With freshly scrubbed floors and a shine on the windows, Emmanuel Christian High School has opened the doors of its new home to 166 students.
Like most schools around the county, the school officially opened on Tuesday, but students and members of the public got a sneak peak at Emmanuel Christian High School (ECHS) during an open house and grand opening on Sept. 1.
ECHS Board chair Andrew Westrik said officials are “so excited” to welcome visitors to the school.
“It’s only 13 months ago that stood amongst excavators, rocks and piles of dirt to mark the ground breaking ceremony for this project,” said Westrik.
“Here we stand again. This time, for a tree dedication. Thirteen months … it’s hard to believe … it’s nothing short of amazing how this community came together under God’s blessing to [undertake] this project.”
Westrik called the school’s creation “a story of love.”
“May we never lose sight of the fact that all we are and all we have is rooted in the abundant love of Jesus … We are rooted in our communities and towns. Some of our roots are young, shallow and undeveloped … others are old, deep and stand the test of time and circumstance.”
Westrik said some might find their connections through the deep roots of what the building used to be: the Fergus High School/Centre Wellington District High School.
He said for others, the roots are young and shallow … such as for students preparing to enter Grade 9 – or for those new to the community “and the roots of Emmanuel are just beginning to grow.”
Westrik noted that on Sept. 6, the school becomes home to 166 students, along with many dedicated adults who wish to see them succeed.
Westrik said it was fitting to mark the moment by the planting of a tree.
“An oak tree was chosen to adorn the corner of our school. Giant oaks have deep roots that can extend 2.5 times their height. Such trees are rarely blown down regardless of how violent the storm may be,” he said.
“It is our prayer that as the roots of this small oak tree strengthen and deepen, so too the legacy of Emmanuel Christian High School will continue to be a great blessing for this generation of students and the ones to come.”
Those assisting with the planting were Centre Wellington Mayor Kelly Linton, Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott, former ECHS board chair Andrew Wildeboer and ECHS principal Henk Nobel.
Westrik noted Nobel has been ECHS principal for the past 18 years and has dreamed of the high school having its own location for many years and has experienced many growing pains.
Master of ceremonies Jackie Deboer said the attendance and support at the night’s events “gives us encouragement at the end of a long project.”
Rev. Douwe Agema, Minister at Guelph Living Word, opened with Psalm 145:1,3,4 – The Psalm of Praise.
“One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts,” Rev. Agema read.
He later commended the “many hours, days, weeks and months of work” that went into the opening of the school. He described it as being made of something old that has stood the test of time and something new … blended together.
Noble said Canada, as a nation, came together gradually. And the same holds true for the history of Emmanuel Christian High School.
He said because of the freedoms offered in Canada, “many of the founders of our school association came, many from the Netherlands.”
“The history of Emmanuel Christian High School has been very closely associated with that of Maranatha Christian Elementary School.”
The Maranatha school opened its doors in September 1968 to 29 students, Noble explained. Even then, the original mission included a future of maintaining schools at the primary and secondary levels.
In 1977, Emmanuel Christian High School opened its doors for Grades 7 to 10, under the same board that operated Maranatha.
Fast forwarding to 2004, Noble said the decision was made for both schools to co-exist using portables and shared space until ECHS could find its own location.
“Therefore in 2005, (ECHS) opened its doors for the first time as an independent school,” said Noble.
“Finally in 2014, the board received approval to purchase the current building at 680 Tower Street in Fergus and the final connection with Maranatha was severed.”
Linton quipped, “I think we have half the town here tonight.” He brought greetings on behalf of Centre Wellington.
“We’re really pleased and this is a big day,” said Linton, who noted that for the past decade, the school community has wanted a new home.
He said that his own children were not that excited about the return to school “… but they are not coming to a shiny new school like this.”
Linton was pleased to take a tour of the new building.
“This is such a beautiful old building and it is great to see slate chalkboards … like when I went to school here.”
“I graduated way back in 1989,” Linton said.
At that time the school had switched from the Fergus High School to Centre Wellington District High School.
“I have a lot of good memories,” Linton said of the former high school.
He too appreciated the heritage and history of the building, which was designated in 1927.
“I’m so pleased that Project Eagle’s Nest is welcoming a new generation of students,” Linton concluded.
Capital committee chair Ilse Vandermeulen said she was told fundraising for Christian schools can be very difficult. And she was also told capital campaigns for heritage buildings can be equally challenging.
“Yet here we are two-and-a-half year later,” she said.
“We find ourselves in a renovated historic building with a brand new gymnasium ready for close to 200 students and staff.”
