Blue Ridge Christian Academy
| Blue Ridge Christian Academy | |
|---|---|
 School logo "Equipping students to impact the world for Christ" | |
| Address | |
|
424 Highway 101 Landrum, South Carolina 29653 United States | |
| Coordinates | 35°6′N 82°20′W / 35.100°N 82.333°WCoordinates: 35°6′N 82°20′W / 35.100°N 82.333°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Private |
| Denomination | Non-denominational |
| Established | 2004 |
| Closed | 2013 (Lack of funding) |
| Administrator | Diana Baker |
| Grades | Preschool-12 (as of 2012) |
| Campus size | 30 acres (120,000 m2) |
| Campus type | Rural |
| Color(s) | Blue, Green, Yellow |
| Athletics | Ladies' Volleyball, Cross Country, Boys' Fall Soccer, Boys' and Girls' Basketball, Boys' and Girls' Spring Soccer |
| Athletics conference | Blue Ridge Christian Conference |
| Mascot | Warrior |
| Yearbook | The Chronicle |
| Website | http://www.brca.us/ |
Blue Ridge Christian Academy was a private preparatory school in Landrum, South Carolina. The school had classes for students ranging from Pre-kindergarten to High School level.
The academy was founded by Jill and E.J. Bird in 2004, and is governed by a board of directors. It is accredited by Association of Christian Schools International.
Curriculum
Students come from Landrum, Campobello, Taylors, Greer, Travelers Rest, Spartanburg, Greenville, and Marietta as well as Columbus and Tryon, NC. Their centrally located setting was intended to encourage outdoor settings for classroom and extra-curricular activities. It offered a Christ centered education, where kids were intended to be "prepared to impact the world for Christ". The school believed its teachings and policies were based on the word of God.
In Spring 2013, it was reported that a 4th grade science quiz administered at the school promoted Young Earth creationism, a view that is not based on empirical data.[1][2][3] The quiz stated that the Earth is not billions of years old, that dinosaurs did not live millions of years ago, that God created dinosaurs on the 6th day and included several Biblical questions that had no relevance to science.[1] Diana Baker, BRCA Administrator, stated that she did not feel anything wrong was done and that the teacher will not be disciplined.[2]
Ken Ham, President of Answers in Genesis, stated on his blog that the quiz was based on a DVD produced by his organization.[4]
Extracurricular activities
Blue Ridge Christian students participate in academic competitions through the Association of Christian Schools International, that include spelling bees, math competitions, geography bees, creative writing festivals, arts festivals, and speech meets.
Student groups and activities include a band, Beta Club, year-round athletic programs, Upward Soccer, (for kids), class field trips, Theatre productions, Activity Periods, National Honor Society, Warrior Spirit club, and yearbook.
Closure
Blue Ridge Christian Academy announced that it would not be open for the 2013-2014 school year due to lack of funding. The school had sought $200,000 to remain open, but had only received $15,000 in donations. On August 8, 2013, a public sale was scheduled by the school to sell its curricula, books, teacher resources, office supplies, school supplies, toys and bulletin board materials. The school's furniture and computers were not included in the sale. The proceeds of the sale were to go towards paying its debts, which included two months of teachers' salaries.[5]
Gallery
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Parents and kids huddle together after Field Day to form the letters: BRCA
References
- 1 2 Barbara; David P. Mikkelson (April 2013). "Remains to be Seen". Snopes. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
- 1 2 Funderburg, Greg (1 May 2013). "Upstate school's science quiz sparks controversy". FOX Carolina. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
- ↑ Overton, William R. (5 January 1982). "McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education". McLean v. Arkansas. TalkOrigins Archive. Retrieved 2011-05-10.
- ↑ Ham, Ken (30 April 2013). "Around The World with Ken Ham: Atheists Lash Out at a Christian School". Retrieved 2 May 2013.
The questions on the quiz were based on an Answers in Genesis DVD that was shown at the school.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-08-20. Retrieved 2013-08-29.