Garywood Christian School
Garywood Christian School is a Christian private school located at 2750 Allison-Bonnett Memorial Drive in Hueytown, in the western suburbs of Birmingham in Jefferson County. It is affiliated with Garywood Assembly of God, a large Pentecostal church that houses the school's facilities.
The school was founded in 1985 by Garywood's pastor, John Loper. At its inception, the school offered classes in kindergarten through eighth grades, adding a higher grade each successive school year until all twelve grades were offered. The school offers Bible-based curriculum in all standard school subjects. In 2003, the school also offered sponsorship of home school students, giving such students the legal "umbrella organization" required by Alabama law and also allowing them additional opportunities, such as sports participation.
GCS fields varsity sports teams in eight-man football, boys' and girls' basketball, volleyball, baseball, and fast-pitch softball. The teams play under the nickname "Crusaders". Their uniform colors are blue, black and white. In 2003, the Crusader football team won the National Association of Christian Athletes Division 3 national championship, the first post-season championship in school history. The teams currently compete in the National Christian Sports Conference (formerly the National Christian Athletic Association).
Amanda Kleiser is the school principal. Executive Pastor Randal Ray is the member of Garywood Assembly's ministerial staff with direct oversight over the school.
One of the school's teachers, Lyn Turk, took part in The Amazing Race 10 and became part of the first All-Female team to ever make it into the Final 3 in the show's history. They finished 3rd overall.
References
- Garywood Christian School. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 3 Mar 2007, 13:16 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Accessed March 21, 2007.