Capital Christian Looks Forward Toward a New School Year

Thursday sparks the start of 's 2011-12 academic school year, and with the new year comes a few upgrades. 

A  to raise $1.5 million in renovations was launched by the Capital Christian School and  in July. Progress is already starting to show for each group's efforts.

Scott Wasdin, director of development for Capital Christian School, said the , promised through campaign fundraising, are now up and will be ready to function before the fall sports season.

Other renovations to Capital Christian are being lined up, but have not yet been started. These other renovations include: a new parking lot surface, replacement air conditioners, a new elementary school roof and more.

"We plan to send out mailers to all of the families involved in Capital Christian within the first weeks of school letting them know the campaign is still going on for the next few months," Wasdin said.

Wasdin said the renovations being planned for Capital Christian would not be possible without the support of the community.

"We love making partnerships with local businesses, etc," Wasdin said. "The lion share of our fundraising year in and year out is grass roots fundraising sponsored by the generosity of parents, grandparents and friends."

Additionally, PJ Garza, dean of students, said this year the school will be trying out daily announcement bulletins,  broadcasted by Capital Christian High School's student government.

"Right now we are calling it 'CCHS News,' but we'll let the kids be creative with the name once they start it up," Garza said.

Through these kind of out reach efforts, Garza hopes to unite the campus under one philosophy this year - "stand by me."

"The idea is just that we're all better together," Garza said. "This includes mentoring and just being there for one another."

Garza said enrollment levels are staying even at Capital Christian this year.

"We're at about the 385 mark - right where we were last year," he said. "It feels pretty good because when other schools are going down we're staying level."

Looking foward, Garza expects for Capital Christian to continue improving within sports and academically.

"We have a lot of great new students coming in and a very solid group of seniors returning," Garza said. "Last year we had our highest percentage passing rate in the AP English test, with an 88 percent. We hope to continue on that path."

While academics and sports are exciting, Garza said the most important thing students, faculty and staff at Capital Christian look forward to is chapel time on Thursdays.

"What we're really excited for is what God has in store for our student body this year and where the students are in their relationship with God and each other," Garza said.

The two big events coming up for Capital Christian is a All-School Welcome Back BBQ from 5-7 p.m. on Friday at High School Performing Arts Center and the fifth-annual, fundraising Golf Classic on Oct. 10 at Rancho Murieta Country Club.