Highlands Christian Schools
History

A History of Calvary Cross Church of the Highlands and Highlands Christian Schools

We look back with a thankful heart on what the Lord has done for the Church and its many ministries, which includes our schools; most importantly we are grateful for the many lives that have been changed and fulfilled because of His grace. In reviewing our past, we look with confidence on our present and our future as we ask the Lord for His continued guidance and direction.

October 1959 - The church was founded by Pastor and Mrs. Donald B. Sheley. The Community Center in Colma, California, was rented and named Colma Community Chapel. October 3, 1959, was our first service.

July 1960 - The church was incorporated by the State of California as Calvary Cross Church. Pastor and Mrs. C. Ely Persing, parents of Mrs. Vernita Sheley, loaned the Church the down payment for the purchase of land in Daly City. The following year a building was constructed by the members of the church. In appreciation for this early assistance, Persing Hall was named after them.

April 1961 - The Church moved into its own new facilities at 205 San Fernando Way, Daly City. This location is now a parking lot for Seton Hospital.

September 1966 - Magic Hill Nursery School was established. The school was founded by Mrs. Vernita Sheley. It was originally licensed for 30 students and then modified to 84 students. A public school was used for our kindergarten students.

September 1969 - The public school was reducing its kindergarten from four to three classes; and, therefore, only students that lived in that district would be allowed to attend. The parents were very desirous of having their kindergarten students in our school, so we added a kindergarten class. All 17 students enrolled.

September 1970 - In response to the parents’ requests, we added a first grade and increased kindergarten to two classes. This was the beginning of Calvary Cross Academy.

September 1971 - Out of space and now in need of a second grade, the Church rented the South San Francisco Boys’ Club located on Orange Avenue. Student tables and teachers’ desks were brought from storage each day to set up the classrooms and were returned by 3 p.m. for the rooms to be used by the Boys’ Club. Third and fourth grades were also added this year.

October-December 1971 - Negotiations for purchasing the Portola Shopping Center, 1900 Monterey Drive, San Bruno, were in process, culminating in a miracle from God. The church assumed the existing mortgage and all equity was written off. Paying the amount of $4,800 monthly seemed overwhelming at that time. Calvary Cross Academy, then 60 students, Kindergarten through 4th grades, moved into four former offices on the second floor. The school office moved into its present location, the former “Liquor Store,” and the ‘spirits’ were changed for good.

February 1972 - Calvary Cross Church had a “pillow” service in the corner of the grocery store, with each person bringing a pillow or a chair to sit on.

March 1972 - Palm Sunday was the first official service of the church, now known as Church of the Highlands, San Bruno.

September 1972 - Fifth and sixth grades were added.

November 1972 - Highlands Christian Preschool opened; it was licensed for 136 students.

May 1973 - The Daly City property was sold to Seton Hospital. Magic Hill Nursery students were transported to Highlands Christian Preschool in San Bruno.

September 1974 - Seventh and eighth grades were added.

August 1976 - Two wings of the Portola Elementary School were leased for our growing school. The younger elementary students attended Highlands #2 at the Portola facility. The older students attended Highlands #1 at the church facility. The license for Highlands Preschool was amended from 136 to 300 students. Also, the ninth grade was added.

1977 - Church of the Highlands started St. James College with Degrees in Ministry and Certificates in Early Childhood Education.

August 1977 - A class was added for tenth graders. September 1978 - Grades eleven and twelve were added. Our school was now preschool through high school.

June 1979 - Our first senior class graduated.

1979 (approx.) - Church of the Highlands was given the opportunity to take care of the Belmont Community Church. After some months of ministering there, Pastor Sheley placed a St. James College graduate in charge. The church became independent in January 1984.

1979 - Families from Eureka called for a pastor to come to their church. For one year Pastor Sheley drove six hours to the Eureka Church of the Highlands on Sunday afternoons to preach at the evening service, returning to San Bruno immediately following. A graduate from St. James College was placed there as pastor, and the church became independent on October 1, 1985.

September 1980 - The San Andreas School in Pacifica (Highlands #3) was leased for the older students, grades five through twelve. Second through fourth grades were in the main facility (Highlands #1), and kindergarten and first grades were at Portola Elementary School (Highlands #2)

June 1981 - Highlands Christian Schools was accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Association of Christian Schools, International (ACSI).

1982 - The congregation of the Little Brown Church of Pacifica came seeking a pastor (a pastor was previously sent to them in the mid-60’s). Our assistant pastor was sent to be their pastor, and the name was

changed to Church of the Highlands of Pacifica. The church became independent on October 1, 1985, and was moved to the Pacifica Crespi School site. St. James College was also moved there.

1983 - Families in Calistoga called for assistance to start a church. Pastor Sheley held a Wednesday evening Bible study there for one year and then set in order the Calistoga Church of the Highlands. It became an independent church on October 1, 1985.

April 1987 - Highlands Christian Schools were not able to renew the leases for the Highlands #3 location, which housed grades five through twelve, and half of the Highlands #2 campus, which housed kindergarten and first grades. An extensive remodeling program was immediately set in motion at the church facility. The building was totally recarpeted and painted; several classrooms and new bathrooms were added, and new furniture was purchased for some of the rooms. This left five kindergarten classes at Portola #2 and the rest at the main school facility.

June 1988 - Highlands Christian Schools’ Accreditation was renewed with WASC and ACSI.

July 1988 - Highland Christian Schools closed the high school and brought the five classes formerly housed at Highlands #2 into one united school in the church facility.

September 1989 - The Ukraine Ministry was started in Korosten then moved to Kiev. Humanitarian in nature, the ministry took medicine, food and clothing to those in need in the Soviet Union. Mr. David Ilyin with the staff, was the administrator over two years with this ministry to churches, pastors, children’s and women’s ministries.

Summer 1990 - Two more rooms were added to the church/school facility.

1990 - Highlands Christian Schools was awarded the San Mateo Times Award for “Best Private School in San Mateo County.” HCS was again chosen “The Best” in 1991, but the category was discontinued in 1991 and thereafter.

July 1990 - A children’s ministry was started in Korosten and other cities in the Ukraine, USSR.

April 1991 - Church of the Highlands opened the first resident Bible College in the Soviet Union in the town of Korosten, Ukraine. The college named St. James Bible College commenced with 20 students. Mr. David Ilyin was the resident administrator.

September 1992 - An extension of the Bible College was opened in Kiev, Ukraine, with 30 students. Later, the school in Korosten merged with the College in Kiev.

September 1992 - Three more rooms were added to our main church/school facility.

June 1993 - Highlands Christian Preschool was accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

September 1993 - The third year of St. James Bible College began with 140 students. The first class of 20 graduated and were ordained. Two more classes were added in September – 186 students now in Kiev, Ukraine.

Easter 1993 - The long-awaited parking lot at the corner of Sneath & Skyline was completed for basic use after seven years of negotiations.

June 1994 - Highlands Christian Schools accreditation was again renewed by WASC and ASCI.

Summer 1994 - New playground equipment was purchased and installed for the Preschool. Church of the Highlands opened an extension of St. James College of Ukraine in Magadan, Russia.

1995 - An extension of St. James College was opened in the city of Zhitomyr, Ukraine for two years.

Summer 1995 - Six classrooms were leased at the Engvall school site. Five first grade classes were there.

Summer 1996 - Six more classrooms were acquired at the Engvall school site on Sneath Lane. First and second grades (ten classes) were there.

Summer 1996 - Wiring of the school classrooms for computer networking was begun in the main building in San Bruno.

1996 - In Korosten, Ukraine, an Army Hospital was given to one of our St. James Bible College first year graduates (Class of 1993) - a beautiful piece of property next to the arena in the center of town. A new beautiful church and center for the blind was dedicated in 2000.

1996 - 1997 - A new facade was added to the San Bruno church building, including men’s and women’s restrooms and additional church offices.

1997 - Three more classrooms at the Engvall school site and office space were leased to add third grade classes and to assist in housing the projected 1000+ students.

1997 - St. James Bible College of Kiev, Ukraine, was transferred to the Ukraine ministries and will continue to serve people there. Approximately 600 graduates are presently making a difference in those countries. A center for the blind, affected by the Chernobyl nuclear accident, has been finished in Korosten.

Fall 1997 - We were not able to continue our lease of the San Bruno Engvall school site due to other plans to develop the site.

June 1998 - The Engvall facility was closed and later demolished to construct a new golf course resort.

1998 - An orphanage and a home for women was opened in Kiev. Church of the Highlands and several other churches are involved in the support of this ministry. These ministries are still active and many St. James graduates are ministering in these facilities.

Summer 1998 - Pastors’ offices of the church were moved into a house across the street from the main church/school facility. Two classrooms replaced the vacated offices.

September 1998 - Kindergarten through eighth grades were once again located in the main church/school facility. The classrooms were remodeled, and adjustable walls were installed for more flexibility in the use of classrooms. The school restroom facilities were remodeled.

1999 - An orphanage was opened in Mexico. For more than thirty years we have had a Mission to Mexico program, assisting churches and pastors. Teams are still being sent to minister to both spiritual and physical needs in this country.

March 1999 - Highlands Christian Schools chose not to renew its ACSI accreditation for the Preschool Division.

Summer 1999 - Our building, which was constructed in 1965, was brought up to the latest city building codes.

December 1999 - Infant and Toddler Centers were added to the preschool.

June 2000 - Highlands Christian Schools’ accreditation was again renewed by WASC and ACSI.

Summer 2000 - Three fire escapes from the second and third floors were installed.

2001 - The church began assisting in the construction and establishment of a large orphanage and school in Indonesia.

Summer 2001 - Mr. Dave Stutzman joined Mrs. Sheley and Mrs. Hale as an administrator of Highlands Christian Schools. Mrs. Judy Pencek became an administrative assistant, having previously taught Preschool, Kindergarten and 3rd Grade. Mr. David Ilyin transferred from St. James College to become an administrative assistant to Mrs. Sheley.

Summer 2002 - Mrs. Hale moved to the Ukiah area, and Mrs. Judy Pencek assumed the position of Preschool Director and administrator for Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Third floor rooms were remodeled.

September 2002 - A new digital, high-end technical phone system was installed throughout the building, providing internet/intranet capability.

April 2003 - Through the generosity of parents, a new playground facility was installed for the Academy.

Summer 2003 - The summer school program was enhanced with new curriculum and activities. Mr. Stutzman moved to the Danville area.

Fall 2003 - Mrs. Frances Leonor moved from full-time teaching to administrative secretary for Mrs. Sheley

Summer 2004 - Dr. James Rozman joined HCS as an administrator for 5th-9th grade. In the summer of 2005, Dr. Rozman resigned to continue his education.

Fall 2004 - Ninth Grade was added to begin the College Prep division of HCS. It is exciting to have a high school again. Laptop computers, special desks and chairs were added for each College Prep student. Administrators begin planning for the addition of 10th grade (2005), 11th grade (2006) and 12th grade (2007).

Fall 2004 - The Athletic Department was greatly expanded. Miss Natalie Talbot was appointed Athletic Director.

May 2005—Infant Care (3 months to 18 months) no longer available at HCS. The nursery will continue to provide infant care for the Church of the Highlands.

Summer 2005 - Mrs. Frances Leonor joined the administrative team as administrative assistant to Mrs. Sheley. Mrs. Judy Pencek assumed the additional administrative responsibilities to include K to 5th grades.

Fall 2005 - Tenth grade was added to HCS College Preparatory and we began praying for additional facilities. Honors courses were added in English, World History, Biology, Geometry and Algebra II. We are continuing to expand our Athletic Department.

October 2005 - Mrs. Jeannie Chiara joined the administrative team at Highlands as administrative assistant to Mrs. Sheley.

2005 - 2006 - Funds were raised for construction relief teams to be sent at various times to Mississippi and Louisiana to assist in hurricane recovery efforts and minister to local residents.

July 2006—Pastor Donald Sheley transferred his position of Senior Pastor to his son Pastor Leighton Sheley on Fathers Day. Pastor Donald Sheley continues to hold the positions of Founding Pastor, Pastor of Missions as well as Preaching Pastor along with Pastor Leighton. Other Staff was added: Pastor & Mrs. Biehn—Marriage counseling, Mr. Eric Chester—Awana Director and Project Coordinator, Pastor & Mrs. Steve Simmons—Youth Pastor, Mr. Matt Tinetti—Family Ministries and other needed department leaders.

2006—2007— Eleventh grade was added. Sports program continues to grow and be competitive. High School Administrator is Mrs. Jeannie Chiara.

January 2007—High School moved into new facilities, an exciting day.

2007—Mrs. Melanie Gorospe was promoted from Assistant Director to the Director of Highlands Christian Preschool.

2007—2008—Twelfth grade is added. WASC and ASCI grant accreditation for grades 11&12. Now HCS is accredited K-12. Sports program becomes a member of the CIF/CCS/PSAL. HCCP Sophomore, Marissa Mercado, is named Miss Teen Pacifica by the California Teen Scholarship Program. HCCP graduated the first senior class.

June 2007— Mrs. Natalie Ayres is awarded the Norm MacKenzie “Rookie” Athletic Director of the Year from the California State Athletic Director Association.