board as the Athletic Director for the new school year. Don't worry though, Jeff Cross is not going anywhere and will still be actively involved in the athletic department. Carey served as Jeff's athletic assistant for the last couple of years. We are looking forward to a great year of competition with players, parents, and coaches.

​We have simplified the athletic fees for this school year. The fee is a flat rate that allows for you to participate in as many applicable sports that Grace has to offer. If you are in 5th-8th Grade, the fee is $200 and if you are 9th-12th grade the fee is $250. 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Need more information? Use the following link to read through the student handbook for 2021-2022.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

Please feel free to contact the school office and we will do our best to answer any questions you may have.
Can't Find Something?
Grace Christian Academy
&
Grace Baptist Church
2499 Waldron Rd. Kankakee, Il 60901

(815) 939-4579
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Consider Supporting the ministries of GCA with a monthly donation.


A ministry of Grace Baptist Church
© 2020 GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Grace Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, nationality, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to GCA students. We do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of our educational policies, admissions procedures, tuition assistance awards, athletic and other school administered programs. We do, however, reserve the right to deny admission to any individual who cannot benefit from enrollment based on past academic achievement, disqualifying disability, or whose personal life-style is not in harmony with the stated philosophy and purpose of Grace Christian Academy.